Chapter 32
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: Unnie
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Phew Out of all the shopping Ive done in my life, today was by far the best.
Leaving Ruelcia, Bella spoke as if shed just had the sweetest dream.
I hate to admit it, but the count really must be swimming in money.
I-is that so?
Yeah. I had no idea that Ruelcia was a brand owned by the count.
Unlike other luxury brands that chased flashy opulence, Ruelcia pursued simplicity and elegance.
Every product also incorporated at least one incredibly rare material, which drove the prices even higher.
There was even a joke among wealthy nobles that they gauged each others fortunes by how many Ruelcia items they owned.
But, Miss Wendy.
Y-yes?
Is it really okay for you to give this to me?
In Bellas hand was a shopping bag emblazoned with the Ruelcia logo.
I only helped pick out clothes from the side
N-no, thats not true at all!
A little earlier, Wendy had felt the urge to repay Bella somehow.
It might have looked like simple shopping on the surface, but strictly speaking, the noble lady of the esteemed Izarkhel Duke family had personally assisted in her work.
Letting it slide would have troubled Wendys conscience.
But for a mere servant like her to give a gift to someone of Bellas far higher station wouldnt that be presumptuous somehow?
As she hesitated, the sharp-eyed manager had whispered to her.
-If theres anything youd like, its fine to gift it to the lady.
-Pardon?
-This isnt to make up for my staffs mistake toward you, Miss Wendy. Consider it my personal token of gratitude for your generous forgiveness. Would you do that?
At that point, Wendy had no choice.
Prodded by the managers earnestness, she selected a dress that would suit Bella.
Its price was a whopping twenty times her first months wages at the estate.
Today had become the day shed spent the largest sum of money in her entire life.
If you hadnt been there, Lady, I wouldnt have been able to do anything
You know that?
Y-yes?
Bella rubbed her cheek awkwardly as she spoke.
The truth is, if you hadnt been there, I wouldnt have been able to get anything here either.
Just as it had been for Wendy, Ruelcia was pie in the sky for Bella too.
The clothes shed bought at the department store today were barely afforded with her pocket money.
Even those were only possible thanks to the department stores remodeling sale.
Ruelcia was a brand she could only dream of.
Back when her familys finances were better, Bella hadnt even known about Ruelcia.
And shed been too young besides.
That was why shed never owned a single piece of the brand hailed as the dream among noble girls.
In other words, the gift shed received today was her very first Ruelcia.
Im not sure if I deserve something like this
N-no, Lady, you do! You helped a lot!
No This is more expensive than what you bought
Bella pointed at Wendys hand nearby as she spoke.
She was holding a shopping bag.
Its fine Lady. Ehehe. I really like this one
In the end, Wendy had bought the cape shed seen first.
It befitted the dignity of an exclusive maid serving nobility.
Of course, the fact that its color matched the counts usual coat played a part too
Wendy clutched the shopping bag like it was something precious.
Seeing that, Bella giggled and said,
Hehe Miss Wendy, when its just us, call me unnie.
Eeh?! B-but
Wendy panicked.
Servants in noble houses were mostly commoners, after all.
For one of them to call the lady of the empires highest-ranking duke family by such a term would be a grave offense.
The gap in their statuses was truly immense.
Bella pressed a hand to her temple and said,
Oh dear Is it such a horrible title to use?
N-no, its not that
This unnie feels hurt.
Huh?!
Unnie
Hnng
Hurt.
Bella was smiling, but her eyes were dangerous.
The same terrifying gaze shed had while trying different outfits on Wendy.
In the end, Wendy had no choice but to yield to that look.
Th-then Uh, u-um
Was there even a servant in the world who could call a dukes daughter unnie?
Wendy swallowed hard.
U-um U-unnie
Again.
Hic U-unnie
Shed nearly burst into tears, but Wendy finally got the word out.
Good girl. Thats my Wendy.
Eh?!
Bella hugged Wendy.
Just like a loving big sister embracing her little sibling.
Wendy floundered, her face a mix of flattered awe and utter bewilderment.
Huh?
That was when she noticed something odd.
It was a sight completely out of place in the department stores luxury hall.
People around them were already murmuring.
And through the crowd, knights in red armor were rushing somewhere.
Blanches claws sliced through the air.
Her strike, near the speed of sound, split the mans head like tofu.
Or so she thought.
?!
Lighter than it looks.
The man had grabbed Blanches wrist.
He stared intently at her body, floating in midair.
A body that makes effective strikes difficult. Beast.
Let go
Blanche tried to shake him off with all her strength, but his hand didnt budge an inch.
!
What kind of strength?!
His arm wasnt particularly thick, yet the power from it was beyond any ordinary mans muscle.
But Blanche had long surpassed human limits herself.
Crack-!
A dull thud echoed.
I did warn you to let go.
Blanches razor-sharp kick struck the mans face dead-on.
A blow that could kill a grizzly bear instantly.
This time, she definitely felt it connect.
Speed-focused type, as expected.
?!
Blanches eyes widened at the unscathed man.
He cracked his neck.
But its unconvincing.
What the
No matter how fast you are, if youre this weak, its pointless, no? Beast.
Weak?
Blanche couldnt believe her ears.
She, the former assassin of the Ruelverta family whod terrorized the underworld?
You are weak. Do you admit it?
Indeed. Is that so?
The mans words finally lit a fire in Blanche.
The change came instantly.
The rooftop floor began to freeze over.
Snow started falling as the temperature plunged sharply.
Hm?
Arctic cold assailed him.
Sharp ice shards pelted the mans body.
Only then did the man show a flicker of surprise.
This chill from a spirit beast? Impressive. Not a power easily obtained. But a lowly imitation.
Is that so?
Why did every word from this man grate on her so much?
The mana flowing through Blanches body began to surge.
Then is this weak too?
The cold exploded in front of the man.
A bomb of mana-compressed ice.
Ice blades shot toward his eyes before he could dodge.
Crunch!
Not bad.
Blanche was shocked once more.
Where had he pulled it from?
The man held a red-tinged shield.
As he set the red shield aside, shattered ice rained down onto the floor.
But weak.
By now, Blanche had realized it.
This man wasnt someone she could easily defeat.
She lowered her stance, staying on high alert, and asked him,
You Who the hell are you?
I am Marco Ferrigris.
In that instant, Blanches hair stood on end.
It was more like heat than fear.
Marcos scorching mana overwhelmed her.
Knight protector of His Imperial Majesty.
The emperors knight Ugh?!
Blanche instinctively staggered back.
The blazing heat felt like it would swallow her whole.
Are your questions done, beast?
Mana blazed to life in his hand.
Something began to emerge along the flames.
At first, it looked like a charred black stick.
But it wasnt a mere rod.
Now, receive your punishment.
What revealed itself in the flames was a massive mace.
The black mace was aimed at Blanche.
And for the first time, Marco showed emotion.
His lips twisted in a mocking sneer toward her.
For beasts, the mace is medicine.