Chapter 79 : Hidden Agenda

“I finally found you. There you are, Nicholas.”

As he was swinging his sword in the training hall, he heard such a voice from behind him.

It’s Leopoldo, who has been in and out of the Strydom household for a while now.

The other knights look back, but he is already a familiar face.

Perhaps that’s why, as if nothing had happened, they were soon back to their usual practice routine.

Nicholas also resumes his practice with a light bow of his head.

But Leopold stepped inside the forge and stood in front of Nicholas.

“..you’re in the way”

“Don’t be so cruel to me. I haven’t seen you in a long time.”

“No, we met. We jumped into the river together.”

Leopold scratched his head in annoyance when he replied curtly, without even stopping to pretend.

“We didn’t get to meet, though. We didn’t get to talk much.”

“I don’t really have anything to say.”

“But I have.”

Nicholas exhales at Leopold’s insistence.

“I’m in training, albeit voluntary training.”

He knew Nicholas because they were former classmates.

Leopold is not a bad guy. Rather, he is a straightforward guy without any hidden motives.

However, he was not familiar with the subtleties of human emotions.

Even with this air of unwillingness to talk, Leopold shows no sign of concern.

Nicholas shook his head lazily.

What a sad thing to have to make small talk with the ex-girlfriend of a girl he liked.

He was still sulking over the fact that he couldn’t forget her.

Just when Nicholas was thinking about it.

Leopoldo returns to the entrance and stands in front of him again, holding one of the imitation swords from the shelf.

“Then it wouldn’t be a bother if we’re training, right?”

Then, he quickly holds up his sword.

“..you’re looking down on me.”

Although it was only one year, they were indeed students of the same knight training department, and their abilities were very comparable at that time.

However..

“I’m not a trainee anymore. I am a knight in my own right. And even though I was recruited out of mercy, I am working as a member of the prestigious Marquis ff Strydom’s private order of knights.

And I’m expected to compete with you, a student?”

“No, I’m not looking down on you.”

When he glared at him with murderous intent, he replied with a quick smile.

“But you won’t talk to me unless I do this, will you?”

As soon as he said this, Leopold raised his imitation sword to the highest position and struck Nicholas.

“..!”

He quickly took it from below.

“Nicholas. Where do you live now?”

“..what?”

Nicholas’ voice deepened as they crossed swords, and he was asked a question that was out of place.

But Leopold, without caring, continued.

“How big is the house? Is it in a good location?”

“..it’s just a place to go to sleep. It’s just a small bedroom with a kitchen.”

As he answered, the sword struck and he received it with all his might.

“Whoa..!”

With a dry clank, the imitation sword rolls to the ground.

“I never thought about location. I just wanted to be able to get here as soon as possible. That’s the condition I chose.”

Leopold, who is still a student, even though he is a knight, is no match for Nicholas, who has been working as a knight for nearly two years.

But Leopold picked up the fallen sword, raised it again, and asked the next question.

“Well, if push comes to shove, you can just move. Then what’s your rank now?”

“..huh?”

Leopold again urges Nicholas, who is frowning, to respond.

With a high-pitched “thump” sound, the two swords crossed.

Perhaps amused, even the surrounding knights, who were supposed to be practicing on their own, stopped and began to watch.

“Nicholas has been here for over a year now, right? Is he ready to move up the ladder?”

“Come on. Are you picking a fight?”

“No way. I’m serious.”

“Bullsh!t!”

Leopold, who thought it was absurd but still dutifully replied to Nicholas, continued to ask him more questions.

No matter how many times the sword is flicked away, nothing changes.

He did not try to make a connection with the answers he received, but asked one question after another with a serious expression on his face while wielding his sword.

His irritation towards Leopold grew, as if he was being interviewed for a job.

“Okay, last question. You don’t gamble or anything, do you?”

“..enough of this!”

How many times had I flung Leopold’s sword away?

I had even hit him hard, but Leopold never tried to stop me.

Nicolas was getting frustrated, but Leopold still asked the same question, hoping for a response.

“I’m not gambling.”

Nicholas replied, as if trying to spit it out.

“I see. Good.”

Leopoldo laughed, as if in relief.

“..?”

As Nicholas stared at Leopold, bewildered and unsure of his intentions, there was a laugh that burst out at the entrance.

“I don’t know. I heard angry voices echoing through the mansion, so I wondered what was going on.”

“..Rembrandt-sama. I apologize for the disturbance.”

Rembrandt nodded his head quickly to Nicholas, who bowed quickly and respectfully.

“I’m not worried about it. From the looks of it, Leo just caught you and forced you to play with him, didn’t he?”

Rembrandt then lightly poked Leopold in the head with his knuckles

“Ow.”

“God. Are you an idiot? You act like a father who marries off his daughter. You’re hot and bothered.”

“Because..”

“Not because. You have your own marriage proposal. You should worry about yourself first, not others. Miss Melanie is your first priority.”

“Ugh. Well, maybe I’ll take my time?”

“I understand your concern, but you don’t have much time left. You need to make sure your future is secure first.”

“..?”

Leopoldo is getting angry in front of him, but Nicholas doesn’t quite understand what it means.

A father who marries off his daughter?

Is there no other way to do this?

What does this have to do with the pointless question he had just asked me?

Although he thought so, Nicholas, who could read the air much better than Leopold, stood silently by his side.

Then Rembrandt looks at him.

“Nicholas. You were off duty today.”

“Yes.”

“You’re a little tense. When you can relax, rest properly.”

“..I’m sorry, sir.”

“But you don’t really take a rest, do you?”

“..”

When his words continued in a tone of disapproval, Nicholas blushed unintentionally.

That’s right, every time after Rembrant left, he was still planning to go for a run,

“Sigh. Nicholas. Come hang out with me for a minute.”

“..yes?”

“I’m going out. I need your help.”

“..yes, sir!”

“Ah, Ren! Me too!”

“You go home and think about your next gift for Lady Melanie.”

“Oh no..”

“I’m just going to make a quick stop at the palace. I forgot something. I don’t like the idea of going all the way out there when I’ve just taken a vacation, but it can’t be helped.”

Then, leaving a reluctant Leopold at the training hall, Rembrandt added Nicholas to the guard he had with him today and headed for the carriage.

He then ordered those who had been his guards from the beginning to guard him from outside the carriage with their horses, and told Nicholas to go inside the carriage.

“Now sit down.”

“..I’m sorry.”

In the comfortable carriage, Nicholas sat opposite him and bowed his head in trepidation.

This should mean that they should rest their body while traveling.

Rembrandt’s mouth relaxed as he leaned back and relaxed.

“And while you’re at it, go straight to sleep.”

“That’s.. that’s just..”

“Forget it. Just close your eyes for now.”

“Yes, sir.”

Jeez. I am not a match for this man.

While trying desperately to keep his mouth from loosening as a personal consideration expressed by the man whom he looked up to as his master, Nicholas did as he was told and meditated.