Chapter 20: Inglis, 12 years old (8)
Later that night…
Once Inglis was done with her business in the prep room, she left the castle. Rahal’s lodging was the Marquis’ unused villa located on a hill, a bit farther from the castle. Inglis walked up there, all alone at night. She didn’t wear the gown from the party, instead, she wore the light armor of an apprentice knight.
Inglis had forgone wearing her own personal equipment that was stored back at the Eux mansion and had decided to wear the ones in the castle’s barrack because she didn’t want to cause concern for her mother. The reason that Rahal had wanted this to be done this very night was so that Inglis couldn’t flee. However, this was actually favorable for Inglis since she wanted this over and done with, with her mother none the wiser.
Rafinha had kicked up quite a ruckus until the very end, saying that she couldn’t possibly let Inglis go alone but Marquis Wilford literally cried and stopped her. Therefore, Inglis managed to sneak out on her own amongst all the ruckus.
「Now then—What should I… do~」
Of course, she never planned to simply offer herself. For sure, Rahal too should’ve expected as much. But then again, maybe not, it seemed like being a Highlander had gone way over his head, he was now full of himself and overconfident and possibly thought that this much was enough to win Inglis over.
Even if that was the case, there should be at least some ace up his sleeve. Plus, there was also that big man with an iron mask. Ada also said that Rahal had produced fire out of nowhere and killed Sir Shioni with it. That was most likely sorcery or something similar. Which could very well be the reason that he believed himself to be stronger. Either way, Inglis only hoped that he would be able to show just a bit of resistance. If Rafinha’s wish could come true, then all the more hers should be, as well.
「Hmm?」
As she approached the villa where Rahal should be waiting and the gate came into her sights, she saw the figure of a man standing in front of it. It was the big man in the iron mask who served Rahal. After Inglis had closed the distance between them, she gave him a polite salute.