Rose Empire

Chapter 12 The Journey and the Entourage

　　　　It was clear that Charlotte had deliberately framed Rosie without any evidence, and her reason for doing so was simple: she had discovered that there was a person in her team Harvey Sherwin.

　　　　Harvey Sherwin held the title of a knight, but he was nothing like one. He was portly, dressed in lavish clothing, adorned with expensive gold, silver, and gemstones, and traveled in a grand carriage pulled by four horses, accompanied by at least two prostitutes.

　　　　His peculiarity was entirely due to the fact that he was related to Rosie.

　　　　Harvey Sherwin referred to Rosie as "Aunt," but he did not bear the surname of Mira. Charlotte could only assume that he was the son of one of the illegitimate children of Rosie's father, King Alphonse Mira of the Kingdom of Koxin.

　　　　If not, Charlotte couldn't be bothered to guess further, as the family trees of nobles were always a tangled mess.

　　　　Charlotte could guess why Rosie had inserted Harvey Sherwin into the team it was undoubtedly to keep an eye on her.

　　　　Even as she was leaving, Rosie had to give her a final jab, which annoyed Charlotte greatly. So, she decided to return the favor by planting a thorn in Andre's heart. One day in the future, when Rosie gradually revealed her clear intention to fight for Sean's succession rights, this thorn could very well cause her significant trouble.

　　　　Traveling from Riverside Castle to the territory of the Viscount of Lanwan by carriage would take about a week.

　　　　On the first day, Charlotte and her companions could still find inns to stay overnight. Starting from the second day, they had to camp in the wild. Fortunately, the convoy was large and included many superhumans, so ordinary beasts and common bandits were not a concern.

　　　　"I can't take it anymore!"

　　　　On the night of the fifth day, the convoy stopped as usual to set up camp. Charlotte squirmed around in the carriage where she was resting, refusing to sleep.

　　　　"Miss..." The freshly made bed was once again twisted into a mess, forcing Renee, who had already gone to sleep, to sit up again. "What do you want?"

　　　　"I want to take a bath," Charlotte said.

　　　　"Out here in the wilderness, where am I supposed to find a place for you to bathe?"

　　　　"I don't care. I've been sweating these past couple of days, and I feel all sticky and smelly. It's so uncomfortable, I can't sleep."

　　　　Renee was truly at a loss and could only come up with a compromise: "Then I'll fetch some water to wipe you down."

　　　　"Fine," Charlotte agreed.

　　　　Renee fetched a basin of hot water from the bonfire that was meant to burn all night. Charlotte took off her clothes, and Renee used a soft silk cloth to wipe her body.

　　　　Charlotte sat in a duck-like posture, her graceful figure completely unclothed, with one finger resting on her lips, exuding an irresistibly alluring charm. There were only two people in the carriage, and Charlotte's seduction was naturally directed at Renee.

　　　　Renee was both annoyed and amused. She admitted that her mistress was indeed blessed with heavenly beauty, but she had grown up under such temptations and was completely immune. Such a simple seduction couldn't stir even a ripple in Renee's heart... well, perhaps a tiny ripple, but it was still within safe limits.

　　　　Renee flicked her mistress's pert nose, causing Charlotte to wrinkle her nose and drop the coquettish act.

　　　　After wiping her body, Renee sniffed at Charlotte's neck: "Mmm, you smell nice now. Can you go to sleep, miss?"

　　　　Renee poured out the water and returned to find Charlotte, still not wearing her nightgown, hugging her maid's waist and whispering in her ear, "Renee, let's do it."

　　　　Renee rolled her eyes: "If we do that, miss, you'll have wiped yourself for nothing."

　　　　Charlotte puffed out her cheeks and was pushed into the blankets by Renee.

　　　　Renee could finally turn off the light and go to sleep.

　　　　However, when Renee woke up the next morning, rubbing her sleepy eyes, she found a naked body in her bed. At some point during the night, Charlotte had crawled out of her own bed and into Renee's.

　　　　Renee didn't wake Charlotte immediately. The person in charge of the convoy was an old knight named Jack Moore, who was also one of the old retainers left to Charlotte by Helen Mellefield. Although his strength was only at the Two-Wing level, he had been on the battlefield many times and was very experienced. The decision of when to move and which route to take was up to Jack Moore; Charlotte didn't need to worry about it.

　　　　However, when the sun was high in the sky and Charlotte finally got up, the convoy was still at the campsite and had not set off.

　　　　"What's going on? Why haven't we left yet?" Charlotte asked as she ate the bread Renee had brought her.

　　　　"Knight Sherwin says their horses are too tired and need some water and feed before they can continue," Renee said with dissatisfaction.

　　　　"Harvey Sherwin? Hmph..."

　　　　After five days of travel, Charlotte had realized that the eighteen-man knight squad provided by the Duke of Greenfield had been infiltrated by the Duchess of Greenfield. Although Harvey Sherwin didn't hold the title of captain, he had effectively become the leader of the knight squad. As long as his decisions weren't too outrageous, the squad would generally follow Harvey Sherwin's orders.

　　　　Charlotte couldn't just sit back and let this situation continue.

　　　　Among the eighteen-man squad, there were two Three-Wing swordsmen.

　　　　Although Charlotte already had thirty knights, most of them were One-Wing or Two-Wing mages. The only two Three-Wing swordsmen she had were Marion Durand, who had died, and Herman Green, who was still on his way back.

　　　　Therefore, it was absolutely necessary for Charlotte to truly bring the eighteen-man squad under her control.

　　　　Charlotte glanced in the direction of Harvey Sherwin, where the portly man was whipping a stable boy for spilling his expensive red wine. Charlotte sneered disdainfully. After finishing her bread, she clapped her hands and said to Renee, "Bring Robin Mancini to me."

　　　　Soon, Renee brought over a man with flowing golden hair, wearing a finely crafted leather armor and a flamboyant purple cape.

　　　　Robin Mancini was also a Two-Wing swordsman.

　　　　The few knights Helen had left for Charlotte were far from enough, so over the past ten years, Charlotte had been trying every means to gather talents, eventually forming the team that made Wolf Fondren marvel. Robin Mancini was one of the talents Charlotte had unearthed. He had once been a mercenary, captured by the Duke of Greenfield in a battle, and Charlotte had picked him out from the prisoner-of-war camp.

　　　　"Miss, how may I serve you?"

　　　　Robin Mancini performed a stylish, flamboyant bow. Even after serving Charlotte for many years, the man still carried the casual, roguish demeanor of a mercenary in his every move.

　　　　"I have a task for you," Charlotte beckoned.

　　　　Robin Mancini leaned in close to Charlotte, who whispered a few words to him.

　　　　After hearing Charlotte's instructions, Robin Mancini hitched up his golden belt and flashed a confident smile: "You can leave this matter to me, miss. As a knight, eating, drinking, and having fun are what I do best."

　　　　Charlotte looked at him with disdain: "How can you say such things without shame? If Herman Green heard you, he'd challenge you to a duel for tarnishing the honor of knighthood."

　　　　"But Herman isn't here, is he?" Robin Mancini didn't mind Charlotte's mockery at all and continued to laugh. "I wouldn't say such things in front of him, of course."

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