The knights quickly looked around and seemed relieved that no one was watching. They were likely embarrassed by the clumsy fall.
The fallen knight quickly got up and shouted at me. “What do you think you’re doing?!”
“I said it was a mistake,” I said, my expression brazen.
The knights’ faces flushed, and they began to screech.
“We are vassals and knights of a Ducal House! Ignoring us like this is ignoring the Duchy of Praha itself, don’t you know?”
“Well now… Ignoring you is ignoring the Duchy of Praha. I didn’t realize you were the representative of the Ducal House. My apologies. What is your name, Sir? I wish to apologize knowing your name.”
“W-well, that’s not what I meant!”
“Hmm? If that’s not it, then did you dare to deceive a noble? Or perhaps, you think my House is humble compared to a Ducal House, and that’s why. Hah… Never did I expect to receive such treatment. I should speak to the Grand Duke directly.”
“N-no… that’s not it either!” The knight roared, clearly flustered.
I approached him slowly, my Aura rising around me. “Not it? Then what is it?”
“Well, that is to say—!”
“And for someone who is so proud of their House, who dare you insult your own master? It is truly detestable.”
WHOOSH!
My Aura, laced with the faint scent of camellias, bared its fierce fangs. Like a tiger cloaked in blossoms, it prowled around me—and to the watching knights, I must have looked like a predator wrapped in floral grace.
“No matter how excellent a dog is, a dog that bites its master must be killed. Do you know why?” I continued walking towards the knights, speaking. “So that other dogs don’t get any funny ideas. So how can I just leave you be?”
RUMBLE!
The thick density of my Aura mingled with the air, pressing down on the knights.
“Ugh…!” The knights glared at me, their legs trembling.
Glaring at me?
My current physical abilities might be inferior to theirs. The amount of Aura I possessed might also not be much, being only at the Aura Adept level.
But I had one skill that surpassed all others—the very skill that kept me alive in my previous life: mastery over Aura.
With it, I honed my Aura to a razor’s edge, refining it into a precise, measured force. That sharpened Aura coiled around me, then bared its fangs at the knights.
<Dreadmark>
A technique used by any knight who possessed Aura—meant to instill fear in one’s opponent. Its power varied wildly depending on the amount of Aura used, but that rule didn’t apply to me.
Small output, great effect. That was my specialty.
As expected, the knights began to retreat, visibly shaken by the oppressive force of my Aura. Judging by the pressure they gave off, they were at least Aura Adepts, but their standing meant nothing now.
They stammered and shouted, unable to respond properly.
“Y-You! How dare you use that kind of technique on us?!”
“You really shouldn’t say things like that when your legs are shaking like a newborn calf’s. It just looks pathetic.”
I pushed my Aura further, unleashing it in full.
WHOOSH.
The power of Dreadmark bore down on the knights like a living beast.
How much time passed? Hard to say.
Their earlier bravado had vanished. Pale-faced and panting, they staggered where they stood.
“Cough! Cough, cough!”
As if suffocating under the pressure, they spat up white foam, some collapsing and twitching on the ground. A few even lost control of their bladders, puddles spreading beneath them.
I clicked my tongue in disgust.
Pathetic. How could they piss themselves? Even the mutts you’d find in any random neighborhood had better bladder control than this.
“Tch. The knights of the North are supposed to be brave and unshakable, but I guess that’s just a tale from a bygone era. Get lost. Just looking at you makes me want to throw up.”
I withdrew the power of Dreadmark with a sharp sigh.
The knights, sensing their chance to flee, scrambled to their feet. Without so much as a glance back, they ran off in the opposite direction.
Once they’d vanished beyond view, I let out a sigh.
“…They could’ve at least cleaned up their piss before leaving.”
* * *
Meanwhile, Lea, hiding just around the corner, had seen everything. She pursed her lips, silent.
She was used to this kind of treatment from the knights. They mocked her appearance the moment they thought she couldn’t hear. Someone would laugh. Another would gag in exaggerated disgust.
But Lea could do nothing but watch.
Of course, she could’ve told her father. If she did, the matter would be resolved immediately.
But what was the point?
They were knights, the protectors of the family, and she was the only one suffering. As long as she endured, wasn’t that enough?
…Punishing them won’t bring my face back anyway.
She didn’t want to weaken the family’s forces just for her own feelings. The knights protected not just the family, but the North itself.
And so, she had endured.
Until that man appeared, claiming he could cure her illness.
The man once engaged to the Artezia Duchy—figurehead of the Noble Faction. Yes, the very man standing before her now.
Louis Berg.
Black hair, black eyes, a sharp, cold impression. He looked every bit the wolf he resembled.
He said he wanted to marry Lea. Said he’d heal her.
Naturally, she didn’t believe him. His house belonged to the Noble Faction. Rumor had it he was a scoundrel. He had no knowledge of medicine whatsoever.
Lea was sure he’d come to mock her. What else could explain it? Nothing made sense otherwise.
And yet—when she saw the look on his face, something in her stirred.
When he got angry, when he erupted in fury for her, that look kept giving her hope.
Could this man actually mean it?
Lea shook her head.
How could it be?
Like all the others, he’d surely take one look at her and leave. Regret his arrogance and slink out of the North.
And I’d be alone again.
A shadow crossed Lea’s face, but only for a moment.
Gathering herself, she muttered quietly to herself.
“…I need to see for myself.”
It seemed she would have to confirm his sincerity with her own eyes.
* * *
“Ugh… Feels like my head’s about to split,” I muttered, pressing my throbbing forehead.
It’d been a while since I used Dreadmark, and now my skull was paying the price.
Maybe I shouldn’t have used it. But thinking about what those bastards did? I felt it was only the right thing to do.
Trying to bite their own master, and they call themselves knights?
Not to mention, Lea was going to be my wife. If I stood by while they insulted her, I’d be a fool.
Anyway…
“…Thought I’d get a chance to talk to her, but she’s already gone.”
I’d meant to have a word with Lea, but those idiots ruined everything.
There was no sign of anyone nearby. She must’ve already left.
Sighing, I turned to head back to my room—when a voice called out from in front of me.
“Excuse me.”
A soft, feminine voice. I looked up.
It was a woman with thick, curled waves. Given the fine quality of her dress, she clearly wasn’t a maid or servant. Well, unless the North had suddenly become wealthier than the imperial palace… but that was hardly possible.
“What is it?”
My tone was curt. The headache didn’t help. My expression and voice were far from pleasant.
The woman’s expression began to darken, as if this wasn’t the reaction she was expecting.
“What’s with that look? Are you trying to pick a fight?”
“…Is picking fights with strangers some sort of Northern tradition? The knight earlier was the same. Now the young lady of the House, too?”
“What did you just—!”
“If not, would you mind stepping aside? I’ve had an unpleasant encounter and would like to rest.”
My head hurt, and I wanted to clean the piss off my shoes.
Besides, I still had to gather ingredients to save Lea Praha. I needed to keep myself in good condition. Meaning, I didn’t have time for pointless nonsense.
But the woman in front of me clearly didn’t care about any of that. She blocked my path and launched into a tirade.
“Hah! So this is the man my sister’s supposed to marry. As rude as I expected. A guest of the house can’t even recognize the family’s own? And insulting our knights on top of that!”
“Lady Roxia. I refrained from using your name just now out of courtesy.”
“What did you say?!”
“First. You didn’t introduce yourself and deliberately blocked my path. That suggests you wished to keep your identity hidden. Second. You came here alone, without attendants. Again—concealing your identity. And finally…”
I glanced toward where the knights had fled.
“Those men insulted Lady Lea. They mocked her and laughed, as if trying to assert their superiority. I may be a guest, but I couldn’t tolerate knights who would bite their own master. Still, I apologize for insulting your House’s knights.”
With a slight bow, I walked past her and made for my room.
But then…
“…Was that true?” Lady Roxia called out behind me.
“I swear it on my family’s honor.”
“…I see.”
Her expression turned cold, her aura razor-sharp, and she strode off without another word. Likely to go find those knights.
Looks like a storm’s about to hit the barracks.
Not just those men—every knight in the household would be investigated. And any who’d ever insulted Lea would end up impaled on the city wall, their heads on pikes.
Not that it’s my concern.
I didn’t kill them because I figured someone in the family would do it once they learned the truth. If not for that, I’d have slain them myself.
Trash like them—them and the elders in the council—would be the first to surrender when the war with Artezia breaks out, after all.
Parasites who eat away at our strength… Better to eliminate them early. Only then do we stand a chance when the war begins.
I should check if there are any more left.
In my past life, I’d memorized the faces of some knights who later sided with Artezia.
Back then, they were allies. But now? Now they’re just future traitors.
Once the engagement is official, I’ll need to dispose of them.
Anyway.
“…Hmm.”
Mid-step, I paused in the hallway and looked around. Where the hell was I?
It seemed I’d gotten lost.