Chapter 163
Chapter 163
The sound of my brother's laughter echoed from inside the communication room.
It was the first time Ronian had heard such hearty laughter since the war ended, and he let out a sigh of relief.
When his sister-in-law had stormed out earlier, he had been genuinely worried.
"......What a relief."
"Didn't I tell you? Our lord is strong. Do you feel a bit more at ease now?"
"Family will always worry, no matter what... Wait, Victor. Didn't I tell you to drop the formal speech when it's just the two of us?"
"......That's easier said than done."
His odd-eyed friend averted his gaze, his expression stiff as he forced an awkward smile.
If anything, this much of a reaction was progress.
Ronian couldn't help but chuckle as he patted the shoulder of the friend he secretly considered his rival.
"Well, let's go enjoy the festival."
"Have a good—"
"Seriously, drop the formalities! And I said let's go together!"
"......Go alone. I'll stay and guard the mansion."
"Weren't you the one who told me not to worry about Brother?"
"It's not that I'm worried about our lord— Ugh. N-no. There's nothing for me to do there anyway."
He was well aware of his friend's dull, expressionless tastes.
But he also knew exactly how to break through them.
"They've brought out a lot of decorations from storage because of the war. Things girls would like."
Victor twitched.
"Well, if you're not going, at least tell me Victoria's tastes. I'll bring her a gift when I get back."
"......I'll go."
Was that twitching brow a sign of anticipation or irritation?
Ronian stifled a laugh as he dragged his friend along by the shoulder.
Still, he couldn't shake the lingering concern in the back of his mind.
'Brother seems to be doing better now, so he and Sister-in-Law will be fine, right?'
Come to think of it, his sister-in-law hadn't looked too upset when she left the communication room.
He didn't understand much about relationships between men and women, but maybe his brother's stress had already eased by then.
'If I were more capable, I could've shared more of Brother's burdens.'
Ronian chewed on the self-deprecating thoughts that had started plaguing him recently as he slowly walked forward.
Logan had resolved to enjoy the fruits of his labor for at least a few days, putting aside future plans and worries since he couldn't move freely during the festival anyway.
But his surroundings didn't cooperate.
The mountain of party invitations was just the beginning.
"Count Logan! Please grant me just one audience!"
"Excuse me! Do you know who I am? Trying to network among nobles while a mere soldier blocks the way?!"
"Haha, Sir Knight. Let's be reasonable—just let Count Logan pass... Heh, you're such a naive knight. Come now..."
The bustling crowd at the mansion's entrance made Logan hesitate to even step outside.
'I could just tell them all to scram, but...'
Given the ominous nickname "Earl of Blood" he'd earned after the incident at the royal palace, he needed to manage his reputation carefully for the time being.
All Logan could do was sigh quietly.
At the same time, a sigh of similar sentiment came from beside him.
"Yours is worse."
"Not exactly a good refuge, is it?"
At Logan's words, Ellen gave an awkward smile.
The newly appointed chancellor's family, the Floyds, weren't faring much better—she had barely lasted a day at her family home before returning.
...Or so she claimed, but in truth—
"Hmm. Given the circumstances, it can't be helped. I heard even the off-duty knights are covering their family crests while walking around the capital."
Of course, the idea of knights hiding their pride—their family crests—was a joke, but it was true that the MacLaines were under intense scrutiny.
"If I tried to meet your father separately, it'd cause an uproar. It's probably best to keep our promise after the festival ends and head straight back. Did he have anything else to say?"
"......No, nothing."
-So when are you two holding the wedding?
Her father's words flashed through her mind, but Ellen maintained a composed tone in her reply.
Still, she couldn't help but shoot Logan a slightly resentful glance.
'He even proposed.'
The cold chill from the Frost Edge at her waist suddenly felt even more biting.
Yet, for some reason, her pride stung at the thought of bringing it up herself.
Was that why?
"Then get some rest, Sir Ellen. Even as part of the guard detail, you don't need to stay by my side right now..."
The title "Sir," which had once filled her with pride, now grated on her ears.
"Duty is duty. Don't worry about me."
"......"
"......"
The atmosphere rapidly cooled.
The oddly emphasized words weighed heavily on Logan's mind.
"Did I... say something wrong?"
"I. Said. Don't. Worry."
Ah, so there was something.
Logan opened and closed his mouth repeatedly, unsure how to respond.
He had no idea what to say.
Only after a long pause did he manage:
"People who are close should be honest with each other. Even unpleasant things should be said outright to avoid misunderstandings. Expecting the other to just know without words is..."
"Yes, I understand."
"......"
"......"
For some reason, it was clear her mood had worsened.
'......This is frustrating. Really frustrating. What did I even do?'
No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn't recall any wrongdoing.
If anything, he hadn't even seen her much lately due to the coronation preparations.
How could he have messed up when they barely met?
Feeling wronged, he tried to glance at her—
But the moment their eyes met, the sharp glare she shot him made him flinch and lower his head.
'What did I even do? If she's unhappy, she should just say it. I'm not a mind reader, damn it.'
Even if he didn't understand women, he could guess that blurting out his thoughts would backfire.
Logan stewed in the icy atmosphere before suddenly realizing something.
"Ah!!"
"......?"
"I completely forgot. I'm truly sorry."
Seeing Ellen's stiff expression soften slightly, he grew more confident.
"I promised you leave, yet I've been making you work as my guard. That was inconsiderate of me. I apologize. You can go rest now—"
Crreeeak.
The eerie sound of grinding teeth made Logan instinctively stop mid-sentence.
"Ah. Haha. That's not—"
"Aha. So this was guard duty."
She was in full armor, sword at her side, standing right beside him.
So what else could it be...?
"Then. I'll take my leave as ordered."
SLAM!
Logan could only stare blankly at Ellen's retreating back as she slammed the door hard enough to nearly break it.
What the hell was that about?!
She should just tell me!!
Swallowing his silent scream of frustration, he—
[She'll calm down on her own with time. If you don't know what you did wrong, just wait and observe. Pestering her for answers will only make it worse. Take it from a man who's been married twice—trust me.]
Even half-listening, Logan had a gut feeling this was terrible advice.
'Besides, both of Father's marriages were political.'
As he sighed at the useless words, laughter suddenly crackled through the communication device.
"......?"
[Hahaha. But the fact that you immediately went after the lady after telling her to rest proves it's definitely time for you to—]
Click.
Logan had no interest in hearing more nonsense and cut the connection.
With a long sigh, he left the communication room and quickened his pace.
'Rest? What rest? No wonder my mind keeps wandering. The sooner I finish my work, the better.'
He decided to tackle the tasks he'd been putting off for days.
'Might as well take a walk while I'm at it.'
Even if it was a masked nighttime stroll.
Tap-tap.
Somehow, scaling the wall and entering through the window now felt more natural than using the front gate.
But since his goal this time was to avoid detection, Logan slipped into the study like a ghost, flung the door open with confidence, and strode down the mansion's hallway.
"Ah! You've finally arrived. Congratulations on your ascension, Lord Logan. Should I address you as 'Your Excellency' now?"
"Haha. Please, speak comfortably. How could I demand formality from Sir Louis, the right hand of His Grace the Grand Duke?"
Louis Hyon, his master's adjutant and a future war hero in his past life, greeted him warmly as they crossed paths in the hallway.
"His Grace has been waiting for you for days. Why did you only come now?"
Logan froze.
Only now did it dawn on him that, despite knowing his master needed him, he hadn't visited for days.
"Haha... I've been swamped with work... I'm sure Master will understand."
"He seems a bit upset, but... haha, surely not because of you. Let me escort you."
It's definitely because of me.
But he couldn't turn back now.
Logan forced a wry smile and waved him off.
"I know the way. You must be busy—please attend to your duties."
"If you insist."
Watching Louis's retreating figure, Logan reluctantly dragged his feet toward the underground training hall.
Creaaak.
"......You finally came."
The low voice greeted him the moment he pushed open the stone door.
It was the same stern tone his master used during training, but today, it carried an unusually sharp edge—or so he hoped was just his imagination...
"You ask for my help breaking through the wall, then show up three days late? Must think I have time to spare."
...Or not.
Surely his master hadn't been waiting here all three nights.
Without even sending word.
Logan smiled awkwardly and stepped forward with heavy steps.
"My apologies, Master."
"For what?"
"Eh?"
"What exactly are you apologizing for?"
For a moment, Logan considered blaming his busy schedule—but quickly realized that wasn't what his master wanted.
He wasn't looking for excuses.
Gulp.
"......I wanted someone I could trust by His Majesty's side. There's much to be done in the days ahead."
"So you shoved your seventy-year-old master back into office without a word of discussion? Just like that?"
The rebuke was sharp, but the killing intent noticeably faded.
"Still better than making excuses."
A faint smile tugged at his master's lips, and Logan couldn't help but smile back.
"I arranged for you to serve as an advisor, not a full-time official. Originally, I considered the chancellor position, but..."
"What nonsense! Had you done that, I'd have beaten you bloody at the coronation!"
"Which is why I changed it. I didn't want to get publicly beaten by a founding contributor at the coronation."
"Oh-ho. Saw that coming, did you?"
"Naturally."
"......Bold-faced, but still better than the excuses you made weeks ago. Fine. Good. Draw your sword."
"Yes, sir!"
Shiing.
Seeing the smile on his master's face, Logan drew his sword in high spirits.
But then—
"Observing the wall from afar is one thing—crossing it is another. If you can withstand aura, I'll train you to death before you leave."
A seething crimson aura surged forth, pressing against Logan's soul with terrifying intensity.
In the hours that followed, Logan learned firsthand just how long his master's grudges could last.
And even as his master relentlessly pushed his prodigious disciple to the limit, one thought echoed in his heart:
'Keep striving to hold the line. Just like this. Please—never change.'