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Chapter 4
Ricador was about to scold Rielsha when his eyes caught the monster trapped and floating inside a shimmering bubble.
He could feel a strong magical energy radiating from all directions—
strange, yet somehow familiar.
“You…”
Ricador was so shocked he couldn’t speak for a moment.
Then, seeing Rielsha trembling in fear at the sight of the monster, he quickly burned it to ashes.
It was his power.
As if reflecting his fierce personality, the black flames did not subside for a while.
“Damn it. I can’t believe I missed something that big.”
Ricador muttered irritably.
“H-how did you even get here, brother…?”
Rielsha asked in a flustered voice.
Ricador tilted his head slightly, his red eyes narrowing as they swept over her.
“That’s what I should be asking. What are you doing here? Do you have a death wish?”
“……”
“Do you even know what this place is—”
“Waaaah! Brother!”
But Ricador never finished his sentence.
Rielsha suddenly ran up to him and threw herself into his arms.
Dirty and disheveled, she buried her face in his clothes.
Ricador stiffened, startled by the unexpected action, his hands awkwardly frozen in the air.
“Hey, you… you’re filthy.”
But he couldn’t push her away.
He could feel the relief of the little girl who was still alive, and that softened him.
Seeing her small hands trembling as they clung tightly around his waist, Ricador let out a sigh.
“…Thanks for saving me again.”
After a long silence, Rielsha whispered softly.
Ricador frowned, puzzled.
“Again?”
“Mm.”
She nodded faintly.
“Brother Ricador came to save me again.”
Her chest swelled with emotion.
For a fleeting moment, a foolish hope blossomed—
perhaps this time, she could live happily with her family.
But I shouldn’t expect that.
Remembering all the times hope had turned to disappointment, Rielsha slowly pulled away.
When she lifted her face, Ricador’s shirt was stained in the shape of her eyes, nose, and mouth.
Ricador’s expression turned sour.
“Hey, my shirt—”
Sniff. “It was so scary!”
“……”
“Thank you for saving me.”
Even thinking back on it made her want to cry again.
But what did he mean earlier, when he said he missed something?
Did he mean the monster?
Then… had Ricador been coming to this forest often?
She wanted to ask, but at that moment, the last remaining bubble popped, and a wave of exhaustion swept through her body.
Ricador’s startled face blurred in her vision.
“Huh?”
Her body swayed, her sight tilting—
she barely saw Ricador reaching out to catch her.
“Are you okay?!”
But before he could grab her, someone else caught Rielsha instead.
She looked up weakly and saw a broad chest and a composed figure.
Who…?
A man with a monocle dangling from a golden chain was looking down at her.
Through her fading consciousness, she heard his calm, refined voice.
“Congratulations on your awakening, Lady Rielsha. From now on, I will be serving you.”
And then her eyes closed as she fell into deep unconsciousness.
“When did you start watching?”
Ricador’s voice was sharp as he glared at the man after Rielsha had collapsed from the shock of awakening.
The man was none other than Rosinante, aide to the Archduke’s heir.
Rosinante carefully lifted Rielsha in his arms, feigning innocence.
“Might I ask, Young Master Ricador, shouldn’t you be in class right now? You seem to have lost your way. This is quite far from the training grounds.”
“Don’t play dumb. You knew she was coming into the forest, didn’t you?”
“I did not.”
Rosinante replied with a pleasant smile, his tone firm.
Ricador frowned deeply, distrust written all over his face.
Then he pulled something from his pocket—a bracelet.
“This bracelet.”
“Oh? I didn’t know you were into accessories, Young Master.”
“There are clear signs it was deliberately cut. You’re the one who told me Rielsha had entered the forest, weren’t you?”
“…I’m afraid I know nothing of that.”
Behind the lenses, Rosinante’s sharp eyes curved smoothly, his expression serene—
but a flash of warning glinted there: don’t press further.
Ricador noticed it immediately and scowled.
Rosinante’s lips curved in a gentle smile.
“I am the aide to the young lord, am I not? You know very well I cannot interfere with internal family matters.”
“So you used me.”
“I protest my innocence.”
Rosinante chuckled and shook his head lightly.
But from that moment, his circumstances changed—
the “restriction” that prevented him from acting in family affairs had now been lifted.
“Then please return safely, Young Master Ricador. I have things to attend to.”
Indeed, Rosinante had much to do.
First, he would deal with the vermin living in Rielsha’s mansion.
And then…
He would take the time to set everything right.
Looking down at the deeply sleeping girl, Rosinante smiled faintly.
Flash.
Rielsha’s eyes fluttered open.
She tried to look around, moving only her eyes, when she sensed someone nearby.
“You’re awake, Lady Rielsha.”
“Who… are you?”
A woman she had never seen before bowed politely.
Rielsha instinctively tensed and drew back slightly.
People in this household were never kind to her.
But the woman, undisturbed by her reaction, introduced herself calmly.
“Allow me to formally greet you. I am Sona, the knight assigned to serve you from today.”
“My… knight?”
Rielsha repeated in surprise.
A personal knight was only assigned to heirs who had completed their awakening—
a guardian whose sole duty was to protect them, no matter the cost.
Rielsha had never been granted such a thing before.
Right… I awakened, didn’t I?
Her dormant power, which had shown no sign for over ten years, had suddenly manifested when she’d become a child again.
She awkwardly clenched and opened her hand.
Her body still felt hollow—an aftereffect of awakening.
No wounds?
Seeing that the cuts on her elbow were gone, she looked shocked.
Someone with healing powers must have treated her.
That could only happen under Grandfather’s orders.
She noticed she was wearing clean clothes instead of the ones from the forest—
Sona must have washed and changed her.
Then, Sona must indeed have been sent by the Duke himself.
Still not fully convinced, Rielsha asked again, cautiously.
“…You’re really my knight?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
Sona’s gentle tone and kind demeanor made Rielsha’s expression soften slightly.
She carefully studied her new knight—
Sona had long silver-gray hair braided neatly down to her waist.
From her features, she seemed to be of a branch family of House Aracrene.
For her grandfather to assign such a high-ranking knight… it was hard to believe.
“Tona…?”
Rielsha tried saying the name awkwardly.
Sona’s eyes widened in surprise—
her lips and eyes trembled faintly as her expression froze for a brief moment.
Then, just as quickly, she smiled again as if nothing had happened.
“Yes, Lady Rielsha.”
“…Tona.”
When Rielsha called her name again and again, Sona—who had been pouring water into a cup—straightened up with quiet resolve.
“Yes. Please… call me Tona.”
“Huh?”
“My name, from now on, is Tona.”
Sona—now Tona—said seriously as she handed the cup of water to Rielsha.
