Chapter 45

“Ah!”

Upon hearing Lily’s words, Daphne sprang up from her seat, utterly flustered.

“What nonsense is that! When did I ever say I liked Ryan?”

Daphne’s neck flushed red, making her look almost like a beetroot as she stomped her feet and shook her head fiercely.

“If you keep saying weird things, he’ll think it’s true and get the wrong idea!”

“If it’s not true, why are you denying it so strongly?”

Unlike the deeply agitated Daphne, Ryan spoke with a relaxed smile.

“There’s a saying that a strong denial is as good as a strong affirmation. If you keep acting that way, I might really start to misunderstand.”

“What… What are you talking about?”

“Lower your voice a little. At this rate, even the servants outside will hear your true feelings.”

“I’m telling you, it’s not true!”

And so, the two continued their bickering for quite some time.

Two fully grown adults, both with perfect composure, carrying on such a childish quarrel.

Lily watched the scene with a satisfied smile, finding it both endearing and warm.

Ah, so that’s how it was.

A small realization soon knocked on her mind.

It wasn’t just her sister who liked him.

Ryan, who couldn’t stop laughing at Daphne, and who accepted her complaints with slow and gentle words, might have seemed mischievous at first glance, but he looked at her with endlessly kind and affectionate eyes.

Perhaps they were the only ones unaware of their feelings.

Lily felt proud to have figured it out before the two of them did.

For the first time in a long while, her body was filled with joy. Her face broke into a wide smile as she touched her parted lips with her fingers.

* * *

“Sit down.”

At Grayton’s guidance, Ryan entered the room, and Baldwin, who was seated on the leather sofa, immediately offered him the seat opposite.

The fireplace blazed warmly, the air filled with the sharp scent of oak and a subtle hint of tobacco.

Ryan paused at the doorway, eyeing Baldwin warily. Tension crackled between the two men.

Eventually, Ryan slowly walked over and sat where Baldwin had indicated.

“What did you want to see me about?”

Ryan looked Baldwin squarely in the eyes and asked.

“I didn’t think we were close enough to have a conversation like this.”

“It seems you’re quite displeased about being summoned.”

Baldwin muttered, exhaling a mouthful of gray smoke.

“As an employer, requesting a meeting with an employee is a perfectly reasonable right.”

Baldwin spoke with his chin lifted and his eyes lowered, exuding the typical arrogance of a noble.

“Do you smoke?”

“I do not.”

“Drink?”

“Not while on duty.”

“Perfect and boring answers, as if you were carved from stone.”

Baldwin sneered coldly at Ryan’s reply, bringing his pipe closer to his lips.

“I heard you met with Lilyana today.”

“…….”

“How did she seem to you?”

“She seemed… fairly well.”

“Fairly well, huh…”

Baldwin slowly repeated Ryan’s words, as if amused.

“Most knights aren’t good at lying, but you seem to be an exception. To call a child who looks like she could die at any moment ‘fairly well’…”

“That’s a bit much.”

“It’s not excessive, just honest. And realistic.”

Despite Ryan’s objection, Baldwin didn’t bat an eye. He slowly drew in smoke from his pipe, the tobacco glowing red at the tip.

“You have no idea how much money I’ve poured into that child.”

“…….”

“Some said treating Lilyana was like pouring water into a bottomless pit, and opposed my decision. Even the physician who examined her shook his head, saying there was no hope.”

Another cloud of gray smoke escaped Baldwin’s lips. His face, as he discussed his troubled niece’s future, showed not a hint of warmth.

“I don’t understand.”

Ryan, still watching Baldwin intently, spoke up.

“If you’re so pessimistic, why invest so much effort in her treatment?”

“Why? Why, you ask?”

Baldwin let out a low, chuckling laugh at Ryan’s question.

“Isn’t it obvious? Whether pessimistic or hopeful, the fact remains that she’s my late brother’s daughter and my own niece.”

Baldwin spoke of familial love with an expression that didn’t seem genuine at all. His inscrutable gaze turned to Ryan.

“They say blood is thicker than water.”

“…….”

“In any situation, prioritizing family’s well-being is only natural.”

Baldwin set his pipe down on the ashtray.

“The same goes for Daphne. I’ve always tried to give her a better future. Proof of that is sending her to Roxanne for her debutante before my own daughter, and hiring an excellent knight like you for her personal protection as soon as I heard thieves were appearing in town.”

“But hiring me was purely coincidental, wasn’t it?”

“Yes, that’s right. You came to me before I ever sought you out.”

Baldwin readily agreed to Ryan’s pointed remark.

“To be honest, I found it a bit odd. Why would a knight who’s worked in big cities like Roxanne or Helmberry come all the way to this small town of Hillsboro? Especially someone who’d served a prestigious family like Pemburke.”

Baldwin’s voice was thick with suspicion as he uncrossed his legs and clasped his hands. Ryan, who seemed unusual for a mere knight, was scrutinized by Baldwin’s narrowed eyes.

“So I did some checking on you.”

“…You investigated me behind my back?”

Ryan’s expression instantly hardened. Baldwin sneered, clearly amused by his reaction.

“Why so serious? You must have expected something like that.”

“…….”

“My niece’s safety is at stake. A simple background check is only natural.”

Baldwin leisurely crossed his arms on the sofa armrest. But unlike his relaxed demeanor, Ryan looked stiff and uneasy.

“How… did you investigate?”

“At first, I considered sending someone to Roxanne. Or contacting the central knight order to request your records.”

Baldwin replied slowly.

“In the end, I decided to contact the Pemburke family. If they could vouch for your identity, there’d be no one more trustworthy.”

“…Did you get a reply from them?”

Ryan asked.

The Pemburke family was a powerful force even in Westro. Receiving over a dozen letters daily, they rarely replied to every message, especially from local nobles with no connections.

But Baldwin’s answer was different from what Ryan expected.

“Of course. The reply came much sooner than I’d anticipated.”

“……!”

“Not only did they send a document vouching for your identity, but also a very detailed, lengthy response.”

“What… did it say?”

Ryan’s blinking quickened. His mouth was dry, and his nerves grew sharper.

He clenched his fist tightly, tense at the thought that his identity might have been exposed unexpectedly.

And then.

“They wrote that you were an outstanding knight. That among all the knights ever employed by the Pemburke family, you were second to none—a truly remarkable commendation.”

Contrary to Ryan’s worries, Baldwin’s face broke into a satisfied smile.

“You must have left quite an impression. They even said they’d gladly take you back anytime, so you should definitely return.”

“They’re always generous with praise…”

An outstanding knight, always welcome to return—Ryan was inwardly shocked at the Pemburke family’s defense of things that weren’t even true.

Did Hubert step in for him? He hadn’t sent word, but knowing Hubert’s quick wit, it was certainly possible.

Ryan rolled his eyes, deep in thought, when Baldwin spoke again.

“Thanks to that, I can put my mind at ease in that regard. Now, I need to focus on other matters.”

“‘Other matters’?”

Ryan looked up at Baldwin, intrigued by his meaningful words. Baldwin, with his sharp and cold features, placed his clasped hands on his knee and leaned forward slightly. The monocle over his cheekbone made his impression even sharper.

“What do you think of Daphne?”

His monocle gleamed as it caught the light.

“Are you attracted to her, that beautiful girl, in a romantic way?”