Didn't Expect Something Like This
Silina's eyes widened in round surprise as she feigned a composed expression. A storm of thousands of thoughts raged through her mind.
Her gaze met Kael's and Heo Gong's, but she couldn't sense anything from Kael at all. If anything, it was Silina who couldn't hide her flustered demeanor.
But she was the lady of the house in the Restis Ducal Residence, where power struggles were everyday affairs. No matter how rattled she was, she couldn't lose her poise and throw a tantrum in the front courtyard, with countless servants and guard knights watching.
The fact that Kael had returned alive was already a done deal, spread through the estate's many eyes and ears. If she put a knife to his throat right now, it would only give her husband—the duke out on the battlefield—the perfect pretext.
Silina forced the corners of her mouth up into an awkward smile.
"Y-yes, indeed. After lying bedridden for so long, to return on your own two feet... What a great blessing for the family. You have no idea how many prayers I've offered for you."
Kael inwardly snorted at Silina's hypocritical welcome.
'Yeah, your guts must be twisting, but with all these eyes around, you can't do much right now. Not a total idiot, then.'
Silina quickly nodded toward the head steward standing behind her.
"What are you waiting for? Show him in!"
"Yes, Lady Acting Head!"
The head steward hurried over to Ella and Weger, reaching for their luggage.
Kael compliantly followed their guidance into the main residence. His mind was already racing, calculating Silina's next move.
If she couldn't outright kill or exile him, the woman's options were limited.
'The most likely one is...'
Targeting Ella and Weger, no doubt.
Kael smirked faintly.
'Guess I'll have to keep watch for a while.'
Ella and Weger's current levels weren't yet safe enough for Kael to relax. In a place teeming with powerhouses stronger than them just by glancing around, without his protection, their lives could be at risk.
But Kael had no intention of letting that happen.
It was right then, as Kael strolled leisurely down the corridor, pondering future plans.
"Big brooooooo!!!!"
A piercing, clear girlish scream that rattled the eardrums rang out, and from the corner of the hall, a small shadow shot forth like lightning.
Pa-at—!
The shadow kicked off the floor at unbelievable speed, leaping straight toward Kael's chest like a bullet.
It was a pounce like a feline beast striking its prey.
"Hm!?"
Kael's body reacted instinctively. Without thinking, he stepped back half a pace and unleashed the profound principle of deflection, redirecting the incoming force.
His hand sliced through the air, caught the flying girl's wrist, spun her using her own momentum, and flung her away.
Whir—!
"Kyaaak!?"
A startled yelp escaped the girl as her trajectory twisted mid-air.
Only then did Kael realize he'd mindlessly tossed a child aside. His eyes widened in alarm.
'Oh no!'
For a split second, he worried she'd shatter bones hitting the floor bare.
But what happened next was astonishing.
The girl flung into the air twisted her body with cat-like flexibility and landed lightly on both feet on the corridor's marble floor.
Taat— A perfect, clean landing without a speck of dust.
A spark of interest lit Kael's eyes.
'Ho? Not bad at all.'
But his admiration was short-lived. Tears quickly welled up in the girl's large eyes after her graceful landing.
"B-big bro... threw me...!! I just wanted a hug, but you slammed me to the floor...! Waaah, waaah, waaaaah!!"
The girl plopped down right there, bawling her heart out with fat teardrops streaming like chick peas.
The servants and knights following behind panicked at the sight of the girl wailing loud enough to shake the main residence's corridors.
To Kael, who had lived his life in a world of blood and blades, the pitiful sobs of a little girl were a weapon potent enough to fluster him.
"Wh-what is this!?"
"Waaaaah!! She calls me 'what'! I'm not a 'what'!!"
Feeling cold sweat trickle down his spine, Kael whipped around and whispered urgently to Ella.
"E-Ella. Wh-who is that...?"
Ella shot him an incredulous side-eye.
"You don't remember, Young Master? It's Lady Isabel! Your little sister!"
"Little sister? I had a little sister?"
"Yes! Lady Isabel, who always trailed after you back at the main house!"
The name Isabel Restis flashed through Kael's mind.
A name mentioned briefly but intensely in the novel Sword Duke Chronicles.
A girl born with immense swordsmanship talent, but trapped in Silina's vicious schemes and persecution as acting head, she ended up sold off as a sacrificial pawn in a political marriage to some nameless old noble.
She was Silina's stepchild too, from a concubine.
Not central to the main story, but described as a genius in talent.
Loathing her unwanted arranged marriage, she volunteered for the battlefield and met a miserable end.
'This little squirt is that genius, Isabel?'
Kael, who'd only read about her in text, had no clue about her looks or age.
He closely examined the sobbing Isabel, tears and snot streaming.
He had jet-black hair like ink, but Isabel's was blindingly white silver, cascading long.
Different mothers aside, their bloodline seemed questionable with such contrasting features.
Yet they shared one undeniable trait: exquisitely beautiful, refined features that would draw gasps from anyone.
"Hurry and comfort her, Young Master! Lady Isabel adored you so much! She was the only one in the main house on your side!"
Ella stamped her feet impatiently.
"R-really? We were that close?"
"Of course! Give her a hug already!"
Kael cleared his throat awkwardly and shuffled toward Isabel.
The world's greatest warrior, fumbling over one kid—what a sight.
"Uh... A-are you okay? L-little... no, Isabel. S-sorry. My memory's not all there, and you came flying at me without a sound, so I reacted on reflex."
At Kael's clumsy apology, Isabel whipped her head away, pouting her lips.
"Hmph! I hate big bro!!!"
"Haha... That's not it. I'm really sorry... My fault."
As Kael sweated bullets with repeated apologies, the sulking Isabel sneaked a peek at him.
After glaring with a mix of resentment for a moment, she wiped her tears, stood up, and slowly approached.
She spread her small arms wide, hugged Kael's waist tightly, and buried her face in his chest.
"Big bro... waaah... I missed you so much.... When you got sick and they sent you to the annex, I cried buckets.... I thought I'd never see you again.... Sob...."
"......"
Isabel's shoulders trembled in his arms. The genuine longing and relief from that tiny gesture were unfeigned—pure affection for the only blood kin who'd cared for her as a child.
'Sigh, this is an unexpected variable I didn't plan for...'
Kael looked troubled but couldn't bring himself to push her away. He gently raised a hand and stroked her silver hair.
From day one, an unfamiliar, warm tickle stirred in Kael's chest.
Since it was Isabel's sword training time, Kael finally soothed her and sent her off, then toured his room. They'd catch up properly later.
A satisfied smile curved Kael's lips as he looked around.
Masterpieces adorning the walls, a dazzling chandelier, and thick, luxurious carpet that sank underfoot.
Worlds apart from the dank, blood-scented Demon Tower of his past Heavenly Demon Cult life.
"Hm, indeed befitting the duke's main residence. Far grander and more splendid than the annex."
Not just the opulence, but the near-modern style—far advanced from the Central Plains martial world—suited him.
Knock knock—
"Come in."
At Kael's permission, the door opened, revealing a familiar face: Ella.
But her outfit was different. Gone was the faded, drab maid uniform from the annex; she wore the duke's formal one—crisp black dress hugging her figure, pristine white apron with abundant frills.
It highlighted her youthful beauty even more.
"H-how do I look, Young Master?"
Ella clutched her skirt hem, twisting shyly.
"How do you think? You're just Ella."
At Kael's nonchalant reply, Ella pouted.
"Poo, it's the grand duke's formal maid uniform! Can't you compliment me a little, say I look pretty?!"
"Heh, fine. Very cute and pretty. The passing knights will all turn their heads."
"Not a shred of sincerity!"
Still, Ella blushed happily.
"Where's that Weger guy? I told him to unpack."
Ella's face darkened at Kael's question.
"Ah, well, Young Master..."
Ella cautiously explained the situation.
Kael had planned to appoint Weger—who'd shared life and death with him at the annex—as his personal guard upon returning to the main residence.
But Weger's affiliation was the issue.
Originally a direct guard soldier of the duchy, his time at the Northern Annex had been a dispatched duty.
But the moment Kael returned, Weger's dispatch order was canceled. On acting head Silina's command, he was demoted back to lowly patrol duty on the outskirts, forbidden from staying by Kael's side.
'How childish and petty. Predictable ploy.'
Kael scoffed.
Something similar had happened back at the Shipman Mountain Range. Elders displeased with Young Il-rang by his side had nitpicked to send him to the front lines' meat grinder.
He hadn't tolerated such schemes then either.
"Where's Weger now? I'll go see him."
As Kael rose, Ella waved her hands frantically.
"N-no, Young Master! Weger said he absolutely doesn't want to burden you and stormed off to handle it himself!"
"Hm? Really?"
"Yes, he said he can't always rely on you..."
Interest flickered in Kael's eyes at Ella's words.
"Ho, is that so?"
Kael stroked his chin with an amused smile.
"In that case, I must go watch."
"Huh? But he wanted to do it on his own..."
"If he wants to handle it himself, let him. But watching should be fun, no?"
A true lord must sometimes witness his subordinate's growth.