Chapter 741: Sweet Talk, Sharp Eyes ( 741 )

While Garius spoke with Francesca and Alf, the sound of approaching hoofbeats reached them.

Erinette arrived, seated atop her large silver Pekko.

Behind her followed Liana and Gloria, each guiding her own mount in quiet formation. The moment they dismounted, Erinette gave a respectful nod and spoke clearly.

"My lord. They are here."

Liana and Gloria stepped forward, bowing slightly with one hand pressed over their left chest.

"...My lord," they said in unison.

Garius turned his gaze toward them, his tone calm but firm.

"Good. You shouldn’t have even considered charging toward the battlefield. Your young master understood the risks and kept you far from it. Even with all your training... even after reaching your current strength... that training was never meant to throw you into battle beside him. It was so you could defend yourselves. Nothing more."

His eyes narrowed slightly, and his voice lowered into something colder.

"I don’t want to see that expression on my son’s face again."

Liana and Gloria both flinched.

"...Y-yes, my lord," they replied quietly, bowing deeper now, neither daring to meet his eyes.

A heavy silence lingered, then Garius gave a short nod.

"Good. Now go to your young master. I trust it won’t be difficult for you to find him."

Without waiting for further response, Garius turned back to Alf and Francesca, while Liana and Gloria straightened and hurried down the road.

Pikko and Peanut trotted calmly behind Liana and Gloria, their talons clacking softly on the cobbled road.

The townspeople of the Armand border town cast glances as the group passed. Some offered warm smiles, recognizing the two maids instantly.

The Armand family emblem stitched proudly on their uniforms left no doubt, they were trusted members of the noble household.

A few stall vendors nodded respectfully. Children paused their play and waved.

Gloria offered a calm smile and a gentle wave in return. Liana, more openly emotional, waved back with both hands and a soft laugh, her heart lightened by the familiar atmosphere.

They continued walking, scanning the roadside.

"Wonder where he went..." Gloria muttered, eyes flicking from alley to alley.

Liana nodded, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.

"Hmm... I’m sure he’s nearby. He’s probably with Buddy. If we see a huge orange Pekko standing around smugly, that must be him."

"Right," Gloria replied with a soft chuckle. "Hard to miss a walking appetite."

Pikko let out a soft squawk, and Peanut echoed it a moment later.

Javier halted mid-step, about to hand over another silver coin to pay for the fruit Buddy had just gulped down. That’s when Buddy’s squawk cut through the air, loud and abrupt, a clear alert.

"Hm?" Javier narrowed his eyes. "What’s wrong, Buddy?"

Cuquawked!

The big orange Pekko stiffened, snapping his head toward the main road.

"...They’re here?"

Cuquawked!

Buddy gave another short squawk, beak sticky with fruit juice as he shifted, signaling the direction with urgent clarity.

Javier’s expression tightened.

Crap... they’re really here already? Liana and Gloria... they’re definitely still mad about that.

His mind flashed to two furious faces, bound with cuffs and gagged with cloth. Yeah, they’re going to kill me.

Without hesitation, Javier vaulted onto Buddy’s saddle.

"Buddy... dash. Now!"

Cuquawked?

The Pekko tilted his head, still chewing on fruit.

Javier grit his teeth. "No time to eat! Dash!"

Cu...quawked.

Buddy didn’t move. Just stared.

"...Fine! I’ll treat you to a whole platter of roasted meat after this. No limit."

CUQUAWKED!!!

Before Buddy could dash, a voice rang out from behind. Sweet.

Javier froze, Buddy skidding to a halt when that sweet voice.

Laced with danger, reached his ears.

"Young master~," Liana’s tone sang across the street, dripping with sugar and threat.

Javier’s shoulders slumped. Ah... can’t run now. He turned slowly, rubbing the back of his neck with an awkward grin.

"Ah... Liana... Gloria..."

The two stood a few paces back, their expressions all smiles, but Javier knew better.

"Where do you think you’re going, hmm?" Gloria asked, her smile bright but her eyes sharp as daggers.

"Ah... just sightseeing. With Buddy here." Javier patted the big Pekko’s neck nervously.

Gloria’s smile didn’t waver.

"No. You shouldn’t go anywhere right now. Since Lord Garius is here, and for sure..." Her gaze narrowed with a glint in her eye. "...he will be looking for you at any moment."

Buddy squawked lowly, sensing the rising storm. Javier forced a laugh, his hand slipping to scratch nervously at the Pekko’s feathers.

Beads of sweat rolled down Javier’s temple as Liana and Gloria smoothly moved to flank him, Liana on his left, Gloria on his right.

Buddy let out a delighted squawk as the girls each pulled out a plump, juicy fruit and held them up to his beak.

"Good boy~," Liana cooed, patting the Pekko’s thick neck as Buddy snapped the fruit up in one gulp.

"Now you should follow us to Lord Garius. I’m sure Giddie doesn’t want anyone straying, right, Buddy?"

Buddy froze mid-chew at the mention of Giddie, his feathers puffing and his gaze darting nervously. A low, uncertain squawk escaped him.

Gloria leaned closer from the other side, her smile bright but her voice edged with steel.

"Yes, Buddy~ You know Lord Garius’s Pekko doesn’t like naughty ones who wander off. You wouldn’t want to upset Giddie by bringing his master son off the proper road, would you?"

Liana’s smile remained steady as she leaned in slightly, her voice honey-sweet.

"Young master~ Since Mrs. Erinnette said you’re still weak, you really shouldn’t be straying around like this, right? You need to let your body rest and be properly treated."

Javier weakly raised his hand, feigning a dramatic cough. "Ah... y-yes... cough, cough... I’m still recovering... from the battlefield..."

Gloria matched her on the other side, her voice gentle, almost motherly. "Now, now~ let’s go to Lord Garius, shouldn’t we?"

Javier coughed louder, doubling down on the act. "Ah... cough, cough, cough! Y-yes... I-I understand..." His voice cracked as if he were barely holding on.

Liana’s smile sharpened, and Gloria’s narrowed eyes glimmered with satisfaction.

Between them and Buddy’s betrayed obedience, Javier knew he had no escape.

Damn... I’m completely surrounded.

I have no where to run.

If I keep staying between these two, I’ll be trapped all the way until we reach the estate.

I should’ve gone straight to Father and Mother right away... at least then, they wouldn’t let Liana and Gloria punish me for tying them up earlier.

Yep... that’s a good idea.

Javier smirked to himself, the corner of his lips twitching upward as if he’d already thought of the perfect escape. He deliberately slowed his pace, letting the two maids walk just slightly ahead, their attention focused forward.

( End Of Chapter )