Chapter 5.2

Seeing this, Lian leaned closer to Hestia and whispered softly, 

“Your ears hurt? Should I shut him up?”  

Hestia slowly nodded in response, signaling for him to explain things properly. She figured it would be better for Lian, as his colleague, to explain the situation rather than her attempting to do so.  

“Wait here for a moment.”  

Lian slowed his steps, carefully setting Hestia down on the ground. After asking for her understanding, he turned to face Sir Forrest, who had also stopped moving.  

“Noah Forrest.”  

“Huh? Why are you calling me like that all of a sudden? Did you regain some of your memories?”  

Sir Forrest approached, his eyes wide with curiosity, like a hunting dog responding to its master’s call. Yet, there was a subtle wariness in his demeanor. It was a wise reaction, though Hestia only realized why a moment later.  

Lian rarely addressed others kindly unless he had a specific purpose.  

As Sir Forrest hesitantly stepped closer, puzzled by Lian’s unexpected tone, it happened.  

“…?!”  

With a solid thud, Sir Forrest’s body crumpled to the ground.  

Lian had struck the back of his neck with a swift, precise motion too fast to see, rendering him unconscious.  

Startled by the sudden turn of events, Hestia gasped loudly, her breath catching in her throat.  

“This is the fastest way. That guy has a habit of misinterpreting what others say when he’s agitated. It’s better to explain things after he’s had time to cool down.”  

Lian casually hoisted the limp Sir Forrest over his shoulder, carrying the unconscious man like a sack of grain. With his free hand, he supported Hestia by wrapping his arm around her shoulders.  

Hestia followed him, her expression a mix of confusion and disbelief. Then, a thought struck her as she replayed his earlier words in her mind.  

‘Wait, what did he just say? He knows about Sir Forrest’s habits…?’  

Could it be that Lian had regained some of his memories?  

However, she couldn’t bring herself to question him directly. It didn’t seem like an issue urgent enough to disrupt the peace between them.  

Choosing to feign ignorance, Hestia decided not to press the matter. She had no way of knowing that this seemingly minor doubt would later become one of the seeds of suspicion that would grow between them.  

***

“Are you saying the two of you promised to get married?”  

“Yes.”  

“Seriously?”  

“Most of the rumors spreading around the city are probably true. I did gather people to propose to Hestia. Although, in the end, I canceled it.”  

Some time later, the three of them were in Lian’s largest room, where they began a proper conversation.  

“This is like being struck by lightning out of nowhere… Ahem, anyway, I understand. The rings make the outcome pretty obvious. But… why are we having this conversation with me tied up?”  

To be more precise, Sir Forrest was bound tightly with ropes, while Lian stood over him like an interrogator questioning a criminal.  

“Isn’t it common sense that this isn’t the way to have a conversation?”  

“This way, you’re less likely to get worked up. Do you expect me to just sit back and listen to you yelling at Hestia?”  

Lian’s words sounded like a complaint, but his face was far too fierce for it to come across as anything less than a threat. Sir Forrest visibly flinched, swallowing nervously as he decided against arguing further.  

“Please, don’t fight…”  

Meanwhile, Hestia, who had insisted on sitting on the nearby sofa instead of resting in bed as Lian had requested, intervened to defuse the escalating tension.  

“Sir Forrest is probably just shocked to hear the conclusion so suddenly after only five days. I think it’s best to untie him now. He seems calmer than before.”  

At her words, the expressions of the two men shifted noticeably.  

With a sigh, Lian finally loosened the ropes binding his subordinate. Sir Forrest, now free, gave a slight bow to Hestia and said, 

“As expected, Miss Hestia is the only sensible one here.”  

However, it didn’t take long for his next words to dampen the mood. His face darkened as he spoke.  

“But I can’t approve of your marriage… not yet. It’s not the right time.”  

What? What was that supposed to mean?  

Hestia stared at him, her expression one of betrayal.  

Amber, who had approached Sir Forrest elegantly, began swatting at him with her paw. While she often did this whenever she saw him, it felt particularly satisfying this time, as though the cat was expressing Hestia’s feelings on her behalf.  

As Sir Forrest tried to fend off the cat’s claws, Hestia spoke, her voice tinged with hurt.  

“Sir Forrest… I know I’m lacking in many ways, but…”  

“What gives you the right to say that?”  

Before she could finish, Lian cut her off sharply. Taking a step closer to Sir Forrest, his stance made it clear he wouldn’t hesitate to grab him by the collar if necessary.  

Sir Forrest flinched under Lian’s intimidating gaze but managed to stammer out a response.  

“W-Wait, let’s talk this out…!”  

“There’s nothing to talk about. This is a notification, not a discussion. I don’t owe you an explanation. I only told you out of courtesy, but if I’d known you’d react like this, I wouldn’t have bothered.”  

“Isn’t this too much? I’m saying this because I’m concerned!”  

“I don’t need your concern.”  

Normally, Sir Forrest would have replied with something like, ‘Oh, yes! What right do I have to agree or disagree!’ But this time, he didn’t back down. Instead, he argued back with Lian, even going so far as to stare him down.

Then, suddenly, he turned to Hestia and said, 

“Enough, Miss Hestia, could you please step out for a moment?”

“Huh? Is it something I shouldn’t hear?” 

Hestia asked cautiously, feeling uneasy. Lian was the first to respond.

“No, you don’t need to leave. There’s nothing you can’t hear. We’re going to be married soon.”

“Oh, come on! She shouldn’t hear this!” 

Forrest insisted.

“Where do you get off running your mouth….”

“Please, just step out for a bit! It’s a courtesy! You’ll definitely regret it!” 

The desperation in Sir Forrest’s voice was palpable.

What on earth could he be so desperate to discuss? This was the same person who had previously begged her to come in and help adjust the atmosphere.

‘He won’t talk if I’m here.’

So, Hestia decided to leave the room, sensing that it was the right thing to do. It was also a decision based on trust in Sir Forrest. He had always been concerned about her, even enduring awkward conversations to ensure she wasn’t hurt by Lian.

Someone like that must have had a reason for asking her to step out.

“Alright, I’ll step out.”

“Thank you, Miss Hestia.”

“Hestia, you don’t have to go.”

“It’s fine. I’ll be in my room, so call me when you’re done. Amber, let’s go.”

Hestia quietly shook her head at Lian, who had moved to stop her. She picked up the cat that came running at her call and left the room.

Was Sir Forrest worried about the same thing I was?

Lian still hadn’t fully regained his memory, and Sir Forrest was one of the people who knew Lian Clyde best before he lost his memory. Perhaps his opposition was based on the ‘original’ circumstances of Lian.

‘…Lian will explain it to me properly later, right? But why did he say it was a courtesy?’

Sitting on her bed, Hestia stroked Amber’s soft fur, lost in thought. She had no doubt that Lian would tell her everything after the conversation. After all, as he said, she was soon to be his wife. What could possibly stand in the way of that?

However, shortly after, Lian said something completely different from what she expected.

“There’s nothing you need to hear.”

“But I’m curious. Sir Forrest isn’t someone who would say that for no reason.”

“Why do you hold him in such high regard? Anyway, it was nothing but nonsense. I’d rather listen to Amber’s meowing; it sounds more human.”

He replied with a sullen expression. Whether it was because he was uncomfortable with being pressed or because Sir Forrest’s words bothered him, he seemed unusually irritable.

What on earth had he heard to make him say that even a cat’s meow was better? 

Hestia hesitated before asking what was on her mind.

“Is it… my status that’s the issue?”

In fact, she had heard a clear explanation of his status from Sir Forrest.

Lian was the second son of the Clyde Marquis family, one of the most prominent noble families in the capital, and held an honorary count title granted by the Empire. An honorary count title meant that he had only been given the title for now, and would be granted an official county when he retired from the knight order. Naturally, his wife would need to be someone suitable for the position of the marquis’s second son’s partner and a future countess.

That was why she had been desperately trying to suppress her feelings.