episode_0046

Emilia, who had accused me of being a public thief on behalf of Ser, concluded her actions with Edan’s intervention.

In reality, even if I had simply handed over the Galgomni punishment case to Ser without any fuss, it wouldn’t have mattered much to me.

Strictly speaking, it was a fact that the female soldier was also at fault.

If I had visited alone without Edan, there would have been no reason to incite turmoil from my position, so there was a possibility that my public matter could have shifted to Ser.

Of course, even if I claimed to hand it over, I’m not sure if Ser would have accepted it willingly.

Just by observing his attitude of bowing his head to the common maid like this.

“I apologize, Miss Lilith. In truth, calling for you was not just about transferring the Galgomni punishment case but also meant to have you attend as a witness for that matter.”

“A witness?”

“Yes. Since Emilia wouldn’t budge under my persuasion, I asked to speak with the party involved. I thought she would understand if I brought the party, Lilith, but… I am ashamed to have implicated you again, Lilith.”

“No, Ser. As I mentioned earlier, I thought Emilia’s suspicions were reasonable. …Though it might be wise to be cautious before conclusively judging those suspicions as certainties.”

Emilia listened to me and slightly startled, her shoulders twitched.

From her reaction, it seemed she realized her recent actions were not well-considered.

Of course, I didn’t bring up these words to mock her or feel offended by Emilia’s words.

It was just a concern that arose purely because I worried about this female soldier named Emilia.

Somehow, looking at the behavior of the woman I just spoke with, it seemed likely that her personality might lead her astray somewhere.

It was too pitiful to see someone who had risen to the rank of senior soldier at a young age lose their career in such a foolish manner.

Moreover, with that arrogant attitude… there might be many enemies even within the guard.

Of course, offering more advice from my position would have been presumptuous, and I had no intention of getting involved further.

Getting entangled with someone with so many enemies would only tire me out unnecessarily.

“To live long, it’s best to avoid unnecessary entanglements.”

I must always remember that. I am just a common maid. Whether it’s Edan, Harold, or any noble or knight, a mere word from them could cost me my life.

“…So, is this the end of why you called my maid?”

“Yes, Master Edan.”

“Alright then. You may leave now.”

“What?”

Edan’s calm statement about leaving made a momentary foolish question slip from my lips.

Glancing at my expression, Edan briefly pondered before looking at me and asking, “Why is that, Maid?”

“…You mentioned coming out for territorial patrol duties, so I naturally assumed you would also inspect other parts of the guard besides the security office. I was a bit surprised when you suddenly decided to leave.”

“…Ah, right, that was the reason.”

What’s with that expression that seems like he forgot something?

Surely, he didn’t drag his heavy body all the way here just because I mentioned meeting Ser, did he?

Anyway, thanks to my words, Edan remembered his original purpose, nodded quietly, and, as if seizing a good opportunity, pointed to Emilia standing beside him, asking Ser.

“It worked out well. Miss Emilia is in charge of the security affairs of the territory guard, so if you are going to patrol the guard, she will guide you the best.”

“…Commander?”

“Since Miss Emilia has also made mistakes towards both of you, wouldn’t it be an opportunity to sincerely make amends with Lord Doyeon and Miss Lillis?”

…I see.

It’s not for nothing that I’ve risen to the position of Chief Security Officer of the Blackwood Territory Guard.

Not only does he bow to commoners to apologize for his subordinates’ mistakes, but he also skillfully seizes any opportunity to make amends, no matter how small.

Certainly, if such a person is in charge, the subordinates below should have enough trust to follow him.

Compared to commanders who lead their units with just authority and force, he was a much more trustworthy figure.

“….”

And upon receiving Ser’s proposal, Edan hesitated subtly with a thoughtful gaze.

He must be contemplating whether to accept Ser’s proposal to play the role of a merciful noble, or to reinforce his initial oppressive image by rejecting it again.

Or perhaps he’s struggling not because he dislikes Emilia, but because it’s difficult for him to easily reject Ser’s proposal.

After pondering for a few seconds without reaching a decision, Edan sought advice from me in a voice barely audible.

“What do you think about the maid?”

“…What do you mean?”

“Guiding that woman. Do you think it’s better to accept?”

“Why are you asking me, my lord?”

“Just because the maid might feel uncomfortable around that woman.”

Since when did he start caring about whether I’m uncomfortable or not?

Well, I did find Emilia a bit uncomfortable from our first meeting, and honestly, I didn’t want to get involved if possible.

…Still, it was a bit regrettable to even lose the chance to apologize.

“I’m fine, my lord.”

“…Is that so?”

“If Miss Emilia is a senior soldier and also in charge of the territory guard, she must have a good understanding of the guard’s layout, as Sir Ser Blacksong Knight mentioned. I think it’s a good opportunity.”

“…Alright, if the maid says so.”

After exchanging a brief whispered conversation, Edan shifted his gaze back from me to Emilia.

Mentioning Ser’s proposal to entrust her with guiding the territory guard, he said,

“If you truly regret the mistake you made towards my maid, here’s your chance to make amends.”

…!

“Lead me and the maid through the guard. Sincerely.”

“Thank you, Lord Edan!”

Emilia, who had the opportunity to make up for her verbal slip-up, bowed deeply and expressed her gratitude to Edan.

Then, quietly whispering something that seemed like advice to Emilia, Ser also spoke.

“Do not make another verbal mistake this time, Miss Emilia. If you touch Edan’s nerves again… there may not be a second chance.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

Although it wasn’t clear what the two were discussing.

⁎ ⁎ ⁎

The patrol of the Blackwood Territory Guard began with Emilia’s guidance.

To be honest, it was not a comfortable situation at all.

Emilia had already shown hostility and made forced demands towards me in the office, and Edan had immediately silenced her by using authority against her, so by now, there might be a lingering bundle of incompletely burned emotions in Emilia’s heart.

She must be feeling the pressure of being expelled from the territory guard by Edan the moment she makes another verbal mistake, as well as the misunderstanding that I seduced Ser and intercepted Galgormni’s punishment record still unresolved.

Edan pressed his authority to silence Emilia, but there was a chance that she still harbored doubts about me.

Although she would likely remain quiet if I refrained from making any more mistakes regarding her, Emilia seemed adept at concealing her emotions, perhaps honed during her time in the guard.

Appearing as though she had completely forgotten the recent events at the security office, Emilia calmly provided Edan with a tour of the guard’s quarters.

“This is the barracks for the guards. Split down the middle by this corridor, the right side is for males, and the left is for females. Most are likely out training now, so you should be able to find an empty room if you wish to inspect your living space.”

“Knowing that the living conditions here are not too shabby is sufficient for me. …And I prefer not to pry into others’ privacy unnecessarily.”

“Over here is the guard’s mess hall. The Blackwood Territory Guard’s meals consist of balanced diets served three times a day. If milord wishes, you can also observe what the soldiers typically eat.”

“Understanding that it’s a balanced diet is enough for me. …I am also regulating my own diet, so I’d like to avoid unnecessary meals.”

“This is a solitary confinement cell designed for disciplining soldiers. Violations of regulations within the guard result in confinement in these cells for a set period. The most recent inmate committed a breach of military conduct…”

“…That’s enough. Let’s stop here.”

Following Emilia’s thorough guidance through the guard’s facilities, Edan and I continued our patrol.

…However, as we roamed the interior of the guard building, I couldn’t shake the feeling that Edan was subtly watching my reactions, maybe even glancing at Lilith’s chest out of habit.

After roughly surveying the entire building with some logical deductions, we proceeded to patrol the outdoor guard facilities under Emilia’s lead.

Not long after stepping outside, we began to hear the sounds of soldiers’ training not far off.

“Aaagh! Aaagh! Aaaagh!”

“Hyaah! Uwaaaa!”

The soldiers’ shouts, somewhat awkward yet undeniably spirited, filled the air with a tumultuous energy.

Drawn by curiosity, both Edan and I found ourselves naturally turning towards the source of the commotion.

Emilia guided us towards the origin of the lively sounds, leading us to a training ground for new recruits equipped with armor and weapons for simulated combat.

“Why do only new recruits use the training grounds?”

“For safety reasons. Until soldiers reach a certain level of proficiency in handling their energy, training weapons can cause significant injuries.”

As mentioned before, swordsmanship in this world was akin to magic, capable of slicing through hills and splitting the earth, making Emilia’s explanation about potential injuries from training weapons quite reasonable.

Just as I was beginning to understand Emilia’s point, a strange sensation crept over me, as if suddenly all eyes were on me.

Before I could react, the sharp voices of ten adult men rang in my ears.

“Hello, Captain Emilia!”

“Hello!!!”

Well, that was unexpected.

Nevertheless, it seems like even among the new recruits, there is a strong sense of discipline, perhaps because they are part of the elite noble guards.

The gaze that had seemed to be directed towards me was actually focused on the guard unit leader Emilia, not me.

Soon enough, the new recruits who were training under Emilia began to gather around her.

I’ve been so used to feeling men’s gazes on me that I naturally mistook their intentions.

“….”

“….”

“….”

…Or maybe it wasn’t a mistake after all.

Although I was clearly greeting Guard Leader Emilia, I couldn’t help but feel the soldiers’ eyes subtly shifting towards my face and chest.

With this appearance and attire, I couldn’t help but stand out wherever I went.

“These individuals are important guests. Please refrain from being impolite.”

“““We apologize!!!”””

Despite the recent incident in the office, Emilia promptly redirected the attention of the soldiers towards me this time.

The new recruits, with disciplined apologies, quickly averted their gazes back to the front instead of stealing glances.

“The person here is Ethan Richard Blackwood, the illegitimate son of the Blackwood family. And next to him is Miss Lillith Rosewood, the young master’s exclusive maid. They were observing your training during their patrol.”

“It’s an honor to meet you, Master Ethan!”

“Thank you for visiting us here!”

“An honor, Master!”

“Well then, let’s not worry about them and continue as usual.”

“““Yes, understood!!!”””

After responding in unison as if rehearsed, the soldiers resumed their training.

As I absentmindedly watched the training of these new recruits,

…Suddenly, a part of the “Luminor Academy” game system that I had momentarily forgotten started to resurface in my mind.

‘Wait, could this work if done right…’

As I recalled this forgotten element of the game system, the method of utilizing it also came to mind.

Perhaps, if I play my cards right, I could level up from this situation.

It was a moment where such audacious thoughts naturally came together.