Chapter 10: Something You Should Know

Xavier gestured toward the entrance of the tent. When Rexton lifted the flap, Jude stood there with a slightly flushed face.

Jude glanced at Rexton’s emotionless expression before saluting Xavier. Receiving her salute, Xavier asked, 

“What is it, Jude? What about Lady Graham?”

“There’s something Your Grace absolutely needs to know.”

“Something I need to know?”

“Yes.”

“Come in and report.”

Jude, her senses heightened, approached the desk where Xavier was seated, her face slightly stiff. Once Rexton stepped out and his footsteps faded, Jude’s expression turned resolute.

“Your Grace, that woman is impure.”

Jude was deeply bothered by Yuria Graham, the young lady of the Baron Graham family. It wasn’t just that she had arrived wearing an odd riding outfit under the pretense of volunteering; Jude could see right through her concealed impure intentions. To her, it was infuriating to see a newly adult young lady prance around as if playing house, just because she had some money.

“Jude, Deputy Graham is a baron’s daughter and a guest. Be careful with your words.”

Xavier understood why Jude was behaving this way.

‘She probably thinks the immature baron’s daughter is disrupting the atmosphere of a bloody battlefield.’

He himself had initially found Yuria Graham unpleasant. She had arrogantly shown up at the camp without notice, trying to strike a deal with him and shoving a contract in his face.

But upon reflection, it wasn’t a bad move. Thanks to her, the entire unit had greatly benefited.

Honestly, he was grateful. And, to some extent, he found her quirks amusing.

The point was, Yuria Graham seemed different now.

Well, at least for the time being.

“If that’s all you have to say, stop.”

“Would Your Grace still think that after hearing this?”

Jude placed a magical device on the desk. Xavier looked up at her, questioning its purpose.

“This is a magical device with a recording function. I recorded what Lady Yuria said—please listen.”

“Jude, what do you think you’re doing?”

“I know. I’ll accept punishment for using military equipment for personal purposes, but please, just listen.”

“Ha, Jude. That’s not the issue here! You recorded someone without their consent?”

Xavier slammed his fist on the desk in anger, but Jude shouted back.

“But that young lady said, ‘I am crazy about marrying Your Grace!’”

Her agitated voice echoed throughout the tent.

“Jude, I think you’re the one who’s gone crazy.”

“Please, my lord, just listen to it once!”

Jude reverted to the title she used to call him in their youth. Her purple eyes, contrasting with her red hair, looked desperate. Seeing her imploring gaze, Xavier reluctantly agreed.

“Fine. Play it.”

Overjoyed, Jude pressed a button, and the round magical device lit up and began to play. Through the device, the voices of Deputy Graham and another woman could faintly be heard.

“Hiccup, Miss. Are you going home now? — With the volunteers and healers—.”

“No, I’m not leaving yet.”

“What?”

“I need to show His Grace my sincerity.”

‘Sincerity?’

It sounded like Yuria Graham’s voice, but it was so faint it was barely audible.

Xavier leaned closer to the device. Flustered, Jude hastily paused the recording.

“I-I’m sorry. I’m not familiar with how to use this yet. And I recorded it from too far away.”

“…….”

With a sigh, Xavier gestured for her to continue. Jude, her face red, pressed play again.

“What? — Are you really planning to marry the Duke?”

“Maya. Do you think I’m—.”

“I-I’m sorry.”

“No need to apologize. — I’ll stay here until the mercenaries arrive. — Let’s rest for now and then help out.”

“Really?”

The voices of the two women played amidst static, but the critical parts were drowned out by interference.

Wait, something’s wrong.

Jude’s facial muscles twisted awkwardly.

She was sure she had heard, “I am crazy about marrying the Duke,” earlier.

Unskilled in operating the magical device, Jude didn’t realize she might have misheard or that the recording was flawed.

“What exactly is so impure about this? All I hear is her saying she wants to help me sincerely.”

“That can’t be right. Just give me a moment.”

Flustered, Jude fumbled with the device. Xavier, already annoyed, began to feel apologetic toward Yuria Graham.

“That’s enough. Leave.”

“Your Grace, I swear it’s true. That young lady said with her own mouth that she’s ‘crazy about marriage.’”

Xavier stared at her with displeasure before closing his eyes tightly.

“I’m disappointed in you, Jude.”

Seeing the face of the man she admired and loved turn cold, Jude panicked and quickly admitted her fault.

“Ah, Your Grace. I went too far.”

“Lady Graham is someone who will leave soon. She’ll be gone in a few days, so why are you so desperate to drive her out?”

“Well, that’s…”

As Jude stammered, Xavier sighed deeply to himself but maintained a calm exterior as he issued his orders.

“General Jude, for misusing military equipment and recording someone without their consent, you are sentenced to three months’ reduced pay. Additionally, you will carry full gear and run 20 laps around the camp. No objections, I assume.”

“…Your Grace.”

“Right now.”

“Yes.”

Jude left, unable to hide the regret on her face. After confirming she was gone, Xavier rubbed his face roughly with his hands.

‘What am I even doing?’

Feeling frustrated, Xavier removed his shirt, preparing to take a shower.

Next to the tent, the makeshift shower was filled with warm steam. It seemed the water provided by the water spiritist Yuria Graham had brought was heated using magic stones.

Water streamed down his chiseled chest, pooling into a puddle at his feet.

“Yuria Graham.”

Her name slipped softly from his lips. Wasn’t she the same woman who used to send him love letters almost daily, practically stalking him?

“I’ve completely given up on you, Your Grace. I’m here as a representative of the Graham Trading Company.”

Her confident face as she said that came to mind.

‘Or does she have some ulterior motive? I should remain cautious, just in case.’

The more he thought about it, the more unsettled he felt.

Letting the water cascade over him, Xavier tried to shake off his tangled thoughts.

＊

By the time the potatoes and onions were peeled, dumped into the stew pot, and the pork and corn were boiled, the Duke still hadn’t shown up. The trumpet signaling mealtime had echoed across the camp some time ago.

‘Lazy Duke. I even boiled Korean-style pork belly for him.’

“Tch.”

“Miss, are you tired?”

Maya cautiously asked as I clicked my tongue in irritation.

“I’m fine. I’ll just finish boiling the corn, then eat.”

“I’ll help.”

Though a bit clueless, Maya was sweet, and she grabbed some firewood to stoke the flames beside me. Steam rose thickly from the large steamer, and I lifted the lid to check.

“The corn looks delicious. Just a little longer.”

The corn, freshly picked from the fields, reminded me of the sticky, chewy corn from Gangwon Province.

As I added more firewood to the hearth, I noticed Duke Xavier approaching from a distance. With his long legs and striking appearance, he was immediately noticeable.

‘He’s here!’

Excited, I instinctively raised my hand and waved enthusiastically.

But the Duke, despite making eye contact, deliberately averted his gaze and continued talking with the generals accompanying him.

‘Wow, what a jerk.’

Whatever. I’ll just focus on working. He saw me, so unless he’s completely clueless, he should notice how hard I’m working.

I moved even faster, pulling out the boiled pork with tongs, slicing it neatly, and plating it on wooden dishes to distribute to the soldiers.

“Wow, Miss, you’re serving us yourself? Thank you.”

“There’s plenty, so feel free to ask for more if it’s not enough.”

“Oh, this looks delicious. Look at that shine.”

“It tastes even better than it looks.”

“Wow, you’re right. Mmm, it’s so tender it melts in my mouth.”

“Isn’t it?”

The soldiers’ reactions to the meat were overwhelmingly positive.

“Excuse me, Miss.”

Just then, a man hesitantly called out to me as I was heading to another table.

“And you are?”

He looked somewhat familiar. On closer inspection—

‘Ah, one of those guys.’

‘The ones who called me the “little villainess” and the “immature baron’s daughter.”’

‘And who said I was chasing the Duke all the way here.’

My smile stiffened instinctively. Was he going to badmouth me again?

From the corner of my eye, I saw Duke Xavier sitting on a makeshift chair with a wooden tray in hand, watching me. And, of course, with a very uncomfortable expression.

‘Ugh, of all times! He didn’t come when I was peeling potatoes, but now?’

I needed to leave a good impression, but this was a disaster.

Then, unexpectedly, the man in front of me bent his upper body forward. Startled, I leaned back.

“I want to apologize for earlier.”

“……?”

“I misjudged you based on rumors. Seeing how diligent and kind-hearted you are, I realize I was wrong. I’m sorry.”

The middle-aged man bowed deeply to me.

So, does that mean I’ve gone from being disliked to being liked? I can’t miss this opportunity.

Smiling slyly, I leaned closer to him and whispered softly.

“Say that a bit louder.”

“Pardon?”

As the man looked at me in confusion, I nudged his shoulder with my elbow and gestured with my chin toward Xavier.

“Loud enough for him to hear over there.”