Edited

37.

The person standing behind Milan Diazi, even when viewed from the back, was Norma Diazi, unmistakably the same woman whom I had parted ways with in katam.

There was no other person in the world who could sparkle from head to toe like that. Well, there was technically one more person with that face, but the brightness and impression were different.

‘What the heck, is this for real? Is he really Norma Diazi?’

My mind spun with question marks. According to the information source planted in Diazi, Nicolas Diazi was said to be so overprotected that Norma couldn’t even leave his room.

And now, a person like that came all the way to Macfoy? Was this the impending meeting that was mentioned?

Slowly grasping the situation, I clenched my teeth tightly. I felt the audience starting to buzz belatedly.

Erika, who had approached me without me noticing, gently touched my index finger, which was still pointing accusingly, and lowered my arm.

Although Erika had also momentarily lost her composure due to Norma’s extraordinary appearance, she quickly recovered. Even in the midst of it, Erika didn’t forget to send a glance that said, ‘Lord, the reception seems to have failed.’

“The Norma of Diazi greets the Lord of Macfoy.”

When I shot Erika a look that conveyed I understood even without saying it, the designated Norma Diazi courteously displayed his manners. In my ever-present adolescence, I suppressed a twitch at my fingertips.

‘Norma Diazi, indeed.’

I never once thought about seeing Norma Diazi today.

However, to be honest, when I read Norma’s letter before, there was a passage that said, ‘We will meet soon,’ and I had imagined our reunion.

“….”

Unconsciously, my left eyebrow slowly went up. It was a habit that emerged when something was displeasing.

No wonder; it wasn’t too different from my imagination.

Norma, whom I reunited with sooner than expected, behaved like a Diazi knight who came to escort Milan Diazi. His demeanor, presenting himself with courtesy, was the image of an excellent knight that one might find in any novel.

After delivering a sharp greeting, he immediately turned back to face forward like the other knights. His knightly gestures and expressions were so well-executed that it left me bewildered, even to the point of feeling perplexed.

His business-like smile and attitude seemed to say, “I’m meeting you for the first time.”

In my memory, Norma Diazi was a man who was unnecessarily affectionate and kind. He wouldn’t laugh at people unnecessarily or act familiarly, calling others by their names.

‘But suddenly, why act like a stranger?’

As my thoughts reached that point, I felt a sudden jolt.

‘We are practically strangers, aren’t we? Turned around, Aisa Macfoy.’

I suddenly snapped out of it and looked toward Milan Diazi.

As Milan, visiting Macfoy for the first time in his capacity as the deputy head, looked at me, he had the most regrettable expression I had seen so far. That expression seemed to say, ‘Has the young head of the Macfoy finally lost her mind?’

“Since you must be tired from the long journey, allow me to lead you inside first, Lord Diazi.”

I said as confidently as I could on the outside while inwardly kicking the quilt.

My mind was a mess as I led him directly to the room I had prepared for Lord Milan and his entourage. As I recited the Architecture and history of McFoy Castle to the Duke, I wondered if I was spitting the right words.

‘Yes, He’s back home and settled things with his brother, and He’s a Diazi the one who plays coy.’

Even at this crucial moment when I had to boast about Macfoy Castle to Diazi’s people, I found myself preoccupied with such thoughts.

‘Well, it’s true. He used to smile warmly and act friendly, even in Katam.’

After the initial surprise of seeing Norma acting like a stranger, a surprising feeling of disappointment followed.

I briefly considered biting my tongue in frustration, but the feeling of disappointment quickly turned into anger.

Pop! Unknowingly, my gaze went to the Norma walking behind me. Of course, the gaze was full of vigor.

‘What a sinister and mischievous fellow.’

My temper almost led me to grab him by the collar and ask, ‘Don’t you recognize me? Did you lose your memory or something?’

“Cough—.”

Each time, Erika, like a ghost, noticed my impulse and coughed gently to hold me back. She truly was an exceptional aide.

On the other hand, Erika was nervous.

‘Why is the Lord acting like this? She used to call him a benefactor.’

To Erika, it seemed odd how the Lord looked at Norma Diazi.

‘I thought she was just speaking nonsense because Norma Diazi is beautiful. But does the Lord dislike Norma Diazi as much as Nicholas Diazi? Why does she keep glaring at him?’

Considering how similar the Diazi brothers looked, it was understandable.

Meanwhile, Milan, walking silently by Macfoy’s side, pondered.

‘It seems like Macfoy is going through a tough time, judging by the way Lord Macfoy’s expression keeps changing. Surely, seeing Norma reminds her of the incident with Tartaros.’

And in this gathering, there was another person inevitably drawn to the beauty of Macfoy’s blood, Archie Macfoy, the young successor of Macfoy.

* * *

Archie has been in a silent standoff with his aunt for several days now.

‘I’ll definitely correct Aunt’s bad habits this time.’

Eleven-year-old Archie didn’t appreciate his aunt trying to handle everything on her own, hiding it from him whenever something happened. Despite lecturing him sternly about being all grown up, she ended up shielding her eyes and ears when things went awry.

‘Aunt, just like you say I’m all grown up. After this winter and spring pass, I’ll be twelve!’

Even though Archie knew it was his aunt’s way of protecting him and that she cared deeply for him, he couldn’t do much as a young child. This recent incident made Archie realize something.

If his aunt were really in a life-threatening situation, he would be helpless, unable to do anything but watch from the sidelines. And that feeling was truly miserable and dreadful.

‘You foolish aunt!’

So, Archie was currently engaged in a silent war.

As time passed, on this particular day, the sole young master of the family went through the hassle of preparing for the esteemed guest arriving at dusk.

Decorating himself early in the morning to greet the rare guest coming to visit the Macfoy family, Archie was tormented. The process of dressing up was tedious and exhausting for a child. Starting from washing his body clean, to the uncomfortable formal attire that needed to be sewn with a needle one by one. With his aunt being in a cold war, it was not an enjoyable task.

Appearing layer by layer, and as soon as ‘Lord of Macfoy was seen, who appeared with entourage and started lecturing as soon as she saw him, the delicate feelings of the young child sank even more. Unable to bear it any longer, Archie ended up arguing with his aunt in front of the subordinates, making loud complaints.

‘Aunt is really foolish! I won’t forgive her this time!’

However, Archie Macfoy had been groomed as the heir since infancy. Although he occasionally fought fiercely with his aunt, during adolescence, Archie understood his responsibilities and was knowledgeable about the circumstances of the adults.

Standing right behind his aunt, awaiting the esteemed guest, Archie Macfoy maintained a posture he learned from his etiquette teacher, standing upright in a proper manner.

‘Boring. Legs hurt. Hate aunt. Want to go to my room.’

These were the thoughts running through his mind.

As per the characteristics of the Diazi family learned in Imperial history class, Archie behaved this way until he saw the knight who appeared like magic, holding his subordinates tightly wrapped around him.

“…!”

Archie froze like someone struck by lightning. Later, Erika recalled that she thought Lord and Young Master both froze simultaneously when they saw the exact same scene.

‘Really Ranters?–’

Archie called someone in his mind.

In the midst of Archie’s protest, Lady Seymour kindly selected a few books for the young master not to get bored. When Archie was urged to come out to see a hastily arriving guest, he had been holed up in his room, reading books day and night.

Archie Macfoy, since the age of ten, had experienced puberty early. His appearance closely resembled his mother Roxie, and his talent resembled his father Aino. His young aunt was quite pleased with his early growth.

That’s why Archie’s recent interests revolved around ‘virility.’ Naturally, he was drawn to tales of knightly deeds, such as the top 10 stories of knightly feats and knightly biographies.

Among the books selected by Lady Seymour, the book depicting the life of ‘Knight Ranters,’ chosen as the greatest knight in Imperial history, was a huge inspiration for Archie’s eleven-year-old life.

‘Shit–!’

Archie, dropping his white hood, was convinced that the knight he most admired and looked up to must have looked exactly like the revealed appearance of Norma Diazi.

Even better, wasn’t it ‘Ranters Diazi’?

In his mind, Archie, embodying the feelings of encountering someone he idolized by chance, stared at Norma Diazi as if he were possessed. Even during the evening banquet, unable to properly carve a single fish, he was hopelessly fixated on the Norma.

In the midst of the dinner tailored to suit Diazi’s aversion to red meat, the gazes of the two Macfoys were irresistibly drawn to Norma Diazi like magnets.

However, these gazes conveyed different sentiments. One gaze was filled with anger and confusion, while the other was brimming with excitement and admiration.

While both gazes were bothersome, it wasn’t just Erika who found them irritating. The uneasy gaze of Lord Macfoy caught the attention of Milan, who finally spoke during the dinner. It went against the strict rules of Diazi not to engage in casual conversation during meals, but it was close to the end of the meal.

“Lord Macfoy, don’t worry too much. The Diazi family and the Priests are maintaining the seal. This time, Macfoy played a central role in unsealing it, and we have also thoroughly investigated those who conspired to unseal it. Unless something unexpected happens, the seal will not be broken.”

‘Geez..’

I couldn’t muster the courage to say, ‘Embarrassingly, I briefly neglected that part, and the reason I got into trouble is that the eldest son of the household pretended not to know.’

‘The old man who came in a hurry won’t say much, but after facing a crisis, it’s more important to recover physically and mentally than anything else.’

Milan’s solemn sermon continued. I could only force a business-like smile and tightly grip the knife.

‘No, it’s because your son worries me! If only he pretended not to know me, I wouldn’t have caused all this trouble!’

By the time dinner was coming to an end, Archie Macfoy, who had fallen asleep, was the first to be escorted away. When he made a face that he wanted to go back to his room and didn’t want to stay, Lady Seymore dragged him away with a face that said, ‘Now it’s time to read books locked in the room.’

Milan Diazi also retired early. I knew that he didn’t usually enjoy the dinner for a long time. He abstained from dessert and stood up from the table first.

Most of the Diazi people followed Milan. Surprisingly, the only one left at the table, still gazing at Norma Diazi as if seeing him for the first time, was the chatty Norma himself.

I squinted my eyes and looked at the handsome man gracefully sitting on the opposite side. Just as he felt my gaze, he gently raised the corners of his mouth and completely lowered his utensils.

“I have a favor to ask of Lord Macfoy.”

He suddenly spoke in his unique gentle tone.

“Could you please excuse the surroundings for a moment?”

My left eyebrow twitched nervously.