Chapter 55
Max Carat
Riena flinched at the shadow cast over her by the burly men, but soon realized that they were friendly and smiled.
“Hello, it’s nice to meet you.”
She had been introduced to the mansion’s servants, but she had not formally greeted the knights yet.
The knights were in a commotion, each insisting on introducing themselves first.
After going through the introductions starting with Max Carat, the knights began sharing their impressions.
“At first, I couldn’t believe it when my lord said he was engaged. My lord? Not anyone else, but my lord? It was like the earth split and the sky tore in two.”
“And even when we asked to be introduced to the lady we’d serve, my lord seemed completely uninterested in introducing her.”
“Was that all? You all know about the ‘duels’ used as an excuse to inflict violence whenever the lady was mentioned… ugh!”
“That’s not something you say in front of the lady.”
Riena couldn’t help covering her mouth and letting out a soft giggle.
‘I’m glad they seem to have gotten along well.’
She had worried that Cassel might have been lonely after losing Asher and being alone, but it seemed he had good people around him.
Sandra, Amy, and the knights.
“Thank you. Cass probably enjoyed himself thanks to all of you.”
“Enjoyed? You mean my lord?”
“Of course not. Well, he did look happy when sparring with us.”
The knights continued their boisterous chatter.
“Anyway, we thought our lord’s lady might be just a figment of imagination, but then, to our surprise, Sir Carat’s younger sibling serves her.”
“We thoroughly interrogated Sir Carat, and even he didn’t know much about the lady. But we were surprised to learn that she really exists.”
“It’s a shame to meet the lady for the first time on a training ground filled with dust and sweat, but it’s still an honor.”
“I’m really glad to meet all of you too. I look forward to working with you.”
“Of course…!”
At that moment, a stern voice echoed from afar.
“What are you all doing gathered there instead of training?”
Compared to the chatter of the knights, it sounded soft, but it carried authority.
The noisy knights immediately fell silent, as if a mouse had scurried away.
“I asked what you’re doing.”
“U-uh, well…”
Cassel, walking slowly, spotted Riena among the knights and paused for a moment. His fierce aura softened instantly.
“Ria.”
As he quickened his pace, the knights stepped aside to let him pass.
“What brings you here?”
“Well, um…”
“Sometimes I practice with real swords, so it could get dangerous.”
“It doesn’t seem that dangerous. Everyone’s been kind too.”
“Is that so?”
Cassel’s gaze swept over the area, and the knights avoided his eyes, looking elsewhere.
“My practice earlier wasn’t enough. My body feels stiff. I should swing my sword a bit more to loosen up.”
“Same here. I haven’t worked up enough sweat, so I don’t feel refreshed yet.”
“Sir Malden, didn’t you want to spar with me last time? Let’s do it now.”
“Alright. Let’s go.”
The knights suddenly found things to do and dispersed at once. Max Carat was also pulled away by his comrades.
In an instant, only Cassel and Amy remained around Riena.
Cassel asked again,
“So, what brings you here?”
“Well…”
Riena was about to honestly say she came to see Max. But Amy, holding her arm, gestured toward Cassel with her eyes.
Riena mumbled unconsciously,
“Uh, to see… you…?”
Her sentence ended ambiguously as a question, but Amy nodded in satisfaction.
Cassel looked slightly flustered and asked,
“…Excuse me?”
“No, I mean…”
Riena hurriedly explained her words in more detail.
“Besides mornings and evenings, I haven’t had much chance to see you. I was curious about what you do during the day.”
It was a surprisingly reasonable excuse for something she made up on the spot.
“I also wanted to watch you practice swordsmanship, since it’s been a while. When we were younger, I used to watch often.”
When Cassel had learned swordsmanship from the count at the Dyke Mansion, Riena would sit under the cool shade of a tree and watch the two of them.
“Yes, that did happen.”
Cassel accepted her explanation without suspicion. Riena continued, feeling a little relieved.
“And since I came, I also wanted to meet Sir Max Carat, Amy’s brother. I was curious about him since he’s part of Amy’s family.”
“Sir Carat, you mean?”
“Yes. I met him a little while ago, and he seemed like a good person.”
“Yes, Sir Carat is a knight I can trust as well.”
“Of course, of course.”
Amy beamed at Cassel’s words.
“I also wanted to ask if Sir Carat could escort us to the festival with Amy.”
“The festival?”
“Yes. Amy was sad that she had no one to go with. Of course, I felt the same.”
Amy poked Riena’s arm again. Seeing her glance at Cassel, Riena asked almost hypnotically,
“Cass, do you want to come too?”
Again, Amy nodded in satisfaction.
“I’d like to go too, but I feel I’d just be in the way if I went.”
“No!”
Amy quickly interjected.
“I can go with someone else! Also… Ryan doesn’t have anyone to go with either, so it would be a shame. We can go with Ryan!”
“You already decided to go with me, so that won’t work, Amy.”
Amy slumped a little, disappointed.
“I really don’t mind…”
“I do. Go with Ria.”
“Yes!”
Although disappointed, Amy didn’t protest further.
Having won Amy’s concession, Cassel turned to Riena with a serious expression.
“Come to think of it, I haven’t officially assigned a bodyguard to you yet. I should have taken care of it sooner.”
Cassel said apologetically. Riena shrugged, indicating it was fine.
“I haven’t had a reason to go outside the mansion. I’ve only been here, so there’s no need for a guard.”
“Still, it was my oversight.”
“Then can’t we decide now? Who would be suitable? Since he’s part of Amy’s family, I feel drawn to Sir Carat. I hear he’s skilled as well.”
“Yes, that’s true.”
After a moment of thought, Cassel called Max.
“Max Carat, come here for a moment.”
Max, who had been glancing over from a distance with the other knights, immediately ran over.
“Yes, my lord?”
“I’d like you to be Ria’s personal bodyguard from now on. What do you think?”
“Me… guard the lady…?”
“Do you dislike it? If so, we’ll find someone else.”
“No! I’d be honored!”
Before Cassel could finish speaking, Max exclaimed.
“I was just worried if my humble skills would be enough to serve the lady properly.”
“Humility is good, but underestimating yourself is harmful. Your skills are recognized by me, so take pride in them.”
“My lord…”
Max, moved, bowed seriously to Cassel.
“I will follow your orders. I will protect the lady even at the cost of my life.”
Watching this, Riena muttered awkwardly,
“You don’t need to risk your life.”
“That’s right, brother.”
Amy giggled. Max, undeterred by his sister’s teasing, knelt seriously before Riena.
“I am honored to become the lady’s knight.”
He extended his right hand to her, as knights typically do, intending to kiss the back of her hand.
However, Amy, shocked by Max’s gesture, began coughing.
“Cough… Duke… cough cough… crazy… cough.”
Realizing his mistake, Max glanced at Cassel, who had regained his fierce demeanor, and quickly withdrew his hand.
“Um, anyway, Lady, I look forward to serving you.”
Riena awkwardly lowered her half-stretched hand and smiled.
“I look forward to working with you too, Sir Carat.”
“You may call me Max. You already call my sister Amy, don’t you?”
“Still, as a knight, I should show respect. Calling you Sir Carat doesn’t mean I’m keeping my distance.”
“Milady…”
Moved, Max exclaimed,
“I will truly protect you even at the cost of my life!”
“So… you really don’t have to risk your life.”
After all the commotion, Cassel and Max returned to training. Riena and Amy stayed a little longer to watch before heading back to their room.
