Chapter 24: Irene Windler Is the New Neighbor (5)

“Your Excellency, is it really okay if we just leave like this?”

[What do you mean?]

“…I’m not sure if it’s okay for us to leave the vicinity when that strange person is still loitering around the young lady.”

[If someone were to hear what you said just now, they’d think you’re the father of that child since you worry about her more than I do.]

“…I apologize.”

As he said that, Lake bowed his head.

Though he was a man with strong pride, he wouldn’t hesitate to give up his life for the duke—someone he genuinely respected. That was why he didn’t merely see Irene Windler as a genius mage, but as a ‘benefactor’.

After all, His Excellency has changed for the better ever since she came into his life.

Duke Blake had been suffering to fight his madness ever since he lost his wife. Lake had to see the heartbreaking sight of the duke gradually losing his brilliance and slowly succumbing to his madness thanks to the magic sword he wielded. If there was one fortunate thing, it was that he never hurt the innocent and only unleashed his cruelty to criminals, but because of this, the duke’s family never experienced a day without smelling the scent of blood.

But then that girl appeared.

A girl who was as beautiful as a fairy, wearing a warm smile that was akin to sunlight. Wherever Lake saw her, he felt as if the late madam had come back to life. The duke also changed after she appeared. As if he had never suffered from his madness to begin with, he started to smile warmly again and returned to being the brilliant master he once was.

Her existence alone was a gift and a grace, and to the duke, she is his happiness and blessing.

That was why Lake vowed to himself to defeat anyone who dared to threaten her, even if it meant risking his life.

But above all, the reason why he decided to do that…

[No need to worry. That man is a better man than I thought. There’s no way he would threaten that child.]

“…”

[You still look dissatisfied.]

“…Your excellency, she might be your real daughter.”

[…Now you’re crossing the line.]

“…I apologize.”

Lake knew that, but he felt like it was something that had to be said.

Indeed, that child, Irene Windler, was most likely…

Duke Blake’s ‘real child’.

Even Duke Blake harbored that suspicion. It was already an open secret among some of the members of the family, they just didn’t say anything about it.

Then again, even the Pendragons held this suspicion, it wasn’t a wonder that the Galahads were also the same. They just didn’t want to announce it at the moment.

[There’s nothing certain yet, that’s why keep your guard up.]

“…”

[You arrogant rascal. Now that I think about it, you’re even ruder than ‘that guy’.]

“…I believe you’re too harsh on yourself, Your Excellency.”

[Indeed, I am your ‘Excellency’. That’s why I need to be cool-headed. I can’t just hold on to a child who might be or might not be my biological child.]

“…”

Duke Blake’s statement wasn’t wrong. While there was a possibility that Irene was his biological child, it was still a possibility, not a fact. She indeed resembled ‘her’, but there was still no evidence that she was his biological child.

There was the possibility that she just happened to look like ‘her’.

And Duke Blake didn’t have the confidence that he could handle it if that kind of truth were to come out in the end.

Both politically and emotionally…

That was why he hid everything and simply accepted her as his adopted daughter. Besides, he also needed time to restore the ducal family—which had been devastated by his madness—back to its original state. He didn’t exactly have much time to investigate the child for the time being.

[And that’s why his existence is necessary. While I don’t know what kind of relationship he has with that child, Isis, I could be certain that the reason why he is here is to watch over Irene. Since he was sent by my niece herself, it means he’s more than qualified to take on that task.]

In fact, when investigating him, Duke Blake was struck with surprise. Because he never knew that there was such a talented person in the Knight Order. He believed that this person was a surprising fortune for the royal family too, since the Silver Lion had been ruined ever since Sir Baltar entered the Order.

And now, he also became Galahad’s fortune.

[Since he was tasked to watch over Irene, it meant that he’ll take it upon himself to be responsible for Irene’s safety. I could at least trust him that much.]

Duke Blake didn’t feel any discomfort from the fact that Isis, his niece, was sending someone to watch over his adopted daughter. After all, if the roles were reversed, he’d do the exact same— No, rather, he’d probably take up a more extreme method than his niece was. He couldn’t help but think that his niece was still the same ‘soft child’ he knew.

“…He’s weaker than me, it would be better if you were to send me to protect the young lady, Your Excellency.”

However, Lake was still unable to acknowledge the duke’s decision. He was still discontent with it.

Looking at the way his disciple acts, the duke could only snicker at him.

[Your mouth is still pretty lively for a guy who could collapse at any moment now.]

“I-I won’t collapse.”

[Sure you won’t.]

Not only the duke, even the other knights shook their heads at this man’s stubbornness.

Lake de Duran.

He was Galahad’s rising star, the one who was the most likely to be the next Aura User and yet his limbs were shaking greatly. His body trembled like a pine tree, an unsightly sight that no knight would ever want anyone to see.

Though he pretended to be okay to save his pride, it was obvious that his inside was badly injured.

[Hurry up and drink the potion, you dolt.]

“I-I’m fine.”

[…You know that blood is flowing from your mouth, right, you idiot?]

“…Keheuk.”

Gulp.

Seeing Lake’s face turning as pale as it could get, the duke clicked his tongue.

Pitiful guy.

[This is why you knights are so bothersome to deal with.]

Both this guy and that guy…

How could you all be so immature…?

Well…

[At the very least they’re better than those wicked ‘guys’.]

A cold glint tinted Blake’s eyes.

However, that coldness wasn’t directed toward the knights.

But rather…

[Has the archduke been secretly raising rats lately?]

The ‘rats’ who thought they were successfully blending into the scene.

After the duke called out to the ‘rats’, they…

“The duke speaks rather harshly don’t you think, Jack?”

“I don’t understand what you’re talking about, my lord.”

“Well, you know, this and that.”

“…Are you aware that you spout some strange things sometimes, my lord?”

“I know.”

The young lion of the archduke’s family, whose black hair suited him really well, shook his head indifferently. Meanwhile, his confidant could only shake his head while muttering, ‘Why is he acting like that again?’, to himself.

Even though he had been serving this young man for a while now, he still found it difficult to understand him at times.

“…What are you two doing?”

Fortunately, the two women inside were unaware of what had happened outside. Since he had told them that he was chopping some firewood, even when they heard a loud noise coming from outside, they shouldn’t suspect anything. Besides, the place where he fought that guy was quite far away from the cabin, so there was a high chance that those two hadn’t heard the sound of the fight to begin with.

The potion also helped him stay unscathed. He could even treat it as a silver lining since he’d have to show them a humiliating side of himself if it wasn’t because of it.

However, Lee Han, who had just entered the house, ended up feeling flustered by the actions of the two women inside his house.

Meanwhile, said two womens were…

“W-Welcome back.”

…They were just as flustered as him. Irene especially, looked so startled, as if she was caught doing something bad.

“…Cadet Irene, what are you doing?”

“I-I was just talking with the maid! S-Somehow, i-it became like this…”

“…How did you end up wearing a dress— No, wait, whose dress is this even—?”

“That dress is mine, Sir! Hehehe, how is it? Beautiful, right??”

“…Sure, it looks flashy.”

“Hehehe, that’s why I don’t wear it often. It’s too flashy for me!”

“…And yet you told me to wear it…”

“Because I thought it would suit Miss Irene well!”

“!!?”

To put it shortly, the two girls were having a fashion show.

Witnessing such a different atmosphere from the serious work he just did outside, Lee Han almost lost the resolve from before. His gaze soon landed on Irene and the first thing that popped up inside his mind was…

She’s pretty.

There was this freshness and innocence emanating from her, befitting her age. Her unique blonde hair and blue eyes exuded a mysterious beauty kind of vibe. Even though the dress she wore was too over the top, as a great beauty herself, she still managed to pull off a good look.

However, if one were to ask Lee Han if her beauty was enough to make his heart flutter…

I wish I had a younger sister like her.

Well, he was at an age where his love cells were slowly dying. Besides, he wasn’t the type to be attracted to young children in the first place.

What he felt when looking at her was the same feeling as an ahjussi who was impressed by an idol who had put a lot of effort into her performance. That was it, nothing more, nothing less.

However, Irene had no ways of knowing this, as she only felt embarrassed by his gaze and lowered her head.

When it seemed like the smell of the misunderstanding was growing stronger…

“Miss, stop that! Let’s show Sir Knight the thing you’ve been practicing!”

“B-But that’s a little…”

“When else would you do it if it isn’t now?”

“B-But still…”

“…Practice?”

What are they talking about?

Lee Han’s question was met with an answer almost immediately as the girl who had been hesitating suddenly lifted the hem of her dress slightly before bending her knees and nodding her head.

…What’s that?

“That’s called curtsy, Sir! It’s like a greeting for nobles! What do you think? Isn’t it beautiful?”

“…I guess?”

Lee Han stared at Irene, who was looking like a doll that would let out creaking sounds whenever it moved.

“W-Well, I-I’m not used to it yet…”

Irene had only recently become a noble, so it was a given that she wasn’t used to the nobles’ etiquette yet.

Wait, why is she doing this instead of eating, though?

I swear, I can’t understand nobles…

“Hehehe, of course it’s natural that you aren’t used to it! Don’t worry! When you do, your movements will become natural like this!”

Rustle-!

After saying that, Leila lifted her skirt slightly, similar to what Irene did just now. Then, she slightly revealed her ankles before nodding her head.

Her posture…

“…”

Was clean and upright, so neat and natural that it even left Lee Han speechless.

“Haa…”

Surprisingly, this sight left him feeling refreshed, as if all the unpleasantness he had accumulated today was blown away at her.

Indeed, at the moment, he believed that…

…She’s pretty.

It was clear that the feeling he currently felt was a completely different one compared to the one he had towards Irene just now.

And that was how he realized for the first time in his life that the culture of the lofty nobles wasn’t just filled with nonsense.

“…Feels like I could just go back to training without eating first.”

That was how pretty Leila looked at the moment. He even blurted out something like that.

For the first time, he couldn’t see the maid that he had always dismissed as a fool. Instead, in his eyes right now, she was a lady who was comparable to a blooming rose.

Meanwhile, on the side, the heroine who had suffered such a humiliating defeat was…

[…Arin, let’s practice curtsy a lot from now on, okay?]

…Yes.

Swallowing her tears along with the humiliation she felt. All while vowing for revenge.