Chapter 1.16

Chapter 16: Kind and Cruel

Several days had passed since the report of the attack on the second wall. Of course, I’d done my job properly with keeping it safe.

Since that day, there have been some subtle changes between Sigren and me. After he learned that I was a fighter mage, Sigren was no longer sarcastic towards me. But, when we conversed, he sometimes looked at me with a somewhat mixed expression.

Am I that weird?

By this point, Sigren’s wounds had also healed, which was a good thing. However, we ran out of excuses to keep him at Heilon castle, but at the same time, I was uncomfortable sending him back to the fourth wall. There would still be mercenaries who bullied Sigren. As I had decided to protect him till the beginning of the original story, I couldn’t turn a blind eye to this problem.

What should I do?

“Lady Fiona.” A maid called for me as I walked down the hall.

“Yes?”

“The Duke called you to the office.”

“I’ll go right away.” I replied lightly and immediately turned to head towards the office. Why did Abel suddenly call?

Nowadays, the number of times the monsters tried to invade the walls had decreased and it allowed me to spend my time in leisure. In short, I had surplus mana in my body, so I was wondering why Abel suddenly called me. As already known, I was a fighter mage and my job was to defend the walls. However, every time I would go to fight, I was always with Abel and he would carry me around. It felt like he didn’t trust me like I was not reliable enough to handle it myself. So, I was curious about what he would ask me to do.

I knocked on the door of Abel’s office.

“Come in.”

As soon as I received permission, I opened the door to step inside. Abel was sitting at the desk and skimming through the pile of stacked documents.

“What did you call me for?”

“It will be a long conversation, so sit down first.”

I quietly sat in the chair opposite him.

“Fiona.”

Abel rarely called my name.

“I heard from the healer that the little guy you took in is healed.”

“Yes.” Was he going to kick him right away? I still hadn’t decided how to deal with mercenaries who bullied Sigren.

“As you know, I am not a person who likes to keep strangers in my castle.”

“Of course.”

“And I’m wondering whether you knew the identity of the boy when you brought him here.”

“……”

Seemed like Abel had checked Sigren’s background which meant he now knew Sigren was a prince.

I straightened out my expression as best as I could and pretended that I had no idea. “Sigren’s identity? I’m not sure what you’re talking about. All I’ve heard is Sigren has been doing chores in the mercenary corps.”

I was an illegitimate child of an ordinary noble family in the first place. If I were to say I knew that Sigren was the secret prince of the imperial family, I would certainly be considered suspicious. Hearing what I said, Abel narrowed his eyes like he was trying to read my mind. However, I tilted my head slightly and did my best to put on an innocent face like a gentle sheep with a smile that tried to convey I knew nothing.

“Well, actually, compared to your existence, he’s not that important.”

“Yes?”

Wait, why is the topic changed to me? But well, of course, there’s no girl like me. Haha.

“Fiona.. I don’t know what is inside your head. Sometimes you look like a child of your age. At some point, you’re more rational and cold blooded than anyone else. I really don’t know what your personality is.”

“I.. I think it’s normal.”

Then Abel said in a soft voice. “It must be your own thinking.”

“…..”

He suddenly looked at me with a funny face. “Aaah.. is this what a genius child is like? In fact, I was deeply concerned about whether I should be wary or willing to consider your existence. It’s good to have both a strong and competent aide. But, if it’s more than anyone else, it’s gonna be a double-edge sword.”

‘Wait. Why is he chasing me down? It’s very unfair. I’m working hard!’

I shrugged my shoulder at the remark.

“… Are you going to kick me out?”

Abel, who saw my frightened expression for a moment, gave a small sigh. “No, it was the other way around. I’ve decided to keep you, and I don’t intend to withdraw it.”

I blinked with relief. So, what was the reason for calling me here?

Abel rummaged through the papers on the desk. “So, I think, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to let you do something else.”

It seemed like I was going to do something new other than defending the second wall. Moreover, I felt like Abel seemed to have been watching me since the beginning of our meeting and judging whether he could trust me. His question about Sigren was not only to see whether I could be trusted. In addition, as I recalled, Abel was hostile towards the imperial family. If a girl was sent by a royal family to help him, it was understandable that he would have no choice but to doubt me, even more so when the child acted differently for their age. However, it seemed like he now trusted me. I felt relieved. I didn’t have to worry about getting kicked out.

Abel pulled out some papers and began to read with a lazy attitude.

“There is a petition filed by people of the Fourth Wall. Some of the mercenaries used violence against the people and harassed some women.”

Abel handed me the documents he was holding. I scanned the papers I had received. The content was the same as he told me. However, there was an unusually familiar word.

Karl Mercenary Corp.

It was the name of the mercenary corp to which the mercenaries who harassed people of the Fourth Wall belong. It was also where Sigren belonged to. I looked at Abel who smiled lazily at me.  He must have noticed my recent troubles. That was why he’d handed me this case.

“I can’t believe those shits dared to touch my people in the land I protect. But, I’d like to say, that stupid courage alone is a gift.” Even though he was smiling at me while saying that, there was an underlying tone of annoyance laced in his voice.

Then he continued. “Of course, I have no intention of letting go of this matter. So, Fiona…”

So, this would be the moment Abel put his trust on me. It was really a good thing. It gave me a chance to resolve my worries. I was so grateful. So I raised my head and steadily locked my gaze to his. “Yes.”

“I will grant you the right to deal with the soldiers of the fourth walls. Also, let those insolent mercenaries pay a good price.” Then Abel laughed like he was enjoying his life.

“Also, for reference. My state, Heilon, the strongest shield in the north, would pay tenfold to my people but also ten times as much to my enemies. I’m sure you’ll be good at it.”

“…..”

Heilon was a place with very distinct characteristics. Of course, I knew what his words meant. It was a call to make an example out of them so that other mercenaries would not think of touching other people again,

“Anyway, that kid you’ve been caring for.”

“It’s Sigren.” I corrected him right away. Regardless of who Abel was, Sigren was a prince of his country. I didn’t think it was appropriate to call him that.

“Yes that one. You were going to see him off to the fourth wall anyway, weren’t you? Why don’t you take care of this too?”

“Okay.” I nodded quietly. With this, the problem about the mercenaries who harassed Sigren was almost resolved.

Abel laid his long legs on the desk and leaned his back on the chair. And with a smile on his face, he pretended to slit his neck. “For your information, I don’t need a bunch of bullies in my territory who can’t control their fist and their legs. Go see and end it.”

Really, I wish I could learn to make that kind of expression. In a good mood, I answered him with a clear voice. “I will take care of it.”