Julia Was a Spoiled Child After All
"What could that have meant...?"
Thud. Thud. While making a rough sandwich from the remaining ingredients in the kitchen, Silvia's foot kept tapping the floor. Her mind had long since drifted away, and her mouth had stopped chewing the sandwich ages ago. Silvia's entire focus was consumed by what Aslan had said earlier.
'Stop worrying about pointless things. You'll be swinging your sword for me for the rest of your life. I'll make sure to put you to good use, so keep that in mind.'
She had been startled. He'd said he'd let her swing her sword for the rest of her life? Aslan wasn't the kind of person who would do that. And for good reason...
'You damn bitch. You're going to spy on me? Did Father put you up to this? That's going too far. I'll make sure you quit being a knight. I'll make you beg me, crying, to let you quit. Just you wait.'
Aslan had hated her. And just as much as he hated her, he had despised the sword she loved. He'd even threatened to force her to put it down. Back then, it had been truly terrifying and heartbreaking—she had cried like a child in secret, even though she had never shed a tear even when facing death on the battlefield. If she had to give up the sword, what would be left of her? With her mana core damaged and magic beyond her reach, being a knight was the only identity she had left. If she put down the sword, what would she become? How would she live? She hadn't even wanted to imagine it.
"He's changed so much..."
At first, Silvia had viewed Aslan's transformation positively. He had once been the lowest of the low—spreading negativity throughout the mansion, lashing out at servants and residents at every turn, and performing bizarre rituals with goat heads. But that Aslan had come to his senses. He was trying to do things on his own. She had thought that was admirable enough, but no further. Silvia had never trusted Aslan, nor had she ever considered trusting him. She had merely thought he had gone from human trash to something marginally human. As his escort and watcher, she had stayed close, but if he weren't her charge, she would have considered him someone not worth associating with. Yet he was changing. Steadily. And surely.
At first, she had tried to deny it. It couldn't be. He wasn't truly changing—he was just pretending. Even his care for the children was ultimately for his own benefit, just an act. But that belief had quickly begun to waver.
"Why is he doing this? It's so confusing..."
Grind. Her teeth clenched. If he was going to be bad, he should be bad to the end. If he was going to be good, he should have been good from the start. What was this nonsense that only confused people? What was she supposed to do? Could she trust him? Trust him, only to be betrayed? Her mind told her never to believe him, but her heart was being drawn in. It was tempting her to give Aslan a chance. His eyes were still as fierce and gloomy as before, but his true intentions had clearly changed. Or rather, she simply felt that way, even if she couldn't truly know whether a person's heart had changed or not.
"For the rest of my life, for the young master..."
He had said he would let her swing her sword for the rest of her life. He had definitely said that. A half-baked person who couldn't even produce mana. Her skills were only upper-middle among Sword Experts, nothing special. Even with Charlotte wielding a magic sword—no, a holy sword—appearing, the only reason he continued to employ her was clear.
'Has he seen the potential for me to become a Sword Master?'
The path she had once given up on, unable to overcome it. Perhaps he had seen the talent for becoming a Sword Master in her. In the past, she would have dismissed it as nonsense, but now, with both Julia and Charlotte—whom Aslan had taken an interest in—having awakened, she couldn't take it lightly.
Could she try again? Could she aim for Sword Master with this half-broken body? Silvia felt her heart pounding and her cheeks flush slightly with excitement.
"Kyaa, what do I do! Look at your face turning red!"
"Hey! What are you shouting for!"
"...?"
Thud, thud, thud. From outside the kitchen door came the sound of hurried footsteps fleeing. Why were the maids making such a fuss? Silvia tilted her head in confusion and stuffed the rest of the sandwich into her mouth.
Evil God 'Kali' appears displeased.
"I'm hungry..."
"Come out and eat. If you're hungry."
"But if I go eat, I'll have to face Mister!"
"..."
Charlotte buried her face in the pillow and kicked the blanket furiously, as if recalling what had happened earlier. Julia looked at her with a pitiful expression. She had thought Charlotte had no sense of shame, but apparently even she felt embarrassed about acting like a tragic heroine.
"What are you going to do? You can't keep starving."
"Uh, what should I dooo..."
"Want me to bring you food?"
"Please... And if possible, find out where the Super Strong Sword is too..."
Charlotte mumbled from deep under the blanket, her voice barely audible. Julia sighed and kicked the blanket off with a whoosh.
"Kyaaang!" Charlotte rolled off the bed with a yelp.
"Got it, Miss Tragic Heroine with a time limit."
"Aah! Seriously!"
The embarrassment would only last a moment. After some time, it would be fine. Thinking that, Julia left the bedroom.
"Why is Charlotte not coming out?"
"Well. She says she's not hungry. Maybe she hasn't fully recovered from mana exhaustion... yo."
"Hmm..."
"I'll bring some bread for later when she feels better... yo?"
"Do that."
In the dining room, Julia elegantly poked at her food with a fork while making excuses over the dog bowl. Aslan, watching her closely, gave a faint smile. Her once crude fork skills had improved considerably.
Evil God 'Kali' shouts that the child is too skinny and demands she eat more.
What now? Aslan tensed up.
Evil God 'Kali' roars that our Dark Knight is starving and demands she be called over immediately!
Ah. The kid said she wasn't eating. What was he supposed to do? He couldn't force food into her mouth. Aslan felt a headache coming on.
"And about the Super Strong Sword..."
"It's Super Strong Sword."
"Yeah. Super Strong Sword..."
"Super Strong Sword. Mind your pronunciation."
"Haa. Anyway, that long-named sword! Where is it right now... yo?"
"Did Charlotte ask you to find out?"
"H-huh? No? I was just, you know... curious... yo."
You, curious about the sword's location? You, who had no interest in swords and didn't even know the types? Aslan immediately saw through Julia's lie.
"Tell Charlotte this. The Super Strong Sword is in my possession. If she wants it back, she'll have to come to me herself."
"..."
Aslan replied with a sly smile. If Charlotte kept avoiding him, there were plenty of ways to force her out. But making her come on her own would be the most entertaining. It would also create an opportunity to talk.
'Creep...' Julia shook her head. That man could be so childish sometimes.
'Julia's probably asleep, right?'
Late at night. The rustling under the blanket stopped as Charlotte slowly pushed it aside. Julia's bed remained still and bulging, as if she were sleeping peacefully. Not wanting to wake her, Charlotte crept out quietly.
"The Super Strong Sword is with Mister, he said..."
Thanks to Julia, she had obtained valuable information. If the Super Strong Sword was with Mister, did he think she would go straight to him? If so, he was sorely mistaken. She wasn't an idiot.
'Anyway, Mister is too weak to carry the Super Strong Sword around. He must have hidden it somewhere.'
Even if it was with Mister, that didn't mean he was carrying it on him. So the Super Strong Sword had to be left in one place. The most likely candidate was the study. Charlotte tiptoed toward the study, avoiding the maids who were still working until dawn.
"Hoo, I'm not stealing it... I'm just going to get my own thing back..."
She wasn't acting like a thief at all. It was just a little awkward to face Mister. Charlotte swallowed hard and pushed the study door open slightly.
'Whew. It's dark.'
As expected, he wouldn't be working at this hour. Just as Charlotte relaxed and flung the door wide open—
"Ah..."
"I've been waiting."
What greeted Charlotte was Aslan, focused on paperwork with a small candle lit on his desk. And...
"Why is Julia doing that over there?"
"Mmm, nom. Mmm-hmm..."
"It's quite difficult to answer if you ask me that."
Julia was asleep with Aslan's hand resting on her cheek, a satisfied expression on her face. Charlotte froze in shock for three seconds. Then, a smile spread across her lips.
"Hehe. I see. So Julia can't sleep without Mister. She's a spoiled child after all."
She had found Julia's weakness! Before she knew it, Charlotte had completely forgotten why she had been reluctant to face Aslan in the first place.