~Chapter 15~
“What’s the big deal about winning the Night of Duels?”
“Exactly. She only beat a few knights, and they praise her too much.”
“Aren’t they just giving Lysa Mediniel special treatment?”
The grumbling voices multiplied. What began as petty mockery turned into baseless slander.
‘Who dares talk badly about my girl?’
I turned, looking for the culprits.
As expected, in front of the training grounds stood a group of knights in imperial uniforms, talking trash.
“Lysa Mediniel sure knows how to grab connections.”
At the center was a smug noble youth, probably the son of a marquis, judging by how the others flattered him.
‘Ugh. Even grown men act like this?’
I’d read this in novels before: snobby nobles mocking a successful heroine out of jealousy. Seeing them ganging up like bullies, even in this fantasy world, was pathetic.
“Even the Imperial Knights, who are supposed to be elite, have idiots among them.”
Eric, beside me, clicked his tongue. I nodded. Best to ignore people like that.
We tried to head inside when—
“Well, well. Isn’t this the angel of the 2nd Order?”
Of course, the bully noble had to stop me.
‘Ugh, why do clichés never skip me?’
I turned slowly, already feeling the headache coming.
“Out for another stroll at the knights’ order today?”
With his cronies laughing by his side, he sneered at me and the 2nd Order.
‘Sorry, but you don’t scare me.’
Compared to the rowdy customers I had dealt with in my past life, this was nothing.
I smiled my practiced, business smile.
“It’s not a stroll—I come to cheer them on. You didn’t know?”
“And that means showering the knights with food every single day?”
He sneered dramatically, making his cronies chuckle.
Eric stepped forward, but I stopped him. No need to escalate without knowing who this punk was.
The noble smirked, using his status to play the situation to his advantage.
“Maybe you’ve got another purpose? Supporting poor Lysa Mediniel so generously… Are you looking for a husband among the knights?”
“If that’s the case, you should pay more attention to your looks, not the food.”
His cronies laughed along, perfectly in sync.
I clenched my teeth, but when their eyes swept over me so rudely, my patience snapped.
“This is really nothing special.”
I straightened my posture deliberately.
“What did you say?”
“I mean, even if I spend some money on snacks for the knights, it’s nothing compared to the Garnet family’s wealth. It’s just a little support for a close friend and her comrades. I didn’t think anyone would treat it like a huge deal.”
“Ha! No one does that much for a ‘friend.’”
“Oh? Maybe you’ve never had a true friend. That would explain it—you wouldn’t know the difference between subordinates and friends.”
“You dare—!”
One of the rougher cronies lunged, but the noble stopped him.
“Getting so sensitive over a joke. Is Lysa Mediniel some sacred being?”
He pretended to be calm, but his words were smug.
“Just say the word, my lady. I’ll handle them.”
“Wait.”
I calmed Eric down, though honestly, I wanted to smash that smug face myself.
Maybe I could find some dirt on him. So I activated the “thinking” emoji.
“Ha.”
A heart popped up above the noble’s head. I almost burst out laughing. Poor woman, whoever he was crushing on.
Holding back disgust, I forced myself to wink.
“Better. You should act cute like that more often.”
…Unfortunately, he noticed my wink and thought it was aimed at him.
‘Ugh. Kill me now.’
I ignored him and focused on the popup that appeared.
System
I Can See Your Affection!
Lysa Mediniel ♥ 62%
‘This bastard?!’
My beloved Lysa at the top of his list?! Unforgivable!
Then the list scrolled.
System
4. Amelie Garnet (new!) ♥ 15%
‘WHAT?!’
He dared to have me on his list too? Now he was dead meat.
“Just like Lysa, you’re a bit arrogant, but at least you’ve got good taste.”
The noble smirked, throwing Lysa’s name again.
“You seem very interested in Lysa, Sir.”
“…What?”
His smug expression twitched.
“Every other word out of your mouth is Lysa. Anyone would think you can’t hold a conversation without her.”
“Hah! What nonsense?”
“Oh, your face turned red.”
“When did it—!”
The more I teased, the redder he got, stammering like a small dog.
“I only joked, so why are you so sensitive?”
I smiled innocently, throwing his own words back at him.
His face went tomato-red, fists trembling.
“Oh my. You’re not angry, are you?”
“You insolent—!”
“I just meant that you’re not some trashy noble who insults someone he secretly loves but can’t have.”
“You—!”
“What’s this noise?”
Perfect timing.
Just as he raised his hand, Richard appeared.
Eric sheathed his sword at once, while the noble froze, shoving his hand behind his back.
“Y-Your Highness!”
“…Jonagel Jizir. Did I see correctly—you raised your hand against a lady?”
Richard pulled me behind him, his voice cold as ice.
I almost laughed—‘Jonagel’? What a name.
“N-no, Your Highness! She was being rude, I only meant to warn her—”
“So you admit you were about to strike her.”
Richard’s voice dropped lower, more dangerous.
Jonagel trembled, his face pale. Even I felt a shiver.
‘Rank has its perks. Power is the best.’
And right now, Richard was on my side. Nothing felt more reassuring.
“Lady Amelie Garnet is my officially permitted guest in the knights’ order. No matter the situation, no one is to threaten or disrespect her.”
“…What?”
I almost doubted my ears. Richard was defending me this much?
