# 20
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“...hmm?”
Tice and Jack, surprised by my shout, tilted their heads at the same time.
I cleared my throat for a moment as if I hadn't said the word "idiot" before continuing.
“Don't say anything strange when you know better than to know that this person did something dishonest. Rather, why didn't you tell the Duke this important fact?”
“…I didn’t want to cause trouble, I had already caused a lot of trouble for His Excellency once I joined the team, even if they couldn’t vote, there would have been quite a few people within the Knights who were against it. Moreover, the Vice Captain is also a long-time vassal of the Duchy….”
She looked at Tez, who was looking sullen, with cold eyes.
“The knight so admired by so many is so cowardly.”
I insisted that I inform Duke Elad of everything.
If you truly cared about the Duke, it would be dangerous to have a man hatching such a dangerous plan for Diana's safety as a close associate.
Sid seemed deeply affected by my words, but then spoke bitterly.
“Who will believe what I say? There is no evidence left, it is just a scrape of scratches for no reason.”
“I'm disappointed in you! What a coward!”
In the end, I had no choice but to push Taze away and kick him out of his seat.
Although I screamed in anger, I was sincere in my disappointment.
In fact, although I am not a knight and did not have much admiration for Cid, I always considered him a great person.
This is because he was the one who adopted Jack and raised him to be a great knight.
“I think it was all a mistake.”
I was really angry and wanted to pretend I didn't notice.
However, as lucky as I was to stay at the Duke's house for a while, I couldn't leave the man who had put Diana in danger alone.
In addition...
'This is something only servants do!'
The Duke of Elade was very generous and provided me with many fine snacks that Diana had eaten.
I visited the knights' dormitory the next day to give Jack a taste of it and ended up witnessing an unexpected sight.
Jack would do all the miscellaneous knightly work, including laundry, cleaning, and gun repair himf.
I don't know if it was due to the influence of the Vice Commander, or if the knights really did not welcome the sudden arrival of an orphan boy, but either way, I couldn't stand it.
“They said this is something all knights do.”
“Then why are you doing it alone? You're not the only one!”
The prestige of the Rixian Knights in the empire was great.
Everyone who dreamed of becoming a knight, including many sons of nobles, wanted to join the Knights of Rexion, and in fact, it was confirmed that there were many owners of Jack's age in the residences where Jack was staying who had not yet become apprentice knights.
However, instead of helping the knights or monitoring their training as they did, Jack was just doing these chores.
Once Master returned with Jack, he left to inspect the area again by order of the Deputy Commander, so it was clear that he was not aware of this situation.
'Maybe Jack encountered something like this in my previous life.'
He would successfully overcome these difficulties and finally be recognized.
But I couldn't sit by and watch this unfair treatment, even if I didn't know.
I immediately started gathering information about the Vice Captain.
“Since they are employees of Duke Elad, I thought the iron wall would be massive, so I made different plans.”
Contrary to my expectations, the process of gathering information was very easy.
This may be because they treated it like an innocent and harmless child, or because users were very friendly without offering help or making friends.
And the result.
“Ah, I see, the Deputy Commander is none other than Master Valery of Count Valery’s family...”
“Hah! He’s a great knight from a vassal family.”
The maid did not notice my strange expression and looked at me in amazement at my interest in the Duchy of Elad.
I also smiled happily because I got all the information I wanted.
Mr. Valerie.
Deputy Commander of the Knights of Rexion, he was the second son of Count Valery, a family subordinate to the Duke of Elad.
He was also Allen's teacher in swordsmanship.
'As expected, those obscene words affected him.'
I thought it was strange because I felt there was something wrong with the character of Allen, who was later called the Defender of Justice, but there was a reason.
After learning all about this man's background, I began to understand why Ties tried to cover up the unfair things he went through.
Count Valery's family was the family that played a central role in the Knights of Rexion for generations.
In particular, the current Count Valery is the head of Duke Ellard's Council of Elders, making him the most influential among the Duke's family's many followers.
In addition, Master Valery took the Elite Course as a Knight and rose to the position of Deputy Commander of Rexion.
He was known for his aristocratic personality and loyalty only to the Duke of Elade.
'In fact, everyone under his command is just a fish and arrogant person, treating them like insects.'
Until now, I thought I was the only one who was proud, but now that Tice, whom the Duke trusted, suddenly appeared, it was clear that he was going to consider me a thorn in his eyes.
He must have acted more ferociously because he had the title of a commoner and former mercenary, which made it easier to bite him.
I had a rough idea of his influence within the Knights, but I wasn't afraid.
'Because Count Valery's family...'
“Mom!”
I was lost in my thoughts for a while when Diana suddenly made a noise.
I turned my head and saw the Duke and Duchess who had just opened the door and entered.
'It's already too late.'
I didn't even know that night had come because I had been taking care of Diana all day and interacting with the staff at the same time.
“Diana, can't you see your father?”
The Duke, who had skillfully grabbed Diana, naturally headed to the bed.
“What should I read to you today?”
"princess !"
“I read that yesterday too.”
“But she's the princess, I want that!”
Diana shouted stubbornly.
In fact, I read the fairy tale about the princess about five times during the day.
Diana was very fascinated by the story of a hero who rescues a princess trapped in a tower under a curse.
While the Duke patted Diana's chubby cheek as if he couldn't stop her and picked up the book, my maid and I prepared to leave the room.
“Leah, sleep tight.”
The Duchess gently stroked my head and said: Thank you for your hard work today.
I felt ashamed, so I quickly nodded and went out and closed the door quietly.
Even just before the door closed, it was hard to take my eyes off the sight of the Duke and Duchess lying on either side of the bed, Diana in the middle, reading a story.
Even though it's a sight I see every night.
* * *
The next morning.
"Allen? Have you eaten everything already?"
Allen nodded roughly at his mother's words and stood up, glancing at Diana and Leia sitting across from him.
When Leia gave her green beans and peppers, which Diana didn't like, she opened her mouth like a little bird and took them.
Thanks to this, Diana's mother was happy to say that she had cured her picky eating habits, and I had no choice but to force myf to eat beans to show that I was a good brother.
'It's all because of this obnoxious little girl.'
I've been stacking food since morning and I can't even taste it.
I didn't want to see her face, but if I wanted to eat with Diana, I had to eat with Leah, so we had been eating together for several days already.
He seemed mistaken in thinking he was serving in his own way, but Allen didn't think so.
Rather, there was a lot of food that the mother placed in front of the child or food that Diana put in the child’s mouth.
'Since when did servants eat together like this in the first place?'
Allen, who left the dining room with a grunt, frowned and mumbled.
“Well, if you act like this, you won't be able to play properly with Diana...”
Violent blow!
Allen was surprised by my words and slapped himf.
It was really crazy.
“Why do you keep tolerating things like this?”
To calm his ever-growing heart, he remembered the words of his teacher, Master, the proud vice-captain of the Rexion Knights.
It was said that the humble common people have no pride and lie as much as they eat.
They often try to deceive me and say that there is no honesty.
“I think it's the same for Diana.”
Allen couldn't have a fox like that next to his precious sister.
I'm feeding them healthy beans now, but I don't know what to feed them next.
“In the end, she will try to manipulate her as she pleases.”
Even though Diana was young, she was someone she could never underestimate because she had deceived even her mother and father.
“I won't be fooled.”
No matter what you say, I will never leave you.
Although a few days ago...
“Miss said that, she has two handsome brothers!” I thought it was normal because she looked like you, but I was very surprised that it was beyond my imagination!〉
When I said this, the corners of my mouth rose without me realizing it.
That's not what made me feel good when she said that.
It's because I'm glad Diana bragged about me and my brother.
“She has eyes to see things.”
Allen, feeling very proud, stopped walking.
Thinking about it, Leah's boyfriend, a man named Jack, also seems to have a very handsome face.
Since he joined the organization after leaving his father's office, it was clearly a whisper.
Moreover, Diana comes to see the hall with Leah every day these days….
“No way! Even if you look at him carefully, he looks a bit cute and shows his face?”
I don't know why, but I felt so bad.
So Allen decided that if Leia showed up at the training center again today, he would give her some harsh advice.
Appearance is not everything for a man!
But after a few hours.
Allen, who had met Leia in the training hall, had completely forgotten those thoughts.
“Huh, what are you doing now....?”
Because it was so ridiculous.