25: Leticia’s Wrath
Felix von Ritter.
At twenty-six, he was four years older than me and the oldest among the capture targets.
There were those who said he was too young to lead the strongest knight order on the continent, but he was a young commander who took office with overwhelming support, especially from the knights.
He wasn’t just a figurehead, having real combat experience and military achievements from suppressing bandits and ‘mediating’ conflicts.
And now, he was clearly perplexed.
“Delicious…? You’ve eaten horse meat?”
The rumored ‘sister.’
She rarely appeared in public because I had decided it was too early to introduce her to society… the first in line to the title, recognized by the head of the “Coldhearted Vanderwaals.”
Knight Commander Felix and I had a somewhat strained relationship due to our differing positions, but it was a professional one. We were both adults, so we didn’t let personal feelings interfere.
Even though it wasn’t business now, he should have known that ignoring me and behaving awkwardly wouldn’t be beneficial.
Besides, he must have taken some interest in Leticia.
After all, my sister was a blooming beauty who would make even flowers blush.
However, my sister’s past was shrouded in mystery.
Investigating the past of someone who had lived in the slums of the royal capital—the area commonly known as the “back alley”—was no easy feat.
Leticia seemed to have eaten horse meat, which was not commonly consumed in Eustasia.
“Oh! I’ve never eaten a Knight Order’s horse… probably.”
“Probably?”
Felix looked confused.
His tanned face contorted, and he ran a hand through his faded blonde hair, scratching his head vigorously.
Even though he was a nobleman for one generation, granted the title for his military service, this was not behavior befitting a noble, especially in front of a young lady.
…However, the rumor was that this unpretentious side was what made him appealing.
“…You said your name was Leticia? Why would a noble young lady eat horse meat at a slaughterhouse?”
Felix questioned Leticia slowly, enunciating each word, his surprise evident.
Good, ask more.
“That was when I wasn’t a noble yet.”
She was from the “back alley.”
So, perhaps the slaughterhouse, located on the outskirts of the capital… bordering the “back alley,” had been a familiar place to her.
“…Ah, so Adelheid, who resented her half-sister, banished her to the ‘back alley’…”
“Take that back.”
Leticia retorted sharply.
That was the rumor circulating, I realized.
He wasn’t one for gossip, which meant that by the time it reached his ears, it had likely grown several tails.
“Resented your half-sister? —Elder Sister did?”
However, since I was trying my best to appear that way to the outside world, he didn’t need to pick up on that.
…But my sister focused on it.
She didn’t back down one step against the Knight Commander, who was much stronger and held a higher position than her.
Instead, she took a step forward, pressing closer to him across the fence.
“I’ve been in the ‘back alley’ since I was born. —And Elder Sister was the one who acknowledged me as a Vanderwaals relative. Not the other way around.”
In her adorable eyes, a fierce will blazed… but it was somehow still cute.
It was the same with Prince Konrad; her gaze lacked intensity.
Like the prince, the Knight Commander was judging “glaring” by my standards.
Unlike me, she was simply too naturally adorable.
Felix laughed, looking amused.
“Are you angry? You’re like a cute little kitten.”
There were men who suited this kind of remark and men who didn’t, and he was one of the former.
However, some women liked that kind of thing, and others didn’t, and I was one of the latter.
My sister also seemed to feel the same way, as she furrowed her brows.
While thinking how cute that expression was, I couldn’t find the right moment to stop her.
“—Take that back. What you said just now was a baseless, ridiculous rumor.”
I thought it was a rumor with solid roots and leaves.
However, my sister apparently disagreed.
“What if I don’t take it back?”
“Then I’ll be angry. —I am angry now.”
Angry?
…At such a ridiculous rumor?
It was close to the truth, you could say.
What kind of room she slept in.
What kind of words were usually said to her.
Thinking about that.
It was true that she said, “She acknowledged me as a Vanderwaals relative.”
It was true that she was picked up from the “back alley.”
It was true that she was made the first in line of succession.
But there was nothing that would make us close sisters.
Knight Commander Felix, though his expression was still somewhat amused, laughed as he faced his angry sister.
“Will you use the Vanderwaals’ power? Against me, the Knight Commander—”
“I’m talking about manners. I was taught manners by Elder Sister and my tutors.”
From the Vanderwaals’ perspective, it was acceptable to demand unreasonable things if you were in a higher position than the other party, to look down on them, to mock them… That was ‘normal,’ ‘expected,’ and ‘desired.’
It was truly lamentable that while I was educating my sister to be an elegant and gentle lady, her sister was like this.
As an adult who had learned to separate appearance from reality, my sister’s innocence and straightforwardness were blindingly strong, piercing my heart.
“――Was that ‘how’ you were taught? Is that ‘how’ a proud knight… the Knight Commander of the Eustasia Royal Knights… is supposed to behave?”
It seemed the remark hit home for him as well.
Being the Knight Commander was a powerful position.
Leading the renowned strongest knight order on the continent also granted corresponding privileges.
The noble title he held as a knight was outside the noble hierarchy.
However, as Knight Commander, his power was equal to that of a ducal family, the highest rank in the noble hierarchy. In times of war, his position could even surpass that.
Furthermore, he was usually surrounded by knights and soldiers from his own order… even if he got carried away and misbehaved a little, there were few who would reprimand him.
No one who would ‘speak up’ like that.
He dropped his playful demeanor and became serious.
It was his official face, his noble face, his face as a knight above all else.
And he even bowed his head slightly.
“…――I take it back. I was foolish to believe such a ridiculous rumor.”
My sister sighed in relief.
And she smiled at him.
“Okay. As long as you understand.”
Felix looked at me, standing behind my sister.
“…You’re quite loved. —You, the head of ‘that’ Vanderwaals.”
“It’s a bother.”
I snorted.
My sister visibly drooped.
I, on the other hand, would be happy to be a bother to my sister.
I wanted to defend her, but I couldn’t—I shouldn’t.
That was outside the performer’s discretion.
…But how do I proceed from here?
Perhaps I should give up on the Knight Commander.
I couldn’t envision a future where I could entrust my sister to this knight commander, who didn’t know how to treat a young lady and was raised in a male-only environment.
However, I had felt the same way about the prince.
I would trust in the script of fate, and most importantly, in Leticia’s cuteness, and entrust everything to her, observing the situation.
Knight Commander Felix seemed to want to say something.
“…So, what was the situation when you ate horse meat at a slaughterhouse? Can you tell me about it?”
Alright, the conversation was back on track.
Delve deeper.
“Oh, that.”
My sister nodded.
And, as if it were nothing, she said very casually.
“Because I used to work at a slaughterhouse.”
My initial reaction was to exchange glances with the Knight Commander.
This might be the first time I had reacted this way with him.
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