Chapter 17

“Miss, you don’t look very well. Please come here.”

Marian held pale Elisabeth tightly in her arms. Elisabeth leaned over Marian’s ample bosom. It was like a mother’s arms that she lost when she was very young.

‘Now I’m in such a comfortable place. Please forget the old memories.’

It was ironic to find comfort in the midst of people trying to exploit her, but it was clear that she was safe now. Because no one bothers or blames Elisabeth anymore.

“You sometimes make a face that seems like you have nightmares even when you’re awake.”

“Do I?”

“Yes. Do you know how my heart feels every time you do that?”

“I’m sorry.”

“I’m not saying you should be sorry. I’m telling you to forget all your nightmares. Because this Marian will always be by your side.”

Marian took Elisabeth off her arms for a moment and looked at the little girl’s baby face. And then she smiled warmly like a mother. Elisabeth was a little teary, as the face seemed to say ‘be reassured’ once again.

Elisabeth laughed after Marian’s smile so as not to cry. It was a rather quick smile, but she felt much better.

At first, it was Marian who drew a clear line and treated Elisabeth. Suddenly, when she turned his head, she looked at Elisabeth with cold eyes.

But as time went by, Marian took care of Elisabeth as if she were really a mother. Her eyes, which she casually met, were filled with warmth instead of coldness. She thought it was just a feeling, but Elisabeth wanted to lean on Marian once in a while to see if she was infected with her warmth.

‘I know nothing about Mrs. Marian.’

But unlike the Daughtry men, who were like iron walls, she could ask Marian this and that.

“How did Mrs. Marian come to work here?”

“His Grace, Count Daughtry took me off the street after I lost my husband. I was a Viscount’s wife, but it was only a title. After my husband’s funeral, I didn’t have any money left. If it weren’t for His Grace, I might have starved to death.”

“I’m glad to hear that. If it weren’t for His Grace, then I wouldn’t have met Mrs. Marian.”

“If I hadn’t met Miss, my life would have been boring, but I’m glad. I thought I was getting old without a family, but it’s like I met a beautiful daughter.”

Embracing herself in Marian’s arms, Elisabeth looked out the window again.

“But Miss is very well-behaved.”

“Me?”

“Yes. Usually kids like to go out on the balcony and run around, but Miss just quietly looks out the window.”

Elisabeth felt a prick in her conscience.

‘Because it’s all about a strict brother.’

She couldn’t bear to say that.

“Because the balcony is dangerous.”

“You’re well aware.”

Marian said delightedly.

“But what’s Dylan doing with the Marquis Dalton?”

“He’s doing sword training. Marquis Dalton is an excellent swordsman.”

“If he can’t be a seed, can’t he learn from his father, the Count?”

“The Count is educating the whole of knighthood in etiquette. He’s especially good at horseback riding.”

“Wow, so he’s a good rider?”

“Please ask him to give you a ride.”

“Can I?”

Elisabeth asked, cautiously expressing her expectations.

“Of course. He’ll love it.”

Marian gave Elisabeth a small pat on the back. Victoire will not only love it, but will prepare the horse right away like he had been waiting.

Marian suddenly realized that Elisabeth was looking out again.

‘She’s been looking out whenever she has time. Do you want to play outside?’

It’s understandable because she always stays in the mansion. Moreover, Marquis Dalton was the first outsider she met since she was adopted. It was natural for a little girl to be curious.

“Miss, do you want to go see Young Master Dylan’s swordsmanship?”

“Can I? Won’t I get in trouble?”

“Who would dare scold you?”

“I used to grow up in a lot of trouble.”

“Where does our Miss get scolded for being in trouble?”

“I get scolded for eating, I get scolded for sleeping, I get scolded for studying, I get scolded for playing… Hmm, just everything.”

Elisabeth was depressed. Marian hugged Elisabeth tightly.

“Eup! Marian, I’m out of breath!”

“Oh, I’m sorry. Miss.”

Marian let Elisabeth go. Elisabeth found Marian’s eyes slightly wet.

‘Oh? Are you crying?’

“Marian, why…”

“Miss! Let’s go to Master Damon!”

“What? All of a sudden?”

“I’m sure His Grace won’t allow me to watch the swordsmanship training because they’re dangerous. So you should ask Master Damon.”

“I’m just looking around. Is it dangerous?”

“You’ll be surprised to see it. Ho ho.”

Marian smiled expectantly.

Elisabeth tilted her head.

In her previous life, she has seen many official trials of Cabezo family knights. Knights used to show dizzying glitzy skills with weapons. But even so, there was no way that anyone who only watched from afar would get hurt.

‘Just how great are you trying to show me?’

***

Damon, who was looking at a book in the study, looked up and glanced at Elisabeth and Marian.

“You want to see the sword fight?”

“Yes. I’d like to see if Dylan’s doing well.”

“Dylan would be so nervous if you were watching.”

“Why?”

“He’s bothered about you.”

Elisabeth knew. He even got mad at her for worrying how much she cared about it.

‘Would he hate it if I went to see it?’

Elisabeth didn’t want to go against Dylan’s temper. To get along well here, she had to get along with Dylan, so she shouldn’t do anything he dislikes.

‘Except for telling me to get out, I have to listen carefully. Well… we should go back to the room.’

Damon’s eyes grew bigger as Elisabeth became sullen.

“Elisabeth. You don’t have to mind Dylan doing that. If he bothers you, I’ll beat him…”

“That’s not allowed!”

Then he’ll end up hating her even more without an answer!

Elisabeth said it urgently, Damon laughed it off.

“You don’t have to worry about it anyway. If you come to see him for a while from afar, Dylan won’t know.”

“That’s right, Miss. Go outside to get some fresh air. The drill hall is over the mansion, so it’s a different atmosphere.”

“Over the mansion?”

Elisabeth’s eyes trembled with anticipation. There was a big forest right next to the mansion. It meant that there was a drill hall there. It was the first time she had gone out of the mansion since she came here.

This sweet temptation was beyond Elisabeth’s control.

“I’m just looking at it from afar.”

Elisabeth said, unable to conceal her excitement.

***

The roaring sword struck sharply in the air.

If you look closely, the two swords did not actually touch. The silver and yellow auras on the sword were bumping into each other, giving off energy. The silver aura and the yellow aura, which struck one after another, were getting weaker and weaker and the light was getting weaker.

Marquis Dalton, with his arms crossed, was watching the swordsmanship battle between the two boys, who were determined to win.

‘As expected of the Leschine family.’

Despite his son Jeremy’s overwhelming loss, Marquis Dalton did not show signs of breakdown. On the contrary, he seemed amused.

“Ugh!”

In the end Jeremy, who failed to overcome Dylan’s energy, backed away. Dylan aimed the sword at Jeremy with a face that was free of disturbance.

“Stop, stop! I lost!”

Jeremy raised his hands. Only then did Dylan pull the sword.

“This jerk, if I didn’t declare defeat, weren’t you just trying to kill me?”

“You usually do a good job, Jeremy.”

“How can father side with him!”

Jeremy cried out.

Marquis Dalton approached his son. Jeremy flinched as the atmosphere was unusual. Marquis Dalton snatched his son’s sword without a word.

“Dylan. How about a revenge match for my son?”

“You mean, the Marquis is going to fight me?”

Marquis Dalton nodded.

“But that’s not a good thing, Father. No matter how much Dylan goes against father, he’ll get seriously hurt…!”

Dylan fixed his sword without any trouble.

“All right.”

“It’s nice to have spirit.”

Marquis Dalton pushed the dazed Jeremy back.

“No, but this is…”

Before Jeremy could finish talking, two swords collided with a sharp sound. Along with him came a gentle sweep of the two swords.

‘Dylan, you’re going to get in trouble.’

Jeremy thought.

Auras could be used with a little talent plus effort. However, how to deal with the auras was a whole area of talent. It was a job that could only be done by a top-level swordsman who managed auras as a knight. Marquis Dalton was among the best of all.

(J) ‘He could lose a little, why are you doing something you haven’t done? Dylan’s only sixteen!’

Marquis Dalton was not letting Dylan go. The brownish aura of Marquis Dalton was dark, unlike their usual teaching days. Dylan was pushed back the more he swung the sword.

Cheng!

Once again, two swords struck. Dylan’s sword is cracked.

“Dylan, don’t strike and accept defeat.”

Marquis Dalton said with a smile. Dylan clenched his teeth. At that moment the silver roared. Dalton’s eyes also grew bigger.

“Ahh!”

A tremendous amount of strength came from Dylan. At the same time, Dylan’s sword was shattered. Dylan couldn’t overcome his strength and fell backwards. The Marquis Dalton also took a backward step.

“Ooh, wow…”

Jeremy opened his mouth.

Marquis Dalton pulled up his flowing bangs and laughed with a ‘Ha’.

“I have lost, Your Grace.”

Dylan stood up, unable to hide his anger.

“Well done, Dylan.”

Marquis Dalton said. Dylan breathed heavily.

“But it’s still clumsy. You’re still a rough stone. You have to refine your own potential, Dylan.”

“Please continue to teach us a lot, Your Grace.”

The eyes of the competitive boy looked at Marquis Dalton.

“By the way, Dylan. You’ve changed the way you used the sword.”

“I’m not sure.”

“No. I can feel it clearly. It’s like…”

Dylan, who was still out of breath, looked at the Marquis.

“Is there something you want to protect?”

Dylan’s face which was full of competition spirit before disappeared and relaxed. Soon, he returned to his usual cold face, but Marquis Dalton did not miss the change in the moment he was caught.

“There’s nothing like that to me.”

“There’s only one thing that’s changed in your environment.”

“….”

“Elisabeth. Your younger sister.”

Dylan’s hand grasped the broken sword tightly.

“That kid… “

“I heard your father and Damon brought her. For the sake of your family.”

“That kid’s not my younger sister.”

Dylan’s cold voice interrupted Marquis Dalton’s words.

“Elisabeth is now legally a ‘Daughtry’. Of course, she can’t be a Leschine.”

“No, whatever her last name is, she will never be my sister again. And she won’t have anything to do for this family. So don’t talk about her…”

Just then, a rustling sound was in the corner of the drill hall.