Chapter 21
“What… just happened?”
I stood frozen in the center of the room, trying to process everything. Meanwhile, Theon, Jenna, and the maids returned and busied themselves with their tasks.
Callista turned sharply and looked at me.
“You’re still standing, Harper.”
“What… is all this?”
I chose one question out of the thousand swirling in my mind and gestured toward the marble table and the maids.
“The maids, furniture, and clothes are payment for saving Vittori. And…”
Callista shrugged, as if it were obvious.
“…what you did for me was expensive. I’ll repay that gradually.”
Her gaze lingered on me. Unlike when she spoke to Clarissa, her tone had softened slightly.
“And this is interest. Sit down.”
She pointed to the sofa Clarissa had sat on earlier. Now that I looked closer, it too was far more luxurious than before.
Payment. Payment.
My head, full of confusion, finally began to understand her intentions.
Callista was as calculating as Theon. She disliked unpaid favors and detested owing anything to anyone.
So, this was truly repayment—for helping her with the Vittori incident.
Once I returned the favor, she could resume disliking me with a clear conscience.
When I didn’t move, Callista tugged a bell rope again, summoning someone. Five knights entered the room in response.
“We greet the young ladies!”
They saluted perfectly in sync and stood in a row, each appearing to carry something under their arms.
“You’ll need a bodyguard, to avoid a repeat of the banquet incident. All are proven in combat—choose one.”
Callista stepped beside me and gestured to the man on the far left.
“Begin.”
“Yes, my Lady!”
…Begin?
Begin what?
He was even taller than Theon, with twice the shoulder width, intense eyes, and a face full of scars. The man stepped forward, cradling something small and squishy in his arms.
“What are you good at?”
“Playing with dolls!”
He held out a small princess doll proudly.
“Look, this is a popular doll in the capital—crafted by a famous artisan. Its eyes blink, and the golden hair is soft—just like the young lady’s!”
He spoke in a bear-like voice with great pride.
“Don’t sell the doll. Introduce yourself.”
“If you choose me, I’ll play dolls with you all day! In this huge mansion, the young lady needs a cute friend like this!”
Callista glanced sideways at me. I instinctively shook my head.
Sorry. Dolls that look too human creep me out.
Disheartened, the burly man stepped back.
“Next. What are you good at?”
“I play instruments!”
The second candidate was a pretty boy with long hair. I shook my head again.
“One of the maids already plays very well.”
I didn’t need two musicians. If I was to have a bodyguard, I wanted someone more unique.
The boy hugged his little string instrument, clearly hurt. Meanwhile, the maid who claimed musical talent smirked triumphantly while fixing the bedding nearby.
Before I knew it, I was fully engrossed in Callista’s bodyguard audition.
“Number three.”
Callista moved on without hesitation.
Huh?
The next person looked oddly familiar.
“Number three, Sawyer Marcel!”
Sawyer, captain of the 3rd Luferne Knight Order, saluted sharply. I glanced at Callista, puzzled, and she replied flatly:
“He said he’d step down as captain if allowed to guard you. A personal recommendation.”
“My staying in the duchy is thanks to Lady Harper’s grace. It would be an honor to serve you!”
Only then did I recall that day—when Callista crushed Louis’ arm and I took the blame.
I had thought nothing of it, just paying back a past-life debt. I hadn’t considered how Sawyer might view me.
Apparently, it made quite an impression.
Sawyer, whose build rivaled the first candidate, stepped forward and placed a knitted hat on my head.
It was thick, bright red—slightly lighter than Aramis or Vittori’s hair—and had a cute pom-pom on top.
“I’m good at knitting! If you choose me, you’ll never catch a cold!”
Crunch.
The sound of a snack being bitten echoed from behind. I turned to see Theon and Jenna watching the selection with amused expressions.
“Number three is great! The young lady is delicate.”
Jenna said with her mouth full.
You warned me to be careful of Callista, remember?
Turns out, snacks were Jenna’s true weakness.
I touched the pom-pom on the hat and smiled. From the yarn to the craftsmanship—it was perfect.
“Let’s see the next one.”
Candidate four was a tall, kind-faced female knight who offered to read me fairy tales. But Theon blocked her with a firm “no,” and she stepped back quietly.
“Last, number five. Just joined the 1st Order. Proven skills, but says he prefers looking after children.”
Callista introduced the final knight with visible disinterest. A small-framed man stepped forward timidly.
“My name is Shion. I… just have many younger siblings, so I’m used to caring for kids.”
Sawyer scoffed.
“Is that supposed to be enough?”
“For reference, I have three younger siblings, Miss.”
“I wasn’t very useful in the Knight Order… but if I become your guard, I might finally earn my keep.”
“Then try harder, man. Guarding isn’t easy.”
“I also cook well…”
“I’m great at desserts! I’ll make you pretty chocolates for the Asemore festival!”
“…I’ll do my best.”
Despite Sawyer’s mocking, Candidate 5 completed his introduction sincerely.
Callista looked at me questioningly, but I didn’t answer.
There was a strange sense of déjà vu.
Shion. That name…
Wait—
I looked up at the fifth candidate’s face and suddenly remembered.
Shion Appensio.
A name like a joke, yet in my past life, he was the most coveted talent among all monarchs.
I’d only seen his face once from afar, but the name was unmistakable.
Shion Appensio—the Empire’s spy master.
He briefly served in Luferne’s Order before leaving. Instead of adapting to organizations, he created them—including the Empire’s largest intelligence guilds.
He traded information among monarchs, walking a tightrope between Klein and Callista—until he was deemed too dangerous and assassins were sent from both sides.
Yet, astonishingly, he escaped and even rescued all his loyal subordinates.
A near miracle.
To see him here—meekly mocked by Sawyer—was surreal.
“Don’t like any of them?”
Callista asked when I stayed quiet too long. Shion looked like he’d already given up. Sawyer stared with hopeful puppy eyes.
“Number five.”
I picked Shion without hesitation. Sawyer’s eyes trembled violently, but I didn’t care.
“I like Shion.”
At my words, Shion’s gloomy face bloomed into joy. I knew I’d chosen right.
If he once protected children from Callista and Klein’s assassins, then as a bodyguard, he was top-tier.
“Then Shion stays. The rest may leave. Sawyer, return to the 3rd Order.”
“…Yes, my Lady!”
As the rejected candidates trudged off in sorrow, Shion knelt before me, eyes bright.
“I shall serve you for life!”
I accepted the loyalty of Shion Appensio, the man who once shook the empire with mere rumors, with complicated emotions.
“Please wait in the library first, Master.”
Theon said.
I sighed and made my usual plea.
“Can’t you call me like before?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“It’s important to me.”
I forced my clenched hands to relax. When Aramis called Callista that, it didn’t bother me. So why did it sound so unnatural coming from Theon?
“Do you know how many nobles and dukes wanted to make me their master?”
Only Callista comes to mind. I don’t even know why you chose me in this life.
“Even the Imperial Palace tried to recruit me. You’ll understand the benefits when you grow up.”
“What kind of benefits?”
“I’ll help you grow into whatever you want. A scholar, for instance…”
Why would I be a scholar? I don’t hate studying, but not enough to do it as a job. That’s what others are for.
“I don’t want to.”
“Then a government official.”
Work near Klein again, even in this life? What a curse.
“No.”
“A perfect housewife?”
“No.”
“Then how about becoming rich?”
“No… wait, what?”
Did he just say… money?
“If that’s what you want.”
Theon adjusted his glasses calmly.
“I can help you make a lot of money.”
