I Don’t Want to Be a Lady

Charter and I were imprisoned in the tents of the Surg tribe with our hands and feet bound.

“We get caught,” said I

“That’s right,” replied Charter.

Our eyes then met. I then burst into laughter. Charter, who saw me like that, also smiled.

“Even in this situation, I can’t help but laugh.”

I somehow felt cheerful even in this desperate situation. Is this how it feels to be caught doing bad things without an adult knowing?

We were caught stealing horses from the notorious Surg tribe. Looking back, it was absurd. Perhaps that’s why the tense situation earlier felt rather like a funny skit.

“I don’t think they’ll kill us right away.”

“…”

Charter was silent. Because the current situation wasn’t so good. No, it had to be considered the worst.

I recalled the woman who knocked me down. Who on earth is she? I’ve never seen such a technique. My body was turned upside down like a slide without even having to react. Obviously, she was smaller and thinner than me. But she picked up a person taller than herself and put it on her back… When I remembered that moment, a chill ran through my body.

“I’m sorry, Arianne.” Charter lowered his gaze as if he were ashamed and spoke in a drooping tone.

“It’s nothing for you to be sorry about. Looking back, it’s all my fault. So stop apologizing,” I said as I stared at Charter with warm eyes filled with affection.

I didn’t want him to feel sorry for me anymore. Whether it was my mistake or mistake, I didn’t want him to worry about what had already happened.

Charter then smiled broadly at me.

It was then the woman from earlier entered the tent.

“I was a little late from catching a rat. Say hello. You know this person, right?”

I hardened my face when I saw someone behind the woman being dragged by two men of the Surg tribe. The men tossed him on the ground and went out.

“Prince Paku?”

Paku seemed to lose consciousness, lying on the floor and not moving. His clothes were torn here and there, and his face wasn’t good either. He seemed to have fought a fierce battle with those who were chasing him.

“Ah, he’s a bit out of shape, right? A lot of my men have crossed the line.”

Or you could just say it was a one-sided fight.  

The woman walked over and sat down on a buffalo-skin sofa in the middle of the tent.

“Originally, a horse thief will be killed instantly… But I’m dying of curiosity. Duke Kaien of the Harpion Empire and Prince Paku of the Kelteman Empire…”

The woman’s eyes shone eerily like wild beasts.

“What kind of combination is this?”

And the woman’s eyes turned to me. Her eyebrows twitched as she met my eyes, as if asking, ‘But who are you?’.

Charter spoke. “This person is—”

“I didn’t ask you.”

She spoke stingingly. It wasn’t appropriate to speak like that to a duke of an empire, but she didn’t seem rude at all. Now, at this moment, the most powerful person here is none other than that woman.

“I’m Baroness Devit, Baroness of the Harpion Empire.”

I introduced myself. Honestly, I didn’t want to be introduced as someone’s wife when introducing myself to someone. Rather, I felt a little bitter that I had the opportunity to introduce myself entirely thanks to this woman.

“Huh? I think I heard it wrong? Harpion’s what?”

The woman’s eyes widened. She wasn’t kidding. She just couldn’t believe it. Then she burst out laughing.

“This is the first time I’ve heard such nonsense. There can’t be a Baroness in that Harpion.”

The woman looked at Charter to confirm the fact. Her eyes were talking like, ‘Is that really true?’.

Charter responded to the woman’s gaze and opened his mouth. “It’s true. As she said, she’s Baroness of the Harpion Empire.”

The woman’s eyes grew wider than before. Curiosity and surprise filled her eyes, radiating ferocity like a beast. “Really? No way, it can’t be… That’s impossible. That Harpion could never be.”

Surprised for a moment, the woman soon began to deny it couldn’t be like that. She expressed strong disbelief with conviction as if it could never happen.

I was offended by the woman’s reaction and replied, “Where can you find absolute things in this world? Aren’t you also the chief in the woman’s body?”

The woman’s eyes, which were lost in thought, turned to me again. She stared at Arianne sharply, who was glaring at her with rebellious eyes. Even tall men, like dogs, often lowered their tails when they met her eyes. But who is this woman who is not afraid of me and fighting back? Is she just a fearless little brat or a beast with its claws hidden? Her curiosity rose about that cheeky, pretty woman.

“This is fun. I think you have sharp eyes despite being young. How did you know I was the chief?”

I answered in a ridiculous tone. “The chair you’re sitting on. Isn’t that the chief’s chair just by looking at a glance? And I can tell by the men out there following your instructions.”

The woman nodded. “Right. I’m the chief of the Surg tribe. My name is Moyak.”

After a moment of silence, Charter opened his mouth. “To think that the chief of the famous Surg tribe is a woman. I never expected it at all.”

Moyak smiled, showing her crooked teeth. But her eyes weren’t smiling at all. “I guess so. Your Harpion men never acknowledge women.”

I felt out of place in her reaction. She was speaking as if she had experienced such discrimination directly in Harpion. No way. How did the chief of the Surg tribe suffer discrimination in Harpion? Don’t tell me…

“Come to think of it, you speak the language of the Harpion Empire very well.”

Moyak’s eyes returned to me. “I’m very versatile. Rather, it would be better to get to the point now. Start from why you guys were together.”

“I don’t think I have to tell you that.”

When did Paku come to his senses? He said while frowning.

“Anyway, you’re a pretty good guy,” Moyak replied as if she was disappointed that Paku was alive. “You’re good at it, but I don’t know what about the lady over there. How long will she last?”

“If you lift a finger at her, I won’t let you go!”

“Shut up! If you touch her!”

Charter and Paku shouted at the same time.

Moyak’s lips twitched. “Pfft!”

“Hahaha! Ahahaha!”

Moyak said, holding her stomach after a while and smiling, then rubbed her eyes as if she had calmed down. “Ah, I laughed so much that I almost got wrinkles. This is a more absurd and interesting situation than I expected.”

She looked at Paku and me alternately and swept her chin. “I mean… But how? Did you two have a connection?”

Paku didn’t say anything. He shouldn’t give that woman any excuses now.

I didn’t like that look in Moyak’s eyes. Didn’t she make that expression as if Paku and I are in any relationship somehow? “I don’t know what on earth you are thinking, but if you’re not going to kill us, let us go.”

Moyak said with a mischievous smile. “I never said I won’t kill you though?”

“If you were going to kill us, you would have already killed us,” I said, staring at Moyak. “If you’re mocking us for your amusement, just give up. I’d rather you kill us quickly.”

Moyak’s eyes sank coolly at my words. “The reason I haven’t killed you is because my curiosity hasn’t been satisfied yet. Don’t be cocky.”

“Then I must never satisfy your curiosity.”

At my words, Moyak responded coldly. “Unfortunately, that has already been settled. But do you have another question?”

“What are you curious about?”

Moyak lay down on the sofa like a well-fed beast, rested her head on her arm, and said, “Your choice.”

I couldn’t understand Moyak’s words. My choice? What do I have to choose?

Moyak, who grasped what I was thinking, opened her mouth with a smile. “Which one to choose between Duke Kaien and Prince Paku?”

I couldn’t hide my bewilderment and asked back, “What on earth do you mean by that? I don’t understand why Prince Paku is an option.”

In response, Moyak widened her eyes and looked at Paku. Paku was silent with his eyes down. “This is my opinion. I didn’t expect to feel sorry for him… Hey, Baroness, I will give you some advice. You have to choose Prince Paku. Unless you’re an idiot.”

“What on earth does that mean?” I had no idea what Moyak was talking about. “By any chance, do you mean that Kelteman will win this war? Even so, it cannot be a reason for me to choose Prince Paku.”

“There’s a reason.” Moyak was adamant.

“What’s the reason? There must be a reason why I don’t know.”

I initially thought I couldn’t understand why Paku was placed in the option in the first place, but I wouldn’t be convinced by any reason.

“The current Kelteman Emperor doesn’t spare the high-ranking nobles and royalty of the kingdoms he subjugated. Who would have taken his place?” Moyak asked.

“He would have seated his person,” replied Charter.

“That’s right. To be exact, he would put his children.”

Moyak’s face softened. “Then, here is the problem. Who do you think the Kelteman Emperor plans to put on the throne of the Harpion Empire?”

“…No way!”

Charter and I turned our eyes to Paku.

“What do you think? Do you still think you have no reason to choose him?”

In contrast to Moyak’s soft face, a sharp gaze turned to me.