Chapter 23: Little Affairs at the Mansion
“What are you daydreaming about?”
“Ah!”
The sudden voice next to me startled me so much that I almost jumped. I turned my head to see Victoria, looking as radiant as a water lily.
“What are you doing?! You scared me to d*ath…”
I wrinkled my nose at her in protest.
But Victoria, completely unfazed by my reaction, stood beside me on the lawn, staring intently in the direction the War Chariot had left, while leaves from the Honey Fruit Tree were blowing onto her head.
“Are you close with Margaret?”
After a moment, she suddenly asked me.
“Huh?”
I was puzzled, not understanding the meaning behind her question, and my head instinctively tilted to the right.
“Not really.”
While speaking, I reached over and plucked the leaves from Victoria’s hair, tossing them aside.
Victoria shot me a cool glance: “She knows something about you.”
!!
I froze, staring at her in shock.
But then I quickly realized that Victoria probably didn’t mean what I was worried about.
Although she wore a poker face, I couldn’t figure out what she was thinking. My gut feeling told me she was just a bit concerned about that time Margaret said, “I know about you.”
I wasn’t entirely sure; this woman’s thoughts were as clear as mud.
So I tentatively asked her, “Do you want to know… why I went to Silgaya?”
Victoria nodded lightly.
“Yeah.”
I guess I guessed right…
I blinked and gazed at the blonde beauty before me, slowly feeling my heart soften and calm.
Well, might as well tell her.
“Remember, I told you I have an older sister…”
I calmly began to recount my hidden thoughts from three years ago when Edward forced me off a cliff. I told her about losing those three years of memory and waking up in Woodward Forest.
I wasn’t lying; it was all true.
I spoke slowly, but Victoria listened patiently. After I finished, she fell into a long silence.
We sat on a bench under the Honey Fruit Tree, watching the branches bloom with many pink flowers. After a while, Victoria finally spoke.
“So, that’s also why you chose to become a Knight.”
“Yeah.”
I closed my eyes and hummed a soft sound from my nose.
And then it hit me—Victoria was talking about the question she asked me the first night we met.
I almost forgot… but she remembered.
When I first met her, I didn’t understand her at all. I recalled that we had an unpleasant conversation that evening… or maybe it was just my one-sided dissatisfaction. I hated how she bossed everyone around and enjoyed toying with others, always acting so superior.
Back then, Victoria had an overwhelming aura about her, a unique charm of someone in power that was hard to breathe around.
But now…
I could feel Victoria sitting right there. It was less than a meter away, where I could reach out and touch her, and I could hear her calm breaths clearly.
The innate prideful energy around her hadn’t disappeared; it just didn’t feel suffocating anymore. On the contrary, having her nearby was incredibly comforting, even reassuring…
Thinking of this, I quietly raised my eyelids to sneak a glance at her.
And then I locked eyes with her.
Huh?
This woman had been sneaking glances at me!
Seeing my gaze, Victoria abruptly said, “Peilo, you’re quite strong.”
I was taken aback.
Wow…
Was that her first compliment? She actually knows how to praise someone!
Oh no, a wave of flattery washed over me. I felt a bit giddy and wanted to laugh…
That made me feel a little less dignified; I didn’t want Victoria to see that. So I tried to maintain a calm facade, but my head tilted back instinctively.
“Of course.”
Victoria stared at me for a moment.
“But a little foolish, what a shame.”
The smirk on my face immediately vanished.
…………
Afterwards, I followed Victoria to the adjacent No. 2 mansion to retrieve my Captain Gray. Teresa’s giant axe was there too, and Victoria intended to hand them both to me.
“The Crescent Blade from the Central Workshop should be kept by you. You can decide whether to return it to the Church or give it to someone else.”
“Don’t you want it?”
“I can’t wield it.”
“…Oh.”
I looked at the two ominous black blades leaning quietly against the wall. I walked over, grabbed the double-headed axe, and weighed it in my hands… surprisingly lighter than the scythe.
But it still weighed over a hundred pounds.
“Whoa, this is heavy…”
I said as I hoisted the scythe and axe onto my shoulders, bobbing my head along with Victoria as we walked out of the courtyard.
Reaching the entrance, I frowned and asked her, “Is that family really not a big deal?”
“It’s not a big deal.”
“What can I help with?”
“Help me carry these weapons.”
“Uh…”
When you say it like that, it feels awkward.
“You can help. Just let me know if there’s anything else.”
Victoria smiled, a hint of mischief sparkling in her eyes.
“Let’s go.”
Her voice was soft.
As her words faded, a lavish, court-style War Chariot rolled slowly from the street, the strong War Horse whinnied loudly, hooves thundering as it kicked up dust, stopping precisely behind Victoria. Rect poked his green-haired head out of the carriage, smiling and waving at us.
Then he saw the two big, black crescent blades I was shouldering and gaped, giving me a thumbs-up.
My cheeks felt warm.
“I’m off.”
Victoria turned and walked away.
I couldn’t help but ask, “What are you going to do?”
“Preparing for the next funeral ceremony.”
She waved her hand and stepped up into the carriage.
Once Victoria left, I headed back alone to No. 3 mansion, dragging the two crescent blades up to the second floor. I folded Captain Gray and placed him back in the black leather box. As for the giant axe… I still hadn’t figured out how to handle it, so I just leaned it against the wall for the time being.
Once I completed my tasks, I dashed downstairs and ‘chomped’ my way through a whole plate of custard, patting my little belly afterward.
I didn’t feel full at all and wanted more.
Has my appetite increased again? Where does all this food go?
I didn’t know; I was thoroughly confused.
But I was definitely craving more.
Yet I felt a bit drowsy.
Time to eat something and go to sleep…
I got up and walked to the kitchen, opening the pantry, and a strong sour stink hit me.
“Yikes~”
I wrinkled my brow, tiptoeing to pinch my nose, pulling out a few pieces of yellowed butter wrapped in butcher paper.
The butter had been left too long—it was spoiled…
Turning, I tossed it into the trash basket and walked back to the cupboard, peeking inside.
…Flour, honey, and a few spices. That was it; I had no other ingredients.
Not enough to cook anything, what should I do?
Probably better to go to the nearest market.
With my mind made up, I left the kitchen, rubbing my sore eyes as I slowly sauntered in the direction of the front door, only to yawn a big, gaping yawn after a few steps.
“Haah—”
I stopped, stretched my toes, and pleasantly arched my body, my gaze settling on the couch in the living room.
So sleepy… I’d felt a bit sluggish since just now.
I should take a short nap, eat when I wake up.
So I turned back to the couch, kicked off my shoes, and curled up on it, rubbing my body against the soft fur.
Once I found the most comfortable position, I closed my eyes.
