CH 459

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A Hard Worker and Two Ladies

“Hey, Bel, do you want to go for a walk? I thought we could go sightseeing in the city.”

After a lot of complaining and crying, her friend had finally finished the work Ludwig had given her, so Citrina suggested they do something fun.

The two of them were in the guest room of Count Lampron. Even though Duke Yellowmoon’s daughter was there, she didn’t bring any of her servants. She didn’t even bring guards with her. This wasn’t a sign that Yellowmoon was going downhill. Lorenz did this because he wanted to be safe; if Yellowmoon was too obvious, it might draw unwanted attention. Mia wouldn’t mind, but Esmeralda and Tiona might not be as open-minded. In order to do this, he didn’t send any of his own men, putting his daughter’s safety in the hands of Mia and her protection.

Usually, one of Mia’s more experienced maids would be sent with her on the trip, but Citrina had turned down the offer.

“Oh, Your Highness, don’t worry. There’s no need to plan so carefully for Rina,” she’d said with a smile. “I’m fine on my own, so you don’t have to put up more guards than you have to.”

Did her attitude come from the stress of always being watched by Barbara? No, in fact. In no way. On this trip, it was pushed by a strong desire to get certain things done. Things like…let’s go for a walk! Together, let’s go shopping! Hide under the sheets and talk all night long!

You’re right. This was Citrina’s first trip with a real friend, one where they didn’t plan and scheme, and she was going to have the time of her life. People following her around would be very annoying, so she tried to get rid of anything that could get in the way of her plans.

A trip with Bel was a serious business.

So, as soon as she saw Bel finish her last question, she’d suggest going somewhere. And Bel, being Bel, said, “Yes, of course.”

This was where her favorite Libra King lived. She had no intention of staying inside.

So, the two smiling girls went out the door. But someone saw them leave, and that person didn’t like it!

—

When Count Lampron’s guard captain, Connery Caldwell, saw the two young girls walk out of the main door of the house, he sighed in the way that people do when they’ve had enough.

As a bit of background, this man was in charge of the group that followed Mia to the city and kept an eye on her. Because of how hard he worked, the count had complete faith in him. Which, to be honest, just gave him more work, but he did it like the hard worker he was. He had just finished the nerve-wracking job of keeping a group of super-VIPs safe on their way to Sunkland and was winding down with some less stressful work. But it was not peaceful at all.

When he got there, he was told to take care of the guests as their assistant. But he was used to this kind of thing, so he didn’t mind it.

Earlier, he almost had a heart attack when he saw the Tearmoon princess and one of her female friends leave the Lampron house with only two of her own men. That went against everything that makes sense. Even though the royal city wasn’t dangerous at all, this was the Tearmoon princess, for crying out loud! Even though the odds of something going wrong were very small, come on. Most likely, two guards would be enough, but in his line of work, he didn’t want to take chances.

He’d run out the door and managed to convince her to let him get two more men from Lampron’s private army to go with her, but only after swearing they’d stay out of her sight as much as possible.

Before she left, Mia said with a raised eyebrow, “I’m not sure why you even bother. I mean, I’ve already brought my own guards…”

The look of pure confusion on her face had been very frustrating.

He said to himself: I bother because you’re the Princess of Tearmoon, but I guess only one of us realizes that.

Two more young noble girls were now trying to sneak out. If he had a penny for every sigh he let out on this job, he’d be rich.

Citrina Etoile Yellowmoon was one of the girls. She was the daughter of one of Tearmoon’s Four Dukes. The fact that she was born to one of the highest-ranking nobles in the kingdom caused him a lot of stress. And then there was the girl she was with, who was even worse. Who in the suns even was she?

Her name is the only thing I know about her. What’s up with this girl who is a mystery? She looks just like Princess Mia, and she has the same attitude. The girl is hanging out with the daughter of a Duke like she belongs there. And I’ve seen her talk to the princess in a normal way more than once. Who is she, anyway?!

He got the creeps from Miabel because there was something strange about her. He couldn’t help but feel like his head would roll if something bad happened to her. In a sense. That fear made him stand up. Being a man of action, he quickly did what he thought was right.

“Excuse me, Lady Citrina and Lady Miabel,” Connery said to stop the two girls from leaving.

They just stared at him in surprise. Given that they more or less held his life in their questionably smart hands, he saw something on their young faces that looked more like horns than a halo.

“If I may be so bold, may I ask where you’re going?” he asked with a heavy hint of sarcasm. “Because if it’s not that important, could you two young ladies please just stay put in this nice big mansion?”

“Sure! We’re going to walk around the capital and see all the cool things this city has to offer!” said Bel, who was excitedly bobbing up and down.

It’s clear that his suggested message did not get through.

Yep. I knew that one was coming. So, let’s go…

He felt his stomach turn.

I guess that damn thing is acting up again.

He wasn’t shocked, though. Since he started this job, it had been giving him trouble.

“In that case, will you allow me to go with you to make sure you’re safe.”