Chapter 30
She came to the knight order.
Even though I was the one who volunteered to be Lady Maria’s guard, my heart raced wildly.
Just one look… Even though seeing her that one day was enough to rob me of my thoughts, if those eyes were to look at me and we were to exchange words…
I wondered what kind of voice she had. Visualizing her doll-like figure, I even harbored the foolish question of whether her mouth and expressions would move.
While thinking of Lady Maria and devoting myself to training, I strangely didn’t feel the passage of time as slow. Finally, I would get to meet Lady Maria.
I decided to set aside this feeling I couldn’t yet name for the time being. I want to protect Lady Maria. If she says she wants to become a knight, I want to be by her side to help. If she commanded me to protect myself, I would be grateful for being born with a life to offer her and would gladly give it.
Engraving this firm resolve in my heart, I went to greet Lady Maria.
Even from a distance, my heart felt fiercely gripped. The profile I had never been able to forget was now turned directly towards me.
Each step felt long and eternal. I want to protect you. Holding that strong, quiet resolve within, I directed my gaze solely at her.
Goosebumps rose at Lady Maria’s greeting, which began with “Nice to meet you…” It was only natural, yet I was surprised she had voiced it. I was amazed by her clear voice and her remarkably calm way of speaking. When I raised my head, her gesture of returning the bow was like that of a beautiful doll.
Even while guiding her, I couldn’t take my eyes off her for a second. Seeing Lord Leon standing next to her and touching her so casually, I felt an indescribable irritation.
When our eyes met, Lord Leon pierced me with a gaze filled not with hostility, but with murderous intent. I see. So the talk of him being a formidable rival was not an exaggeration.
During the match held in the arena, her eyes were firmly fixed on the warriors, watching them. She furrowed her brows at warriors who made careless moves.
She must be trained herself. Someone with such strong eyes wouldn’t say she wants to be a knight just out of curiosity.
At her request, I ended up crossing swords with her. I cannot underestimate her. Even if she has never held a sword and her movements are restricted by her fluffy, swaying dress, the very act of underestimating her would be a grave sin.
The moment the match began, her eyes transformed into something else, strong and different. It happened in an instant, not even giving me time to be surprised… Feeling a gust of wind, I looked down to find a bamboo sword pointed at my throat.
Is this really a bamboo sword…? The very atmosphere of this place felt completely dominated by her.
I was afraid to look up. Yet, as I slowly turned my face towards her, I understood in an instant. I would definitely be killed. Faced with those eyes, which held a strong, intense fire that seemed to burn everything I was away, the option to look away didn’t even occur to me.
No… That option had been stolen from me from the very beginning.
The absolute superior did not permit movement. It was as if I was being told to obediently wait only for the time of my death.
I had to obey. Strength left my body, and the bamboo sword fell. With the signal marking the end of the match, released from her gaze, I finally realized I hadn’t even been able to breathe.
I had been killed. Definitely. My body’s freedom, my heart—everything had been dominated. Goosebumps covered my whole body. Uncontrollable joy raced through me.
Her eyes left me and moved to others. I had been discarded… I was no longer needed… Frustration welled up from the depths of my chest.
Calling her a doll… What a foolish thought that was. My thoughts settled down all at once into one. Quietly, yet fiercely, the name of this emotion swelling within me fell into place with a thud.
Love. No matter how I tried to adorn it with other words, everything else felt like a flimsy excuse.
I had fallen in love with her. I want to have her eyes all to myself. That’s all.
Understanding everything, I proposed to her. Her straightforward eyes narrowed, as if hiding that previous strength.
Of course, Lord Leon interfered, but I was prepared for that. I will face him head-on. I will definitely win.
When I finally got to talk with her alone, I found I could converse with her surprisingly normally. I feel frustrated by her indifference towards the affection directed at her.
As I was leaving, Duke Alnim asked me about my future plans, but my answer was already decided.
“Place me at Lady Maria’s side. Starting today, if possible.”
“I understand. But let’s make it tomorrow. I welcome you. Is that alright with you too, Mr. Elter?”
“Yes. Kyle has left my hands. Kyle is no longer my son, but Lady Maria’s knight. I entrust him to your care.”
“Won’t you be lonely? What about your wife…”
“My wife has passed away, but I received her love until the day I die. I also have capable siblings, so there should be no problem even if Kyle leaves the house.”
“I see… No, understood. I accept your resolve. Can you endure it if Maria ends up marrying another man?”
“If I am not chosen by Lady Maria, it is due to my own inadequacy. In that case, not as a spouse, but until the day my life ends, I will remain Lady Maria’s knight.”
“I see… You are young. Whatever changes may occur in your heart, that is only natural. Please remember that.”
I couldn’t even comprehend it. The idea of my heart being swayed by anyone other than Lady Maria is impossible.
“There will be no change of heart. Your worries will prove unfounded.”
“Alright. Thank you for caring for Maria. Then, from tomorrow, we will welcome you as family. I’m counting on you.”
My father and I bowed and saw the Duke off.
That evening, I expressed my deep gratitude to my father, and we shared our last meal together. The quiet time, unchanged from usual, was precious and seeped deeply into my heart.
The Alnim residence is like a space separate from this world. One falls into the strange illusion that time might not be flowing.
Among the overly beautiful residents, Maria still shines especially bright. Everything around her seems to exist solely to highlight her charm, and the people surrounding Maria look so happy that just seeing Maria look favorably upon anyone else… occasionally even stirs hatred within me.
Spending time with Maria, I catch glimpses of sides to her different from her visual impression, and my heart grows warm.
“Maria’s room has a lot of stuffed animals.”
The stuffed animals, not scattered about but neatly arranged in one place, seem to have borrowed a corner of the room, living there as if it were their own little space.
The room overall has few possessions, and Maria herself doesn’t seem to desire anything. The room’s decorations and the sparkling canopy are likely all things arranged by Lord Leon.
The room is gently wrapped in Maria’s soft, floral fragrance, constantly reviving the moment of first love.
“Isn’t it a bit too much bear?”
“…Hehe. Yes, you’re right. It is a bit too much bear.”
This kind of amusing way of speaking also increases my fondness for her.
“Do you like them?”
“…I suppose.”
Maria cannot tell a lie. If she has something to feel guilty about, she always averts her eyes. Conversely, when she speaks while looking you in the eye, everything she says is the naked truth.
“It seems you only have bears, though.”
“At first, it was rabbits. But I kept grabbing them by the ears and dragging them around, it was dangerous if I stepped on them, and the one remaining rabbit’s ear tore off, becoming a pitiful bear… So, the consensus was that we might as well start with bears from the beginning.”
“I see. I’d like to see that pitiful bear too.”
“I already had it fixed and donated it to a charity.”
“Was that on your instructions?”
“Yes. I donated some bears too. Though Leon immediately prepares new bears for me.”
Through my investigations, I learned that she was apparently the one who proposed the establishment of that Irene Academy. Irene Academy is brand new and only has first-year students so far, but the townspeople have visibly brightened in that single year.
She is a beautiful person who emits a soft, warm air, with a mature expression and a hint of allure. Even her delicate movements are captivating. I understand Lord Leon’s feelings of not wanting anyone else to lay eyes on her…
Maria plays the harp during her music lessons.
The melody, woven from gathered light, is beautiful, and her appearance is that of a goddess herself. The mansion’s servants and family members secretly gather, hoping to hear her play.
According to Maria, she dislikes the sharp, scratching sound of violins and cellos, and since there’s no guitar, she has no choice but to play the harp. I wonder what a guitar is. I don’t know much about instruments, but it must be the name of a rare instrument.
My time with Maria is peaceful. She doesn’t force conversation and interacts with me as naturally as if I had been there from the start. I suppose this is what truly being ‘easygoing’ means.
She’s far removed from other women who use ‘easygoing’ as an excuse to cling to you obnoxiously. Understanding the true meaning makes even that word feel endearing.
She is unaffected, doesn’t care about status at all, and treats even servants like friends without discrimination—a deeply affectionate person. To think such a person exists… Learning of her character, I fell in love with Maria all over again.
Being by her strong, gentle side is bliss, and it strengthens my resolve daily. Every part of you is dear to me… This intense longing only grows stronger.
