Chapter 084
The aftermath of the duel was trendous.
When I defeated Arthas before, it had been enough to warrant the word trendous. But this was beyond even that. It was as though a bomb had gone off in the center of the city.
In short, one side was excited, and the other was quiet.
That was only natural. The fact that a man who was not just an ordinary knight, but the very Guard Knight of Young Lady Sapiela, had been defeated by a Butler Apprentice was a shocking thing.
And not in a spar, but in a formal duel.
What made it even more interesting was that not only the master and household staff of the Adeline Marquis House, but also its retainers and various officials, had all been present to witness the duel.
It was fortunate enough that I had drawn an Aura Sword. If I had won with a bare blade, questions would have poured in about Sir Lorenz’s qualifications.
But I had disguised Mana as Aura and revealed only part of my ability.
Thanks to that, instead of condemning Sir Lorenz, everyone’s attention turned toward the skill I had hidden.
After all, when one person’s skill was clearly superior, then victory was only natural.
In any case, not only Yanrof but influential people from all walks of life wanted to et . But I was not an easy man to win over. Under the excuse that I needed rest, I declined all their requests for etings.
Of course, I did not act cold and say sothing like, I am tired, let us speak another ti.
I rembered all their nas and arranged specific appointnts so that no one would feel slighted.
There was, however, one person I could do nothing about.
With an expression of complete excitent, Arthas flung open the door to my quarters and strode in.
“Since when could you use Aura?”
“Is that really the first thing you say to soone who just risked his life in a duel? You should be telling to get so rest.”
I let out a sigh and sprawled back onto the bed. I was hardly physically tired, but ntally I was a little drained. It was only natural, given the amount of attention I had just received from so many people.
Even so, Arthas ca right up to the bed. The look in his eyes was not ordinary.
“I’ve had a mysterious power since long ago. My parents even encouraged to learn martial arts because of it, but I never took to it since I had no interest in killing people.”
“Answer properly. How did you co to use that power? Since when?”
It did not seem that he was angry. More than anything, he just seed intensely curious about . And since he was also my swordsmanship teacher, I supposed I had to tell him sothing.
Naturally, with a little fiction mixed in.
“If I have to be specific, it was the night you taught swordsmanship. That was when I had my realization. Since then, I’ve been able to use an Aura Sword properly.”
“Then why were you hiding your strength before?”
“I wasn’t hiding it. When I sparred with you and shattered your sword, that was Aura too. It was clumsy, but still.”
Arthas’s eyes sharpened.
“That was Aura? I didn’t sense it at all.”
“If you ask that, what am I supposed to say? That you were too tense? Or that your skill was lacking? Let’s just bury the past and move on.”
I smiled mischievously. His constant probing into the matter was getting tireso. Arms crossed, he let out a deep sigh.
“That was an Aura Sword of an incredible level. I was too far away to asure it exactly, but...... it had at least the amount of power that would normally require ten years of cultivation. And you’re saying you could emit sothing like that from nothing more than the realization you had that night?”
“That’s how great the realization was. I don’t rember any of it myself. You said I fell into a state of selflessness, didn’t you?”
“That is true, but still.”
At that mont, there ca a knock from outside, followed by the door flying open. Welco guests had arrived.
“Dilen! You bastard! You were incredible! Absolutely incredible! The whole mansion is in an uproar over you right now!”
Rohan ca charging in with both arms spread wide.
Behind him, Arwen followed with an awkward expression. She looked apologetic for disturbing while I rested, but Rohan seed to have no such concern and was simply overflowing with excitent.
Thanks to that, I had been spared Arthas’s barrage of questions.
“You defeated a Guard Knight! And on top of that, you were an Aura User! First you beat an apprentice knight, then a Guard Knight, so what’s next, defeating the Knight Commander? Hahaha!”
“Hey.”
When I gave him a subtle look, only then did Rohan notice Arthas’s presence. He flinched and scratched the back of his head with an embarrassed expression.
“Hahaha...... Looks like there was already a guest here. Well, people lose sotis, don’t they? I hope you get your revenge next ti. Good luck!”
“So the butlers are supposed to have heavy mouths, yet yours is light as a feather. You lack refinent too. Tsk.”
Clicking his tongue, Arthas left the room. It would have been nice if he and Rohan could grow a little closer, but their dispositions were so utterly different that he seed to have no interest at all.
“Hey. Watch what you say next ti. Apologize to him properly later. You’ll be seeing him often from now on, so there’s no need to make things awkward.”
“I was so excited I didn’t even notice him. All right, I get it. Stop looking at like that. I’ll go to the Knight Order headquarters later and talk to him.”
“Make sure you do it properly.”
The elation drained out of Rohan, and he lowered his head. Just then, Arwen clasped her hands together, smiled brightly, and stepped closer to .
“You’re not hurt anywhere, are you? I heard you were examined by Sir dix yesterday. They said you weren’t feeling well.”
“Who told you that?”
“Ah, well...... the Young Lady did. Don’t worry. She told not to let anyone else know.”
I nodded.
Until now, Sapiela had freely offered all sorts of small and large benefits. I had mostly turned them down, while indirectly warning her that there were many eyes watching.
She must have understood by now.
If I only thought about what was convenient in the present and ignored the future, then before I knew it I would end up making enemies.
It was only natural that so people in life would co to dislike you, but there was no need to create them on purpose.
“How is the Young Lady?”
“Well, actually, if it wasn’t too much trouble, she asked to bring you to her. She said she was sorry for disturbing your rest……”
“The Young Lady said she was sorry?”
“Yes.”
That truly startled . That cold, proud Young Lady, the cherished youngest daughter of the marquis house, was now saying she was sorry after only a few months.
Was that not a Copernican turn in itself?
Even Rohan beside seed thoroughly shocked, his mouth hanging open.
“Don’t tell , Dilen...... you and the Young Lady are that kind of relationship?”
“Would you like that?”
“Huh?”
I had asked Rohan, but in truth it was also a question directed at Arwen. I shifted my gaze away from him and looked straight at her.
She started slightly.
Then her cheeks seed to redden, and she turned her eyes aside.
I did not even need to look at the Status Window anymore. Arwen definitely held feelings for . If she had not adored Young Lady Sapiela so deeply, she might well have felt jealousy.
I rose from my seat.
“Is the Young Lady in her residence now?”
“Yes. She’s waiting for you.”
“She’s waiting for even after I refused to et with the Head Butler?”
“I told her I’d bring you no matter what.”
Arwen smiled as she said it. It was painfully obvious that she was forcing the smile, as though trying to smooth over that awkward mont from earlier.
Even so, I did not make a point of showing that I noticed. She was always kind to both and Rohan, and a good person besides. If I teased her for it, I would probably be punished for it one day.
I stepped out of the room.
***
I arrived at the Young Lady’s residence.
But instead of Sir Lorenz, the Guard Knight, the one who greeted was a young knight whose face I had never seen before.
I had not beaten Lorenz badly enough to leave him wounded.
Had so sort of personnel action already been taken?
“Pardon . I have co to see the Young Lady.”
“I have heard that you are the Young Lady’s dedicated Butler Apprentice. You have no obligation to report your business to .”
“Ah, thank you.”
“Today’s duel was most impressive. You looked like an Aura User. Why, then, did you never apply to the Knight Order?”
Just as his handso face suggested, his nature seed warm and generous as well. Unlike a certain rude soone, he was strikingly cool and admirable. Plate mail suited him well too.
But the question itself had grown tireso now. Did being an Aura User automatically an one had to beco a knight?
“I have heard it said that not just anyone is fit to take up the sword. The weight of bearing responsibility for life, and of defending the honor of a House...... soone ordinary like could not shoulder that. The path of a butler suits my nature better.”
If the question was predictable, then I might as well make the answer fresh.
It was a very deliberate reply.
The young knight gave a curious smile after hearing it. I had intentionally spoken in a way that subtly flattered him. Had he liked it? Quite suddenly, he offered his hand.
“Let us at least exchange nas. I am Lancelot. I serve in the Golden Lion Order.”
“A pleasure to et you, Sir Lancelot. I hope we shall get along well.”
“The pleasure is mine.”
The Golden Lion Order was an organization reserved for knights of outstanding ability. In other words, this man nad Lancelot was no ordinary knight.
They mainly carried out special missions, and according to Rohanpedia, the one currently commanding the Golden Lion Order was none other than the eldest son, Young Master Kaien.
“I’m only on temporary duty today, but if you ever wish to et , co to the Golden Lion Order headquarters anyti.”
“I understand.”
Just as I expected, this knight nad Lancelot had been sent by the eldest Young Master. In other words, I was soone worth testing from the side.
The interest directed at was, put plainly, less Lancelot’s own and more sothing sent from Kaien himself.
I would have to be careful.
“Then, if you will excuse .”
“Go on in.”
When I opened the door and entered, Young Lady Sapiela greeted with a bright smile. I felt as though I could roughly understand what it must feel like to be a victorious general showered with petals during a triumphal procession.
“I heard you were looking for , Young Lady. Is there so command you wished to give?”
“About disturbing your rest……”
“It is nothing. I am your loyal servant, Young Lady. It is only natural that I answer your call.”
She made a gesture with her hand. I approached her slowly and bowed again once I had stopped at a proper distance. It was a most basic matter of etiquette.
“Thank you for keeping your promise.”
“I rely did what needed to be done.”
“I had no idea your skill was so great. Before, when you defeated that apprentice knight, I thought it had only been luck. But it seems it was not luck at all.”
I responded with modesty. After watching for a mont, she smiled and continued.
“Sir Lorenz was dismissed from the temporary post of Guard Knight as of today. So before long, a new Guard Knight will be appointed.”
“I can only hope that soone capable will be sent.”
“You could simply co yourself, could you not?”
Smiling, I shook my head.
“I like my life as it is now. Becoming a butler is still my dream. This trip to the Royal Capital is only an exception.”
“As for that, Father has granted permission. You, Dilen, will accompany as my Attending Secretary.”
“It is an honor. I will serve you with all sincerity.”
After that, Sapiela explained the size of the travel party.
I would be the overall person in charge, and Arthas, whom I had requested as my lieutenant, had also been added by na. In truth, I would have liked to bring Rohan along as well, but there was work he needed to handle here in the mansion.
The escort force as a whole consisted of , Arthas, and twenty elite cavalryn, so it did not seem likely that we would face any great danger.
“And Arwen will be coming with too.”
“That is only natural. Arwen will be pleased. She has always gone on and on about wanting to see the Royal Capital.”
“I see. Then you and Arwen are……”
The Young Lady, who had been looking at , opened her mouth as though to say sothing, but stopped herself. I do not think I had ever seen her hesitate like that before. What had she been about to ask?
Having cut herself off, she abandoned the thought and moved on instead.
“In any case, we will depart next week, so make your preparations in advance.”
“I will see that everything is prepared perfectly, Young Lady.”
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