-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: A Favor from a Knight
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Cheria suddenly asked.
“When do you think Rose will be back?”
“Sh-she said she went to get Lady Cheria’s birthday present. She’ll… be back soon.”
As expected, she was a little upset. Cheria puffed out her cheeks.
“She should be here when I need her, not off buying presents.”
“...”
“Oh, and speaking of birthday presents… don’t think you’re getting out of it this time!”
Cheria put on a stern expression.
“But there’s a condition. When we go to the villa, I want you to always come with me, Young Lord. I won’t go alone.”
“...Yes.”
Kivrin readily nodded.
Cheria’s lips formed a pout.
“Hey, I just gave you a really bad condition, you know? What if I say I want to go in the middle of winter?”
Her purple eyes darted back and forth.
In truth, it didn’t matter to Kivrin what conditions Cheria set.
Even without the memories of his past life, she was so precious to him that he wanted to grant her every wish.
“I-it’s fine if I dress warmly. It’s just my constitution.”
Kivrin gave a faint smile.
The memories of his past life had made him an offer.
They had offered to fix the ugly burn on his hand, the scales on his face, and even his pathetic stutter.
Right now, without any time or effort.
After much deliberation, Kivrin had refused.
He had a feeling Cheria would wait until he could do it on his own.
After all, she had told him to be faithful to this life.
Nevertheless, Del’s records, riddled with gross distortions, were a major problem.
The real Del never forced anyone to plunder, devour, or offer sacrifices.
There was no need.
He hadn’t needed to grasp for anything, because everything was already in the palm of his hand.
Kivrin gazed at Cheria.
When they first met, Cheria had seemed as brilliant as the morning star.
It seemed she still only looked that way in Kivrin’s eyes.
Was that a good thing, or a bad one?
Cheria, who had been rolling around on the bed like a squirrel with a walnut, flinched under Kivrin’s gaze.
“I-I was just warming up the bed with my body heat.”
…At least, if everyone knew, it would be difficult to have such peaceful moments. So perhaps it was a good thing, he thought.
***
The next day, I made a list of places I wanted to go with Kivrin.
Kivrin had said he wasn’t sure where he wanted to go, but maybe his mind would change once we were out and about, right?
First, Kivrin gets cold easily, so outdoor places were out.
Crowded places were also out for the time being.
I worked hard on the list and showed it to Winter, only to receive a devastating reply.
“Take him wherever you like. But only after Viscount Rose returns.”
…Rose, how could you do this to me!
“I don’t need a birthday present, so when are you coming back?”
I pressed my nose against the window and stared endlessly down at the castle gate.
Come to think of it, I left Rose’s feather behind when I was calming Kivrin down after the sealing spell broke. Should I go get it?
Well, if Rose gets sulky, it won’t be good for me or Kivrin.
The deliberation didn’t last long.
I went to the annex where Kivrin had stayed for a few days.
The daunting staircase was still there.
Since it was an annex, there were no magical devices or amenities…
F-first, a deep breath.
Still, I’m in better shape than I was back then, so I can do this!
Just as I steeled myself and took the first step.
“Are you out by yourself?”
Huh?
I whipped my head around at the sudden voice.
Ah, it’s the gray-haired knight who went shopping with me in the capital.
“Everyone’s busy.”
Even Mera seemed distracted today.
The duchy gets frequent heavy snowfalls, so they prepare thoroughly for winter.
“I will escort you.”
There’s really no need for that inside the castle…
There’s Kivrin with his super-hearing, and my father-in-law, who’s a swordmaster.
I was about to refuse when a brilliant idea struck me.
My eyes shining, I asked.
“Sir Knight, do you not get tired at all, even climbing to the top of this place?”
“That is correct, but…”
“Then I have a favor to ask! There’s something I need to get from upstairs, but there are so many stairs that I was just mentally preparing myself.”
The knight’s expression showed he understood.
“I will assist you. Please excuse my impertinence for a moment.”
The knight lifted me into his arms.
Huh.
“W-wait, I was just going to wait here?”
“I cannot let you wait alone.”
He climbed the stairs without the slightest effort.
“Thank you. Um…”
“My name is Cesar Silentium.”
Oh?
“You have the same last name as Emil?”
“I am his brother.”
It was a stiff reply.
Are they not on good terms?
I stared at Cesar.
Emil looked to be in his early thirties, while Cesar looked younger than him.
Also, while Emil’s eyes were dark gray, Cesar’s were nearly black.
Their hair was a similar shade of gray, but Cesar’s seemed darker.
Perhaps bothered that I was only just learning his name, Cesar bowed his head.
“My apologies for the late introduction. The Duchess instructed me to refrain from unnecessary conversation.”
…Does he consider his own name unnecessary?
“By the way, Sir Knight—no, Sir Cesar, why did you come to the annex?”
“I am normally supposed to oversee the Young Lord’s swordsmanship training at this time. However, considering his constitution, we have suspended training until after winter, and I am to conduct light patrols instead.”
Aha, so Cesar was in charge of Kivrin’s swordsmanship training.
Then he must not be an ordinary knight, right? His name can’t be ‘unnecessary,’ can it?
Even now, his breathing hadn’t quickened in the slightest, as if he were walking on flat ground.
“What was the Young Lord like during training?”
Cesar thought for a few seconds before speaking.
“May I speak frankly?”
“Uh… yes.”
“I have shown him a real sword on three separate occasions, and each time he chose the one with the dullest blade. His reason was also peculiar. He said that a sword that is too good takes a life too quickly.”
“...”
What does that mean? That it’s dangerous because it kills too quickly?
But a dull sword is still a sword. Wouldn’t it just prolong the suffering?
Just as a question mark formed in my mind over his enigmatic words, Cesar stopped.
“Is this the room?”
“Ah, yes. You can put me down now.”
I peeked into the room.
The bedding had been neatly made.
Rose’s feather was carefully stored in a wooden box on the desk.
I knew that even with his nasty past life, Kivrin wouldn’t have thrown it away.
I felt like I was being thoroughly favored.
I carefully picked up the feather.
It’s not warm anymore.
I tucked the feather away and turned around.
“I’m done! I can get down on my own.”
Cesar ignored me and bent down.
“Stairs put more strain on the body when descending.”
Why is that?!
Cesar silently waited for me to approach.
Since this was coming from a knight who trained every day, I ended up being carried again.
Carrying me as if I weighed no more than a feather, Cesar asked as he exited the annex,
“Where may I take you next?”
“You don’t have to take me… just over there, please.”
The moment I met Cesar’s eyes, I quickly backed down.
He set me down on the terrace with the best view of the castle gate.
As the officially recognized weakest member of the ducal family, my lessons had been postponed, leaving me with a lot of free time.
I’ll watch from here to see if Rose is coming.
“Are you waiting for some news?”
“Not news, a person. Rose, my nanny, took a vacation.”
I made a strange face as I said the word ‘nanny.’
What has Rose ever done as a nanny?
Why can I only think of one or two things?
“And yet you are watching the sky so intently.”
I flinched inwardly.
I’d heard Rose had come to the capital townhouse in her bird form before, so I was wondering if she might do it again.
“Th-the weather looks nice.”
Cesar seemed to accept my clumsy excuse.
My sky-gazing daze was short-lived.
Cesar, standing rigidly with no intention of sitting, was making me quite uncomfortable.
“Sir Cesar? I’ll be good right here. My mother-in-law’s office is just around the corner…”
“...”
“Besides, you’ll be bored if you stay with me.”
And you look really uncomfortable!
Despite my added words, Cesar remained resolute.
“I have time before my next duty. I am quite… free.”
I pointed to the chair opposite me.
“Then don’t just stand there, sit with me.”
“I am not in a position to sit with the Young Lady.”
“Why not? You oversee the Young Lord’s swordsmanship training, don’t you?”
Not just anyone would be allowed to oversee the ducal heir’s swordsmanship, right?
“And you even carried me all the way up to that high floor, didn’t you? You’re so tall, Sir Cesar, it’s hard for me to look up at you. Won’t you please sit with me? It would be even better if you kept me company!”
After my earnest persuasion, Cesar reluctantly took a seat.
