Chapter 25

"Rodan! Rodan!"

Sighing, Rodan thought to himself that he had run into this troublesome person unexpectedly.

The royal-sponsored evening party held at the turn of the seasons

Most influential nobles would make an appearance. So, he had been prepared for it.

The young ladies who didn't know him were captivated by his refreshing good looks, but those who were familiar with him showed no interest.

During his student days, this person had been someone who had needlessly meddled with him.

Now, they were both second-rank nobles, and he was the only son of the Romiasha family, a military martial advisor.

Romiasha Nonna.

Mishutu Turoamia, a first-rank noble and current military magic advisor, had once described him as a hot-headed, muscle-brain.

The academy, where children from about 12 to 16 years old mostly attended for the purpose of socializing and forming connections.

At that academy, Rodan had become close friends with Menez Stor, Mishutu Turoamia, and the current king, Amnart. At the time, they were considered the three with the highest rank in the academy... the fourth was Romiasha Nonna.

From the outside, the five of them would have been seen as a set.

Rodan was in a position that would usually make others jealous, but his overly good looks were useful, and most people didn't bother him.

The one who had been jealous was Nonna.

Menez Stor, the only daughter of the military's chief advisor family.

Turoamia, who had already been approached to become the next magic advisor.

Amnart, who was younger but calm and broad-minded... but not to be underestimated, the youngest at the time, ten years old.

The one who should have been closest to the three was himself!

Well, with Stor, he had lost in martial arts, mocked her armor and her gender, and provoked her, but generally, he was seen as a rival...

With Turoamia, he had been ignored and disliked, yet he insisted on being friends.

With Amnart, because Stor and Turoamia were barriers, he had been even closer to Rodan, which made Amnart see him as an enemy.

Actually, Ulde and Skul also often acted with Rodan and were close to the three, but with their already developing first-class butler skills, they blended into the background and didn't stand out.

"Hey! Long time no see!"

He walked over with a smile, hanging on his arm a woman in a stunning, deep red dress. He must have brought her to mock Rodan.

"It's been a while."

Swallowing his sigh, Rodan smiled back.

"I heard you took in a Nuier family's failure!"

Involuntarily, he furrowed his brow. Seeing his reaction, Nonna's smile deepened, thinking it was something Rodan didn't want to talk about.

"Did you pay money to buy her? Why didn't you bring her?"

"Well, that child has become a servant, hasn't she? There's no way she would be brought to such a place, right, Lord Rodan?"

The woman on his arm spoke in a fawning voice. Rodan narrowed his eyes at her tone.

That child?

Does she know Yui from the Nuier family?

"Who are you?"

"Nice to meet you, I'm Nuier Meria. The younger sister of that one, though you can't see it."

"Meria."

Meria's fawning towards Rodan seemed to amuse Nonna, and his smile disappeared.

"Oh, Lord Nonna, don't be upset! Our family is really grateful! To take in such a useless daughter and even pay money for it!"

"It seems you two have a misunderstanding. I did provide a preparation fee, but I didn't buy her with money."

Nonna snorted.

"Preparation fee? For a Nuier family's useless eater who can't even do protective stitching?"

Rodan recalled her appearance when they first met; she hadn't been fed well either.

"I wanted her talent as a needleworker."

"Even though she can't do protective stitching?"

Rodan was running out of polite smiles.

It seemed Nonna didn't understand the Nuier family's bad reputation.

He couldn't read the room. He was hard of hearing and only remembered what sounded good. He put more effort into finding faults with others than improving himself.

That's why he was still just a regular knight, unable to assist his father properly.

His father was a respectable person, and if things continued this way, he would likely adopt a blood relative to inherit the family.

His current assistant came to mind.

If he continued to support the current Nuier family, it would solidify Nonna's evaluation.

"Yes, I recommended a daughter who could do protective stitching to the Nuier family's head... but no matter how well she can do protective stitching, with those skills..."

With a chuckle, Meria's face, which had been flushed, twisted into an ugly expression.

"How, how rude! I've misjudged you! As my father said, you're just a nouveau riche! Let's go, Lord Nonna!"

"O-oh."

Surprised by Meria's anger, Nonna seemed pleased that her opinion of Rodan had hit rock bottom and left in a good mood.

Being released much earlier than usual, Rodan was relieved.

The young ladies Nonna brought along were almost always those with poor reputations. Even if he provoked them, it wouldn't have much impact on his social standing.

He decided to keep this in mind as a useful tactic for the future.