Lady Ella shot Don Quixote a glare and huffed:
"Sir Knight, you mustn't bully Adele."
...Then I'll just have to bully you.
Don Quixote offered a faint smile:
"I am an honorable knight!
"If you ever find me treating Adele poorly, you can report it directly to the Earl.
"I imagine the Earl naturally dislikes it when we freelance knights act out of line."
Lady Ella nodded.
She had only agreed to let him take Adele because the Earl had hired this particular freelance knight.
While she couldn't exactly be called a kindhearted person...
She didn't mind speaking up on trivial matters to show a bit of responsibility, mostly just to alleviate her own boredom.
At that moment, Don Quixote moved his hand.
A gleaming Gold Dragon, which had been resting in his palm for a while, rolled nimbly between his fingers.
He raised an eyebrow and smirked:
"My Lady, you're going to have to swallow your own words!"
Lady Ella froze slightly, taking a moment to catch his meaning.
She immediately backpedaled:
"Sir Knight, I was only joking earlier."
Don Quixote looked dissatisfied, his eyebrows twitching:
"But I took you seriously!"
Lady Ella secretly sized him up, her words not matching her thoughts:
"Lord Don Quixote, you are an honorable knight. You can't possibly bully a weak woman like me."
Don Quixote blinked, his gaze dropping downward:
"Am I not an honorable knight?"
Hearing this, Lady Ella rolled her eyes at him.
She gave a coquettish smile and refused:
"If my husband found out, he would be furious~"
Don Quixote shook his head and gave a dark, knowing smile:
"It's just the two of us here. Are you really going to tell him?
"Lord Raymond is probably drinking at some wayside inn right now.
"He doesn't have the time to come all the way down here."
Lady Ella's expression sank:
"Heh, you've certainly done your homework."
Don Quixote said matter-of-factly:
"It's best to get these things straight. It's much safer that way, isn't it?"
The real power behind Windsor's Lodge was Raymond, the current steward of House Cerwyn.
And Lady Ella was Raymond's lawful wife.
She managed Windsor's Lodge on his behalf.
Lady Ella huffed:
"Since you know about my husband, aren't you afraid of angering him?
"I know for a fact that he recommended you to the Earl and put in quite a few good words for you."
Hearing this, Don Quixote suddenly acted a bit guilty:
"Then I really must thank him properly. I certainly can't let you suffer the slightest grievance, My Lady."
Lady Ella snorted:
"Hmph."
Don Quixote considerately put himself in her shoes.
Then, taking the initiative, he walked over to her.
He didn't want to make things difficult for Lady Ella.
He closed the door.
...
...
...
Don Quixote complained:
"My Lady, you have to be someone who keeps her promises. No matter how hard they are to choke down, you have to swallow the words you said!"
Lady Ella gritted her teeth, refusing to relax.
Don Quixote shook his head and laughed.
This Lady Ella was great in every aspect.
Except she always said one thing while meaning another, and loved to be picky.
It was truly unbearable.
Not long after.
Outside the door.
Adele walked up to the room and suddenly stopped dead in her tracks, looking dazed.
Fear washed over her face.
She never expected Lord Don Quixote to have such a violent temper.
He wasn't holding back at all, not even with the high-and-mighty Lady of the lodge.
It was too much.
The screams echoing in her ears...
It was just too much!
Adele grew even more terrified.
She started to seriously worry about her own future.
Suddenly, the door swung open, and a hand yanked Adele inside:
"Is that Adele? Get in here!"
Early the next morning.
Lady Ella, her face flushed crimson, threw open the door and stormed out in a huff.
What an uncouth brute!
It was her first time encountering such an utterly unreasonable man.
He had pushed things way too far!
She planned to take a few days off just to cool down.
A few hours later.
Don Quixote got out of bed and said softly:
"Adele, you're exhausted. Just stay here and rest for a couple of days."
Saying that, he pulled out a handful of Silver Stags and tossed them onto the bed without bothering to count them, continuing:
"If you get hungry, go to the Iron Axe Tavern and get yourself a good meal.
"If you get cold, head to the leather shop and buy some nice, thick clothes.
"Don't skimp on the coin. Take good care of yourself."
Hearing this, the utterly drained Adele sleepily opened her eyes and mumbled:
"No, My Lord.
"I want to go with you. Please don't leave me behind."
Don Quixote thought about it for a second, then replied:
"Then you rest up first. I need to head outside the city and talk to my men.
"I'll have them keep a closer eye on things, since I won't be joining the patrol today.
"I'll be back soon, and then I'll take you out to get something to eat."
"Ah..." Adele was touched, but she still refused:
"Then you really should go on your patrol, My Lord. If those noble lords find out you left your post, they'll punish you!"
Don Quixote tucked Adele in under the heavy animal skin blankets and smiled:
"It's fine. I'll have my men cover for me. Those nobles won't know a thing."
————
The day passed quickly.
Don Quixote was riding his horse on patrol, his face showing a rare hint of fatigue.
Just then.
Nathan rode up next to him and whispered:
"Lord Don Quixote, there's something I need to tell you."
Don Quixote stifled a yawn and smiled:
"Go ahead, Nathan."
Nathan glanced left and right before continuing in a hushed voice:
"Yesterday, that bastard Ethan Crespo reported you to Captain Liam for abandoning your post!"
Don Quixote's expression instantly turned cold:
"Oh, really."
Nathan nodded, adding:
"Last night, Captain Liam called Vincent and me over and interrogated us about it."
He paused, then quickly clarified:
"Vincent and I both denied it, exactly like you told us to do.
"We told him you spotted wild animal tracks nearby and went to patrol the edge of the Wolfswood."
Hearing this, Don Quixote's expression softened slightly.
Yesterday, it had been his squad's turn to patrol the first half of the shift at the trade market.
He had told his six subordinates to cover for his absence.
Of course, to smooth over any resentment they might have harbored about doing his dirty work, he gave them each 3 Silver Stags.
That was roughly the equivalent of a freelance knight's daily wage.
And for the two Cerwyn city guards, it was a pretty hefty sum.
Don Quixote stayed silent for a moment before asking:
"What about the others?"
Nathan answered quickly:
"Tom and Warren both covered for you, but Shane claimed he had no idea where you went.
"They're absolute bastards.
"Especially Ethan! He took your money and still sneaked around behind your back to break his promise!"
Don Quixote's mood actually settled down quite a bit.
He knew not everyone kept their word.
Even the guys who didn't sell him out this time...
If the price was right, they might stab him in the back the very next second.
He had seen this coming from a mile away.
...