Chapter 363 Little Red Riding Hood And The Wolf
Since Adam's condition had stabilized, Elizabeth decided to return to the main residence with Edward for now. She hadn't expected to be separated from Edward, so they needed to discuss packing instructions and adjust their schedule in the capital.
Also, Robert and Rebecca didn't have many days left until their wedding, so they headed to the annex, which would be their home after marriage. It seemed they also needed to think about the guests to invite for Sara's birthday party.
After seeing the adults off, Sara went back to her room to get ready for the night market. Meanwhile, Scott and Adam remained on the second floor. Adam glanced at Scott and let out a small sigh.
"Hey Scott, did you know Marg from a long time ago?"
"Not really. She's the governor's daughter from Grandchester, and I'm just the son of a knight from Grandchester. We only greeted each other at parties."
"But you call her Meg."
"Well, we're around the same age, and when the adults are talking, we chat a bit, so it makes sense to use a nickname."
"Didn't you ever talk about engagement or anything?"
"Not at all. In fact, Meg's father planned to marry her off to a powerful noble. It was said that the reason why he took a second wife was to give birth to a beautiful daughter, so guys like me, who are kind of in between noble and commoner, weren't even invited to tea parties."
"If that's the case, shouldn't he introduce them to the main family?"
"Well... it doesn't mean anything at the main house. That father and brother wanted to show the main house up. Especially, it seems they had a lot of thoughts about the Young Marquis family. I've seen them say things like 'They only come to the territory sometimes, but act all high and mighty' many times."
"I can't deny that. Maybe Marg and Millie don't like us either?"
"Then you should ask them directly."
"If they hate me, what should I do?"
"I don't know. If Meg thinks Adam is a friend, then I believe you two can stay friends no matter what your fathers' relationship is. Besides, Adam, you have probably spent more time with Meg than anyone else. You know Meg is a good kid, right?"
"I know. She's a really nice girl."
"Anyway, just talk it out. You can think about the rest later."
Adam nodded silently.
"I have a favor to ask you, Scott."
"What is it?"
"I want to train in swordsmanship seriously, not just study. I know I don't have the skill to learn from Sir Jeffrey right now. So, can I join the training with you and Blaze?"
"Do you have time for that, Adam? There's not much time left until the academy exam."
"I know. But I feel like it's important to build my body, not just my mind. So I was thinking even just morning training would help."
"If you come to my house, I think my father will watch the training sometimes. I heard your horse has come back properly. If you're serious, bring your study materials and come every morning. Miss Cordelia's private school is closed because of the fever, right? It would be better to go to Maiden's Tower together for self-study."
"I appreciate it."
"You're going to hear about it at the Academy's entrance ceremony. For now, just rest your body. You'll be screaming soon enough. Our training isn't easy, you know."
"I wouldn't want it any other way."
With a refreshing vibe that would make Sara say, 'Who is this?', Adam headed to the guest room he was using.
'Who is that? Is that really Adam?'
It seemed that Scott had the same question as Sara. Adam's change was so sudden and remarkable.
'But well, it looks like we can be proper classmates. It feels like all the Grandchester boys are gathering together.'
Scott glanced at the door Adam had just left through and smiled softly.
* * *
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Scott."
The moment Scott saw Sara coming down the stairs from the third floor, he fell in love all over again. He had liked Sara for a while. Because of her youthful appearance, Scott had a protective feeling, thinking, "I'll wait until she grows up," and had looked at her from a somewhat superior perspective. On the other hand, Sophia was so beautiful that she felt unreal, and he thought of her as "just a temporary form."
However, Sara coming down the stairs was a girl he just wanted to hug. He wanted to feel her warmth, hold her in his arms, and seal her lips... and then his thoughts turned into typical teenage fantasies, but anyway, Scott had truly fallen in love for real.
"Hey, Scott, say something. I think I look pretty good right now."
The noticeable silver hair was dyed a brown color to blend in, braided on the sides like a headband, and styled up at the back, exposing her neck. Just seeing the few strands of hair left made Scott feel thirsty.
"You're really beautiful. You changed your hair color, huh?"
"I dyed it because it stood out too much. It washes out easily. The hairstyle is Maria's masterpiece."
Sara twirled around on the spot. Her knee-length flared skirt and tailored jacket were made of thick, warm tweed fabric. Under the jacket, she wore a laced vest. This vest acted like a corset, emphasizing her slim waist even though her bust was modest compared to when she was Sophia. On her feet were long boots that she was used to wearing as Sophia, and if you looked closely, she wore thin leggings under her skirt, just in case she needed to ride a horse. The fluffy petticoat added volume to the skirt, making it easy for her to run around the night market.
"Aren't you cold with your neck exposed?"
"I'll wear a scarf, and I'll put on a hooded cloak over the dress, so I'll be fine."
Sara smiled brightly as she said this, and Scott felt his heart skip a beat again.
"There are only a few places to leave the horses at the night market. How about we ride Dimna together?"
"Sure! But let me sit in front. Even in this outfit, you're taller than me, and I won't be able to see."
"Then I'll have to hold you carefully so you don't fall off."
Scott felt a little greedy. It was true that there were limited places to leave the horses, but it didn't make a huge difference if they shared one horse. He just wanted to ride with Sara.
"Alright, let's go. I just heard that the golems brought Dimna close to the car stop. We can leave right away."
"The golems are really quick, huh?"
"If you get used to this convenience, you might not be able to escape it."
"I feel like I've become someone who can't function without golems."
'If only she could become someone who can't function without me...'
He was definitely in his teenage years. Usually, he was a smart boy, but right now, he was so excited that his brain was not working properly.
"With this outfit, the rapier would stand out, so I'll just take a regular dagger. If I run into any weird people, I think I'll rely on Scott."
"Of course, I'll protect you, but don't you want to use your usual main gauche?"
"That was made by Teresa so I could use it easily with my left hand. But I'm right-handed, so I'd prefer a dagger that's easier to use with my right hand."
"I see."
"It was easy to hide under my skirt."
"Wait!?"
Just hearing 'under the skirt' from Sara made Scott's blood rush to a different part of his body, but he quickly remembered the sweaty seniors practicing in the knight's training area to calm himself down.
Once outside, Scott lifted Sara and sat her sideways on Dimna's back.
"I'm heavier now that I've grown, right?"
"No, not at all. I can run while carrying you like this."
Scott also mounted Dimna, holding Sara in his arms. At that moment, a gentle floral scent wafted from Sara's hair. Scott had no idea what kind of flower it was, but it was definitely the smell of flowers.
"Sara, it's going to get cold when Dimna starts running, so you should keep your hood on tight."
"I understand."
Scott wanted to keep enjoying the scent of Sara's hair, but he knew he couldn't let her catch a cold. He definitely wasn't thinking about biting her delicate, white neck or tracing his fingers along her ear with the loose strands of hair... or at least, he hoped not.
Sara's hooded cloak was a deep shade of red. When she saw the cloak, she thought, 'Am I Little Red Riding Hood?' But she had no idea that Scott's mind was getting closer to the idea of a wolf.
And so, Scott and Sara set off into the night city, riding along with Dimna.
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