* * *

Realizing the guild master’s intent, Ed clenched his fist tightly.

The guild master sneered at his futile resistance and pried Ed’s hand open.

“Stop… don’t…!”

Hiiiiiing.

At that moment, the sound of a horse’s agitated neighing echoed through the path, shaking the ground beneath them.

Both Ed and the guild master turned their gazes toward the end of the trail.

Something small appeared in the distance, and in an instant, its form took shape—a white horse with a black tail, charging down the path at breakneck speed.

Ed’s eyes widened in disbelief.

‘W-what? It’s moving faster than Thunder ever could!’

How is that even possible?

Before he could finish his thought, the wild horse barreled forward, kicking up a fierce cloud of dust.

With a loud whinny, it rammed into the guild master’s side and then struck the tall man’s back with its front hooves.

“Aagh!”

“Ugh!”

Screams filled the air, and a low, deep voice cut through the chaos.

“What on earth are you doing here?”

It was the Duke, and his horse, Joy, had arrived.

---

The Duke had been startled when Joy suddenly let out a wild neigh and took off running down the path.

But as he approached, he clenched his jaw upon seeing the situation unfold before him.

Even from a distance, Ed’s pale blond hair and the shape of his body slumped on the ground were unmistakable.

Surrounding him were a group of men, blocking his way.

‘Why is Ed, who left early in the morning, here?’

The Duke loosened the reins, allowing Joy to speed up.

‘I wanted to take Ed to buy Mandrake soaked in sea breeze, but instead, I find him in this mess.’

The night before, long after midnight, as the Duke left the tavern, a tipsy Walter had grabbed Joy’s reins, laughing off the Duke’s insistence that he go ahead without him.

“Your Grace, how can it be that you ordered all those side dishes, yet didn’t receive the Mandrake liquor? What’s going on here?”

Walter had been full of pride, stacking up logs for a fire, eager to brag about how he had secured four bottles of Mandrake liquor.

The Duke had chuckled.

‘He’s itching to show off.’

The sight of the bottles peeking out from Walter’s arms made it clear how precious they were to him.

The Duke’s gaze then shifted to Ed, sitting ahead of him, his shoulders moving rhythmically with Joy’s steps.

Ed, who had left the mansion with a stiff posture, seemed far more relaxed now, even occasionally leaning against the Duke as Joy swayed.

‘Has he loosened up because he feels a bit more at ease with me?’

Or is he just drunk?

As the wind gently tousled Ed’s hair, the Duke caught a faint scent of the breeze clinging to it.

“Ed, didn’t you want to taste the Mandrake liquor too? When we locked eyes earlier, I saw the anticipation in your gaze.”

Walter had rambled on as they walked down the dark streets, never pausing for a moment.

“You should have joined us at the table! You just smiled when I motioned to you.”

Though Ed, likely drifting in and out of sleep and drunkenness, wasn’t listening, Walter kept talking, clearly enjoying himself.

“Fine, Ed. Since I’m in a good mood today, I’ll give you a special chance. If you want to taste the Mandrake liquor, knock on my door gently. I’ll leave a glass for you—unless I finish it first, of course.”

Yen, who had been signaling Walter to stop, sighed as the Duke chuckled softly and spoke.

“Well then, Walter. Since you’ve strengthened yourself with such a healthy drink, why don’t you run back to the mansion now? If you’re slower than me, we’ll hike Gardener Mountain tomorrow. I hear the air is refreshing up there.”

“W-wait! Your Grace! What do you mean by this? Shouldn’t we continue to enjoy this pleasant evening after a good drink… Ah, Joy! Don’t start running!”

“Where? Right here.”

Walter stomped his feet as the Duke released Joy’s reins.

Yen, sighing deeply, muttered, “You idiot. I’ve been trying to warn you, but you kept yapping. Serves you right.”

“And why do I have to run because of you?” Yen retorted.

“Because when one of us messes up, we all pay the price!”

As Walter and Yen bickered, the Duke tightened his grip on Joy’s reins.

He held Ed firmly around the waist, securing him as the horse sped ahead.

Though Ed’s body, loosened by the alcohol, leaned slightly against the Duke, the weight felt pleasant.

‘Even though I drank a bit more beer at the end, my stamina is still leagues ahead of Walter and Yen.’

With that thought, the Duke nudged Joy’s side with his foot.

While Walter was still preparing to run, Joy took off like lightning.

“W-wait! Your Grace! You don’t actually mean we’ll hike tomorrow if I lose, do you? Joy! Slow down! I still have things to discuss with the Duke!”

Though Walter’s frantic voice echoed behind them, the Duke continued riding through the wind.

The warmth of Ed’s body pressed against him felt comforting.

He made up his mind to lay Ed down to rest once they reached the mansion.

Upon arrival, Ed bowed in thanks and retired to his room, while the Duke searched for the most renowned apothecary in the city before turning in for the night.

The next morning, the Duke went to check on Ed, but found his room empty, the bed neatly made.

After questioning the mansion staff, he realized no one knew where Ed had gone.

‘Where did he go?’

Later, Walter, who had risen late with a tangled mess of hair from his hangover, said, “Ah! I ran into Ed at dawn when I went to the bathroom.

He told me to let you know that he’d be out for a bit to take care of something.”

“For what business?”

“…Huh?”

“What business did Ed have to leave the mansion for?”

Walter, caught off guard by the Duke’s pointed question, blinked in confusion.

He stammered, trying to brush it off, “Well… I assume it was something urgent.”

Realizing he was in trouble, he quickly snapped to attention, his gaze sharpening.

Walter instinctively sensed that if he failed to respond here, he would be punished.

Forcing his still foggy, hangover-ridden brain to function, he recalled the conversation he had with Ed.

“Ah! He said he was going to the plaza to buy something.”

As soon as Walter desperately managed to answer, the Duke’s furrowed brows relaxed ever so slightly.

Though faint creases remained, Walter let out a small sigh of relief.

‘But wait, did Ed take the Duke’s money and run off or something? Why is he so concerned about Ed’s whereabouts?’

Walter remembered Ed leaving early in the morning, rubbing his tired eyes after what had been a pleasant night.

However, his thoughts didn’t last long.

“Alright, Walter. Go run to Gardner Mountain. Some fresh air will clear your hangover and sharpen your senses.”

With a silent scream, Walter clutched his head, while the Duke exited.

Crossing the garden swiftly, he mounted Joy, who had been waiting at the stables.

Though his earlier tension eased slightly, like a tightly wound string loosening, a hint of worry still lingered.

‘He could’ve only slept for three or four hours by dawn. What urgent matter made him leave?’

Since Ed would have had to return through the forest path after going to the plaza, the Duke decided to wait for him at the trail’s entrance.

There was no way they’d miss each other on such a narrow path.

‘I need to check if Ed’s alright, even if only to ease my mind.’

And he was also curious about what had caused Ed to rush out so early.

For these reasons, the Duke had set out from the mansion.

But when he saw Ed surrounded by a group of men, he couldn’t help but explode with rage.

“What the hell are you all doing here?”

As Joy charged toward the tall man’s back, the Duke dismounted and approached the fallen leader of the gang, pinning him down by stepping on his back with his right foot to prevent his escape.

“…….”

Remembering how Ed had knelt just moments ago, the Duke pressed down harder with his foot.

The leader, trapped under the Duke’s solid boot, could barely groan in pain.

“Your Grace! Please don’t kill him!”

Irtel, who had rushed after the Duke upon seeing him leave the mansion in a fury, shouted from behind.

The Duke let out a low sigh, narrowing his eyes. He pressed down a little more before finally lifting his foot.

Then, he walked over to Ed, who still seemed dazed, and took his hand to help him up.

When the Duke noticed the dust on Ed’s pants, a deep crease formed between his brows.

* * *