Chapter 142 : Chapter 142
Chapter 142. Study Is a Habit (1)
After a storm-like period of time passed, the Young Lady and I returned to our daily lives.
The carriage heading to the Academy was quieter than ever.
It was not because it was morning and we were still not fully awake. The atmosphere had become like this because of the secret conversation we had shared not long ago. The Young Lady had grown noticeably quieter.
Even so, I did not think I had spoken to her for nothing. My belief that it was something the Young Lady needed to know had not changed.
“It seems you did not eat much breakfast today either. The weather is getting hotter. It is also important to take in fluids through food, so you should eat more.”
The Young Lady barely drank water. The tea she drank during Tea Time was almost all she had. That was why I was somewhat worried about her health.
“What do you think about replacing the Chef?”
“Was the food not to your liking?”
Sapiela nodded. I had been worrying over a needless misunderstanding.
Then again, Sapiela was sensitive enough about taste to have the nickname of a Gourmet. She also had the sharp temperament of someone who simply refused to do what she did not like.
“Since you will have to stay here for several more months, calling in the chefs from Rosetta may also be a good option. Arwen has too much work to cook in the mornings.”
“Sir Dilen can teach them, can’t you?”
“I am a butler. In the field of cooking, we need to respect the chefs’ expertise.”
After thinking it over for a while, the Young Lady nodded. In the past, she would have snapped back in a prim little voice, asking why she should care, but she had become quite calm lately.
If I stepped forward myself, the chefs might sour their relationship with me, so she had taken that into consideration and shown me courtesy.
It was proof that both she and I were maturing.
“Then I will contact the Main House as soon as we return. Until then, I will give the Chef a firm warning.”
“Very well.”
My list of tasks had increased. I updated the things I needed to do in a corner of my memory. I did not need a separate Memo Slip. After becoming a Mana User, I had been able to handle my memories conveniently.
“By the way, Sir Dilen.”
“Yes, my lady.”
“…….”
Sapiela did not open her mouth easily. She had been looking out the window, but then she squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head. She seemed to have many worries.
I thought I knew what she wanted to say. I spoke first instead.
“Do you remember what I once told you? To be precise, it was something I said just before you went out to the Village Festival, my lady.”
The Young Lady’s gaze turned toward me. As though confirming it once more, I spoke of what had happened then.
“I told you that no matter what happened, I would save you.”
“Yes. You did.”
As though recalling that moment, the Young Lady’s clear, transparent eyes shimmered faintly. It had not been long ago, but somehow, it felt like a rather distant memory.
“That promise still stands now, and it will continue to stand in the future. No matter what happens, I will protect you, my lady.”
“But still…… it would be best if such a thing never happened at all.”
“That is correct.”
Preventing that was also my task. Metis would step forward in House Adeline’s place and wage a proxy war against the Delfino Merchant Company.
Before they swallowed all of our commercial sphere, we also needed to make a move on the Astria territory.
Of course, the plan had already been fully established. The first button had also been fastened well.
Since we had secured investment from the Bahamut Ducal House, it had become easier to penetrate commercial spheres not only in the Royal Capital but also throughout various parts of the Kingdom.
Not only that, exporting had become possible as well. In terms of various taxes and exclusive sales rights, we had secured an advantageous position.
The decisive points would be technical capability and sales capability, but to be honest, there was no way we would lose in technical capability. My head was filled with inexhaustible ideas. I was worried about the sales side, but I would have to trust Eluna’s ability.
“Sir Dilen, why are you trying so hard to protect me? In the simple sense, is it because you are a retainer of House Adeline? Or…….”
“Because your happiness is my happiness, my lady.”
“That is something anyone can say. The Attending Secretaries and Guard Knights who followed me before all used to say things like that as well.”
That felt unpleasant. Somehow, it felt as though I had been lumped together with them and devalued wholesale.
Still, I understood the Young Lady’s feelings. She probably wanted something more certain.
Even with a high status, people were the same wherever they lived. They wanted reassurance. In fact, the higher one’s status was, the stronger that desire probably became.
“I think of you far more than you believe, my lady. Therefore, there is no need for you to worry. However, calming this chaotic situation must come first.”
“That is true.”
Now was not the right time to exchange our feelings, so we should speak once the confusion had settled somewhat. I had said that indirectly, and the Young Lady understood.
Suddenly, the meaningful words the Mystic Merchant had spoken not long ago crossed my mind.
― Humans are creatures of forgetfulness, and history belongs to the victors.
Yes, the Mystic Merchant was right.
How many people would keep something that had happened five hundred years ago in their hearts? Only the victims, those burning with vengeance, would do so.
If everything the Mystic Merchant had said was true, then it was not mere fantasy to imagine bloodshed sweeping through the Adeline territory.
Did Marquis Chronos know about this?
He probably did.
However, he would likely try to conceal it cleverly or minimize it. After all, it would be one of the dishonorable acts committed by a distant ancestor whose face he had never even seen. Perhaps he might dismiss it as past history and think of it as none of his concern.
That was why I had to step forward and resolve this matter myself. Not with the option called war, but with what I did best.
Because this was a golden opportunity that might come only once in a lifetime. An opportunity to grow Metis and firmly solidify my own standing.
I had no intention of letting this chance slip away.
A short while later, the carriage arrived at the building where the lecture was to be held, and I got out first to escort the Young Lady.
“Ella!”
Just then, a clear voice rang out.
Among the people I had encountered, there were only three who could call the Young Lady by her Pet Name. Marquis Chronos, Young Master Hamel, and Princess Ophelia.
This was not Adeline but the Academy in the Royal Capital, so naturally, the owner of the voice was Princess Ophelia.
She was walking toward us under the escort of a heavily armed knight.
Sapiela’s expression brightened as she welcomed her.
I could tell just from her expression. Although it had only been a short time, the Young Lady truly considered her a real friend.
“You came early?”
“Yes. The royal palace is so stifling that it is not a place where I can stay for long~ I was thinking of visiting the Adeline territory once the course ends. Can you give me a room?”
“Of course. Sir Dilen here will take full responsibility for it.”
“Really? Sir Dilen?”
“If Your Highness visits us, it will be an honor for our house. I will do my utmost.”
The people under us would have a hard time. Since it was a visit from none other than the Princess, countless people, including the Royal Guard, would probably be mobilized.
However, it was impossible to expect that kind of consideration from the Princess. The Princess hopped like a child and rejoiced.
“How exciting! Did you hear that, Cassiopeia? I finally received an official invitation to House Adeline~!”
At that moment, the knight standing beside her stepped forward with a solemn expression.
She was a knight I had not seen before.
The knight, who wore a red cloak and silver plate mail, belonged to the Royal Guard, and a symbol representing the Royal Guard was engraved over her chest.
Lastly, as one could guess from her name, she was a female knight.
She was the first female knight I had seen since coming to this world.
“That is not an official invitation. To officially invite Your Highness, a noble member of the royal family, Marquis Chronos, the Head of House, must send a formal letter.”
“Why are you being so stiff? If it is good, then it is good.”
“Even the royal family has proper protocols, Your Highness.”
“Tsk, you are no fun!”
The Princess jerked her head away, but perhaps this happened all the time, because Cassiopeia did not so much as blink and focused on me.
She seemed skilled.
When I stirred my mana slightly, I detected the movement of an extremely large Aura. As expected, the Royal Knight Order was different. She was probably an ace who attracted attention even there.
“I have heard a great deal about you, Sir Dilen. I heard you are an Aura User. They say you have rendered many services through martial force, despite being a butler.”
Was this a challenge?
It quickly became clear that Cassiopeia’s feelings toward me were not particularly friendly.
“It is merely a minor talent. Allow me to formally introduce myself. I am Dilen, the Head of House Medici and the Assigned Butler of Adeline. It is a pleasure to meet you.”
I naturally offered her a handshake. Cassiopeia removed her gauntlet, let her red hair scatter, and extended her hand.
It was small, but rough and coarse. It was a hand that felt extremely firm. Arthas had been similar, and this woman also seemed to be an incredible hard worker.
At that moment, unexpected information was displayed.
====
○ Cassiopeia de Los Hazard
Rank: ★★★★
Level: 27
Trait: Guarding S, Swordsmanship A, Spearmanship B, Horsemanship B, Chivalry B, Aura B, Iron Wall B, Breakthrough C, Archery C, Quilting C, Siegecraft C, First Aid D, Cooking D, ???,
Status: Wary
Areas of Interest: the Princess’s safety and the Kingdom’s peace. Becoming stronger. Finding good quilting materials.
Favorability: -37
Alignment: Good
[Not unlocked]
……
====
It was Cassiopeia’s Status Window.
Until now, I had thought the Status Window only opened for people who held goodwill toward me.
However, after Favorability began to be displayed as a number, I learned that the Status Window appeared even if someone held ill will rather than goodwill toward me.
By the way, how much did she have to hate me for it to be –37?
Why did she hate me at all?
“I heard the knights of Adeline have been helpless before you. I am curious how skilled you are. If you are free sometime, would you like to spar with me?”
Ah, now I understood.
She was angry because I had been going around knocking down knights. Her sense of professional solidarity was truly excessive. Perhaps she was even an acquaintance of Sir Lorenz, who had lost to me in a Duel.
“I have a great deal of work these days, so I do not have time to spar. If it is all right with you, how about postponing it until later?”
“Then again, if you are the Young Lady’s Attending Secretary, you must have a great deal of work.”
The way she grinned as she said that looked exactly like a sneer.
I felt like drawing the treasured sword at my waist, but her Swordsmanship was A-Rank, and her Guarding was S-Rank. In other words, when it came to defensive techniques, she was top-class.
I needed to find another point of attack. Recently, I had been learning the latter five forms of the Merdiang Sword Art from Arthas, but I had not yet reached an enlightenment.
In a frontal confrontation, my odds of victory were not particularly high. If so, even if it was a little inconvenient, I had to take the long way around.
“Seeing you, it seems you enjoy quilting.”
Cassiopeia, who had been about to put on her gauntlet, was startled.
“How did you know that?”
“I saw the needle marks. I also do a bit of quilting as a hobby. A relative I know runs a Merchant Company, so I receive good materials.”
“Ah.”
She had looked strong, but the moment quilting came up, she returned to being an ordinary woman. I could practically hear the sound of her Favorability rising from here.
“Please visit the Adeline Branch Residence sometime. I will prepare the materials. Rather than gripping sword hilts and having a murderous Duel, would it not be more wonderful to enjoy fragrant tea and share needlework?”
Cassiopeia had no choice but to nod. The Princess beside her clapped her hands in delight.
“Then shall we go visit Ella’s house? Let us go have dinner there later! What do you think, Ella?”
“Sir Dilen. What is the schedule?”
“The evening is free. I will make every preparation so that Her Highness may stay comfortably.”
A Banquet had been decided on suddenly, but such things happened all the time. It seemed obtaining quilting materials would be a little difficult, so I would have to ask Arwen for help.
Soon, the bell rang, and the Young Lady and the Princess entered the classroom together on friendly terms.
I turned toward the Library.