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Chapter : 25
This is driving me insane. How am I supposed to remember a gift I received ten years ago?
I swallowed an irritated sigh and forcibly shoved my arm into the fur coat someone handed me as I passed by.
“That’s enough. If we’re all ready, let’s get up. We need to go greet Monia.”
As I left the two of them behind and stood up, Sage hurried after me.
“Miss, are you really going alone?”
“I have Amon.”
“But the luggage is heavy. I’d be more useful than that child—”
“Are the knights just decorative? I’m not taking him as an attendant. I’m taking him to introduce him to my master.”
For some reason, I couldn’t stop thinking about what had happened at the guild.
Normally, one can only see divine power or mana after receiving a god’s permission and becoming an official priest.
And yet, someone with no particular talent had seen mana with unnerving clarity in that brief moment.
When all the scheduled matters were finished and we stepped outside the academy, the sky was tinted an even duller gray than it had been that morning.
My expression wasn’t bright either as I returned my graduation certificate to my master.
Nuchel, as unreadable as ever, merely burst into laughter upon seeing Amon and me, offering no useful information at all.
He did throw out something that was half a curse, half a joke—telling me to try raising a disciple like myself someday.
“Hah… it’s going to snow.”
At my quiet murmur, Amon’s shoulders jerked.
I noticed his gaze hastily turning away, and a bitter smile crept onto my face.
Ever since that day, he had been awkward around me, constantly watching my reactions.
“Amon. Were you that scared when I yelled at Bliere?”
“……”
When I slowed my steps and asked, Amon—who had been dragging his feet behind me—nodded with his shoulders slumped.
“Yes… I was scared. And hurt.”
“Really?”
Bliere.
The way my lips twisted unpleasantly just to pronounce her name said it all.
We had parted as though we’d never meet again, but knowing that wasn’t possible, I had still assigned people to keep watch.
“Master… you know this too, but Lady Bliere is kind and weak.”
“Do you truly think so?”
“Yes. She always shares delicious snacks, gives gifts, and treats people gently. So please, Master—can’t you reconcile with her now?”
I understood Amon’s feelings, but I couldn’t give him the answer he wanted, not even as a lie.
Avoiding his eyes, I muttered quietly.
“No.”
Then, hoping my voice didn’t sound too cold, I repeated myself firmly.
“Bliere is not a good person.”
Amon’s face crumpled at my blunt reply. With a sigh, I crouched down and met his gaze.
“Amon. To me, there’s no one as cruel and terrifying as Bliere. Please try to understand that.”
“……”
“I never want to meet her again.”
After mouthing words several times, Amon finally nodded, fat tears rolling down his cheeks. His lower lip stuck out like a duck’s, clearly devastated.
I watched him with my arms crossed, then lightly bit my lip.
“Do you like Bliere that much?”
“Yes.”
“Then should I send you to her?”
“Ghk—!”
At my mischievous joke, Amon burst into tears.
“Hng!”
Sniffling dramatically, he shook his head with all his might.
Before I could even offer a handkerchief, he wiped his face with his thick sleeve.
“No. Even if you’re really mean, Master, I’ll stay by your side.”
Oh?
This little one has more loyalty than I expected.
“Why?”
“Because…” Amon replied, wearing a face just as calm as mine.
“You already cut ties with the only friend who understood your whims. Then who else would stay by your side if not me? No one else could endure it.”
“……”
“……”
“You’re very kind. As a reward, I’ll give you five books—decode them all by the end of this week.”
“Gasp!”
The tears instantly dried up as Amon turned pale and jumped to his feet.
“Five books?! I’m sorry, Master! Please forgive me just this once!”
Of course you’re sorry.
I ignored his pleas entirely.
“And we’re changing your roommate too.”
“Roommate… to whom?”
“That’s something I’ll have to think about.”
Despite my words, a certain butler’s face had already appeared in my mind.
Amon’s lack of manners lately seemed to stem from his surroundings.
A butler would be perfect—someone who could correct everything from his speech to his posture. No one would be better suited for etiquette training.
When I took Amon’s hand and left the campus, laughter and chatter rang out from all directions.
It was loud enough to hurt my ears, yet my steps felt lighter than they had in a long time as I walked through the crowd.
The silence of the grand mansion where I’d lived in seclusion, and the quiet life in the forest, hadn’t been bad—but the energy of the city’s noise and its people suited me far better.
As I quickened my pace, Amon tugged gently at my sleeve.
“Master. I think someone came to meet us.”
“Who would come to meet us?”
Following his gaze, I shut my mouth in dismay.
In the distance stood our family carriage—and walking toward me from it was a man I knew all too well.
“…Damn it. I completely forgot about him.”
Felius, his black hair swept back neatly, approached with a graceful stride befitting his large frame.
It seemed he had come straight after finishing work, as he was still dressed in his ornate uniform.
Inside the cloak fluttering around his ankles, the imperial crest was boldly embroidered.
“Kal.”
“……”
The way he called my name, his expression so earnest, made it obvious—
If I boarded the carriage and left without a word, he’d probably chase after me on horseback.
An imperial knight escorting my family’s private guards and carriage—what a spectacle that would be.
What should I do…
I didn’t want to be sensitive over something trivial, but with so many eyes watching, I couldn’t simply ignore it either.
I walked straight past Felius.
“Kal!”
“Take a rental carriage and come to the flower garden.”
“……”
When I coldly cut off his call, I heard his pursuing footsteps gradually come to a halt.
If I’d had more time, I would’ve told him to take that damned cloak off before coming…
But knowing him, mentioning the cloak would’ve made him change his entire outfit, so I held my tongue.
As I approached the carriage, the knights glanced sharply over my shoulder.
“Shall we drive him away?”
“He’s not someone who’d listen easily. I’ll head to the flower garden via Gomu. Amon will ride since it’s cold, and you all follow at a distance.”
“Yes, Miss.”
“Master, what about your clothes?”
“What else?”
At this rate, I’d have to change into a dress at Kaien Knight.
…It might look pitiful, but at least it would show I tried to hurry.
The moment we boarded the carriage, Amon plastered his face to the window, brimming with excitement.
“Master. Are you going together with Lord Felius?”
“Yes.”
“Then you’re going on a date with him, right?”
“No.”
“Why not?! Lord Felius is handsome!”
His voice was brimming with mischief, as though he’d never been dejected at all.
I shifted around before finally resting my arm against the cushioned wall.
I wanted to relax, but my outfit made it uncomfortable.
“Is he more handsome than Kelden?”
“Hmm… that’s… they’re both handsome… but Lord Felius sometimes lets me ride his horse and watch his sword training, so I think Lord Felius is a bit more handsome.”
“Then you date him.”
While Amon had been counting on his fingers to praise Felius, he shook his head primly.
“No. I already have someone I like.”
“Who? Dana?”
“Ah!”
I continued speaking as if I hadn’t noticed his shock.
“Oh, you might not know yet? There’s a girl around your age at the laundry shop. Short hair, really pretty freckles.”
“Gasp!”
“Her cheeks are rosy like roses, her voice is sweet like honey, her eyes are sky-blue like the sky after rain, and her lips are a warm sunset orange.”
As I brought up a story Amon would tell me in the near future—though it felt like the distant past—his face flushed so red it looked ready to burst.
“H-How do you know Dana, Master?!”
“Her hair is the color of ripe rice, and it sways like leaves whenever the wind blows.”
“Aaah! Maaasteeer! You read my diary, didn’t you?!”
“Do you really think I’d do something so undignified?”
“Then how do you know all that?!”
I’d intended to pretend ignorance, but honestly, I was still annoyed that he’d taken Bliere’s side.
And the more I teased him, the more amusing Amon’s bright-red face became.
“How are you always so consistent?”
I laughed softly as I asked, and Amon puffed out his cheeks in frustration.
“I’m not consistent—you’re just always mean, Master!”
As Amon huffed and thumped his chest, the carriage slowly came to a stop.
The coachman, apparently having overheard our conversation, tapped the window with a smile still lingering on his face.
“Miss, we’ve arrived at the flower garden.”
“Have the knights fall back, park our carriage in front of that one. I’ll head straight back to Kaien Knight. Since you’re already out, you might as well eat before returning.”
Amon, staring at the tips of his shoes, muttered quietly.
“Master. May I say something?”
“What is it?”
“I don’t like steaks as big as the knights enjoy. I want whole roast duck, seafood pasta loaded with shellfish, and desserts piled high with whipped cream.”
“Fine. For seafood, you can eat at Harni—no, at Nox Tailor. Use my name.”
Damn it. Harnias was the restaurant Bliere ran.
Judging by his reaction, that had been exactly what the crafty little boy was aiming for.
“I like Harnias!”
When I narrowed my eyes, Amon avoided my gaze.
“Hm.”
For someone with such a tiny head to be pulling tricks like this, he must’ve been pretty irritated.
I didn’t like it, but with the knights around… perhaps I could allow it just once.
There was still some leeway, after all.
“…Fine.”
Only after receiving permission did a bright grin spread across Amon’s face.
Behind his back, I quietly instructed the coachman not to tease him while he ate.
