chaper 21
A few days after the merchant guild leader incident that had thrown the Grand Duke’s castle into an uproar—
there were many big and small changes in the annex.
“Head Maid Elda, here are this month’s daily necessities and extra firewood. Where should we put these?”
Elda, who had recently been promoted to head maid of the annex, skillfully directed the servants like a seasoned leader.
“Please place them in the storage room at the end of the corridor.”
“And the young lord’s new casual wear and outing clothes, tailored for the season—”
“Those go in the wardrobe on the right.”
“We’ve brought the new ornaments and furniture you requested earlier.”
“Place them in the young lord’s bedroom and the adjacent private room.”
The upper floor of the annex was now so full of servants carrying supplies and furniture that there was barely any room to step.
All of this was due to the recognition of Suon’s decisive contribution in resolving the earlier crisis, which led to significant improvements in his treatment.
And the bluff I had thrown out earlier to recruit Elda—
Suon had actually followed through on it.
‘Elda, from today onward, fulfill your duties as the head maid of the annex.’
‘Th-thank you, Young Lord! I’ll do my best!’
From that point on, Elda—who had apparently been paying close attention—thoroughly identified all the annex’s shortcomings in supplies and facilities and began improving everything with great dedication.
Suon, Garen, and I stood off to the side, watching as the annex gradually transformed.
“Hehe.”
Looking at the growing piles of supplies, I said with satisfaction,
“Just watching this makes me feel full already.”
“Miss Lin! Several boxes of sweets have come in—what should we do with them?”
“Sweets? What kind?”
“They look like sweet butter cookies.”
“Bring them, bring them.”
Elda placed the cookie box on the tea table and opened it so I could take one.
I quickly grabbed a cookie, snapped it in half, and stuffed it into my mouth.
“Mmm… oh! It’s so good! Suon, come try this!”
At my eager waving, Suon sighed and walked over.
By now, he had realized it was less troublesome to just go along with most of my requests.
“Excuse me, Young Lord.”
At that moment, a servant passing by bowed politely as he walked past Suon.
His attitude was noticeably different from the cold and reluctant demeanor we had seen before.
Watching this, Elda approached us and whispered,
“It seems word of the previous incident has spread quite a bit. There are quite a few maids who are grateful, saying it’s thanks to you that the North will get through this year safely.”
“Hmph,” I snorted.
“Well of course. After all that effort, the news should spread.”
Garen added with a pleased expression,
“The elders and vassals are also greatly relieved. I’ve heard some of them mentioned your achievements multiple times. It’s a good thing.”
That day, with the letters we presented and the testimony of the assistant Garen brought, Suon cleared his name and the North successfully recovered its supplies.
As for the merchant guild leader, who had been dragged back to the castle by the knights—
he reportedly confessed everything and begged desperately for mercy.
On the condition that the incident would not be reported to the imperial family, the Noel Merchant Guild was forced to sign a contract promising to supply goods to the North under extremely favorable terms for the next five years.
“Thanks to that, the North won’t face financial trouble for at least five years.”
That was what Suon had said after hearing all the news.
I glanced at him as he watched the busy servants with little interest.
‘Hmm…’
Even though his position and living conditions had improved so much, he didn’t seem particularly happy, which bothered me.
On impulse, I poked his cheek.
“Boop.”
A dimple formed as he raised one eyebrow.
“What is it?”
“Be a little happy, Suon.”
I gestured at the piled-up supplies.
“Now you can eat delicious food, wear nice clothes, and live comfortably with a proper bed. You don’t even have to chop firewood yourself anymore.”
“……”
“I want you to care more about what happens to you—and be happy about it. Come on.”
I looked at him with sparkling eyes, like someone waiting for a reaction after giving a gift.
‘Come on, smile. Show me that beautiful smile again.’
But Suon, being Suon, replied flatly,
“I don’t see what there is to be happy about. As for clothes and food, I never felt lacking before. It was sufficient for me alone. And chopping firewood helps with sword training, so I have even less reason to complain.”
“No, that’s not what I meant…”
I almost tried explaining the luxurious life noble heirs usually enjoyed—but stopped myself.
‘Well… that dry personality is part of his charm too.’
In the original story, Suon was an extreme efficiency-driven character.
A rigid, taciturn knight who despised unnecessary waste and pointless formalities.
Especially when it came to his own living conditions, he showed almost complete indifference.
“I’m not even sure I can use all these things. For efficiency, it might be better to redistribute them to the servants or the knights.”
He muttered, resting his chin on his hand.
‘Exactly like that.’
Watching him work tirelessly for others while neglecting his own comfort always frustrated me.
“Tsk, it can’t be helped. I’ll just have to take better care of your share myself.”
I shook my head.
It was a little disappointing that I couldn’t see that smile again—but there would be more chances.
Just then, an unfamiliar figure entered the room.
“E-excuse me.”
It was a woman I had never seen before.
A female knight with long purple hair tied back and a slender build.
Unlike the knights I’d seen before, she had a free-spirited aura.
I quickly hid inside Suon’s collar and observed her.
‘Who is that? She looks familiar somehow…’
The knight glanced around, then brightened when she spotted Garen.
“Oh? Garen, is that you?”
“…Long time no see, Diene.”
Garen replied stiffly and awkwardly.
‘What is that? He looks like a guy who just ran into his ex.’
“So you really were demoted. Working in the annex, huh?”
Diene chuckled and slapped his shoulder.
“Ghk—!”
“Why so awkward? People might think you still have feelings for me, haha.”
“……”
‘Wait, she really is his ex?’
Leaving Garen frozen, she approached Suon and bowed formally.
“I greet you, Young Lord Suon Luxior. I am Diene Schuto, adjutant to Vice-Captain Sermon. I have come to deliver a letter to you on his orders.”
‘Diene Schuto?’
In the original story, she was one of the supporting characters who later became an ally to the main leads.
Suon looked at the letter and asked,
“A letter? What is it about?”
“I do not know, Young Lord. I was ordered that only you are to read it.”
“……”
Suon frowned slightly.
He didn’t seem pleased.
Her superior, Vice-Captain Ulric Sermon, was the red-haired man who had pressured the merchant leader during the banquet—and had also watched the earlier brawl with interest.
“Right. He was there.”
I muttered.
He was a fairly major supporting character.
‘Interesting. I didn’t expect him to take interest in Suon this early.’
He must have noticed Suon’s potential during that fight.
‘Not bad.’
Anything that helped Suon gain recognition faster was a good thing.
Meanwhile, Suon rejected the letter outright.
“I refuse. Leave.”
“May I ask why?”
“It’s bothersome.”
“…Understood.”
Diene simply accepted it and withdrew the letter.
She gave off the aura of someone who had seen it all.
“Then I’ll take my leave.”
Before exiting, she glanced at Garen.
“See you again, Garen.”
“……”
Garen just watched her silently like a dejected puppy.
After she left, I flew over to him.
“What was that, Garen? I thought you were single your whole life—turns out you had an ex?”
“…Pardon?”
“I mean her. Diene.”
“…Ah… yes.”
He scratched his head, blushing.
‘Oh? I thought he was clueless, but he’s ahead of Suon in romance.’
I examined him thoughtfully.
“Well, objectively, you’re not bad-looking, well-built, and have a decent personality. Easygoing, too.”
“…Easygoing?”
I was a bit annoyed he had dating experience before Suon—but he was older, so I let it slide.
‘Whatever. Suon will meet the heroine soon anyway.’
“…Oh!”
Then I remembered something important.
The winter coming-of-age ceremony—the moment when the original story truly begins and Suon meets the heroine—was only a week away.
I quickly flew to Suon.
“Suon, this is an emergency!”
He looked at me, puzzled.
“What is it?”
I declared seriously,
“We need to go shopping!”
