The Escort Knight Who Is Obsessed by the Villainess Wants to Escape - Chapter 27

Barak was the first to explain, in a rather firm tone.

“Eliza. No matter the reason, I cannot allow it. Even with your consent, it is impossible.”

His words were perfectly reasonable.

No matter how much Eliza insisted, there were boundaries.

I was a commoner, an outsider, and a young man; I couldn’t stay in his daughter’s house.

Moreover, I had already stayed in the annex of this mansion for several days.

Even though it was for the purpose of the Moon Deer, it was already an excessive privilege.

However, Eliza was adamant.

“If I say I’ll do it, I will.”

“This isn’t a matter that can be resolved like that. Even if this were your mansion, it would be the same. I cannot allow that thing to stay by your side.”

“Why not? Among all the male servants who do all kinds of chores, isn’t there one like Judas?”

“They are just servants. Different from that thing.”

“Fine. Then I’ll hire this child as a servant in my mansion.”

…What?

“Isn’t it enough for him to be a candidate of escort knight and from the training center?”

Uh…

That… makes sense…

But it shouldn’t be?

“Sigh… Eliza. You must know that your argument is unreasonable. If you are as clever as you are, you would understand.”

“I don’t know.”

Eliza, with her arms crossed, answered sharply.

Barak rubbed his forehead as if he had a headache.

He looked like a man dealing with a daughter in her rebellious phase.

His demeanor was annoying, but on the surface, just…

“Stop talking nonsense!”

The Duchess Narcissa, who had been silent, shouted.

“Why are you being so childishly unreasonable?”

That… because Eliza is a child…

I had a lot to say, but I held it in for now.

“I didn’t educate you to see this kind of behavior!”

“Ah, well, the Marquis Sardis was also an excellent teacher selected by the Duchess.”

Narcissa bit her lip hard.

Balak waited silently for the Duchess’s answer.

An attitude of watching what she would say.

I glanced at Eliza.

At the time of the incident, she was trembling with fear.

Just mentioning that name would be painful, yet her face was adorned with a cold smile.

A smile drawn like a doll.

It looked the same as usual, but did it seem like a mask because of my feelings?

“Regarding that matter…! I also recognize and acknowledge my mistake. But this matter is separate! I can’t allow it!”

“If you can’t allow it.”

Eliza leaned back in her chair.

She crossed her legs and arrogantly folded her arms.

With a sly smile, she raised her chin and looked down at Narcissa.

‘This posture… she had it since she was young.’

It was a look Eliza often showed when she was despising someone.

“What are you going to do about it? What can the Duchess do? Are you going to kill me?”

“You…!”

“I told you, Duchess. If you act carelessly, you can’t achieve anything. It might be a bit late to kill me now, but…”

Eliza tilted her head crookedly, drawing out her words.

Her upward-looking eyes slowly turned into a different color.

“If you want to kill me, now might be the best time. While I’m not yet fully proficient with this power.”

Orange gathered like a whirlwind, swirling in her red irises.

The pupil in the center shone like yellow gold.

“Eliza!”

Balak banged on the desk and stood up.

“What are you doing right now!”

His eyes were also tinged with crimson.

The two mage glared at each other fiercely.

“I just thought I should let the Duchess know. There’s a time for everything, and if you miss it, it’s too late. The time to kill me is passing by every moment.”

Barak, with his lips tightly shut, let out a deep sigh through his nose and sat down again.

He was angry at Eliza’s sudden behavior, but his reaction was mixed with a sense of confusion.

I felt just as conflicted.

Despite supporting Barak and Narcissa, Eliza’s words made me uncomfortable.

I wasn’t even sure if it was appropriate for me to be involved in this conversation.

Narcissa, silent with frustration, and Barak, sighing and rubbing his face.

A moment of silence.

I cautiously spoke up.

“Miss. I’m sorry, but it seems like the two of them are right.”

“…What?”

“As you know, I’m a commoner. Being with you would only harm your reputation and honor. I am grateful for the kindness you’ve shown me until now, but….”

I stopped speaking.

Eliza was looking at me with an expressionless face.

Her gaze felt like it could pierce through me.

‘Don’t look at me with those crazy, awakened eyes…! It’s scary…!’

Is it okay to be afraid of a 13-year-old girl?

Yes, it is.

Because it’s Eliza.

A mage’s power doesn’t care about age.

“Why?”

Eliza suddenly leaned towards me.

She repeated the question.

“Why?”

“Excuse me?”

“I asked why.”

“Because, what they said is….”

“What do you think?”

“I….”

A scene flashed through my mind.

Eliza clinging to me, whining.

I’m not sure if she remembers, but sometimes she showed me her vulnerable side.

What does it mean that this scene comes to my mind before anything else?

“I appreciate what you said, but it’s too much for me….”

“It’s not too much.”

Eliza interrupted me.

She grabbed my hand firmly.

Her warm and small hand, grasping mine recklessly.

“Don’t leave. Stay here.”

I couldn’t shake off that hand.

The face remained as calm and composed as usual.

However, the grip holding my hand felt somehow desperate.

Was it an intentional force?

Or did the strength come unconsciously?

Barak glared at the hand gripping my wrist as if ready to cut it off.

“Eliza. Do you think I have no other way but to touch you directly?”

Barak now threatened me, holding my safety in his hands.

Caught between a whale fight, I, the shrimp, was about to burst.

Unlike me, who was troubled in many ways, Eliza remained calm.

“Go ahead.”

No, don’t go ahead. Why are you deciding that…

“If you can.”

Eliza looked up at Barak with a bright smile.

As if saying you have to get past her to kill me.

The Mad fire in her eyes was still active.

I’m the only one about to go crazy, caught in the middle.

Narcissa suddenly interrupted.

“That’s not all! He openly insulted me in front of people!”

She pointed at me as she spoke.

“I’ve been too busy to notice, but he needs to be properly punished! A criminal should not be by your side…”

“I don’t particularly care about the lady’s honor…”

“Listen here!”

I cut off Narcissa’s words.

Coincidentally, my remark overlapped with Eliza’s, but it was too late to back down.

I had already spoken.

“From earlier, you’ve been calling me ‘this’ and ‘that’—do you think I’m an object?”

I stood up abruptly.

The three nobles looked up at me with dumbfounded expressions.

I shot back at Narcissa among them.

“And ma’am, did I pick a fight with you first? You were the one who put your nose in shit and sniffed it, so why are you blaming the shit?”

“W-what, nose, shit…”

“And what else, a teacher, what? In a situation where you should be apologizing and doing handstands, you’re boasting? Even though you slapped a kid?”

“…!”

Narcissa’s eyes widened.

As if saying, how did you know that.

Barak watched Narcissa’s reaction with narrowed eyes.

He seemed not to have known that fact.

That made it even more infuriating.

We know how much they despise being born as bastards.

Even so, now they’re meddling without ever checking on how the child is doing.

“Sir, are you watching as if it doesn’t concern you?”

“…?”

This time it’s Barak’s turn.

This nobleman reacts relatively calmly.

His opponent isn’t Narcissa de Bevel.

Unlike the seemingly ordinary Barak, he is a threatening mage.

Eliza may have exceptional potential, but Barak’s current skill as a mage far surpasses her.

He reached that position with his power.

It’s disrespectful for someone like me, a commoner, to even make eye contact.

‘What can I do about it?’

It’s not my important concern.

Whether it’s the duke or the boat, I can’t stay good-natured if they behave annoyingly.

“To be honest, I’m the one who saved the young lady. Even if I’m lowly, isn’t this treatment too much?”

“Ri-right now, to me…”

“I’m not expecting thanks or reward. They should discuss it amongst themselves and just inform me. Why do they keep involving and calling people?”

“Y-You, really, are you trying to… die?”

Barak and Narcissa.

Both of them stare at me with their mouths slightly open.

Their expressions are completely dissonant.

Even that stupid expression annoys me.

It keeps coming to mind.

They probably don’t even know what Eliza said last night.

Was it just yesterday? Really?

I tried hard to pretend I didn’t know.

Taking responsibility for others is such a difficult and burdensome task.

I can’t comfort with cheap sympathy.

Out of pity, wanting to help, wanting to comfort.

Handling that problem instead, carrying it together, giving advice.

I’ve tried everything.

I’m as broad-shouldered as a pack mule, flipping everything upside down like a madman if anyone touches me.

That wasn’t necessarily limited to just me.

I used to lose my temper like this.

I learned then that incompetent morality is arrogance.

It’s worse than hypocrisy.

Still, that unfamiliar crying face keeps coming back to me.

It’s unpleasant to hear a child who’s only 13 talk calmly about killing themselves or whatever.

The gym where I quit sports and worked.

It was close to residential areas, so people of various ages used to come.

I worked there for quite a long time and saw many people, including many children.

What I remember is the children from poor home environments. The ones who seemed flashy. For some reason, they seemed depressed.

When I got to know them and listened to their stories, it was quite subtle.

They spend money to send their kids to the gym, but they don’t take care of them.

Should I say they’re abandoned?

It’s not just economic hardship, it’s emotional deprivation.

It’s not like there weren’t good parents.

It’s just that those bad examples come to mind naturally because they overlap with the current situation….

‘Why am I thinking of this…!’

My head is a mess.

Confusing.

Eliza, who would occasionally burn people to death.

And Eliza, who cries while holding someone.

Two types of appearances emerge like a hinge.

Overlap, separation. It repeats.

Who is Eliza?

“All this time, you were indifferent to how the child was doing, and now you’re trying to be a parent, aren’t you ashamed? Right?”

If I didn’t say it, I felt like I would eventually collapse from frustration.

Because my nature is so bad.

After spitting it out, I realized it was Eliza’s defense.

“Pfft!”

At that moment, laughter burst out beside me.

When I turned to look, Eliza covered her mouth and laughed softly.

I couldn’t understand what was so funny that tears welled up in the corners of her eyes.

“Oh, this is really….”

Eliza said, pressing her eyes with the back of her hand.

“It’s a joy I never expected.”

She drew a cool smile looking at me.

“Did you hear that? Duchess. Lady.”

Eliza laughed towards the two of us.

Her face showed a relaxed expression.

“This child is mine.”

… Suddenly?

Why did that conclusion come about?

“People are not objects….”

“Forget about that. More importantly, you must have called me about yesterday’s incident.”

Narcissa still stammered, murmuring like a carp.

Narcissa looked at him with eyes seeking help.

But Barak was similar to Narcissa.

“Duchess?”

Balak swept his face as if he saw something strange.

He smooths his voice.

“Yes, that’s right. Firstly, I’ve secured several clues. To cut to the chase, Sardis’s guilt has been proven. However.”

Strength returned to Balak’s eyes.

“This fellow being suspicious hasn’t changed.”

Just at that moment, just when I was staying in the outer annex, I happened to discover Sardis.

Even thinking about it, it’s an astonishing coincidence.

“Instead of assumptions, let’s talk about verifiable facts.”

Eliza extended her short fingers, showing them and then folding them one by one.

“One, Sardis intended harm towards me. Two, Judas prevented it. Three, who knows what would have happened if Judas hadn’t been there.”

Eliza looked at Barak as if asking if more explanation was necessary.

Barak clenched his teeth tightly.

A faint, crunching sound was heard.

“Eliza… you really have no intention of backing down, do you?”

“None at all.”

“Sigh… Huh…”

Barak closed his eyes tightly and let out a deep sigh.

Then he slowly opened his eyes.

In his sunken gaze, deep weariness could be felt.

He spoke, like a sigh.

“…I’ll be the one to explain yesterday’s events to the guests.”

It was practically a declaration of defeat.

“Very well.”

“Barak got up from his seat.

So did Narcissa.

The atmosphere reluctantly hinted at departure.

It seemed he realized he couldn’t convince Eliza in any way.

No parents wins against their child.

I’m starting to feel that proverb in an unwelcome way.

Before leaving, Barak looked down at me and said, as if chewing over his words,

“I’ll keep an eye on you. I’ll always remember you.”

So you’re still arguing to the bitter end?

I didn’t yield and shot back,

“Your memory is impressive.”

At that, Eliza laughed again.

It was a clear laughter, like birds chirping.

Barak asked with a serious expression.

His voice was louder than before.

“Do you really think having Eliza by your side means she’ll protect you?”

Unbelievable.

“I’ve never wished for a reliable support like the young lady in my life.”

I don’t know how many times I’ve felt sorrow for not having support.

I can’t count them.

But what’s with this and that?

I challenged Barak defiantly.

He looked at me with a serious expression, sighed heavily, and just left.

As if dealing with me was a headache.

Honestly, it was so rude that I wouldn’t have a word to say even if I died.

I survived solely thanks to Eliza.

However, I don’t really trust Eliza blindly.

Even if Eliza wasn’t there, I would have said my piece.

And died.

“It’s fascinating.”

Eliza, who had laughed for a long time, looked at me with her chin in her hand.

“How can you choose only things that satisfy me like this?”

What am I… Anyway…

I just picked a fight, got caught up, and annoyed her, but she responded according to her temper.

“You seem like someone prepared for me.”

I wouldn’t be excited to hear such words from a child.

I just thought it was truly arrogant and noble.

I had one doubt.

This mansion. The servants here.

Although she was a illegitimate children, everyone and everything is prepared for her.

But why to me….

“By the way, do you happen to have multiple lives?”

“That’s not true.”

I just don’t like those who define and oppress me.

At one time, I included someone close to that range.

Sometimes, even strangers who seem to need help.

Now….

“Did someone like me really want that?”

“…Yes? What? Oh?”

Uh, hold on.

Didn’t mean it that way?

“I can’t do anything about that.”

“That’s not what I mea… .”

“By the way, even if you want to leave now, you can’t.”

Barak and Narcissa were defeated.

In the end, I took on Eliza’s meaning.

I had neither the authority nor the strength to refuse.

‘There may be a chance to escape soon, even if not immediately. I have to go outside the mansion and go out with the Information Guild. It’s going to be easier if I help….’

When I’m controlling my heart, Eliza looks at me intently.

I met eyes with mad flames burning within .

She stubbornly looks at me and laughs terribly.

As if mocking my attitude of refusal.

This story does not mention the fact that I live here.

“You have to live here in the future.”

I swallowed reflexively.

I stiffened like a frog facing a snake right in front of my nose.

A familiar smile to me.

Dangerous laughter.

The laughter in the young voice seemed only bitter.

“If you leave.”

Eliza got up from her chair.

Step by step, calmly, slowly, approaching.

“You…..”

Finally, she laughed softly, just a step away.

‘I am going to die.’

The fragile appearance of Eliza, troubled in heart, disappeared as if consumed by fire.

A murderer and an arsonist.

Before me stood Eliza, the greatest villainess I knew.

‘Why all of a sudden…?!’

I don’t know the reason, but I know the conclusion.

‘I have to run…!’