If I Disobey the Duke

The wind that hides in the tower (6)

She asked as she approached the man slowly as she stood on her guard, “…There must be someone here who is important enough for the Knights Commander to stand guard. Right?”

Gallahead responded with a polite greeting to the question that was asked casually. He straightened his back and frowned awkwardly and scratched the back of the head. “I’m sorry. Madam. His Excellency said that if we bring you into the tower, he will cut off all of the guards who are guarding the fortress today and their titles at once and throw them away to the farmland.”

Lily flinched.

“Take pity on this poor guy just once. Please.”

Knowing that he sent someone else without blocking it directly means that something quite urgent had happened in Cadis.

There was a great deal of tension. She had to get to work quickly before he pushed the situation further. She couldn’t waste much time now arguing with Gallahead.

“You don’t have to say that, Knight Commander.” She looked at Gallahead. The still, calm eyes that flowed from the depths of the forest stared at him. “Even if Vlad did not put such a threat, I know that the Commander-in-Chief would not let me in the tower. You’re the most loyal and honest among the knights who serve Vlad.”

Gallahead was a little startled.

He must have been the one who had not seen Lily in a while. It was often said that the fragile lady who fell like a reed in the breeze transformed into a noble ruler, but in reality, it was hard to believe.

Knowing that she was a dignified and benevolent lady, he thought that if she felt sympathy for him, he would convince her and return home.

“…Please forgive my rudeness, Madam.”

It was his apology for his judgment of his mistress, for regarding her as a woman without chivalry. Gallahead straightened his back and faced her again.

His eyes became more serious. “I am much more stubborn than Lord Cadis. It means that no matter what you say, I won’t stay away.”

Gallahead smiled, raising his eyebrows apologetically. Lily also responded with a faint smile.

“You will let me in.”

“Ugh!”

She stretched out a hand towards Gallahead. He avoided her hand with a rather agile movement for his bearish size.

Lily came close enough to bump into him, so he stepped backward, startled. His back banged against the door.

He grabbed his beating heart and opened his eyes. “W-what are you doing? Madam, this… Why are you doing this with such an apologetic expression, Madam!”

Gallahead looked at Lily and trembled.

“I’m really sorry…” she murmured.

There was no greater disgrace than having another man touch the body of a married woman. The only allowed part was the back of the hand where they kissed when they said hello.

Moreover, she was the lord’s wife to whom he swore allegiance. She was the lady he was supposed to serve.

Unless it was an urgent situation, like the frontlines of a battle, he dared not touch her body anywhere.

“I really have to go in. There’s no time for arguing. I will protect both the priest and the knights’ commander. So please open the door.” Lily was guilty of the fact that she was using his knight’s honor as a hostage. Needles stung her conscience. Still, she couldn’t help it. “If you don’t open it….” She bit her lower lip as if it was difficult for her to speak. She looked up at Gallahead, blushing. “I will hug you as best I can. Anyway.”

“Uhm…”

Even half the people, who were watching from behind, gasped in horror. Talin stiffened with her mouth wide open, contemplating if they should do something.

Gallahead was truly terrified. His face, haggard like a ghost-sucked soul, clung to the wall, waving his hand violently.

“I will take out the key. So, put your arm down, Madam. Please!”

He would have prepared for this kind of situation if the other person had originally had a quirky personality and was used to playing pranks on a daily basis.

But this was done by an elegant woman. It was meant to be an unexpected move.

Gallahead was faced with the trouble of a lifetime. Hug with his lady, to dishonor her with his own honor? Losing her honor or having his head cut off for failing to obey his master’s orders?

When he put it on the scales, the second was better. If he was going to lose his honor anyway, he’d be better off alone. Protecting the honor of the woman he served was an important duty for a knight to follow.

The old, rusty hinges screamed as the door opened. Because the tower had been neglected for a long time, the smell of moss and dust was already coming from the entrance.

“Madam,” Gallahead looked up at her and murmured, “I will send someone to His Excellency right now to inform him of this.”

Lily nodded her head. “Yeah. I know.”

It seemed like she was prepared for that. At her blunt answer, he sighed. Scratching his shaggy beard, he gasped.

He suddenly remembered what Ivan had said about the lady in Ataka.

She pretended not to be, but in fact, she was a great person without even realizing it.

Indeed. Indeed she was.

He felt as if he could understand why the terrifying master, who lived alone his whole life, was held tightly under a leash by his wife.

If his lady was holding herself back to this extent, at least, it seemed that the necks of the soldiers who were on guard duty today could be protected with the power of hers.

Gallahead chuckled at Lily.

Without a moment’s hesitation, she strode into the dark tower.