Chapter 66

"Do these servants not know how to walk quietly?"

Melissa frowned deeply and turned her head, apparently thinking they were disturbing her. Of course, the servants of Eilsford, who had worked in noble households for generations, could not be compared to the marquis family, but they all worked with sincerity and dedication. While I couldn't do anything about Melissa thinking I was stupid, it was absolutely unacceptable for her to mock the innocent people of Eilsford. It would be terrible if Eilsford was mocked because of a ridiculous lady...

'Absolutely not!'

I tried to calm my heart, which was pounding, and was about to speak up for the servants when I noticed something odd about Melissa's expression. Curious, I followed her gaze and turned my head to see Pavel and Blan standing there. Pavel was the butler who served the lord, and Blan was a knight who looked impressive to anyone. They were in a different position from the servants who could be easily bullied by Melissa, making it difficult for her to vent her frustration. Moreover, Pavel and Blan were not people to be trifled with.

'Altear must have just finished talking with them.'

With an important conversation to have, I needed to get rid of this uninvited guest, Melissa. But before I could say anything, Melissa had already turned her body and was walking towards Pavel and Blan.

'What is she going to do now...'

I hurriedly followed behind her, but she spoke faster than I could stop her.

"This one is the butler, and who is this one?"

Melissa scanned Pavel and Blan with a haughty smile. She seemed particularly interested in Blan, whom she was meeting for the first time since returning to Eilsford.

"Why aren't you answering? If I ask a question, you should answer, right?"

Blan, who was confused by the sudden appearance of this woman, frowned and whispered to Pavel standing beside him.

"Hey. Who is this crazy woman?"

Though he whispered, his voice was loud enough for me, standing behind Melissa, to hear.

"Hey! Crazy woman!"

Naturally, Melissa burst into anger and waved her hand at Blan.

"Do you know who I am and talk like that?"

"I don't know who you are, of course."

Despite Melissa's fierce anger, Blan merely shrugged his shoulders indifferently. Both Melissa and I were speechless at his calm attitude, but Blan continued to look at her with a slightly tilted, disrespectful gaze.

"Who do you think you are? Why should I know the identity of a woman who blocks my way without even introducing herself?"

"Huh. Is this how guests are treated in Eilsford? You're so rude and ignorant! I'll definitely tell this story when I return to the capital!"

For the capital nobles who valued the social circle like their life, it was a threat that would work, but for Blan, who was far from such a place, it didn't have much impact.

"Guest treatment?"

As expected, Blan's indifferent attitude didn't change as he snorted.

"If you want to be treated like a guest, you should act like one. You're being rude and ignorant, and I don't know who you are."

"Ugh..."

Frustrated by the blunt criticism, Melissa swung her hand, but as a knight, Blan easily dodged her attack by stepping back slightly. Losing her balance, Melissa stumbled, and a maid from the Bain family quickly supported her, glaring at Blan.

"This is Lady Melissa! She is the only daughter of the Marquis Bain and the cousin of the Baroness Eilsford. How can you be so rude?"

The maid's introduction made Melissa lift her chin and glare at Blan, clearly meaning, 'If you know who I am, apologize and grovel now!' But Blan merely tilted his head with a calm face.

"If you were such a distinguished lady, you should have introduced yourself first. Then I would have shown proper respect, Lady Melissa."

Though he bowed politely, his attitude showed no respect, which made Melissa change her target to me.

"Hey! Your subordinate is so rude and arrogant. Why are you just standing there watching?"

"Blan is a knight. He's not exactly my subordinate."

"What nonsense? A family's knight is the lady's subordinate! Tell him to apologize to me right now!"

"Knights are the swords of Eilsford, following the lord's orders. I can't privately command him to apologize."

"What?"

Melissa glared, not expecting me to resist her. Sensing her about to explode, the maid whispered something to her. After a brief conversation, Melissa straightened up and smiled at me.

"Then... you apologize."

"What?"

"A mere knight of a baron's family was rude to a lady of a marquis family, so someone has to apologize. But you can't command a knight to apologize. So, as the lady, you should do it."

"..."

Blan frowned, not expecting this from Melissa, and stepped forward, indicating he would apologize. But I raised my hand to stop him.

"Lady."

Blan called me cautiously, but I ignored him and looked at Melissa. Melissa smirked and smoothed her hair, while Blan gritted his teeth and glared at her. The winner and loser were clear.

"Melissa. I can apologize to you."

"Of course, you should."

"But before I apologize, you should apologize to Sir Blan. That's the proper order."

"What, what? Why should I?"

"You treated a formally appointed knight like a servant. A knight represents the family's honor. By ignoring Eilsford's knight, you have disrespected Eilsford's honor, and you must apologize for that. My apology will come after."

Melissa's mouth dropped open, not expecting this counter. It was natural, as she was always given the upper hand in the Bain family. But Eilsford is different. I couldn't let Eilsford be lumped together with Melissa just because I was being treated poorly. That wouldn't be the role of a proper baroness. My hands trembled from my timid nature, and my voice probably quivered as well. After a moment of confusion, Melissa seemed to regain her confidence and smirked, straightening her posture.

"Huh. What honor in a backwater baron's family?"

Melissa's voice echoed through the corridor, repeating "honor" like a mocking echo. Blan, who had been looking at me awkwardly, and Pavel, who had been observing the situation, both had their faces harden. Even Melissa, realizing her overconfidence had crossed a line, covered her mouth with her hand.

"But that's right. What honor in a backwater baron's family."

A cold voice echoed through the now chilly corridor. Turning my head, I saw Altear walking down the corridor with a face several times colder than usual. Why was Altear here? As I blinked in surprise, Anna peeked out from behind him.

Seeing her eyes light up with pride, it was clear that Anna had brought Altear as a rescue, sensing the difficult situation. I gave her an awkward smile, and her face beamed with satisfaction.

"Oh, my, Lord. It's finally you."

Melissa, slightly pale, bowed politely to Altear. Despite her earlier insistence to meet him, she didn't seem happy with his arrival now. Altear ignored her greeting and looked at Blan and Pavel.

"What's going on here?"

"I'm sorry. I..."

Blan bowed to explain, but I couldn't let him admit fault. I quickly interjected.

"Melissa was rude to our knight first."

Altear's gaze, which had been coldly scanning Blan and Pavel, turned to me. His piercing eyes made me shiver, and I felt his intensity lessen slightly, though it might have been my imagination.

"Is that so, Lady Melissa?"

But the icy gaze that reached Melissa through me was unmistakably cold.

"That... That was a mistake. If you talk to me, you'll understand the situation clearly."

Melissa forced a bright smile, but her lips trembled from the cold atmosphere.

"Talk? Why should I talk to you? I can hear the situation from my wife, my knight, and my butler."

"But, my lord, I also have something to discuss with you. My father sent a letter."

"Then give it to me."

"Me?"

"Give me the letter."

Altear confidently held out his hand. Melissa, flustered, looked at the maid, who stepped forward to defuse the situation.

"The letter is very important, and the marquis asked to deliver it secretly. In such a public setting..."

"Everyone here is someone I trust, so it's not much different from what the marquis meant by 'secretly.' So, give it to me now."

Altear's unwavering hand made Melissa exchange glances with the maid before hesitantly pulling the letter from her bosom. It was an elegant envelope with the marquis family's emblem in gold.

'...Was there really a letter? I thought it was just a ploy to meet and harass Altear.'

As I blinked in surprise, Altear took the envelope and read the letter inside. His frown deepened as he read.

"Hmm. As expected, it's the same content."

Altear handed the letter to Blan.

"Read it and proceed as we discussed."

"Yes, my lord."

Blan's action, which seemed to show his position, made Melissa's face pale. It was a clear display that Blan was not just any knight but a close confidant of the lord.

"Sir... Knight?"

Melissa, looking around nervously, cleared her throat and called Blan.

"Upon reflection, I was rude. I'm sorry for being high-handed without introducing myself."

"It's fine. After all, 'What honor in a backwater baron's family,' right? Please treat me the same way in the future."

Blan's usual smile reminded her of her earlier words, making her face pale. Blan then turned to Altear and bowed.

"My lord. The lady said she has something to discuss with you..."

"Yes. You can go now."

"Yes, my lady. Let's go."

Blan, now the courteous knight, escorted me, with Pavel quickly following. Concerned about Altear and Melissa being left alone, I glanced back to see Pavel adjusting his glasses and sighing.

"I'm worried."

It was exactly what I was thinking. I nodded and sighed.

"Me too. Melissa's personality is not ordinary... How much trouble will she cause Altear..."

"Huh?"

Pavel, initially confused by my words, exchanged glances with Blan and then burst into laughter.

"Lady, I'm more worried about the lady, not the lord."

"Considering how much she must have been waiting for this, she probably found the perfect opportunity... She must have been thrilled like a fish in water."

He didn't look thrilled at all. As I tilted my head, trying to imagine the situation between Melissa and Altear, my steps continued forward.

"The lord will handle it. We have our own tasks to do. Do you have something to say, my lady?"

Blan's question made me forget about their situation. As he said, we had our own important tasks to attend to.