Chapter 45
The Grand Duke shouted toward the secretary waiting outside the door.
“Cranky! Bring Bethel here!”
Who is he talking about?
While wondering, light footsteps stopped in front of the door.
Knock knock.
“Come in.”
“You called for me, my lord.”
A young man with brown hair and striking hazel eyes entered. He was too tall and sturdy to be called a boy.
[Hmm. He’s quite good-looking, isn’t he?]
I subtly nodded at Bled’s words.
‘Yeah. He’s got that lively hero vibe.’
[Heh, what?]
‘There’s something about him. Like a righteous male protagonist, maybe….’
I could feel Bled staring at me, as if wondering what I was talking about.
At that moment, the Grand Duke himself stood up and brought Bethel to our side. Kaiden and I also stood.
“He was knighted a year ago. He’s young, but his skills are the best among the knights of the Grand Duchy. He’s quick-witted and tight-lipped.”
“It’s an honor to meet the Grand Duke and Sir Marion! I am Bethel Einfer!”
Bethel was brimming with discipline. I stared at his face.
He looks familiar…. Ah!
“The knight who held out until the end among the ones I sent flying yesterday?”
Recognizing him, Bethel scratched the back of his head, looking pleased.
“Yes, that’s me. I thought you wouldn’t remember… It’s an honor!”
The Grand Duke looked at Bethel with a fond expression. It was clear he held him in high regard.
At that moment, Kaiden spoke in a displeased tone.
“Are you saying we should entrust Marion’s protection to this greenhorn?”
“I’m twenty this year! I will serve Sir Marion with all my heart!”
Bethel immediately stated his age. He seemed to have realized his assigned task was to protect me.
Admittedly, as Kaiden said, he did look a bit young. But he’s only three years younger than me. Anyway, that wasn’t the important part.
“Can Bethel withstand my killing intent?”
He might be able to endure the killing intent, but the real question was, ‘Can he stop me?’ The Grand Duke let out a hearty laugh and slapped Bethel’s back heartily.
“Trust me just this once! This kid’s got real potential!”
I figured the Grand Duke had his reasons. But Kaiden, with a sharp look, said to Bethel,
“We’ll test him.”
“Go ahead.”
With the Grand Duke’s permission, Kaiden took Bethel away. The Grand Duke and I followed them to the training ground behind the Grand Duchy.
“Pick up your sword. Let’s see if you’re fit to be Marion’s escort.”
“Thank you for the opportunity, Your Grace!”
Bethel responded briskly, and Kaiden furrowed his brow.
I couldn’t tell what Kaiden found so disagreeable, but I watched as he sparred with another knight for the first time in a while.
“Come at me.”
Kaiden yielded the first move, and Bethel charged forward. Their swords clashed with a “Clang! Clang!” sound.
As expected, the skill gap between Kaiden and Bethel was like heaven and earth. Bethel did his best, but his opponent was simply overwhelming.
Still, among regular knights, Bethel’s skills were decent.
“He’s doing well.”
The Grand Duke, watching alongside me, nodded.
“My eyes don’t lie. But….”
“…….”
Neither the Grand Duke nor I could continue speaking. The reason was…
“Your shoulder is open.”
“Ugh!”
“With skills like this, can you protect Marion?”
“I can do it, ugh!”
“Isn’t it more like Marion will have to protect you?”
“Argh!”
Kaiden was tormenting Bethel.
When a Swordmaster spars with a regular knight, they’re supposed to hold back a bit to guide them. Otherwise, the opponent would be crushed.
“That spiteful guy.”
The Grand Duke shook his head. I could only tilt my head, unsure why Kaiden was acting this way.
“Huff, huff.”
“That’s enough!”
Finally, unable to watch any longer, the Grand Duke intervened.
Bethel was sprawled on the training ground, gasping for breath. He looked pitiful.
“Get up, Bethel! Now let’s test if you can withstand Marion’s killing intent!”
After passing the killing intent test, Bethel was chosen as my escort.
I didn’t explain the full details to him, but I instructed him to immediately hold me if I lost control of my killing intent.
Bethel seemed flustered by the order but soon nodded, saying he understood.
“I will do my utmost to protect Sir Marion!”
Bethel was polite and quick-witted. As the Grand Duke said, he didn’t even ask why I gave such an order.
I liked him, but Kaiden still seemed displeased.
I told Bethel I’d call him when I needed an escort and dismissed him. The Grand Duke also went back inside the Grand Duchy, saying he had business to attend to.
Finally alone with Kaiden, I couldn’t hold back and asked,
“Your Grace, why are you being like this with Bethel?”
“What?”
Kaiden deflected.
“You were being harsh.”
“I wasn’t.”
“You don’t like Bethel?”
“…No.”
He hesitated, which made it seem like he didn’t like him.
I looked at him suspiciously but shrugged. It was already decided, so there was nothing to be done.
“…Do you like Bethel?”
“He seems like a good kid. We’re close in age, so I think we’ll get along.”
“Three years apart, right?”
“Yes.”
Kaiden frowned, looking displeased.
What’s with him…?
“Your Grace, what’s bothering you so much?”
“You’re fine with it?”
“With what?”
“That guy might have to hold you.”
Huh? What’s the big deal? I looked at him, puzzled.
“If I kill the Crown Prince, Your Grace might have to kill me, so this is a small price to pay.”
“What?”
[Oh no, are you crazy?]
Bled shouted in shock. I saw Kaiden’s stunned expression. I couldn’t understand their reactions.
‘What’s wrong with them?’
[Hey, how could you say that in front of him…!]
“Why would I kill you?!”
Bled’s words were drowned out by Kaiden’s shout.
I looked at him, startled.
“W-what?”
“Why would I kill you?”
Kaiden asked again in a grim tone, as if he hadn’t just shouted. Flustered, I stammered,
“W-well… if I killed the Crown Prince, the only one who could kill me would be Your Grace… right?”
As I explained cautiously, Kaiden glared at me with an angry expression. I couldn’t understand why he was so upset.
“Do I look like someone who’d kill my own wife?”
“Oh…”
That made sense. Kaiden didn’t seem like the type to kill his own wife.
But if I killed the Crown Prince, that would be different. It’d be like killing the future emperor. That would turn the empire upside down.
“But still…”
“Ugh, forget it. I’m going inside.”
Kaiden brushed past me with a swish of his cloak. I stared blankly at his retreating figure.
Only after Kaiden was completely gone did I ask Bled in a small voice,
“Did I do something wrong…?”
The dragon flapped his short wings and shouted,
[You call that a question?]
“But… it’s the truth.”
[Not everything that’s true should be said!]
I always kept in mind that Kaiden might kill me one day. That’s how it was in the original story.
That fact was etched in my mind, guiding every action I took.
Struggling to retire. Doing one good deed a day to improve my image. Accepting Kaiden’s proposal for a sham marriage.
All of it was to keep Kaiden from killing me.
But did I speak too bluntly? Should I have been more tactful?
Regret started creeping in.
Then Bled muttered,
[And it seems like Kaiden…]
“Hm? Kaiden what?”
[…Never mind.]
He shook his head as if giving up. I just pouted.
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