The Guardian Knight of Affection-Starved Young Ladies - Chapter 135



134 – Lecalin (01)

135.

Her eyes scanned the papers swiftly and accurately.

Despite handling so many tasks, there was no sign of fatigue.

The girl in the office, Daphne Lecalin, pressed her tired eyes and looked at the family’s informant.

The Lecalin family has almost no knights.

Instead, they have equally important people.

Informants.

Those who collect and organize rumors and information from across the empire and send them to the Lecalin family.

Daphne was recognized early on by the Marquis of Lecalin as having the qualities of an heir.

Although she still had many shortcomings and could not be officially announced yet.

The determination to rise higher.

A nature that does not turn away from those under her care.

Those two qualities made her recognized by her father.

The chief intelligence officer in front of her was also one of the rewards of that recognition.

Daphnis meticulously examined the materials he handed over.

“Locked herself in the room as if terrified…?”

Daphnis knew Niden well.

Famous people always have their reasons.

In high society, famous people fall into one of two categories.

Either they are truly perfect, or they are truly trash.

Niden belonged to the latter.

He was so obsessed with women that he was considered an object of avoidance by the young ladies of society.

There are occasionally such people.

Those who delude themselves into thinking the world revolves around them, floundering in their own little world.

The worst part is that he couldn’t control his anger.

When someone went against his words, he became violent.

Yet, he would grovel to nobles of higher rank or those he thought were powerful.

Daphnis despised this type of person the most.

“Is that… possible?”

So she was puzzled.

As far as Daphnis knew, Niden was a fearless human being.

In fact, he was quite clever in that regard, never violating imperial law despite his numerous entanglements with young ladies.

Moreover, the Marquis of Vibrier was also a doting father.

If someone had threatened his son, he would not have remained silent.

Daphnis’s deep eyes rolled around.

Then there was only one thing left.

Someone had threatened Niden to the point where he couldn’t even think of resisting.

Was there anyone bold enough to touch the heir of an imperial marquis family?

Daphnis couldn’t readily think of anyone.

As she was pondering, the chief intelligence officer gently spoke.

“Lady Daphnis. Please review the materials further.”

“What? The data?”

Daphnis, who heard the informant’s words, turned the paper over and found that it was also organized there.

Information reports should be as short and concise as possible.

Because of that, it is rare for it to go beyond one page.

Nevertheless, the fact that the back page was used means that the content is that sensitive.

Daphnis slowly read the contents written on the back page.

And it was quite shocking.

“He, he broke his arm?”

“Yes. Late at night. Moreover, it was raining on a deserted street, so no one saw it.”

“What is this…”

He broke his arm.

Threatened him so strongly that he locked himself in his room.

It’s quite a surprising story.

Because it means that it was Niden who was made to look like that.

Considering his usual behavior, he must have done something trashy again to deserve it.

The problem is the person who made Niden like that.

Someone who is fearless and confident in their strength to the extent of making the heir of the Marquis of Vivre look like that.

Someone related to a beautiful woman, enough for Niden to do something trashy.

Daphnis’s mind worked quickly, and soon came up with an answer.

“…”

“Miss?”

“Where did you say?”

“Pardon?”

“The place where Niden was found. Where was it?”

“It was on the carriage street of Mland. Specifically, the place where he was waiting to board the wanted carriage.”

The carriage street of Mland.

Is it a coincidence?

The place where Daphnis promised to meet a boy a week ago is also the representative street of Mland, right next to it.

“The time he was found…”

“It was 11 PM, six days ago.”

A person strong enough to make Niden look like that and handle the aftermath.

A person entangled with a lady so beautiful that Niden would covet her.

It’s hard to pinpoint the culprit with just that.

But a boy came to Daphnis’s mind.

A person close to the ladies of the five great families, incomparable to the Bibrié family.

A person who has already reached the fifth rank without even having undergone the coming-of-age ceremony.

…A person who is never without a lady by his side.

Tap, tap.

But there’s one thing.

Something that doesn’t make sense.

Kallen clearly said he had an urgent matter, according to Richeza.

So they postponed the meeting by a week.

At that time, there was no doubt because it was Richeza’s word.

But now that I think about it, why did Richeza convey that message?

How did Richeza know to tell me that?

Originally, it was I who had arranged the meeting, so if something urgent came up, it would be common sense to tell me directly.

Kallen is not someone who lacks common sense.

Therefore, there is only one conclusion.

The two of them deceived me and met secretly, then encountered Niden.

That explains everything.

Thud…

Unable to hit the desk hard, Daphnis lightly tapped it and hurriedly stood up.

The informant was momentarily taken aback by her sudden action, but Daphnis quickly grabbed her coat.

“Ah, miss?”

“This is no time for that, Mars!”

Daphnis, struggling to put on her coat in her haste, urgently spoke to the informant.

“Tell my father I’ve gone out for a while!”

“Miss…!”

“Please!”

The main street of Mland.

A girl headed there.

*

“…”

“…”

“…”

It’s quiet.

As mentioned, the main street of Mland is always bustling with the pleasant voices of young ladies.

Stories about their favorite noblemen.

Various rumors circulating in the empire.

Even conversations about the clothes they just picked out.

It’s rare for such a street to become quiet.

However, not long ago, the street fell silent because of a boy.

A week after that.

The street was just as quiet now.

As if something interesting had appeared, the young ladies on the street were watching three people.

One handsome nobleman and two beautiful young ladies.

One of them was holding hands with the nobleman.

The other young lady was looking at the two of them as if she was shocked.

“Nobleman… Richeza… What is this…”

Daphnis and Richeza do not use honorifics with each other.

They only use formal speech in public settings.

If someone else is watching, they use honorifics with each other.

But Daphnis was so shocked by the scene in front of her that she forgot all about that.

Kalen, who had postponed their appointment due to urgent business.

Richeza, who had personally delivered the message.

The two of them were walking down the street, holding hands.

“…Daphnis…”

Richeza, who used to dislike men so much.

Richeza, who was now holding Kalen’s hand without saying a word.

The sight was so shocking that Daphnis almost lost strength in her legs.

It was none other than Richeza.

Deceiving her and being with Kalen.

Daphnis’s eyes soon reddened.

“Sniff…”

She turned around and ran clumsily.

“…”

“…”

Kalen, facing Richeza, sighed lightly and chased after Daphnis.

It took considerable effort to persuade her to sit in the central square.

“So… it’s a misunderstanding?”

A voice full of sulkiness.

Arms crossed, cheeks puffed out, and turning her head as if angry, a sigh escaped naturally.

“Ri. Che. Za?”

“…Daphnis…”

“Even the young master is here. Ri. Che. Za.”

“…”

It was hard to get here.

Daphnis, with her thin legs, ran away well.

Kalen, who couldn’t treat her harshly, had to put in considerable effort to persuade her to listen.

Even after coming this far.

It seemed quite difficult to clear Daphnis’s misunderstanding.

In fact, Kalen also realized that he had been deceived.

In the end, it was only Richeza who deceived both of them.

Daphnis had only said she postponed the appointment due to an urgent matter.

Kalen sat next to Daphnis.

Richeza sat next to Kalen.

But Kalen did not blame Richeza.

An apology rather than an explanation.

He knew well that there was nothing better to soothe someone’s feelings.

When Sinat sulked, it was always a principle to uphold.

And if everything was blamed on Licheza, the relationship between Lidafnis and Licheza could be strained.

It might not matter to Kallen himself, but it would make things harder for Dafnis.

“I’m sorry, Dafnis.”

“…What are you sorry for?”

“For deceiving you and meeting only with Licheza.”

“Hmph. You know it well. Why is someone so smart apologizing?”

Hmph.

It was a nasal sound typical of Dafnis, who was close to Licheza.

Fortunately, it didn’t seem like he was very angry, so Kallen stood up and went to Dafnis.

At that sudden action, Dafnis asked in surprise.

“W-What are you doing?”

“I wanted to meet separately.”

“…Separately?”

“Yes. It was you who first suggested we have chocolate desserts. I thought it was impolite to meet both you and Licheza at the same time.”

“…”

“I also told Licheza, and I’m sorry I didn’t come to you first.”

Apologies should be made face-to-face, sincerely.

That way, the sincerity is conveyed better.

Dafnis, squatting in front of him, looked up at Kallen earnestly.

“Then why did you deceive me?”

“Licheza opposed it. She said that if she told you, you would surely be considerate of her.”

“Licheza…?”

“Yes. She said you would want to meet alone, so she didn’t want to interfere.”

Dafnis looked at Licheza in surprise.

Licheza, looking even more surprised, turned her gaze to Dafnis.

A way to ease Dafnis’s mind without breaking the relationship between Dafnis and Licheza.

Kallen thought of the times he had to ease Sinat’s mood.

He took Dafnis’s soft, delicate hand.

“Kyaa…?!”

Kallen looked straight at the deeply embarrassed Daphnis and spoke.

“I’m sorry, Miss.”

“Huu… Huut… L-let go of me…”

Contrary to her words, Daphnis quietly let her hand be held.

Sinat had always told her never to do this, but whenever she did, Sinat’s anger would dissipate.

Kallen hesitated for a moment, then looked directly into Daphnis’s eyes and smiled softly.

“I’m sorry, Daphnis.”

“…”

She didn’t know why.

When she held her hand tightly and called her name with a smile,

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Sinat would laugh as if nothing had happened.

Daphnis’s reaction was not much different.

Unlike before, she turned her head with relaxed eyes, as if her heart had been soothed.

“…Then…”

Daphnis, who had been mumbling and turning her head, looked down at Kallen.

“Meet with me too… I want to play with you for a week…”

“Okay, Daphnis. Thank you.”

“Huut…”

Daphnis flinched for a moment, then bit her lip and muttered.

“Don’t call my name… so kindly…”

Fortunately,

It seemed that Daphnis’s heart had been safely soothed.