episode_0231

The one who appeared before us was Sebastian, the heir to the Lestrade Clan.

He was a young man with blazing red hair.

Was he here to see Adela Unnie?

He saw us and slowly opened his mouth.

“Adela, it’s been a while.”

His voice was gentle and his demeanor refined, but his eyes held an uncontrollable arrogance.

“I didn’t expect you to return so soon.”

“You don’t seem pleased. I hope you’re not too uncomfortable. I just came to greet you out of courtesy. You know, we’re among the few with noble blood…”

“Haa, just state your business.”

At Adela Unnie’s annoyed question, Sebastian glanced at me and then spoke something unexpected.

“Hmm, Adela. By the way, did you take on a servant? That’s not like you.”

“What did you say?”

Rage surged within me in that instant.

“Hey! I’m not a maid!”

“Is that so? Ah, it must have been a misunderstanding.”

Sebastian scoffed and continued speaking, unfazed.

“Adela, do you remember what you told me before? You said not to treat other students like servants at the academy. I thought you’d changed your mind, but it seems not.”

“Sebastian! Don’t talk like that. Violet is my precious junior.”

Despite Adela Unnie’s firm tone, Sebastian was unconcerned and thrust his chin at me.

“A junior, huh… Hah! Has the academy’s eye for talent fallen so low these days? To accept just a little kid like this.”

“What? I’m a little kid?”

“Immature and childish, aren’t you?”

“Ugh!”

My anger flared, and I retorted. Adela Unnie also raised her voice.

“Why don’t you shut that filthy mouth?”

“Ha.”

At Adela Unnie’s sharp reaction, Sebastian seemed a little surprised. However, he soon grinned and continued.

“Adela, what’s so great about this little kid that you’re dragging her around? Ah, right. You’ve always liked cute things. From dolls to animals, even children.”

At Sebastian’s words, Adela Unnie’s face flushed red.

“W-what did you say? Don’t speak so carelessly.”

“Calm down. I was just curious. Surely that can’t be true, can it? As the young lady of the Grand Ducal House of Cascadia, you have your dignity, surely not.”

Sebastian was joking in a soft tone, but it was clearly an act of indirectly belittling Adela Unnie. The hot flush on Unnie’s face was proof.

‘What kind of trash is this?’

‘Respect people’s preferences!’

Unable to listen any longer, I cut in, protesting.

“Hey! What concern is it of yours what someone’s personal taste is?”

Sebastian looked down at me and said,

“Stay still, first-year. It seems you don’t know how the world works yet, so don’t make a fuss for no reason; just stay quiet.”

“Who do you think you are? Are you really that great?”

“Yes.”

Sebastian replied with an arrogant expression.

“Just getting into the academy isn’t everything. Reality isn’t easy. If you’re weak, you’ll be eaten alive. A weak little kid like you, relying on your seniors without any skill, will find it hard to survive outside.”

Sebastian calmly countered with a brazen attitude. Rage boiled at his arrogance.

“Hey! I have skill too! I got in by taking an exam!”

Sebastian’s eyes shone fiercely for a moment.

“Indeed, the flow of magic and your posture are quite decent. The traces of training are clear…”

His hand suddenly grabbed my wrist.

“Gasp!”

“You need to fix the habit of paying attention to your sleeve pocket or scabbard. It’s all visible to the eye.”

‘Surely, he didn’t just see through my attempt to attack, did he?’

I glared at him. Sebastian met my gaze defiantly.

“If you’re so great, let’s spar!”

“Violet! What are you doing! Absolutely not!”

Adela Unnie tried to stop me, but Sebastian chuckled and shook his head.

“Spar? An interesting proposal. But what can I do? I’m busy, so I’ll decline.”

“What? Haha, you coward! Are you scared?”

“Don’t misunderstand. I don’t have a hobby of beating down the weak. And…”

A serious expression crossed his face.

“Wielding a sword against a woman is an act that tarnishes a knight’s honor.”

Having said that, Sebastian turned and left.

I was dumbfounded and questioned Adela Unnie.

“Unnie! What kind of guy is that?”

Adela Unnie sighed deeply, her face showing regret.

“He’s truly an old-fashioned person, no matter how many times I see him… People like that tarnish the honor of nobles. Violet, don’t mind him too much. He’s not worth dealing with.”

We nodded at Unnie’s words. However, in a corner of our thoughts, the insulting attitude of that punk from the tin-can clan was deeply etched.

‘Let’s get him back someday!’

**

Sebastian shrugged his shoulders as he left the student hall. The recent encounter wasn’t even worth bothering with.

Behind him, the heavy clanking of metal armor reverberated. Armored knights were closely guarding him. Students’ curious gazes focused on the heavily armored knights walking on the campus grounds.

Of course, from his perspective, it was incredibly burdensome. Every time the bulky armored knights walked beside him, the vibrations were considerable.

“Weren’t you supposed to withdraw?”

“Young Master, for the next few days, by His Excellency’s command, we will be in charge of patrol and guard duties within the academy. Additional personnel will also be deployed.”

The lead knight said respectfully. Sebastian furrowed his brow.

“Father sent you? I’m not a child, does it make sense for me to need a guard even inside the academy?”

“We merely follow orders. Please understand, as it is clan policy.”

Sebastian clicked his tongue in annoyance. If it was his father’s decision, he had no other choice.

“By the way, why did Father increase the guard? There was never anything like this when I attended the academy as a child.”

“Well, it is said that something is brewing in the Southern Sector. The order was to reinforce the defenses of major facilities and academies.”

He grumbled.

“What’s going on? Surely, it’s not related to the joint operation with those Federal Army guys?”

“We have not been informed of the details. However, it was said to be a serious confidential matter within the clan.”

Sebastian let out a scoff of disbelief.

“However, either Commander-nim or General-nim will visit the academy soon, so it must certainly be a serious matter.”

“When?”

“They said they would arrive today…”

Sebastian’s brows furrowed as he listened to the knight’s words. The reason he had returned to school was his father’s instruction: the order to finish his delayed studies as soon as possible and inherit his main duties.

‘Father might visit? Why here?’

He couldn’t defy his father’s orders. He muttered with a frustrated heart.

“Just when I thought I could relax a bit, I’ll run into Father again.”

At that moment, the youngest-looking knight among the guards casually struck up a conversation.

“Young Master, you were very popular among the young ladies just now. It was quite impressive, wasn’t it? You had many female student fans. Was there no young lady who caught your eye? I heard there are many young ladies from noble families here at the academy,”

“You fool! How dare you speak out of turn!”

The senior knight rebuked his junior. However, Sebastian, who secretly wanted to change the topic of conversation, burst into laughter with relief.

“Well, no woman caught my eye. Those so-called noblewomen are full of sly materialists.”

“Hahaha, Young Master truly has an extraordinary discerning eye.”

“Then what about commoners? They’d fall over dead for a single word from you, wouldn’t they?”

When the junior knight asked curiously, Sebastian clicked his tongue.

“Those empty-headed girls? I wouldn’t take them even if they were given to me. I didn’t even consider them in the first place.”

“That’s understandable. Compared to girls like that, Young Master is too good for them.”

The knights flattered and agreed. It was at that moment.

“But what about those young ladies? They have quite pretty faces, don’t they?”

A knight pointed to a cafe table in front of the academy. Three female students were seen chatting.

Sebastian, who had been walking and exchanging jokes with the knights, his gaze fell upon the cafe in front of the academy.

“You, you need to raise your standards a bit–”

In a flash, his eyes stopped on one girl sitting at the table, as if nailed in place.

The world stopped.

Silver hair, bathed in sunlight, softly fluttering.

Blue eyes shining like the morning star, her posture as pure and delicate as a lily, a protective urge surged within him.

A slender, delicate waist like a willow, and the soft, curved silhouette emphasized above and below it.

‘Had I ever seen a woman like this before?’

He was breathless at her beautiful and elegant appearance.

“Young Master, is something wrong?”

Sebastian gazed at her as if enchanted. In that moment, anything else that caught his eye was merely an obstruction to the view between him and the girl.

“Is this… a dream…”

A feeling he had never experienced before washed over him like a wave. Had he ever felt such a pounding heart and thrill before?

Sebastian walked in her direction as if possessed.

Finally, Sebastian reached the table. Without caring what the other girls seated with her were saying, he whispered like someone in a dream.

“Answer me, what’s your name?”

Sebastian stared at the silver-haired girl with an enchanted gaze. Courtesy had long since been thrown aside.

Just before his own lady could open her mouth, a calm, cold voice pulled him back to reality.

“Who are you, mister?”

“Excuse me, but what is your business here?”

“What?”

He turned his head to see the other two female students seated with her staring intently at him.

‘H-how dare they!’

Sebastian felt enraged at being interrupted.

**

Minutes before encountering the rude nobleman, Daphne and Kalia were happily pondering how to savor the mountain of creations their sweet-loving friend had made.

“It’s delicious, isn’t it? I really didn’t know Violet had such a talent!”

“Yes, she baked them well. She made them well, but…”

Kalia laughed hollowly, as if dumbfounded, pointing at the cookies on the table.

“Seriously, what’s with her making a mountain of these? And during club activities, no less.”

“But it’s true she made them deliciously, isn’t it? She said she made them for us too. Thanks to that, we saved on dessert costs, I guess.”

Kalia, who was happy to receive them as a gift but worried about her friend’s tendency to rush in like a runaway train whenever there was an opportunity, crossed her arms and spoke curtly.

“Oh, hey, Daphne. That’s your problem. You should think about stopping Violet when she does something. Because you coddle her so much, she just rushes ahead without any brakes. Someone needs to give her a sharp word…”

“It’s good if it’s good, isn’t it? Don’t pick on Violet too much.”

“…Didn’t you used to not be like that? Anyone would think I’m the only one scolding her.”

Irene, who had been listening quietly to the two, spoke softly.

“Let’s think positively. It’s the result of Violet focusing on something productive instead of violence. If she continues to do only mild and wholesome things, it will be helpful.”

The three recalled their meeting with the Aegis Academy’s principal during their first week of enrollment.

At that time, Principal Brecht had pleaded that their friend not go astray, saying:

*“I’ve heard you are Miss Violet’s friends. A true friend is someone who helps their companion not go down the wrong path. It will be difficult, but… I ask of you.”*

“Well, it’s better than making bomb vests or corpses, isn’t it? Right?”

“That’s true.”

It was then that an uninvited guest appeared before the girls discussing their friend. When they turned their heads at the heavy mechanical sound, what appeared before their eyes was a red-haired male student exuding an unusual aura.

“Answer me, what’s your name?”

Behind him, guards in armored suits, who seemed to be the source of the mechanical sound, were intimidatingly waiting.

The three leapt to their feet.

“Huh…? What’s with this sudden…”

Daphne, surprised by the sudden appearance of the uninvited guest and speechless, was replaced by Kalia, who stepped forward first to intervene.

“Who are you, mister?”

Irene’s subsequent reply had more thought behind it. As she had memorized the faces of key figures from the Four Great Clans, it wasn’t difficult to recognize him.

“Excuse me, but what is your business here?”

The man stared blankly as if waking from a dream, then replied in a tone mixed with displeasure.

“Don’t concern yourselves with this. I only have business with that girl. Young lady, I ask you again, your name is…”

“If you want someone else’s introduction, isn’t it polite to introduce yourself first? Mr. Sebastian… no, Senior Sebastian?”

At Irene’s sharp point, Sebastian let out a short sigh and laughed awkwardly.

‘But that purple-haired girl… wasn’t she the heir to a famous clan?’

“Ah, that’s right. My apologies for the rudeness. Then allow me to introduce myself.”

As if to hide his embarrassment, Sebastian frowned for a moment, but soon raised his voice with an imposing posture.

“My name is Sebastian Lestrade. I am the 32nd heir to the throne of the United Kingdom of Arnor, and the successor of the Lestrade family. Now you know who I am.”

The girls whispered amongst themselves.

‘Lestrade… isn’t that one of the Three Great Clans?’

‘Right. He’s that heir.’

‘Why would someone like that ask me such a question…’

“You look like first-years, am I right? Now that introductions are over, may I ask for your names?”

The three girls reluctantly indicated their affirmative.

The first to speak was the sharp-featured girl with light pink bobbed hair.

“It’s Kalia. Is that enough?”

Sebastian frowned. Seeing her behave so rudely, she seemed to have no manners at all.

‘Her face and figure are decent… but she’s too tall. And her temper is awful. Like a stray wildcat.’

Clicking his tongue internally, he turned his gaze.

“It’s Irene Solstice. Please treat me well, Senior?”

Said the female student with purple hair and a calm and intellectual aura.

“Hmm, perhaps from Helios?”

“Yes, that’s right, but…”

So she was the heir to a famous clan who had recently transferred. Sebastian was impressed. But the moment his gaze met her golden eyes, he felt a strange sense of déjà vu.

‘Damn it, I thought she was just a smart girl… but I have a feeling she’ll act like Adela when she grows up. She’ll probably be a headache.’

Her face was fine, but her short stature was far from his preference.

The last to reply was the beautiful, silver-haired first-year girl.

“…It’s Daphne Grace.”

Her clear eyes clouded with unease, looking pure and delicate, was distinctly different from the previous two women.

“I see…”

Sebastian whispered her name as if casting a spell.

Daphne Grace, Daphne Lestrade.

‘Daphne Lestrade… hmm, not bad. Wait, what was I just thinking?’

“But… why did you call me?”

Sebastian, who had been hesitating, recalled the courage of his old great-grandfather, who had broken through the heart of a demonic beast, and decided to push forward.

“The matter is simple. I like you. Be my woman.”

The hand he extended toward Daphne suddenly struck a faint green protective barrier and bounced back.

“…!”

A surprised Daphne hesitated, then shook her head.

“Senior, I think it’s too early to make such a decision when we’ve just met. We don’t know each other well. I don’t think relationships between men and women happen that easily.”

“Are you rejecting my sincere feelings? Do I seem insufficient?”

Disappointment was evident in Sebastian’s voice.

‘This crazy bastard is saying absurd things…’

Irene nudged Kalia in the side, stopping her from muttering.

Daphne continued in a kind yet firm tone.

“I’m flustered by this sudden encounter. But becoming lovers is a matter that requires time to slowly get to know each other. We’ve just met. Please understand.”

For a moment, Sebastian’s pride was quite hurt. But he thought nothing of it.

‘Hmm… it wouldn’t be fun if she gave in right away. I’ll have to take my time.’

If she submitted too easily, he would have lost interest. And that light green protective barrier… it wasn’t magic. Is it a unique ability?

‘Defense… perfect for a knight!’

He decided to elegantly step back.

“It seems so. My apologies if I caused any unnecessary distress. Then, if you’ll excuse me–”

“I have no intention of accepting your proposal in the future either. I’m sorry.”

Although his courtship had failed, he felt as if he had gained something. With a satisfied smile, Sebastian vowed in his heart that he would definitely make that female student his.

‘For now, it’s a strategic retreat. It’s fine. I’ll wait, slowly, until she falls into my arms…’

He intended to withdraw with dignity. That is how it would have happened if the knights, who couldn’t bear the son of the great General-nim being rejected by a mere girl, hadn’t shown excessive loyalty.

—Crash!

The outdoor cafe table was overturned.

“What are you doing?”

“Please stay calm, Young Master! I’ll go give that rude brat a piece of my mind!”

Leaving the surprised Sebastian behind, the knights, unable to control their anger, poured out insults.

“How dare she refuse? That vulgar woman, how dare she…”

“Even though Young Master gave her a chance, she doesn’t know her place!”

Kalia, enraged by the knights’ crude remarks, cursed.

“What did you just say to Daphne? You tin-can bastard! Won’t you shut your trap?”

“This brazen bitch, really–”

“That’s an order! Stop!”

“Everyone calm down…”

In that tense moment, a yellow-haired girl sprang out from the bushes and charged at Sebastian.

—Swish!

“Die! Perverted noble!”

—Clang!

“You, that guy from before!”

“Democracyyyy!”

Sebastian easily blocked Violet’s attack. Seeing this, the senior armored knights excitedly drew their swords.

“Young Master was ambushed! Get them!”

“Call for backup!”

The surrounding students screamed.

“W-where’s the disciplinary committee! Call the security guards!”

“Professor!”

Under the afternoon sun, an outdoor brawl, never before seen in Aegis Academy’s history, had just begun.