Chapter 02
Unlike before, when he had been clad in his conquest attire, he now wore a loose shirt and looked like someone his own age.
“You know, I saved you from rolling around in the mud with that pompous old man.”
The boy strode forward and sat on the chair beside the bed.
“Someone like you.”
“Th-thank you.”
Skyler bowed her head a beat late.
“I’m alive thanks to you.”
“No need for thanks.”
An awkward silence hung around the two boys and the girl. Unable to endure it any longer, Skyler tried to change the topic.
“By the way… why did you buy that painting?”
“I liked it. And I bought it just for myself.”
“But… it looks expensive…”
He answered as if her question were obvious.
“It’s simpler than gouging out someone else’s eyes.”
Her legs went weak, and a chill ran down her spine. Beautiful and elegant to a frightening degree, it felt like staring into the face of a predator who couldn’t understand a word she said.
Skyler swallowed dryly and rolled her eyes. Even looking again, the room made her jaw drop.
“Where is this place? I thought I’d wake up in the temple’s infirmary…”
“My room.”
“Eh?”
Not only had she owed him her life, but she’d also been using his bed this whole time. Skyler’s face turned bright red.
“I’m fully recovered now. I owe you so much. Can I… go now?”
“Go where?”
Skyler paused mid-motion as she tried to pull back the blanket and stand.
“Empty-handed, a mother who’s a criminal, no home… where exactly do you think you can go?”
Every word stabbed at Skyler’s chest like a dagger. She bit her lip and lowered her head, ashamed and on the verge of tears.
Declan, who had been watching her silently with crossed arms, suddenly stated:
“You’re going to an orphanage.”
“Huh?”
Skyler paled at the thunderous words.
The orphanage was the place her mother, Sarina, had repeatedly warned her about. A hell where you could barely eat a meal a day, infested with rats and lice.
Turning pale and hesitant, Skyler spoke carefully.
“If it’s alright… could you… hire me?”
She didn’t know the details, but judging by the size and grandeur of this bedroom, and the fact that he was already a knight at such a young age, his family must be extraordinary. That meant the maid’s wages would be high too. Perhaps this was another opportunity.
Declan raised an eyebrow, surprised by her unexpected request.
Skyler pleaded, “I’m obedient. I can handle the housework. I can run errands. And also…”
“No.”
He cut her off sharply, as if there was no need to hear more.
“Huh?”
“There’s a snake around. Dirty, cunning, and just as greedy as I am.”
“…Then shouldn’t you catch the snake?”
“Not right now. Someday I’ll twist its neck, but not yet.”
His sharp blue eyes glinted cruelly. Skyler flinched at the terrifying gaze, but his voice softened as he added:
“But I’m not letting you go.”
“Huh?”
Declan grabbed her soft cheeks to make her look at him.
“I’m about balance. You owe me your life. Isn’t that right?”
“Y-yes.”
“When you come of age, I’ll call you. Live like the dead. Don’t reveal your vitality like now. Or else…”
So he meant he would hire her later, once she was older. Skyler nodded quickly.
Satisfied, Declan withdrew his hands without lingering and stood up.
Summoning courage, Skyler called after him, “Wait!”
He stopped and turned around. Skyler spoke clearly:
“Thank you for saving me.”
“….”
“Even if that wasn’t your intention… still, the fact remains that you saved me.”
No reply came.
Silently, Declan turned and left the room.
It was three days after living in luxury at the duke’s residence that she was finally sent to the orphanage.
With the help of the duke’s servants, Skyler packed her belongings into a trunk and hugged the maid she had grown fond of.
“I’ll miss you, Jenna.”
“I will too, Skyler.”
Jenna had been bringing her delicious meals and water for the past three days.
After a brief hug, Skyler looked up at the magnificent mansion.
The main building, annex, and even the new wing. Later she learned that the name “Kraus” was not one to be spoken lightly.
The Kraus dukedom was a prestigious family, known for producing generations of paladins and possessing influence rivaling even the monarchy.
The mansion was so large that even walking all day, one couldn’t explore it fully.
“I want to come back here someday.”
“…You better not.”
“Huh?”
Jenna knelt to meet her eye level and put a hand on her shoulder.
“Some things, even if you know about them, you must pretend you don’t. Even if you’ve seen them once.”
“What do you mean?”
“You think the young master is kind? That he’s very gentle with you?”
“Well…”
Jenna glanced around, whispering, “Not long ago, he personally killed a servant who had secretly leaked his private matters.”
“….”
“Even a servant who had been with him since he was very young, before entering the temple around age ten.”
Skyler’s eyes widened.
“You didn’t make any promises with the young master, did you?”
Before she could answer, Jenna shook her head and hurriedly concluded, “No. I held you too long. You’re late. Go now.”
With a short farewell, Skyler climbed into the tall carriage with the help of the driver.
She was half-dazed.
Jenna’s words stuck in her mind, leaving her in a daze.
And the lifeless eyes that could kill a grown man without hesitation.
Perhaps sensing her silence as regret, the butler spoke from across her.
“You’re being sent to an orphanage under the Kraus family’s patronage.”
“Yes…”
“There, you won’t go hungry or be abused. The young master instructed the head to take good care of you.”
Skyler cautiously asked, “Who… is the young master?”
“How does he seem to you?”
“My benefactor… someone I’m grateful to.”
“Then think of him that way.”
The butler handed her something.
“This…?”
Skyler’s eyes shook as she looked.
“He said to give this to you. It’s probably very important.”
“….”
“He had restoration experts repair it flawlessly.”
It was her diary, kept daily for years. Now perfectly restored, her eyes grew hot with tears.
“Jenna must have misunderstood something,” Skyler thought, wiping away her rising tears.
“I want to thank the young master properly.”
“Yes.”
“I’ll eat well and live well, and I’ll definitely return. I want to repay his kindness.”
She wanted to work as a maid here, earn money for the future, and repay her debt of gratitude at the same time.
“Do so.”
A flock of birds took flight from the treetops.
Skyler looked up at the setting sun, recalling the face of the boy who had saved her—over and over.
She would never forget him.
“Extra! Extra!”
A morning paper flew over the closed door.
Skyler, who had been waiting, quickly caught it and read.
<Western border monster group extermination complete. According to local reports, this operation was carried out notably by paladin candidate ‘Declan Kraus’…>
Skyler pressed her hand to a name as she read the newspaper.
It had been five years since she last saw him.
Appointed the youngest paladin candidate, Declan had been walking the edge of death ever since.
Seeing he was still safe brought relief. It had been a large-scale operation, so he would probably be safe for a while.
As she closed her eyes and sighed, a small figure approached from behind.
“Sis!”
“Ah! You startled me!”
Skyler turned to see a small hand hugging her waist.
“Rozel?”
