To My Arrogant Master - Chapter 2

“I’ll take that one.”

“…Pardon?”

The noisy barracks suddenly fell silent. When the duke, the highest-ranking noble here, pointed directly at Flora, the administrator looked like he might faint on the spot.

Then, as if guessing that the duke too had been captivated by Flora’s fair face, he quickly approached his ear and whispered quietly.

He rapidly recited her background as if to reconsider, but the duke’s expressionless face suggested he had no need to take it to heart at all.

Leaving the dumbfounded administrator, the man fixed his gaze on Flora and opened his mouth.

“I am Claude Heinst. Do you know me?”

Everyone knew of him as the outstanding commander-in-chief of the Southern Front and a noble knight who was said to be an example to all.

As Flora slowly nodded, the duke slowly moved his long legs.

With each step the man took, grace and nobility flowed. Flora was familiar with the unique atmosphere that emanated from noble-born commanders and knights, but the duke was decidedly different.

His upright posture was so impeccable that one might wonder if it had ever been disheveled, and his stylish physique, which suggested taut muscles beneath his uniform, hinted that he was not just a commander in name.

Flora, who had been watching all of the man’s movements with an indifferent gaze, only raised her eyes after the duke stopped right in front of her.

“Will you follow me?”

Thinking to herself that his deep, resonant bass voice was quite stable, Flora blinked her eyes a couple of times without changing her expression.

“……”

“Serve me instead of the imperial family that abandoned you.”

The sound of the nobles watching from behind drawing in their breath echoed through the narrow space.

The man who had uttered such insolent words without hesitation looked down at her with arrogant eyes and extended his hand.

“I will be your master. I’ll make you a proper person so that no one can look down on you.”

Flora, who had only been blinking her indifferent eyes even as he approached, took his outstretched hand without hesitation.

It wasn’t that she had fallen for the man’s proposal. She didn’t care who her master was as long as she could protect her own life.

All she wanted was to survive. That was all.

* * *

Despite the duke’s ready agreement to take charge of her, Flora neither spoke with the man nor even saw his face for a while.

As soon as they left the barracks, she mounted a horse handed to her by someone who appeared to be the duke’s subordinate, and spent the whole day holding the reins, only able to see the duke’s back from afar.

In the evening, they would stay overnight in a nearby village, and as soon as dawn broke the next day, they would mount horses again. Flora quietly followed them without asking a single question in a situation with no particular explanation.

After five days like this, they then boarded a carriage. After another three days of continuous travel, they arrived at a city where she had never set foot before in her life.

‘Fashante, the First Capital of the Lezentra Empire.’

Throughout the journey by carriage, Flora had been peering outside through a small window, but she could easily guess that this was the capital.

During the journey that lasted over a week, most of the scenery they passed through was still suffering from the aftermath of the war, despite it having ended 7 months ago. But this place appeared to be a thriving city with no collapsed buildings.

The people hurrying along the streets and the numerous carriages on the roads all looked ordinary. Of course, none of them were carrying swords at their waists.

After a short while, they finally arrived in front of an enormous iron gate that seemed to be three times Flora’s height.

Judging by the sculpture in the center depicting an eagle embracing a silver shield, the symbol of the ducal family, this was clearly the Heinst ducal residence.

When the gatekeeper recognized the carriage in front, he hurriedly gestured, and the massive iron gate that seemed immovable opened with a heavy sound.

“Even someone as lowly as you should be able to tell where this is, if you have eyes.”

As they entered, the man who called himself the duke’s aide muttered.

He had been frowning throughout the journey as if he was quite displeased with Flora’s presence, so this was the first time she heard his voice.

Assuming Flora’s face looking outside was the reaction of a country soldier surprised by the scale of the ducal residence, he spoke condescendingly.

“This is the great Heinst ducal residence, a place where a blood-crazed soldier like you would find it difficult to set foot in even once in your lifetime.”

Flora silently bowed her head. But that seemed to irritate him more, as he raised one eyebrow and folded his arms askew.

“Let me warn you. It’s better not to harbor any vain hopes just because His Grace brought you here.”

“…I never had any expectations.”

“Good. Keep knowing your place like that.”

Meanwhile, as the carriage stopped, the aide turned his head abruptly and got off, and Flora also stepped out.

Seeing the duke who had gotten off first, along with his accompanying aide and knights all entering through the front door, Flora hesitated for a moment before following them, taking a position at the very back.

She thought she might hear the voice of the person called the duke, but the first voice she heard was that of an elderly lady.

“You’re late.”

“Mrs. Melady. I trust there were no issues?”

“Everything was peaceful, except for Your Grace’s return being later than the notice.”

“Oh dear. Have I worried the old lady again?”

Although the people in front weren’t clearly visible, the duke’s soft laughter could be heard. His voice, clearly mellowed, made her wonder if this was really the same man with the chilly atmosphere she had seen in the camp.

“It’s unkind of you to tease an old woman. It’s only natural to worry about a young master who is rarely seen properly.”

“The most useless thing in the world is worrying about others. If contact is lost, just assume I’ve died somewhere and be done with it.”

Behind the informal conversation, someone’s long sigh was deeply heard.

“You’re saying things you don’t mean again. I’ve already instructed to prepare the bath water, so please go in and rest.”

“Ah, I almost forgot. Harriet.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

The one who answered was the aide who had spoken to Flora in the carriage.

Thanks to the knights standing in front moved to both sides, Flora was able to see the duke’s face for the first time in almost a week.

“Take care of her.”

The duke uttered coldly without even a glance at Flora, then leisurely moved his steps and swiftly climbed the stairs.

Left standing there, Flora merely blinked silently in front of the elderly lady who was now looking at her with a strange gaze.

“Head maid. This is someone His Grace brought, so for now, take her and have her washed.”

The sharp gaze that exuded experience blatantly scanned Flora from head to toe. The ash-colored jacket and trousers that men would typically wear were covered in dust, and a longsword was tied at her waist.

Judging by her dirty appearance, she was clearly not a guest, and having read this with her keen eye, the elderly lady soon withdrew her gaze.

“I will do so.”

After the woman called the head maid responded politely and gestured, the waiting maids quickly grasped Flora’s slender wrist.

They tried to take her away like that, but their attempt soon proved futile. Flora put strength in her feet and didn’t budge an inch.

Moreover, she lightly shook off the grasped wrist, causing the maids to lose their balance and scream as they fell.

At this sight, the elderly lady’s stern expression slightly crumpled. Before she could say anything, Harriet’s rebuke flew out.

“If you’re thinking of causing trouble recklessly, leave immediately.”

“It was they who touched my body without permission.”

To Flora’s calm recitation without a hint of wavering, Harriet was momentarily dazed before coming to her senses belatedly.

In fact, it wasn’t wrong, but the fact that she talked back to him angered him, and his words were bound to be unkind.

“It seems you’re not grasping the situation, but this is not a place where riffraff like you can come freely. This is the Heinst ducal residence, for heaven’s sake!”

Harriet spoke without hiding his displeasure, expressing it without reserve.

“You should be grateful for being allowed to stay here, yet you’re trying to bring shame to His Grace’s face?”

Why did the master bring such a woman to the ducal residence in the first place?

‘I told him not to take in people carelessly.’

Not understanding the feelings of his master who had only chuckled at his sincere advice, he vented that anger on the innocent woman.

However, regardless of his curt words, the woman remained expressionless. Frustrated by her stiff demeanor, Harriet continued speaking.

“You’re not thinking of meeting His Grace in that shabby state, are you?”

At those words, Flora, who had been motionless, lowered her head and looked down at her attire.

The military uniform given to soldiers wasn’t abundant in quantity, so although it was worn, she didn’t think it was that dirty, but it seemed only she thought so.

Seeing her trying to gauge whether it was dirty or not, Harriet sneered, thinking she was finally understanding.

“Now you get it? If you’re going to stay here, throw away all the habits you brought from where you were before.”

“I don’t need anyone’s help. I’m not a small child, I can wash myself.”

“That may be true, but… sigh. Just one of you, go with her and help.”

Harriet waved his hand as though he was tired of arguing further, faced with her consistent retorts.

Among the maids who were being cautious after the earlier incident, a maid with brown hair tied up tightly stepped forward. After hesitating for a moment, Flora didn’t show any resistance this time and quietly followed behind the maid.

As Harriet watched Flora’s back disappearing down the corridor, Mrs Melady approached and asked.

“May I ask where this woman is from?”

“Well… you should just think of her as a woman with nowhere to go.”

Harriet was about to mention the woman’s background immediately but belatedly remembered the duke’s order to keep her identity confidential and closed his mouth.

Although he stopped beating around the bush, Mrs Melady had already detected a suspicious air about him.