Ch. 127
Chapter 127: The Woman Who Trespassed into a Private Residence
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"...Go home?" Hearing me say that, Sarah looked at me with eyes full of suspicion, "Peylo, isn't your home in Winter City... or do you have a place to stay here?"
I gave Sarah a sweet smile: "Yes, a mansion."
"Do you have relatives here?"
"Hmm..."
I thought about it and felt it would be too troublesome to explain, so I simply nodded.
"I suppose so... I'll be going now!"
Turning toward the door and walking briskly, after two steps I heard Sarah's shout from behind: "What do you mean 'suppose so'... Hey, Peylo! Don't forget, there's still that troublesome guy keeping an eye on you, so be careful not to wander around."
Troublesome guy? Who... oh, that red-haired one.
Come to think of it, I haven't seen him these past few days, I'd almost forgotten about that person...
"Got it—"
After responding, I went out the door, descended to the first floor and exited the tower.
After the early spring drizzle, the moist and warm earthy scent in the air was refreshing. The thin misty rain draped the path ahead and the flowers and trees on both sides in a veil of ethereal gauze.
I like this kind of feeling.
The dusk clouds were somewhat dark, yet they didn't make one feel oppressed. Following the road all the way out of the academy's main gate, I saw many greenish-white, plainly designed horned carriages parked on both sides.
According to Sophia, these horned carriages are all available for rent, which is also a specialty of the royal city. Whenever the Royal Academy has a day off, they gather at the entrance like this. The coachmen are mostly middle-aged uncles who cluster in groups of two or three, chatting idly until students preparing to go home approach to inquire about prices.
There are also some horned carriages with very obvious family crests printed on their compartments, and the corresponding coachmen are dressed slightly more presentably. At a glance, one can tell they're servants or stewards and such, here to pick up young ladies and masters to take them home, but such carriages are only a small minority.
The vast majority of students either carried cloth bags of luggage or simply walked out empty-handed.
I walked up to an uncle whose face looked kind, negotiated a price with him, and got into his carriage, riding his horned carriage back to Londor Street.
"Rental carriages" like this are absolutely not allowed to enter Londor Street, so I could only get off at the street entrance. After rounding up the fare with the tip, I gave the coachman 1 silver coin and then walked on foot toward my own residence.
When passing by mansion No. 2, I suddenly noticed several guards standing rigidly outside the iron gate. Somewhat curious, I slowed my steps and poked my head around trying to look inside... the guards immediately became alert.
"Miss, may I ask what business you have?"
The tone of the question was quite polite... which was natural. After all, this is Londor Street. If it were somewhere else, they would probably have just driven people away directly.
"No, nothing." I waved my hand at the guards.
"Little girl, it's getting dark soon, you should hurry home," the guard said to me with a smile.
"Mm."
I nodded obediently and continued walking forward.
I only took a rough glance just now, but I noticed there were even more guards in the courtyard, and the armor they wore was shiny and bright, obviously much better than the guards at the royal city gate. The mansion deeper inside was also brightly lit, important visitors must have arrived, right?
At this time, that woman is probably inside, enjoying dinner with a bunch of fat-headed nobles... there must be lots of delicious food... tch.
I was originally planning to look for her tonight, but from the looks of it she probably won't have time... forget it, I'll go home and make Captain Grey myself!
Thinking about Captain Grey, which I haven't eaten in a long time, I became happy again. Taking light and graceful little steps, I walked to the entrance of mansion No. 3. After opening the tightly locked main gate, I suddenly sensed something was off.
...There's someone here.
A woman was standing in the courtyard.
The woman wore an emerald green casual long dress with a tender pink silk vest. The gaudy combination of pink and green was actually set off by her graceful figure into a kind of unique elegance. Just her back view alone could captivate people.
She stood quietly under the large tree in the courtyard, seemingly lost in thought gazing at the flower buds covering the branches. Her smooth golden hair cascaded down casually, stirred by the breeze like ripples on water.
I immediately recognized who she was.
Victoria... what is this woman doing here... no, wait, how did she get into this courtyard!
Looking back at the large iron gate, I confirmed it had definitely been locked just now... so, frowning, I quickly walked toward her.
I deliberately made my footsteps loud. After a few steps, she noticed and turned her head.
"You're here."
She said, still with that bland tone from my impression, her face absolutely beautiful yet indifferent, her eyes as vast as the sea of stars containing no emotion whatsoever.
That manner made it seem as if she were the master of this small manor, while I was the guest.
So after walking up to her, I raised my little head to glare at her and asked unhappily: "How did you get in."
Upon hearing this, Victoria raised her right hand, her slender index finger pointing toward the fence wall on one side: "There."
...So this woman actually climbed over the wall to get in!
No wait, she can fly... being able to fly doesn't make you special!
"Just casually, entering someone else's home, you—"
Halfway through my words, I saw the expression on her face change subtly, her leaf-like eyebrows furrowing slightly as if she found it quite strange: "Aren't you the same?"
Uh...
Damn it, she's right... but so what, this time I'm in the right!
So I glared with wide eyes and clenched teeth... I think my eyes are glaring really big, surely enough to intimidate her... then I realized this woman is somewhat tall, a whole head taller than me. I felt that looking up like this would weaken my momentum, so I stood on tiptoes — then realized I still had to look up, which made me even angrier.
"But you're the Queen! How can a Queen! Break into a commoner—"
"You're a Pontifical Knight, not a commoner."
"...Then, even more so—"
"Why can a Pontifical Knight do something that a Queen cannot?"
"......" I was immediately speechless.
Growing angrier inside, yet unable to think of any words to refute her, I could only continue glaring at her to vent.
But Victoria clearly had no interest in staring at me here. She turned around and once again raised her head to look at the budding flowers on the tree.
After a moment she said: "This honey fruit tree will bloom soon and needs careful tending. Look, these flower buds are already somewhat dry."
Her calm and indifferent tone was very irksome to hear.
"What business is it... of yours?"
Victoria glanced back at me.
"It has nothing to do with me. I'm talking about this tree, I just don't want to see it wasted in your hands. After all, its fruit is very sweet."
I frowned slightly upon hearing this.
This tree, so it's not just an ornamental tree after all, it can bear fruit... honey fruit... I've never eaten it, is it really that sweet?
"I don't know how, to tend to trees... is watering enough?"
"There's also insect repellent medicine. I'll have someone send it to you."
...Is she trying to get on my good side?
No, she's trying to change the subject.
Realizing this, I immediately said to her: "Don't try to change the subject. What exactly are you doing here?"
"Nothing to do in particular."
"Nothing to do, so you just stand in the courtyard?"
Didn't guests come next door? Leaving that unattended to stand here stupidly looking at trees? What kind of Queen is this...
But I saw Victoria's beautiful eyes turn to look at the two-story building in the courtyard: "I don't have a key."
...Meaning if you had a key you'd go right in.
"Why don't you just, smash the window and fly in."
I don't even know what to say anymore, this crazy woman... forget it, I won't bother with her.
I'm getting a bit hungry, eating comes first.