Chapter 7

The knights watching Perdia’s ready stance from a distance began whispering among themselves.

They were probably talking about her posture.

The knights who had once served under Perdia had also stared at her stance with curiosity, so there was no reason these knights would react any differently.

“What are you looking at?”

The eyes that had been wandering around immediately returned to Ereb.

His gaze narrowed.

He slowly looked over Perdia’s condition, tilting his head slightly.

Then he moved.

Fast.

There was no need for formalities.

Without so much as a greeting, he charged straight at her.

Startled, Perdia hurriedly strengthened her grip and met his strike.

The instant their swords collided—

Her practice sword flew into the air.

Although it was only a wooden training sword with a blunt tip, its edge was still sharp enough to slice through a few strands of her hair as it passed.

Her heart pounded violently.

Still dazed, Perdia looked up.

Ereb calmly reset his stance and motioned with his chin.

“Do it properly.”

He lowered his center of gravity.

“Or you’ll lose your head.”

Three Hours Later

Only after swinging swords for more than three hours was Perdia finally released.

The moment it ended, she collapsed onto the ground.

Ereb walked over and handed her a bottle of cold water.

Although Perdia was drenched in sweat from head to toe…

Ereb looked completely relaxed, except for a few drops of sweat running down his cheek.

“…Are you a monster?”

So this is just how monstrous he really is.

Perdia couldn’t help admiring his unbelievable ability.

Ereb smirked at her.

Then he casually sat down beside her and grabbed her wrist.

Perdia frowned.

Who taught him to just grab people’s hands whenever he wanted?

Maybe it was her fault for never making a big deal out of it.

He had absolutely no manners when it came to treating a lady.

Her eyebrows drew together.

“When you want to hold a lady’s hand, you should ask for permission first.”

She grumbled, but her wrist remained in his hand.

Ereb blinked in surprise.

Then he carefully let go and gently placed her hand on the ground.

Perdia stared at him in disbelief.

“What are you doing?”

He poked her wrist several times with his finger.

It looked almost like someone checking whether a fish was still alive.

Perdia lightly slapped his hand away.

Ereb hurriedly spoke.

“I need to check something. Can I hold your hand?”

“No.”

“…”

The moment she refused, his shoulders visibly drooped.

For some reason…

He looked exactly like a puppy that had just been scolded.

Perdia quietly looked away before raising her hand again.

“Don’t do anything weird.”

“Don’t worry.”

The instant she gave permission, Ereb gently took hold of her wrist again.

Closing his eyes, he remained perfectly still for a long moment.

Finally, he opened them.

Perdia looked at him curiously.

“Did you find something?”

Ereb spoke slowly.

“Circulate your mana.”

“Through your entire body.”

“Why all of a sudden?”

“Because I need to confirm something.”

“Hurry.”

At his urging, she reluctantly began circulating her mana.

It flowed smoothly.

Without obstruction.

But…

It wasn’t exactly the same as before.

There was an almost imperceptible difference.

A tiny change.

Perdia slowly opened her eyes and frowned.

Ereb spoke immediately.

“It feels different than before, doesn’t it?”

“How did you know?”

“I can feel it.”

“…What?”

Ereb stood up.

Perdia also pushed herself upright and looked at him.

“What do you mean?”

“When our swords clashed earlier and you were using your mana…”

“Didn’t anything feel strange?”

“Any discomfort in your body?”

“Or a place where your mana wouldn’t flow?”

“Not really…”

Scratching her head, Perdia tilted it in confusion.

Ereb nodded.

“It doesn’t seem like there’s any major problem.”

“So that’s enough checking.”

“Checking?”

He casually tossed the practice sword back toward the knights.

Then he picked up a towel and draped it over Perdia’s head before calmly explaining.

“You fought in a long war without proper rest.”

“Then you were imprisoned in an underground dungeon.”

“You were injured there.”

“And you barely had enough to eat.”

“So I thought there was a good chance your body had developed some hidden problems.”

“I expected there might be tiny differences that you normally wouldn’t notice.”

“You wouldn’t discover those during everyday life.”

“So I forced you into a spar.”

“Knights like us notice even the slightest change when we swing a sword.”

“That’s why.”

Perdia met his eyes.

Then why didn’t you just tell me beforehand?

She looked at him with mixed emotions.

A gentle smile appeared on his face.

“I’m sorry if you’re angry that I forced you.”

“But if I’d explained it beforehand…”

“You would’ve focused too much on looking for problems.”

“You wouldn’t have fought naturally.”

“So I deliberately kept quiet.”

“I apologize.”

His sincere voice made Perdia part her lips slightly.

“If you’re still angry…”

“I’ll let you take it out on me later.”

“So bear with me a little longer.”

“For now, go wash up.”

“I’ll have someone show you to your room.”

“Get plenty of rest.”

“We’ll talk again tomorrow.”

“I’ll explain everything in detail then.”

“So please…”

“Be patient a little longer.”

His eyes trembled slightly.

He looked anxious.

Why?

Perdia was free to walk around the estate.

But in the end…

She was still no different from a prisoner bound to Duke Gryxia.

She couldn’t escape.

Yet somehow…

He was the one acting uneasy.

As though he were hiding an enormous secret.

“…What are you hiding?”

The words slipped out before she realized it.

Ereb only gave her a bitter smile and slowly shook his head.

He stood up and walked away.

Perdia watched his back, narrowing her eyes.

Everything he did for her…

Every action…

Every kindness…

Seemed to carry meaning.

And strangely…

She didn’t dislike it.

His care.

His willingness to look after someone everyone else had abandoned.

Following the elderly man known as Viscount Verzin, Perdia was shown to her room.

Three maids helped her bathe.

Afterward, she finally rested.

Having exhausted herself after training so intensely for the first time in a long while, she lay spread out across the enormous bed and fell asleep almost instantly.

When she opened her eyes again…

It was morning.

Judging from the position of the sun high in the sky, morning had already passed.

The room was completely quiet.

No one had come to wake her.

Still unfamiliar with such peaceful surroundings, Perdia awkwardly entered the bathroom, washed herself, and came back out.

She was drying her wet hair with a towel when—

Knock. Knock.

Someone knocked on the door.

“Come in.”

As soon as she gave permission, the door opened.

The same three maids from yesterday entered and bowed respectfully.

Perdia watched them quietly.

Then she sat on the edge of the bed, continued drying her hair, and leisurely asked,

“What is it?”

“The butler instructed us to check whether you need anything.”

“Need anything?”

The maids always referred to Viscount Verzin simply as “the butler.”

He seemed rather strict.

But also highly capable.

“I don’t need anything for now.”

“So you don’t have to worry.”

She had lived as a knight.

Even before arriving in this world, she had always taken pride in being easygoing.

“If I need something, I’ll call for you myself.”

“So until then, you don’t need to concern yourselves with me.”

“Understood.”

“Then… what would you like to do about your meal?”

“My meal…”

Come to think of it…

She had fallen asleep last night without eating dinner.

Missing one meal wouldn’t kill her.

But now she had skipped both dinner and breakfast.

The moment she thought about food…

Her empty stomach immediately began to growl.

“How are meals handled here?”

Every household had different customs.

Especially in another country.

It was only natural to ask first.

The oldest-looking maid answered calmly.

“If you wish, your meals can be brought here.”

“Otherwise, you may dine in the dining hall.”

“However…”

“If you choose the dining hall, you’ll need to match your meal times with His Grace.”

“…Match my meal times with Ereb?”

Perdia clearly saw all three maids flinch.

She frowned slightly.

What was that?

“Yes.”

“There is only one dining hall in Whiteflower.”

“It is reserved exclusively for His Grace and his family.”

“The eastern fortress has a dining hall for the knights.”

“And the western fortress has one for the servants.”

“But they’re both quite far away.”

“And they’re always crowded.”

“So they wouldn’t be convenient for you.”

“I think matching someone else’s meal schedule sounds even less convenient.”

“If you dine with His Grace, you’ll receive much better meals, so…”

“I don’t really need luxurious food.”

“I’ll talk to Ereb later and discuss the meal schedule with him.”

She muttered while standing up.

Out of the corner of her eye…

She noticed the maids flinch again.

Perdia slowly turned toward them.

“What’s wrong?”

“…”

None of them answered.

Watching their suspicious expressions, Perdia spoke again.

“Is it because I call Ereb by his name?”

“…N-No, that’s not it.”

One of the maids answered with an obviously nervous expression.

The calm poker face she had maintained until now had completely fallen apart.

Perdia pressed further.

“Then what is it?”

“Does it bother you that I call him so casually?”

“N-No… that’s not…”

“Then what?”

She didn’t like this.

Maybe it was just her own insecurity.

Or perhaps she was feeling guilty.

But she could clearly tell…

The people in this castle didn’t like her.

She could feel the contempt.

The hatred.

The anger.

Even if they never openly expressed it…

The way they looked at her was anything but kind.

Whenever she walked through the halls…

Their gazes were always sharp.

She had tried to endure it.

But people couldn’t simply control their feelings whenever they wanted.

“Answer me.”

Her icy voice finally frightened the maid.

Looking as though she were about to cry, the young woman slowly spoke.

“In the Empire…”

“Calling someone by their first name affectionately…”

“Usually…”

“Usually?”

“…It’s only done between husband and wife.”

“…What?”

She had been tricked.

A memory flashed through her mind—

Ereb insisting over and over that she call him simply Ereb.

“…Don’t tell me that man planned this from the beginning…”

She muttered to herself.

The maid, who had been nervously biting her lip, quickly bowed.

“I-I’m sorry.”

“No one in this castle calls His Grace by his name.”

“So we simply weren’t used to hearing it.”

“If you wish to punish me…”

“I’ll accept it.”

“…Sigh.”

So that was the reason.

Feeling guilty for frightening an innocent maid because of her own insecurity, Perdia shook her head.

She looked at the brown-eyed maid.

She couldn’t have been older than twenty.

Yet she carried herself with remarkable composure.

She must have been well trained.

“What’s your name?”

“S-Sandia.”

Perdia nodded.

“All right, Sandia.”

“First of all…”

“I’m not someone who needs constant attendants.”

“I can take care of myself.”

“So there’s no need to help me bathe or wait on me during meals.”

“I’ll only call you if I actually need something.”

“Maybe to help dry my hair once in a while.”

“Or whenever I specifically ask.”

“I understand.”