It was Alexis.

As he stood behind me pointing at me, Vincent furrowed his brows.

“You keep interrupting our conversations.”

“You keep creating uncomfortable situations.”

“Our conversation has the young lady’s permission.”

“I have a prior engagement, so please step aside.”

Sparks seemed to flash in the air.

Vincent asked me,

“Is that so, a prior engagement?”

“Yes? Ah...”

Then Alexis looked at me.

Alexis had priority over Vincent when it came to me.

He was a comrade, a friend.

Because of Vincent, I couldn’t embarrass Alexis.

“That’s right, a prior engagement.”

I said to Alexis while looking at him, and Vincent sighed and stepped back.

“Then, next time.”

He bowed his head, and I responded with a slight bow.

After Vincent left, I asked,

“What’s that about?”

Alexis looked at me with a displeased expression.

“The Duke won’t come here today anyway.”

“Why?!”

“They’re preparing to welcome Duke Isiron, who is being sent as an ambassador to the Imperial Palace.”

Count Montero, the chief of the current deal, must have given up completely.

Seeing that Duke Isiron, a rank above him, was coming—

‘Duke Isiron is a leader of the pro-Emperor faction.’

It seemed the deal with the palace was about to speed up.

I nodded and looked at Alexis.

“How did you know that?”

“The Astra Duke’s troops are going out to meet and escort at the estate’s boundary wall. They’re selecting the soldiers.”

“Ah.”

“Come in. The wind is cold.”

“And you?”

“Preparing for winter training.”

I frowned.

Preparing for winter training was something done by foot soldiers.

‘They’re looking down on us because we’re mercenaries.’

I casually grabbed Alexis, who was about to leave.

“Come with me.”

“...What?”

“Going to the barracks? This way.”

I frowned and walked ahead while Alexis’s gaze followed me from behind.

At the barracks.

“Ah, Miss!”

General Beglock, in charge of soldier training, stood up immediately when he saw me.

Other commanders who had gathered also hurriedly stood up to greet me.

Behind the commanders, the leader of the Egritz troops, Kali, gave me a pleased look.

“Long time no see, General Beglock. Was it at the last summer training observation class that we last met?”

“Yes, yes, that’s right. Miss!”

General Beglock, who was like a fire-breathing dragon to the soldiers, was like a well-trained puppy before me.

That was understandable—I was the most adored grandchild by Grandfather.

And ranked first among the third generation.

My father wasn’t the eldest son but still had the count title—the so-called “closest male heir to the dukedom.”

I smiled brightly at General Beglock.

“My soldiers must have more work now that they’re participating in training.”

“Well... haha!”

He wouldn’t say otherwise.

General Beglock hurriedly made way for me, saying, “Ah, bring tea! Eh, would I serve any old tea to Miss Erilot? Something like Ponoff, the finest black tea!”

“No tea needed. I’m here to see my soldiers.”

“Eh?”

I instantly changed my expression and stared at General Beglock.

‘That means I’m overseeing my soldiers.’

That I was watching how my soldiers were treated.

General Beglock’s shoulders twitched—he was perceptive.

“Is there something uncomfortable...?”

“No way! General Beglock is thoughtful, so I didn’t worry.”

“Yes! I also take special care of the Egritz mercenary unit—”

“The Egritz troops.”

“...Yes?”

“They’re not a mercenary unit, but the Egritz troops, belonging to the Daymond jurisdiction.”

Who still treated my troops like mercenaries?

I glanced around with a smile, and the commanders flinched.

Among them was a particularly pale-faced man.

I knew who had neglected my troops.

‘He’s Uncle Sylvain’s brother-in-law.’

The younger brother of Aunt Ronda, wife of Uncle Sylvain.

As I approached Uncle Sylvain’s brother-in-law, I said to General Beglock,

“During the last summer training, the foot soldiers prepared the training. Is it the same this time?”

“Yes? Ah, yes! Of course.”

“Yes. It should be so. Foot soldiers prepare for training.”

When I placed my hand on the plate armor of Uncle Sylvain’s brother-in-law, he flinched.

“Preparing training is the foot soldiers’ job, right?”

He looked at me pale-faced.

“Yes, that’s... right.”

He seemed to have understood.

I smiled and withdrew my hand.

Then I turned briskly toward General Beglock.

“May I speak with the Egritz soldiers?”

“Of course!”

“Thank you. Then...”

I looked at the men belonging to the Egritz troops.

They smiled proudly and somewhat slyly.

Alexis chuckled quietly.

When I nodded, the Egritz soldiers followed me out.

Kendall, the most aggressive, burst out laughing.

“Serves them right.”

“Kendall.”

Halard, the chief of staff of the Egritz troops, frowned, and Kendall shrugged.

“How much did they look down on us because we’re former mercenaries? Our boys were practically excluded from training.”

“Didn’t Captain Kali say to keep that from the masters’ ears since it’s a soldier’s matter?”

“Still, they have guts...”

Kendall clicked his tongue, and I laughed.

“You like that about Captain Kali, don’t you? Fairness.”

“Well, that’s true.”

“But I’m not fair like Captain Kali. If anything, I’m on the dirty side.”

“...Yes?”

I took the communication stone.

And recently contacted Michelan, who also manages the Daymond jurisdiction’s finances.

[Yes, Miss.]

“I want to upgrade the Egritz troops’ equipment. As high-quality as possible.”

Kendall and Halard’s eyes went wide.

“The equipment provided by Astra is excellent. Better than what the palace has...!”

Halard tried to persuade me, but I lightly raised my hand to stop him.

“I want it obvious to anyone that I care about the Egritz troops.”

Michelan’s chuckling came from the communication stone.

[We have ties with Missed Forge. How about Missed-made (製) weapons?]

“Very good.”

[I’ll prepare them.]

“And horses too. Oh, contact the Paante Marquis family. They have the best bloodlines. If I say I want to buy, they’ll provide.”

[When’s the deadline?]

“First, supply those who arrived at the study as soon as possible. The rest gradually. I want the supply completed within three months.”

[Understood.]

“Okay.”

After ending the communication, Kendall and Halard’s mouths dropped open.

“Missed-made weapons, and horses from the Paante Marquis family?!”

Missed weapons are usually only for commanders of the royal guards.

Halard was very flustered.

“That much isn’t necessary!”

“I know. The craftsman doesn’t discriminate between tools, and the Egritz soldiers don’t rely on weapons.”

“But why...!”

“Because you entered a world where appearances matter.”

There’s a reason my uncles are so greedy for luxury.

Here, how much money and power you have is the most important thing.

“I can’t make you strong with holy blessings like Selene’s . But I can make sure no one dares look down on you.”

“Miss...”

“...”

Halard and Kendall looked at me with trembling eyes.

Alexis’s gaze also darkened.

With both hands on my waist, I said,

“Who dares look down on my soldiers!”

Halard and Kendall put their hands to their chests and kneeled before me.

“We will prove who has the best army in Astra with this winter training.”

“Good.”

“Yes.”

“Oh, don’t tell Kali.”

He’s a bit stingy, so he’d faint if he knew how much was spent on equipment.

Kendall and Halard chuckled.

“And Alexis will stick by my side for a while. He never rests unless someone looks after him.”

“Please. I wonder if he’s been sleeping recently.”

When Kendall said that, Alexis frowned.

I giggled and said to Alexis,

“Let’s go.”

“...Okay.”

After greeting Kendall and Halard, I left the barracks with Alexis.

The sun was already setting.

Since it was dinner time, not a single ant was in sight where we passed.

I spoke quietly to Alexis walking beside me.

“Are you mad?”

“Why would I be mad to the lord supplying Missed-made weapons?”

“Not that. The hairpin yesterday.”

Alexis glanced at me.

“Yes.”

“If you’re mad, why did you block Vincent Edrope?”

“You always get in a bad mood when you talk to that guy.”

“...”

I abruptly stopped and looked at Alexis’s back.

“Me?”

Alexis also stopped and turned to me.

His shadow stretched long over the world dyed red by the sunset.

Like a tall adult.

“Like a kid too scared to get hurt.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

“I said no!”

“Yes. If it’s not you, then no.”

“...”

I always thought I was much taller than Alexis, but today strangely, he looked much bigger.

And that was strangely...

‘Strangely...’

I hurried to him and said,

“No one wants to get hurt on purpose, right? If you can avoid it, you should.”

Alexis looked at me intently.

Then sighed deeply and suddenly...

Thump.

He pressed his forehead against mine.

“I didn’t ask.”

“Damn.”

“I don’t mean I want to know your feelings, it’s just that if you feel that way, it’s fine.”

“...”

He straightened up, looked at me, and chuckled.

“But don’t be scared.”

“...”

“I’m here to protect you.”

Then he walked away.

I touched my forehead and looked at Alexis.

‘So strange.’

Is it because of adolescence?

The age where unripe years and ripened emotions cross.

The crossing point between child and adult.

Sometimes he looks like a child, but other moments shockingly mature.

‘Was that it?’

Was I scared?

Afraid the same thing would repeat again?

I blankly looked back at the sunset.

‘An emotion already fading away.’

Why was I so wary of him and others?

Vincent is now meaningless to me.

Why fear wounds from someone meaningless?

Why hesitate over something that hasn’t happened?

‘I admit it. I was a coward.’

From afar, Alexis called.

“Aren’t you coming?”

“Go!”

I quickly chased after him.

That was the first time.

I learned how much Alexis had grown.

And faced the child inside me.

Evening.

The room was warm with steam.

I was preparing for exams.

‘I really hate holy magic.’

I groaned while solving problems and grabbed a water glass.

I hadn’t noticed because I was so focused, but it was empty.

I held the glass and spoke to the maids preparing my bed.

“Could you bring some water?”

“Yes, Miss.”

A maid quickly took my empty glass.

But it was strange.

“The maids have changed?”

When I said this, the maids tidying the room said “Ah!” and bowed their heads.

There were three of them, all young girls around my age.

“Because the senior maids were transferred to the main building due to hosting imperial guests, we replaced them.”

“I see. Nice to meet you.”

“Yes, yes!”

The maids each hugged water glasses, trays, or sheets with shy expressions.

I focused back on the book.

“This is the first time I’ve had such greetings. It feels really nice.”

“Yeah.”

They were still young and probably didn’t know to be careful with their words around their mistress like adult maids.

‘Should I give them a warning?’

I thought briefly, then shrugged and adjusted my pen.

‘They look my age and working is already commendable.’

They’d feel discouraged if I scolded them.

Better they get cautions from senior servants.

While solving problems intently, the maids whispered.

“But didn’t she get scolded for that hairpin?”

“Why?”

“It’s forbidden to wear noticeable accessories.”

“I don’t understand that rule. Why can’t maids decorate themselves?”

“Because the masters see it that way...”

“Ah, you’re jealous. I got this from Lord Milan, didn’t I?”

“Huh? No, I...”

The hairpin?

I looked at the maid wearing a hairpin.

A brown-haired maid wearing a hairpin similar to the one I gave Alexis yesterday.

‘She didn’t get it from me.’

But Milan?

The brown-haired maid looked arrogantly at another maid.

“Lord Milan, third generation direct line, gave it. Who’s going to say anything?”

“Wait a moment.”

My words made the maids flinch and look at me.

“Isn’t Lord Milan supposed to be in the underground prison?”

“Ah, well...”

The maids looked at me helplessly.

‘What on earth is going on?’

It seemed something was happening I didn’t know about.