Arrogance (2)
Chapter 50
Everyone was taken aback when a sword suddenly drew out.
Not only Mendes but also his fellow knight, Abencio, instinctively reached for their waists.
However, Didier and Jenkins were one step ahead, gripping the hilts of their swords.
The situation was at its most critical point.
In the cold silence, the sound of metal scraping filled the ears.
Keeerrrrk!
Ray’s sword slid up Mendes’ chestplate.
As the tip of the blade approached his neck, Mendes glanced back at Didier and Jenkins.
Both had twisted their waists in preparation to draw their swords at any moment, showing no intention to stop Ray.
Without sufficient justification, they wouldn’t dare act so aggressively.
Only then did Mendes reflect on the situation.
It was indeed an unimaginable insult for a squire to dishonor a knight and threaten him with a sword first.
However, Ray had drawn his weapon based on the justification that Mendes had been disrespectful to Alesya.
An insult from a knight toward a noble destined to inherit a count’s title was far more serious than a squire threatening a knight with a sword.
If no issue had been raised, it would have been fine.
Had Ray not intervened, Alesya would have likely laughed it off.
Didier and Jenkins would have quietly stayed by Alesya’s side without overstepping their bounds.
But the moment Ray drew his sword against Mendes, pointing out his rudeness, Mendes had to explain himself.
Pointing out the disrespect Ray had shown to Mendes would come next.
If Mendes skipped this order and lost his temper with Ray, Philips County’s knights would consider it an insult to Alesya and immediately draw their swords.
By gripping the hilts of their swords, Didier and Jenkins demonstrated this intention.
‘Dare these people…!’
House Osiris is several times stronger than House Philips.
Therefore, even if someone from House Osiris committed a minor offense, House Philips usually turned a blind eye and let it slide.
‘And now they change their attitude?’
Mendes was angry, but the situation wasn’t favorable.
If he pulled out his sword just to assert his pride, he might really lose his head in front of the young ladies of the Philips family.
Even if Florya stepped in to reprimand Ray, it would look like she approved of the insult towards the legitimate heir of the Philips family.
Florya had no reason to bear such political burdens and disgrace just to protect a knight’s pride.
Grinding his teeth,
Mendes stopped Ray’s sword, which was about to reach his neck, with his hand.
After briefly looking down at Ray, Mendes knelt before Alesya.
“I apologize for my rudeness. Please forgive me.”
Victor, who had been watching the situation, quickly followed Mendes’ lead and knelt as well.
Alesya subtly smiled, her face slightly flushed, and then waved her hand to show mercy.
“Never mind. I am broad-minded, so I won’t make an issue out of such minor rudeness.”
Mendes swallowed hard.
Alesya had dismissed Mendes’ rudeness as trivial and forgiven him.
Now, if Mendes criticized Ray for committing a ‘smaller rudeness,’ it would look strange.
Besides, wasn’t Ray the squire whom Alesya proudly claimed as her own?
Though extremely hurt in his pride, Mendes had to keep silent for now.
‘That damn guy…’
He must have anticipated how things would turn out and acted accordingly, flaunting his arrogance.
While gritting his teeth, Mendes bowed his head again to Alesya.
Alesya looked at Ray with great satisfaction.
‘Indeed, my knight is different!’
Yes, if the master is insulted, a knight should know to step forward like that.
While Alesya revealed her pleased emotions, Florya stood a step away, observing Ray with curious eyes.
At any rate, the atmosphere was no longer suitable for further exchanges.
People from the Osiris house left first.
Jenkins picked up some leftover pastries from the table and whispered.
“Does Ray even have the standing to talk about hierarchy? He goes around calling Miss ‘this’ and ‘that’ all the time.”
If it ended at ‘this’ and ‘that,’ that’d be one thing.
The knights had seen Ray slap Miss Alesya across the forehead more than once.
The nearby Didier sighed and awkwardly replied,
“If Miss likes it, isn’t that fine?”
“You’re advocating such behavior, despite your claim to uphold chivalry. This isn’t ordinary insubordination.”
“It’s because of who we’re dealing with.”
Using different standards for different people isn’t exactly honorable,
But as Didier said, it’s because of who we’re dealing with.
Jenkins shook his head.
Still, there was a faint smile on Jenkins’ lips despite his muttering.
Anyway, Ray had drawn his sword to protect Alesya’s honor.
Though it wasn’t something to talk about with others, Jenkins acknowledged that Ray’s presence felt quite dependable.
*
Count Philip, observing the entire process from within the manor, smiled contentedly.
The Count prided himself on having accurately gauged Ray’s character over the past few years.
Just from the incident where Ray went berserk to save Luna, it was easy to see that Ray deeply cared for “his people,” even if he didn’t express it directly—showing considerable loyalty.
Thus, during the last four years while Alesya chased after Ray, instead of stopping her, the Count subtly encouraged her from behind.
Affection naturally grows with increased interaction.
Moreover, Alesya wasn’t some plain child.
She had a touch of naivety but was incredibly adorable, making everyone find her endearing.
Unless Ray possessed some extraordinarily unique sensitivity, the Count was confident, as a father, that Alesya would win his affection.
Of course, the Count once worried about Alesya following Ray.
From the moment the Count met Ray, he sensed he would become an extraordinary person, but his status was too low.
If Alesya got too close to Ray, rumors would spread quickly.
So the Count controlled Alesya to prevent her from getting too close to Ray.
“What a foolish judgment.”
Even if rumors stick, they don’t matter.
It doesn’t matter if the precious daughter Alesya dotes on Ray.
If Alesya can become “one of Ray’s people,” that’s enough for the Count.
It would be even better if Ray reciprocated and doted on Alesya.
The Count’s mouth curled up as he imagined Ray protecting Alesya as she grew into adulthood.
“Who will be my son-in-law?”
The youngest ever Swordmaster in the Empire.
“Kuh…!”
The Count adjusted his posture to maintain dignity after nearly losing composure with laughter.
It was still too early to think so far ahead.
Regardless, Ray’s existence was necessary for Alesya.
Once the “pact” of the Philips family concludes, there will likely be a brief period of confusion.
If Ray can, in some way, support Alesya during this time, the Philips family can quickly stabilize and continue to develop.
There may be whispers about the legitimate heir of the Philips family playing with commoners, but so what?
At this point, Ray was on the verge of reaching the graduate level.
Considering combat skills alone, he could already face a fully matured graduate head-on.
If this continues, Ray will reach the Master level before he turns thirty.
Will anyone still talk about status by then and dare to look down on Ray and Alesya?
They’ll all grovel on the floor if they value their jaws.
“Truly reliable.”
If Ray had only inherited talent in swordsmanship, the Count wouldn’t have handed Alesya over to him so easily.
However, Ray was a smart and broad-minded child.
Just now, for example,
Did Ray lose control and draw his sword in anger?
No.
He analyzed that his justification outweighed Mendes’, and thus confidently drew his sword.
Ultimately, Ray preserved Alesya’s dignity without escalating the situation and humiliated Mendes.
“A wise child.”
Moreover, being loyal and never forgetting received favors, even if his relationship with Alesya soured, he would surely lend a helping hand if the Philips family faced difficulties.
“…His thinking and methods are occasionally a bit extreme.”
Can anyone be perfect?
As the Count closed the curtain and turned around, a knock came at the door.
Granting entry, Jimmy and Matthew entered the study.
“Greetings, My Lord.”
The Count nodded, fastening the ceremonial sword at his waist.
An honorary title is an award sanctioned by the Emperor.
It must be conveyed with proper formality.
*
Once Victor confirmed that all observers had disappeared, he bowed to Mendes.
“My apologies, Master.”
“…It’s fine. It’s not your fault.”
“No, please punish me. I’ll gladly accept it.”
“…”
Instead of Mendes, Abencio spoke up.
“For now, watch your words. This is the territory of Count Philips. Although Philips’ knights flaunting their arrogance may seem irritating, it’s better to enforce discipline outside the territory.”
“I understand.”
“Nevertheless, that boy has crossed the line with his arrogance.”
Victor nodded.
A squire of humble origins had brought shame to Mendes.
That fact alone made his blood boil, especially since Victor himself was the cause of this incident.
Clutching his fists tightly, Victor resolved.
“I will certainly deal with him.”
There were many ways to teach Ray a lesson.
Challenging him to a duel under the guise of exchanging sword techniques would be the cleanest method.
Frankly speaking, even if Victor randomly assaulted Ray as he passed by, unless it caused permanent injury, there wouldn’t be much severe punishment.
At that moment, Mendes spoke.
“Do not do it.”
“Excuse me?”
Confused, Victor questioned, and Mendes firmly responded.
“He is someone valued by Lady Philips. Don’t unnecessarily cause trouble.”
Abencio chuckled.
“The heir playing around with commoners—it’s a disgrace to nobility. Is it the education of the Philips heir that’s flawed, or is the heir simply too naive?”
“Neither.”
Hamus, Abencio’s squire, chimed in.
Victor joined in laughing, but Mendes alone remained with a stern expression, inspecting his chestplate.
The surface of the chestplate, grazed by Ray’s sword, bore a thin scratch where the metal had been scraped.
Mendes examined the inside of the chestplate pressed against his chest.
The steel of the armor had swelled up like bubbles, significantly inflated.
The sword tip had injected mana into the interior of the armor, causing it to expand.
Due to his excitement earlier, he hadn’t noticed it, but upon opening the chestplate due to persistent chest pain, he discovered this condition.
“How absurd.”
To perform such skill requires proximity to Expert level at minimum.
Keeerrrk!
Pressing the swollen interior of the chestplate with his fingers, Mendes frowned.
‘It seems they didn’t take in a squire of humble origin lightly.’
He was probably just 14 years old, yet it was certain that he would reach the Expert level within two years.
He was undoubtedly a prodigy among his peers.
“Until we leave the Philips County, remain quiet.”
Mendes didn’t want to discuss the talents of someone else’s squire in front of his comrades, especially since that squire had humiliated him.
Though harboring dissatisfaction, Victor complied with Mendes’ orders by bowing his head.
