Chapter 4 – New Family
Even though it was her first time walking this path, Angela was able to find the dining hall easily with Sylph’s guidance.
“I will take my leave until you finish your meal. Please enjoy your food, and if you need anything, ring the bell.”
The maid bowed politely and immediately left down the opposite side of the hallway.
After confirming that no one else was around, Angela spoke softly to Sylph, who was floating above her head.
“Sylph, you should go back into the spirit stone and rest.”
Spirits who descended into the human world through contracts possessed life force, and to reduce its consumption, they needed rest—just like humans needed sleep to recover stamina.
[What? But I want to help you more, Angela.]
“I’ll call you again tomorrow. I keep relying on you too much.”
[Alright… if that’s what you want.]
Sylph emitted a soft green glow and transformed into a small spirit stone.
Then, as if being absorbed, it sank into Angela’s body.
The glowing light was visible only to Angela.
***
As soon as she entered the dining hall, a rich aroma of spices filled the air.
Following the scent, she saw a long table filled with various meats and expensive dishes.
It was a lavish meal, fitting for a high-ranking noble family.
Although she felt a bit burdened by such treatment, she acted as if it were natural and stepped forward.
Before sitting down, Angela carefully observed the people already at the table.
At the head sat a man in his thirties with blonde hair and a well-groomed beard.
Next to him sat a woman with braided teal hair.
Across from them was a young boy with the same blonde hair as the man.
Just as Sylph had told her.
‘That must be the father… the mother… and that child is Theodore.’
After confirming their identities, Angela walked toward the empty seat.
“Oh my, Angela!”
The teal-haired woman—her mother—smiled brightly.
“Sister, you’re here! I was so worried.”
Her younger brother Theodore greeted her warmly.
Aside from his blonde hair, he closely resembled Angela.
His emerald eyes sparkled with relief.
According to Sylph, the original Angela had been very close to him.
As she looked at Theodore, Angela was reminded of her own young disciples and couldn’t help but smile.
“Mother, hello. Theo, hello.”
“…You’re here.”
As she sat down, her father, Antonio, stared at her sharply.
His already stern face looked even harsher with that gaze.
“I heard you skipped training again today because you were ill.”
The warm atmosphere instantly turned cold.
Unlike the others, his face showed clear dissatisfaction.
‘Shouldn’t a father worry first when his daughter has been sick all day?’
Though the words were meant for the original Angela, she couldn’t help but feel annoyed.
“You’re supposed to join the Imperial Knights. How can you be so weak?”
‘Ah…’
Now she understood.
He was displeased because she had missed training.
In reality, she had been recovering from nearly dying—but he didn’t know that.
‘So training matters more than your daughter’s health… truly a strict father.’
Angela shook her head inwardly.
She had trained many disciples in her past life, but she had never scolded them for being sick.
She always encouraged them instead.
“You seem perfectly fine now. Did you just pretend to be sick to skip your lessons?”
His tone grew even sharper.
“Dear, that’s enough. What if she collapses again? You should let her rest sometimes…”
Her mother intervened, worried.
At that moment, Angela finally spoke.
“I wasn’t pretending. This morning, I truly didn’t have the strength to train. I thought it would be better to rest than collapse while forcing myself.”
She spoke calmly, meeting his gaze without fear.
Antonio was taken aback.
His daughter, who usually trembled in front of him, seemed different.
‘What’s gotten into her?’
“Starting tomorrow, I will attend training diligently. So you don’t need to worry about my schedule anymore.”
“…If you say so, I have nothing more to say. But don’t disappoint me again.”
“Yes, I understand.”
She answered calmly, without showing fear.
Antonio silently stared at her for a moment.
“Then let’s continue eating.”
The meal resumed.
For a while, no one spoke.
Only the clinking of utensils echoed in the large dining hall.
Thus, her first meeting with her new family ended quietly.
***
The day passed quickly in this unfamiliar environment.
The next morning, though her body felt heavy from lack of sleep, Angela got up.
After breakfast with her family, she took a short rest.
Then she prepared for sword training.
With the maids’ help, she put on brown leather armor and picked up a wooden practice sword.
Even though it was for training, she looked like a proper knight.
“Sylph.”
After the maids left, she called out.
A green light emerged, and Sylph appeared.
[Wow! This is my first time seeing you in armor, Angela! Even if it’s just training gear.]
“I never thought I’d be doing sword training either. Does it suit me?”
[Of course! You look great. But… it’s your first time, right? I heard it’s very tough.]
Sylph was right.
She had never trained in swordsmanship before.
She had never even held a sword.
She had always relied on spirits.
And since they protected her, she had never worn armor either.
“I don’t have a choice. I’ll just learn step by step.”
[I believe in you.]
Angela headed toward the training grounds.
‘A low-level spirit should be fine. No one will notice.’
***
When she arrived, a young man in his twenties was already waiting.
He had brown hair tied high and dark brown eyes.
Tall and handsome.
[Angela, that’s Vincent—the sword instructor here.]
Sylph introduced him.
‘That name sounds familiar… could it be?’
Vincent was the heir of Count Cassian’s family.
A renowned knight known across the empire.
He had displayed extraordinary talent since childhood and later rose to a position comparable to a knight commander at a very young age.
Angela remembered hearing about him.
He had manifested sword aura before the age of ten.
‘So much time has passed… he’s already grown into a teacher.’
[He’s very famous. Some say he’s the youngest knight commander ever—and one of the few sword masters.]
“Then why is someone like him teaching here?”
[Because Antonio is close friends with his father.]
That explained it.
Vincent had come to teach the children of the Mares family until they could pass the knight exam.
If that was true, then this was a rare opportunity.
