~Chapter 15~
“Eh?”
“I asked whether you’ve finished insulting me.”
“W-What…?”
Dia seemed startled by my sudden outburst.
She probably didn’t expect me to act this way. Usually, she would have expected a sarcastic comeback.
“You said you joined the knight order hoping for a scandal with members of the Duke’s house, didn’t you?”
“No, that’s not it—”
“I find it honestly unpleasant. I joined the most prestigious knight order to become a true knight. Yet you, Miss Dia, are twisting my intentions.”
This was definitely a rash move. It was almost like picking a fight over being insulted.
“Merely being the lover of the young marquis seems to make you doubt whether I am a true knight. And anyone who ignores that would themselves not be a true knight.”
True, I originally joined the knight order just to make money. But what? So what? Who asks a knight to stand there and listen to such words?
I’m a bizarre human being who publicly craves being a knight and joined the order for strange reasons.
“Duel.”
And it’s surprisingly common for someone eccentric to explode over their interests.
Swoosh—!
I placed my leather gloves down in front of her.
“W-Wait—”
“Of course, I’m not saying you personally have to duel me. You may send a proxy. However, if you lose, you must apologize to me directly.”
“Wh-What…!”
Dia Lafayette.
I’m sorry, but you’re going to be the sacrificial lamb for my reputation. I have to become an unhinged madman right now.
“What are you doing! Suddenly declaring a duel?!”
“Do not think of refusing. Having touched my honor, either someone from the Lafayette family dies, or I die—one of the two.”
The onlookers began looking at me as if I were insane, slowly backing away. I could clearly feel the whispers and their gazes.
“What on earth is happening?”
“It seems some commotion has broken out where the young ladies are gathered.”
“Let’s go.”
Just then, Pierre appeared.
I deliberately widened my eyes and called out his name.
“Pierre! This person has defiled my honor! She claims I am a fraud hiding behind the guise of a knight.”
“Insulting the Duke’s knight? You should know that this is equivalent to insulting the Duke himself.”
“Ah, no, Your Grace! I only—”
“Unpleasant.”
“If you permit, I shall defend the Duke’s honor in her stead. Please grant me a duel.”
As the commotion grew, Dia’s face turned pale.
…Okay, now I felt a bit guilty.
“Everyone, calm down.”
Fortunately, Count Blueua arrived at the perfect moment.
“Young Marquis, how can you be angry after only hearing one side? We should hear Miss Dia’s words too. Is that all right, Miss Dia?”
“H-Hic…!”
“It’s fine. Please speak calmly.”
Dia, who had been facing a madman about to rush in for a life-or-death fight, while the young marquis joined in blaming her, looked ready to cry. At least, her infatuation with him seemed completely shattered.
“I-I just… wanted to experience something exciting, so I said I wanted to become a knight…”
“Exciting…? You mean a romance that would happen in the Duke’s house? Why pick me out to say such a thing—”
“Calm down, Sir Sonnet. Miss Dia was simply ignorant.”
Count Blueua intervened, mediating.
“However, rudeness is still rudeness. Let her apologize here, and let it end. How about that, Young Marquis?”
“If Sonnet agrees, it’s fine.”
“Sir Sonnet, could you show some leniency?”
“…If the Count insists, I shall let it end without tarnishing my honor.”
Finally, our gaze fixed on Dia.
Pale, she swallowed her sobs and bowed slightly to me.
“I-I’m sorry, Sir Sonnet…”
“Yes. Let’s hope there won’t be a next time.”
Once the matter seemed resolved, she immediately left the salon.
…Somehow, I felt I had bullied her too much. Next time, I’ll be nicer.
“Today isn’t a day to enjoy oneself. Let’s start the charity event ahead of schedule.”
“Apologies.”
“No, you have a somewhat reckless but loyal knight. That’s admirable. Is that why you were drawn to her?”
Pierre paused for a moment, then nodded lightly.
“Indeed. I suppose I do like a remarkable knight.”
“A remarkable knight. So that explains why no young lady from any noble family ever captured the young marquis’s heart!”
With that, the reason I became the girlfriend of that iron-walled Pierre was satisfied.
A noble girl who became a knight, just his type. Mad and obsessed with honor? Hard to find someone like that.
“Please take your seats; the charity event will begin shortly.”
“Shall we go, Sonnet?”
“Yes, Pierre.”
Hopefully, this will lessen our superior’s burden. He said he’d give extra bonuses based on results anyway.
The charity event.
Nobles brought their goods to auction, and the proceeds were fully donated.
An event ideal for those who love honor.
“One gold!”
“Two gold!”
“Five! Five gold!”
At the event, my angel’s embroidery was very popular.
Seeing hundreds of thousands of won flying away with a single word, I couldn’t help but marvel.
Of course, it was my angel. She charmed everyone.
“Was that your sister’s embroidery?”
“Yes. Pretty, isn’t it? Doesn’t it shine?”
“Embroidery doesn’t shine…”
“That’s impossible! It’s Mabel’s work.”
“The brightness is from the lighting—”
“Eh? It really shines!”
“…You really love your sister, don’t you?”
Of course! Who would dislike an angel?
“Don’t you plan to bid on it?”
“My angel forbade it.”
“Oh? Who’s that? Ah, never mind.”
I also wanted to participate in the auction, but I had already heard: “Don’t buy mine! The older sister’s piece is separate!”
From the moment Mabel’s work appeared, Pierre seemed fed up with hearing praise for Mabel. Then he asked me:
“Shall I buy it?”
“You—Pierre?”
“Yes. You didn’t forbid me from buying it, right? I’ll pay as much as you want; it also counts as a donation.”
“Ah… then the Duke’s house would go bankrupt, wouldn’t it?”
“Are you joking?”
“Does it look like a joke?”
He was serious, staring into my eyes, then looked away first.
“…You really love your sister, don’t you?”
Words that stuck in my ears today.
Anyway, the charity event ended successfully.
By the way, Mabel’s third piece was sold for the highest price. People do have an eye for talent.
“Will you be going home with your sister?”
“Uh… no. Mabel is staying briefly at a friend’s house. She was invited…”
“Doesn’t bother you?”
“What do you mean?”
“Are you okay with your beloved sister getting close to someone else?”
“Right?”
Pierre, seeming to think over something, politely escorted me.
“Then let’s go together.”
Before I knew it, we got into the Duke’s carriage waiting nearby, and fatigue hit me.
“You worked hard.”
“Was it enough?”
“Yes. To a satisfactory degree.”
He smiled slightly and continued.
“Though I have a question.”
“A question?”
“What about you.”
What could there be to know about me?
Tilting my head, he asked:
“After seeing you today, I wondered—”
“Wondered what…?”
“Don’t you want to fully possess the one you love?”
“Eh?”
“To obtain one, would you be willing to give up your family, your life, your honor?”
“Hmm….”
“Would you kill innocents easily for the one you love, abandoning your beliefs?”
I thought about what his intention might be. A loyalty test? Love seems like an exaggerated metaphor.
I almost said an outright yes, then stopped. I didn’t want to lie completely. Too easy to get caught.
“No. If there is a reasonable reason, I will obey, but I won’t kill innocents.”
I was not such a passionate person. I could be a loyal advisor offering appropriate guidance, but I could never be a blindly obedient follower. Even if given more money than now.
“I’m not blindly loyal to others. Even if I love someone, I won’t lose myself.”
He might find my declaration unpleasant…
“To love, but not lose oneself. That’s commendable.”
He smiled wryly.
“Then you can love many things. Unlike those who cling to only one, I envy that.”
“I’m just an ambiguous person.”
“No, that’s better. At least… better than being blindly obsessed with one thing.”
He seemed lost in thought, staring into the distance. I couldn’t tell what he was thinking… but he didn’t seem to intend to scold me, so maybe it passed?
“By the way, Young Marquis.”
“Hmm?”
“Shall we keep up the persona?”
“Yes.”
Good.
The mad knight is unleashed. Time to cause some real chaos.
