Don Quixote looked up at his six subordinates and said in a low voice:
"Shane, Tom, patrol the market stall area. If you encounter any disputes, step in immediately. Don't let conflicts escalate.
"The rest of you, follow me to guard the perimeter of the market."
"Yes, Vice-Captain!" The men responded.
Soon, they split up.
Don Quixote looked around.
Many stalls had already been rented.
Displayed on them were furs, ale, smoked meat, and handcrafted wooden tools.
There were even a few baskets of fresh fish caught from the White Knife.
Small vendors guarded their stalls, their eyes full of anticipation.
"They're all petty vendors, some barely even count as vendors.
"Just some nearby tenant farmers and hunters coming here to sell their surplus goods and exchange for what they need."
Don Quixote didn't see any major merchants.
He stopped paying attention.
He then led his four subordinates out of the temporary trade market on horseback.
Don Quixote rode leisurely around the perimeter of the market for a while.
Suddenly, his eyebrows twitched:
"Patrol the surroundings well. Don't slack off!"
After speaking, Don Quixote rode to meet Jonelle, who was approaching on horseback.
Jonelle spoke first:
"Knight Don Quixote, long time no see."
Don Quixote's eyes inadvertently swept over her striking white neck and smiled:
"Hello, Miss Jonelle."
Jonelle nodded and then said:
"I didn't expect my father to agree to set up a trade market outside the city this time."
"It's only temporary. I heard that if the results aren't good, the Earl might cancel it very soon," Don Quixote probed.
Jonelle thought for a moment and smiled:
"Since Father has relented, it means he still wants to make this trade market work."
...I hope so.
At this moment, Jonelle looked at Don Quixote seriously and said in surprise:
"I didn't expect you to be so formidable!"
"Which aspect are you referring to, Miss Jonelle?" Don Quixote smiled faintly.
Jonelle missed the double meaning and continued:
"I've heard people around here mention your name often lately, especially the guards.
"After asking around, I found out that your strength is on par with Ser Kyle!"
Don Quixote shook his head:
"That was just a spar, and didn't I lose?
"If it were a real fight to the death, I wouldn't last many moves against Ser Kyle."
Pausing, Don Quixote suddenly became confident:
"However..."
Jonelle's curiosity was piqued:
"However what?"
Don Quixote looked boldly straight at Jonelle:
"In time, I will definitely be stronger than Ser Kyle!"
Jonelle met Don Quixote's gaze but looked away after a while, defeated.
...Hmph, rude little brat.
She turned her head and said:
"You certainly are confident! Hehe, want me to mention it to Ser Kyle?
"I believe Ser Kyle would be happy to spar with you again in a while and teach you a lesson."
Don Quixote said nonchalantly:
"Of course I'm confident! Because I'm still young and have plenty of room for improvement.
"While Ser Kyle is likely limited to his current level.
"Truly defeating him is just a matter of time for me."
Hearing this, Jonelle turned back and looked Don Quixote over again:
"You do have that possibility.
"However, such lack of humility is not the demeanor a knight should have!"
"I'm very humble and shy in front of others." Don Quixote blinked.
...But with beautiful, buxom noble ladies, he, Don Quixote, just wanted to be bold!
Jonelle didn't believe him: "Hehe."
"Miss Jonelle, how about we make a bet?" Don Quixote smiled:
"Six months. Just give me six months!
"If I can truly defeat Ser Kyle, will you take me to Winterfell?"
House Cerwyn was close to House Stark, and Jonelle often visited Winterfell for fun.
Going to Winterfell with Jonelle a few more times to get familiar with faces was secondary.
When the time was right, he wanted to see if he could encounter that direwolf mother.
He, Don Quixote, wanted to tame that direwolf mother.
Even if he couldn't tame the mother, he planned to take the whole litter of pups!
Jonelle was puzzled:
"It's not far to Winterfell from here, only half a day's ride.
"It's very convenient. Why do you need me to take you?"
"What's the fun in going alone? It's just a simple trip," Don Quixote explained:
"I might not even be able to meet Lord Stark. That would be a real pity!"
Jonelle was even more puzzled: "What's there to regret?"
...Regret missing that litter of wolf pups.
As a commoner, he didn't dare wander carelessly into the core area of the Wolfswood.
Although he didn't hunt.
If he really encountered wild beasts, especially large ones.
In a crisis, he would have to kill them even if he didn't want to.
In that case, if discovered by people from Winterfell.
He would have to start a life on the run.
The crime of poaching could be light or heavy.
Light punishment was just confiscation of prey and short-term hard labor.
Heavy punishment was hanging or life-long hard labor.
He couldn't give up on that litter of direwolf pups.
But if at that time, he didn't have the power to protect himself, he would have to carefully steal the pups and raise them secretly.
Until the chaos in the North began and the rules collapsed.
Using Jonelle's status and connections, he could get familiar with people in Winterfell before wandering in the Wolfswood.
Then, even if he accidentally killed a beast that commoners were forbidden to hunt, there shouldn't be any major punishment.
He might even be able to sneak into the hunting parties of noble children.
...Sugar mommy, hungry, want soft rice.
With his thoughts churning, Don Quixote looked at Jonelle, feeling a stir below:
"Of course I regret not being able to see Lord Stark! That's the Stark of the North.
"I went to Winterfell before, but I didn't see Lord Stark even once!"
"...Uh."
Jonelle couldn't understand.
She had seen Lord Stark many times.
Aside from being more imposing than her father, there was nothing special.
But Jonelle didn't dwell on this.
She looked at Don Quixote and frowned:
"No problem. If you really can defeat Ser Kyle in six months, I'll take you to Winterfell.
"But think carefully. Next time you spar with Ser Kyle, I'll call my father to watch.
"Hehe, Ser Kyle won't hold back then!"
"Doesn't matter. Even if I lose, I won't lose face," Don Quixote grinned:
"Perhaps the Earl will even think I'm ambitious!"
...Hmph, then I'll expose your true colors!
Don Quixote's bold gaze just now.
Made Jonelle a little uncomfortable.
It seemed no one had ever looked at her like that.
Nobles cared about propriety; they wouldn't.
At least the noble sons she was familiar with wouldn't.
And ordinary commoners didn't have the guts.
"Such a strange feeling, ticklish."
As a noblewoman, although Jonelle hadn't experienced those things yet, she had long been educated in detail.
She had even heard about some affairs of noble sons and even her own relatives.
...Detestable little brat.
Jonelle looked at the face before her, youthful and clean but also somewhat determined, and huffed:
"I hope you don't regret it!"
With that, she hurriedly rode away.
Jonelle's heart, calm for twenty-eight years, suddenly felt uneasy.
Blame the maid.
Whispering strange and inexplicable things in her ear every day.
When she got back, she would teach the maid a good lesson.
Pinch, whip.
"Why did she leave?"
Don Quixote was stunned.
...Pity, pity. Can't admire that fair and lovely neck anymore.
...