“Unbelievable,” Kaon murmured under his breath, a touch of surprise in his voice.
Joseph, who had just entered the study with Leonidas’ orders couldn’t help but respond with a bewildered, “Yes?”
While momentarily taken aback, Joseph quickly regained his composure. As the eldest son of the Roberts, a family whose loyalty was sworn to the Ferdinands for generations, he anticipated occasional outbursts. The previous Dukes and the current Lord had always treated their subordinates with respect, but the young master’s behavior remained unpredictable.
In truth, Joseph enjoyed a comfortable life. Compared to stories of other noble households, the Ferdinand estate treated their servants fairly. His salary was adequate, and he was not subjected to mistreatment. He resolved to maintain his professional demeanor and let the young master’s lapse in decorum pass uncommented upon.
“Such direct language might be construed as impolite, Young Master,” Joseph offered gently.
Kaon responded with a curt, “Not you,” snatching a book before discarding it dismissively. His face contorted in distress. “Ah, what a crazy bastard.” he muttered under his breath.
Joseph conducted a discreet scan of the study. Only the two of them were present. If “crazy bastard” wasn’t directed at Joseph, then the young master was likely referring to himself. As an aide and loyal retainer, openly agreeing would be inappropriate, but neither could he offer a blatant contradiction. Joseph maintained a neutral expression.
“Have you had your dinner?” Joseph inquired politely.
Kaon offered a subdued, “No desire at present.”
In an attempt to divert his thoughts, he had retreated to the study, a space he rarely frequented, intending to lose himself in a book. However, the effort proved futile. His mind fixated on a particular moment.
“You’re pretty too.”
The damned memory replayed with agonizing clarity. Why did he utter those words? They simply escaped him, a terrible mistake. Alessia’s unexpected blush only deepened his regret.
“Ah, I see,” Joseph acknowledged professionally. “Lady Leo is currently hosting Lady Alessia for dinner.”
“Wait, really? Alessia? Are you sure?” Kaon’s voice laced with disbelief. He scanned the doorway, hoping to catch a glimpse of her expression.
“Absolutely,” Joseph confirmed. “I saw them both head to the dining room.”
“But wouldn’t that be awkward for her? Leo isn’t exactly the chatty type.”
“Maybe she’s just trying to adjust to life here at Ferdinand.”
Kaon’s mind flashed back to the conversation between Madeleine and Alessia. The stark contrast between his fiancée’s friendliness and the maid’s coldness played on repeat.
“Sounds like the Ingelos name isn’t exactly a hit around here,” Joseph remarked coolly. “I wouldn’t be surprised if she quit soon. Perhaps such is the fate of those who bear the surname Ingelos.”
Joseph’s words struck a dissonant chord with Kaon. The idea that Alessia would be forced to rely on a demonstrably hostile family for her basic necessities was repugnant. He conjured an image of her navigating a mansion devoid of friendly faces, and a wave of empathy washed over him.
“What exactly are you insinuating?” Kaon began, his voice laced with disapproval. Shame followed swiftly on the heels of his question. Hadn’t he initially harbored similar prejudices himself?
There was no denying his distaste for the Ingelos bloodline. As a descendant of the venerable household, it was practically ingrained in him. Records of the legendary past were scarce, but he was well aware of the strained relationship between their families during his father’s youth.
‘Alessia, though…’ Kaon’s thoughts were churning.
Based on his observations, Alessia held knights in high regard. Unlike other mages he’d encountered, she lacked any arrogance. Instead, she seemed genuinely interested in connecting with those around her.
An unfamiliar shyness crept up on him.
“Did you need something?” Joseph prompted, sensing Kaon’s shift in mood.
“Never mind,” Kaon mumbled, brushing off the question. He couldn’t afford to appear suspicious. Even if he ended up on the receiving end of some negativity, he knew it wouldn’t take long for the blame to shift to Alessia. He wouldn’t drag her into his mess.
“Apparently, Lady Leo wants Lady Alessia to get acquainted with the knights.”
“The knights? That’s a bit sudden, isn’t it?”
“Well, she’ll need their cooperation for the monster forest trip, right? They might be a rowdy bunch, but a preliminary meeting wouldn’t hurt.”
Kaon frowned. While he knew getting a mage on board was part of the reason Alessia was brought to Ferdinand, this seemed rushed. Even if they were eager to be done with her, sending a newcomer straight into monster territory felt excessive.
“She’s probably still settling in. Let’s not rush things.”
“Actually, the idea didn’t come from Lady Leo.”
Kaon’s eyes narrowed. Who else would push Alessia into this besides his sister? Maybe Baroness Robert?
“Turns out, Lady Alessia requested it herself. She seems eager to join inspections as soon as possible,” Joseph explained, leaving Kaon even more bewildered.
***
Later that evening, Kaon returned from training to find Alessia waiting at his door. After polite inquiries about his day and dinner, she surprised him with a soft, “Kaon, when can I meet the knights?”
Her genuine enthusiasm sparked something in him. Skipping his usual bath, Kaon led her straight to the barracks.
“Carl! Summon the elite knights,” he barked at the first apprentice he saw.
“Right away, Young Master.”
Kaon stole a glance at Alessia. Considering the looming monster encounter, she seemed remarkably calm. He couldn’t quite grasp what was going on in her head.
A booming voice filled the hall. “Did you call for us, Young Master?”
Four knights marched in shortly after, three clad in hefty armor and the last sporting a relaxed-looking tunic.
“Alessia, meet the elite knights. They are in charge of subduing the monsters. This is Alessia Ingelos, everyone. My fiancée, as you probably already know.” Kaon gestured to each of them in turn. “Pierre Bonello, the first one there. Niels Duval, next to him. That’s Yvonne Leroy, and Maurice Duret, each are captains of their squads.”
A lively young man with wheat-coloured hair stepped forward. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lady Alessia. Remember my name, Maurice Duret — I’m destined for greatness! No need for formalities, call me Maurice.”
Alessia smiled. “It’s a pleasure to meet you too, Maurice. I will remember your name.”
“It would be my honor!” Maurice boomed.
“Niels Duval,” the next knight introduced himself. “Glad we get to meet you properly first.”
“Pierre Bonello,” came a curt greeting from the next man. A larger, middle-aged fellow followed by a handsome one. Alessia offered them both a friendly smile.
The only woman in the group, Yvonne, spoke last, her voice flat and her eyes cold. “Yvonne,” she muttered. “Yvonne Leroy.”
Alessia, who’d been keeping a close eye on Yvonne since she walked in, beamed. “So, there are women knights too! Wonderful to meet you, Miss Leroy.”
Yvonne offered no response and just stared at the ground. The middle-aged knight, Niels, grimaced but said nothing.
“I’m still in the middle of training,” Yvonne finally mumbled after a few beats of silence. “May I be excused?”
“Of course,” Kaon replied.
“Thank you.”
Kaon swallowed a sigh. He knew Yvonne wouldn’t change her attitude if he called her out straight away — those changes wouldn’t stick.
“Sorry about that, Miss,” Niels offered an apology to Alessia.
“No worries, Niels,” she replied. “Training comes first, always, for a knight.”
Niels, despite his burly build, seemed easy-going. “Exactly. She might be a bit… stand-offish, but she’s a professional. She doesn’t let personal matters affect her work. No need to worry about her.”
Kaon watched the exchange unfold, then sent the remaining three knights away first. “Let’s head back inside for a proper briefing, shall we?”
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