The Escort Knight Who Is Obsessed by the Villainess Wants to Escape - Chapter 15

“Sitting on the floor and showing your ankles? Do you think you’re inheriting the blood of a lowly woman that you proudly expose yourself?”

It was because you hit me that I fell.

Eliza did not point out the truth.

She stayed silent, having no desire to argue.

At this moment, she was a sinner.

The person in front of her, Narcissa, was both judge and executioner.

Her crime was being a bastard.

The cold and sharp blue eyes looking down at her.

Having experienced it repeatedly, it no longer felt cold.

It no longer hurt to be pricked.

Eliza simply stood up, meeting her gaze directly.

“What makes you think you can look me in the eye like that!”

Narcissa couldn’t contain her boiling anger and kicked Eliza’s body.

For a lady to lift her leg and kick, it was an uncouth act she had just criticized.

But she couldn’t control her emotions.

Seeing that face, as if nothing affected her, made it impossible to control her emotions.

Eliza, who was kicked in the abdomen, stood up silently without making a single groan.

There was a time when she acted as Narcissa wanted.

Kneeling, crying, begging for forgiveness.

Not even knowing what she had done wrong.

Yet Narcissa never stopped the violence.

Because as a noble, one shouldn’t easily cry or plead with others.

Despite her shouts, the smug smile of superiority never left Narcissa’s face at that time.

Eliza now understood.

There was no reason for the beatings.

She just wanted to beat her, and so found a convenient excuse.

Her true intentions were utterly vile.

Contempt for a bastard.

More precisely, jealousy towards Eliza’s mother who had dallied with her husband.

And digging deeper, it was anger and hatred towards her husband who had given his heart to that mother.

That hatred had simply transferred to Eliza.

Eliza’s mother had died in a fire accident.

Of course, it wasn’t an accident. Both Eliza and Narcissa knew that.

“You brought a boy into the guest room.”

Narcissa said, wiping her hands with a handkerchief.

“Was it to prove your dirty lineage? Acting so shamelessly at that age… Just like the daughter of a wench who danced half-naked and spread her legs easily in front of others. I never liked you since my hunting event.”

It was harsh language for a child.

But Eliza calmly replied.

“I brought him in out of necessity. To tame the moon deer, a sacred beast of the Moonsin religion.”

Eliza was weak. She had no foundation.

She couldn’t kill Narcissa yet.

Narcissa had no strength but had a foundation and influence.

But Eliza…

Magical talent was not something that could be easily handled.

Moreover, despite being an illegitimate child, Eliza was the most likely candidate to become the next head of the family.

It wasn’t just because of her talent as a mage.

Eliza was an excellent person in her own right.

In every aspect: appearance, dignity, culture, and intelligence.

Eliza knew Narcissa’s true feelings, which she did not admit.

Narcissa was afraid of her.

If Eliza ever became the head of the family, or if her magical talent blossomed and she became a truly powerful mage, Narcissa would be the first to be purged.

And Narcissa’s children would be pushed aside by Eliza.

But then, who knows?

Would it really end with just killing?

“Rather than killing and eating as meat, I think taming and keeping them under me is a much rarer and more valuable act,” Eliza said with a subtle smile.

Narcissa involuntarily took a sharp breath.

She was a young girl, less than half Narcissa’s age.

Yet, sometimes she gave Narcissa chills.

What was hidden beneath that mask?

Her red eyes, resembling her father’s, were eerily beautiful like gems.

On the other hand, her black hair, resembling a lowly monster, was unpleasant to the point of stinking.

Like an unwashed rag.

“You filthy wench!”

Eliza was not someone who could not understand the implication behind the words.

Narcissa finally put her hand on Eliza’s face.

Slap! A sharp sound of a slap rang out.

She had never touched Eliza’s face before.

It was the first time Eliza had been slapped, but she was not surprised.

She just caressed her burning cheek and looked up at Narcissa.

“There is an upcoming birthday banquet,”

Narcissa said as if nothing had happened.

“Do not cause unnecessary scandals. Your very existence already disgraces the family’s reputation.”

“Yes.”

“Since the whole family will gather for a contemptible person like you, maintain your dignity.”

It meant not to let anyone know that she had touched her face.

Therefore, she could not seek treatment from a doctor or a priest.

Eliza obediently agreed.

“Understood. However, I request the replacement of one tutor.”

“…What? How much could you have learned to dare evaluate and replace them?”

“A tutor who shows more interest in the student than in the student’s learning is not excellent. Mr. Sardis is like that.”

“It is all for a reason. What do you know, you useless thing…”

Appointing private tutors was entirely under Narcissa’s authority.

Eliza was not disappointed by the expected reaction.

However, recalling Sardis’s gaze at her made her uncomfortable.

As if a bug was crawling on her body.

“You have many demands for someone who doesn’t even know their place. Tsk… Celebrating your birth, which is a sin itself…”

Narcissa muttered as she left.

It was a monologue meant to be overheard.

Eliza raised her hand, looking at the door Narcissa had exited through.

Yellow flames gathered and dispersed on his palm.

‘Still not enough.’

She practiced and trained whenever she could, but her firepower was still lacking.

The once uncontrollable power she wielded as a child had weakened after a certain incident.

It wasn’t nearly enough to kill a person.

Lia approached, wiping Eliza’s body and helping her change clothes.

She had been watching everything from start to finish.

There was nothing more humiliating than being insulted in front of a servant, but Eliza didn’t care.

He knew that Lia was assigned to her by Narcissa to keep an eye on her.

The fire she just lit would be reported to Narcissa.

It didn’t matter.

In fact, she wanted that.

She intended to provoke Narcissa.

“How are the preparations for the banquet I mentioned this morning?”

Eliza spoke as if nothing had happened, looking at herself in the mirror.

Every time she acted so nonchalant, Lia found herself biting her lip unconsciously.

It felt like a black pus was growing inside her heart.

But only for a moment.

Lia quickly changed her expression and answered calmly.

“They are starting to prepare space for the animals in the mansion. But the carpenters, stonemasons, and lighting craftsmen are not here yet.”

“Alright. Tell Miguel to hurry up.”

“Yes, Miss.”

Lia applied makeup to Eliza’s cheeks with a brush.

She painted both cheeks evenly to avoid the appearance of being slapped.

With simple blush applied, Eliza looked like a healthy young girl.

“Anna came to see you and left.”

“Anna?”

Judas’s maid.

She remembered immediately.

“What for?”

“She said she had something to deliver to you.”

“…From Judas? To me? Bring her in.”

Anna, who had just arrived, was holding flowers in her arms.

Red flowers. Two of them.

Not knowing what had happened to Eliza, she spoke politely, stating her purpose.

“Mr. Judas prepared these flowers for you, Miss.”

“…Ha!”

Eliza couldn’t help but laugh.

She didn’t even realize it was the first time she’d laughed out loud in years.

It was absurd. Too much.

‘Just two flowers?’

She’d received flowers to the point of being sick of them.

She once received a bouquet with 100 flowers at once.

It was so large she could hardly hold it herself.

That was the minimum.

The ones who gave the most flowers were the side branches of the imperial family who requested a political marriage.

It was enough to turn the entire mansion into a flower garden.

I threw them all away.

I don’t care what happened to them.

But, for someone like me, only two flowers.

Anna was flustered by Eliza’s sarcastic reaction.

She was embarrassed even though it was Judas who gave them.

Lia quickly observed Eliza’s expression and said.

“Should I throw them away right away…?”

“No.”

Eliza interrupted her.

“Bring them here.”

Anna handed over the flowers, hiding her reluctance.

Red flowers wrapped in cheap paper.

It was the best JudaS could buy with 10 florins.

‘How much would these cost?’

The flowers and packaging were so cheap that Eliza couldn’t even guess the price.

“Bring a vase.”

“Pardon?”

Eliza looked at Lia, as if asking if she had to repeat herself.

“Sorry.”

Lia hurriedly brought a sleek glass vase.

Eliza stared at it and shook her head.

“Not that one.”

It was only when Lia brought the fourth vase that Eliza nodded.

It was a special vase with ornate glass vines embossed on it.

One that had never been used.

Eliza personally placed the flowers in the vase.

“Fill it with water and put it on my desk.”

“Understood.”

Lia responded promptly, though she couldn’t believe what she was seeing.

Eliza, who had always treated any flowers received as trash.

These two meager flowers didn’t even qualify as trash.

Yet Eliza accepted them willingly.

What could this mean?

Lia pondered deeply as she left the room.

Eliza smiled faintly as she thought about the vase.

It was absurd.

Judas, giving such a simple gift.

And herself, not disliking it for some reason.

‘It’s refreshing.’

Yes, it was indeed a fresh and rare experience.

Eliza knew the name of those red flowers.

Anemone.

And their meaning.

‘A love that cannot be fulfilled.’

Utterly audacious.

Surely she didn’t choose them knowing that.

“Anna.”

“Yes, my lady.”

“So, why did he want to give me flowers?”

“He’s grateful for your kindness and wanted to repay you.”

“Hmm.”

Is that so?

It’s obvious he feels uncomfortable whenever he’s in front of me.

I remember he showed open hostility when we first met.

He doesn’t seem like someone who would act affectionate now.

What’s his true intention?

It doesn’t look easy.

“And there’s another gift. He said he would give it to you directly.”

“Another one? I’m really looking forward to it.”

He was sincere.

What kind of fresh gift did he prepare?

“You should go now. Oh, tell Judas that we can’t go see the moon deer today.”

Eliza, who bit Anna, called for Miguel and Gawain.

Upcoming birthday party.

Then, a way to tease Narcissa came to mind.

“I’m thinking of inviting candidates to the birthday party.”

Miguel was about to say no, but he shut his mouth.

There is a purpose, but allowing Judas to stay at the mansion for a few days is already a problem.

However, inviting candidates to a party where only nobles gather is sure to cause a stir.

But if Eliza is willing to do it, then so be it.

“We’ll need at least some justification, right?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Let the candidates compete against each other. Justify it by inviting the candidate with the highest likelihood of becoming my Escort knight. But individual battles will take a long time. It’s also easy for scandals to arise.”

Eliza came up with a plan and justification on the spot.

“So, let’s have a team-based competition with representatives chosen each time. To the winners, each… Wasn’t the prize I gave Judas last time 1,000 florins?”

“It was 100 florins, miss.”

“Give them that much each. If they win, they can participate in my mansion’s party and enjoy the meal freely.”

Miguel quickly noted it down.

“Can we proceed without disrupting the training?”

“Yes, miss. We will make sure of it.”

“Good. I trust you to adjust the details well.”

“Yes. We will complete it in a few days and notify the candidates.”

“Okay. You two can go now.”

How will Judas behave this time?

Somehow, she was convinced that he would win.

There’s no basis for it.

What would happen if he participated in her party and met with other families?

He was the kind of person who didn’t hesitate to rebel against even Kale, who was much older and stronger than him.

Could he do the same here?

It was fun because it was unpredictable.

He was like an untamed wild animal.

This plan will determine the reputation and honor of the nobility.

But she didn’t care.

What was more important was that the Bevel family could be subtly smeared.

She looked forward to seeing how Judas would behave.

Will he surpass expectations this time too?

Eliza went to the study room to study.

Two anemones in a vase greeted her.

She chuckled again.

It’s so trivial.

But why don’t I dislike this triviality?

She sat at her desk, checked the time, and took out a philosophy book.

“Dialectics of Master and Slave.”

It was full of expressions and sentences that were difficult to understand at her age, but Eliza understood and absorbed them without difficulty.

Sometimes, she chuckled as she looked at the anemones.

And then, Judas came to mind, and she also thought of the moon deer.

The moment she stroked the moon deer’s back.

“…It was soft.”

A small hand was scratching alone.

The tingling sensation on the cheek was deliberately ignored.

***

[Hidden Quest, ‘First Moon Deer Raiser’ completed.]

[Offering rewards.]

[Acquisition of Mana (Lv.3) – Moon Attribute.]

“Crazy….”

I cursed out of suprise .

Mana.

Levels 1 and 2 are just mana, but from level 3, it’s slightly different.

It’s a level where you can actually feel mana and try something with it.

But what surprised me wasn’t that level 3.

‘Moon attribute…?’

In this world, there is one god and several Sub-gods.

The moon is one branch of those Sub-gods.

In other words, having a moon attribute means containing the power of a god.

“It’s extremely difficult to acquire….”

Attributes can mostly be partially implemented with specific items.

Especially rare ones like the moon attribute are even more so.

However, having the moon attribute attached to mana means that all the mana I use from now on will be implemented as the moon attribute.

But there’s a problem.

How do you even use mana?

“What is mana in the first place?”

I lived in a world without mana or magic.

Even though I experienced this world as a game, I have no idea what mana is.

I tried various things next to the moon deer.

Concentrating, trying to feel the energy flowing through my body, imagining the power extending outward.

It was all useless.

“I’ll just have to learn slowly.”

I checked my status after a while.

Last time, my health increased significantly with the egg yolk mushroom, and the rest of my stats also rose slightly.

[Health: 10.5]

[Strength: 5.6]

[Agility: 12.1]

[Mana: 3.0]

The biggest change is the newly added mana stat.

Since there’s definitely mana in my body, there’s no need to be impatient.

Using mana can dramatically enhance physical abilities.

This is called ‘Mana Release.’

The effect is proportional to the mana stat.

But I don’t need that much stronger power right away.

“Impressive fellow.”

I stroked the moon deer’s neck.

It’s a very impressive and useful creature.

It seems to feel good as it wags its tail when I stroke it.

It was a coincidence, and I was doing this near Eliza Mansion because of it, but I think I did well to tame it.

Ultimately, I’m grateful to Eliza for letting it live.

“…Ah. That wrist. It reminded me again.”

Why is that?

Thinking back, it was a problem I had no idea about.

***

Morning.

I ate Anna’s sandwich heartily.

It was delicious and all, but lacking in protein.

“I wish I had tried eating more protein even for just one day… It would make my stats grow faster if I ate well.”

I returned to the training camp before the morning training.

It’s been a long time.

I left on Saturday morning and came back on Monday morning.

Room 13. Richard, who discovered me, was surprised as if he had seen a ghost.

“Wh-whoa…! Ju, Judas! Hey, are you okay? What happened?”

He came running desperately and grabbed my shoulders, shaking me.

“What, what’s wrong with you? Did something weird happen to you?”

It seems that in Richard’s mind, nobles are similar to demons.

Doesn’t he know that it’s somewhat disrespectful to Eliza?

“I was worried because you didn’t come all weekend. I heard from Thomas that you would come on Monday.”

Dylan was relatively calm.

Since I was taken by a noble and was absent for a few days, it was enough to unfold various imaginary wings.

Some looked at me with a sinister and secretive gaze.

Crazy bastards.

I briefly explained why I ended up staying there.

“…Anyway, it seems I’ll stay there until I completely tame the moon deer.”

“Now that I think about it, isn’t this the same as success?”

“To enter lady’s mansion….”

Then a barrage of questions followed.

How big is the mansion?

What are the living quarters like?

Was there no mention of becoming a knight from Eliza?

Etcetera. I answered them appropriately.

I lightly brushed off questions that fantasized about a romantic love beyond my status with Eliza.

They’re crazy bastards. Really.

“Why do I smell oil from him?”

Richard suddenly said.

Argon agreed beside him.

They seem to have become close.

“Does it smell like cheese? Or like something salty……”

“Hey, how can you eat delicious food alone?”

“Aren’t there cookies and chocolates I brought?”

“Of course, I was going to say you could eat alone! Yeah, you can eat them all alone!”

Richard smoothly changed the subject.

Laughter erupted.

I changed into familiar clothes and went out to the training ground.

A field of sand.

Thomas, the head of section 5, informed me.

“Everyone will know soon that it’s Miss Eliza’s birthday. She was very pleased with the results of the last hunting competition.”

Around that time, people around me glanced at me.

“You are to be given another honor. Starting today, all afternoon training sessions will be changed to room-to-room battles.”

Room-to-room battles?

“The rules are as follows. After randomly selecting the room and the opponent to duel with each day, each room will have five people to compete. In this way, winners will be selected, and the members of the winning room will have the opportunity to participate directly in the lady’s birthday celebration.”

Directly participate in the noble’s birthday party.

Many of the candidates here were hopeless dreamers.

I wasn’t very interested.

Well, if it’s Eliza’s birthday……

‘Wait. Will there be a lot of protein there?’

My thoughts changed.

Wouldn’t it be nice to go just once?

“And here.”

Thomas held up a small piece of paper.

“The match-ups have already been decided. I will recite them now, so remember them well.”

I felt a sharp gaze from somewhere.

When I turned my head, a big young man was glaring at me fiercely.

I recognized him immediately.

He was among the group that cursed me from behind during the last hunting competition.

He seemed to be a captain among them.

He was also the one who chased the deer until the end.

……But, what was his name again?’

Judging by the lineup, Room 15.

Around there, the members of the other Room 15 also looked at me with discomfort or glanced at me.

“Next. The first opponent of Room 13 is….”

I didn’t avoid their gaze.