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Chapter 17
Karen, reading my expression, cut in with a sly smile.
“I personally asked the Purification Department.”
“Ah.”
So that’s why she’s being so persistent.
She must think she’s the only one suitable to go to the Feather Knights.
But normally, Hayden wouldn’t respond to her whining—he was the type to handle things himself.
Just then, Hayden looked at me.
Why was he looking at me like that?
Was this his “You can do it, Sir Suilen” face?
A sigh slipped from my lips.
Not because I was troubled, but because it was funny how easily he reached out for help, even though I hadn’t helped him much before.
“Sir Hayden.”
“Yes, Sir Suilen?”
Fine, I’ll give you another chance. This time, accept it properly.
“Is it really just one magic item from the Feather Knights?”
“That’s right.”
“Then should I go get it?”
The man who’d been slumped in his chair slowly raised his head.
“I’m going into town this weekend anyway. I need to pick out a dress for graduation, so I can stop by on the way.”
But before Hayden could answer, Karen’s sharp voice cut in.
“Lady Carl Suilen! Nobles usually send their servants to do such errands.”
True. Normally things would be delivered straight home.
But I made a regretful face and shook my head.
“My disciple has to come too, but he’s still a child. I didn’t want to send him alone, so I planned to go with him. This way it works out—I don’t even have to enter alone.”
“How old is your disciple?”
“Ten.”
Karen let out a sharp laugh, her brows furrowing in irritation.
“Lady Carl Suilen, that place is dangerous. Not somewhere for children.”
Even so, if I said I was going, then I was going.
When I didn’t bother answering, she bit her lip in frustration. If I were someone else, she might have already lashed out.
Ignoring her, I perched on Hayden’s desk.
Before I even asked, Hayden eagerly nodded.
“You would really do that? Thank you so much, Sir Suilen.”
“….”
For once, I couldn’t answer and lowered my head.
Imagine that—Hayden groveling to me.
I hid my smile while Karen glared daggers at me.
“Good then, Karen. I happen to have business in town, so I’ll take care of it.”
“….”
“Since I’m doing you a favor, you’ll help me with something later, won’t you?”
Her reddish-brown eyes narrowed sharply. She chewed her lip, but in the end said nothing and stalked back to her seat.
“She left without being dismissed,” Hayden muttered under his breath, just loud enough for me to hear.
“Sir Suilen, relax your eyes a little. This isn’t your home.”
“What, do I turn into a commoner as soon as I leave my house?”
How bold of him.
“Anyway, if you’re grateful, show it with a gift.”
I didn’t expect him to respond, but he leaned on his desk, resting his chin in his hands.
“Fine. My watch is broken, so I’ll buy you a new one.”
“A watch?”
I checked mine—it was working perfectly. Then I shot him a glare.
So this was his way of scolding me for being late.
“Alright. Just remember—my gifts should be expensive and fancy. Don’t you dare bring me flowers.”
He gave me a look like, You’re really making demands even now? But I was completely serious.
If he dared give me another ugly robe like before, I’d throw it away right in front of him.
Golden sunlight spilled like glittering fish scales across the fine carpet.
“My lady, please sit still. Your hair will get messy.”
“Then you can fix it again.”
Despite her warning, I kept moving with the maid’s hands. Sage sighed helplessly.
“Why are you so playful today?”
“Hehe.”
I stretched my legs into the sunlight, smiling mischievously.
“It feels luxurious.”
“What does?”
“You brushing my hair.”
Sage just shook her head and kept combing carefully.
“I do it all the time, my lady. Why mention it?”
“…But this week you were neglectful.”
“That’s only because you kept rushing out early. What’s gotten into you lately?”
“No reason.”
If anything had blown into me, it was probably the gods’ breath.
“Starting next week, I’ll prepare everything in the mornings too.”
“Yes, my lady. I’ll be ready.”
With a serious expression, Sage tidied the loose strands.
Through the mirror, I studied her large eyes, freckled cheeks, and neat braids.
I knew that in the future, the dark priests would target people around me instead of me or Hayden directly. They couldn’t harm us, so they cursed those close to us instead.
If only I had noticed the signs sooner…
“My lady, why are you staring at me like that?”
“Because you’re pretty.”
“Oh, stop it.”
Her hands stayed steady, plucking out stray hairs as she smiled shyly.
“Is it almost done?”
“Yes. How about this ribbon color?”
I nodded without looking. She picked one that matched perfectly.
“Sage, we still haven’t chosen my graduation dress, have we?”
“You only decided on the color, not the exact dress.”
“I’ll wear the first one we saw. What about my hairstyle?”
Blinking in the mirror, Sage traced her hand from her jawline down to her collarbone.
“Your hair should be pinned up, so this line shows. A hairpin instead of ribbons would be best.”
“Of course. Just like before.”
She had said the same thing in the past. I smiled softly, remembering how she had panicked back then because she didn’t have a proper pin and had to borrow one from a friend.
“It has to be gold.”
“Why?”
“At graduation, it’s tradition to match the teacher’s colors. My teacher has red hair and golden eyes, so I’ll wear something to match.”
“Do we even have one like that?”
“I’ll buy one today.”
As soon as the ribbon was tied, I leaned back against her.
“My lady, you’ll ruin your hair.”
“You’ll just fix it for me later, right?”
“…Me? Go with you?”
“Of course. You have good taste. I’ll handle the rest—just get dressed and come along.”
“I’d rather not…”
“Keldan will be your escort, so just come.”
At the name of the knight she admired, Sage’s face turned bright red.
“W-what? How did you…!”
“A baron’s daughter can’t marry just anyone. What, don’t you like our family’s knight?”
“N-no, I do!”
She practically squealed, hugging me tightly. I laughed and hugged her back.
“And you said my hair would get messy.”
“I’ll redo it! I’ll be right back!”
As soon as we got into the carriage, Sage and Amon began chattering non-stop.
“Wow, it’s huge! Teacher, this chair has a hidden lid, right?”
“My lady, isn’t it hot? Ah, so stuffy! Shouldn’t we open the window?”
“Teacher!”
“My lady!”
“….”
It wasn’t hot, but they were exhausting me.
I waved my hand. “Stop asking. Just do what you want.”
At once, Sage yanked the curtain open.
But as she waved gracefully to the street, her body suddenly froze.
“Oh my god. That smile… he’s too handsome…”
“Move, Sage. You’re heavy, I can’t open it.”
Amon shoved her aside, and she collapsed to her knees on the floor, stunned.
I put a cushion under her, but she kept staring out the window.
Outside, a knight on a black horse was riding behind us, looking cool and dignified.
“Sage, wipe your mouth. You’re drooling.”
Startled, she wiped her lips, then looked at me with a red face.
“I wasn’t drooling.”
“Why not? Drool all you want—maybe then you’ll seduce him.”
“My lady!”
While I teased her, Amon pressed his face against the window with pure admiration.
“Teacher, did you know Sir Keldan’s horse is really handsome? It looks like it should be eating people food instead of hay! Its name is Harmon. My name’s Amon, though…”
His voice trailed off sadly.
Harmon? Sage and I exchanged stifled laughter.
She patted his shoulder.
“Don’t worry, Amon. You’re cooler than Harmon, right, my lady?”
“Of course. Amon is a god’s name. Harmon is just a horse’s.”
“But look at him—Harmon’s face is more handsome than mine.”
“What?”
Whether it was a joke or an accident, her words made Amon’s eyes droop.
“Teacher… is Harmon really better looking than me?”
“Hmm. Let’s see.”
I studied the knight’s noble horse and then Amon’s sulking, squashed face.
“When you grow up, you’ll be handsome too.”
His lips pouted like a bird’s beak.
As Sage and I burst into laughter at his grumpy expression, his cheeks puffed up like a horse’s.
