Chapter 89
“I want to protect Tove too, Oppa.”
“What?”
“But if I do that as the mistress, it would be unfair to the other knights. Not just the knights, but the maids and servants too—everyone in our household is giving their best. Some to protect, some to maintain the family’s daily life. So if I show favoritism toward Tove as the superior, how would the others feel?”
Bellia looked truly regretful and turned away.
“Tove, I’m sorry for kicking you. I was trying to seem cold on purpose… but that was too much. At least, I didn’t want you to be seen as the bad person while I pushed you away.”
The household staff looked sympathetic at Bellia, whose eyes glistened with unshed tears.
While a flustered Tove stammered, Bellia glanced at Varun.
“Well, if it’s anyone’s fault, it’s mine. I failed to manage my subordinates properly. I’m at fault.”
“No, Miss! It’s the knight who neglected his duty who’s at fault!”
One of the household staff shouted, and the others chimed in.
“That’s right. Miss, don’t cry.”
“Why are you crying for something Tove did wrong? The knight who shirked his duty is the one at fault!”
Seeing Bellia trembling pitifully like a delicate flower, the staff’s sense of justice flared as they glared sharply at Tove.
“You’ve kicked your own luck, Knight.”
“Because of a knight like that, the rest of us get blamed. There are so many who work diligently!”
“Exactly! You’re supposed to be a guard knight, yet you cause stress instead of protecting your master!”
“Why are you always on the east side of the second floor instead of protecting the master? Huh? Then in the young master’s room…?”
The voice of one staff member instantly silenced the room.
Curious gazes immediately turned toward Varun.
“But brother, why is Tove in your room? He was your guard knight before, yes, but not anymore, right?”
Bedol spoke on behalf of the others, questioning Varun.
“He’s been sparring since he was my guard knight…”
“In the room on the second floor? If you were sparring, you should call him to the training hall. I’ve never seen you spar with Tove in the training hall…? Strange. I go there during the day and evening… or maybe in the backyard?”
Varun stayed silent. Even he hadn’t anticipated this situation.
Denying Tove’s neglect as stated in the letter he held was difficult because his father had already given approval.
If other officials or major household members besides Bellia had already confirmed it, Varun couldn’t exactly comment on Tove’s dismissal.
Moreover, since the atmosphere had shifted to blaming the knight rather than the master, arguing now would serve no purpose.
Varun quietly observed the situation, hiding his growing dissatisfaction.
“Hey, Tove. You tell us. Why were you always going to my room instead of staying with Bellia?”
Bedol took the letter from Varun’s hand and carefully examined the parchment as he asked.
“You’ve been coming and going shamelessly.”
“That… is…”
Tove had never expected such a situation, so he glanced between Varun and Bedol.
He, like Varun, couldn’t lightly deny negligence.
His master had already declared it, so what use would excuses have?
Yet admitting it meant he had no explanation for why he had been going in and out like that.
“Don’t look at your brother, you tell us. Why did you go?”
Tove just opened his mouth, unable to answer.
“Ah!”
Bellia clapped her hands.
Suddenly drawing everyone’s attention, she looked like she had realized something.
“Why?”
“Ah… could it be related to why Oppa dismissed Tove as a guard knight?”
“Huh? What are you talking about?”
Varun frowned, clearly puzzled.
“You cared for him so much, yet you dismissed him as a guard knight, and you call him every day… Is it because you don’t want Tove to get hurt as a knight? Ah, is it because Tove is very precious to you?”
Bellia asked with an innocent expression.
“Ah, I understand now. I once told the head maid to buy gloves for the maids so they wouldn’t hurt their hands while washing laundry in winter. Ah, Oppa feels the same way! He wants Tove not to get hurt… he values him!”
One of the household staff held his breath.
A very peculiar atmosphere spread among the group.
Though Bedol and Varun didn’t notice, some of the staff kept glancing between Tove and Varun.
“That really makes sense. Tove has been your knight since childhood. They must have spent a lot of time together… so naturally, he’s precious to you.”
A subtle nuance created a major misunderstanding.
Varun felt uneasy but didn’t argue, silently listening to Bellia.
Having already received the marquis’ letter, if Bellia approved the dismissal here, there would be no excuse to bring Tove back to the marquis’ household.
“Tove is precious to you, right? Then I won’t dismiss him. He’s precious, isn’t he?”
Bellia deliberately emphasized that she wasn’t a knight.
Varun couldn’t shake his unease but nodded reluctantly.
“…Yeah, that’s right.”
“Ah!”
While other firstborn sons were engaged early, Varun had reached adulthood without a betrothal.
The household staff, who had speculated this was because of the late mistress, gaped in astonishment.
Feeling a strange gaze, Varun spoke, irritated.
“Tove has served as a household knight for a long time, so let’s postpone the dismissal.”
“My father has already approved it… Fine. I’ll take responsibility and cancel it. But then, Oppa, you take Tove.”
Bellia glared coldly at Tove.
“Tove, reflect. You’ve lost your master’s trust as a guard knight.”
“I’m sorry.”
Tove bowed deeply.
“Oppa, you’ll take him, right?”
“…Yes.”
“He’s precious to you, so treat him well. I guess I became a hindrance. Tove, take good care of Oppa.”
Varun nodded silently, sensing something odd but accepting the proposal.
Seeing this, several household staff turned pale or flushed.
“Then I’ll cancel Tove’s dismissal and just remove my guard knight position. Ah, and Oppa…”
Bellia smiled faintly at Varun.
Varun, nervous, frowned, anticipating another remark.
Seeing this, Bellia gave a victorious smile.
“If you take Tove, my guard knight position becomes vacant, so I’ll take one of your knights.”
“What?”
Varun’s eyes widened.
Bellia observed his stunned expression as if she had just hit him over the head.
“Why? If Oppa takes one of my knights, I should take one too. It’s only fair.”
“Eh? Exchange guard knights? Just hire a new one.”
Bedol, who had been quietly listening, suddenly interjected.
“The number of guard knights for me or Oppa is fixed anyway. I don’t want to create a fuss by hiring another.”
Varun’s mind went blank.
He pictured the brown-haired knight he had considered discarded.
At the same time, he felt a déjà vu reminiscent of the Bea attack incident.
It felt like discovering something he had overlooked.
“Ah, the knight you sent on an errand before… Rude, who ranked second in my guard knight sparring. Give him to me.”
Bellia smiled.
Hidden within that smile was a sharp sting, and Varun stiffened.
Unconsciously, he turned his head toward the direction of the capital mansion.
At that moment, he realized Bea might not be in the outskirts but in the very heart of the capital.
“Search everywhere!”
At that moment, the marquis of Arpedi’s knights patrolled the capital streets.
They spared no effort, along with the royal guards, to check every route from the workshop to the palace.
Yet, nowhere in the capital could they find the stolen royal tribute.
