MBSGBC 15

Chapter 15

When speaking of the Chastang Count’s family, the Behemoth Knights are the first thing mentioned.

The Behemoth Knights, the largest knight order in the kingdom, is a well-balanced order composed of roughly equal parts mages and knights. About thirty percent of mages who pass through the Magic Tower choose that path as their career.

I could never understand people who had a romantic attachment to monster hunting or monsters themselves, but it was clear that what they did was noble work.

The important sentence comes right before that.

*I could never understand people who had a romantic attachment to monster hunting or monsters themselves.*

For example, someone like the man in front of me.

“Nico, were you a noble?”

I set down my teacup on the low table and looked up at the man seated before me.

Masculine features. Thick eyebrows. A red-haired handsome man whose rock-solid physique was squeezed into a uniform that looked ready to burst—he scratched the tip of his nose and laughed.

“In the place of learning, it was family tradition to conceal one’s status. My apologies.”

“No, it’s not something you need to apologize for… but ah, please speak casually. I beg you.”

“I’m more comfortable with the old way.”

“T-That old way feels a bit awkward now. There’s a difference in our status as well……”

“I have grown quite a bit taller since then.”

Height, yes, but his muscles had also grown enormously—he was easily twice as wide as before. How should I put it? The physical disparity was so great that it felt like being overwhelmed by him as a living creature.

Surprisingly, Countess Chastang’s second son, who supposedly owed me a debt of gratitude, was a friend I had studied with at the Magic Tower.

If Leon Voltain was the famous pretty face and madman of the Magic Tower, then Nico—that is, Dominic—was a rising star who had enjoyed brief popularity for his handsome looks and gentle personality.

There was an unfortunate reason why his popularity had only been brief.

“To think you were the second young master of House Chastang—you must be getting plenty of monster hunting in, then.”

“You remember my tastes so well!”

Dominic’s face immediately brightened, and he began enthusiastically chattering about the events of his last hunt.

The grand journey of twelve knights that began when a farmer in one village discovered a suspiciously large egg—full of dreams, adventure, and… monsters.

The story that had started when the sun was directly overhead gradually drew to a close as the sky began to turn orange.

“……And that’s how we discovered the young dragon and were able to extract its claws!”

“Still the same as ever. Even back in the Magic Tower days, your grades in monster anatomy were unusually high.”

I replied in a slightly bored tone.

Yes. This man was a monster fanatic. The kind who could talk about monsters for three days and nights straight.

Since it was an adventure that had resulted in deaths, it felt wrong to say it turned out well—so I just clapped lightly in admiration. He seemed to finally realize he had been talking too much, and promptly reddened his cheeks as he scratched the tip of his nose again.

“I actually came here today on other business. Thank you for making time for me.”

“Oh, come on, I told you not to be so formal. So, what’s this about?”

“I came to give you this.”

I accepted the envelope he held out.

After pointing to the part sealed with wax and asking if I could open it now, he nodded.

And the moment I opened the envelope, I regretted having opened it right away.

It was a letter of proposal.

“……”

I looked back and forth between the proposal letter and Dominic.

Is this for real?

Whether he noticed from my expression that I was struggling to process the excessive amount of information, Dominic began to explain further.

“You’ve gotten yourself caught up in something dangerous.”

“Euh?”

I realized a beat late that his metaphor referred to Leon Voltain. Honestly, these men. I wished they would just speak plainly.

“Leon Voltain is a dangerous man. Politically, that goes without saying, and as an individual as well……”

“W-Wait, hold on.”

I cut off Dominic, who was about to go on at length, and asked what I was most curious about.

“What does Leon Voltain being dangerous have to do with this proposal?”

“I know he’s been tormenting you, Irina.”

“That’s true.”

“As someone who owes you his life, I believe I should save you from that beast’s clutches.”

“Nico, you’re a knight. If you proposed every time you owed someone your life, ten bodies wouldn’t be enough.”

“T-That’s……”

Dominic’s face turned red. I thought I shouldn’t have said that. Because I didn’t particularly want to hear what came next.

“It’s because I…… have feelings for you.”

I sighed and leaned back against the sofa. Looking at the innocent-faced knight, I felt like I’d become the kind of villainess you’d only find in pulp novels……

One question came to mind.

Then why didn’t you come in the past life?

I realized I was being a little petty. After all, this was something I’d wanted to say to Leon Voltain as well.

Why were these arrogant men suddenly interested in me?

They hadn’t paid any attention to my life in the past life—so why now, all of a sudden?

Because my family was in the way? Because I broke off my engagement? Because I’m wealthier than before? All of that is nonsense. If these men had truly wanted to, none of those conditions would have mattered.

Love?

That’s a nice-sounding word. But falling for that once was enough.

“Even if it hadn’t been you, I would have done the same back then.”

“Irina.”

“Saving your life wasn’t because it was you—it was because when someone’s about to die, it’s only natural to save them.”

I placed the proposal letter he had given me back on the low table and pushed it toward him.

“For the sake of our friendship, I’ll say this plainly. Take it back.”

“Irina, can’t you think it over just one more time?”

“Consider this—pretending this never happened—the greatest gift you can give me.”

I rambled on, hoping with all my heart that my persuasion would work.

“Does Countess Chastang know about this proposal?”

“……No, she doesn’t.”

“Wonderful. So here I am, already caught up in a scandal with the Duke of Voltain, and now I’ll be known as the notorious temptress who seduced Countess Chastang’s son as well.”

“I’m the one who proposed. You haven’t done anything……”

“Who would believe that?”

Dominic stared at the proposal letter on the low table for a long moment, then spoke in a strained voice.

“……Leon Voltain. He was the same back then. He manipulated you, made you into a shield using the illusion of being lovers.”

He reached out his hand. It didn’t seem to carry any ulterior motive, so I let him do as he wished.

The man took my hand. It wasn’t a contact with any lecherous intent. He examined my fingertips with gentle movements.

A hand scattered with countless tiny scars like stars. A hand utterly different from my mother’s soft hands.

Holding my rough hand, he raised his head and met my gaze.

“Who on earth would make their beloved’s hands like this?”

I pulled my hand free from his and picked up my teacup. The tips of my fingers holding the cup were trembling slightly.

“There’s no need to bring up the Magic Tower days. Those were then, and this is now.”

“I simply cannot stand by and watch the same thing happen again.”

In his stubborn tone, I glimpsed a hint of his past self. Though his outward appearance had changed greatly, inside he seemed much the same as in those days.

“But,”

Dominic picked up the proposal letter from the low table and tore it into several pieces. He rose slowly and fed the torn scraps into the fireplace flames.

“Since you say you don’t like such a hasty proposal, I’ll withdraw for now.”

His profile, illuminated by the sudden flare of firelight, looked as resolute and solid as well-hewn stone. As I watched him intently, his gentle brown eyes eventually met mine.

“But I won’t just stand by and watch you be manipulated by that man either.”

Haha. Letting out a dry laugh, I offered some advice to the innocent man before me.

“You might not believe this,”

Well, whether he believed it or not was up to him.

“Back in those days, that man gave me a great deal as well.”