IBODBF 61

Chapter 61

They weren’t knights who worked inside the manor, then?

The knights who were supposed to protect the lives and property of the lord’s subjects and keep order were behaving like this?

I recalled the expressions on the villagers’ faces I’d seen outside earlier.

They’d been terrified and pretended not to know what was happening in that shop. From the looks on their faces, it wasn’t something that had only happened once or twice.

“Sigh, these people are hopeless, really.”

“Hey — you’d better leave while I’m still being nice! Don’t do something you’ll regret!”

“Yeah! Do you really want to pick a fight when you know who we are?”

Their words barely registered in my ears. I only held my skirt with one hand.

The dress I’d worn to stroll the night market felt a bit cumbersome.

Still, it wasn’t going to be a real problem handling the two of them.

Each time I took a step forward, the two men took two steps back.

“Oh? Going to run away?”

“R-running away?!”

“Run away my foot—this is our ready stance!”

“Ready stance, my ass.”

When I asked if they meant I was the one running away, they finally clenched their fists and crouched.

They weren’t scary at all. If anything, they became more easily read.

“Jaeyus, let go of that. Let her go!”

While I was giving them a piece of my mind, Jaeyus—who had been watching me—stepped in, grabbed my arms from behind, and pulled me away from them.

Rudias made the men who had been properly scolded kneel in front of us.

My hair had been mussed and my eyes blackened from scolding them, but when I looked at their faces I felt my anger boil up again.

“No way… I’m still not satisfied. I’m still angry.”

I knew I couldn’t break free of Jaeyus’s hold and rush at those guys, but still I couldn’t give up easily.

The moment my eyes met the men who were glancing at me, I glared and kicked out.

Because Jaeyus had kept me at a distance, my kick wouldn’t even reach them, but both men flinched.

“Senika.”

“What.”

Jaeyus had stopped me to prevent serious trouble, but I answered sulkily, annoyed on purpose.

“Your hand.”

“What about my hand?”

Instead of replying, Jaeyus brought my hand up in front of my face. The side of my knuckles where bones protruded had been scraped and had turned red.

Luckily it wasn’t bleeding, but seeing it with my own eyes made it sting belatedly.

I’d been so eager to use my pheromone that I’d just punched indiscriminately and scraped the skin off.

“This much is fine. It’ll heal quickly.”

“That’s enough.”

“I’m still not done being angry, you know?”

“Senika.”

I half-turned my head at the lowered voice and met Jaeyus’s eyes.

His crimson irises had settled as low as his voice. When I caught that look, the agitation that had elevated my body calmed down as if pressed down.

Once my excitement subsided and reason returned, I hurriedly pulled back from Jaeyus.

I hadn’t been aware of it, but when I came to my senses I realized our faces had been closer than I thought and our breaths had mixed.

“…All right.”

I folded my arms and turned my head the other way.

Then I heard Jaeyus’s footsteps thud-thud as he walked. I thought he might be coming to me, but he passed by and went to the two men kneeling on the ground.

“Raise your heads.”

I glanced briefly at him, wondering what he intended.

From where I stood, all I could see was Jaeyus’s broad back.

“Judging by your attire, you look like knights of a noble house—how could you not recognize Senika?”

Oh. That’s what he was curious about?

From Jaeyus’s point of view, it made sense to wonder. Even if the elders didn’t fully trust us, I was still the next head of the family.

And since Head of the House Hale had me at his side, the people who served the manor couldn’t help but know me even if they didn’t want to.

Still, there could be people who didn’t recognize me. Even a family’s knightly order might not know me if they worked in different places.

“Jaeyus, you won’t get the answer you want from these guys. They still don’t know who I am.”

I stood beside Jaeyus.

“Not all knights of a house hold the same duties.”

“…….”

“These are knights who only work outside the manor, I guess. So they wouldn’t have met me.”

“…….”

“Even though Father’s busy, he wouldn’t be completely ignorant of what happens outside the manor.”

The knights who’d been listening to me turned pale and exchanged uneasy looks.

Then, slowly, they raised their heads and looked at me. I dipped my waist slightly and gave them a bright, pretty smile.

“Hello. This is our first meeting, right?”

“…….”

“Yes. The person you think I am.”

A short silence followed. Then there was a heavy thud.

Both knights, without a sliver of hesitation, slammed their foreheads to the ground.

“I-I’m sorry, milady!”

“We have committed deeds worthy of divine punishment!”

Oh? Now? Only now? They must be scared because they finally recognized who I was.

Their apologies were surely not sincere—just ritual words spat out in fear of my position, or more accurately, fear of my father.

“You lot still haven’t woken up, have you?”

If they had any sense, they’d realize the one to apologize to wasn’t me but the owner of that shop. But they didn’t.

I scowled as I spoke.

“You’re apologizing to the wrong person.”

I motioned with my eyes to the left.

There, Rudias was calming the trembling husband, wife, and daughter in the corner.

Even though the knights were on their knees, the couple still looked at them nervously—whatever they had gone through had left them terrified.

How could I suppress my anger when I saw that?

“Hands behind your backs. Bow and hit your heads.”

“Pardon?”

“If you pretend you didn’t hear once more, hitting your heads won’t be the end of it.”

I spoke with a fierceness I hadn’t used before; the two men didn’t answer and immediately pressed their foreheads to the ground.

After confirming that, I went over to the couple.

“I am sorry.”

I bowed my head and apologized.

Although Father hadn’t officially entrusted me with the house affairs yet…

Still, our family had failed to detect this situation early and hadn’t properly looked after the manor’s subjects, so it was right we take responsibility.

“My name is Senika Ivienne.”

“……Ivienne?”

“M-Milady?”

Since only the head’s direct relatives carry the family name Ivienne, I didn’t need to explain further who I was.

I kept my head down and continued, keeping my posture.

“On behalf of the family, I apologize. When we return to the manor I will instruct that more care be taken in administering the domain, including for you.”

“Milady……”

“And we will compensate you for the losses you suffered this time and also cover the portions owed to other victims. I am truly sorry.”

Those words came from the heart. Everything that allowed our family to govern the manor and live comfortably came from the people in the domain.

So this was nothing extraordinary; it was the right thing to do.

Honestly, these rascals would cost us a lot this time, but I wasn’t worried about the finances. Father had money.

I lifted my head and faced the couple. Their eyes were full of tears as they looked at me.

“Really… thank you, milady.”

They spoke from the heart, so perhaps my sincerity had reached them.

I asked Rudias to handle the cleanup and left the night market with Jaeyus.

In the carriage heading back to the manor, even though everything had been settled, my sulky mood didn’t ease much.

The one consolation was…

‘I realized what I must never forget if I become the head of the house.’

Even someone with power can be kept in the dark if those responsible fail to report properly.

If this is to never happen again, I must replace the officials who are blinded by money and possessions.

The process wouldn’t be easy, but someone had to do it.

I was glad I had witnessed it in real time today. If I had missed it…

‘Ugh, I don’t even want to think about it.’

I decided I’d tell Father as soon as I got back to the manor.

But when we arrived and I saw the dim interior, I sighed deeply.

It was very late. Of course Father would still be up and working at this hour, but I didn’t want to add more to his workload.

I’d go tell him first thing in the morning.

“You did well today.”

Just as we were about to part in the lobby, Jaeyus gently took my hand.

What’s he up to now?

“What?”

“I’ll walk you to your room.”

“Really? It’s right above.”

“Come on.”

Giving a non sequitur answer, Jaeyus climbed the stairs. I followed him without a word.

Well… it’s late and we shouldn’t make a fuss and wake others. Jaeyus isn’t someone who would harm me anyway.

And I was a little tired. I’d used more energy than usual at the night market, so it wasn’t strange to be worn out.

I glanced at Jaeyus walking slightly ahead. His sharp jawline and high nose struck my eye.

‘Sigh, I’m normally not like this…’

As I admired Jaeyus’s face, I suddenly felt a little guilty about something.

Earlier, when I’d scolded the men who were bleeding the villagers dry… he must’ve seen it all, right? I’d been a bit rough; I should’ve held back…

No. Those knights—who were supposed to protect the villagers—were acting like thugs. Why should I have held back? Even thinking about it makes my blood boil!

If he disliked me for that, then so be it… Wait. Why do I care about looking good to him? Whether Jaeyus likes me or not, why would it matter?

I shook my head hard to clear my thoughts.

“What’s wrong?”

“Huh?”

“You hurt?”

“N-no.”

While I was lost in thought, we’d arrived at the door. Jaeyus was still holding my hand and looking down at me.

I said I wasn’t hurt, but he still seemed to think I might be.

“I’m really fine.”

After staring at me without blinking for a long time, Jaeyus finally nodded.

This won’t do. I need to get him out of my sight quickly so my thoughts can be clearer.

“See you tomorrow.”