Chapter 33
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 33: From Now On, 'Noona' Is Forbidden
City Lunder.
Territory ruled by the Edelheid Ducal family, one of the Empire's leading wizard families.
A fortress and sanctuary for wizards where even passing birds cannot fly without permission.
That overwhelming majesty had the power to make viewers bow their heads naturally.
Inside such a huge citadel, dinner was in full swing in the dining room.
Duchess Florencia.
Opposite her, the eldest son Cassius.
To the left and right sat the second son Lowell, eldest daughter Idella, and third daughter Sylvia.
The head seat was empty. It was the seat of the family head, Duke Edelheid.
—Clink.
Suffocating silence where even the sound of silverware clashing was careful. Everyone just continues eating quietly.
“Is Father not dining today either?”
The one who broke the silence was the youngest, Sylvia. She pouted her lips and poked at the salad with a fork.
“It’s hard to see his face these days. He locks himself in the lab and doesn't come out.”
“Stop whining, Sylvia. Do you think Father is you? He must be busy with work and magic research.”
The second son Lowell spoke nervously as if tired of Sylvia’s whining.
But Sylvia didn't back down easily either.
“Did I say something wrong? Just this week alone, I haven't seen him once.”
“You should understand. He will come out when it’s time.”
The eldest daughter Idella skillfully soothes the youngest without stopping her meal.
Nevertheless, Sylvia’s dissatisfaction did not decrease. She was still at an age to crave her father’s love.
“Mother. Mother, you go and say something. At least for family meals, we should eat together. I learned that way.”
“.......”
“Mother?”
“Your sister told you. He will come out when it’s time.”
“Chi. Everyone is indifferent.”
Sylvia sulking when no one sympathized. Pouting her lips, she stabbed the salad recklessly stab stab.
Normally, Florencia, who is more sensitive to etiquette than anyone else, would have scolded sharply as soon as she saw that frivolous behavior, but today she was unusually quiet.
It has been a week since Florencia saw the Duke either.
Just as members of Edelheid are a tribe crazy about magic, the Duke also spent time in the lab frequently due to magic research.
So the Duke’s recent absence is not strange at all, but nevertheless, Florencia felt uncomfortable in a corner of her heart.
She started feeling strange from when he brought a concubine into the family.
A lowly woman with no roots.
Even her name was unclear.
She still cannot understand why a person who valued bloodline and honor so much as the head of Edelheid took that girl in.
Built a luxurious villa for that woman, gifted all sorts of precious items, and not enough with that, even had a child.
‘How could he do such a terrible thing.’
Fortunately, God punished that woman who defiled the family. She died as soon as she gave birth to the child.
From then on, the Duke also came to his senses little by little. Came out of the villa, researched magic, took care of the family, and even had the youngest Sylvia.
As if acknowledging it was a momentary mistake, he confined Renoa in the villa and didn't reveal her to the outside world.
The strangeness before must have been because that witch-like woman cast a curse. The curse was lifted as the witch died.
Everything returned to normal orbit. It must be so.
‘Something....’
Nevertheless, Florencia couldn't erase the uncomfortable feeling. Impossible to explain in words, simply a woman’s intuition.
Of course, it’s just intuition though.
Florencia quietly hoped it was just her feeling.
“I heard that story. Story that the mongrel took a slave as an apprentice knight. Heard he beat Gerard.”
It was Lowell. He heard the family knights talking a while ago.
That Renoa made a slave an apprentice knight.
Because of that, knights dispatched to the villa have considerable dissatisfaction.
“I heard it too. Just what is she thinking living like that. Showing she is a lowly thing by doing only lowly things.”
Idella sighed and shook her head. Then she recalled that Florencia visited the villa recently.
“Mother, I heard you visited the villa again recently, did you meet that slave knight?”
“I met him.”
“Of course you kicked him out, right?”
“Noona, is that even a question? Who is Mother.”
“Right?”
The one who values bloodline more than anyone in the family is Florencia.
If it were her, she would have torn the rumored slave knight apart alive.
“He was a decent child contrary to his look.”
But a totally unexpected remark came out of Florencia’s mouth.
Edelheid siblings asked back in panic.
“Yes? What do you mean? Decent? That slave?”
“Neat appearance, knows how to respect nobles, and amiable personality. A child not like a slave. I wanted to bring him to the main house.”
“No.......”
Siblings couldn't continue speaking in shock. Exchanged glances with surprised expressions.
It was a look like ‘Just what kind of person is he for this person to say such things?’.
It wasn't strange for everyone to be curious about Irion.
“More than that, Cassius. How is handling affairs? Is it doable?”
Florencia changed the subject.
The eldest son Cassius, who was silent even when various conversations went back and forth, opened his mouth for the first time at his mother’s question.
“No problem.”
“You suffer a lot. Still, it is a process you must go through to become an excellent family head. Devote yourself.”
“Yes.”
Cassius wiped his mouth with a cloth and stood up.
“Finished already? Why don't you eat a little more. It must take a lot of strength to handle affairs.”
“It’s fine. I will excuse myself first.”
Cassius returned to the office after finishing the meal.
Office where neither magic stone lamps nor candles were lit, so darkness settled thickly. Moonlight flowing in through the window was everything.
Cassius sitting down. Leans back on the chair and closes his eyes.
Soon a voice is heard from the darkness.
“What do you plan to do with the slave in question?”
Cassius answered calmly without a sign of surprise.
“Well....”
“I understand Sir Zain’s evaluation of that slave is not ordinary.”
“Seems so.”
Cassius opened his eyes slightly. Opened the bottom drawer and took out a letter.
Edelheid’s loyal knight. Zain, currently serving as Renoa’s escort knight, reports her every move by her side.
In recent reports, the name of the slave called Irion is included without fail.
It was a type of report never experienced before.
Because until now, a short line saying ‘Renoa read books in the study all day’ was always everything.
Such Renoa went to the arena, sponsored a slave, brought him to the mansion, and appointed him as an apprentice knight.
Zain said that slave’s talent is not ordinary. Even Florencia, a bloodline supremacist to the bone, praised him highly.
This was a variable not in expectation.
“Shouldn't we dispose of him?”
Eliminate variables.
That was the principle of action and standard response Cassius had taken so far.
But.
“No matter how he flies and crawls, he is merely one slave. Why bother caring.”
“Then...?”
“It’s okay to watch.”
If signs of a problem appear, dispose of him then. Still not late.
Because disposing of a slave is nothing.
***
In the forest of City Alderin.
Villa of the Edelheid Ducal family.
Renoa, playing the role of princess of the forest, is in the middle of reading today as well.
—Crunch.
In a mansion with nothing to do, reading was one of the few amusements for Renoa to melt time.
Because she wouldn't chat with maids, nor polish martial arts.
—Crunch crunch.
Setting aside having nothing to do, Renoa liked reading quite a bit.
Focusing quietly, sometimes thinking alone is good too.
Above all, for Renoa who has never gone out of Alderin, it was the only window to learn the world.
Especially on a night like now, the mind becomes calm so it was an optimal environment for reading.
—Crunch crunch crunch.
“.......”
But due to the constantly heard noise, she couldn't concentrate on reading at all.
Renoa glared sharply at where the noise came from. Bibi was lying comfortably on the sofa cracking snacks.
“Why do you always eat snacks in the study? This is not a lounge.”
“Because I must be here to execute the Lady’s commands swiftly.”
“You are here because maids don't give you work, right.”
“That is a bad habit, My Lady. Why do you always ask knowing everything?”
—Twitch.
Renoa’s eye corner trembled greatly for a moment. Veins rose minutely on her forehead.
“...What?”
“Joke. Just said it.”
“......Phew.”
Renoa breathed a long exhale. No matter it was her, just now was hard to endure. Heat rose to the tip of her throat.
Fortunate that she is quick-witted, if she took half a step more, Bibi wouldn't have been able to leave the study on her own feet.
“Heave-ho.”
Bibi jumped lightly off the sofa. Walked to the window with hands behind her back.
“It’s Irion and Cadet Helena.”
Mansion submerged in darkness long ago.
Irion and Helena walking around the lake holding a lantern.
“The two seem quite close. Doing training together, and taking a walk at this late hour too. Even bought a gift.”
“.......”
“Come to think of it, Cadet Irion is close with maids too. Calling Noona, Noona, and maids adore him like a younger brother. Even.”
Bibi glances at Renoa’s side.
“Bought gifts too.”
“Ointment though. Same for everyone.”
As if not interested whatever Bibi muttered, Renoa’s gaze was still directed at the book.
What maids and Helena received are consistent gifts with no discrimination.
On the other hand, what Renoa received is a bookmark. Although equally insignificant, the value differs from them who received whatever wrapped in a bundle.
It was natural. She is a Princess and his owner. No way she receives the same item as a mere maid.
He is a slave equipped with minimal concepts.
“Now it is certainly so. But My Lady, until when do you think it will be like that?”
“What does that mean?”
“Don’t you know the saying that closer than parent-child, closer than friends is lovers? Master-servant relationship goes without saying.”
“But.”
“If time passes and Cadet Irion becomes intimate with another woman, the Lady will be pushed to the back. At that time, the Lady will receive ointment, and that woman will receive a bookmark.”
“.......”
“Looking at the situation now, maybe only the Lady receives ointment and everyone else receives bookmarks. Well, that might be special in its own way too.”
Silent Renoa.
Gaze was still directed at the book but letters didn't come into eyes. Hovered in the air.
Then turns head and looks out the window. The appearance of Irion and Helena laughing and chatting comes into view.
Renoa doesn't care at all whatever she receives from Irion. Actually, she doesn't even need to receive a gift itself.
But she absolutely cannot tolerate receiving something inferior to someone else.
“Did you call, Princess?”
The next day, Irion came to the study at Renoa’s call as soon as morning came.
Renoa notified calmly without changing her expression.
“From now on, come to the study after training ends and learn etiquette. If a knight lacks even basic etiquette, what kind of curse will I, the owner, eat?”
“That is true but....”
“And one more thing. Is it feasible for someone aiming for a knight of a Ducal family nominally to call maids ‘Noona, Noona’? From now on, ‘Noona’ is forbidden in front of me.”
“Ah....”
On this day, one of Irion’s joys in life disappeared.
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