Chương 27: The Starboy And His Quirky Betrothed

"Children, please." Enel quickly removed the children trying to climb onto him again, gently moving them to the ground while their feet slid on the mud.

"But Lord Enel—""Oy. Why do you guys never listen?"

"Tch. Shut up, Lamb." Some of the children still did not listen, and one of them even held onto Enel's tunic as he stepped forward. The child was dragged along the dirt, and if it were not for Lamb plucking his tiny fingers away, he would have eaten dirt. The boy seemed not to mind at all, however, even laughing at all the dirt that got into his clothes. Enel stepped closer to the young woman standing before them. And even with mud on her dress and her face, it was impossible to hide the grace hiding beneath.

The two stared at each other for a moment, then Enel lowered himself to one knee, his fist pressed over his chest.

"My Lady." For a moment, the empty lot turned quiet. The light rested over them gently. The children stood behind Enel with wide eyes. Lamb, for once, did not say anything. She did, however, nod several times with a wide grin on her face. Tiny straightened his back, then quickly bowed as he finally realized she was the duke's daughter. Guinevere looked down at Enel. Her face did not redden, nor did she look displeased.

She simply looked at him with calm green eyes, then lifted the edge of her muddy skirt and curtsied.

"My Lord." Her voice was soft. Friendly, but in a very polite manner. And for that single moment, Tiny's eyes forgot to breathe—thinking this was the epitome of noblesse beauty... but then a child slammed into Enel's back.

"Ah!" The child bounced back, but quickly recovered and climbed onto his shoulder. The others also took this chance to join in, while Enel was on his knees.

"I want to ride, too!"

"Can you jump to the roof again?!"

"You brats!" Lamb rushed to pull all of them, and even Tiny helped. Enel did not move at all, just letting the children tug at his hair and cheeks. Guinevere watched the scene for a moment. Then, very slowly, a smile appeared on her face. It took a while for them to get the children off him, and Enel immediately stood up before they started doing so again.

"I apologize, My Lady."

"There is no need to apologize," she shook her head.

"I rather welcome the change."

"I must also apologize for the matter of our... betrothal. I do not wish to use you to save my father, but—""You are not using me, Lord Enel," she interrupted him.

"The fault completely rests on our fathers." The honesty of her words caused Tiny's mouth to open slightly. Lamb's smile faded, and she looked at Guinevere again, lightly whistling. Enel lowered his head.

"Still, I apologize."

"I will fulfill what my father requires of me," Guinevere said.

"That is all." Enel could not really figure out the tone of her voice, whether she was sad or angry. And so, Enel just placed his hand on his chest and bowed again.

"Then I will do the same, My Lady." Lamb leaned closer to Tiny.

"Enel must be so confused right now." Tiny also leaned closer.

"He seems to be doing well?"

"Are you kidding me? He knows nothing about women. He still thinks babies are made through oaths."

"Really...?"

"In a way, they are." Guinevere turned toward the two, her eyes settling on Lamb.

"You are Lamb." Lamb blinked.

"You know me?"

"The children had many things to say about you." Lamb's grin returned.

"Then you know I am Enel's sword."

"I was told something like that."

"And if you hurt him, I will bite you."

"I have been told I am difficult to chew." Lamb stared at her, then the grin on her face grew even wider.

"I like her." Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. Enel sighed, relieved that Lamb was at least not going to do anything wild... yet. He then glanced at the children and noticed several of them were eating something colorful.

"My Lady," he said, focusing back on Guinevere.

"You were asking about the barony from the children?"

"I was."

"Why?"

"Children often see what adults cannot," Guinevere said.

"And they are honest if given sweets."

"Sweets…?" Enel looked at the children again. One boy quickly closed his mouth and tried to hide the thing he was chewing by turning around. Lamb's eyes widened.

"You gave them sweets? Do... you have more?"

"No." Lamb clicked her tongue.

"I like you less."

"But I do have more in my coffers. I will give you some, once the chance arises."

"Enel, marry her. Now." Enel didn't really know what to say to that, and just awkwardly smiled while scratching his chin. He then glanced at the dilapidated house Guinevere had looked at earlier, then toward the road.

"Would you like to join us on our walk, My Lady? If you wish to know more about Widow's Wall?"

"If you would not mind," Guinevere bowed.

"This place may be my home henceforth, after all."

"You..." Enel blinked.

"Then I would be honored to welcome you. Please." He turned, gesturing for them to walk. And so, they did. They couldn't take a few steps, however, before Lamb sneakily kicked Enel by the ankle.

"Take her hand, you fool," she whispered loudly. Enel glanced at her, then back to Guinevere, who was already offering her arm.

"Forgive me, My Lady," he said, carefully and gently taking her arm.

"Must you always apologize for every little thing?" Guinevere tilted her head.

"And please, you need not always address me. If we are to be married, it would be best to be familiar."

"Oh..." Enel blinked.

"If that is what you prefer, M—hm."

"Pft..." Enel quickly glanced back, only to see Lamb with a wide smirk on her face. Even Tiny had a complicated expression, perhaps a little worried about him. Still, they continued their walk. They passed by an old well, and Guinevere stopped beside it. She placed a hand on the stone, brushing his fingers along where it had been repaired and mended a hundred times.

"Who draws water?" she asked.

"Everyone is free to use the well," Enel said.

"You... do not know who?" Tiny stepped forward.

"Mostly the children in the morning, My Lady. Women later, and then men when they need more than one bucket." Guinevere looked at him, causing him to back away and quickly bow his head.

"I-I mean, I think so. I apologize for interrupting, My Lady. My Lord."

"Hm." Guinevere turned her focus back on the well, then on Enel.

"You should have designated people handling the procurement of water. It would prevent diseases from spreading. And you should definitely not let children near it." Lamb also approached the well and looked down.

"Lady, you just got here. The water is free for everyone."

"I know sickness is also free, and a lot of people in Widow's Wall are sick," Guinevere said, then looked toward a woman who was coughing on the side.

"I am not saying you should not provide water, but to control who has access to it."

"Well, that's not how we do things in Widow's Wall."

"And that is why it is failing."

"Okay. You just got here," Lamb repeated.

"You know nothing about this place."

"But I do." Guinevere looked around.

"The stones, they speak to me. I have been to many such places, and most of them have been erased from maps. The only reason Widow's Wall is still not one of them... is because of you." She looked at Enel, staring into his blue eyes.

"The young lord who serves his people, perhaps a little too much." And once again, Guinevere left Enel speechless. Lamb, however, had something to say.

"Fuck..." she whispered.

"I hate to say it, Enel. But the lady makes sense. You should marry her."

"Lamb," Tiny pulled her away.

"Why are you swearing in front of a lady?"

"I'm also a lady, you little tit." And while the two started bickering again, Guinevere noticed Enel not saying anything and couldn't help but sigh.

"You have to forgive me, Lord Blackwood. I have been told I am quite eccentric, and that I tend to speak my mind even when it is not needed."

"No, it... is fine." Enel shook his head.

"I would rather you speak it. I have been learning lately... that I have a lot to learn. My very actions have caused... everything bad that has happened to my family as of late."

"You should also take credit for the good you have done." Guinevere looked at all the people moving crates.

"Ulric Goldhand—even my father had not managed to bring him to his side, and yet here he is, in Widow's Wall."

"I was just fortunate."

"Fortune has nothing to do with it."

"You are too kind, My—Guinevere."" My Guinevere?" Lamb repeated his words loudly.

"You are already claiming ownership of her? I did not know you had it in you, boy."

"I did not mean it like that!" Enel's eyes widened.

"I—""I do not mind." Guinevere shrugged.

"Our names would belong to each other. If we are to be wed, that is how it would be."

"Are you... truly fine with that?" Enel looked down.

"Do you not wish to marry for love?" Guinevere stared at Enel's face for a moment, then a small smile tugged at her face.

"I do not quite understand what love is yet. Do you?"

"Oh, he doesn't. He definitely does not."

"I can speak for myself, Lamb." Enel straightened his back.

"She is right, I do not. But I do know that people should marry for love."

"Perhaps someday, then?" Guinevere bowed.

"But for now, we must do what is required of us."

"... Perhaps someday," he repeated. The group then finally moved on from the well, and they reached the edge of the city, where parts of the wall were still being repaired. The men were fixing a section of the inner wall that had been split by roots. Wooden braces had been placed against the stone, and a scaffold leaned beside it, tied together with rope. The workers noticed them approach, and they quickly bowed their heads to Enel... and then Guinevere.

"M'lady, thank you again for your help earlier!" one of them said. Guinevere only raised her hand, motioning for them to carry on. Enel, Lamb, and Tiny all looked at each other.

"You have been here?" Enel asked.

"The walls are the first place I checked," Guinevere said while studying the wall.

"I am an enginour, Lord Blackwood." Tiny squinted, leaning closer to Lamb.

"She's a what? An engineer?"

"An enginour, stupid." Lamb rolled her eyes.

"She's saying she's half beastfolk."

"No." Guinevere closed her eyes for a moment.

"I create and fix things that people use or would find convenient."

"Oh..." Lamb and even Tiny looked disappointed at her words. Enel, on the other hand, seemed awed.

"I only know how to destroy things, My Lady."

"So I was told." Guinevere turned her focus back to the wall.

"But you did not do this." Guinevere touched the dark marks running along the lower stones. They looked like stains at first, but they were ink left behind by the Dark Forest.

"These marks," she said.

"Roots from the Veil?"

"Yes," Enel answered.

"The children said the roots reached the city."

"They did."

"And the attacks?" Enel's shoulders stiffened slightly.

"There were vemons."

"How many?"

"I... do not know. I was not here."

"I know." Guinevere looked at Lamb.

"I asked the children. Lamb fought the vemons and even went to scout the forest." Guinevere's fingers remained on the stone, brushing them before fully planting her palm on them and closing her eyes.

"Have you asked your people, My Lord?"

"Asked what?"

"Why the attacks from the Dark Forest completely stopped when you arrived?"