Obsessed with Regressors

“Sir Escalee.”

 

When she heard that a guest had arrived, she went down to the drawing room and found Sir Escalee sitting there. Loin Escalee. He was the leader of the Black Wolf Knights and a distant relative of her mother, so he was probably like an uncle to her.

 

“Eugenie.”

 

When she said hello, he got up. Since he was older than her and a relative, he could sit down, but he always showed her this courtesy when he saw her.

 

“What’s going on? Julia didn’t say anything.”

 

She met Julia yesterday. She’s on a boat. Julia was able to help her with her work on the ship because men were not allowed on the ship. Sir Escalee was averse to the idea of a swimming pool, but when the man said that even the owner of the ship, Count Burns, could not enter, he allowed Julia to enter.

 

“No, it’s not because of Julia. I want to ask you a few things today.”

 

He hesitated for a moment at her invitation to sit down, then sat down carefully. He seemed to be wondering whether it would take long enough to sit down. He’s been like that since long ago. Sir Escalee would act as if he was uncomfortable sitting still somewhere. He said it was because he was always standing and wary of his surroundings.

 

“Do you have time for tea?”

 

She asked Sir Escalee, directing the servant to bring out the tea. She didn’t know what she was going to ask, but the question was whether it would take enough time to have a cup of tea, but fortunately, Sir Escalee nodded his head.

 

“I wonder if Julia is bothering you.”

 

Even before the car came out, Sir Escalee’s formal greeting began. This was because he knew that Julia went to places like theaters and balls because she was begging her.

 

She said with a grin.

 

“Not at all. Thanks to this, I also go out and am not bored. She’s been helping me a lot with my work lately.”

 

“Okay. As she helped with that task, she also became much more detailed in looking after household chores.”

 

She guessed so. She helped serve guests and manage the ship. They said they managed the ship, but all they did was manage the cabins and deck equipment used by guests.

 

“Because Julia is smart. I just wasn’t interested until now.”

 

Additionally, it seemed like she developed a bit of competition while helping out with Lauren. If you work with a friend and your friend does better, you will feel competitive and want to do better too. Soon a servant came in with tea, and for a moment Sir Escalee’s mouth closed. He took a sip of tea and then said what he wanted to ask.

 

“Julia said that one of your acquaintances is Sir Lannon.”

 

“Oh, Claire.”

 

She knew that Claire supported the Black Wolf Knights, but Lord Escalee rejected it. She was so upset that Julia didn’t know her father was such a tight-lipped person. She remained silent, not knowing why Lord Escalee brought up Claire’s story. It’s not that he didn’t like her being around Julia. Although Lord Escalee was as overprotective of Julia as her mother, he does not interfere with Julia’s making friends.

 

“What kind of person is she? They said she had a fight with her colleagues recently.”

 

“Oh.”

 

She thought saying they argued was too much of a euphemism. She thought for a moment about what to say. Claire saved Oliver. Without anyone getting hurt. No, it’s a lie to say no one was hurt. Because Claire’s arm was cracked. She honestly told him what she knew. Sir Escalee was a knight-errant and maybe he knew better than she did. To such a person, lying to take Claire’s side was not a good choice.

 

“So I’m staying in this house now. Now I’m leaving to go home for a while.”

 

Her mother told her to get a servant to help Claire, but Claire refused. She said she would just look at the house and come back. So she heard she gave away their only carriage. Since she was the benefactor who saved Oliver, she wanted to do something for her.

 

“I heard from Sir Esma that his companions reported her.”

 

She heard that was the case. They were just passing by, but he accused Claire of attacking them one-sidedly. An accusation, not a claim. That meant he asked Claire to be punished. That may have had an impact on Claire being sentenced to probation. She was impressed because she did not like the knights of the White Lion Knights and their leader, Sir Esma.

 

“Yes. It seems like he didn’t like Claire originally. You know.”

 

There was also some intention of criticism. She thought Sir Escalee was partly to blame for Claire being ostracized from the knights. He should have accepted Claire into the Black Wolf side. She heard that she had the skills to do that. However, a problem arose when Sir Escalee refused and Sir Esma accepted. Of course, this was a problem that would not have arisen if the White Lion Knights were proper knights, but a tutor once said this.

 

‘Clear water flows from a clear spring.’

 

In other words, the upper water must be clear for the lower water to be clear.

 

“I wish women would not become knights.”

 

Unexpectedly, Sir Escalee said that. 

 

‘I beg your pardon?’ 

 

As her gaze became sharper, he sighed and continued.

 

“Women becoming knights means that all the men who were supposed to protect the country have died. I hope something terrible like that doesn’t happen.”

 

Huh. She was almost tempted to ask what it was like for a woman to become a knight and for all men to die, but she managed to hold back. Sir Escalee might think so. To him, women and children were people who must be protected unconditionally. If this house were to be guarded by either her, a twenty-year-old, or Oliver, a ten-year-old, Sir Escalee would be the one to hand Oliver the sword without delay. Well, that would be the same for her father and mother. Everyone in Sir Escalee’s age group would think that way.

 

“Like the fathers of her other daughters, I hope that Julia gets married to a good person and lives comfortably. I hope Sir Lannon does the same.”

 

So that meant she was rejected for that reason. Huh. She opened her mouth again. And before she could even think about it, she spit it out.

 

“If Julia gets married, where will she live comfortably?”

 

A count? Duke? Or a knight like Sir Escalee? She was sorry, but she heard that Mrs. Escalee had had quite a hard time. She had a hard time marrying Sir Escalee before he became a knight, and she died giving birth to Julia before her husband became a knight. She noticed that Sir Escalee paused, opened and closed his mouth.

 

“What about Oliver? Would it be convenient if she came to Biscon Manor?”

 

“That…”

 

Naturally, Sir Escalee hesitated. And he said with a troubled expression.

 

“It’s okay to go to Biscon. The Countess is a very nice person.”

 

“But we are poor. Oliver is not a very trustworthy groom in Sir Escalee’s opinion.”

 

“Eugenie.”

 

Sir Escalee opened his mouth as if to say otherwise, but then he spoke in an uncertain voice.

 

“Oliver is okay. He’s a good guy. However, both of them are a bit impatient. If possible, it’s good to meet someone who can complement each other.”

 

In the end, it didn’t work. Moreover, Sir Escalee did not dispute that their family was poor. Okay. Everyone knew that their family was poor. Her mother was Princess Genevieve’s companion and came from a fairly wealthy family. The reason her mother chose her father was simple, as she could have married a more decent nobleman. Because he’s handsome. To be honest, it’s a reason she was a bit embarrassed to talk about it somewhere. And looking at a portrait of his father in his youth, it makes sense. When Julia heard this, she didn’t have to go far and said that when she saw Oliver, she would understand.

 

“What about the Germarot duchy? Will Julia live comfortably and happily?”

 

The ducal family was wealthy and upper-class nobles. No, it’s her uncle to the current King, so if Julia were to become Duchess of Germarot, she’d count the number of people who could touch her on one hand. But Julia knew better that becoming a duchess didn’t mean she could live comfortably. She looked at Sir Escalee, who was frowning, feeling a little sad. She liked Sir Escalee. He was her relative, her swordsman teacher, and a good person. He was the epitome of a faithful knight and a father who loved his daughter more than anyone else. So he probably wanted to give Julia the best he could. But didn’t her mother do the same? She said she thought Awning would be the best option for her.

 

“It will never happen in that family.”

 

She burst out laughing because Sir Escalee spoke with such a stern expression. She knew. That family would never do it. Not only because the son of that family was a bastard, but also because he came from a ducal family. Even though the son was a duke, the fact that he was not engaged yet meant that both of them had extremely high expectations. So, both the son and the parents.

 

She opened my mouth to see Sir Escalee looking a little dispirited.

 

“Why? The Germarot duchy is a ducal family. They are wealthy.”

 

The duke was the current king’s uncle. That means that if Julia were to become duchess, she would have no one to bother her except the king and her queen. But Sir Escalee’s attitude was firm. He said, shaking his head.

 

“You don’t really mean it, do you? Count Germarot, no, you know that, right?”

 

She knew. Because Count Germarot and she didn’t get along very well. She looked at Sir Escalee and asked again.

 

“What if the Duke’s son had not been the Viscount, what if he had not been Hildezar? What if Awning was the duke’s son?”

 

“Eugenie!”

 

A groan of nonsense came out of Sir Escalee’s mouth. Oh, he also knew why Awning and she broke off their engagement, right? He didn’t hear it through rumors, but he heard the exact reason from her mother. But she tilted her head and said.

 

“He is rich as a duke, and at least he won’t have a mistress or create illegitimate children. For some people, he might be the perfect groom.”

 

“It means not having a female mistress.”

 

A sigh flowed from Sir Escalee’s mouth. He said, nodding his head.

 

“It doesn’t even work. Even if he is a proper man, being a duke is too burdensome.”

 

Just because a guy liked guys didn’t mean he’s not a proper guy. The reason she broke off her engagement with Awning was because of his tendencies. Not because, but because he deceived her and her family. But before she could say that, Sir Escalee spoke again.

 

“I know what you’re saying. It means that Julia will not live comfortably no matter what family she marries into.”

 

Yes. No house would allow her and Julia to live comfortably. Even if she accepted Elliot’s courtship, he was an emerging nobleman, so she had the obligation to manage the Burns family. And that was one of the reasons why new families were less preferred than traditional families. That you have to start from the beginning.

 

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Translator Note:
Do you think Sir Escalee likes Lord Lannon?