Chapter 145
Chapter 145
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 145
Chapter Title: A Strict Tutor and a Drunk Knight
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"Your Highness, you need to focus."
"Teacher, you're not focusing either... Hey, that word's wrong over there."
When Karus pointed out Lianus, who was spacing out a bit, Lianus immediately countered by spotting Karus's own mistake.
Karus quickly corrected the error and approached Lianus, crouching down in front of him and resting his chin on the desk.
"Your Highness, are you worried about your friend?"
"...What if Lady Sarete is bullying Nil?"
Lianus's brows drooped as he recalled the old lady's bellowing voice echoing from the drawing room. The Queen must have sent that nasty, nitpicking hag for sure.
"Your friend... he'll be fine. Honestly, he's not the type to just take it lying down."
"...True, but still......"
"How about we sneak a peek? If she's bullying him, we can swoop in and rescue him!"
"Sounds good!"
Lianus jumped up from his seat. Karus scooped him up effortlessly and headed down to the first floor.
A few young servants were gathered in front of the drawing room where Nihil was, giggling among themselves.
As Lianus approached, the servants startled and started to say something, but Lianus quickly pressed a finger to his lips and sidled up to the slightly ajar door of the drawing room.
"Ahem. Even in the palace, you must mind your posture. Try walking with this book on your head. A swat with the switch every time it falls."
At the mention of the switch, Lianus bristled, but Nihil just nodded and began walking steadily around the room with the book balanced on his head.
As Nihil circled the drawing room stably with the book on his head, Lady Sarete's expression twisted subtly.
"...Hmph, at that snail's pace, you'll never get anywhere! Walk faster."
Lianus barely suppressed the urge to fling open the drawing room door at Lady Sarete's absurd nitpick.
Unlike his own short temper, his overly patient friend didn't complain at all.
He simply accepted the instruction wholeheartedly and...
Udada da da—!
...took off running.
"...?!"
Nihil literally dashed around the drawing room with the book stuck to his head. One might wonder if "stuck" was the right word, but it was the only way to describe it...
Karus, watching alongside him, whispered cautiously.
"...Your friend has some real talent. Who knew you could stick a book to your head like that."
"......"
"How does it even stay on?"
"...Beats me."
"Y-You brat! Stand still right now!"
The lady's bellow echoed. Worrying about his friend had apparently been unnecessary.
"At her age, getting that worked up... she'll keel over from high blood pressure."
Lianus giggled at Karus's faux concern. The lady, chasing after Nihil, soon plopped down panting.
Seeing this, Nihil removed the book from his head, approached her, and extended a hand. It seemed like a gesture of respect for the elderly.
...Or maybe not.
The already furious old lady, having taken enough abuse, grew even angrier at the gesture and grabbed at Nihil's hood.
'W-Wait, she can't pull that!'
Exposing his fluffy ears would be a disaster, so just as Lianus was about to intervene, a shrill scream rang out.
"Y-You vulgar thing! Let... let go of me!"
Nihil had grabbed her by the hair.
She struggled awkwardly against the much shorter Nihil, unable to even straighten her back. Nihil was just holding her hair, but her flailing turned her neat coiffure into a wild mess in seconds.
Lianus's mouth fell open in an "O." He wasn't the only one impressed; Sir Ernest, silently standing guard a step behind, also gaped.
"Ugh, what do we do about that."
Karus and the nearby servants couldn't hold back their laughter anymore and snorted.
In the end, Lady Sarete, having been thoroughly bested, fled with her hair in disarray.
After gleefully shaking her by the hair to drive her off, Nihil looked immensely proud as he savored the snacks Karus had brought with the leisure of a victor.
"Nil's amazing as always!"
Watching his friend, Lianus vowed inwardly to learn from him.
Sir Evan still hadn't returned even as midnight approached, but since Sir Frederick was there, Lianus tried to send Sir Ernest home.
But the dutiful knight insisted on staying until Sir Evan returned, despite being told he could leave. In the end, Nihil couldn't remove his hood and mask until late at night.
Naturally, he couldn't speak either, so Lianus decided to read the picture book to him tonight.
"...The hero and the princess forgave the lonely witch and became friends, living happily ever... H-Huh? Nil, where are you going?"
Nihil suddenly stood up midway through the story. He tugged at the hem of Lianus's pajamas, as if telling him to follow.
"Huh? You want me to come?"
Nihil led the way, opening the bedroom door to reveal the pitch-black hallway cracked slightly by faint light.
Nihil glanced between the hallway and Lianus, then, too lazy to fetch a lantern, hoisted Lianus up.
Lianus dangled his legs naturally and asked,
"Nil, where are we going at this hour?"
"......"
Nihil said nothing and kept walking. By the time they reached the stairs, Walter, following behind, took Lianus from him.
Nihil ignored it and tugged insistently at Walter's pant leg, signaling to follow, then took the lead.
Despite the late hour, quite a few servants were clustered in the first-floor lobby, each holding candles and whispering.
And at the center, crouched on the floor, was a figure...
"My... my cat's gone......"
"...Sir Evan?"
His own knight was slumped there, searching for some cat.
"Give me back my baby kitten......"
"...??"
Lianus was baffled but first dismissed the servants for Sir Evan's dignity.
Descending from Sir Ernest's arms, he approached his knight, only for a large hand to snatch him up into a tight embrace.
A whiff of alcohol hit him.
"S-Sir Evan?"
"Hic, my baby kitten."
"......"
Lianus rolled his eyes. His knight, squeezing him so tight he could barely breathe, suddenly started sobbing while searching for the cat.
Lianus wanted to comfort him but hesitated—fetching a real cat would just make it bolt, so maybe call Sir Bella to pretend? Just then, he spotted Nihil scurrying off somewhere.
"Huh? Nil? Where to?"
His friend ignored the call and dashed up the stairs in a hurry. Trapped in Evan's grip, Lianus focused on soothing him instead.
"Sir Evan, it's okay."
"S-Sorryyy......"
"No need to apologize. The floor's cold—let's go inside."
"Huuu......"
For some reason, his knight wept uncontrollably, so out of character. At this point, Lianus wondered if alcohol was actually a tear-producing functional beverage.
As he wiped the tears streaming down cheeks and soothed him, Nihil returned with some mysterious crystal orb, circling Sir Evan excitedly. It was a bit off-putting, but Lianus stayed focused on his knight.
"Sir Evan, let's head up first."
At that, Evan staggered to his feet with Lianus in his arms. But too unsteady, Walter rushed over to support him.
"Sir Evan, careful!""...Captain...?"
"Yeah, what got into you, drinking this much."
"Hwaaa—Captain, sorreee......"
"It's fine. It was a rare outing, so you stayed out late. I get it. Still, with so many ears around, how about we head inside?"
He was right. Lianus had dispersed the crowd, but couldn't silence every whisper.
"Captain, you know I reaaally admire you~?"
"...Thanks, but stand straight first."
Walter slung one of Evan's arms over his shoulder, trying to steady the massive frame. Even drunk, Evan clutched Lianus tightly with one arm.
"Captaaain... the gold coins..."
"...? What gold coins?"
"Thaaat one... the ones you gave me for the exam..."
"...Ah."
"Fif- fifty... those... actually, I..."
"Sir Evan, enough. That's ancient history—over five years ago."
"Nooo......"
Despite reassurances, Evan kept mumbling apologies. Walter, oddly touched, patted his back heartily. But it only hurt his hand; the giant wouldn't straighten.
"Evan! Need more gold? I'll give you some—just stand properly! Head barely grows, but body this huge!"
"Ehehe—it's been five years since you called me like thaaat......"
"What's so funny!"
"Ever since I became a knight, you add 'Sir' and use formal speech... it hurt so muuuch......"
"...That bothered you?"
"Yesss......"
Walter felt guilty and pursed his lips.
"Alright, let's go up.""Can't just leave... gotta catch that damn bobcat..."
"...Did you fight a stray outside or something?"
"Thief bobcat bastard... dared to touch my baby kitten...!"
"Evan, I'll catch the thief cat for you—just go rest."
"Waaah, Captain, I said bobcat, bobcat, and it turned into a real bobcaaat......"
"...??"
"White and fluffy one appeared!!"
"...Lord, what nonsense is this..."
Walter shook his head at the incoherent ramble.
Evan hugged Lianus tighter, then started dozing on his feet before collapsing with a thud.
Lianus, stuck in the embrace, finally hugged back.
"Won't let that bobcat bastard get away......"
Walter struggled to move the bobcat-obsessed Evan—taller and bulkier, still holding a child—up the stairs. It wasn't easy.
If only he'd pass out, but Evan muttered about catching bobcats and resisted with surprising strength.
Eventually, even Frederick emerged from the shadows to help wrestle him to the bedroom. Rubbing his shoulders after the second such carry, Frederick grumbled.
"Hah... the junior's a handful. Your Highness, why put the guard knight's room on the fourth floor..."
"But... closer is better... Ugh, Sir Evan, your beard itches."
"My baby kitten......"
"...Hah, impressive he's even back at the palace."
Frederick shook his head at Evan nuzzling Lianus's face. Watching him, Walter asked hesitantly,
"Speaking of, aren't you His Majesty's direct guard? Why are you here?"
"Yes, well... circumstances. I'm dog-sitting here for a fortnight."
"...??"
Walter tilted his head in confusion when Evan, mid-cat rant, suddenly bellowed,
"Hey! Get over here!"
"S-Sir Evan, calm down!"
Nihil, who had been hovering nearby with the crystal orb, finally got nabbed by the scruff.
Nihil squirmed to escape but gave up, pressing the orb enthusiastically to Evan's face.
Evan mumbled with his face squished against it.
"Damn boobcaaat......"
"......"
For some reason, Lianus had a feeling Sir Evan wouldn't like that crystal orb much.