You'll Take Me In?
"You're going to take me in?"
Fortunately, thanks to Tiabel returning at just the right moment, we managed to avert a major disaster.
"I'm sorry."
Having heard the full story, Tiabel's mother—Lady Roze Tail of the Roze Tail family—bowed her head to me. I had to admit, her response was impressive. A noblewoman who didn't put on airs, properly apologizing regardless of whether the other party was some gutter rat from the brothel district. It eased my irritation a bit, so I waved it off coolly.
"It's fine. The misunderstanding's cleared up. If it were me and I heard my daughter had suddenly vanished, I'd lose my head too."
"I'm glad you understand. On behalf of the Roze Tail family, allow me once more to express my deepest gratitude for returning our precious eldest daughter safely to us."
"Thank you, Aren."
With mother and daughter bowing in unison at a perfect ninety degrees, I felt a touch awkward, but I decided to see it as my reward for doing a good deed.
"Still, for a boy to be living all alone without parents... that can't be easy."
"Eh, I'm pretty used to it by now. Aside from going hungry now and then, it's livable enough."
"No one would call that 'livable' in the usual sense."
Lady Roze Tail looked down at me with a wry smile, as if I were some extraordinary specimen. Yeah, truth is, it's not livable at all. But I couldn't exactly grab a stranger by the pant leg and beg them to save me, so I was just putting on a front. Damn it.
"Oh, right, Tiabel. This the pendant you were looking for?"
"Oh! Yeah...! You really found it, Aren?"
"See? Told you it'd be there. Good thing you listened to me."
"Yeah!"
It had slipped my mind amid the little mishap earlier, but better late than never. Handing back the pendant Tiabel had been so desperately searching for lit up her eyes with a brilliant glow. Her amber eyes already shimmered like stars, and now they sparkled even more.
"By the way, Aren, was it?"
"Yes, Lady Roze Tail."
I was smiling contentedly at Tiabel bouncing around in joy when Lady Roze Tail suddenly fixed me with an odd, probing gaze.
It was the kind of look that said, 'Well, now...'
"Have you ever received any systematic training from someone? Martial arts, perhaps, or magic...?"
"No, never."
As if anyone in the brothel district would bother teaching a kid like me something like that. I shook my head firmly, and Lady Roze Tail stroked her chin with a thoughtful hum.
"To reach that level at thirteen without any instruction... intriguing."
"Pardon?"
She grinned, her expression brimming with interest. What's so intriguing? Don't just mutter to yourself—tell me too.
'What a find.'
That was the impression that suddenly flashed through Camilla's mind.
For a mere thirteen-year-old boy to manifest mana without any proper training. And upon closer inspection, though his frame was slender, his overall bone structure was well-formed. Muscles would grow with food and exercise anyway, so slenderness wasn't an issue. What really piqued her interest was that he'd instinctively awakened to mana manipulation at such a young age.
As a knight, she felt a strong urge to raise this boy herself.
'Well-mannered, too.'
Children from rough places like this usually lacked any etiquette to observe and emulate, ending up rude and crude. Not this one. His speech was a bit rough for a boy his age, but the basics of courtesy were firmly ingrained.
Moreover, though not from a great house, she was the head of the only noble family in the area. Facing her squarely and speaking boldly without flinching—that impressed her greatly.
"Aren, come visit our house next time! I'll treat you to some delicious food!"
"I'm fine with that, but won't your mother mind?"
"No way! Mom will want to repay you too. Right, Mom?"
'Tiabel seems quite taken with him as well.'
Even from that alone—how quickly he'd won over her usually timid daughter—it was clear he wasn't a bad kid. Her daughter had always had an instinct for distinguishing friends worth keeping from those who weren't. And she rarely invited even close friends to the mansion personally.
'I was just needing someone to protect her, too.'
Camilla's gaze deepened with goodwill toward Aren. Her daughter struggled with strangers, so she'd never kept a proper escort or squire by her side. If she groomed this boy well and kept him close, that might be welcome.
'And he's not bad-looking, either.'
Caked in grime and dust from rolling around the brothels, but that didn't dim his appeal. Of course, she wasn't about to make a brothel brat her daughter's consort just because he was handsome. But if he grew well and they bonded, perhaps a concubine or lover down the line. She was strict as an educator but open-minded in such matters—she could permit it.
'It's the perfect excuse, since we owe him for saving her anyway.'
Once her thoughts reached that point, hesitation felt like a waste of time.
"Aren."
"Yes, Lady Roze Tail."
"Have you ever considered living with our family?"
"...Pardon?"
Disbelief flickered across the boy's face. It was amusing to see him drop his mature demeanor for a properly age-appropriate dumbfounded look. Like landing a solid hit. Embarrassing for an adult to feel that way toward a peer of her daughter's, but...
"I mean it literally. You have nowhere to rely on anyway, so it shouldn't be a bad offer."
"Far from bad—it's something to be grateful for... but why offer something like this to a guy like me?"
Another kid in his shoes would have nodded eagerly, terrified of losing the lifeline. Yet here he was, asking for reasons even now. Camilla liked his cool-headed response even more.
"I need someone to run errands by my daughter's side and protect her. But she's quite shy with strangers and rejects most people."
"So, in other words, an escort and errand boy for your daughter."
"Precisely."
"Not a bad deal."
The term "errand boy" could grate depending on how it landed, but he nodded with shining eyes, as if convinced. Camilla found that fascinating.
"Tiabel, what do you think?"
"Uh, me?"
"Yes. It's your mother's proposal, but your feelings matter most."
And even after understanding, he deferred to her daughter first instead of agreeing outright. The more she observed, the more she liked this boy. She wondered if she'd decided too hastily, but each new layer—like an onion—only pleased her more.
'Living in the same house as Aren?'
Tiabel, meanwhile, had plenty to mull over. Truth be told, she'd decided long ago. The delay was just her imagining their new life together.
'Does that mean he'll come wake me in the mornings, eat meals with me, go out playing at lunch... something like that?'
She was a spoiled young lady who hated being roused by servants due to her heavy sleeping. But picturing Aren personally coming to wake her made her feel like any drowsiness would vanish instantly.
'And if he calls me "miss"... eeee.'
That sweet voice saying, 'Miss, it's morning. Time to get up,' politely and tenderly? A boy she'd just taken a liking to becoming her squire, obeying only her? More than enough to fire up a thirteen-year-old girl's imagination.
"I like it! Living with Aren would be fun."
Having reached her conclusion, Tiabel nodded vigorously. She couldn't voice the fantasies in her head, of course. Fortunately, Aren seemed oblivious, merely tilting his head.
"Really?"
"Yeah. More than anything, I don't want you living alone in a dangerous place like this."
"You're a good kid."
Good kid. The words lightly pricked Tiabel's conscience, but...
'I didn't lie.'
She quickly rationalized it away, playing dumb. She truly hadn't lied. She really didn't want to see Aren living alone in such a rough place. She just hadn't mentioned that the reason came a bit late—and that there were bigger reasons besides.
"Then it's settled. Shall we head back?"
"Let's go, Aren! To our house!"
"Sure."
Confirming her mother had turned away, Tiabel grabbed Aren's hand first this time and skipped after her with a bright smile. Just hours ago, getting shaken down by those kids had made the day a nightmare. Now, those memories faded into pure bliss. Her light steps mirrored her mood.
"Here, get on."
Arriving at the carriage, Camilla stepped aside and gestured to the entrance.
"Aren, you first."
Recalling the etiquette her mother had taught her for treating gentlemen, Tiabel yielded the first spot too.
"Don't carriage owners usually go first?"
"Gentlemen first! That's how it works—you yield to men."
"O-okay."
Aren's response felt a bit reluctant, but Tiabel didn't notice.
'I was such a proper lady just now.'
Ahem. She swelled with pride at having properly escorted a gentleman as a lady.
With all passengers aboard shortly after, the carriage set off briskly toward the Roze Tail family estate without delay.