Chapter 41
Happy Crowell Castle (5)
“Has Lady Crowell returned?”
“Oh, it’s true. Wait, look over there.”
“Who’s that tall, young gentleman? I’ve never seen someone so handsome!”
“He must be a nobleman she met at the academy.”
Not long after we started walking down the street, a flurry of excited voices could be heard.
It was a street that had the feel of a lived-in place, but wasn’t too noisy…
After scanning the path leading to the main castle, I casually spoke to Ethan.
“Nothing has changed.”
But Ethan, who had seemed lost in thought since we entered the main castle, suddenly asked an unexpected question.
“Are we friends?”
“Pardon?”
“You and me, I mean.”
…It seems he was bothered by my introduction of him as an academy friend to the knights. What should I call him then? I narrowed my eyes and asked back.
“…What would you prefer I call you? You told me to call you Ethan before, didn’t you?”
That was during our sparring.
Besides, Ethan Behemoth had been informal with me since our first meeting. It’s natural given his higher position, age, and academy year.
I was also taking advantage of his telling me to call him Ethan to treat him casually.
‘Did I get caught?’
Then what should I call him?
Senior? Young Lord? Young Lord Ethan Behemoth?
As I looked at him, tilting my head, he took his time before slowly answering.
“No. I think friend is good.”
So anticlimactic.
I nodded lightly.
“I think it’s appropriate too. We’re just getting started, after all.”
After that, Ethan didn’t say anything more. I glanced at him once, then quickened my pace towards the main castle.
Soon, as the main gate of Crowell Castle came into view, the gate suddenly burst open and a young girl ran out from among the servants.
“My lady!”
“Lady Diana!”
No one could stop the girl. The servants looked visibly flustered.
And I smiled broadly as I saw her.
“Diana!”
As I knelt down with open arms, Diana rushed into my embrace, calling me with her lovable voice.
“Sister!”
A beautiful young lady with meltingly soft light brown hair and intelligent golden eyes. Diana, now young enough to be better described as a little girl.
“Sister, I missed you so mu—”
Diana was nuzzling into my arms with a voice full of affection when she suddenly pulled back.
“…?”
When I looked up at Diana, her gaze was directed at Ethan. Ethan’s expression was as stoic as ever.
No, why are you making that face in front of a child?
I discreetly stepped on Ethan’s foot. Getting the hint, Ethan finally gave a slight nod in greeting.
“…Hello. I’m Ethan Behemoth.”
“You’re… Young Lord Behemoth, right?”
“Yes.”
However, Diana still didn’t let down her guard.
She looked back and forth between me and Ethan, then puffed up her cheeks and pulled on my arm to make me stand.
“Sister, let’s go inside quickly!”
“Huh? But what about the Young Lord here?”
“Ah, Young Lord! Thank you for bringing our sister back! You can go now!”
The clear, childish voice distinctly separated Ethan and me. What should I do, Diana?
Feeling like I was committing a sin against Diana, I spoke heavily. Both Ethan and Diana were looking at me.
“Diana…”
“Yes? What’s wrong, sister?”
“…Young Lord Behemoth will also be staying at Crowell Castle for a while. He said he’s curious about Crowell territory.”
“…Whyyy?!”
Diana made a sulky face and stomped her feet while staring at me intently.
“It’s because we’re friends.”
Ethan stepped forward and stood beside me. Diana’s expression turned to shock as she saw Ethan standing next to me.
“No way! Friends?! Sister! This mister is lying, right?!”
“Mister…”
“…Pfft.”
“Is it funny?”
He’s not even of age to be called mister yet.
Although his body was quite muscular, Ethan’s face still showed signs of youth.
But mister…
As I was shaking, trying to hold back my laughter, Ethan Behemoth poked my side as if demanding an explanation.
Right. I should compose myself before this finger turns into a sword.
I barely managed to steady my voice and spoke to Diana.
“…We are friends.”
“But you said you had no friends because of your bad personality!!!”
“What do you mean by that…?”
“Kup.”
This time, I heard Ethan trying to suppress his laughter. Whose personality is bad?
As I looked down at Diana intently, she started to avoid my gaze and pulled my hand. Maybe I should tease her a bit.
“…Diana Crowell.”
“Uh, sister. That’s not important right now! Quickly send that person away, I have something to tell you…!”
Trying to change the subject now, are we? Still, even her rambling was cute.
As I was fondly watching Diana trying to say more, that’s when it happened.
“Edith, you’ve arrived safely.”
“It’s an honor to meet you, Young Lord Behemoth.”
My mother and father, having finished preparing to welcome guests, came down from Crowell Castle’s main gate to greet me and also politely greeted Ethan.
They must have been quite surprised by the sudden visit of the Behemoth Duke’s heir to Crowell Castle, but they didn’t seem as shocked as I had expected.
I curtsied, pulling the hem of my dress, and turned to look at Ethan. This time, Ethan also bowed his head deeply in greeting.
“It’s an honor to meet you, Baron and Baroness Crowell.”
It’s probably not common for the sole heir of the Behemoth Duchy to bow to a baron.
‘Well, he’ll have to ask them to let him stay.’
A young lady and a young lord met at the academy and stayed in the same castle…
At first glance, it could potentially spark rumors, but there’s quite a large gap between a ducal family and a baronial family.
Especially when it’s between the Behemoth Duchy, which holds real power in the current political landscape, and the Crowell Barony, which is treated almost like a marginal county on the frontier.
That distance actually provided a sense of security.
For instance, even if Ethan Behemoth stayed at Crowell Castle for a few days at Edith Crowell’s invitation, it would be seen as Ethan Behemoth considering me a worthy rival and showing interest, rather than developing into a romantic issue.
For now, there was a bigger issue to resolve…
“Edith is still a perfect lady.”
“Yes.”
“…?”
I ignored Ethan’s questioning gaze. Well, at least to my father, I’m the perfect lady.
Father reached out with a worried look and firmly grasped both my hands.
“I heard there was a big accident during the academy’s subjugation exercise. We received news that you were safe, but you can’t imagine how worried we were… If your mother hadn’t held me back, I might have been bedridden until today and unable to come out to greet you.”
“Haha… Surely not.”
“…..”
“…Really?”
It was my father’s worry.
While my mother wanted me to develop outstanding abilities as a magician and gain recognition for my skills in the world, my father, on the contrary, was always worried that I might get involved in dangerous situations.
He seemed to constantly superimpose the image of the fragile, powerless child I was when I was rescued from danger in my early years and adopted into the Crowell family.
No matter how excellent my abilities were, the news of me, still a freshman who hadn’t even completed my studies, jumping into a subjugation exercise that only recruits elites, was enough to make my father sick with worry.
Instead of making excuses, I bowed my head deeply and asked for forgiveness.
“I’m sorry.”
“There’s nothing to be sorry about! As long as you returned safely, that’s all that matters.”
“Then…”
“But if anything were to happen to you, we would collapse. And die of illness.”
“Please refrain from saying such things…”
“That’s why I’m telling you to be careful. Please.”
“……”
Every word was right. There was nothing more to argue about, and I didn’t want to. This was something I would have been scolded for sooner or later anyway.
But just as I was hanging my head low, an unexpected person came to my defense.
“Excuse me.”
“…Young Lord?”
“It was because Edith’s abilities were so outstanding that the Dean personally recommended her. Moreover, it was originally supposed to be a very safe exercise, so this was truly just an accident. Please understand that it’s not entirely Edith’s fault.”
It was Ethan.
“…Ah, I see.”
Not expecting him to intervene, my father also seemed flustered and stopped speaking.
‘Ethan Behemoth…’
Just as I was about to feel somewhat touched by him, he firmly added.
“Edith probably didn’t know either.”
“…..”
‘I guess I shouldn’t say I knew.’
🥀
Thank you for reading! ♡
