Chapter 342
Chapter 342
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: EP.72 – The Knight Dons a Suit (1)
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Though it was a bit belated, he couldn't help but think he'd made the right call moving here.
'In feng shui terms, this place is prime real estate.'
The scenery was beautiful, and there was even a modest little mountain right behind it.
Sure, when he'd first scouted for the cheapest house possible on the outskirts of the capital, he'd pounded the pavement far and wide before stumbling on this spot. It was in the middle of absolutely nowhere, and even going to market meant trekking over 20 kilometers to find one.
Come nightfall, it was so dark it felt like ghosts might appear any second.
But for someone those flaws didn't bother, there couldn't be a better house. And for Lee Han, who presided over a household of three humans and one assistant, this place was perfect.
Everything else aside, wasn't it peaceful?
'Unlike the outside world.'
Buzzz.
"Ah, thanks. If you need anything, just let me know."
Bzzzz!
The honeybee neighbors who'd moved in the day before were friendly sorts.
It was a clear give-and-take: they'd whipped up a nice place for him to live in exchange for fruits from the woods or honey they'd made, and now they were even bringing newspapers from the city.
"Patrick, you definitely paid that kid for it, right?"
Buzz.
"He tried to refuse, so you stuffed it in his pocket anyway? Good job. You bees really are better than people."
Buzzz!!
Having heard from the honeybee about the kid he'd bonded with back in the Empire—who'd journeyed south with him—finally settling down in the capital, Lee Han unfolded the newspaper.
And sure enough.
"Talk about brutal."
[Is it a side effect of the banquet—the first since the Southern Unification War—or just plain bad luck? A string of accidents has caused—]
The front page was ominous from the jump.
The calm before the storm.
Or more accurately, the storm had already hit.
But did the people even realize?
That the storm was being whipped up by the fury of an awakened father...
[Viscount Winston's third son caught targeting a young noble lady—catastrophe looms? He may be erased from the noble rolls—]
That third son was a half-demon. Erased from the rolls? More like erased from existence.
[Brom Trading Company head. Sudden health decline keeps him out of high society.]
Sudden health decline? More like he'd been tortured so badly his body was in tatters. Turns out that guy was a collaborator too.
[High society in chaos: biggest duel in a decade erupts. Countless knights and nobles meet their end.]
Duel?
Hmm, he wasn't sure when public executions had started being called duels, but if that's how the public saw it, then sure, duels it was.
Just unfortunate for those duelists that every single one was a collaborator with Roan Green, and the one slicing them down was a knight riding a teal unicorn with a slightly altered face.
And for the record, the string of unlucky accidents? Those were the shadows' handiwork.
"...They're sweeping it all up."
Lee Han, who knew the full story behind nearly every article, could only click his tongue.
This was why the world was so tricky.
Once you knew, you saw it everywhere—but if you didn't, it was so easy to fool people.
Still.
'At least it's going down quietly.'
Originally, Duke Blake had been ready to raise an army.
Of course he was. After twenty-odd years, he'd found his own daughter—and then learned there was a pack of perverts targeting her. What parent wouldn't lose it?
Even Lee Han would feel his blood boiling in rage.
In that sense, the duke might have been mad with fury, but he wasn't foolish.
-If we raise an army openly, they'll all scatter. To wipe them out without leaving a single one, we have to be even more thorough.
To eradicate them completely, he kept a cold head—and that made him all the scarier.
There was nothing more terrifying than someone who got calmer the angrier they were.
'Not someone you want as an enemy.'
Lee Han shook his head and set the paper down.
He'd read pretty much everything worth reading.
Buzz?
"Huh? You wanna read it too? You guys can read human writing?"
Buzzz!
"Impressive. You really are better than the assistant."
Buzz—.
The honeybees brazenly buzzed as if to say, 'That's obvious,' snatched the paper to catch up on world events, and snagged a remark that would've had the assistant—who was currently slaving away at the academy in Lee Han's stead—grabbing her hammer.
But no one paid it any mind. Lee Han stood up.
[Buzz??]
The honeybees finally noticed something: he was different from usual.
They didn't have human emotions, but with human-level smarts and knowledge of the world, they could spot it.
And that something was.
Buzz.
"Why am I dressed like this? Nothing major. Just have an important appointment today... you know, a..."
Shff.
He'd dolled himself up.
"Date."
Nobles attending a banquet had a lot on their plates.
Especially the ladies—it was utter madness.
Because.
"Miss, let's start with a bath."
"Which perfume would you like?"
"Time for your massage."
"Shall we trim your hair a bit?"
"We'll try on jewels and dresses before deciding. The one from yesterday? It might feel different today. Let's just try on a light dozen."
"What style of makeup?"
"Your hands and feet need work—they're a mess from sword practice!"
"Hungry? You have to hold out. No water either, if you can help it. If you're starving, maybe just a lemon. Got it?"
The flowers of high society were the women, no question!
To an outsider, it might look ridiculous—but the flashier and more beautiful you appeared, the higher your house's standing could climb.
Real examples abounded: a humble house's daughter elevating her family—and even reviving her territory's economy—purely on her looks. That was high society, so the maids' fussing wasn't all that strange.
If anything, this was a 'simplified' version.
"Ugh, it's so frustrating. This should've taken twelve hours at least."
"Tell me about it. Dressing so simply is gonna raise eyebrows..."
"No helping it. It's the style she wants."
Compared to the usual prep time for a noble lady, this was barely half.
They couldn't hide their disappointment—especially given Tristan had no daughters before. It only made the regret worse.
This was Tristan's lady making her official debut in the kingdom's high society, after all.
But despite the maids' grumbling.
"I'm comfortable like this. Oh, and no corset. I've trained enough that I can hold my shape without it."
The girl was firm.
No further arguments.
"B-But."
"It'd just get in the way. If you can tuck a dagger or wooden sword in there, do it. That'd be better."
"...Why would you bring a dagger or wooden sword to a banquet...?"
"You have to be able to protect yourself. It's basic."
"...??"
Our miss is just so different from other ladies.
It was a moment that drove it home anew, leaving the maids full of regret.
'She'd be even more beautiful all dolled up.'
'She could be the flower of high society...'
'Not even a knight yet, but tougher than most knights.'
Half a year since arriving in Tristan, and she still lived with iron self-discipline. Watching her, the maids felt tears pricking their eyes.
It wasn't just duty to their lord's daughter.
Levi Jan Dark—that girl was unbreakable, impressive even to another woman.
Jealousy?
Seeing her effort, her resolve... no woman could feel that.
They knew even sudden nobility and status wouldn't let them live like her.
She was worthy of respect—a lady who could charm anyone, even her own sex.
...Which was why.
"Miss, it's time to head out."
"Thanks for the heads-up!"
"...You're that excited?"
"Huh?"
"You've had a smile on your face all day..."
"......Oh."
"......"
The maids felt a twinge of jealousy knowing that beaming smile was all for today's 'partner.'
"I-I mean, I don't know... this feeling's all new to me..."
"......"
"Well, one thing's for sure."
Bloom!
"I'm happy."
"......"
A fresh smile like a spring bud bursting open with morning dew.
The maids blushed before that enchanting grin—even they were captivated.
And it hit them.
She was already a flower, no adornments needed.
More vibrant and beautiful than any other.
'Always such a fuss.'
Even in the bouncing carriage, Levi felt awkward with the maids hovering, fussing over sweat or smudged makeup.
She appreciated the care, but to her, it was all just cumbersome.
'Guess I'm not cut out for nobility after all.'
A frilly gown and pricey jewels couldn't change her core.
The street rat, the scars from her wretched slave days—they wouldn't fade.
Even if the visible marks were gone, the mental ones lingered.
'Sorry to the marquis, but after graduation, I'm striking out on my own.'
Luckily, she had no obligations to Tristan.
Not blood-related, so no pressure to bear heirs or carry on the line.
A huge relief—and she pondered other ways to repay Marquis Tristan anyway.
Knock knock.
"?"
A knock at the door mid-ride.
Levi blinked, as did the maids, but soon.
"Hehe."
She smiled at the familiar presence, opened the door—and sure enough.
"—Earlier than scheduled."
Flash.
"......Master, that's too much."
"What is? Oh, this? Just a little debut gift for my first disciple."
"S-Still, it's way over the top..."
She narrowed her eyes in mock scolding at the sight of him laden with thousands of hydrangeas.
...Though she couldn't hide her flushed ears.