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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: The Viscount's True Form
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Just then, a sword was leveled at Rose’s chin.
Gah… you startled me.
Cesar asked, his tone menacing, as if he were about to cut Rose down on the spot.
“Why do you call this person Viscount Rose? The Viscount I know was not such a frivolous man.”
Huh?
I froze.
I hadn't noticed a thing, since Rose had always appeared male to me.
But now, it seemed Rose appeared male to Cesar as well.
Rose’s gaze turned icy, a stark contrast to how he looked at me.
“Hah, me, frivolous? Look who’s talking, a dog who doesn’t even know how to serve his master. And why are you frightening Cheria?”
“Put the sword away.”
Kivrin added, pushing the blade away with his gloved fingers.
The blade, which had been perilously close to me as well as Rose, moved away.
I checked Kivrin’s hand to see if he was hurt, but he added calmly.
“If you f-fight Rose, Cesar will lose.”
Rose scoffed as if to say, *obviously*.
Cesar retorted.
“We won’t know that… until we cross swords.”
Kivrin, who had let me take his hand, glanced back at Cesar.
“You’re n-not a swordmaster.”
“…”
“A-and, Rose isn’t wrong. You th-threatened Lady Cheria, t-too. You shouldn’t do that.”
Uh-oh, I think Cesar’s pride just took a hit…
I let go of Kivrin’s hand.
Rose immediately pulled me away from Cesar.
“There, there, you shouldn’t be near someone brandishing a weapon like that. But why are you so thin? Did something happen? You were looking so nice and plump for a while.”
Perhaps to give us time to talk where Cesar couldn't hear, Kivrin didn't follow.
I rolled my eyes.
“You'd be surprised to hear what happened after you left me.”
“Huh? Now that I look, the Young Lord is outside?”
It was amazing that he was only just noticing.
I bet he wouldn't even notice if Kivrin's sealing spell broke right in front of his nose!
As I followed Rose, my legs gave out for a moment.
Just as I was regaining my balance, Rose suddenly lifted me into his arms.
“You were really worried about me, weren't you? You're still trembling.”
I pouted.
“I thought the Temple was targeting you.”
“Why would they target me? Unlike Del, I worked hard to manage my reputation. Oh, right. Someone did shoot a bunch of arrows at me while I was flying this way, though?”
“What?!”
I looked at Rose, feeling the blood drain from my face.
Rose must have seen the look in my eyes, because he quickly started explaining.
“I-I-I dodged them all! They didn't even graze me! My identity wasn't discovered either! I swear!”
“…”
“Though I think the knight behind us might have found out…?”
I grabbed Rose’s shoulders and asked.
“Are you okay?”
“I'll have to explain being in male form, but I'm not worried about being kicked out. You recognized me right away, which was impressive. And you weren't even scared.”
That's because you've always looked like this to me…
Rose didn't seem too concerned about his identity being revealed.
If anything, he seemed overly concerned with how I was feeling.
“Why the sudden change to a man's form?”
“This was always my form when I became human. I only changed into a female form for the first time to do that unfitting nanny job. Since it'll be hard to use spells for a while with this new body, I figured I should just tell the truth.”
He didn't look any different, but he said it was a new body.
I remembered what Rose had said earlier about a phoenix.
“So your supernatural ability is to live for a long time?”
“That's right. A long life is essential if I want to meet Del again when she dies and reincarnates.”
I revised my assessment of Rose.
From just an otherworldly being that isn't human to an otherworldly being that ‘lives a long time’ and also isn't human.
…He was just as unreliable as ever.
Rose found the ducal carriage and put me inside.
After a short while, Kivrin returned with Cesar.
Cesar's shoulders were slumped, as if he had been lectured by Kivrin even after Rose and I had left.
I'm really grateful that he accompanied us, but… I was really scared back there.
The sound of the sword aimed at Rose's neck grazing my hair was still vivid.
It wasn't such an urgent situation that he had to draw his sword without warning, and I was supposed to be the one he was protecting.
Could this be Cesar's first time guarding someone?
Hmm, looking back, it was also strange that he hadn't realized he’d interrupted Menelik.
He was an overzealous Knight Commander who was also somewhat clumsy in dealing with nobles.
Anyway, since Rose was safe, I had the leisure to enjoy the scenery on the way back.
I relaxed and gazed freely out the window.
Rose sent subtle glances toward Kivrin while occasionally checking on me.
When Rose got out of the carriage with me, he received the full attention of the servants.
Rose's wavy, shoulder-length golden hair was tied in a short ponytail. He was dressed in a simple blouse and pants.
But he was very tall and had striking features.
Although to my eyes, he just looked like a naive child in desperate need of a guardian's guidance.
On the way to take Rose to Winter's office, we ran into Menelik.
Unlike Cesar, Menelik recognized Rose at a glance.
“Viscount Rose? Where did you go on vacation to suddenly get so big?”
“…”
Well, he seemed to recognize him, but…
It was just like him—as long as Winter was safe, he couldn't care less if his daughter-in-law's companion was suspicious.
“And the Knight Commander who went to escort you looks like he’s in a sorry state, as if he was snubbed for not being a swordmaster.”
Cesar flinched.
He had just started to distance himself, perhaps thinking it wasn't his place to interfere.
Menelik paid him no mind and turned his gaze to Rose.
I said anxiously.
“Ah, Father! You see! Rose was so late that I brought him back, but this appearance is due to unavoidable circumstances…!”
Menelik let out a smirk.
“So you want me to overlook it? Is the 'Father' title a bribe?”
“It's not a bribe so much as… my hidden, true feelings.”
“Does that mean you'll continue calling me Father from now on?”
Considering the shattered father-son relationship was *his* fault, I felt it was a matter that required some thought.
But I didn't want Rose to get into too much trouble either.
Ugh, how do I answer this without upsetting either Kivrin or Rose?!
Suddenly, Kivrin shot him a look of utter disdain.
“You should be th-thankful she’s not calling you ‘mister’.”
“…”
Their relationship was truly in shambles…
As I looked up at Menelik with trembling eyes, the office door opened.
The Duchess's aide let us in but did not follow, closing the door behind us.
Winter sipped her tea and leisurely observed Rose.
“I knew you weren't human from the moment you asked me to create an identity for you, but it seems you can change your gender at will too.”
Rose shrugged.
“My age, hair color, and eye color are fixed.”
“Anything else? Is there something you haven't told me?”
“You know better than anyone not to expect too much just because I'm not human, Your Grace. Everything I told you before is all there is… though if I had to add something, thinking about that guy who picked a fight earlier, I do know how to handle a sword. I just hate it because it makes me sweat.”
Winter hummed, “Hmm.”
“It would have been better if you had wanted the Knight Commander position.”
Rose's face crumpled.
“I told you, I hate sweating. The Knight Commander has too many restrictions and strict conditions. As I said, I just need to be near the Young Lord.”
Rose retorted, showing his true colors as a delicately raised otherworldly being.
—Why? Are you going to be my guard, too?
—If I feel like it. The Duke and Duchess said, ‘As long as they don't see the Young Lord as a monster, anyone can be the nanny.’
An otherworldly being who didn't see Kivrin as a monster.
Back then, Winter really would have accepted anyone.
That's how desperate she had been.
At least Winter won't kick Rose out right away.
Relieved, I took Kivrin, who gets cold easily, over to the fireplace.
Meanwhile, Menelik, who had taken a seat next to Winter, spoke.
“The current Knight Commander would weep if he knew someone turned down his position because they hate to sweat.”
I tilted my head as I rubbed Kivrin's cold cheeks.
Kivrin and everyone else seem so sure that Rose is stronger than Cesar, huh?
Even though Cesar is, by title, the Knight Commander of the ducal family.
Kivrin, noticing my confusion, explained.
“Cesar didn't b-become the Knight Commander through, sk-skill.”
“…”
“E-everyone except him knows that… so while he has the drive, he seems to have d-difficulty leading.”
Ah, so he was a nepotism hire.
