The Guardian Knight of Affection-Starved Young Ladies

16 – Eliana (05)

017.

There was a change in the Duke Rakatus household.

It was merely a matter of recovering what was lost, but it was undoubtedly a change.

None of those bearing the name of Rakatus denied this fact.

It was no different for the man called the future of Rakatus.

Decaum Rakatus, who had been out of the mansion attending social events or the royal magic council, had hurried back upon receiving the news just yesterday.

And it wasn’t just him.

From the gardener who remembered the face of the girl who used to smile brightly in her childhood, to the head of the family bearing the name of Rakatus.

They had all been eagerly awaiting the return of the two.

If the letter informing them of the fact had not been written by Evam, it would have been impossible.

Because of this, a strange tension filled the mansion.

The tension reached its peak in the dining room.

The first to put down their spoon was a woman who, despite her middle age, still hinted at her former beauty.

The middle-aged man sitting at the head of the table saw this and quietly opened his mouth.

“Have you lost your appetite?”

“You know it’s not that kind of problem.”

It was Duke Everchan and his wife Merlin.

Following the tableware was Schultz, the second son of Rakatus.

“Honestly, I can’t believe it, Father. No matter how much it’s Ebaum, isn’t it up to that escort to confirm the facts?”

The world-renowned Duke of Rakatus family.

Even if they are less interested in authority, it doesn’t mean they have none at all.

Unless they were a disciple of Blamia, that escort was just a servant.

Still, the fact that Blamia introduced him and that he was the only unique point so far was the focus.

They sent him with half-belief, and now the problem they had given up on was brought back to the surface.

What Schultz Rakatus was questioning was exactly that part.

Not only his father but also himself, what efforts did they make to solve that problem?

They just realized it wasn’t a matter of whether it could be solved or not.

In such a situation, unnecessary hope.

The fact that they had to borrow the mouth of an outsider to bring it was what he didn’t like.

Indeed, the dining room was filled with silence, as if others didn’t think differently.

“Schultz.”

“Yes, brother.”

“Let’s think positively. It might be true.”

“That…!”

Schultz momentarily flared up but soon calmed down.

Although he wasn’t a name to be left behind anywhere, this was home.

His brother Decaum, his mother, and his father, the head of the family, were all above him.

Schultz was not a rogue.

Decaum, who was staring at Schultz, continued.

“Even if it’s unnecessary hope, I don’t think it’s that bad. After all, possibilities come from hope.”

“…Even the Archmage failed, brother. It’s not something a kid younger than me can do.”

“There must have been some change, that’s why they conveyed it.”

“That’s what I don’t like. To be honest, the only person who could be by my side until now was that guy Kallen. How can we verify whatever he claims?”

Decaum also put down his tableware and stared straight at Schultz.

“It’s a simple matter, Schultz. In other matters, you might be right, but the information we’ve received states that Eliana’s illness has been cured.”

“But-“

“If the illness is cured, then I, you, or anyone else can approach her. First, we confirm that.”

“…”

The conversation between the two brothers was sharp yet gentle.

They did not bend their positions, while also not hurting each other’s feelings.

The method of speaking based on logic and reason was the most important education Everchan emphasized.

Everchan silently watched his two sons and put down his utensils.

It seemed impossible to eat in such an atmosphere and state of mind.

Then he quietly began to chew over Decaum’s words.

As Schultz said, it might be a false hope.

But as Decaum said, everyone is hoping for that false hope.

Even Schultz, who spoke like that.

According to the message from Evam, Kalen reported that Eliana’s illness was cured during his journey to the north.

He said he no longer felt the headaches, the intense pain in his heart, or the boiling mana waves throughout his body.

Everchan quietly looked down at the table.

The half-sliced meat still looked warm.

How many methods had they used to try to cure that damn illness?

But none of them showed any improvement.

Of course, the change Kalen mentioned was also not certain.

He couldn’t be sure.

So he was anxious, and so he hoped.

Is this also one of the countless failures?

Or is it the only success they hadn’t found until now?

He thought he had already let go of hope.

Seeing his heart shake so much, he realized he still had a childish side.

He pretended to let go because he didn’t want to get hurt, didn’t want to be betrayed by expectations.

And yet, when hope appeared, he hoped again.

Before he knew it, the clattering of utensils in the dining room had stopped.

How much time had passed like that?

Knock, knock-

The sound of knocking on the dining room door echoed.

Before Duke Everchan could respond,

“Master. The young lady and her escort have returned.”

The long-awaited news had arrived.

Would it be another of the countless failures?

Or the one success they had never found?

Everchan let out a low sigh and replied.

“Let them in.”

It was time to face the last form of hope he had abandoned long ago.

“…”

No one opened their mouths.

Their gazes fixed on each other.

Doubting and doubting again if these were the people in their memories.

Everchan stood up and walked.

It was against etiquette to make the sound of dragging a chair,

But it seemed he had no time to care about such things now.

The place Everchan walked to was in front of his daughter, whom he was meeting for the first time in about seven years.

There was no doubt that the appearance was exactly like Merlin’s childhood.

A beautiful appearance as if the sky had dyed it.

Eyes that seemed similar to his, yet completely different, deep and clear.

Unrealistic.

She had been pretty as a child, but now it seemed there would be no man who wouldn’t be enchanted by her.

Had she changed this much while he hadn’t seen her?

Everchan let out a bitter laugh and said.

“Eliana.”

“…”

“Eliana Lacatus.”

“Yes, Father…”

The last form of hope was what he had been searching for so desperately.

*

“Do you remember when we played in the forest and fell asleep?”

“…Yes.”

“And the time I chased away that guy, Denbeck or whatever his name was?”

“…I remember, Brother Schultz.”

“Wow.”

Kallen felt a new sensation as he listened to the conversation beside Eliana.

Eliana had often talked about it, but hearing it from another person involved was fascinating.

Everyone gathered in the dining room started bringing up old memories and talking.

When they realized Eliana remembered everything, they had indescribable expressions on their faces.

Especially Schultz and Duke Everchan.

The woman who seemed to be sitting in front of the Duke had been wiping her eyes since earlier, and the famous Dekaum Prince exchanged a few words and then fell silent.

However, Kallen felt a bit awkward.

Shouldn’t he be reuniting with his family?

As he tried to leave, Eliana stopped him.

Thanks to that, he ended up stuck beside Eliana, unable to say a word in an awkward situation.

“Was it you who cured the illness?”

Dekaum spoke to Kallen in the midst of this.

It seemed like his gaze was subtly directed at him, and he was waiting for the right moment to speak.

Kallen was about to answer no, but Eliana interrupted.

“Yes, Brother Dekaum.”

“I was asking the guard.”

“It’s not the guard, it’s Kallen, Brother.”

“…”

Speaking calmly was Eliana’s characteristic.

When asked why, she said it was to organize her thoughts and speak properly.

Seeing this, it seemed the siblings had many similarities.

“Alright, Kallen. Was it you who cured the illness?”

“I told you it was, Brother.”

“Hmm.”

Dekaum smiled awkwardly.

“I’m not trying to nitpick. I’m just purely curious. Would you allow me to talk to Kallen, Eliana?”

From the way things were going, it seemed Eliana was blocking him to prevent any suspicious questions from being asked.

So when he turned to Eliana, she was holding Kallen’s face and meeting his eyes.

“It’s okay if you don’t tell the whole truth… Kallen…”

“I can hear you too, Eliana.”

Kallen nodded and then turned his gaze back to Dekaum.

“The illness… I won’t ask more since you’re so sure. Instead, I’ll ask something else.”

“Yes.”

“How did you do it?”

Dekaum pointed at Eliana with his index finger.

Kallen glanced at Everchan for a moment and then opened his mouth.

“About three days before we arrived in the north, the Duke of Rakatus told me something.”

“…!”

“Father?”

“Yes. But the symptoms were much worse than what I had heard. The head of the family said that if something happened, it would naturally get better if we avoided it, but I didn’t think that was the case.”

“Just get to the point. What did you do?”

“The mana was still fluctuating, and there was hemoptysis and vomiting, so I took care of her. I paid attention to hygiene and made sure the lady didn’t give up.”

“And that was enough to cure her?”

“Yes.”

Eliana’s illness is not a common one.

Moreover, it wasn’t something that a noble of Rakatus’s level would have deliberately sought a solution for.

It’s hard to believe that a boy who hasn’t even had his coming-of-age ceremony could have done anything.

It also had to be certain.

If the illness wasn’t completely cured, it wouldn’t be surprising if something unfortunate happened again at any time.

It was only natural for Dekaum to say such things to Kallen.

Realizing this, Kallen understood that Eliana had a different reason for shielding him earlier.

It wasn’t to guard against Dekaum, but purely to elevate his own merit.

It’s a bit difficult to boast about one’s own achievements.

As the conversation between Kallen and Dekaum was coming to an end.

“Let’s continue the conversation later. This place is not appropriate.”

Everchen said as he stood up.

It was considerate since Eliana had just returned, and the dining room was not a suitable place for a reunion.

Merlin, Schultz, and Decaum responded and stood up.

Just as Kallen was about to follow suit.

He felt a small hand grab his sleeve.

Kallen, who had awkwardly half-risen, looked down beside him.

Eliana was tugging at his sleeve, looking up at him blankly.

He thought she might lean on the Duchess since she had returned to the mansion.

But Eliana’s gaze was solely fixed on Kallen.

Naturally, this drew attention.

Eliana, with an indifferent expression, opened her arms towards Kallen.

“…Yes.”

Thus, Kallen naturally lifted and supported Eliana, a sight that was clearly visible to those present.

And it wasn’t long before this scene became the hottest topic in the Rakatus mansion.