Chapter 24

Chapter 24

“Derrick.” It was the duke who put a stop to his eldest sons’ frantic questioning. “We were having a private conversation. Do you realize how rude this is?” he asked harshly.

Derrick’s eyes betrayed his uncertainty, and I was finally able to pull myself together.

He released the vice-like grip on my shoulders and backed away. Bowing to the duke, he said, “Forgive me, Father.”

My shoulders ached where Derrick had grabbed them, and I rubbed at them to soothe the pain.

Huh? Why isn’t he leaving?

He had come to a stop next to the duke’s desk, his eyes gazing down at me like his being allowed to remain was a given. The duke seemed surprised but didn’t comment. Derrick was determined to listen to my explanation.

Ugh... Now I’ve got two of them to contend with... I heaved a sigh inwardly.

“All right I understand what you’re saying, Penelope,” the duke said, clearing his throat.

Thankfully, the duke seemed to find the excuse I’d prepared acceptable, at least. While I breathed a sigh of relief, he directed another question at me.

“But if you bought him, you could have simply let him go. Why did you bring him here?”

“Eckles is an excellent fighter, Father. That was the reason for the exorbitant price,” I replied at once. I’d been ready for this question. “I’d like for him to be accepted as an apprentice knight. I’m certain he’ll be very useful.”

“As a knight of the House of Eckhart?”

“Yes. I believe it would be better to teach him how to properly handle a sword than waste his talent as a mere servant—”

“You realize how preposterous your request is?” Derrick interrupted. “Many would feel greatly honored to be tasked with even menial work in our household.”

“...”

“He is not even a commoner,” he continued. “He just a slave from a conquered kingdom. What is the point in teaching him how to use a sword?”

I glanced over at the duke and saw agreement in his eyes.

Damn it, why won’t you just leave?

A wave of exhaustion hit me, and I did my best to keep my voice level.

“I want him to be my personal bodyguard.”

“A personal bodyguard?” Derrick repeated incredulously.

“I can’t continue to be without one,” I said simply.

The duke seemed surprised.

“How can you say you don’t have one? There are over 20,000 knights in the service of our family.”

“I know they don’t think well of me, Father.”

“...”

“That’s why you haven’t assigned any of them to protect me, isn’t that right?”

Both the duke and Derrick fell silent at this. A nobleman’s daughter usually had five or six guards assigned to her. In addition, the more influential the house, the more guards were assigned. This ensured the protection of the lady at any cost.

After Reynold had mentioned the knight’s dislike for Penelope, I’d asked Emily and found that Penelope had never been assigned a personal knight. When she had to leave the manor, any knights that happened to be free were assigned to her temporarily.

I wonder how bad her reputation really is. Or perhaps it’s just that she isn’t worth protecting?

It had been a stab in the dark, claiming that no one wanted to protect Penelope, and I was disconcerted by both the duke and Derrick’s silence.

“I do not want to leave my safety in the hands of those who do not wish to protect me.”

“...”

“And there’s no guarantee that something like what occurred yesterday won’t happen again after I leave the manor entirely.”

Both Eckhart men shouted almost simultaneously.

“What do you mean, leave!” said Derrick.

“I don’t understand. Leave?” asked the duke urgently.

“I mean exactly what I said. I’m an adult now, am I not?” I said, intentionally widening my eyes as I shrugged. “I’d like to ask that you let me choose my own guard, if only for my safety. Please, Father. Brother,” I said.

I bowed my head. They seemed reluctant to refuse.

More like they can’t.

What had happened the night before wasn’t entirely my fault, after all. That no one was willing to protect the duke’s daughter when she left the manor was a huge problem, especially considering the House of Eckhart possessed so much influence in the empire.

I didn’t really need a guard, of course. I just wanted an excuse to keep Eckles around. It worked marvelously.

“Well...” The duke said with a groan. “I understand. This whole ordeal must have been harrowing for you. Go and rest. I shall instruct a physician to come see you when you wake.”

“Yes, Father,” I said quietly, though I wasn’t hurt anywhere and didn’t need to see a doctor. I bowed a quick farewell and turned to leave.

“Derrick, stay a moment,” the duke ordered firmly as I exited the office.

It appeared as if he had been intending to follow me. As the door swung shut, I could see he was close behind.

Damn it, what’s the matter with you?

Startled, I shut the door in his face. What more did he have to harass me about? The conversation was over. Thankfully, the door remained shut.

I gave a sigh of relief. Just then, a white window popped up in front of me.

<SYSTEM>

Quest failed: [Go to the festival] with [Derrick].

Try again?

(Rewards: +3% affection score with Derrick and other benefits)

[Accept / Decline]

What the? No! No, damn it!

The festival was far from over. I slammed the “Decline” button multiple times, shuddering with disgust. The window vanished, and I felt deeply wronged by the game.

Also, why did I fail? I went with him, didn’t I?

I couldn’t figure out this stupid game’s rules. Wasn’t it an amazing accomplishment that I’d gone anywhere with them at all, given my past failures? If I’d failed with Derrick, then the same was probably true for Reynold, too.

Whatever. I got a 3% increase in the affection score anyway.

As I fumed, overcome with annoyance, I recalled the letters that had floated above Derrick’s black hair.

[Affection Score 13%]

Though I’d failed the quest, at least I’d still somehow gained the same amount as I would have if I had succeeded.

I guess I was right. The way to raise the brothers’ affection score is to avoid them.

Deciding that I’d avoid them as much as I possibly could, I made my way to the central staircase. However, my new resolution didn’t do me any good, as only moments later I came across one of the brothers.

“Hey. Are you a mute? Why aren’t you answering my question? I asked you where you’re from.”

Reynold was prodding at Eckles, who stood at the foot of the stairs, while Emily hovered anxiously nearby. I frowned and quickly drew closer.

“What are you doing?” I asked.

Reynold turned.

[Affection Score 10%]

His affection score had gone up, just like Derrick’s. Instead of answering my question, he nudged Eckles again.

“Who the hell is this?” he demanded.

I stared at “[Affection score 10%]” and “[Affection score 18%]” in turn, and, of course, chose the latter.

“Come here, Eckles,” I said.

Eckles, who hadn’t given any response to Reynold’s repeated questioning, moved like lightning to obey my command. He came to stand right next to me, at precisely the spot I’d gestured to.

“What?” Reynold scowled, then laughed as if he couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

“Didn’t Emily tell you? He’s to be my personal bodyguard from now on.”

“A personal bodyguard? You’re having a slave protect you?” Reynold sneered.

“Yes,” I answered simply.

“What’s gotten into you? Did you eat something strange while you were running away from home? What, you don’t care what other people will think of you anymore?”

“I told you I wasn’t running away,” I shot back, turning to leave. I felt close to passing out from exhaustion. “I’m tired. I think we should talk later.”

He stepped in front of me before I could take another step.

“Where do you think you’re going? I’m not finished talking to you.”

Eckles twitched. Perhaps because of Reynold’s threatening tone, I could sense a rising wave of hostility coming from my new guard. I raised a cautioning arm out to Eckles—I couldn’t let him be kicked out when less than an hour had passed since bringing him to the manor.

“Reynold,” I said with a sigh, biting back my irritation.

“Why do you need a bodyguard, anyway?” he shouted. “You never even leave your room.”

“I need one now. I don’t want a repeat of yesterday’s events,” I replied.

“Then choose one of the knights we already have! As it stands, there’s more of them than we know what to do with!”

“Remember what you said? Those knights have endless amounts of nasty things to say about me. I don’t need men like that protecting me.”

“...”

Reynold’s reaction was the same. Just like the duke and Derrick had, he stiffened and immediately fell silent.

“How can men who think so poorly of me be expected to protect me? Do you think they’ll even try?” I asked.

In saying this, I was giving him his share of the blame as well. He’d done nothing to stop the knights when they’d disrespected Penelope and allowed them to grow undisciplined. Who knew, maybe he’d even encouraged them? His blue eyes wavered uncertainly. He was struggling to find an excuse.

“Penelope. I just meant that as a—”

“If you’re going to say it was just a joke, save your breath. I was lucky enough to return safely this time, but if something like last night were to happen again...”

“...”

“If Eckles hadn’t been there, I could have been violated, Reynold.”

All color drained completely from his face like someone was choking him.