Chapter 25 – A Lucky Day

A distasteful gaze scanned Yurasia from head to toe.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Shibria Eustetia, the second daughter of Barham Eustetia.”

With that, she greeted me with a refined bow.

“It’s an honor to meet you, Lady Eliaernes Eustetia. My name is Aaron Kularus.”

The man behind her, with a grim expression, also offered a greeting—though “offered” may not be the right word.

He knelt on one knee, lowering his head as if in submission.

Who the hell is Barham?

“From the Beruna region, where the iron mines are located.”

“Oh, I see.”

Shibria, sensing my confusion, kindly offered more information about her family.

So they’re a fairly powerful branch, being from a region with iron ore.

Still, the fact that they’re a branch family…

They must have recognized me despite the hood, meaning they approached us intentionally.

What a shady introduction.

I suppressed my emotions and returned the greeting with a neutral expression.

“I am Eliaernes Eustetia.”

“It’s been a while. Have you been well?”

Shibria greeted me with a bright smile, and the knight behind her rose to his feet.

When have I ever seen her before?

I was about to ask, but instead, I just nodded.

“Yes.”

“Is the head of the family still in good health?”

“Yes.”

“That’s good to hear.”

Despite my curt responses signaling that I wished she would leave, Shibria maintained the polite smile typical of aristocrats.

“I heard you’re enrolling at Karela Academy this time. I’m currently attending as well.”

“Is that so?”

“How did the entrance exam go?”

“There were no problems.”

“Ah, did you apply to the Research Department?”

“I applied to the Combat Department.”

Shibria’s eyebrows lifted slightly.

“…Really? That’s… unexpected.”

Her reddish-pink eyes scanned both Yurasia and me for a moment.

“As expected of the Eustetia family, do you practice swordsmanship?”

“I don’t.”

“Oh? Then, archery?”

“I don’t.”

“…Spear?”

“I don’t.”

“Wow… Then ma—”

“I don’t use anything.”

Shibria’s eyes widened, and a crack appeared in her smile. Even the knight beside her looked startled.

“…Unarmed combat?”

“Yes.”

Her lips parted slightly, and the corners twitched downward. Someone less perceptive might have mistaken her expression for concern.

But it was filled with ridicule and disdain.

“How unfortunate…”

Should I just poke her eyes out?

“It seems we’ll meet again soon, since you’ll be attending Karela Academy. Well then—”

I tried to end the conversation before I lost my temper and slapped her, but I couldn’t.

“And what about you?”

Shibria’s voice, acting as if she hadn’t heard me, stopped Yurasia in her tracks.

“Oh, greetings. I am Yurasia Espilot, a knight of the 1st Division of House Eustetia and Lady Eliaernes Eustetia’s personal knight.”

With that, I had no choice but to stop as well.

“A personal knight, huh? But—”

Shibria, eyeing Yurasia with a strange smile, spoke again.

“That’s not quite how I remember the proper greeting, though.”

Her words were maddening.

“…Pardon?”

“I thought a greeting involved making eye contact.”

As she spoke, Shibria’s gaze rested somewhere far below Yurasia’s.

“Is it because you’re a commoner? Do you lack awareness? Didn’t you notice what Aaron just did?”

Yurasia, confused by Shibria’s words, blinked several times.

“Are you unaware that such sloppy behavior tarnishes your master’s authority?”

Shibria’s finger tapped rhythmically.

“Oh, um… I apologize. My apologies.”

Finally grasping the situation, Yurasia began to kneel.

“Yurasia.”

I stopped her before she could lower herself.

“…My lady?”

“Don’t do it.”

“Oh my, Lady Eliaernes, how kind you are. If the knights in our domain behaved that way, it wouldn’t end so easily.”

Shibria didn’t look at me but stared intently at Yurasia as she continued.

“Such disgraceful conduct reflects poorly on the name of Eustetia. We can’t let poorly trained individuals damage our reputation, can we?”

Following Shibria’s lead, Aaron’s gaze also fixed on Yurasia.

Yurasia flinched. Her complexion paled, and her hands trembled visibly.

These bastards…

I gripped Yurasia’s hand firmly and stepped in front of her.

“I appreciate your concern, but it’s unnecessary.”

I thought I sounded aristocratic, but Shibria’s expression suggested otherwise.

Her face twisted unpleasantly, and even her knight’s expression darkened.

Regardless, I continued.

“When was the last time you visited the main family estate?”

“…Pardon?”

“It’s nothing. I just wondered, since it seems like it’s been a while.”

“…It was ten years ago, at the celebration of your birth.”

“Ah, I see. Then you might not be aware.”

I smirked.

“It’s been just under ten years since the regulations of the Eustetia knights at the main estate were changed.”

Not our knights, but my knights.
Not the branch family, but the main family.
Not some nobodies, but the knights of Eustetia.

I emphasized each word deliberately.

Shibria’s unpleasant face contorted visibly.

“The head of the family once said, ‘It is absurd for knights of Eustetia’s caliber to kneel before others. Let’s leave the old rules in the past and establish new ones.’”

I gripped Yurasia’s hand tightly. Her palm was sweaty, but her trembling stopped, and warmth returned to her hand.

“Since then, the knights of our family no longer kneel before ‘others.’ Perhaps word didn’t reach you in Beruna. That’s understandable. It must be hard to get news through those encircling mountains.”

With that, I glanced at Shibria’s hair and murmured quietly.

“I suppose the lack of sunlight in Beruna makes it hard to keep one’s hair vibrant. It looks a bit faded.”

Shibria’s lips twitched violently, her smile vanishing.

“Anyway, there’s no need to worry. The knights of the main family of Eustetia are on a different level from the likes of ordinary knights.”

I shot a glance at the grim-faced knight standing beside her, who still glared at Yurasia.

Where does this mutt think he can glare at my Yurasia?

“Of course, this only applies to the knights of the main family. Don’t misunderstand. You can continue doing what you always do—bowing your head, bending your knees, and groveling.”

I enunciated every word deliberately.

With those words, the knight averted his gaze, and a heavy silence fell.

It wasn’t an uncomfortable silence. In fact, it was rather pleasant.

Using the family name to pressure others isn’t my usual style.

In my previous life, I would have just knocked out a few teeth—it’s faster, easier, and more effective.

But since this woman is from a branch family of Eustetia, if I hit her now, it would only cause trouble for my parents.

Besides, there are too many eyes watching.

Anyway, this should be enough.

I stared directly into Shibria’s eyes, wondering if my message got through.

Her reddish eyes trembled, as if they might scatter in every direction.

Seeing that, I grinned once more.

“Keep smiling like that, and you’ll end up with deep wrinkles soon enough. Be careful.”

That seemed to be the final blow. Shibria’s carefully maintained expression collapsed, and she responded quietly.

“Thank you for your consideration.”

Grinding her teeth, she turned to leave.

Naturally, I stayed where I was until she was out of sight, making sure to see off those arrogant fools properly.

How could the second daughter of a branch family act so boldly in front of me?

Even if we meet again at the academy, it’ll only be for three years—or less than two.

There’s something more going on here.

With the Nameless in the main family, there’s no way Father wouldn’t know.

What could it be?

“Hmm…”

As the two disappeared from view, Yurasia’s damp voice reached me.

“…M-my lady…”

“Hmm?”

“Was everything you just said… true?”

“Of course not.”

“Huh…?”

I chuckled and looked at her.

She stood there, looking pitiful like a puppy caught in the rain.

Her blue eyes welled up with tears, and her shiny red lips trembled slightly.

“But some of it was true.”

“True? Which part…?”

“Even if the Eustetia knights don’t, you—Yurasia Espilot, my knight—never have to kneel before anyone.”

I laughed, recalling Shibria’s twisted expression.

“Because I’m your master.”

With that, I released her hand and started walking.

“Let’s head back. I’m not in the mood anymore. We’ll visit the library on a day off.”

Yurasia silently followed.

“Help me find some books that day, too.”

I wonder what her expression was then.

She was probably smiling.

***

On the way back to the dormitory, Yurasia was quieter than usual, though it wasn’t an unpleasant silence.

The bustling streets of the capital helped, but giving her something sweet to eat also lifted her spirits.

What was it called? Tanghulu?

Fruits coated in sugar—it’s delicious.

I had strawberry and green grape, while Yurasia had blueberry and orange.

The strawberries were too big to eat whole, so I had to bite them in half. It scraped my gums, but it was worth it.

Such irony.

As we neared the dormitory, I spoke.

“Yurasia, go on ahead.”

“What about you, my lady?”

“I need to buy you a gift for placing first in the entrance exam. It wouldn’t be fun if you picked it with me.”

Her eyes widened.

“A gift?! Really?!”

“Yes. So go on. I’ll be back before our dinner reservation.”

Her face lit up with joy as she bounced on her feet.

“Yes! I’ll be looking forward to it!”

“Don’t get your hopes too high, though.”

I waved as she skipped away, waiting until she was out of sight.

Then I turned around, quickly finishing the tanghulu and tucking the skewer into my pocket.

I need to hurry if I want to be back in time for dinner.