It was Alexis.
As he stood behind pointing at , Vincent furrowed his brows.
“You keep interrupting our conversations.”
“You keep creating uncomfortable situations.”
“Our conversation has the young lady’s permission.”
“I have a prior engagent, so please step aside.”
Sparks seed to flash in the air.
Vincent asked ,
“Is that so, a prior engagent?”
“Yes? Ah...”
Then Alexis looked at .
Alexis had priority over Vincent when it ca to .
He was a comrade, a friend.
Because of Vincent, I couldn’t embarrass Alexis.
“That’s right, a prior engagent.”
I said to Alexis while looking at him, and Vincent sighed and stepped back.
“Then, next ti.”
He bowed his head, and I responded with a slight bow.
After Vincent left, I asked,
“What’s that about?”
Alexis looked at with a displeased expression.
“The Duke won’t co here today anyway.”
“Why?!”
“They’re preparing to welco Duke Isiron, who is being sent as an ambassador to the Imperial Palace.”
Count Montero, the chief of the current deal, must have given up completely.
Seeing that Duke Isiron, a rank above him, was coming—
‘Duke Isiron is a leader of the pro-Emperor faction.’
It seed the deal with the palace was about to speed up.
I nodded and looked at Alexis.
“How did you know that?”
“The Astra Duke’s troops are going out to et and escort at the estate’s boundary wall. They’re selecting the soldiers.”
“Ah.”
“Co in. The wind is cold.”
“And you?”
“Preparing for winter training.”
I frowned.
Preparing for winter training was sothing done by foot soldiers.
‘They’re looking down on us because we’re rcenaries.’
I casually grabbed Alexis, who was about to leave.
“Co with .”
“...What?”
“Going to the barracks? This way.”
I frowned and walked ahead while Alexis’s gaze followed from behind.
At the barracks.
“Ah, Miss!”
General Beglock, in charge of soldier training, stood up imdiately when he saw .
Other commanders who had gathered also hurriedly stood up to greet .
Behind the commanders, the leader of the Egritz troops, Kali, gave a pleased look.
“Long ti no see, General Beglock. Was it at the last sumr training observation class that we last t?”
“Yes, yes, that’s right. Miss!”
General Beglock, who was like a fire-breathing dragon to the soldiers, was like a well-trained puppy before .
That was understandable—I was the most adored grandchild by Grandfather.
And ranked first among the third generation.
My father wasn’t the eldest son but still had the count title—the so-called “closest male heir to the dukedom.”
I smiled brightly at General Beglock.
“My soldiers must have more work now that they’re participating in training.”
“Well... haha!”
He wouldn’t say otherwise.
General Beglock hurriedly made way for , saying, “Ah, bring tea! Eh, would I serve any old tea to Miss Erilot? Sothing like Ponoff, the finest black tea!”
“No tea needed. I’m here to see my soldiers.”
“Eh?”
I instantly changed my expression and stared at General Beglock.
‘That ans I’m overseeing my soldiers.’
That I was watching how my soldiers were treated.
General Beglock’s shoulders twitched—he was perceptive.
“Is there sothing uncomfortable...?”
“No way! General Beglock is thoughtful, so I didn’t worry.”
“Yes! I also take special care of the Egritz rcenary unit—”
“The Egritz troops.”
“...Yes?”
“They’re not a rcenary unit, but the Egritz troops, belonging to the Daymond jurisdiction.”
Who still treated my troops like rcenaries?
I glanced around with a smile, and the commanders flinched.
Among them was a particularly pale-faced man.
I knew who had neglected my troops.
‘He’s Uncle Sylvain’s brother-in-law.’
The younger brother of Aunt Ronda, wife of Uncle Sylvain.
As I approached Uncle Sylvain’s brother-in-law, I said to General Beglock,
“During the last sumr training, the foot soldiers prepared the training. Is it the sa this ti?”
“Yes? Ah, yes! Of course.”
“Yes. It should be so. Foot soldiers prepare for training.”
When I placed my hand on the plate armor of Uncle Sylvain’s brother-in-law, he flinched.
“Preparing training is the foot soldiers’ job, right?”
He looked at pale-faced.
“Yes, that’s... right.”
He seed to have understood.
I smiled and withdrew my hand.
Then I turned briskly toward General Beglock.
“May I speak with the Egritz soldiers?”
“Of course!”
“Thank you. Then...”
I looked at the n belonging to the Egritz troops.
They smiled proudly and sowhat slyly.
Alexis chuckled quietly.
When I nodded, the Egritz soldiers followed out.
Kendall, the most aggressive, burst out laughing.
“Serves them right.”
“Kendall.”
Halard, the chief of staff of the Egritz troops, frowned, and Kendall shrugged.
“How much did they look down on us because we’re forr rcenaries? Our boys were practically excluded from training.”
“Didn’t Captain Kali say to keep that from the masters’ ears since it’s a soldier’s matter?”
“Still, they have guts...”
Kendall clicked his tongue, and I laughed.
“You like that about Captain Kali, don’t you? Fairness.”
“Well, that’s true.”
“But I’m not fair like Captain Kali. If anything, I’m on the dirty side.”
“...Yes?”
I took the communication stone.
And recently contacted Michelan, who also manages the Daymond jurisdiction’s finances.
[Yes, Miss.]
“I want to upgrade the Egritz troops’ equipnt. As high-quality as possible.”
Kendall and Halard’s eyes went wide.
“The equipnt provided by Astra is excellent. Better than what the palace has...!”
Halard tried to persuade , but I lightly raised my hand to stop him.
“I want it obvious to anyone that I care about the Egritz troops.”
Michelan’s chuckling ca from the communication stone.
[We have ties with Missed Forge. How about Missed-made (製) weapons?]
“Very good.”
[I’ll prepare them.]
“And horses too. Oh, contact the Paante Marquis family. They have the best bloodlines. If I say I want to buy, they’ll provide.”
[When’s the deadline?]
“First, supply those who arrived at the study as soon as possible. The rest gradually. I want the supply completed within three months.”
[Understood.]
“Okay.”
After ending the communication, Kendall and Halard’s mouths dropped open.
“Missed-made weapons, and horses from the Paante Marquis family?!”
Missed weapons are usually only for commanders of the royal guards.
Halard was very flustered.
“That much isn’t necessary!”
“I know. The craftsman doesn’t discriminate between tools, and the Egritz soldiers don’t rely on weapons.”
“But why...!”
“Because you entered a world where appearances matter.”
There’s a reason my uncles are so greedy for luxury.
Here, how much money and power you have is the most important thing.
“I can’t make you strong with holy blessings like Selene’s . But I can make sure no one dares look down on you.”
“Miss...”
“...”
Halard and Kendall looked at with trembling eyes.
Alexis’s gaze also darkened.
With both hands on my waist, I said,
“Who dares look down on my soldiers!”
Halard and Kendall put their hands to their chests and kneeled before .
“We will prove who has the best army in Astra with this winter training.”
“Good.”
“Yes.”
“Oh, don’t tell Kali.”
He’s a bit stingy, so he’d faint if he knew how much was spent on equipnt.
Kendall and Halard chuckled.
“And Alexis will stick by my side for a while. He never rests unless soone looks after him.”
“Please. I wonder if he’s been sleeping recently.”
When Kendall said that, Alexis frowned.
I giggled and said to Alexis,
“Let’s go.”
“...Okay.”
After greeting Kendall and Halard, I left the barracks with Alexis.
The sun was already setting.
Since it was dinner ti, not a single ant was in sight where we passed.
I spoke quietly to Alexis walking beside .
“Are you mad?”
“Why would I be mad to the lord supplying Missed-made weapons?”
“Not that. The hairpin yesterday.”
Alexis glanced at .
“Yes.”
“If you’re mad, why did you block Vincent Edrope?”
“You always get in a bad mood when you talk to that guy.”
“...”
I abruptly stopped and looked at Alexis’s back.
“?”
Alexis also stopped and turned to .
His shadow stretched long over the world dyed red by the sunset.
Like a tall adult.
“Like a kid too scared to get hurt.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“I said no!”
“Yes. If it’s not you, then no.”
“...”
I always thought I was much taller than Alexis, but today strangely, he looked much bigger.
And that was strangely...
‘Strangely...’
I hurried to him and said,
“No one wants to get hurt on purpose, right? If you can avoid it, you should.”
Alexis looked at intently.
Then sighed deeply and suddenly...
Thump.
He pressed his forehead against mine.
“I didn’t ask.”
“Damn.”
“I don’t an I want to know your feelings, it’s just that if you feel that way, it’s fine.”
“...”
He straightened up, looked at , and chuckled.
“But don’t be scared.”
“...”
“I’m here to protect you.”
Then he walked away.
I touched my forehead and looked at Alexis.
‘So strange.’
Is it because of adolescence?
The age where unripe years and ripened emotions cross.
The crossing point between child and adult.
Sotis he looks like a child, but other monts shockingly mature.
‘Was that it?’
Was I scared?
Afraid the sa thing would repeat again?
I blankly looked back at the sunset.
‘An emotion already fading away.’
Why was I so wary of him and others?
Vincent is now aningless to .
Why fear wounds from soone aningless?
Why hesitate over sothing that hasn’t happened?
‘I admit it. I was a coward.’
From afar, Alexis called.
“Aren’t you coming?”
“Go!”
I quickly chased after him.
That was the first ti.
I learned how much Alexis had grown.
And faced the child inside .
Evening.
The room was warm with steam.
I was preparing for exams.
‘I really hate holy magic.’
I groaned while solving problems and grabbed a water glass.
I hadn’t noticed because I was so focused, but it was empty.
I held the glass and spoke to the maids preparing my bed.
“Could you bring so water?”
“Yes, Miss.”
A maid quickly took my empty glass.
But it was strange.
“The maids have changed?”
When I said this, the maids tidying the room said “Ah!” and bowed their heads.
There were three of them, all young girls around my age.
“Because the senior maids were transferred to the main building due to hosting imperial guests, we replaced them.”
“I see. Nice to et you.”
“Yes, yes!”
The maids each hugged water glasses, trays, or sheets with shy expressions.
I focused back on the book.
“This is the first ti I’ve had such greetings. It feels really nice.”
“Yeah.”
They were still young and probably didn’t know to be careful with their words around their mistress like adult maids.
‘Should I give them a warning?’
I thought briefly, then shrugged and adjusted my pen.
‘They look my age and working is already comndable.’
They’d feel discouraged if I scolded them.
Better they get cautions from senior servants.
While solving problems intently, the maids whispered.
“But didn’t she get scolded for that hairpin?”
“Why?”
“It’s forbidden to wear noticeable accessories.”
“I don’t understand that rule. Why can’t maids decorate themselves?”
“Because the masters see it that way...”
“Ah, you’re jealous. I got this from Lord Milan, didn’t I?”
“Huh? No, I...”
The hairpin?
I looked at the maid wearing a hairpin.
A brown-haired maid wearing a hairpin similar to the one I gave Alexis yesterday.
‘She didn’t get it from .’
But Milan?
The brown-haired maid looked arrogantly at another maid.
“Lord Milan, third generation direct line, gave it. Who’s going to say anything?”
“Wait a mont.”
My words made the maids flinch and look at .
“Isn’t Lord Milan supposed to be in the underground prison?”
“Ah, well...”
The maids looked at helplessly.
‘What on earth is going on?’
It seed sothing was happening I didn’t know about.
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