The Guardian Knight of Affection-Starved Young Ladies

65 – The Blue Spread in the Social Circle (08)

066.

It’s quite embarrassing.

Ecclesia Salon is a gathering exclusively for women.

Last time, there was an excuse that they didn’t know, but not anymore.

It means they can’t freely wander around the tea houses contracted with Ecclesia Salon.

Still, perhaps because he didn’t expect to be separated from Sinat,

Kallen was left standing blankly at the entrance of the tea house.

The reason was Sinat.

For some reason, Sinat winked at Kallen and led the ladies inside.

Eliana and Selassie tried to take Kallen with them.

But soon, realizing what kind of gathering Ecclesia was, they reluctantly nodded.

As the two young ladies leading the salon entered with Sinat, the remaining young ladies hesitated and then followed them.

Thus, Kallen was naturally left behind.

Why was that?

Judging by their attitude, they seemed to have quite an interest in Kallen.

However, it was Sinat, not anyone else, who took the lead and left him behind, making it awkward to approach him further.

“Um, excuse me…”

Nevertheless, there was a fortunate fact.

He was not completely left alone.

At the entrance of the teahouse, there were two other young ladies with Kallen instead of Sinat.

Tap tap.

One of the young ladies touched Kallen’s shoulder.

Kallen, who was seriously thinking about why Sinat had left him behind, turned around.

“Do you remember me…?”

“Pardon?”

“We talked when we first met…”

Fidget fidget.

Kallen looked at the young lady who was mumbling with her head down.

How could anyone remember if she talked while covering her face?

“Daphne, I think you should show your face.”

“Oh…!”

The other young lady next to her whispered to the one with her head down.

The young lady with her head down lifted her head, realizing her mistake.

A girl with quite an appearance.

Compared to those Kallen had built memories with, she seemed a bit lacking.

But still, she had a face that would be proudly shown anywhere.

Confidently arched eyebrows and eyes.

Her forehead was impressively exposed.

Kallen carefully observed her face.

A face not remembered.

“I’m sorry, but nothing comes to mind. Have we met somewhere before?”

“Ah. Ah…”

The young lady’s eyes, which had been waiting for Kallen’s words, turned to sadness and regret.

Kallen, feeling a bit sorry without realizing it, began to examine her face more closely.

But even so, a face not remembered does not come to mind.

“It’s… okay. It was such a short time… and I didn’t tell you my name…”

The young lady answered with a forced smile.

It was her way of trying to ease Kallen’s guilt.

But that appearance only heightened Kallen’s sense of guilt.

If she apologizes with such a face,

What man wouldn’t feel guilty?

Even if the man did nothing wrong, her appearance would make it understandable.

Moreover, Kallen had been living with Eliana, Selacia, and Sinat in the same house for several years.

He knew how dangerous it was when a woman sulked.

What trials and tribulations one had to go through to resolve it.

Among his peers, no one could compare to Kallen in this regard.

Kallen glanced away.

Next to him, a young lady with a bob cut that left a slight space above her shoulders was glaring at him.

And this young lady too,

Was quite a beauty.

Her appearance clearly showed that she was from a noble family.

Though surrounded by these two young ladies, it was not easy to maintain composure in this situation.

One young lady was smiling with self-reproach.

The other young lady was glaring as if she had done something wrong.

Kallen recalled the name ‘Daphnis’ mentioned by the young lady with the bob cut.

His mind began to work faster than ever.

And just as his characteristic calmness began to shine,

A memory flashed through his mind.

“…Are you the one who asked for my name when I came here with Lady Eliana last time?”

The name and face of Daphnis are completely unfamiliar.

The decisive factor was the mention of a previous conversation and the fact that the lady herself did not mention her name.

Kallen managed to pull out a scene from his memory.

From noble mtl dot com

As if his guess was correct, the lady’s face began to brighten.

“Do you remember me?”

“…Yes. Well, it’s not a beauty that one can easily forget.”

“Ah…”

The characteristic mood swings of Sinat.

It was something he had learned to survive those mood swings.

There is nothing like a compliment to soothe someone’s mood.

Whether it’s about appearance.

Or personality.

Or even a trivial action, it’s important to gently soothe the mood with a compliment.

Kallen glanced at the lady called Daphnis.

A pure smile.

Seeing her cover her mouth and chuckle, it seemed her mood had improved.

Looking to the side, the lady with short hair was also staring at Kallen with wide eyes, as if surprised.

“A beauty that’s hard to forget…”

Was it the word ‘beauty’ that pleased her?

Her voice had a subtle emphasis on the word ‘beauty’.

With a sense of relief.

Kallen hurriedly spoke to prevent Daphnis from thinking otherwise.

“Why didn’t you two follow Sinat?”

“Sinat… Ah, you mean Lady Dranus.”

“Yes. All the other ladies followed her.”

Daphnis froze at Kallen’s question.

Her fidgeting fingers intertwined, not knowing what to do.

The reason Daphnis didn’t follow Sinat was simple.

She wanted to see Kallen.

Reading Sinat’s intention to create an atmosphere that would make the other young ladies follow, Daphnis seized the opportunity to remain in her seat.

It was because she wanted to be alone with Kalen.

She felt sad when he didn’t recognize her at first, but soon joy filled her heart as she saw him recall that moment.

At the same time, she could understand.

Why she couldn’t forget this boy.

Why he kept lingering in her mind since that day.

However, understanding and voicing those feelings are as different as heaven and earth.

Daphnis, who knew well that the castle of Lecalin came with such responsibilities and that every background she wore had a price.

Moreover, the feelings she allowed herself for this boy were merely ‘wanting to get to know him.’

Of course!

Of course, his face wouldn’t leave her mind, and she kept thinking about him since that day!

Anyway, the feelings she harbored for him weren’t that deep.

How could she act like a naive girl when she had only seen him a few times?

She was the cold-hearted daughter of Lecalin.

She had a mission to carry on the family name and make Lecalin’s name resound throughout the empire.

With such a heavy responsibility, falling in love at first sight with a boy she had just met.

Such a thing that happens in common love novels couldn’t possibly happen.

…But how.

What reason could she give for Kalen to understand?

Under parents who emphasized sincerity.

To Daphnis, who grew up receiving abundant love, lying was a sin.

But telling the truth seemed to bring many misunderstandings.

For that reason, Daphnis remained silent for a long time.

As the awkward silence continued for a long while.

“Because I’m interested.”

Daphnis almost lost strength in her legs at the shocking statement she heard right next to her.

“Li, Lady Richeza?”

“Interested?”

“Yes. I wanted to talk because I’m interested in you, Lord.”

Daphnis hurriedly turned to look at Richeza, as if asking what she meant by that.

Richeza smiled at her as if to say it was okay.

Just as Kallen was about to ask what she meant.

Richeza turned back to Kallen and continued speaking.

“The impressions of Lady Eliana and Lady Selacia.”

“…”

“The person there, is it you, sir?”

Kallen felt a chill for a moment.

Her appearance and eyes were so gentle.

So gentle that anyone who saw her would surely think of an innocent country maiden.

But for a moment.

For a very brief moment, Kallen read the emotions in those eyes.

It was the intuition of a 4th rank mage who had overcome all sorts of adversity.

Richeza, who usually hid herself perfectly, was that excited.

Of course, Kallen, who had no way of knowing that, became wary of the chill he felt from Richeza for a moment.

“No, it’s not me.”

Blamia also told Kallen not to reveal himself.

Moreover, it was not something that would be good to be known, so Kallen took a step back for now.

“For that, the two ladies seemed to know you well, sir.”

But the more he stepped back.

Richeza took two steps forward.

As if she would never let him go.

That appearance looked so familiar, he felt like he knew the emotions beyond those briefly shown eyes.

“Would it be troublesome if it was revealed that you are the sir? Can you create impressions, sir? Or…”

Endless questions.

Richeza did not let go of Kallen.

Kallen couldn’t hide his surprise at the questions that seemed to pierce the core.

The most important thing was, there was no malice.

It was not to corner Kallen.

Not questions to make him uncomfortable, but purely out of curiosity.

Seeing Daphnis fidgeting beside him, and Richeza being conscious of her.

Calmly facing Richeza, Kallen felt like he could roughly understand what kind of person she was.

“What did you say-“

“Richeza, ma’am?”

But this is not right.

If you’re curious, you should ask politely.

Asking in such a prying manner is rude.

Although he could understand and forgive it.

Kallen didn’t like Richeza’s attitude.

From what Kallen could guess.

The feelings Richeza harbored for Daphnis were more than those of a friend.

Such impatience must have slipped out unconsciously.

It happens sometimes.

People who can’t maintain their sanity because their obsession with what they like goes beyond a certain degree.

Kallen felt that Richeza was that kind of person.

And the most effective thing for such people is.

“Please speak slowly. Slowly.”

Making them aware of their situation.

Kallen leaned in close to Richeza, creating a moment of confusion.

Giving her a chance to reflect on herself.

Richeza gasped as Kallen’s face suddenly came close.

She realized that she had been pushing Kallen too hard.

Slowly.

His words to speak slowly were clear.

When it came to matters related to Daphnis and men, she easily got excited.

Richeza knew her own personality well, and after blinking a few times, she lowered her head.

“I’m sorry, sir.”

“It’s okay. Can you speak slowly?”

Honestly, she was surprised.

As much as Richeza knew her own personality.

She also knew well what happened when her twisted personality slipped out unconsciously.

Ten out of ten.

A hundred out of a hundred.

Everyone saw her as a lunatic.

There was no malice, but inherently, people do not want to know others deeply.

Especially not someone who had been pushing them until just a moment ago.

Richeza lifted her head and looked into Kallen’s dark eyes.

As if she knew he had no malice towards her.

There was no contempt or disgust in his eyes.

To Richeza, men were like livestock playing in the palm of her hand.

She had always thought they were useless.

But now, for the first time,

She felt like she was facing a man she could talk to as an equal.