Chapter 223: Chapter 223

“Sir Zion, how much longer until we arrive?”

Carynne had only been listening to the conversation between the two until now, but she finally spoke to Sir Zion.

“So that’s what Sir Raymond said.”

“Really? Did he say that?”

“……”

But it seemed Zion hadn’t heard Carynne at all.

She thought about asking again but decided against it. She felt like a borrowed sack of barley, a feeling she rarely experienced even though she had lived for so long.

Meanwhile, Isella and Zion were enthusiastically blooming in a conversation about various topics, but mostly revolving around disparaging remarks about Raymond.

“So when Sir Raymond did that, it was so funny you wouldn’t believe it. He isn’t all that great, you know.”

“Hmph, I wish I had seen that.”

“Um, Miss Isella, are you alright with me talking about Sir Raymond like this?”

Zion already knew that Raymond and Isella had broken off their engagement. Yet, he asked her about it like this anyway.

After finding out that he was a knight, Isella had started showing interest in him. And since then, Zion hadn’t missed the chance to switch it up—the callousness of an insolent coachman had thus transformed into the splendor of a chivalrous knight.

Carynne could only be amazed by his quick change of attitude. She stared at Zion with a hint of incredulity, but he just winked at her and continued talking ill of Raymond.

“I understand you were engaged to Sir Raymond… I hope I’m not making a mistake here.”

“…What nonsense.”

Good heavens.

Carynne had to pretend she wasn’t listening to the exchange between Isella and Zion. She couldn’t join in nor could she escape somewhere else while sitting in the carriage. Regardless of Carynne’s discomfort, Isella and Zion continued their conversation.

“What? Your engagement with Sir Raymond had been broken off?”

“That’s what happened. I would prefer it if you no longer speak of him in front of me.”

Isella snorted disdainfully as she responded to Zion’s inquiry about Raymond. Zion looked at her seriously.

“But Sir Raymond lacks discernment to hurl such abuse at someone like Miss Isella Evans.”

“I utterly despise such hypocrites.”

Isella turned her head sharply and snapped back. Zion laughed and said,

“Sometimes Sir Raymond seems that way. A lady with the honesty and great spirit like you, Miss Isella, wouldn’t suit him.”

“How do you know that about me?”

“A lot of people are curious about Mister Verdic’s daughter.”

“What do they say?”

Isella asked with a tense voice.

Carynne thought about the reputation that floated around Isella in high society. Naturally, the stories weren’t good.

Verdic’s money-grubbing daughter. Rude, lacking manners, and a woman who buys men with money.

It was so publicly known that Isella herself couldn’t possibly have stayed unaware, and Carynne had to endure her hysterical outbursts.

“No rumor lives up to the real thing.”

Zion chuckled as he responded.

“Are you talking about my face?”

“Everything about you.”

Good grief.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Carynne narrowed her eyes and glared at Zion. Sir Zion, introduced by Raymond, certainly had no lack in his security skills. But for him to flirt so openly with Isella…

Carynne frowned as she looked at Isella.

“Hmph! Everyone just starts spreading rumors after borrowing money from my father.”

“That seems likely.”

But this guy seems like he’s after your money, too.

Carynne was about to whisper that. As a friend, she ought to advise on whether the men approaching were good or bad.

Carynne thought of the noblemen in high society who, though not as reputable as Raymond, were not rude and possessed considerable wealth.

“……”

The problem was that the men were all only interested in Carynne. Even if she tried to introduce Isella, it was uncertain whether they would like each other. Moreover, while talking to Zion, Isella looked like she was genuinely quite chipper.

‘Should I just leave things as they are?’

Carynne noticed Isella glancing at her while her voice grew louder. Isella seemed quite pleased that Zion was showing more interest in her than in Carynne. It felt a bit strange, but perhaps it was okay as long as Isella was satisfied. Isella was pleased with Zion, and Carynne would just be clapping along at Isella’s side.

“…Sir Zion, when are you meant to receive the promised compensation?”

“You needn’t worry about that, Miss Carynne.”

His deliberate distancing was too obvious. Carynne frowned. Was it really right to leave it at that?

Zion ignored Carynne and asked Isella.

“Isella, will you continue to stay at the Grand Cathedral after we reach the capital? Isn’t that a bit dull?”

“I suppose so. My father won’t be able to enter anyway.”

“Ah, but I know some great places, and it would be a shame to just stay there.”

“But if my father comes looking…”

It was already clear from Isella’s face that she was thinking of changing her plans of staying indefinitely at the temple, and the following to-do list she had written before meeting Zion. At this, Carynne stopped herself from saying anything. Isella pretending to be a well-mannered lady didn’t suit her.

Why did Raymond introduce such a man? Clearly, he was skilled, but Zion’s overt flirting with Isella was concerning.

Isella was the priority.

Carynne thought again about her goal in this life.

To become friends with Isella.

And as a friend, it was her duty to remove any unworthy men who clung to her. Carynne believed that. And as she glared at the back of Zion’s head, she pondered how to separate the two.

There are many men in the world. And Carynne knew plenty of men herself.

Carynne clenched her fist and resolved to introduce other men to her friend.

* * *

“Then, I’ll entrust this task to you, Sir Zion.”

Raymond had to swallow his groan as he looked at the man before him. The guy’s smile was bright. He seemed quite pleased with the compensation Raymond had promised. After all, most of the tasks he took on were more dangerous than Raymond’s.

With a background of being from the lowliest among the commoners, Zion was always tasked with dirty work or fighting on the front lines. For him, this was no more than a light exercise he did every day.

“Just trust me, senior. Carrying two ladies to the capital is no sweat at all.”

“…I’m seriously relying on you this time, Sir Zion. I have things to do and can’t accompany them… but really, it should have been me going.”

“Just trust me.”

Zion thumped his chest confidently in response, but Raymond was not reassured.

‘I can’t just send the two of them alone.’

It was impossible for Carynne and Isella to travel to the capital alone. They needed a carriage and someone to protect them.

“…Sir Zion, I have a favor to ask.”

Sir Zion Electra, while not as skilled as Raymond, was certainly capable and was one of the people closest to him that could be motivated by money. Others had power so that Raymond couldn’t move them, or it risked Isella or Verdic finding out about the plan.

Zion was the right choice. However, the problem was that Zion was a bit too good at wooing women. Raymond knew how much of a ‘darling’ he was to many women, which was why he really didn’t feel like introducing him to Carynne.

“Well, so many people already say that I do anything for money. Do I look like someone who would touch your woman, senior?”

“…I’ve broken off my engagement with Isella Evans.”

“What? Why? That cash cow… Ahem. But wow, you’re really crazy, senior.”

“That’s why I want to help her achieve what she wants to do from now on. So, if you do anything strange to her, I won’t let it go.”

“What about the other woman? There’s one more, right?”

“Yes, it’s Miss Carynne Hare…”

And actually, she’s my lover, and she and my ex-fiancée are supposed to become friends.

It seemed excessively strange even to himself. How should he explain their situation to Zion?