Chapter 41
“Has Miss Crowell returned?”
“Oh my, it really is her. Wait, look over there.”
“And who is that tall, young gentleman? I’ve never seen anyone so handsome!”
“He must be a noble you met at the academy.”
No sooner had we started walking down the street than a flurry of excited voices reached our ears.
The street had a lived-in feel, but it wasn’t overly noisy…
I glanced along the path leading to the main castle and casually spoke to Ethan.
“Nothing’s changed, huh.”
But Ethan, who had seemed lost in thought since we entered the castle grounds, suddenly asked a question.
“Is she a friend?”
“Huh?”
“You and I.”
…It seemed he was bothered by the way I had introduced him to the knights as my academy friend. What should I say? I narrowed my eyes and asked back.
“…How would you like me to address you? You told me to call you Ethan before.”
That was during our sparring match.
Besides, Ethan Behemoth had spoken casually to me from the very first time we met. Considering his rank, age, and academy standing were all higher than mine, it was natural.
I had also taken his permission to call him Ethan as an excuse to interact with him comfortably.
‘Did he catch on?’
So, how should I address him?
“Senior? Lord? Ethan Behemoth, Lord?”
Tilting my head, I looked at him. After a long pause, he finally replied.
“No. I think ‘friend’ is fine.”
So casually.
I nodded lightly.
“I think that’s appropriate too. After all, this is just the beginning.”
Ethan didn’t respond any further. I stole a glance at him, then quickened my pace toward the main castle.
As the main gates of Crowell Castle came into view, they suddenly swung open, and a young girl dashed out among the staff.
“Miss!”
“Miss Diana!”
No one could stop her. The staff looked visibly flustered.
And I laughed heartily at the sight of her.
“Diana!”
Opening my arms and kneeling down, Diana leapt into my embrace and called out in her sweet, loving voice.
“Unnie!”
A beautiful young lady with soft, chestnut hair and bright golden eyes. But now, Diana looked small enough to truly be called a child.
“Unnie, I missed you so much…”
Diana clung to me, whining adorably, until she suddenly paused and stepped back.
“…?”
Looking up, I saw her gaze fixed on Ethan. His expression was as stoic as ever.
Why does he look like that in front of a child?
I slyly stepped on Ethan’s foot. Noticing, he finally inclined his head slightly in greeting.
“…Hello. I am Ethan Behemoth.”
“Lord Behemoth… right?”
“Yes.”
Yet Diana remained cautious, shifting her gaze between me and Ethan, puffing her cheeks and tugging me to get me to stand.
“Unnie, let’s go inside quickly!”
“Huh? And the lord here?”
“Oh, Lord! Thank you for bringing my sister! You may leave now!”
Her crisp, childlike voice firmly divided the space between Ethan and me. What to do… Diana.
Feeling a little guilty, I spoke heavily. Both Ethan and Diana were looking at me.
“Diana…”
“Huh? What’s wrong, unnie?”
“…Lord Behemoth will also be staying at Crowell Castle for a while. He’s curious about the estate.”
“…Why?!”
Diana’s face twisted in a pout as she stamped her feet and stared at me.
“That’s because we’re friends.”
Ethan stepped forward and stood beside me. Diana’s face turned to shock at seeing him alongside me.
“No way! Friends?! Unnie! This man is lying, right?!”
“Uh…”
“…Pfft.”
“Funny?”
Technically, he wasn’t old enough to be called an ‘uncle.’
Though his body was quite developed, Ethan’s face still had a youthful look.
But ‘uncle’…
I shivered trying to suppress my laughter, when Ethan nudged my side, as if to tell me to clarify.
Right. Better to behave before this finger turns into a sword.
I gathered my voice and said to Diana,
“…Yes, we are friends.”
“Unnie, you have a bad temper, so you don’t have friends!!!”
“What do you mean by that…”
“Hehe.”
This time, Ethan’s laughter was audible. Whose temper is bad?
Looking down at Diana, she shyly averted her gaze and pulled my hand. Might as well tease her a bit.
“…Diana Crowell.”
“Unnie, that’s not important right now! Let’s get that man out, I have something to say…!”
Trying to change the subject now? Still, her flustered way of speaking was cute.
Just as Diana tried to continue, someone unexpectedly came to my side.
“Excuse me.”
“…Lord?”
“It was because of Edith’s exceptional skills that the headmaster personally recommended her. Besides, the training exercise was supposed to be very safe; this truly was an accident. It’s not entirely Edith’s fault.”
It was Ethan.
“…Ah, I see.”
My father, clearly surprised that Ethan had intervened, paused his words.
‘Ethan Behemoth…’
Just as I was about to feel a bit touched, he added firmly,
“Edith probably didn’t know either.”
“….”
‘I shouldn’t say I knew.’
