The Guardian Knight of Affection-Starved Young Ladies - Chapter 120



119 – A Need for Rest (01)

120.

“Master… could you tell me where Miss Sinat goes when she takes her heir lessons?”

“…Taking a walk.”

“A walk? I searched the mansion garden and couldn’t find her…”

It’s already been two weeks since Selina began her strange service.

It was still difficult to lie still and make eye contact, but Kalen had adjusted to the service itself.

The slippery, strange liquid that covered his face was also familiar, and now Kalen could move his lips to speak.

It had been a long time since Selina had stopped telling interesting stories to alleviate his boredom.

It meant that they were now capable of a conversation of sorts.

As he quietly received Selina’s service, her gentle voice echoed.

Though Kalen had always been with Sinat and Selina, recently, after lunch, Sinat had been called away for heir lessons, and then frequently disappeared.

What was truly strange was that no one had seen where she went, and Selina couldn’t find Kalen.

That’s why Selina had chosen to ask him directly.

It was much better than trying to figure it out on her own and misunderstanding.

Kalen gave a simple answer to Selina, saying that she was going for a walk.

When Selina, having searched the garden, couldn’t find Kallen, she nodded.

“Then, I’ll come with you on your walks from now on, Master.”

“…”

“It wouldn’t do for something to happen to you while you’re out walking, Master.”

If something were to happen, it would be to Selina, not Kallen.

Her skills in managing the mansion or assisting with baths weren’t exactly useful when facing a thug on a walk.

But Kallen knew.

If she were to refuse even those words of Selina’s, the perceptive woman would quickly catch on.

In the end, cutting back on sleep was the only option.

Kallen wondered if that place would even be open at dawn, and shut her mouth.

The thought that a maid could be too capable was quickly forgotten.

“Master?”

“…Alright.”

From noble mtl dot com

In truth, Selina was a perfect woman in every aspect.

Honestly speaking, with her beauty, one could easily mistake her for a noble lady.

Such a woman was capable in many areas, and devoted.

If she’d been born into a good family, she would have stolen the hearts of young nobles.

It was actually quite comfortable.

Only, Kallen felt more uneasy being served, so she tried her best to accommodate Selina’s convenience.

That was the same for Selina, too.

No matter how devoted she was, or how she had sworn to serve Kallen as her master on ‘that day’.

Even handmaids, who were of a lower rank than maids or servants, wished to encounter a good master.

After all, no servant would like a master who only found fault and looked down on them.

Regardless of Selina’s self-sworn oath, Kallen was a good master.

Kallen herself said it seemed like that was because she hadn’t been a noble to begin with.

Selina felt that Kallen was originally a good person.

The consideration that was felt in her casual actions.

Understanding each other’s position well, they gave each other as much convenience as they could.

There were no high-handed commands; mostly they were requests.

It was not an easy thing to do.

Selina herself was the first to call him ‘Master’ and said she would serve him as such.

Kalen, despite that, didn’t change.

It wasn’t a reluctance, but something different entirely.

Whether it was a habit that had seeped in without him realizing it, she didn’t know, but anyway, Kalen was a good master, surpassing just being decent.

– Today, Master Kalen…

– Master Kalen did…

Even when talking to the novice maids, it was the same.

Ortie and Pootre, the two most trustworthy with tasks, also said Kalen was a good master.

Meaning that he was considerate not just to Selina, but to the novice maids as well.

Before anyone knew it, Kalen’s name started to circulate among the numerous maids and handmaidens of the mansion.

Many were hoping to become his personal maid, wanting to attend to him.

When asked why, they always gave similar answers.

No matter how small, they could feel Kalen’s consideration.

– Selina. Are you perhaps, short-handed?

Now, even the other head maids started bringing up their master’s name.

They were not short-handed, not with so many novice maids, but she couldn’t just dismiss them to bring new ones in.

It was definitely a difficult situation all around.

However, more than that, Selina had started to like Kalen.

Beyond being a good master, she’d come to want to know more about Kalen as a person, you could say.

Though it was, of course, all just to serve him more perfectly.

“Haa… Master. Would you like a massage…”

Selina waited by Kalen’s side until his skincare was done.

When the time came, she wiped off the liquid from his face and sighed softly.

As the liquid on his face disappeared, Kalen, now feeling more comfortable, put on his monocle and asked in return,

“A massage?”

“Yes. Since you’re such a kind person, Master, I’d like to give you a massage.”

Preferably one with strong pressure points, just for good measure.

-Selina swallowed those words, tidied the wet towels, and glanced at Kalen.

Kalen paused, then nodded.

“…Do I need to take my top off?”

“Hmm…”

Celina hadn’t even considered touching his body.

She had only wanted to freely knead the face of her master, who didn’t seem to grasp her dilemma.

But hearing Kallen’s words, she thought that wouldn’t be so bad either.

“Yes, Master. Please wait just a moment.”

With Kallen’s permission, Celina rose to quickly put away the washcloth.

There was a place to wash in the room, but as she left the room, Kallen stared after her, and a click.

His head was filled with the dilemma of how to sneak out in the early morning.

*

“…This is serious.”

“I’m giving Master a massage, I can’t be careless.”

“But, the reason I have to lie down like this…”

“Master. Shhh. Relaxing quietly is an important part of a massage.”

Kallen soon regretted his past words about receiving a massage.

Something even more demanding than evening duty had awaited him.

At first, he watched Celina curiously as she brought several items, but that was only for a moment.

Celina then climbed onto the bed with a graceful air, kneeling down.

She smoothed the hem of her maid dress and gave Kallen a sweet smile.

-Lie here, Master.

Kneeling demurely, Celina tapped her thighs as if beckoning him.

Kallen succumbed to her sweet smile and laid his head in her lap.

Before he knew it, he saw Celina’s face, her stray hairs pulled back and tied.

“Are you comfortable, Master?”

“Y-yes.”

“Then, let’s begin, Master.”

Her distinct, gentle, and soothing voice tickled his ear.

He heard a clinking sound above his head.

Soon, Celina’s small hands began to knead Kallen’s cheeks.

A sticky, yet moist feeling coated my hands, like something had been applied.

“This…”

“How’s the scent, Master? It’s the muscle relaxant I use.”

“…”

My cheeks were being held, making it hard to speak.

The scent was nice, as Selena said, so Kallen gave in and closed his eyes.

*Press.*

*Press.*

Selena excelled at anything that involved using her hands.

She was always the one in charge of areas requiring delicate care in the mansion.

So, being massaged by those hands, it definitely felt refreshing.

Kallen gradually focused on Selena’s massage, completely relaxing and leaning against her thigh when it happened.

“Wait… ah.”

Selena’s hands moved down below his face, massaging his neck and shoulders.

Then, they didn’t stop there, starting to trace over his upper body.

Kallen, unusually flustered, opened his eyes.

But, he soon realized that he’d permitted this and relaxed his body.

“The scars… do they hurt?”

Avoiding scars that would be painful even to touch,

her small hands fussed mostly over the older scars that were already numb.

The feeling of her stroking the scars with concern was a solace Kallen had never felt before.

If anything was similar, it might have been when he’d first rescued Sinat, when he was obsessed with her scars.

Back then, Sinat would touch his scars, asking if they hurt.

Do the women of this mansion all share such things?

Kallen chuckled lightly at the pointless thought and said,

“They don’t hurt as much as they look ugly.”

“…Is that so.”

Selena applied a little more pressure, but still gently, starting to stroke his scars.

The relationship they had stemmed from a careless mistake when she’d sworn to serve her master.

To Selena, Kallen’s scars felt all the more painful.

So, Selina diligently massaged Calen.

Even if she couldn’t show her heart, she made sure her sincerity was felt.

That night’s service was a little more special than others.

*

“Cal!!”

*Screech!*

Some time had passed since the Dranus family started regaining its former glory.

It meant that things were starting to breathe easier, even financially.

Naturally, the old furniture was being replaced practically every day.

Not luxurious, but efficient furniture was decorating the mansion.

Calen’s room was no exception.

It looked like an ordinary door, but its durability was exceptional.

That door opened with an unpleasant sound.

A pretty forceful sound, at that.

Calen was still letting Selina take care of him.

Selina had treated Calen with sincerity, and she’d also received comfort, so they had grown much closer, and now it wasn’t awkward anymore.

There was a faint smell of medicine because Ortiga was nearby with the medicine, but it all dissipated when the door was violently flung open.

“Cal…! What kind of trouble did you get into…?”

Calen, who had expected him to ask to go for a walk like usual, raised his gaze to Sinat’s voice, which sounded flustered.

In Sinat’s left hand was a letter with a golden seal imprinted on it.

“What is it?”

“This…”

Sinat came straight to Calen and handed him the letter.

Calen examined the golden seal and immediately knew who had sent the letter.

“It’s from the Imperial Palace…”

The Imperial Palace.

The ruler of the Claire Empire had sent a letter to a boy, not even a member of the Dranus family.