Chapter 44

────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

Chapter 44

But, before the physician arrived, others rushed ahead. It was because the maid went to the physician and told several people that Ellie had woken up.

“Ellie!”

“Young master.”

At Ellie’s weak voice, Brielle came crying. She always called loudly to him, but it was hard for her to be so weak.

“Are you okay now?”

“Yes. I took a deep sleep and woke up feeling more refreshed than before.”

“Lies. You’re trying to soothe me by saying that because I’m young.”

Brielle’s bold words surprised not only Ellie but also Marie, who was next to her.

“Young Master…”

“Huh… You look so sick. Why are you lying to me like that?”

Marie told Ellie that she was worried that the young master wouldn’t eat properly. When Ellie heard her sister’s words, she realized that Briel was plumper.

The next person to arrive was Barry.

He had injured his leg and arrived later than Briel.

“Ellie.”

“Brother.”

Though an emotional reunion was about to take place, Barry gave Ellie a scolding first.

“From now on, no matter what friend calls, don’t go out. How on earth did you believe that the letter was from a friend of yours?”

Ellie was embarrassed. She just woke up, and tears were brimming. The moment she raised her head to confront her brother, she couldn’t say anything.

“That tough brother was crying because of me.”

“Heuk…”

Seeing that, she also shed tears.

“Even if anyone calls us crybaby siblings, I have nothing to say.” Barry said as he answered with a sorry face.

“But, why are your legs like that?”

Ellie’s face quickly turned. She said what, when and how he injured it.

“It’s just a little hurt. The bandages will come off next time, so don’t make such a serious face.”

“Still…”

Her worried voice was interrupted by the sound of the door. The physician has arrived.

“Oh, Ellie. you’ve finally woken up. I’m really happy.”

He smiled and examined Ellie.

Every night while Ellie didn’t wake up, the physician was called in by Kentrail to explain why she couldn’t get up. As time passed, the physician became more anxious.

“Fortunately, there is nothing wrong with the body. However, since you have been lying down for a long time, you should not try or make sudden movements. Take it easy, all right?”

“Yes.”

The answer was steadfast, but everyone here knew that because of Ellie’s personality, she couldn’t be slow.

“Ellie is awake.”

And finally, Kentrail also found them.

“Count.”

As Ellie tried to get up he gave a sign to stop.

“Are you okay now?”

“Yes.”

Ellie didn’t know how many times she said she was fine. She was sorry that she seemed to have worried everyone, though at the same time, she was happy that she seemed to be loved.

“You must have been very surprised, but take a good rest for a while. I told the kitchen to make things that are good for your body.”

“Thank you…”

Kentrail looked at Ellie with worried eyes.

“Really, I should say thank you to Teacher Eujes.”

Ellie, who was receiving that kind of gaze, said to Marie.

“Well, you didn’t wake up, so he already went away. Would you like to write a letter?”

“Yes, I will.”

Ellie nodded her head.

“Though… who sent me that letter?”

The letter from Ellie’s friend had already been investigated by Kentrail.

“It was fabricated. When I went to that house, people around it told me that they had long moved out. The people in the house ran away at night. They probably disappeared without contacting you or other friends.”

The enemy even knows how to lure Ellie with friendship. They were really stubborn and evil people.

Kentrail clenched his fists and opened them.

“I see…”

She thought that her friend, who disappeared without telling her, was heartless. However, they had escaped at night.

Among the poor, there were often cases of running away at night because they did not have enough money. Hasn’t her own sister been like that before?

Ellie looked at her sister and shook her head.

‘It’s just a thing of the past.’

“Do you have a headache?”

A gentle hand fell on Ellie’s head. When the child felt her sister’s warmth, she felt relieved.

Barry untied the bandages.

From that day on, he went to the training ground and started practicing right away. It was because he firmly realized his own limitations through this opportunity. Beside him, Siege was watching.

“Go in and rest.”

“It’s all right. It’s not like I’ve broken any bones.”

‘The problem is more serious than that.’

Barry swung his sword, leaving Siege as no matter how much he told him to go inside, it was useless.

“You have really grown a lot.”

He turned his back to the welcome voice. His own benefactor was standing there.

“Sir Taylor.”

If he hadn’t recommended Barry to the Count, the swordsmanship academy wouldn’t even be something Barry had dreamed of.

Siege also turned his head following Barry’s voice.

‘That’s Sir Taylor.’

Taylor and Siege had already met, but Siege didn’t even pay attention to Taylor because of the reaction Barry’s family showed towards strangers, so he now recognized him straight away.

He was a genius who entered as a commoner and went on to skip grades and grades repeatedly. It was Sir Taylor.

Barry was quite surprised to find out who he was at first. Taylor had never done anything like boasting with his mouth, so he had no idea he was such a respected knight.

Although here, he listens to Brielle’s complaints and walks around leisurely…

“I heard that you had a rough time on the way back. How’re your injuries?”

“I’m fine now.”

Barry answered as he ran from his place to Taylor. He then looked at him and smiled happily.

“That friend…”

Then, he pointed to Siege and asked Berry. They had met before after being told by his master to do a background check, though he couldn’t say that, so he treated Siege as if he were seeing him for the first time.

“Ah, the friend I met at the swordsmanship academy.”

“I see.”

Siege briefly introduced himself. He was curious because he heard a lot of stories about Taylor from the professors at the Academy.

As much as Taylor had heard of what happened to Barry, he had also heard of Siege. Nonetheless, compared to his skills, the calluses on his clasped hands were less. He really looked like a genius.

Taylor looked away from Siege and asked Barry.

“Would you like to fight me after a long time?”

‘Yes, I would love tea.”

It was difficult to practice alone, so Barry welcomed it. In the beginning, it was about exchanging skills in harmony.

However, due to the confrontation of strong forces, the sound of the sword swaying was loud, so the attention was focused in an instant. Ellie and Brielle, who were watching from afar, also came closer and began to watch.

“Wow.”

It was the admiration that came out of Brielle’s mouth. He felt that Barry’s skill had improved to an extent that could not be compared to when he was taking a swordsmanship class with him.

Even Ellie, who didn’t know anything about swordsmanship, felt that he was amazing as well.

“He really put a lot of effort into it.”

It was the older brother who would have tried not to cause trouble to his older sister. The injury had just healed, but he was well defended against Sir Taylor’s blow.

“That’s not Barry’s specialty.”

Siege, who came next to Briel and Ellie, explained.

“He is stronger in attack than defense. Exactly like that.”

In an instant, Barry attacked Sir Taylor. His power was no joke. A burst of applause broke out. Taylor, who was holding the sword with one hand, now held the sword with both. That was how strong Barry’s attack was.

After that, the sword went back and forth for ten minutes.

The winner was still Sir Taylor, though it was great to have fought for such a long time.

“Barry is so cool!”

Barry became embarrassed when he heard Brielle’s pure admiration.

“Young Master, show me, too.”

Taylor said to Brielle.

“Me?”

“Yes, you have been practicing swordsmanship consistently.”

His swordsmanship class started again after about two months had passed since he couldn’t leave the mansion.

“I’m ashamed…”

Compared to Barry, Brielle’s skills were too poor, but he had the courage. He wanted to show that he was trying to be a great master.

And, Barry wasn’t the one to undermine this effort.

After putting the sword, Brielle’s attack began. A smile bloomed on Barry’s face as he looked at him. It was the same with Ellie.

‘That’s how he smiled…’

Siege thought as he looked at Barry. The guy who always practiced with a serious expression at the academy came here and smiled.

‘I’m envious. There are even real families that don’t even give you that kind of expression.’

He didn’t know that he would be envious of the County’s young master. He was raised with love. Everyone here liked him, including his uncle, the Count.

Siege looked around, and Ellie and his eyes met.

‘Since when was she watching?’

But Ellie began to approach him. Siege flinched slightly.

‘Why… Are you misunderstanding that I was looking at her?’

He remembered their first meeting, which was not favorable.

“Thank you.”

“…What?”

He asked at Ellie’s unconcerned voice.

“I heard you saved my brother.”

“Ah…”

He didn’t know he would be greeted like this, so he made a stupid sound.

“…It’s nothing.”

“Thank you, though.”

It was weird. It wasn’t just Ellie. Everyone here was like that.

Siege feels that they are different from the people he had met so far. Except for his own older brother and her parents, the whole world seemed to have favored him. Even though the master hated him, the butler considered him to be the next master, and even when he went out in social circles, everyone flocked to his surroundings.

It was something he never wanted. He was drawn to the fact that other people like him, but some days he got goosebumps. They liked him no matter what he did.

Nonetheless, an exception appeared.

It was Barry.

So, at the academy, he went round and round around him and made a fuss at him.

Barry got angry when Siege was hard on himself, and nagged when he did something wrong. He also didn’t follow or like him unconditionally. When he was with Barry, it felt like a real friend.

So, he was curious—Barry’s house and family.

When vacation came, he forced himself to cling to Barry’s back and headed home together.

Arriving at the County where Barry said he was staying, more embarrassing things happened. Brielle, the Young Master of this house, as well as Barry’s older sister and younger sister, were not entirely favorable to him. Rather, they seemed to have a feeling close to alertness.

They say that they are grateful for saving their family.

This was a genuine feeling from the heart. It felt like the first time in his life.

‘I received so many favors, yet this is the only thing they’re serious about.’

Siege thought so. Then he said to Ellie, who had a bewildered expression on his smile.

“I am more grateful.”

He could see her eyes widening, not knowing what his own words meant. He sincerely thanked her for giving so much to himself.

────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────