Droit du Seigneur: His Lordship's Right of the First Night - Chapter 50
A cheerful young man who had recently been knighted showed a natural affection for a particularly pretty girl of his age.
Ever since the maids who washed the bedsheets testified that Richard and Louise shared a bed every night, Sir Tobias turned a blind eye to Louise’s freedom within the castle during the day. As a result, she often encountered Karmon in the castle, and his friendly manner made her feel comfortable around him.
“You’re twenty? The same age as my younger sister. I thought you were much younger.”
“Miss Riddel, do you know any good places to eat around here? It’s my first time in this area.”
“Thank you, I was able to entertain an old friend who visited after a long time.”
Louise, who had been isolated with only a few close friends due to her constant work, found her friendship with Karmon refreshing, especially since she had no male friends of her own age.
“The city we’re about to arrive at is Nas, famous for its charming buildings with red roofs. It’s also home to the oldest temple in the empire.”
“Sir Karmon, you’re very knowledgeable. You know so much about various things….”
“Haha, my family loves traveling, so I traveled a lot since I was young. Ever since I became a knight, I’ve been bound to my master’s side. And the most notable feature of Nas is….”
Though Karmon lacked the experience to fully grasp the nature of Louise and the lord’s relationship, he was shrewd enough for a city man. He didn’t make the mistake of giving the girl he liked a hasty gift or asking her out on a date, which might have made Louise uncomfortable. However, when she showed interest in his stories, he eagerly and enthusiastically explained everything with youthful zeal.
“The wild boar dishes there are a must-try.”
“Wild boar?”
“Do you eat it? Most women seem to avoid it. But if you go to the right place, it doesn’t have a gamey taste….”
“Uh… I don’t eat it.”
“Oh….”
As Karmon sighed regretfully, Louise added in a small voice,
“I’ve never had the chance….”
He was momentarily taken aback before bursting into laughter.
“Hahaha! That’s the best laugh I’ve had all day.”
“I’m glad I could make you laugh, even if just for a moment, since you must be tired from riding all day.”
“Haha….”
Louise laughed lightly with him, but suddenly she felt a piercing gaze from somewhere.
When she looked around, she saw Richard staring intensely at them from a distance. His gaze was so scorching that his deep golden eyes seemed to burn. Louise instinctively shrank from the unusual sight, devoid of his recent warm smiles.
Why is he looking at me like that?
“My lord!”
She called out hastily, but Richard turned and walked toward the front of the procession.
During lunch in Nas, Karmon continued his detailed explanation. His extensive knowledge of dishes made from wild boar, including ragout pasta and roast, was impressive, but by the end of the meal, Louise felt somewhat weary. Having become accustomed to Richard’s typically taciturn nature, she found Karmon’s talkativeness exhausting.
After giving the horses water and taking a short break, the procession set off again. Louise took Richard’s offered hand to climb into the carriage. Her eyes widened when he followed her into the carriage.
“My lord? Why are you suddenly getting into the carriage….”
“I’ll ride here until the next city. The horse seems startled.”
Richard had listened to his aide’s reports with a serious face throughout lunch. He had endured Karmon’s chatter, trying not to interfere. Outside the still-open carriage door, his familiar aide, looking exasperated, rubbed his forehead.
“Schuren, take care of my horse.”
“Yes, sir.”
Only after Schuren reluctantly answered did the coachman close the door. Louise wondered if she had done something wrong as she heard the door of the luxurious carriage close, sealing her in with a stern-looking Richard.
Thud.
As soon as the door closed, he drew the curtains and sat across from her, arms crossed, glaring at her. His tightly set jaw and the low, somber tone of his voice made her feel a chill.
“Why… Why are you doing this?”
“Didn’t I warn you before?”
“Warn me? About what?”
Richard’s fierce gaze made Louise flinch as he spoke abruptly.
“To avoid speaking with other men during the trip.”
“Oh….”
On the first day of their journey, they stayed in a small hot spring town. While returning to her room alone after a bath in the gender-segregated outdoor hot springs, a strange man had approached Louise.
“Miss, a flower soaked in water is truly breathtaking…. May I have the chance to show you my charm?”
“Do you want to stop breathing forever?”
Richard, who had been looking for her, approached and twisted the man’s arm as if he would break it. The man fled without another word.
That night, Richard had warned Louise repeatedly about how men are driven by lust when they see a pretty and lovely woman. He stressed that she should stay by his side and avoid talking to strangers, and if anyone made inappropriate advances, she should slap them immediately.
“You seemed very happy talking to Sir Karmon earlier. Did you completely ignore my warning?”
“My lord, I think your standards of beauty are too generous…. I’m not that pretty or lovely.”
Louise felt embarrassed using such words herself, so she retorted in a small voice. Besides, she couldn’t slap an imperial knight just for chatting about wild boar.
