CH 31

At the tremendous information I heard from Adelio, I bid him goodbye and quickly returned to the duke’s residence.

“Don’t run around. You’re so uneducated.”

As soon as I came back, I ran down the hallway, and Grandmother who was passing by gave me sharp advice.

“Yes! Okay!”

I was in a hurry, so I answered her half-heartedly and didn’t stop running.

I heard the sound of her tongue clicking from behind as I moved away, but it wasn’t important right now.

When I finally reached Viola’s room, I caught my breath and knocked with a nervous expression.

However, even after waiting for a long time, I didn’t get the response I had expected.

I grabbed the passing maid and asked.

“Where is Sister Viola?”

I thought she would be in her room since it was already past work hours, so I felt impatient

“She’s practicing in the training hall.”

“Really? Thank you!”

I started running down the stairs again without catching my breath.

“Daisy! Watch out, you’re going to fall!”

After answering Liliana’s voice that came from somewhere, I came down the stairs safely.

“Why are you in such a hurry?”

I could hear Liliana talking to herself from behind, but I couldn’t answer because I was so distracted.

‘Oops.’

Perhaps the constant running had become too much for me, my legs were gradually losing their strength.

✲ ✲ ✲

I managed to move my tired, limp body and get to the training hall.

“It’s hard.”

I lowered my head, took a breath that seemed to pass, and rolled my head.

‘I came in a hurry, but what should I say?’

Whoo- Whoo- Whisk-

As I was thinking about it, I could hear the sound of a sword cutting through the air nearby.

As if naturally guided by the sound, I lifted my head and the training hall where the sunset was setting spread out in front of me.

Viola was training while standing alone in the center of the training hall.

The way Viola swung her sword was light like blowing wind, and it was so cool that it looked like a piece of art.

The power carried by the sword remained unshakable and calm at all times as if she didn’t get tired from the continuous rapid movements.

‘Amazing.’

As I stared at the beautiful figure, fascinated by it, Viola felt my gaze and turned her head toward me.

“Daisy?”

She looked a little surprised.

I clapped my hands incessantly, forgetting my purpose in coming here.

“Sister, you’re so cool.”

“I just wielded the sword.”

Viola wiped the sweat off her chin with an indifferent look.

“No, it was great. Sister, you looked as though you were born to hold a sword.”

“…Really?”

“Yes! I think I know why the craftsmen want to make a sword for Sister! It’s amazing!”

Fortunately, she didn’t seem to be in a bad mood, even though I twinkled my eyes and uttered in admiration.

‘Well, she must be used to this kind of compliment.’

I couldn’t hide my pride and was smiling to myself when Viola asked.

“But what brings you here? Are you going to start working out again?”

She frowned as if she was recalling the past.

Seeing Viola’s concerned gaze, I shook my head.

“I came to ask Sister to go on a picnic with me together in a month.”

I hurriedly added a plausible reason and continued.

“Let’s go on a picnic together on the weekend. I’m going to take a packed lunch and go see the autumn leaves.”

“Picnic?”

“Yes! The hill behind the duchy is full of colored leaves in autumn! Whenever I saw autumn leaves, I wanted to go on a picnic with Sisters.”

Viola tried to answer my words right away, but she paused and hardened.

“Sorry. I don’t think I can.”

“Yes? Why?”

“There’s a knight competition at that time. I have to participate.”

At the words that came out of Viola’s mouth, I didn’t panic and continued talking.

“Uh, Sister is the leader of the First Knight Order, so why would Sister need to go to the competition? Honestly, the judges wouldn’t know.”

The more I spoke, the less confident I became and the more my voice got smaller and smaller.

‘I should have come up with a good reason! Should I just pester her to come with me?’

But I didn’t want to be the ugly little sister who was acting like a kid and yelling at her to go on a picnic with me.

‘Is this useless?’

As I kept looking at Viola, she put her hand on my head.

“You’re thinking strange things right now.”

“I didn’t think of anything strange.”

“Didn’t you think asking me was useless?”

“…I didn’t.”

“Look me in the eye and say it.”

She flicked me on the forehead because I couldn’t make eye contact.

“Ouch.”

It was only loud and less powerful, but it hurt.

When I grabbed my forehead and pouted, Viola softened the corner of her mouth and smiled.

“After the knight competition, I can go as long as we are together.”

‘I said it with the intention of skipping the knight competition, so it will be already too late then.’

“Early autumn leaves are the prettiest.”

I didn’t want to, but I ended up acting like a spoiled brat.

Viola began to soothe me, thinking that I was upset.

“But I have to go to the knight competition.”

“Why? Is there any special reason?”

“A reason.”

Viola looked at the setting sunset and said nothing as if lost in thought.

At her pensive look, I tried to say something, but I closed my mouth.

I didn’t want to disturb her deep train of thought.

“There’s a match I want to fight.”

Viola patted my head gently and recited as if it were a promise.

“I have to win.”

“….”

Viola’s figure under the swaying sunset was very solemn.

‘Like a person about to go to war.’

“Who do you have to fight? Sister is the best knight in the Empire. Sister is the leader of the First Knight Order…”

At my words, Viola spoke in a low voice.

“I’m not interested in such positions.”

“What do you mean?”

“Because status doesn’t speak of my skills.”

“…That’s true, but.”

“I’ll let you know when the match is over.”

I didn’t know that her determination for the competition was this firm.

I was stunned to think that her determination would not waver no matter what reason I brought up.

“Then can I cheer for you at the knight competition?”

“Were you not planning to come?”

Viola’s somber expression disappeared, and her sadness began to hover.

I hurriedly waved my hand and denied it.

“I would still go even if you told me not to come.”

I had gone secretly even when we weren’t close, but now I had no reason not to go.

At my answer, Viola held out her hand with a satisfied look.

“Let’s go back to the mansion.”

“You’re holding my hand even if no one is around?”

“Because the road is bumpy and you might fall.”

I smiled at Viola’s nonsense and held her hand tightly.

‘But I can’t just watch and stay still. I’ll have to think of another way.’

✲ ✲ ✲

“Goodbye, miss!”

Leaving Isabelle’s bright voice behind, I climbed into the carriage.

Trying to shake off the tension, I held on to the large basket tightly so that I wouldn’t drop it.

Duke Liviatan’s splendid carriage left the duke’s residence vigorously.

Looking at the strong sunlight, it seemed that summer had really come.

‘I can do this.’

After staying up all night thinking, I couldn’t come up with ways to stop Viola from participating in the knight competition.

‘Then there is only one way.’

Looking back on my dream, Viola had complained of injustice, claiming that the opponent was cheating.

I didn’t know yet what kind of trick her opponent did in the final, but I just needed to stop him before that.

In order to do that, I had to first look at what kind of person the other person was.

‘I’m going to go to see the place where Sister works, too.’

It wouldn’t be a nuisance because Viola had said that I could come to the Knight Order at any time since she was disappointed that I only hung out with Liliana in the past.

‘I brought a lunch box, so I have plenty of excuses. The final opponent was definitely a man called Theodore.’

A commoner knight with outstanding skills.

‘If it looks like he’s going to do something suspicious, I’ll have to stop him somehow!’

In order to do that, I would have to visit their training hall often, but I was a little worried about whether that would be possible.

The carriage ran fast.

I quickly arrived in front of the Imperial palace.

‘It’s quite hot.’

I fixed my hat so that it wouldn’t fly off, got off the carriage, and started walking slowly.

‘I can’t ride the carriage to enter a place where the knights are.’

Walking aimlessly under the scorching sun, it was so hot that sweat ran down my back.

‘Is this really the right way?’

It was so hot, no matter how much I walked, I couldn’t find the destination I wanted.

On the contrary, the more I stepped forward, the thicker the bush became. No matter how you looked at it, it seemed I was lost.

“I am in big trouble.”

Had I known this was going to happen, I would have brought an escort with me.

The basket was heavy and the polished road had disappeared before I knew it.

I stopped in place and looked around for a long time, unable to hide my embarrassment.

‘What do I do? I’m completely lost.’

How did I get here? My head was spinning.

‘What should I do?’

I couldn’t decide whether I should stand still or walk recklessly forward.

At that moment of confusion, I heard a rustling sound from somewhere.

I was startled and turned my gaze that way, and I saw someone yawning and getting up.

“Hoam. I’m so sleepy I might die.”

I approached the familiar knight uniform with a welcoming smile.

‘I’m glad! I have someone to ask for help.’

“Excuse me!”

I smiled broadly and called out to the man, and at my voice, he turned his head this way.

Then he distorted his expression and uttered in a voice mixed with irritation.

“What the hell?”

“Yes?”

“Are you following me all the way here? You bloody stalker.”