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Chapter 9
“……”
“This is self-defense, if anything.”
Noah pulled Clara behind him as he countered.
“Instead of apologizing, you’re quibbling about whose fault is greater?”
While her sister sparred with the lawyer, Clara busied herself taunting Young Master Delat from behind.
She stuck out her tongue, or showed him a clenched fist.
“Young lady…”
As quickly as he could, As stopped her.
“Guardian, this won’t do.”
The lawyer let out a deep sigh, clicking his tongue. When he took off his glasses, his already gaunt face looked strangely mean-spirited.
“This boy is the only son of House Delat.”
The lawyer’s voice grew heavier.
“Delat is a noble family whose very name makes people in the capital tremble. For generations, they’ve produced royal knights who protect the crown.”
So what.
Noah had to sit there listening to these useless threats with a disinterested look.
“The young master is the third-generation only son of the Delat line.”
So what again.
As the lawyer’s hollow intimidation fell flat, Noah stole a glance at Leto.
He thought Leto would be amused watching this play out, but instead, the man’s icy gaze was fixed on the lawyer.
But the moment Noah noticed, Leto smoothly replaced it with his usual sly smile.
“He’s not really the only son of three generations, right?”
“He is.”
After finishing that silent exchange with his eyes, Noah responded flatly.
“My condolences that your precious young master got injured.”
“Lord and Lady Delat’s love for their son runs very deep.”
So that’s why they raised such a brat, huh.
However deep their parental love ran, their educational philosophy had to be the worst imaginable.
And this lawyer wasn’t much better.
“Still, I am the trusted lawyer of Lord and Lady Delat.”
“……”
“To be honest, Miss Bella is right. But really, is there any need to make such a fuss over children’s quarrels?”
He cleared his throat meaninglessly.
“It doesn’t look good when adults meddle too much in children’s fights. So perhaps…”
He said to Noah in a roundabout way:
“Later, the two of us, privately—”
The instant Noah realized his dirty intentions and was about to grab him by the throat—
“…What he says isn’t wrong.”
Leto, who had been silent until now, finally spoke up.
“Oh, Uncle’s here too?”
“You’ve been well, my dear sister-in-law?”
“Uncle, are your eyes broken? I’ve been unfairly detained here and can’t even go home!”
“Oh dear, my poor sister-in-law is in such distress.”
How to fix this?
After patting Clara’s head lightly, Leto stepped up squarely in front of the lawyer. Noah watched him with thinly veiled annoyance.
But she didn’t bother to stop him.
“…And you are?”
The lawyer only now seemed to realize Leto’s presence, and he eyed the much larger man warily.
“I’m a guardian as well. Miss Clara is my sister-in-law.”
“Hmm, I thought Uncle was a mad dog—”
As hurriedly clamped Clara’s mouth shut.
“You’re married?”
The lawyer’s eyes turned to Noah, full of disappointment.
“Why, is that so displeasing?”
Noah retorted, incredulous.
“Well, he is very handsome and well-built. I understand if you’re jealous.”
“And since you’re saying so, tonight again I’ll give my utmost, dedicated service—”
“Hehe, my darling is quite strong, after all.”
Before they knew it, the two leaned against each other, laughing sweetly.
But As caught sight of Noah secretly pinching the back of Leto’s hand wrapped around her waist.
Meanwhile, the lawyer, caught up in his own fantasies—
“…Pfft!”
“Ahem.”
“Heh…!”
—had to endure the quiet laughter of the teachers present.
The lawyer’s face flushed bright red.
“…Be that as it may.”
Adjusting his glasses again, he put on an even colder, nastier expression than before.
“Perhaps the South really is too far removed from the capital. You don’t seem to understand how terrifying a noble house can be.”
“……”
“……”
But the supposed guardian couple weren’t intimidated in the least.
“Seems to me, Counselor, that you don’t quite understand either.”
Leto finally introduced himself properly.
“Forgive my late manners. Leto Oceanus.”
“I wasn’t exactly asking your na—”
The arrogant lawyer’s face slowly froze.
“O-Oceanu—!”
“In truth, I agree. It’s a bit excessive for a lawyer to be meddling in children’s scuffles.”
And so Leto proposed:
“Wouldn’t it be better for guardians to discuss this among ourselves?”
“Mmnn…”
Clara was wandering slowly down the corridor in As’s arms, her head resting on his shoulder, eyelids fluttering sleepily.
“Young lady, are you drowsy?”
“I’m still okay…”
“You’ve been through a lot today, haven’t you?”
He patted her back, telling her it was fine to sleep.
But Clara didn’t want to. She was far too curious about what was happening in the staff room.
“As.”
“Yes, young lady?”
“Ocea…”
“You’re curious about the Oceanus family?”
“Mm!”
Hmm. As paused to put his thoughts in order.
“You know the most powerful noble house in the Adlabor Kingdom, don’t you?”
“Advelo!”
“The second most powerful is Oceanus.”
After the Mage Tower Explosion, one of the great changes in the kingdom was the downfall of many noble houses.
Half abandoned their status after the revolution; the rest were stripped of their titles for selling them.
So those few houses that endured the upheaval were all the more influential.
“The Oceanus family is a highly prestigious military house.”
“Military?”
“Like soldiers or knights. People who fight for the kingdom.”
The Oceanus marquisate had, for generations, produced knights who defended the realm.
Most of the heroes in children’s storybooks or stage plays were Oceanus blood.
“They’re also famous for their military industry.”
“I know that! That’s weapon-making, right?”
“Correct. The Advelo family also makes weapons, but they always consult and get approval from Oceanus.”
One product of that cooperation was the personal warship Noah piloted.
“Then Uncle’s a noble too?”
“A very famous noble.”
“More than that brat’s family?”
Clara pointed to the tightly closed staff room door.
“Far, far greater.”
Compared to Oceanus, the Delat house the lawyer boasted about couldn’t even hold up a name card.
“Mmhm!”
The sharp little lady quickly did the math.
“From now on, I’ll call Uncle brother-in-law!”
Oh dear. As could only give a wry smile.
“Even without being a noble, the Rear Admiral is already an incredible person.”
“How much?”
“He’s the second-highest officer in the entire navy.”
“Higher than my sister?”
“Of course. The young mistress serves under him.”
What’s more, with the admiral away on a long mission, Leto was acting commander of the navy.
Meaning, at present, he was the highest-ranking man in the fleet.
So he really is that amazing, As thought as he set Clara down.
To think the young mistress’s ex was Oceanus…
He was honestly shocked when he learned Noah’s former lover was this so-called mad dog.
What will the master say if he finds out?
He likely wouldn’t do anything, but As couldn’t help worrying.
Or perhaps he already knows?
More likely, yes. The master could well have known everything and feigned ignorance just for amusement.
“…Sigh.”
Thinking about it, As wondered what the point of all this was.
It’d be better to worry about what to eat for breakfast tomorrow.
“Young lady, what would you like for breakfast tomorrow?”
“Pancakes! With mashed tuna salad!”
“Then I’ll have to go to the market later.”
Yes. That was a much more profitable worry.
Meanwhile, as As and Clara shared their cozy talk—
“As expected, House Delat lives up to its reputation.”
“……”
“I knew you were no ordinary man from the start. Contacting headquarters before even reaching the South—that boldness was impressive.”
“……”
“And to meet a familiar face in such an unexpected place, well, that’s quite a joy.”
Though his mouth curved upward in laughter, Leto’s crimson eyes glinted cold and sharp.
“……”
And under that gaze, Lord Delat couldn’t even lift his head.
What a temper, Noah sighed inwardly.
The moment Leto revealed his name, the tables had turned completely.
The Delat family lawyer had gone pale as a sheet.
Even the arrogant young master now seemed to sense something was off, his eyes darting around nervously.
And when Lord Delat arrived, summoned by the teacher, his face was twisted pitifully.
Not my problem, thought Noah.
Still, she couldn’t help liking Leto’s damned personality—at times like this, at least.
So that’s him… Lord Delat.
He looked every bit the stereotype of a noble.
Refined features, elegant clothes, hair slicked back unnaturally flat.
So oily it literally glistened.
It was unpleasant, so Noah quickly shifted her gaze back to Leto’s hair. He too slicked his back while on duty, but somehow it always looked neat, and she liked it that way.
“By the way, isn’t Lord Delat supposed to be at naval headquarters right now?”
“Ah, well…”
“Strange that you arrived much later than we, who came from HQ.”
“……”
“And instead, you sent your lawyer in your place…”
The lawyer, silent till now, flinched.
“I understand, though.”
Leto leaned closer to Lord Delat, whispering.
“Your travels must have left you exhausted.”
Lord Delat’s hunched back trembled. His head, pale and lowered, couldn’t be raised.
Watching him, Leto shrugged.
“What business have adults meddling in children’s fights?”
He glanced at Noah. “Wouldn’t you agree?”
“I do.”
But before anything else, Noah knew she had one matter to clear up.
