Translator: Nox

Chapter 24

24. Who Did This?2021.11.21.

Reina placed her fidgeting hand, which she’d been wriggling under the covers, on her knee and gave an awkward smile.

“Did you have a good talk with the knights?”

Arthur grinned.

“I’m sorry for leaving you alone.”

“No, it’s fine. Thanks to you, I got to rest comfortably by myself.”

Arthur came over and sat on the edge of the bed. For some reason, having him sit beside her felt strangely thrilling. …Was that in the early hours just a dream? It would be nice if she had the courage to ask. Shaking off the thought, Reina asked about something else.

“Um, did you… meet with all the bereaved families…?”

“You must be worried about it.”

Reina trailed off with a quiet “Just…” since saying she cared wouldn’t change anything and might come off as hypocritical. Arthur chuckled softly. Then, as if to thank her for her concern, he lightly tapped her head with his hand and stroked her hair.

“……”

The sunset light draped over Arthur’s handsome face, softened by a gentle smile.

“How’s your body feeling? I heard you couldn’t eat anything because your stomach was upset. Shouldn’t you at least have some simple soup?”

Her stomach was rumbling right on cue. After hearing him say that, she suddenly felt ravenous. Thanks to the medicine she’d taken earlier, her insides felt much more settled.

“Yes, I’m hungry……”

She hadn’t eaten anything all day while lying ill as the sun dipped low. She didn’t want bland soup—she craved a proper meal. And Sir Arthur would get to eat something delicious too, right? He always ate with her… Mustering her courage, Reina said quietly.

“…I want to eat something tasty, not just soup.”

Arthur laughed.

“Let’s do that. I’m glad to see you’re feeling better.”

Reina smiled. Arthur pulled the bell cord to call for a meal.

“Something easy to digest but delicious. And soup too.”

Not a maid, but a knight who seemed to be under Arthur’s command entered, received the order, and left. After the knight departed, Arthur added as if it had just occurred to him.

“Oh, and from now on, when I have to step out for work, knights will stand guard outside the door. If the doctor or maids need to come in, one of them will enter with them.”

“Ah……”

Reina responded with a small sound of admiration. He continued.

“Pull the bell cord once, and a knight will come. If you need to call a maid, pull it twice. I’ve instructed them that no one else can enter without prior permission from above, so keep that in mind.”

“Yes.”

Reina felt a grateful sense of comfort. Why was that? Even knowing it was just the surveillance Arthur needed, it still made her feel protected. Maybe because it meant the Marchioness wouldn’t barge in whenever she pleased. Unthinkingly, Reina smiled shyly, her gratitude shining through genuinely.

“What about the handkerchief I gave you?”

Reina smiled and pulled back her sleeve to show her wrist. The handkerchief was tied around it like a bracelet inside her sleeve. The fading sunset dyed the white lace in hues of twilight.

“Hm. Shall I use it to tie my hair?”

Arthur smiled.

“Do as you like.”

Reina suddenly covered her mouth, her face startled.

“Oh, right—I borrowed a handkerchief from Sir Tristan.”

She looked around in a fluster, searching for it. Arthur grinned.

“I returned it for you.”

* * * It didn’t take long for the meal to arrive. Reina didn’t refuse Arthur’s help; she took his hand and got down from the bed, sitting at the table. While the food was being set out, she couldn’t hide her excitement, placing her napkin on her lap and pressing it down with her palms repeatedly as she stared intently at the dishes being brought in and placed on the table. Arthur watched her with an amused smile, thinking how cute she was, but Reina didn’t notice, her eyes fixed on the food. Her hunger had returned now that her body was recovering. The fact that a hearty, delicious meal appeared at the mere tug of the bell cord was, to Reina—who was standing in as the young lady—the greatest luxury of all. But such lavish meals inevitably brought her grandmother to mind. …I wonder if Grandmother is eating well. She knew the caregivers were looking after her meals too… but they probably couldn’t provide feasts like this.

‘She always leaves so much behind… It would be nice if Grandmother could eat with me…’

The thought crossed her mind that she could ask Taylor about Grandmother’s usual meals when she saw him. —Knock knock. At that moment, one of the knights who’d been holding the door open to bring in the food made a small noise as he entered and reported something to Arthur in a lowered voice.

“……”

Reina couldn’t hear it. Arthur gave her a look asking for understanding, told her to start eating without him, and left the room. Reina blinked in confusion, watching his retreating back. * * *

As the Marquis headed to the private reception room where he knew Arthur was, he was stopped by the knights guarding the hallway on the stairs. Astonished, the Marquis glared at the knight. What was this…? He’d never been barred like this in his own mansion in his life. In my own house, they dare stop me?

“What do you think you’re doing right now?”

The knight didn’t flinch and replied calmly.

“You said not to let anyone in without prior permission.”

Who? Arthur? Prior permission? Am I not permitted? Outraged, the question burst out.

“If I’m not permitted? Then who is?”

The knight answered.

“A maid or two after you wake up in the morning. The attending physician at 11 a.m. And Your Excellency’s closest knights. No one else without prior permission.”

The Marquis stared at the knight in disbelief. I’m not included? Me, the master of this house? The knight continued.

“But since it’s you, Marquis Excellency, I’ll go ask Commander Excellency if you’ve come.”

The knight nodded shortly toward the side to summon a junior knight. But before he could turn his head back, slap—! The Marquis struck the knight across the face with all his might.

“You must be mad. Do you know whose house this is?!”

The Marquis bellowed.

“……”

The knight licked the corner of his split lip and looked down at the Marquis. Then he grinned, letting out a sharp hiss of breath. In an instant, all the nearby knights drew their swords.

“……!”

The Marquis stared at the sword-wielding knights, dumbfounded beyond bewilderment. But at the same time, facing this armed group without his own guards suddenly felt bizarre and precarious. He’d never needed armed escorts inside his own mansion like this. What’s happening in my own house right now?

“You lot right now…! Did Arthur tell you to do this?!”

The Marquis roared in fury. The knight spoke calmly.

“Marquis Julius Excellency.”

The soldiers’ gazes, weapons gleaming menacingly, fixed on the Marquis. Sensing the sudden threat, he shouted desperately.

“This is my house! I’m the lord of this land! You’re all conscripts on my territory…!”

“Marquis Excellency.”

The slapped knight cut him off with a polite, composed smile. Seeing his expression, the Marquis’s body stiffened.

“You seem unaware since you’ve never been a soldier, Your Excellency, so allow me to explain. We are soldiers, and the superior who is responsible for us, commands us, and feeds us is Supreme Commander ‘Arthur Julius’ Excellency. Not you.”

A chill glinted in the knight’s eyes beneath his restrained smile.

“You hold no authority to command us, Marquis Excellency. Whether this is your mansion or not is no concern of ours as soldiers. Our chain of command is Sir Arthur, this is within Sir Arthur’s ordered guard perimeter, and what matters is that you’re breaching it.”

The knight continued.

“The only reason I’m not summarily executing you right now for wielding hostile force against a soldier is not because you’re the lord of this land or the master of this house—it’s because I respect Sir Arthur. Step back immediately. Otherwise, even for Sir Arthur’s honor, I will execute you summarily under my authority.”

He simply stood there, unflinching, sword aimed steadily. As the knight’s words went on, the aura of the soldiers surrounding him began to overwhelm the Marquis. He faltered, barely managing to shift his weight in place rather than step back. His enraged figure wobbled as he rocked on his feet.

“Summary execution? This isn’t a battlefield, and the war’s already over—what…!”

The knight smiled mockingly.

“You don’t know, do you? We won’t be disbanded under His Imperial Majesty’s orders until after the official triumphal procession in the capital. Until then, we’re soldiers under Supreme Commander Sir Arthur. We’re not subject to orders from civilians like you.”

“!”

At that moment, frantic footsteps in rustling skirts echoed from behind.

“Antonio!”

The Marchioness, who had rushed over with the head butler, arrived pale-faced and grabbed him.

“What are you doing to the knights?!”

“Let go. These bastards just now…!”

Seeing the handprint on the cheek of the knight in front of her husband and his busted lip, she smacked his arm in horror.

“Have you lost your mind?!”

The Marchioness hurriedly yanked the Marquis’s arm. He protested let go, let go! but was weakly dragged along by her. After hauling him to the landing, she shoved his back, tossing him to the head butler, then turned anxiously and approached the knight who’d been struck, as if she herself had been hit.

“I’m sorry, sir! The Marquis made a terrible mistake. He’s been under a lot of stress lately. I’m sure he didn’t mean it. I don’t know what happened, but…”

This madman…! Christina had finally steadied herself to smooth things over with Arthur in a good atmosphere, and now he pulls this stunt! Not wanting to escalate things further, the Marchioness bowed deeply in sincere apology.

“I’ll come back later to apologize properly. If you tell me your name, I will definitely…”

A low voice rang out.

“Lionel.”

“!”

The eyes of the Marquis and head butler descending two-thirds down the stairs, the knights, the Marchioness, and everyone gathered in the space all turned upward. Arthur appeared with his knights, his smiling face openly laced with icy displeasure. A tense silence gripped the air.

“……”

Arthur scanned the situation with cold eyes, then stepped forward. Thud, thud. He stopped in front of the knight and looked first at his injured face, then at the Marquis and Marchioness in turn. Arthur’s gaze slowly returned to the knight.

“What happened here?”

The moment he saw Arthur, the Marquis remembered the purpose of his visit, his face hardening. The inadequate supplies…! He needed to plead about the inadequate supplies issue. Suddenly flustered, the Marquis glanced at the knight he’d struck. The slapped knight, not wanting to be seen like this by Arthur, turned his head away with a slightly stiffened expression. But Arthur lifted his chin to check his face.

“Who did this?”

“……”

The knight didn’t answer, not wanting to trouble Arthur. But Arthur’s gaze moved in search of the culprit. First to the Marchioness, who stood flustered and apologizing right in front. Then to the Marquis, who was being pulled down the stairs by the head butler’s grip on his arm. Arthur’s moving gaze halted.