Chapter 3

As she made her way to the training ground, Deara asked Ada, the maid who accompanied her, questions that wouldn’t arouse suspicion. Thanks to this, she gradually began to understand the situation she was in.

(It’s been four years since Mother passed away. I’m 14 years old now.)

When Deara turns 15, her engagement to Arnold will be officially established, leaving her with only about a year. Within that time, she wants to somehow inflict both physical and mental pain on Arnold, making him face such severe social sanctions that he can’t even mention the word ‘engagement’ with Deara.

(Well, first things first, it’s my brother now.)

Bail Payford, her brother who is three years older, is now 17. He serves as the head of the knights of the Payford Dukedom, wielding all the military power of the Payford family.

In the novel "The Aldefia War Chronicles," Bail, who inherits the dukedom, plays a crucial role in helping the male protagonist, who later becomes a hero, to overthrow King Arnold.

(In the novel, Bail was very cool, but every time he meets me, he glares at me intensely...)

There’s no way she could like such a brother.

When Deara arrived at the training ground, the knights employed by the dukedom were training. In the center, Bail was giving instructions to the knights.

(For now, I can’t hear anyone’s voice.)

As she looked around, her eyes met those of a knight standing next to Bail. Suddenly, a voice echoed in Deara’s head.

-- Ah!? C, Claudia-sama!?

(Maybe, meeting someone’s gaze is the condition for hearing their inner voice?)

Deara held the hem of her dress and gave a slight bow, indicating that she wanted Bail to relay a message. The knight, who had bowed deeply at 90 degrees, tapped Bail on the shoulder. Their eyes met, and Bail turned to her with a stern expression.

(… I can’t hear anything.)

Since she couldn’t hear Bail’s inner voice, unlike her father, it seemed that Bail truly disliked Deara.

(Well, at least I know that much, so it wasn’t a waste to come here.)

Deara bowed to Bail and turned her back. Suddenly, the knight’s voice echoed in her head again.

-- Ah, Claudia-sama is leaving! Maybe, the captain is blanking out again!? Oh, he still loves Claudia-sama way too much!

Surprised, Deara turned around to see Bail being shaken by the knight. Realizing this, Deara and Bail’s eyes met again.

-- Hm.

(Hm?)

Bail frowned and glared at Deara.

-- Cute. So cute, so cute. What? She’s too cute. Ah, I can’t take it, my sister is too cute. Cute, cute, cute, cute.

The vocabulary skills he had just used to instruct the knights seemed to have vanished, as Bail repeatedly thought ‘cute’ in his mind. However, the cold light in his blue eyes, directed at Deara, made it clear that he was glaring at an intruder who had suddenly appeared at the training ground. Only the knight next to him was panicking.

-- Oh, Captain! Why are you glaring at Claudia-sama!? Hurry up and say something!

After being elbowed by the knight, Bail finally spoke.

“What do you want?”

His voice was extremely cold. The knight next to him closed his eyes and put his hand on his forehead, as if to say, ‘Oh no!’

-- Oh, Claudia-sama is so pitiful!

(This knight is a kind person.)

Deara held the hem of her dress and bowed again.

“I’m sorry for intruding. Big brother.”

Instantly, Bail’s gaze became even sharper.

-- Deara has finally spoken to me after 2 years and 16 days!?

(You were counting the days too?)

Both her father and her brother seemed to be similar in that way. But, upon closer reflection, Deara realized that she too found it difficult to express her emotions. After all, nobles generally don’t show their feelings openly. Moreover, the Payford family, known for their sharp beauty, might appear even colder.

(It’s strange to say, but Deara does look cold when she’s silent.)

Deara smiled slightly.

“I just wanted to see your face, big brother. I’m sorry for the intrusion.”

From behind, she heard Bail’s inner voice, which sounded like he had received a severe blow.

-- Oh, no!

(The tough knight… my brother turns blank when he panics, but he’s a cute person.)

Even though she could still hear her brother’s inner voice, “U, uu, Deara is so cute, sooo cute!” Deara didn’t turn back.