The Guardian Knight of Affection-Starved Young Ladies - Chapter 117



116 – Reunion (08)

117.

A week after the events at the Garsi family.

Two letters arrived for Kahlen.

One was a letter confirming the preparation of the manor, which he’d entrusted to Flaber, and another was a letter that had arrived for Beln.

It meant it was time to leave the Garsi family.

For Runea to leave the Garsi family wasn’t as simple as cutting a string.

The world sees her as a noble lady of the Plache surname, and breaking off an engagement between nobles isn’t something that can be easily done.

So, regardless of Runea having left the Garsi family, she would still have to keep in contact with them.

It’s just that the Garsi family had been kind to Runea, and Runea also looked upon the Garsi family favorably, so it was a good outcome for everyone.

More than anything, Kahlen thought that Runea would do well.

He knew that Laris’s words about her being a kind, wise, and intelligent woman were true.

“There it is.”

It was some time after they had departed from the Garsi family in the… carriage that Flaber had provided.

Belbit’s voice was heard from inside the carriage.

Hearing the voices from within, Kahlen also turned his gaze in that direction, which had been wandering.

Now a superb coachman, able to drive the carriage without a second thought, Kahlen looked at the moderately sized manor.

He had constantly pressured Flaber rather than leaving everything to him, so Flaber couldn’t have pulled any tricks.

Kahlen skillfully drove the carriage towards the manor.

The carriage stopped, and three women stepped out.

Laris, Velvet, Lunea.

There were no surprised or dramatic reactions.

Though born a slave, Velvet had once been the mistress of one of the Empire’s five great houses.

Laris and Lunea, needless to say, were daughters of a great house from birth,

So it was unlikely they’d be too impressed by a manor of this size.

Rather than surprise or expectation, they all seemed happy to be together as mother and daughters.

“Let’s go in. Beln is waiting inside.”

Kallen spoke casually to Laris.

Remembering what had happened that night, Kallen decided to speak informally, not as he would to other young ladies.

Laris was older, but there was hardly any difference, and he also spoke informally with Selasier.

It was something Laris had wanted, so it was easier for Kallen to be casual.

However, he still used formal language when Velvet and Lunea were present.

Unless he was only speaking to Laris.

And so, under Kallen’s guidance, they entered the manor.

“Ah, you’ve arrived.”

“Were you already prepared?”

“Yes. I’m to be a servant, after all.”

Beln and a few other boys and girls noticed the four of them and approached.

Their clothes were a little wrinkled, as if they’d been cleaning the manor.

“Have the rooms all been decided?”

“Yes. Our servants will use the first and second floors, and we’ve prepared rooms for the ladies on the third floor.”

“The money.”

“I received it all properly. I also received the signed document stating that eight tenths of the monthly profits will be sent through the Lyle Trading Company, as you requested.”

They could start living from tomorrow.

At this rate, it would be much better than what Laris had prepared for when she decided to leave the family.

Kallen turned to look at the three women, and Velvet stepped forward.

“It seems there won’t be much inconvenience at this rate.”

“I’m truly grateful. Kallen…”

“Hmm…”

Kalen couldn’t think of a suitable reply.

From the start, he hadn’t trusted Laris.

It wasn’t that he’d decided to help her without any compensation, but simply that he hadn’t found the right price.

Kalen himself wasn’t the type of person who helped others without expecting something in return.

But at some point, the tangled, intertwined stories had made Kalen that way.

If he absolutely *had* to express gratitude… shouldn’t it be to his old master?

If that gruff old man hadn’t taken in a street urchin, he never would have become friends with the daughters of the Empire’s five great families.

Kalen shook off the pointless thoughts and looked at Velvet.

“If you’re truly grateful, may I take those gold coins?”

“Gold coins? Oh…”

Velvet didn’t seem to immediately grasp which gold coins Kalen was referring to, so Kalen pointed outside.

Realizing he meant the gold coins he’d received from Flavour in the carriage, Velvet laughed as if it was obvious.

“Of course. Kalen received them, so it’s natural.”

“I’ll leave the gold coins you need immediately and take a reasonable amount.”

“Thank you.”

Even just a few gold coins were incredibly valuable.

Leaving behind only the few that the residents of this mansion needed still meant Kalen could take a significant amount.

Velvet bowed, looking genuinely grateful.

Kalen received the gratitude in accordance with Imperial etiquette.

“Then, I’ll borrow the necklace.”

This too had been discussed beforehand.

The illusory space that Velvet had created was absorbed into Kalen’s mind.

Velvet could exist only because she was with Kalen.

For that reason, if Velvet were to leave Kalen’s side, she would die again.

However, Kalen had grasped the 5th Tier magic of the Academic Attribute.

Furthermore, when it came to the workings of the mind, he had achieved a level of understanding that even Blamia couldn’t compare to.

All these realizations pointed to one fact.

Kalen had realized that he could divide and maintain this illusory space.

The reason he asked to borrow the necklace was for that very purpose.

Kalen couldn’t stay by their side forever.

Kalen had to ensure Velvet could survive, even without him.

*Uhm…*

Taking the necklace, Kalen carefully held it, channeling his power into it.

It was an art only Kalen could perform—a miniature manifestation of his inner world within his hand.

Even Blamia, when it came to inner worlds, had aspects where Kalen could still surpass her.

A tiny, dark-ink world unfolded upon Kalen’s palm, fascinating those watching.

From within the ink, a glimmering darkness detached and flowed into the necklace.

A deeply mystical sight for those witnessing inner world magic for the first time.

Finally, Kalen, having focused, opened his eyes, returning the necklace to Velvet, imbued with an indescribable aura.

“You’ll be alright even if I’m not beside you now.”

He’d already confirmed it.

When he’d met with Laris separately, without Velvet, there hadn’t been any issues.

The art Kalen displayed was truly astounding.

To extract a fragment of an inner world and bestow it upon an object was something unprecedented.

Kalen’s unique constitution and mana, the inner world that absorbed everything to make it his own, the method for utilizing the inner world he’d grasped when battling Gishar—of course.

Had Velvet’s obsession, the story tied to the necklace, or the illusionary space she created, any of it been absent, it would have been impossible.

Perhaps it was this sight of Kalen that caused anxiety.

Laris spoke cautiously.

“…You’re leaving?”

“I have to. It’s taken much longer than I originally promised. The categorization should be finished by now.”

“Still, couldn’t you stay for at least one more night…”

“As soon as that’s done. I’ll be back soon.”

“…”

The day Laris manifested her inner world.

It became the turning point for Kalen, hardening his resolve.

If he went to the Spirit Realm, whatever it may be, the secrets tied to this body would be unraveled.

Eliana, Celacier, Sinath, Laris—they had all awakened their inner worlds.

Linked to Kalen, a place where they shared memories.

This was something he had contemplated for a long time.

Besides, there was also the promise he’d made with Lichessa and Daphne.

There was also the matter of going to the Selacier family, with their Eliana.

I can’t just abandon all those promises.

From noble mtl dot com

Just the promises I need to keep before going to the spirit realm… time will surely fly by.

That’s why I can’t delay any longer.

Instead, won’t things be more relaxed once everything’s over?

Kalene vaguely clung to that hope as he approached Laris.

He’d vaguely mentioned it that night, but Laris didn’t seem to like it.

Still, Kalene had given Laris more than she’d asked for, so pushing her further was impossible.

“…If I go to Ecclesia, will we be able to meet?”

“Well… I’m not always there, you see.”

It wasn’t like she was saying she’d go right now.

Laris had only just grasped a life with her mother and sister.

Forcing her to follow Kalene to Ecclesia right now was utter nonsense.

So they would just promise.

When Laris had comfortably settled into this life, when she could come to meet Kalene.

When Kalene had understood the secret, and finally had the leisure to look at everyone.

Let them meet then.

That day, they hoped, wasn’t too far in the future.

Kalene and Laris vaguely anticipated it.

“Kalene. Show me your face for a moment.”

And so, Laris chose to smile.

Her once ashen eyes shining brightly, the eyes Kalene had helped her regain.

What Laris carefully pulled from her clothes was a brooch.

A modestly sized brooch, perfect for pinning somewhere.

It bore the crest of the Plache family.

“That’s…”

“I’m no longer a lady of Plache, just someone abandoned by my father. But still, I’m grateful to Plache.”

Laris carefully held the string of the monocle that adorned Kalene’s left eye, and attached the brooch.

The moment the Plache crest hung alongside those of Lakatus, Hyat, and Dranus.

“Being born my mother’s daughter… I guess I can consider being abandoned by my father as payment enough.”

With her hands behind her back, Laris carefully stepped back, looked straight at Kalene and smiled.

“Meeting you, Kallen. If there’s one thing I’m grateful for, having been born as a daughter of Plache, it’s being able to meet you at the Dranus banquet.”

The meaning of the brooch, gifted by the young lady who was abandoned by Plache, who hated Plache.

Now that meaning no longer resides in Laris herself, she’s simply grateful for being able to meet the boy, and is now sending it away.

It was Laris’s farewell to Plache, and the greatest gratitude she could show to Kallen.

“Thank you, Kallen.”

Only then, could the girl barely prepare her heart to ‘temporarily’ let the boy go.