Episode 32
They were quite vicious villains.
In fact, their argument was anything but child’s play.
“While I was taking some food to my locker, I returned to find that the three of you were in a brawl…”
“It wasn’t a fight; it was one-sided violence, wasn’t it?”
“Yes, there was violence. So I dared to step in, and get you two to return to your rooms.”
That was unexpected.
Even though Ruben was one of the chief knights, intervening in a fight between his master’s kin would have been challenging.
Roman and Charon were probably afraid that their father might find out, especially because the chief knight was away.
The chief knights were knights who served directly under the head of the household, and the situation of their job criteria in the novel was depicted quite straightforwardly.
They would immediately step forward and carry out their master’s orders, no matter who their opponents were.
But something still perplexed Laiya.
Even though Roman and Charon had been training since they were young, their talent couldn’t compare to Roy’s, right?
Even if it was a 2-on-1 situation, the future archvillain’s talent couldn’t just vanish.
Moreover, this third brother, who Laiya had come to see as a puppy, had quite a fiery personality during our first encounter.
The only logical conclusion was that Roy hadn’t fought back at all.
Ruben seemed to have realized what the little girl was getting suspicious of and nodded gravely.
“Brother, did you really not fight back at all? You didn’t resist once, why?”
Even though she tried to recall detailed descriptions of the two characters from the novel while she inspected them, Roman and Charon weren’t particularly skilled individuals.
They weren’t remarkable in their studies either, nor did they stand out in any other way.
Matis, my uncle’s other son, had a distinct talent, but these two…
Roman and Charon, besides their lack of skills, had somewhat timid personalities that were uncharacteristic of their age.
That made the situation even more perplexing.
Why was he being beaten by these guys?
She hadn’t instructed her senior knights on how to handle such a situation.
Seeing her beloved Roy being beaten up felt like watching a neighborhood cat attack her beloved puppy.
Laiya’s anger was insurmountable.
“Brother, is this really true? Ruben, is it true? You’re not lying to me?”
Ruben’s silence was a clear affirmation, which only intensified her anger.
Seriously, was I going to have to lay down thumbtacks in front of those brothers so that they stop interfering with my third brother?
“Ice, can I put down thumbtacks?”
Infuriated, Laiya turned to her guardian.
[Yes, it is possible with practice!]
Should I set them up immediately?
As she pondered the feasibility of creating thumbtacks for her enemies, Roy looked at the puffed up little girl and hesitantly spoke.
“…Because you didn’t instruct me to step in.”
His words came out slowly, as if he didn’t want to stutter.
Laiya’s breathing halted suddenly.
“You aren’t in danger… So no fight… You’ll use me as a sword.”
Laiya didn’t respond, her lips refused to utter a sound as she listened to her brother’s reasoning, speechlessly.
She didn’t know what to say or even where to begin.
It was the first time she’d ever felt like this.
When I asked him to be by my side, Roy had been as eager as the day he accepted my request.
“Oh? No…?”
She secretly glanced at him and then shook her head slowly.
[The Guardian sensed that his master’s emotions had intensified.]
“No, that’s right.”
At that moment, Laiya was aware that Ruben and Rainante were listening in, but she honestly agreed.
“I wanted my brother to reveal his talents to me on my terms, at my chosen moment, and that’s right.”
“Yes?”
“Because you truly have remarkable talent, brother.”
The little girl held her younger brother’s hand.
“But that doesn’t mean I’m okay with people bullying those close to me. Not at all! Even if I have the ability, I still face challenges, so don’t let them bully you.”
Silence filled the room.
“Please, don’t let it happen again, brother. Just fight back. It’s better to stand up against them.”
His hands, larger than hers but not quite adult-sized, were marked with blisters.
“My brother Roy is also a prodigy.”
The daughter of BlackWinter’s expression grew increasingly serious.
“Your talent is my greatest treasure. That’s how I see it, brother.”
The red eyes staring into her own quivered ever so slightly.
For some reason, the boy, who resembled a black puppy, seemed like he might cry, if only for a moment.
“Let me ask you something. Those guys, Roman and Charon, could you win if you fought them together?”
“Yeah, I could.”
“In a 2-on-1 situation?”
“One on one.”
A bright smile lit up Laiya’s face.
“Good, let’s go.”
“Yes— Huh? Where?”
Laiya clenched her free hand into a fist and then let it go.
“Where are they, Ruben? Let’s go. I’ll give them a taste of their own medicine.”
“But!”
“Brother.”
Laiya wiped the smile from her face and turned serious.
“I did want you to grow stronger, but I never considered that you’d face situations like this. There was no need for you to endure injustice.”
The shorter girl held Roy’s hand and spoke plainly while looking up into her brother’s eyes.
“Your swordsmanship is meant to be used in moments like these. Unlike me, you’re not meant to be ignored, to be held back.”
I can’t do what you can do, I might be physically useless, but you can make a difference.
You can follow a different path, brother.
“Let’s go.”
She took Roy’s hand and led the way, listening closely as he followed obediently, while using her frail strength to her advantage.
“If I tell you to knock them out, can you?”
“I can.”
“Then their father won’t just stand by and watch them be harmed. No one will protect us, but still, will you fight?”
Roy hesitated for a moment and then spoke confidently.
“You’ll be on my side… Yes.”
Laiya beamed at that.
“I see. Great. In that case, let me have a go too. I just can’t stand to see those guys bully my brother.”
“Yes!”
The siblings started walking again confidently, then abruptly stopped.
Rainante and Ruben blocked their path.
Rainante wore his usual impassive expression, perhaps a touch more rigid, while Ruben looked unsure of what to do.
“Princess.”
“You knights should wait for us here.”
“But—”
“It’s an order. It’s better for the knights not to get involved in disputes among immediate descendants. Especially in fights involving direct descendants like us, who don’t receive much attention from the head of the family.”
“…”
“DOn’t worry brother, the knights are smart, they understand what I mean.”
These were the most elite senior knights in my father’s order, and if things went awry or if they stepped in to protect us, it wouldn’t bode well for anyone.
“Don’t look at me like that, it’s also a consideration I have for you, my brave knights who protect us.”
“…”
“I will return shortly. I won’t cause much trouble so don’t worry.”
“…”
“You all know I’m a cherished princess, yes? Would I cause deliberate trouble when I can’t defend myself?”
Her last statement was somewhat self-deprecating.
If things didn’t go as planned, Laiya was prepared to bring tears to their eyes and force them to back off, even if she had to make excuses about her health.
Roy would be protected by that solution.
As she glanced back, Rainante’s expression appeared rather unusual, but without further ado, Liaya ignored it and continued walking.
You’re about to meet your match, you foolish cousins.
“Where should I go? Which way did they go?”
“Over there.”
Laiya strode forward with long strides.
* * *
Simultaneously, a commotion erupted at the main gate of the BlackWinter family estate, a grand and imposing domain.
“How can you come visiting at this hour?”
The junior secretary responsible for visitor management retorted, his face frozen in sheer astonishment.
It was as if his mind had been completely wiped clean.
Fortunately, the mid-level knights in charge of overseeing people’s comings and goings exhibited more composure than him.
Of course, they too were visibly shaken.
The thoughts racing through their minds mirrored those of their flustered colleague.
“This is a major event!”
What unfolded before their eyes was an immense carriage.
And etched upon the back of the carriage that had passed through the main gate and was now heading toward the mansion, was a colossal emblem.
A symbol of a lion, the symbol of the empire’s royal family.
“Hurry, go inform the Head of the Household about this!”
“I understand!”
As soon as the carriage disappeared from view, everyone dispersed or raced toward their respective superiors.
Some individuals headed straight for Titan BlackWinter’s office.
In the midst of the distraction, nobody noticed a figure leaping out of the carriage, which had come to a brief stop.
Cleverly concealed by the surrounding trees, the action went unnoticed.
“Ah, how boring.”
The person alighting from the carriage was the crown prince of the empire, Helios Rune Nova.
This boy, with hair aflame like fire, had a temper to match his fiery mane.
With a frustrated gesture, he momentarily halted the carriage before it resumed its course.
Within the carriage, his ailing half-brother and a member of his maternal family, sent by his father, were likely in tears.
None of which concerned him.
“What’s the big deal about the BlackWinter’s estate?”
Unimpressed, he simply melted into the forest path.
Despite being only 13 years old, he possessed a robust physique, and his sword mastery was nothing short of genius.
There was a specific reason behind his impromptu visit.
“Hmph, this Kyle guy is supposed to be an extraordinary swordsman, a once-in-a-millennium genius? That’s just a bunch of rumors.”
Kyle BlackWinter, the widely rumored swordplay prodigy destined to lead the next generation… Hmph!
His objective was to locate the source of these rumors.
Naturally, since the rumors were brimming with falsehoods, he intended to swiftly expose the truth.
The future heir of the haughty BlackWinter family would bow before his blade.
“If I barge in now, they’re sure to bother me and chase me out. How long should I wait?”
The members of his maternal family who had accompanied his half-brother would handle the cumbersome visitation formalities.
The boy’s crimson hair disappeared amidst the green foliage.
