Chapter 9

Maruka's daily life revolved more around work than she had expected.

When she woke up in the morning, she would eat breakfast, read the newspapers brought from the countryside, and start summarizing information on some documents. After that, meetings, negotiations, site visits, and approval of application documents. Before she knew it, the day would be over.

"--- See? Isn't it boring?"

It had been two weeks since she was assigned a dedicated knight. Because she had stayed late, today she was having dinner at a restaurant after the meeting. Along with the maid, Ami Fredda, and Maruka, I was also there. While tearing bread at the same table, the girl sitting in front of me said,

--- What's boring, exactly?

I put down the fork I was holding.

Wherever we went, the reactions to Maruka were not just respect and admiration. Because she was still a young lady who had just come of age.

What about marrying my son? How about taking a son-in-law? How about a tea party with my daughter? You should leave the work to the men.

Some said it directly, while others hinted at it indirectly.

And Maruka would respond to all of it with that smile of hers.

"Hey, isn't that...?"

"Yes, it's Lady Ella Reise, no doubt."

"Who's sitting in front of her? I've never seen her before."

"I don't know her either. She looks like a poor town girl."

"Doesn't she even try to entertain the knight with a smile? She's so high and mighty, isn't she just drunk on herself for having a meal with him?"

"It's too much to have to entertain an unknown lady. She's too kind."

From the nearby table, I could hear the kind of conversation I had become accustomed to over the past two weeks. Ami Fredda was stabbing the meat with her fork next to me, so Maruka must have heard it too.

She stuffed a small piece of bread into her mouth, chewed it, and continued as usual.

I couldn't take it anymore, so I turned to look at them. In such situations, there was a certain expression to make.

None. You shouldn't raise the corners of your mouth. You shouldn't lower the corners of your eyes. Laughing and silencing them would be counterproductive. There was no way to distinguish the type of smile.

"--- !?"

The two women, who had been chatting happily, turned their heads away after opening their eyes wide in shock.

"...... Sir Ricardo. Did you know that your perfectly composed face can be quite scary when it's expressionless...?"

When I turned back to face her, there was Maruka, looking at me with a bemused expression.

"Well? I just turned my head."

Her indifference was a form of self-defense. I knew from the past few days that she thought it was best to let them talk. I didn't think her approach was wrong, and I would use it myself. But as Maruka's dedicated knight, I couldn't just stand by and watch people direct malice at her. This was my job. I would do my best, and her words didn't matter.

--- Besides that.

"You think my face is like that, huh?"

It was the first time Maruka had commented on my appearance.

"... Yes. I didn't realize Sir Ricardo was so unaware of his blessed looks."

Then, for some reason, she looked at me with pity. I couldn't understand it at all. Why did I have to be looked at with such eyes just from a conversation?

"... It just means I'm a little more likable than others."

"I'm surprised. You are aware of it."

She blinked her eyes open and closed.

Maruka looked genuinely surprised. I had never met a woman who would say such things directly.

"... When you're surrounded by so many women, you can't help but realize it. Men use it as a topic of conversation."

"Knowing that you are the hope of the girls in this country, you still said something that could cause a misunderstanding in the middle of the street. You're quite defenseless."

"I don't want to use that word, especially with you."

Wrinkles formed between her eyebrows.

To her. To her alone, I didn't want to hear it.

"Do you know, Sir Ricardo?"

"... What...?"

I vented my frustration on the steak in front of me. I cut a piece with my knife and put it in my mouth, and then Maruka asked me, as if timing it perfectly.

"The more you protect me, the more you destroy your own future."

The time stopped when she said that.

"... What?"

I showed my true self for the first time in days. I was genuinely confused. I didn't understand what she meant. Ami Fredda, sensing something, got up from her seat.

"You may have forgotten, but I am also a young, unmarried noble lady. Having a male knight stationed in a female head of household's mansion, where there are no other family members, looks like nothing more than cohabitation when you look at the facts."

"......"

"You were sent here as my watchdog, and I'm sure they hope that you will eventually marry me and keep Maruka Sarge Perlecha under control."

"......"

Maruka took a sip of wine.

"I think you should be replaced. Your abilities should be used for the benefit of others."

Her long eyelashes cast a shadow. She tilted the bottle to fill her empty glass.

--- Up to that point.

Up to that point, she understood everything and was pushing me away.

I could feel something indescribable spreading inside me. If it were another lady, I wouldn't feel this way.

For example... yes, that duchess.

I had only watched her, the woman who had married the Duke of Gaialon. It was a fact that I had wanted to cherish the gentle and quiet Lilianna, who rarely spoke to me. But when I realized she was avoiding me, I stepped back. Without really trying to understand her environment. Just pushing my feelings on her and getting over it. It was a pathetic story. As Maruka said, I was a complete wimp back then.

Now, I can see that.

And now, I am.

Instinct and reason were shattered, and the option of giving up on the girl in front of me was not there.

The fact that I was being pushed away by Maruka Sarge Perlecha was squeezing my chest painfully. I knew it was childish, but it wasn't about logic. I---. I want to be by her side.

"--- Why? Why don't you rely on me?"

Surely, with your sharp mind, you must know that your choice of a marriage partner is limited.

If that's the case, you should use me, a second son of a noble family who doesn't inherit the family business, who looks decent, is young, and can wield a sword, as a shield.

If we were to get married.

I would only watch over you and never take away your work. I know I would be valuable as a deterrent to men.

Asking for your help might be presumptuous, but if you were to use me, you would just smile with that smile of yours---?

"I'm one of the candidates for a fiancé that you looked for for your sister-in-law. Then, I shouldn't be a bad person for you, right?"

"......"

Maruka fell silent.

That silence was as good as an acknowledgment from her, who always gave some kind of response.

She took a sip from her glass, as if to cover up the silence.

Over the past few days, I had noticed something about Maruka.

She is often perceived as a cold person because of her calm and composed voice.

But in truth, she is too kind.

She---can't bear to see others' misfortune.

Even if it's her mother and sister, who aren't exactly nice people. Even if it's her sister-in-law, who may not even like her. Even if it's a maid who needs money for her family. And even if it's a wimpy knight who has lost his sister-in-law. She can't help but give as much happiness as she can. She knows she has the power to do so and can earn as much as she needs to.

She is warning me because she can't bear to see my misfortune, which is being used for political purposes.

"Don't decide that my future by your side will be unhappy."

Maruka's hand, holding the wine glass, stopped.

"... Do you really understand what you just said?"

"Yes."

I nodded seriously, and she put down her glass. Her eyes were like those of a lost child, something I had never seen before.

Then, she let out a warm breath and looked straight into my eyes.

Her eyes had a different color from before.

"Do you think I was attacked by that monster duke for no reason---?"

It was a look of resignation. A look of self-mockery.

Maruka said it with a smile that seemed about to burst into tears.