Chapter 51
Kendrick found the current situation ridiculous. To be precise, Richard’s attitude was absurd.
‘What is this? Why is he acting like that all of a sudden?’
Wasn’t he the kind of person who had zero interest in others, intimidating people with a speech style that was colder than ice and utterly lacking in manners?
Yet, the way he handled Miss Janet was somewhat subtle.
Should he say he seemed a bit cautious?
‘I thought he would view Miss Janet with displeasure.’
Richard and the Frontier Count had an awkward relationship.
It had become that way starting at a certain point in time.
It wasn’t as bad as the relationship between Kendrick and Julieta in the past, but it certainly wasn’t a affectionate father-son relationship.
In particular, Richard disapproved of what the Frontier Count did.
So naturally, Kendrick had assumed Richard would also dislike the fact that the Frontier Count wrote a recommendation letter for Miss Janet.
‘……What is with that reaction?’
Well. It was a relief that he didn’t dislike Miss Janet, but…….
Why did he feel this unnecessary sense of displeasure?
Harboring a question for an unknown reason, Kendrick subtly stepped between the two of them.
“So. Is the Frontier Count looking for me?”
“Oh-oh! How long has it been, Kendrick!”
At the sound of the door opening, a hulking middle-aged man who had been sprawled on the sofa leaped up.
Lightly vaulting over the sofa, the man rushed over and stood before Kendrick.
“Did you do well on the exam? Don’t tell me you stupidly turned in a blank paper?!”
“Do you take me for the Commander?”
“Whoa there, look at this kid talking nonsense? If it were me, I’d get a perfect score, a perfect score! Do you know how smart I am!”
“Please lower your voice first. I feel like my eardrums are going to burst.”
“Bwahaha! The volume of this voice is proof that I’m healthy!”
Even as he annoyed-ly covered his ears at the thunderous voice, the corners of Kendrick’s lips were secretly curved upward.
The Commander of Illinia.
Count Liam Ortea.
He was also the Frontier Count protecting the border between the North and the Magic Kingdom.
If Kendrick was the praised small hero in the Eshlade War, Liam was the giant hero.
Letting out a hearty laugh, Liam sat down.
Kendrick also naturally took a seat opposite him.
“So. Did you do well on the exam?”
“I did okay.”
“If you put it that way, passing is a given.”
Thanks to the many years he had known Kendrick, Liam easily grasped the meaning behind Kendrick’s words.
Liam’s expression, which had been nodding with satisfaction, turned sly.
Just as a bad premonition was about to strike—
“So, did Miss Janet also do well on her exam?”
“Why are you asking something like that?”
“She’s the person the kid who’s like a son to me is interested in, so if I don’t know, who will!”
Bwahahat.
Releasing boisterous laughter, he scanned Kendrick with eyes full of playfulness.
“When I told you so many times to attend the Academy, you said you hated it. But the moment you heard Miss Janet was going to the Academy, didn’t you go scampering right after her?”
“It’s not like that.”
“What do you mean ‘it’s not like that.’ I’ve never seen a single report submitted where the name ‘Janet’ was missing.”
“…….”
At Liam’s words, Kendrick was at a loss for words for a moment.
‘Did I do that?’
Thinking about it, it seemed he had. Certainly, after making a deal with Miss Janet, that name was included in every single report.
However, this was unavoidable.
After Miss Janet became Julieta’s maid, various incidents kept happening one after another.
Yes. The name Janet never being omitted from the reports was purely because of that.
“Forget it. What brings you all the way to the capital?”
“Huh? Why, I came because I was curious about your exam, of course.”
“What about the Northern territory?”
“Eing, I left it to a substitute. Right about now, Benjamin should be handling things well on his own.”
Benjamin was one of Liam’s retainers. Highly praising his reliability, quickness, and accuracy in handling work, Liam often entrusted him with the role of acting lord.
Like when he was wandering around other places, or when he went off to fight in a war.
Thinking of Benjamin, who was likely working hard in place of the Count right now, Kendrick shook his head side to side.
“By the way, I heard the news. I heard you finally reconciled with your younger sibling?”
“What reconciliation? We never even fought in the first place.”
At the sight of Kendrick acting unconcerned, Liam let out a dry laugh.
He thought the boy was all grown up now, but to think he still had such a childish side left in him.
“Then are you going to stop your seclusion now?”
“No. I will continue it.”
“Tsk? Why?”
“To keep an eye on the Grand Duchess.”
Everything regarding Nova and the Grand Duchess had already been reported to Liam, the Commander of Illinia.
“Hmm. Well, it would be easier to move that way.”
To deal with a strong opponent, one had to hide themselves first and assess the situation.
“If I reveal myself, the Grand Duchess will surely start checking me again.”
Although he hadn’t told Janet, in reality, the fact that Kendrick was made to participate in the war at a young age was also very likely the Grand Duchess’s doing.
Most of the people who led the atmosphere by suggesting to the Grand Duke that Kendrick be sent to the war were people on the Grand Duchess’s side.
The Grand Duchess probably hoped he would die on the battlefield and never return.
At the very least, she wouldn’t have wanted him to return with a glorious nickname like ‘The Youngest War Hero’.
Even after three years of seclusion, Kendrick still remained in people’s memories as a ‘hero’.
If he ended his seclusion and returned, there was no telling how the Grand Duchess would react.
It would be troublesome if those sparks flew toward the people around Kendrick—for instance, Julieta or Janet.
“Hmm. I’ll look further into the Grand Duchess’s side as well.”
“There’s no need for you to do that.”
“Tsk?”
“The Commander can just focus on the Commander’s work.”
At the phrase the Commander’s work, Liam paused for a moment. An undeniable bitterness washed over his face.
“Right. I should.”
“……Did you fail to find any clues in the place you visited last time as well?”
“Yeah. There wasn’t a single clue.”
At the spiritless answer, Kendrick looked at Liam with worried eyes.
“You will definitely be able to find it. So please don’t give up.”
“Hey now. Who says I’m giving up! Do I look like someone who would give up?”
“No. You don’t look like that.”
“Right, right. I won’t give up.”
Forcing a brave smile, Liam tilted his head and asked.
“By the way, did you meet Richard?”
“Yes. I saw him. The one who let me know that the Commander was in the capital was also Richard.”
“That rascal. Even while acting indifferent, he does what he’s told well.”
A tender affection settled over his face as he recalled his grown son.
“Then, did Miss Janet meet Richard too?”
At that question, Kendrick flinched.
“…….”
“Kendrick?”
“They met.”
The eyes of Kendrick, who answered blunty, narrowed.
“Why is your expression like that? Did something happen between Miss Janet and Richard?”
“It’s nothing like that.”
It was an excessively firm answer.
Isn’t there a saying like that?
An overly strong denial is an affirmation.
However—
‘Did something really happen between Richard, Kendrick, and Miss Janet?’
……He honestly couldn’t picture it at all.
However, it was certain that this was a very entertaining situation.
‘Hmm. It’s about time I met Miss Janet myself.’
Even if he looked like this, wasn’t he her benefactor and recommendation sponsor?
Guffawing, Liam chuckled while Kendrick looked at him with an uneasy gaze.
