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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: Chapter 20
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Mabel continued to look around for a long time after that, only returning to the castle well past lunchtime.
'The potato potage with plenty of lamb was really delicious.'
Mabel's stomach, recalling the food she'd eaten outside, was round and full.
But if she told Jacques, he would be disappointed, so Mabel decided to keep it to herself.
While eating the potato potage, she'd heard that Jacques, who looked to be in his 40s, was actually in his early 30s.
Even more surprising was that Jacques had only started cooking ten years ago.
Normally, one needed thirty to forty years of experience to become a chef for a noble family, so this was quite exceptional.
What did Jacques, with such genius, do ten years ago?
He was a mercenary.
Jacques was the leader of the mercenary group that Ella had crushed and then incorporated into the Knights!
He even grew his mustache to hide the scar he got when his face was disfigured because of Ella.
'At this point, aren't they all good because they're good at fighting?'
Haven't they said that if you're strong, your mind doesn't suffer?
Something along those lines...
'And Sir Hishin was a really good person too.'
He seemed a bit gruff and didn't appear to like her as much as others, but he protected her from the heat of the glass workshop.
He even fanned Mabel's potato potage to cool it down for her to eat.
'As expected, everyone is just so nice!'
Mabel smiled brightly and headed to the activity room by herself.
* * *
Meanwhile, Ella, who had sent Mabel to the activity room alone, was with Hishin.
"So? Why did you call me aside?"
Ella asked stiffly, dropping her usual sing-song tone.
It was because she was annoyed at having to be separated from Mabel, even for a moment.
However, Hishin, appearing more comfortable with this, unfastened the pauldrons on his shoulders with an unconcerned expression.
"Don't call me as a guard next time."
"What?"
Ella was dumbfounded.
She had gone to all that trouble to entrust him with guarding her cute young lady, and this arrogant fellow was saying what now?
He should be bowing deeply in gratitude, but instead, he was late on top of it!
Feeling thoroughly offended, Ella took off her coat, draped it over her arm, and replied.
"Fine, a scoundrel like you who doesn't understand the young lady's preciousness doesn't need a second chance. Are you done talking? Then I'm leaving."
Ella, having finished speaking quickly, tried to leave, but Hishin grabbed her again.
"That's not it!"
The fingertips gripping Ella's sleeve were trembling slightly.
Seeing that, Ella raised her gaze and stared at Hishin.
Hishin's tanned face was slightly flushed.
"It's not that I didn't want to guard the young lady."
"Huh? Then what is it?"
"It's just... I don't know."
Ughhh.
Hishin, screaming inwardly, vigorously scratched his short hair.
Regardless, Ella wore an expression of utter annoyance.
"What don't you know? I thought you'd like it. You like cute things, don't you?"
"That's right!"
Hishin snapped back in agreement with Ella's words.
"I love cute things!"
Seriously, which tune was she supposed to dance to?
As Ella's expression turned frigid, Hishin exclaimed in frustration.
"But that's why I don't know even more! Such a small! Cute! Soft! Milk-scented baby is a first for me!"
"...Huh?"
"Even her voice was like a baby bird. And what about her tiny, twitching mouth? Do all babies talk like that? Her teeth looked exactly like grains of rice! I was so scared I thought I was going to die!"
And she held my hand! Her hand was so tiny! I was so afraid I'd crush it that I think I might have peed a little, but then why was her walking so cute too? The way that tiny thing stood on its feet, stepping on the ground – it was truly admirable!
The gushing praise that had been stiffly held back in front of Mabel poured out like a flood.
As the burly knight, who was two heads taller than Ella and easily weighed over 100 kg, roared, people began to cast worried glances their way.
"Hey, is everything alright over there?"
"You're not fighting, are you?"
"Oh, it's fine~ He's just saying that Lady Mabel was incredibly cute~"
At Ella's gesture, people dispersed with an "Ah~" as if they understood perfectly well.
'This guy... he was really nervous.'
Only then did Ella understand why Hishin had acted so stiff and formal in front of Mabel.
"Cute fellow."
Ella chuckled and patted Hishin's head, which made him bristle.
"Anyway! Don't assign me as a guard next time."
"Why not?"
"Because I feel like I'll turn into a kidnapper! With such a cute young lady prancing around in front of me, I seriously had a hard time not wanting to steal her!"
...
Hishin had said something dangerous.
But if it was Hishin, he might actually do it.
Even when he first joined the Knights, he'd seize every opportunity to bring tiny baby animals back to the dorms and raise them.
'Perhaps next time, the young lady will be found in that guy's dorm...'
It was at that moment, as Ella nodded, thinking it was a valid point.
"Kyaaaah!"
A scream that seemed to rip through the air echoed from inside the castle.
And it wasn't just one person.
"Uwaaah!"
"H-help me!"
Cries from an unspecified number of people rang out, and then, crash! Shatter!
The sound of something breaking shattered the peace of the Grand Ducal Castle.
Ella and Hishin quickly headed towards where the screams originated.
People were running frantically down the hallway in a panic, and the direction they were coming from was none other than the activity room.
And in the activity room right now...
"Young Lady!"
The two pushed against the crowd, rushing towards the activity room.
The activity room they arrived at was a complete mess, as if a typhoon had swept through it.
And standing alone in the center of it all was Aselt.
"Young Master, why—"
However, Ella's words couldn't continue.
Because Mabel was slumped on the floor in front of Aselt.
"Kyaaaah, Young Lady!"
Moreover, dangerous glass shards were scattered all around Mabel.
Ella was about to rush forward, but Hishin grabbed her by the shoulder, holding her back.
"Let go of me! The young lady is—!"
"Look at that, Ella!"
Hishin urged Ella to compose herself.
As he did so, he pointed at Aselt.
In that instant, Ella's narrowed eyes widened.
"Y-Young Master... your feet...!"
Aselt's legs had turned to stone.
What on earth had happened in such a short time?
* * *
The incident began approximately five minutes ago.
"They say the young lady who went out to play in the inner city has returned?"
"I hope it was a pleasant memory for the young lady!"
Through the half-open door, the chattering voices of the maids could be heard.
Aselt, who had been reading a book, raised his head and saw Ella and Hishin outside the window.
'What on earth are they doing out there?'
The two were raising their voices at each other, and their expressions were not pleasant.
But knowing that Hishin was no match for Ella, Aselt wasn't particularly worried.
So, just as he was about to lower his gaze back to his book.
'Wait, if Ella is out there... does that mean she's alone right now?'
Just then, the maids' voices could be heard again from outside.
"About Lady Mabel, she went to the activity room by herself."
"Has she already memorized the Grand Ducal Castle's layout? How admirable!"
"Exactly! She was toddling along by herself, you wouldn't believe how cute she was!"
Aselt closed the book he was holding and stood up.
Now that Mabel was alone, it was the perfect opportunity to unmask her.
'What? Sorry? I'm considerate of the Grand Ducal family members?'
All the way to the activity room, Aselt replayed Mabel and Ella's conversation in his mind.
Aselt ground his teeth.
'The daughter of Sophia, a person from the Ashilonia Family, who is she to act like she knows me?'
His pride was deeply wounded, infuriating him.
He hated that she was the first to recognize his loneliness, which no one had acknowledged no matter how much he cried out.
He felt pathetic for momentarily finding comfort in her, even though he knew perfectly well whose daughter she was!
'Let's see. How long can you keep up this hypocrisy?'
So, before entering the activity room, Aselt took off his eye patch.
Everyone trembled in fear when they saw the Basilisk's eye.
So Mabel would be no different.
Thinking that, a part of his chest pricked as if stung by a needle, but Aselt ignored it and feigned a gentle voice.
"Mabel."
