“No. Regardless of Dame Nadan’s identity, there must be a reason why His Grace brought you here.”
Norman’s hazel eyes, reflecting the sunlight, shone transparently.
“Even if you are truly a demonic beast, we must obey his orders. Moreover, His Grace has declared you not a demonic beast but a puppy, so George has essentially committed a mistake.”
Valentin calling me a puppy and his statement that he would consider me a puppy apprentice knight was a fresh shock.
I realized painfully that they were people who had vowed to devote their bodies and minds to the cult leader Valentin.
“Nadan Laphelia.”
Still reeling, I turned my head at the sharp voice.
There stood Devon, who had been maintaining his sanity alone from earlier.
Seeing his sharp eyes and red pupils, my shoulders tensed involuntarily.
“I am Devon Kronheld, the Commander of the Knights of Berenice.”
It sounded like the sort of name that crawled right out of hell.
As soon as Devon finished his introduction, he turned his back on me as if that was all he had to say.
“Form up for training! Start with a light warm-up!”
Devon’s voice echoed loudly in the training grounds.
* * *
The only exercise I had done at Laphelia Castle was leisurely wandering around all day. Occasionally, running around the garden in circles to cope with my overflowing power was the maximum.
But now I knew. How foolish that was!
‘Let’s repent.’
I’d let a body built with solid muscle and overflowing strength go to waste.
Unlike Laphelia Castle, the training grounds, where I could run freely without obstacles, was the perfect place to warm up.
Adding to that the spirited shouts of the knights, which revived even dead passion, made my blood boil from deep within.
‘I got an earful from Devon in the middle.’
I was only supposed to sample it with the feeling of an observation class, but I flew around all over the place.
I thought I should just watch quietly, but I couldn’t control my restless body. I even joined in and knocked a few people over.
‘You needs to learn how to control your strength first.’
Devon’s expression, as he said that, contained no emotion, and I broke out in a cold sweat.
It was well over half a day later that I was able to leave the training grounds.
The sun had already set, and the red sunset dyed the whole world orange.
Even though it wasn’t far away, the sunset in Berenice burned more intensely than the one in Latlenta.
‘Maybe it’s because the season is changing.’
Longing for that energetic baby rabbit, I turned the doorknob and found an unexpected person standing in the room.
“Welcome.”
It was Aliya.
Her body was trembling slightly as she stood in the middle of the room, greeting me.
She must be scared after all.
I kept my distance from her and just nodded. Then, a measuring tape came into view in Aliya’s hand as she lowered her eyes.
‘A measuring tape?’
At the same time as I harbored doubts, she asked with a determined expression.
“By His Grace’s order, I am going to tailor Dame Nadan’s armor. May I take your measurements?”
Having more options than just a vest was a good thing, but even custom-made armor?
An armored beast, huh. The scale is getting bigger and bigger.
“……”
Perhaps interpreting my lack of response as reluctance, bewilderment bloomed on Aliya’s face.
‘It must be something she was ordered to do.’
I slowly waved my arms to avoid making her uncomfortable.
“Go ahead.”
Upon hearing my answer, Aliya stared at my palm as if possessed, then picked up the measuring tape and approached me.
Shoulders, chest, and waist circumference.
I spread my legs wide and lowered my body for Aliya’s sake. But it seemed difficult for her to measure my chest circumference.
‘She couldn’t wrap her arms around me even if she tried.’
“I’ll measure my own chest…”
“No!”
Contrary to my expectation that she would appreciate it, Aliya widened her eyes and flatly refused, saying it was her job and she would do it herself. Then, she quickly wrapped her arms around my chest.
The attempt was good, but even if she stretched her arms out as much as possible and hugged me tightly, her arms didn’t meet behind my back. I could feel her trembling on my skin.
I straightened my body even more, afraid that she might faint from fear if I moved even a little.
‘It would be better if she just asked for help.’
What’s the big deal about taking measurements?
Come to think of it, the people of House Berenice, from the knights to the maids, were all thoroughly professional.
‘Valentin is lucky.’
I wrinkled my nose for no reason and looked up at the ceiling. As I looked around the spacious room, I suddenly met a pair of clear green eyes.
“Huh?”
Valentin was leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed. I had no idea when the door had opened. His expression was so humorless it almost made me worry.
‘What are you looking at?’
I mouthed the words, careful not to disturb Aliya, and only then did the corners of his lips curve slightly.
Was that funny to him?
As I stared at him blankly, Valentin straightened up from the doorway and walked closer to me.
“How long are you going to keep hugging her?”
At his question, Aliya, who had been fidgeting around my waist, jumped away like lightning.
No, she wasn’t hugging me, she was taking measurements.
‘Is his eyesight bad?’
I looked at Valentin with a puzzled expression, but all I got in return was a confident face that seemed to say he didn’t know what was wrong.
“I have finished taking the measurements, so I will take my leave.”
The poor Aliya, startled, scurried out of the room without Valentin even glancing at her.
Valentin, who hadn’t even looked at Aliya, sat down on a chair as if he were in his own room.
“Are you just going to stand there all day?”
Yes, yes. I’ll sit.
I gently sat down on a chair that was much larger than usual, perhaps ordered with me in mind. The soft texture of the cushion felt good.
“Um, about Aliya…”
“Aliya?”
Looking at his bland face, I felt like I should offer him tea, but I decided against it.
It’s Valentin’s house anyway.
I scratched my cheek awkwardly and opened my mouth.
“She seems really scared of me. I’ll take care of my own needs, so how about having Aliya go back to her original duties?”
Of course, since I don’t know this place well, I need to get some help.
Even so, the thought of facing Aliya trembling with fear every time she looked at me like before didn’t make me feel good. I also felt sorry for her.
From her point of view, wasn’t it like her job suddenly changed from managing the mansion to caring for a ferocious beast?
‘Wouldn’t it be good to have time to get to know each other slowly? I still want to get along well.’
Contrary to my worries, Valentin curled up both corners of his mouth. In addition, he subtly raised one eyebrow….
‘Is he mocking me right now?’
Because his face was so pretty, people who didn’t know him might easily mistake it for a kind smile, but I could clearly see his intentions.
“Aliya is scared of you?”
Adding his soft voice made it the perfect mockery.
Since revealing his true nature at Laphelia Castle, he doesn’t even try to hide it.
‘Doesn’t he know anything?’
I glared at him with all my might.
“She was trembling even while taking my measurements earlier.”
“She must have liked it.”
I was speechless. Does he think everyone in the world is a pervert like him?
“It’s true!”
“Sure.”
Valentin, smiling elegantly, naturally changed the subject as if I had never brought it up in the first place.
“How was the training?”
“…It was good. But before that, there’s something I need to tell you: I’ve never fought a demonic beast before. You need to know that.”
I acted like I was strong, but the truth is I’ve never even seen a magical beast, let alone a demonic beast. What help? I’ll probably get grabbed by the collar by a demonic beast right away.
Contrary to my worries, he replied nonchalantly.
“It’s enough. Just training with you, who has power equivalent to a demonic beast, will naturally raise the level of the Knights.”
Valentin, showing a confident look, leaned back against the backrest.
“It would be fine if you occasionally played the role of a demonic beast and had mock battles.”
Ugh. I didn’t like that idea.
“What if I accidentally send someone flying like today?”
“The healer is always on standby. We’ll do it while watching the situation, so you don’t have to worry too much.”
A healer can’t heal serious injuries all at once. Only the awakened female lead can do that.
Does he think I’m a clueless idiot?
In the midst of my serious contemplation, Valentin’s finger suddenly pressed between my eyebrows.
“You just need to perfectly control your strength.”
“That’s true, but…”
I agreed with a sulky face and tried to remove his hand pressing on my forehead without hurting him.
Amused by the sight, Valentin didn’t move his finger from my forehead for a long time.
“Nadan.”
Valentin, having had his fun, called my name with satisfaction and stood up. Then, his fine golden hair swayed softly with his movement.
As I blankly stared at the ordinary but beautiful sight, Valentin’s face came close to mine.
Kiss.
I didn’t even have time to react to the feathery kiss.
“A reward for your hard work.”
Valentin, looking down at me blinking blankly, rubbed my nose with his thumb and left the room leisurely.
Bang.
‘What…?’
I couldn’t move a single finger until Valentin’s footsteps had completely disappeared.
* * *
The silver armor, weighing over 40 kilograms, fit my body perfectly. The cold touch and weight of the iron were unfamiliar at first, but now they felt as natural as if they had become part of my body.
‘It’s the result of tremendous training.’
Commander Devon was a loyal man.
As if trying to follow Valentin’s orders, he didn’t let me rest for a single moment for a month. From climbing the castle walls with my bare hands to martial arts and unarmed combat.
Judging that I couldn’t hold a sword because my fingers were shorter than those of ordinary humans, I received training to push the abilities of a beast to the limit.
‘Thanks to that, I can now use my nails freely.’
Before, my nails would have popped out regardless of my will at unexpected moments. I might have unknowingly shattered objects or injured people.
But not now.
If I don’t want it, the claws of the beast won’t come out from between my dainty fingers.
“Take a break!”
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