Chapter 10
Daisy deliberately wore a long-sleeved dress to cover her bandage. Carlyx raised his head observantly when she didn’t answer his question right away.
“Doesn’t it hurt when you eat?”
“Is it delicious?”
“Answer my question first.” His expressionless gaze touched her wrist.
Perhaps he wants to stick to his role? Since he’s the male lead, it’s only normal that his personality isn’t the worst, right? Should I say thank you?
Daisy, who hesitated, recalled a fact that she shouldn’t forget.
‘He’s a cheating bastard.’ Daisy thought, as she gracefully sliced up the chicken.
“It doesn’t hurt anymore because you treated me yesterday.”
“It’ll take a few days to get better. I’ll change it the day after tomorrow, so please come to my office.”
“Even if it gets ragged early on, I’ll come to find you on my own.”
“Come at break time.”
He meant that even though he could spare some time for her, it should be during a break time. Such a businesslike answer.
Still, there was no reason to refuse his apology and treatment. Also, it wasn’t my intention to view him as a completely bad person anyway.
“Is the chicken delicious?”
“Yes, it’s not bad.”
“How was the beef you ate yesterday?”
“Yes, that wasn’t bad either.”
Gosh, what a lackluster answer. Daisy remained undaunted and kept asking questions.
“Is there anything you particularly like?”
“Everything is not bad.”
Carlyx sliced the chicken and spoke in a dry tone. He glanced at Daisy, who was staring intently at him while eating her meat.
It was so intense that her eyes gradually became burdensome. Meanwhile, a realization suddenly came to him.
‘How can you be so confident in front of me? Most people avoid me because I’m dirty and scary.’
Even if she did this solely for her own interest, it was still strange.
‘No. These are useless thoughts.’
That’s right. It wasn’t curiosity, it was anxiety.
Carlyx muttered inwardly. He was someone who had lost all hope anyway.
“Can you say anything else besides ‘it’s not bad’?”
There was a slight irritation in Daisy’s candid smile. Carlyx responded leisurely as if he couldn’t see the problem.
“Then let’s just say it’s pretty good.”
“I want nothing like ‘it’s not bad, or it’s pretty good’. I’m asking you what you like and what you don’t like.”
Daisy took a sip of the wine while her eyes were still glued to Carlyx. Seeing her like that made Carlyx feel strange.
“…Stop looking. My face is getting worn out.”
“Don’t worry, your face is fine. Answer me first.”
“I don’t answer personal questions.”
“How is this personal? It’s about taste. Something to discuss with the chef in a businesslike manner.”
Daisy, who gently shook the wine glass with her two fingers, smiled lightly. Thereafter, with a pleasant expression, she put the glass down.
“Have you had any personal stories related to food?”
“Enough with useless wordplay.”
“I’ll take that as a yes.”
You’ll take that as a yes? Carlyx thought about her unusual words.
“I said I don’t have-”
Carlyx, who stopped cutting meat, was bewildered when he lifted his eyes to look at Daisy. Her eyes wandered away as if nothing happened. Therefore, Carlyx decided not to continue the conversation.
“Nevermind…”
“Did you say something?”
“I spoke to myself. You don’t have to know.”
Despite his firm answer, Carlyx couldn’t shake off his strange feeling.
Meanwhile, Tyler, who was standing with his back against the wall, glanced at Daisy. Although he couldn’t hear their conversation, the atmosphere was too strange to not notice.
The Marquis’ aura was subtly changing, so slightly that no one would notice.
***
Three knightly orders represented the Avarel Empire. Their honor and power were respectively ranked from first to third knightly orders. Carlyx was the commander of the third knightly orders, the Knights of Zistanter.
On the top rank was the Knights of Notics, followed by the Knights of Manefatral. Those two knightly orders were filled with nobles, unlike the Knight of Zistanter, which mainly consist of commoners. So the nobles who valued their honors above anything else shunned the Knights of Zistanter.
The Commander of the Knights of Zistanter, Carlyx Jean.
He received a strong backlash from people. How could he, an illegitimate child with the blood of another empire, rise to such an honorable position?
When Carlyx entered the battlefield and brought victory, the rampant opposition died down a little.
Although he regained some power, the criticisms against him did not disappear.
I still remember. I got this position when I was 25 years old. At that time, I received my first applause and the sword I am using right now.
‘It’s already been five years.’
Now, I am 30 years old. There used to be nothing and nobody around me, but it was different this time. It didn’t really matter why people stayed. Whether there’s kinship or not, it’s fine if they’re only here for a title.
At least, their existence comforted Carlyx every morning.
“Do it right!”
The Imperial Knights were trained at the training camp in the Imperial Palace. Their main purpose was to aid the Imperial family closely.
Except for the Knights of Zistanter.
Instead of the palace, they used the field near Marquis Jean’s residence as their training grounds under Carlyx’s orders.
Even though it deserved criticism, the royal family and the citizens turned a blind eye to it. And so, he thought it would be better not to visit the royal family often.
It’s because the Knights of Zistanter consisted mostly of commoners and a few low-class nobles. Other than Logan, they lived on the marquisate and underwent systematic training under Carlyx’s supervision.
“Again!”
People with large muscles lined up in a row. Their appearance was suitable for a knight. However, the way they looked at Carlyx and followed his instructions was unsettling.
It didn’t reflect the qualities of a knight at all.
“Again!”
His eyes were sharper than ever even though he spoke in a stiff tone as usual. Carlyx walked between the rows and swung the sword he held coldly.
“Stretch your back.”
Carlyx proceeded by hitting the knight’s waist, shoulders, legs, and knees. Such an emotionless and frightening commander. He was someone they never wanted to meet in their dreams, especially in their next life.
He moved through the knights. Every time Carlyx passed by, the knights’ faces became twisted. Some were out of breath, while some glanced at him irritatedly. The behavior in which one seemed to be holding himself back from swearing made it unfit to be called a knightly order.
“Do it again.”
“…I’m sorry!”
The knights were nervous as they watched Carlyx’s mood. Those who had followed his training for years knew how cold-blooded he was. If he had said the same words once or twice already, the third time wouldn’t end with just words.
“Are you going to have a bloody morning training session again today? Take it easy.”
Just in time, Logan entered the training grounds while waving his arm leisurely. Knowing that it was Logan from his steps, Carlyx said coldly.
“You’re not supposed to come today.”
“Why can’t I come today?”
Carlyx looked at him pathetically.
‘I’ve never seen such a heartless bastard.’
Logan pretended to grab his chest with a hurtful expression. Then he asked proudly.
“Not many nobles come here, shouldn’t you treat me preciously?”
Carlyx stopped at once and sighed quietly.
Eek! Logan quickly stepped back at his actions.
“If you want to be treated like that, get out.”
“Sorry, sorry.”
Logan put his hands together over his head. It was a quick apology. Not long after, he was brimming with joy as he found something interesting.
‘Well would you look at this?’
Carlyx assumed that Logan came without an appointment, but he didn’t seem to know that there was a reason for his visit.
“I’m here for an appointment. I didn’t come here randomly like any other day.”
Logan said as he saw Carlyx turn his back on him. Then Carlyx, who frowned, turned to Logan again. Not long after, a woman’s low-pitched voice rang.
“I called him.”
Daisy was walking calmly. The appearance of the new marchioness, whom they only heard from the rumors so far, made the knights stop their training for a moment. Daisy greeted them with an enchanting and graceful gesture.
“Hello, everyone. I should have come earlier, but now I’m here to greet you.”
Carlyx bit his lower lip and laid down the sword he was holding.
No wonder you seemed to be up to something at lunch a few days ago. Darn it.
“Daisy Jean, the wife of Carlyx Jean and the new madam of Marquisate Jean.”
Where in the world does such an unexpected person come from?
“Ah, you must be the new madam?”
“…What a strong nobility aura.”
Some knights looked at Daisy with curious eyes and disapproving eyes. Soon, the same thoughts dawned on the knights.
‘Wait a minute! This is a long break!’
Logan raised his hand to warm up the atmosphere. The knights exclaimed one by one at the action of their vice-commander.
“Our new madam!”
“This is the madam we’ll be serving!”
Of course, some knights remained still like stones.
“I was going to pick a date and introduce you officially later-”
Carlyx spoke at ease and bowed his head. As he strode closer to her, their distance narrowed sharply.
“Goodness. Hey, you shouldn’t do that here.”
Logan snarled with a grim look on his face. He even shrugged his shoulders when Carlyx threw a fierce gaze.
I’m going to kill him in the next match. Carlyx lamented inwardly.
“Why are you here?” It was a small, cold voice that only Daisy could hear.
“The training grounds is completely mine. I don’t want you to come as you please.”
“Since we’re married, there isn’t any place that you own exclusively here. It’s our place now.”
Marchioness. Although their status was different, they were equal in the mansion. At least that’s how it was in Daisy’s dictionary, and there was no change so far.
Carlyx grabbed her arm when she tried to move forward. The pressure that he put on her hand quickly subsided when he became mindful of her. Now, it was only some of his fingers that held her.
“Why did you call Logan? Even if we are married, you don’t have reason to be close to him.”
The training grounds was located within the marquis’ residence. But Logan was purely a person he had a personal relationship with. Even if they were a couple, she had no right to tamper with their relationship.
“Yes, I don’t.”
It’s not like she didn’t know about it.