Chapter 41

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‘It’s annoying.’

As he felt earlier, Max was really annoyed by Juvellian’s knights. Then, Jubelian grabbed Max’s hand with hers and smiled openly and whispered.

“It’s all right.” The moment he saw that smile, he felt his anger gradually subsiding. At a time when a slight spark was ticking inside his chest, Juvellian headed toward the knights. “It’s normal that the knights didn’t know him. I met him at the banquet hall of Count Maisen.” At those words, the knights stared at Max with trembling eyes.

‘Was he a nobleman?’

‘Surely, he looks ragged, but he’s still a noble.’

Count Maisen was famous for holding a banquet where only noblemen from prestigious families can attend. Those who participated in such banquets were most likely to be of a prestigious family.

‘Which family is it? I’ve never seen a face in the capital.’

When Gerald was looking at Max with sharp eyes, Juvellian continued.

“Of course, he was not a nobleman, but one of the mercenaries hired for lack of security personnel.” The word mercenaries made the knights look thin.

“I want to know how a mercenary became close to you.” Max frowned at the knights’ eyes as if he was despised.

‘Well, I can’t believe a knight is looking at me with that kind of glare.’

Max wanted to show his power by pulling out his sword right away. But because of the warm hand holding his own, Max had no choice but to calm his anger.

‘How did I end up like this?’

Juvellian answered the question just now, not knowing what Max was feeling.

“It was because of the crisis that we met.” The moment they heard the word crisis, the knights stared at Max with a slightly relaxed face.

‘Oh, I see. The mercenary seems to have saved you from the crisis.’

But the story was soon followed by a complete reversal of expectations, and the reporters could not help but doubt your ears.

“I saved him from being surrounded by several noble young children in the remote area.”

“What? You saved the mercenary?”

“Oh, I asked where Mikhail, and everyone went.” At that time, Juvellian was famous for committing harm to aristocratic young children who approached Mikhail. “At the time, I was with Mikhail, so I left, but in fact, I kept thinking of him. So I broke up with Mikhail.”

‘That’s why you broke up with Mikhail?’

It was when the knights looked surprised.

“But fatefully, when I met him at the arcade, I was convinced. “Oh, it’s him.” And now I found out that he was looking for me, you can’t imagine how thrilled I am.” For a moment, the knights blazed with discontent.

‘You’re a commoner.’

“Jubelian” is a person who doesn’t care about people’s opinion when her eyes are turned upside down, but even so, in the eyes of the knights, he was like a commoner who looked over a princess. And Max could not not know the eyes of the knights who looked at him like they wanted to kill him.

‘That’s very annoying.’

Baron Gordon has already exhausted his patience. It could be said that it was a miracle that he had endured so far, who had never endured when he had been struggling until now.

‘Yes, you have to step on the annoying things.’

After the judgment, Max’s red eyes showed clear hostility. The knights who perceived the sharp and fierce anticipation in front of them flinched and almost reached out their hands to the hilt without their knowledge.

‘What is it?’ This mercenary…’

Max was a swordmaster who was walking on the sword’s path. The knights were skilled enough so they could infer the situation by the sharp aura emanating from him.

‘Strong, where did such a person appear?’

His eyes were so ferocious that Gerald felt the urge to pull out his sword and prepare for the opponent’s attack. However, Juvellian clinging to his side made him unable to move. Then, someone with no sense broke the silence.

“Are you threatening my lover, gentlemen?” The knights lamented when Juvellian, who had not figured out the atmosphere, spoke.

‘We were threatening?’

A knight sighed out of resentment and tried to tell the truth.

“Lady, that’s not it, ······.” Then, Juvellian’s eyes became thinner.

“Not what? Do you think I didn’t see you guys making scary faces?”

“Juvellian, I mean, just…” Gerald wanted to appeal. “There’s something scarier behind you.” But Juvellian didn’t even give him a chance to talk.

“How scared anybody would be?” When that was over, Max, who was standing behind Juvellian, raised one side of his mouth with a miserable appearance. Whatever it was, the knights wanted to say, “Please look behind you.” But Juvellian was still looking forward.

“If multiple people scare one person, I think it’s embarrassing!” The knights swallowed their saliva when she said so.

<Protect my daughter. Please.>

Until now, with his loyalty toward the Duke, Todd has been quietly guarding Juvellian, but now he thought it was really unfair amd raised his voice, “Hey, we really-”

But Juvellian turned her head to Max and asked him, as if she didn’t want to see their reasonings anymore. “Are you all right?”

“Yes.” Max replied, nodding his head and smiling with his hostility erased.

The knights opened their mouths in bewilderment.

‘What kind of guy is that?’

Gerald wondered if what happened in the banquet hall was intentional of Juvellian.

“Lady, he is…” Gerald tried to hold back, but Juvellian just grabbed Max’s hand and stared at the knights.

“First of all, I’m going back to the mansion.” After dismissing the chilly notice, Juvellian whispered to Max. “Don’t worry, no matter what happens, I’ll protect you.” Max frowned, then sighed.

‘You’re so frail…’

It was absurd. But he didn’t hate that ridiculous sound and the warmth of her hand.

* * *

Arriving at the mansion, the butler stared at Max with amazement.

“My lady, how are you with him…?” Did he know that he was a disciple of his father? Derek was at a loss for words.

‘Yes, it’s better to make sure you’re notifying it anyway.’

“It’s my guest.” To my answer, Derek replied with a sigh as to what he was thinking.

“Ah, that’s right. Then I’ll take you to the reception room…” I interrupted Derek and said.

“And he’s the one I love.” Then, I heard the sound of something falling.

Chang Keurang! (Tn; It’s an sfx, I just kinda romanized it)

I turned my head and saw my father staring at us with a frightened looked.

It became a long journey because I thought it was finally here. But on the other hand, I felt good thinking that I could finally get rid of the trouble. I opened my mouth with a smile.

“Say hi, Max, it’s my father.”

My father’s face hardened as soon as my words ended.

“Juvellian, what’s the meaning of this?” I’ve never seen that look before, but my father glared at Max and me angrily.

‘To think a person who didn’t care about what I do could be so angry.’

At that moment, I felt a bit unruly.

‘You must have been angry because I, just a tool of political marriage, did not marry the Crown Prince, but lured my dear father’s disciple.’

I opened my mouth with my arms folded as if to show in Max’s arms.

“As I just told you, we’re officially dating.” My father glared at me at my notice. Then a quiet voice.

“Let’s go inside and talk.” The lie worked, for Gerald and the knights but if I told a lie to my father, it was obvious that I would be caught. That’s why I decided to mix lies with the truth.

‘Can I do it well?’

Honestly, I would be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous. But at this moment, I didn’t want to let myself be intimidated.

‘It’s all right, you can do it.’

I cheered myself up by encouraging myself as much as I could. At that time, the arm around mine suddenly unfolded.

I tried to look at him and was surprised when I saw him take my hand.

“Let’s… go.*” It was awkward, but I didn’t hate the voice with respect.

‘Is it because I am not alone?’

I wasn’t afraid to be scolded today.