Had ten or so minutes passed? Servis, who had been crying her heart out until she was utterly exhausted, lifted her face, now a mess of tears and snot. Her face was so swollen that it seemed doubtful she could see properly.
“Finished crying? You’ve ruined your dress because of all that.”
“Hmph, it’s nothing! Can’t you just buy me another one?”
“Then along with the dress, I’ll send the Marquessate of Balta as well.”
Karia wiped Servis’ soaked clothes with a handkerchief and pushed her back gently, as if to halt her crying. Seeing her repeatedly wiping the soiled chest area with such nonchalance, Servis pouted.
“Do you really have to receive the marquessate? It’s the largest royal domain I have…”
“Yes, I must.”
“Alright, alright!”
Servis, seemingly embarrassed that she had cried so completely like a child, roughly wiped her face with her own handkerchief and got up. But her pouting lips oddly formed a faint smile. She seemed relieved, as if she had briefly released the pressure of long-standing worries.
When she opened the door, she saw the bodyguard waiting for her through the gap. He seemed concerned about her messy face but quickly lowered his head without asking anything.
Karia remembered his name: Higon Alcuestra, a bodyguard who had served her directly until she came of age. The princess had forced the Grand Duke to take him away despite Karia’s trust in him.
“Servi, come to think of it, you really do like picking up things I throw away. Could it be… you like me?”
“Hmph!”
Servis’ face turned bright red as she stomped out with deliberate thumping footsteps. Karia silently laughed at the sight.
The princess had been raised as a cherished only child, completely oblivious to suspicion. Her overly positive worldview, as if the world revolved around her, was almost revolting.
Servis, absorbed in her emotions and crying, didn’t notice that Karia hadn’t promised her anything at all.
“Really, shameless and utterly lacking in shame.”
When hunting prey, you should leave at least one escape route. Even a mouse will bite a cat when cornered.
Karia threw the dirty handkerchief to the floor. She wasn’t one for theatrics, but she could tolerate some dirt for the sake of the climax.
“Apparently the princess came by, and you handled her. Seems like you didn’t step in, but she went back crying…!”
Early in the morning, the backyard of the townhouse echoed with clashing swords. Shagal had requested sparring with Noah after morning reports.
At first, the townhouse staff had been uneasy with mercenaries wandering around the mansion with swords, but now they were completely accustomed, even cheering as they passed by.
“Is that so? Perhaps they were moved by the lady’s generosity.”
“Ha! Hah! Who knows? Maybe she forgave generously… or perhaps… hmm! plotting a big backstab!”
“Either way, the fact that she didn’t hit them immediately is proof of generosity, isn’t it?”
When Karia had asked Noah to investigate a party attended by the Duke and the princess, he immediately realized that the Duke of Pandeon’s affair partner was the princess.
Regardless of their relationship, who wouldn’t be angry if their spouse cheated? And if the affair partner was a cousin? A hot-tempered person might have just gone and beaten them mercilessly.
Noah disliked seeing those who had done such shameful things walking around proudly. That anger was channeled through the sword he held.
As a result, it was only poor Shagal who was forced to the ground during sparring.
“Ah… my lord, I’m your bodyguard! What am I to do if you’re stronger than me?”
“Hmmph…!”
“Yes, yes, exactly, captain.”
Shagal muttered as he rose and dusted himself off. His protruding lips were so comical that even the duckling followed along.
“What can you do? Nothing is perfect from the start. If you want to resent, then resent the gods who made me perfect in both beauty and skill.”
“Even if nothing else, I envy that positive personality. Is that why you’re so unfazed?”
“Hm? What?”
“The little ones, sir.”
When Karia suddenly brought Andyion and Alice, claiming them as her children, Shagal and his men were shocked.
Though confident in his looks, the captain had never been in a proper relationship with a woman, and they worried how he would react to learning the woman he liked had children.
‘Twins, no less!’
Karia had even asked Noah to use the title she bought to allow the children into the palace. The mercenaries worried Noah might be shocked and troubled by this.
Yet Noah was entirely unfazed by the children’s presence, something completely unexpected for the subordinates.
“Did you get any prior notice?”
“I was a bit surprised myself.”
Noah’s surprise wasn’t that Karia had children, but that he himself felt completely fine about it.
He even found the children cute: Alice, slightly naïve but cheerful, and the cunning Andyion who followed Karia closely, sending hidden malice his way.
Watching them, he couldn’t help but smile wryly.
“Perhaps because they resemble the lady? Strangely familiar and endearing, even that mischievous little lord.”
“Well, at five, they’re at the perfect age for being cheeky.”
“Seems their mischief has made me apologetic.”
At that moment, a cold voice joined their playful conversation silently.
Looking down, they saw a small child exuding a presence impossible for a five-year-old.
“Sir Trantes always leaves in the evening and comes early in the morning. If you’re going to make noise from the start, wouldn’t it be better to stay at the mansion?”
“Oh? Do you wish I wouldn’t leave? How childish of you, little lord.”
Noah ignored the sarcasm and jested, causing Andyion to scowl in disgust.
Where could such a small child have learned such expressions? Noah swallowed a laugh with a cough.
“Unfortunately, I run the mercenary company and can’t stay here all day. I also have tasks assigned by the lady to complete.”
“So your tasks must be done at night. Curious what someone with such a fine face does at night.”
“Oh! Finally, we agree. I also think my face is quite fine, just as you think.”
Changing the subject! Andyion glared at Noah suspiciously. Though he sensed something, there was no proof.
Andyion had disliked him from the start: a man always trying to get close to Karia, hiding things, pretending to be friendly while smiling slyly.
“My apologies. I see you were sparring.”
“No problem. We were just taking a break.”
“Then may I take this moment to spar with you briefly?”
Andyion had never wielded a sword personally but had experience fighting those who did—and always won. He was the recognized protector of the manor.
Even in turbulent times, he never once knelt; in a world without magic, a human sword was no threat.
‘This man is still needed by my mother. A warning should be fine.’
Noah, however, looked flustered at Andyion’s proposal. It wasn’t fear of the five-year-old, but the absurdity of sparring with a child.
How could a small hand wield a full iron sword?
Noah didn’t trust himself to spar without injuring the boy.
“That would be difficult.”
“Why? Afraid of losing to a child and losing face?”
“Haha! Partly, and also, I can’t point a sword at the little lord given my position. If you wish, get your mother’s permission.”
Thus, he gave the excuse Andyion could not resist. Mentioning Karia, Andyion’s face immediately darkened. A good child who obeys his mother couldn’t possibly get that permission.
Even at five, the clever child understood the sparring was impossible.
“Shall I speak on your behalf?”
“No, it’s fine. Considering that we’re already paid to work here, it wouldn’t be proper to take your place. Work hard for the pay you received.”
Andyion snorted and turned away, hands behind his back, small legs walking elegantly in a noble manner.
Noah, watching the child expertly acknowledge the servants’ greetings and enter the mansion, smiled warmly, wondering if this wasn’t really a small fifteen-year-old rather than five.
