“Do you know that thanks to the Commander, I sleep peacefully every night? I think I’ll have a good dream tonight, too.”
I patted Tayros on the back with force.
Tayros bowed his head as if deeply honored.
With this, it seemed I had boosted the knight commander’s morale to the fullest.
“Lucas, your swordsmanship was wonderful as well. The statement that you were an excellent knight was indeed true. To think you could fight on par with our knight commander.”
“Thank you.”
“Although you lost, I believe you have sufficiently proven yourself. Everyone will be delighted if you help train our knights, not to mention Leon.”
I commended Lucas appropriately as well.
While doing so, I emphasized that he had lost, but the effect seemed minimal.
The knights were whispering among themselves while looking at Lucas.
I deliberately brought up the Commander’s name.
“Since it is a matter Tayros has also permitted, I hope everyone works hard. Of course, I believe you are all already outstanding knights. However, if there is an opportunity to grow further, there is no need to refuse it. I trust that this will be of help to our knighthood.”
“Yes, My Lord!”
Lastly, I also boosted the morale of the knights.
Since they were all deeply loyal knights, no one had a dissatisfied look on their face.
There might be someone hiding their true feelings, though.
It would be better if there weren’t. I really hoped there wouldn’t be.
Completely unaware of my anxious heart, Lucas looked at me and smiled with a face that practically read, ‘Did I do well?’
It was frustrating, making me feel like I was looking at a dog that had dug up and ruined the garden, yet was rejoicing thinking it had decorated the garden beautifully.
I spoke in a low voice so that the others couldn’t hear.
“I shall see you later tonight. I have a lot to say to you.”
“Understood.”
“Then return to your room and do not come out.”
If he crossed the line today, it would be trouble.
Lucas bowed his head to receive the order and quietly left the training ground.
Then, Tayros, who had been watching the mood, approached my side.
I whispered to Tayros in a low voice as well.
“You said you would win. You barely won.”
“I didn’t win.”
“Then?”
“That bastard let me win on purpose. I am no match for him.”
Tayros gnashed his teeth.
My head began to throb.
If Lucas had lost on purpose, the situation was even more serious.
I could guess why he had let him win, but the knights who noticed this would think he had mocked the knight commander and would become hostile toward Lucas.
I would have to give him a thorough scolding when we met later.
I couldn’t protect him all the way to the point of him getting stabbed in a place where I wasn’t present.
If he was going to lose, he should have lost a bit more cleverly.
Tayros calmed his anger and spoke in a worried voice.
“Be careful. Because he is ridiculously strong.”
“…To that extent?”
“I’ll have to set up more thorough countermeasures. I’ll request an additional budget.”
“If you put it that way, I have no choice but to approve it. Alright.”
This was the first time Tayros had ever admitted that someone was an opponent he couldn’t defeat even while feeling this frustrated.
If he were to attempt an escape, would we be able to stop him?
My worries only multiplied.
I approved the budget Tayros requested and ordered my aide to investigate Lucas.
After frantically wrapping up the rest of my work, night had fallen.
Today, I collapsed onto the bed once again.
I dismissed all the servants with a wave of my hand and just lay face down, barely breathing.
I was supposed to scold Lucas when he arrived, but right now, I didn’t even have the stamina to scold anyone.
Knock, knock—
I lifted my head just a fraction and spoke.
“Come in.”
After confirming that Lucas had entered, I collapsed face down again.
Today, Lucas tactfully approached and gently massaged my slumped shoulders.
“I appreciate this, but it would be nice if you knew exactly who made me this exhausted.”
“Who made Master so exhausted?”
‘You. It’s you. I mean you.’
I didn’t have the strength to yell.
Gathering what little energy I had left, I barely managed to speak.
“You should have made it subtle so it wouldn’t be so obvious.”
“Was it that obvious?”
Instead of feigning ignorance, Lucas asked back.
“I found out because Tayros told me. A few other knights probably noticed as well.”
“…Since he is the Commander, I was curious about his skills.”
“There’s no need to risk your life just to find out someone’s skills. Keep a low profile for the time being. Even if I tell them to treat you preciously, there will be those who won’t listen. If that happens, run away at all costs.”
The hands massaging my shoulders stopped.
Lucas asked, sounding as if he couldn’t believe it.
“Are you worrying about me?”
“Of course. If you can’t run away, tell them you are scheduled to serve me at night. That will be better.”
“Why?”
“Because if marks are left on your body, I will see them and interrogate them. I’ll make it completely obvious that I favor you, so protect yourself.”
With this, I hoped no one would bully Lucas.
I was worried about him getting hurt, and I was also worried about how he might retaliate later in some way or another.
Of course, the person who did the bullying would be in the wrong, but killing them or making it so they could never hold a sword again as revenge for that bullying was far too harsh.
The Lucas in the novel was fully capable of doing just that and more, so I had to prevent it.
“Why do you cherish me so much?”
“Huh?”
“I am just a person who raised a rebellion and became a slave.”
Lucas’s voice seemed to tremble.
Sensing something strange, I propped myself up, only to find Lucas looking at me with an expressionless face.
It felt like he was about to cry, but was it just my imagination?
“Didn’t I say that since you are my person, I will take responsibility for you? I am merely keeping my word.”
Lucas parted his lips slightly as if to say something.
However, the words failed to form and scattered into a laugh.
I had told him to stay in his room, but had someone bullied him in the meantime?
“Did something happen?”
I asked, but he didn’t answer.
Wondering if he had been beaten, I examined his face closely.
It was still just a beautiful and handsome face with no injuries.
Thinking he might have been hit only in places that weren’t visible, I reached for his clothes.
“Let me look for a moment. I’m checking to see if you’re hurt. Just a moment.”
I unbuttoned his shirt one by one.
With each button undone, Lucas’s body was revealed little by little.
Lucas just stood there still, as if telling me to look if I wanted to.
I pulled the fabric aside to see what was there, but his chest and stomach only revealed splendid muscles; there were no injuries.
‘Is his back hurt?’
