Ch.3Irene Yuris (3)

The shadows grew thick in the sky, and the sun that had driven away the darkness sank once more into oblivion.

Stars that had disappeared in fear of light began to appear, and the moonlight rising with its blue glow created an incomparable spectacle.

So many stars that would be difficult to see even in the countryside of the modern world I used to live in.

While gazing at the countless starlight streaming through the window, I turned my head as I heard an admiring voice near my ear.

“Wow…”

Rofena, Irene’s personal maid, let out an awestruck voice.

The night view was so beautiful it was hard to believe this was the medieval era, as the streets began to shine brilliantly with lights created by magic.

Magic instead of electricity, huh.

Since it was made of magical power, it could be used semi-permanently, so I thought this might actually be more convenient.

“Rofena.”

At the calm voice, Rofena, who had been completely absorbed in the night view, startled and walked with hurried steps toward Irene.

I felt uncomfortable seeing the heavy luggage in the hands of a child who looked younger than both Irene and me, but I supposed it couldn’t be helped.

After all, my responsibility to protect the duke’s eldest daughter was just as heavy as the burden she carried.

Another book was placed in Rofena’s hands.

A groan escaped from Rofena’s lips, but instead of considering her condition, Irene placed yet another book on top.

“Ugh…”

I deliberately averted my gaze from her trembling arms.

Earlier, when I briefly helped her, I was caught by that intimidating knight named Kris and got hit on the head.

The spot where I was hit still throbbed, suggesting a severe bruise. Having witnessed that scene, Rofena silently gathered the luggage without even looking in my direction.

Books, papers, books, writing instruments, books. Looking at the items piling up in Rofena’s small hands made me feel queasy.

I would have understood if someone who purely enjoyed studying had bought all that, but her face remained expressionless while selecting those books.

Those items just felt uncomfortable to me.

“…I really don’t get it.”

I can’t figure her out. The emotions behind that expressionless mask could only be guessed at, showing no signs of revealing themselves.

Perhaps one might mistake Irene for a doll when she’s still.

As I stared at her lips that always formed a straight line, I let out a hollow laugh.

Irene continued to select books.

It had been three hours since we arrived at the bookstore, and even when Rofena finally put Irene’s books down in one place, she just blankly stared at the books.

What exactly was she seeing through those books?

Come to think of it, Irene was always reading books whenever she appeared in the novel.

Whether fiction, philosophy, or economics, she read across all fields indiscriminately and was quite knowledgeable as a result.

Thanks to her knowledge, the protagonist had quite a hard time dealing with her.

-It’s the poison of the blade-tailed lizard. Are you trying to assassinate me, Luna Dreamwell?

Even I, as a reader, got goosebumps when she uttered those words after smelling the black tea that seemed no different from ordinary tea.

She had added that her ability to instantly identify that poison, which even highly trained assassins found difficult to detect, was all thanks to knowledge gained from books.

…Assassination.

My thoughts, which had begun with admiration, were suddenly blocked by that single word.

The image of Irene I recalled was merely her past.

The countless assassination attempts targeting her, the connections around her that eventually couldn’t be protected and perished,

And despite all that, her position as “Iron Blood” that couldn’t allow her to utter a single groan.

Because she was made of iron, she always had to be emotionless, and because she had to be a shield that blocked everything, she had to be perfect.

An invincible shield that blocks even the strongest spear.

That was the title used to describe her before her bad relationship with the protagonist deepened, but I didn’t think that title was particularly glorious.

Even if it’s a shield that blocks a spear forged by God, isn’t it the shield that ultimately absorbs the impact?

No matter how intact it appears on the outside, can one really assert that it’s truly unharmed?

The accumulating scratches, the scars building up in her heart, eventually led to her collapse. Her final moments.

Recalling her faint smile I had seen earlier in the room, I slowly closed my eyes.

Is she really alright now? Perhaps from the moment I possessed this body, her downfall was already predetermined.

The soft flesh inside my mouth was bitten, leaving a bloody taste.

My thoughts scattered when I noticed that subtle gaze watching me.

When I realized those sapphire-like eyes, without a single flaw, were staring blankly at me, my slightly relaxed posture immediately stiffened.

“…Is there something you need?”

Since Rofena had left to have the books wrapped in advance, only Irene and I remained here.

Somehow, that fact made it feel like my breath was caught, but I straightened my posture and slightly bowed my head.

“My lady?”

When I spoke to Irene, who was just staring at me without saying anything,

She glanced at me briefly and then turned her attention back to the book.

“‘My lady,’ is it.”

Her eyebrows trembled slightly as she spoke while looking at the book. Had I made a verbal mistake?

With that concern, I bowed my head even lower, but Irene simply extended her hand in front of me without saying anything.

Hand?

When I raised my head in momentary confusion, I couldn’t help but laugh at what was before my eyes.

“A book… isn’t it?”

“It seems you need to learn more about etiquette, so read and study this. Please be mindful of how you address me.”

“…Understood.”

It seems addressing her as “my lady” was the issue.

Muttering inwardly, I accepted the book, and Irene moved on, perhaps having no more books to select here.

Speaking of books, since I had a certain attachment to the character Irene Yuris, I wondered what to do with this book she had given me.

Since she gave it while talking about etiquette, it must be something similar.

{30 Rules of Etiquette for Nobility}

“Ha.”

A smile formed on my lips as I read the title. Perhaps I should wrap it up later.

#

“…Are you okay?”

“Ah, I’m fine. It’s a bit heavy, but…”

She doesn’t look fine at all. As I narrowed my eyes at the pile of items on Rofena, she smiled faintly at me, insisting she was fine.

Although today was my first meeting with Rofena, we became quite close quickly, probably because I spent a lot of time with her while guarding Irene.

Surprisingly, she was the same age as me, and I also learned from Rofena that Irene was 15 years old.

Her personality was quite good compared to some others, and seeing her quietly carrying luggage despite her small frame, how could anyone dislike her?

Even as a guard, it’s quite difficult to stay focused in every situation, so when I switched shifts with Sir Kris, I would loiter around chatting with Rofena.

I did get hit on the head once when Sir Kris caught me, but that didn’t change the fact that Rofena was a good person.

After looking sympathetically at the burden on Rofena’s arms for a moment, I turned my head toward Irene.

From the morning when I first met her until now when it had grown dark, I inwardly marveled at her expression that never changed.

A cold impression as if covered in frost, with straight eyelashes that sometimes made me gasp in admiration when they blinked—she was beautiful enough for that.

But perhaps because of such appearance, people found it difficult to approach her.

Even merchants who readily approached other young ladies would hesitate and back away when they saw Irene.

Of course, she looked at such merchants with an emotionless face,

But I was simply curious about what she thought when she looked at them.

The emotion faintly contained in her eyes when she looked at the young lady earlier today was clearly longing, wasn’t it?

Thinking about it, the things she bought today were items that would be difficult to consider typical for a young lady her age. Books and writing instruments—a young lady who goes out to buy such things.

The corners of my mouth trembled slightly. I just don’t understand.

Why did those clear eyes seem so cloudy?

I thought her blue eyes were like the deep sea. While the surface of the sea is blue, its depths are murky and dark, impossible to see through.

Unlike her beautiful appearance that captivated even a glance, perhaps her inside was as dark as the deep sea—this imagination made me frown.

Longing is praise given to those who accomplish what one couldn’t do themselves.

But her longing was directed at another young lady. As if she herself wouldn’t do such things, or more precisely, couldn’t do them.

In her white hair, I could see the reflection of the duke.

The shield protecting the heart of the current empire. The heir to the Iron Blood will and the one who achieved the ultimate in swordsmanship.

One who was a docile dog before the emperor but became a stern wolf to his children.

Garoth Yuris.

It felt like the bloody taste from the flesh I had bitten earlier was rising again.

Why should she, at the age of 15, the eldest daughter of a duke’s family that everyone would envy,

Feel longing toward another young lady?

It would have been better if she were arrogant. Better if she showed immaturity by not knowing common sense.

She was, after all, at an age where that would be acceptable.

An age where she should be dreaming and having bright eyes.

But what reflected in her eyes was only endless darkness, and I unconsciously let out a heavy sigh.

She looked so lonely, walking alone on a path covered in dark shadows.

A solitude that didn’t suit a 15-year-old, so I deliberately stood close to her side.

Even though I stood beside her, she showed no reaction, and after glancing at her briefly, I slowly opened my mouth.

“Did you enjoy yourself?”

Despite the incredibly light question, my voice was quite serious, so she briefly looked at me before nodding.

But it didn’t seem like affirmation. It was more like a dismissal, telling me not to speak to her, and I let out a small laugh.

“…Are you interested in books?”

“……”

“I’ve heard that to become an excellent knight, one must possess appropriate knowledge. If you have any books to recommend, I would be grateful to hear your suggestions.”

A one-sided conversation began.

Having been in this world for just a day, I had no idea how to become an excellent knight, but I wanted to talk to her anyway.

If I didn’t, I had an ominous feeling that she would quietly sink into this darkness.

Silence continued, and that silence gave birth to more silence.

Rofena looked at me strangely as I rambled on alone, but Sir Kris didn’t stop my behavior and just watched.

As if what I was doing wasn’t entirely wrong.

“Evan.”

A voice cold enough to freeze even the night was heard.

She hadn’t responded to anything I said, and her gaze toward me was quite chilly.

I bowed my head before her. In truth, I had expected this kind of response.

“If you want to become an excellent knight, I hope you first learn basic common sense. Starting with that simple courtesy of not speaking carelessly to someone who doesn’t wish to converse.”

My face momentarily contorted at the sharp criticism that pierced each segment of my chest.

It would probably be better not to show this expression. After my face returned to normal, I raised my head, but Irene was already walking far away.

“…Ha.”

I wondered if it had been unnecessary meddling, but somehow I didn’t regret it.

Common sense, huh? Her words seemed to linger in my ears.

I moved my steps again, staggering. Although I was scolded, I was still her guard after all.

So I took one step, then a second.

“……”

I realized that this street was strangely quiet.

A silence where no sound could be heard. Only footsteps were audible. Thud, thud.

And then, I realized those footsteps were unfamiliar. Not Irene’s, not mine, not Sir Kris’s, not Rofena’s.

Click-

Sir Kris’s face turned pale as he noticed that subtle sound.

And seeing that, I had been running for some time.

My steps were urgent as I muttered the name of Irene, my guard subject. A sensation I had never experienced before surged through my body.

The pungent scent of death mixed with blood, the thick killing intent that covered this dark street—my skin began to react.

As the chilling sensation crawling up my spine approached, my hand gripping the sword at my waist trembled for a moment.

When a hand emerging from the shadows reached toward Irene, my body shot forward like an arrow.

Cutting through the shadows, slicing through the silence. The sword I had never held in my life rang out with a shrill sound.

My newly acquired body was light, and the sword I held advanced magnificently.

Slash-

As I cut down the assassin approaching Irene, a quiet scream escaped from his mouth.

Assassination, huh? I closed my eyes tightly and steadied my breathing.

Recalling those blue eyes that remained emotionless even when a knife was pointed at her, eyes that seemed rather tired of such situations.

White mana began to envelop my sword.