Pardon the Abduction, Holy Knight - It's an Emergency - Chapter 1.12

“…So, Wit. Did you come out because you thought I might be enthralled by Taro?”

“Yes! I was sure Master would be drooling again!”

Give me back my gratitude. Weren’t you supposed to be here to save me?

“Wit. I didn’t even know your friend was there.”

“Huh?”

“It means I wouldn’t have known at all if you hadn’t told me.”

“Huh? Huh?”

Wit, seemingly just realizing the meaning of my words, covered his face and wailed.

“I made a mistake! Wit blurted it out and now Master knows!”

Idiot.

I shook my head and opened the door to Adriel’s room.

As I entered the room, Adriel, sitting on the bed, slowly raised his eyelids.

“That was Marquis Berto just now, wasn’t it.”

Huh?

“How did you know?”

Can he tell just by hearing the voice?

As I opened my eyes wide, Adriel spoke matter-of-factly.

“Anyone belonging to the temple would have a seizure just hearing Marquis Berto’s voice from afar.”

“Why? Did something happen between Marquis Berto and the temple?”

Adriel was silent for a moment.

He seemed lost in thought as if recalling past events. It was a while before he spoke again.

“Some time ago, Marquis Berto visited the temple as if it were his own home. It would have been fine if he had just left quietly, but he caused a commotion every time.”

“What kind of commotion…”

“One day he wrecked the prayer room, and another day he turned the grand temple upside down. Then on the last day, he finally did it.”

Adriel heaved a heavy sigh as if just recalling that day gave him a headache.

“The Holy Maiden’s belongings disappeared. Right after Marquis Berto met with the Holy Maiden and left. The Marquis feigns innocence, saying it wasn’t him, but who would believe that? Given his past behavior…”

So in short, there’s circumstantial evidence, but no physical proof. Is that it?

I looked down at Adriel, who was frowning in irritation.

Anyway, the conclusion that nothing good comes from getting involved with Lucian Berto remains unchanged.

I finished my thoughts and turned around.

After confirming that Wit was still wailing outside the room, I checked under the bed.

My jewels. Are you all still there?

Adriel, who had briefly glanced up to check, seemed to have no interest in the money and jewels I had hidden, befitting a virtuous clergyman.

This really is the safest place after all.

I straightened up and dusted off my dress.

“He’s a man with a bad reputation.”

“Yes. It seems so.”

“He’s not someone you should keep close.”

“I suppose not.”

“It’s best not to even exchange words with him if possible.”

“……”

I know that already, okay?

As I was about to leave the bedroom, I turned back to Adriel.

“Um, Sir Knight? You seem to have forgotten your position lately. You’re currently being kidnapped and threatened by me, you know?”

“…I’m telling you to be careful.”

Oh, for heaven’s sake. Is he this innocent or just stupid?

“Alright, fine. If you’re genuinely worried about me, why don’t you just sign? That would be for my benefit, you know?”

“I need time to think.”

“Yes, of course you would…”

…Huh?

I had expected the usual robotic response of “That’s not possible” or “I refuse.”

His unexpected answer caught me off guard for a moment.

Adriel looked at me and after a brief pause, continued.

“So in the meantime, I’d like to get along well with the young lady.”

He wants to get along well with me…?

I narrowed my eyes and looked at him.

“Why are you suddenly being so friendly? It’s very suspicious.”

“Either way, I’m indebted to you. You could have treated me poorly, but you’ve provided me with good lodging and food.”

He changed his mind just because of that?

What’s this? How can a person be so simple?

“Hmm….”

After pondering, I shrugged.

“Well, alright. If we can get along without trouble, that’s fine by me.”

At my words, Adriel hesitated as if he had something more to say.

Why is he acting like that?

“Do you have something else to say?”

Ah!

Maybe he wants to contribute to the household now since he’s been indebted so far.

“I think it’s time.”

“Pardon?”

Time for what?

“What’s for lunch today?”

…This freeloader?

***

Lucian Berto, who had left like that that day, came back again.

“I’m here as this child’s guardian. I can come in now, right?”

With his younger sibling with reddish-purple hair.

“Please make Mom and Dad love me…”

And it was his illegitimate younger sibling at that.

I stared intently at the child sitting across from me.

The child, who seemed to be barely 6 years old, was named Echo Berto.

She was the illegitimate child born between the previous Marquis Berto, that is, the father of the original female protagonist Violet, and a maid. I knew she was still living in the Marquis household even after Lucian Berto inherited the family headship, but…

“Brother Lucian… said there was a shop that grants wishes…”

The child, seemingly shy, kept fidgeting with her tiny fingers without looking at me.

My first impression of Echo Berto, meeting her in reality rather than in the novel, was this:

A very shy and timid child.

But to think that such a gentle child later becomes a villainess who tries to murder the female protagonist?

In the novel, Echo says this during her meeting with Violet the day before her execution.

That she hated Violet for monopolizing the family’s love and even taking away the prince she had a crush on.

“B-brother….”

When I didn’t respond for a moment, lost in thought, Echo looked for Lucian with teary eyes.

I realized my mistake and was about to say something, but Lucian spoke first.

“Is there no place for me to sit?”

Lucian, who had been standing blankly next to Echo, muttered while scanning the room.

“Not even chairs for three people. Business must be tough, huh?”

“If standing is tiring, why don’t you wait in the carriage you came in?”

“Hm? That won’t do. Do you know how I managed to get in here?”

Then stop complaining and stay quiet. Or at least focus on what your sister is saying.

He calls himself a guardian but doesn’t even acknowledge his sister’s pleading looks.

As if he only cares about achieving his own goals.

I let out a small sigh and looked at Echo again.

“So, customer, you want to receive love from your parents?”

Echo looked at me, startled.

“Yes… I want to sleep together with Mom and Dad… go on picnics… Like what Mom and Dad do for big sister Violet…”

What Echo wanted from her parents were incredibly small things. Things that would come naturally in a normal family.

How did you end up being born into such a role…

Perhaps it’s because I, too, have become a villainess in a novel, just like Echo. I felt a strange mixture of kinship and pity.

“So I brought money too….”

Echo suddenly jumped off the chair and took out a piggy bank from a small, dirty bag.

Every time she shook the piggy bank, silver coins bounced out of the cracked pig’s belly.

“……”

I silently looked down at the table.

Echo glanced at me nervously.

“Echo.”

“Yes, Brother Lucian….”

“The shop owner says this isn’t nearly enough, you know?”