Chapter 53

“No, it’s a great honor to work for the one who saved me.”

‘Finally, I have someone who is completely on my side!’

“I still lack a lot, but please take care of me in the future.”

Hiding my joy, I smiled gracefully like a lady.

After further discussion about employment, Shuna returned.

“I look forward to your kind cooperation.”

Moments later, someone knocked on the door.

I thought it was the maid, so I answered lightly.

“Come in.”

But the one who opened the door was an unexpected person.

“… Sir Laurent?”

Laurent Delphine. A member of the Raven Knights who has a bad relationship with me.

“May I come in?” Still in the doorway, he asked with a sullen expression.

“Oh, yeah.”

A young knight who came in with reluctant steps stood in front of me.

“Who scolded you?”

He replied in surprise. “Sorry? Just a few. Aide Ordin, Sir Aren, and my father… … .”

No, that’s not ‘a few.’

“How do you know?”

“Your face says it all.”

It seems that he was not aware that he had such a gloomy expression.

‘You’re not good at hiding your feelings.’

“Anyway, what brings you here?”

“Ah, that… … .”

After hesitating for a moment, Laurent bowed his head.

“I’m sorry, ma’am!”

I didn’t expect to receive an apology like this right away, so I was taken aback.

“Sir, why all of a sudden? Who told you to do this?”

Are you under someone’s pressure?

“Oh, no. I don’t do this because someone told me to.”

“Is that so?”

“What you said was right, madam. The fact that the real culprit was someone else, that I acted emotionally, and that I behaved inappropriately.”

“I’m glad you know… .”

“I’m also sorry for accusing you of only doing all of that out of boredom.”

Then he spoke with a gloomy expression.

“I am not worthy of being a Raven Knight. My goal has always been to be like my master, but I’m ashamed.”

It was a more sincere reflection than I had imagined.

I suddenly wondered.

“… Sir Laurent, how old are you exactly?”

“I am 17 years old.”

‘He’s only the age of a high school student.’

“Are you seriously reflecting on yourself?”

“Yes.”

“You’re not going to do the same thing again, are you?”

“Of course not.”

“Then if I ask you to write an apology letter, will you do it?”

“Oh, yes, how many pages should I write?”

The last one was a joke, but he replied very seriously. Looks like he’s done it a few times.

I laughed briefly.

“No, never mind.”

‘I think I can see why the members like him.’

The passionate attitude of sincerely reflecting on mistakes would have looked very heartwarming from the perspective of the elderly. It’s not an easy thing to do as a teenager.

One thing came to mind while I was thinking about that.

“By the way, instead of an apology letter, you have one thing to do.”

Laurent made a curious expression.

“What is it?”

I smiled. “Escort me when I need it. I feel bad for giving this burden only to Sir Aren and Sir Hillis.”

In fact, this is a superficial reason.

‘If I get closer to Sir Laurent, it will be easier for me to make a good image among the Knights.’

He is the youngest and is greatly loved by his seniors.

If such a kid shows that he is friendly with me and spreads good stories, it will definitely have an effect on improving my image among the Knights.

‘Anyway, I’m shameless if I keep fighting with a kid in his late teens.’

It is a hundred times more beneficial to me to show a generously forgiving figure like an elder than to remain in a bad relationship.

Laurent, unaware of my plans, nodded his head meekly.

“Yes, I will escort you whenever you want.”

‘Yeah, you have to get close to me and spread good rumors, hoho.’ I laughed inwardly.

“All right, let’s get ready to go back now.”

I was trying to get information related to predictive dreams, but there was an unexpected event.

I set off for the Ainel estate with a feeling of satisfaction.

***

Light footsteps like water drops could be heard in the hallway.

This time too, Rupert easily recognized who the owner of the footsteps was.

He got up and opened the door.

The person who was about to open the door widened her eyes.

“How did you know?”

She also had the same surprised reaction as her mother.

He smiled at her cuteness.

“I know everything.”

He waited for the child to come in, then closed the door.

“You have to be careful when you open the door here.”

“I know, my mom said the same thing!”

Compared to other rooms, the office door is larger and heavier. It’s okay for adults but can be dangerous for children.

“Father, are you busy?”

She must be bored without Noel.

Rupert glanced at the paperwork piled up behind him. In the past, of course, he would have prioritized work over playing with children.

“Not at all.”

Leah looked up at him with her eyes twinkling.

“Then can you play with me?”

“Sure.”

“Hehehe.”

The child, who smiled cutely, tried to hang on to his waist. He inadvertently avoided her.

‘Oh.’

“… … .”

At once, his daughter gave him a disappointed look. She looked like a puppy in the rain, and his little conscience ached.

‘It’s not that I don’t like my daughter hugging me.’

Rather, it was good. Hearing the pounding of a small heart, I felt an indescribable feeling.

I wondered if this was what others felt about paternal love.

‘It’s just because of the sensation that comes from the curse.’

Such worries prevented him from comfortably contacting Leah.

“… you do not want me to hug you?”

Rupert replied hurriedly. “No way.”

He didn’t have the confidence to calm her down when she cried. So he bent down and stroked Leah’s head gently.

“It’s just that I’m not used to other people’s body temperature.”

“Why?”

“My parents died early, so I didn’t hug them much.”

It wasn’t a lie at all.

Since there was no adult who took care of him affectionately since he was young, it was awkward for him to hug someone.

As he grew up, his senses became more sensitive, and it was uncomfortable to be close to others.

As a result, naturally, he was reluctant to make contact with people.

The child tilted her head.

“If you hug often, you’ll get used to it!”

“It’s true, though.”

“Then I can keep hugging you!”

“… … .”

For a moment, he was at a loss for an answer.

Isn’t that an overly logical answer for a five-year-old?

I can understand why Noel often makes a fuss about our daughter is a genius.

“Ask my mom to hug you often, too! Then you’ll get used to it sooner!”

‘No, it’s more difficult in many ways.’

Of course, there was no way to explain why to his daughter.

Eventually, he gave up and lifted Leah with one hand.

The first step was to get over this difficult situation.

“Okay, help me get used to it as quickly as possible.”

Knowing a small thing had already left him speechless, he was looking forward to the future.

“So what are you going to do?”

He quickly changed the subject.

Actually, I’m not used to playing with children yet. Personally, I don’t want to just draw.

“Let’s play hide-and-seek. My father and mom did it together last time.”

She had enough confidence to deal with that.

“I’m very good at hide-and-seek. Can you win?”

In fact, if he focused properly, he could not miss her presence in the slightest in this mansion.

Leah, who doesn’t know this fact, said confidently. “It’s okay, I’m good too!”

“Okay, then you hide.”

At that moment, the sound of a horse neighing was heard in the distance. It was a very low sound, but Rupert noticed that someone had come to the mansion.

“Leah, I think we should play hide-and-seek next time.”

“Why?”

“Because I think Noel is back.”

“Mom? Then I will welcome her, please let me down!”

“Okay.”

Leah standing on the floor immediately reached out to him.

It means ‘let’s go hand in hand.’

“… … .”

Rupert hesitated for a moment. Her tiny hands looked so fragile that they would break if held incorrectly.

But he did not want to disappoint her again, so he carefully grabbed her hand.

Leah smiled as he held her hand.

“Let’s go see my mom together!”