After going back to the inn, we didn't do anything except lock ourselves in our room.
The rumours from the afternoon had spread and now everyone looked at us differently.
When we walked into the inn, it was almost as if we were a display in the zoo and everyone was staring at us.
This was a very uncomfortable thing, so we didn't hesitate to lock ourselves in our rooms and hide ourselves.
For now, there wasn't anything that we could really do.
Until the dinner with the duke was settled, we really couldn't be wandering around the city too much or it would draw too much attention from the duke. So once we lost the duke's attention, we would be able to start our investigation.
The next morning and afternoon were also spent inside of our rooms, avoiding the spectacle that was outside.
When it was finally time for the dinner date, the same messenger as before came to pick us up.
There were many different nobles that had been waiting in the main entrance of the inn during this time. It seemed that they had all gathered to take a peek at us.
When we came out with the messenger, many of them had their eyes light up as they looked in our direction.
It looked like they wanted to approach and talk to us, but it also seemed like they were afraid of something.
The direction that they were looking in was…the direction of the messenger.
The messenger was facing away from us since he was in front of us leading the way, so I couldn't see his face either. But I could guess what kind of expression was on his face that kept away all of these nobles.
When we came out of the inn, we found that there was a luxurious carriage that was waiting for us outside.
This carriage looked too fancy for a baron to use, it was even too fancy for a count to use.
This seemed very much like the personal carriage of a duke.
But why would it be here?
Why was it being used to pick up a lowly baron like me?
Based on the reaction of everyone around me, it seemed like they were all thinking the same thing. There were even some whispers that I could hear from the crowd.
"Isn't that the lord duke's personal carriage?"
"Who is this person that the lord duke is willing to send his personal carriage to pick him up?"
"Could it be that they are royalty?"
At this, everyone started looking at me with even more fervent looks which caused a bitter smile to appear on my face.
If only they knew the truth. If only they knew that I was nothing more than a simple baron from a remote region…
I really couldn't help wondering how they would react if they were to learn this truth…
But still, I couldn't embarrass the duke by saying anything or refusing to take this carriage.
So it was better to get this over as soon as possible.
I immediately entered the carriage with Shaka and sat down. The messenger came in and sat down in front of us, but he didn't say a thing as he looked at me with a polite smile.
It was almost as if he was just waiting to serve me if I had any kind of request.
It really was an awkward carriage ride, so I couldn't help asking, "This sir, I wonder what I should address you as?"
The first thing that I realized was that I didn't know this person's name even though I had met him quite a few times.
The messenger just gave a respectful bow and said, "This humble one's name is Tim."
I gave a nod to this before suddenly asking, "Why is the lord duke treating me with such respect?"
Tim peeked upwards to see the look of doubt on my face before saying, "Your lordship, the duke is just extending his honest hospitality towards you because he has long heard of your fame and has expressed his admiration towards you. It is nothing more than that."
I couldn't help knitting my brows when I heard this.
It seemed very simple on the surface, but it also seemed like there was a hidden message underneath.
It was as if they already knew something, something that was related to why we were really here.
So did that mean that they were acting this way because they were afraid that they would be discovered, or were they acting this way because they wanted to secretly support us?
Was this going to be a trap or was it something else?
These thoughts quickly passed through my mind, but Shaka tapped me on the shoulder for me to calm down.
When he did, I realized that there was no point stressing over this thing.
The more that I stressed and worried about this, the worse that it would get…
After all, showing signs of worry would be like showing signs of weakness that would make it easier for the enemy to manipulate us.
So all we could do now was face whatever was coming in the calmest manner possible so we could think through everything clearly.
That way, we will be able to handle anything that would be coming our way.
I gave a nod back to show Shaka that I was grateful for this before revealing a calm and collected look.
Then I said to Tim, "Thank you."
It was just a simple show of gratitude, but it was also a signal that this conversation was over.
Tim was surprised to hear this, but he didn't say anything else as he just sat there in silence with us.
Since this was the personal carriage of the duke, it took no time for us to reach the duke's manor since everyone cleared the path for this carriage.
Once we arrived, the guards quickly opened the door for us and we were brought to the entrance of the manor.