Chapter 144
18. Because You’re Cooped Up in a Place Like This!
It was a summer day with the blazing sun shining overhead.
The streets were crowded with people, half of whom had rushed outside because they couldn’t stand the stuffiness of staying indoors any longer, while the other half endured the heat because they had no choice but to earn a living.
As they walked through the streets, everyone chatted about one thing or another, and today’s topic was the wraith that had appeared near the Kingdom’s border.
“I heard those bastards are causing trouble again. They say a lot of people died this time too.”
Ever since the black magic organization, the “Wraith,” first appeared, they had been causing incidents both large and small for the past eight years.
Fortunately, however, after boldly causing trouble in the capital, they had been defeated by the Guardians dispatched under the Emperor’s direct orders.
As a result, they had gradually been pushed farther and farther back, to the point where they could no longer set foot anywhere near the capital, or even the outskirts of the Empire.
“Well, it is the border region. Those Kingdom bastards have never stayed quiet.”
“Still, you’d think they’d step in if their own people were dying, but they aren’t doing anything.”
“That’s exactly the difference between the Kingdom and our Empire. Just look at His Majesty. Every time he hears about the Wraith, he sends out the Guardians regardless of whether it’s the mountains or the plains. There can’t be anyone who cares more about the people than His Majesty.”
“Well… I suppose that’s true.”
Just then, a middle-aged man who had been quietly listening to everyone praising the Emperor suddenly spoke up.
“Those of us living in the Grand Duke’s territory should be praising His Grace instead of His Majesty.”
With a slightly impassioned expression, he continued.
“Why do you think we’ve managed to live all this time without suffering any harm? Isn’t it all because His Grace personally watches over us?”
“Hmm. That’s true too.”
“Just look at the knighthood under the youngest Lady Daphne. Aren’t they incredible too? They were students at the Imperial Academy, yet instead of becoming Guardians, they chose to stay here and protect us!”
At the man’s shout, the people around him nodded in agreement and began adding their own comments.
“That’s true. When the reservoir embankment collapsed recently, they came to help.”
“They also broke up that huge tavern brawl.”
“They really have treated us well in many ways.”
Encouraged by their agreement, the man raised his voice even louder.
“So instead of praising those distant Guardians, let’s praise the Grand Duke’s knights who actually protect us! Isn’t that right?”
“Absolutely!”
“That’s right!”
Just as everyone was shouting in unison,
A group of people walked past the stall where they were sitting.
They all had the hoods of their robes pulled low over their faces.
“Ahem!”
Among them, the one with long silver hair let out a light cough.
It was Cilia.
“They’re praising us, right?”
Cilia asked with an excited face, and beside her, Bunny answered,
“Yep! They sure are! I heard every word!”
Bunny’s cheeks were flushed as well, clearly overwhelmed after hearing what the people had been saying.
Shrugging his shoulders proudly, he quietly muttered,
“We should do even more from now on. That way, people will like us even more.”
Clenching his fist tightly, Bunny spoke as though making a vow.
Cilia felt the same way.
Meanwhile, Joshua, who was walking at the very front of the group, slowly turned his head.
“If we’re going to do more, shouldn’t we become stronger than we are now?”
He answered firmly.
“The reason we can’t participate in subjugating the Wraith is because we’re still weak. We need to become stronger. That way, we can protect even more people.”
“……”
He wasn’t wrong, but somehow it was still irritating.
Cilia narrowed her eyes.
“You always ruin the mood at times like this.”
“I’m not ruining the mood. I’m stating a fact.”
“Hey. You should at least acknowledge what deserves to be acknowledged.”
Cilia nudged Joshua’s side with her elbow as she spoke.
“We’ve become dragons.”
Then she looked around.
Although all of them still had the hoods of their robes pulled over their heads, things like the swords they carried and their disciplined manner of walking couldn’t be hidden.
Those who were quick to notice realized they were the Grand Duke’s knights—in other words, Lady Daphne’s knighthood.
That was why several people kept secretly glancing in their direction.
Every one of those gazes was filled with goodwill.
Goodwill, admiration…
It was the first time any of the children had ever received looks filled with such warm feelings.
So Cilia puffed herself up proudly, Bunny grew embarrassed, and Joshua…
“…Is that so.”
Pretended not to care while secretly feeling happy.
Watching Joshua, Cilia chuckled.
“I told you. Let’s acknowledge what deserves to be acknowledged. We’ve really changed.”
“T-That’s right! We can be a little more confident now!”
“I don’t like showing off either, but isn’t it alright to feel a little proud? The more goodwill you receive, the more grateful you become.”
“……”
Joshua rubbed the back of his neck before finally nodding.
“Alright.”
At Joshua’s agreement, Cilia and Bunny’s faces brightened.
At the same time, they removed the hoods of their robes.
Their now much more mature faces were completely revealed.
“He’s ridiculously handsome…”
Now approaching full adulthood, Joshua’s naturally striking color contrast had become even more vivid.
Jet-black hair, snow-white skin, and blood-red eyes.
The contrast between those three colors made his presence stand out even more, giving him an almost untouchable aura.
“Lady Cilia! Over here! Please look this way just once!”
Now an adult, Cilia brushed back her long silver hair as she turned her gaze toward the people.
The men watching her all blushed and burst into cheers.
“Lord Bunny! Please take some fruit! We’ve been saving it just for you!”
“Eek!”
Surprisingly, Bunny was the most popular of them all, probably because of his unchanged innocent appearance and his kind, crystal-clear eyes.
He repeatedly bowed to everyone greeting him, his cheeks turning bright red.
Just a few years ago, they could never have imagined receiving treatment like this.
After all, they had been poor commoners…
People of the lowest class…
The only future they had ever imagined was struggling to survive before dying in hardship.
But not anymore.
Now that they had grasped the sturdy lifeline called Daphne,
Their lives were no longer difficult.
“This feels nice, doesn’t it?”
Cilia giggled after receiving an armful of flowers from several men.
Bunny nodded.
“Yep. I got so much fruit. I don’t know why someone even gave me carrots… but I think it’d be nice to bring them back and share them with everyone.”
Joshua also smiled faintly, apparently not feeling bad either, as he lowered his chin slightly.
Though they all carried themselves with a bit more pride than usual, no one could blame them.
Who possibly could?
They had climbed all the way to where they stood now through nothing but their own ability and perseverance.
“We’ve really changed a lot.”
“…We have.”
“It’s a good kind of change. I like it!”
The children had changed tremendously.
Not only their social status, but also each of their personalities, their confidence—everything had changed.
They liked this change.
They had grown not by one step, but by ten.
And now, not only could they protect themselves, they could also help and protect others.
That was why the children returned to the Grand Duke’s estate with somewhat swaggering steps.
Well, perhaps it was alright to be a little proud just for today.
That was what they thought.
But—
“Agh! Agh! Aaaagh!”
The familiar shout that echoed through the estate instantly caused them all to stiffen.
“Ah, this is so damn annoying!”
Hearing Daphne’s irritated yell as always, the children exchanged glances.
Though none of them spoke, they all knew they were thinking the exact same thing.
“You XXing XX! Are you seriously never going to come to your senses?!”
Why is she the only one who never changes?
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