Only Obedient to Me! Sir Knight Chapter 18

Knock, knock.

“Master.”

“Mm?”

Fortunately, Rowy had returned to the room when Van went back. Van let out a sigh of relief inwardly and entered the room carrying the tray.

“Where did you go?”

“Mm, just out. Did you go to the dining room?”

Rowy, seeing the tray in Van’s hands, approached with a bright expression. He had been vomiting everything up and unable to eat anything, so he must have been starving.

“Yes. Finn prepared this for you. He mentioned that you also like the bread his mother makes.”

“…The chef? He said that to you?”

“Are you not in pain? You vomited so much that your stomach might be upset. It would be best to eat the soup first.”

Van pulled Rowy over and sat him in a chair. Rowy immediately brought the soup to his lips.

“He doesn’t even talk to me, yet he tells you all sorts of things even though it’s your first time meeting him.”

“Finn? Please eat slowly. I will cut that for you.”

Van sat right next to him, serving him devotedly. After making a fuss about feeding him bread and then meat, Van spoke up once Rowy seemed to have finished most of his meal.

“By the way… they said everyone leaves for the day.”

“The servants here? Mm, everyone leaves before it gets dark. On days with bad weather, they leave even earlier. I guess the boats don’t run.”

“Is that really alright?”

“What’s wrong with that?”

Rowy shrugged. The butler was someone who had been managing this castle even before Rowy arrived. It seems he was originally called the “island keeper,” but Rowy had given him the title of butler. The butler then brought in a few more people to manage the castle, which was how the chef Finn and the twin brothers who did chores were hired. Since finding people willing to work in such a remote place was by no means easy, Rowy simply paid them generous wages and allowed them conveniences like commuting.

“No, but that means you’ve been on this island alone every night.”

“Is that not allowed?”

In the city, it was only because he lacked his magical tools, but honestly, Rowy didn’t feel much inconvenience living alone. He could handle most things with magic. Whether they commuted or not, Rowy didn’t give it much thought.

“Even so. Being alone at night without any servants….”

However, Van did not seem to think that way. Van’s face grew serious.

“Why do you live here alone? By any chance… your family….”

Van asked cautiously. He felt it might be an overstepping question, but he simply couldn’t understand why a young child who cried every night lived all alone on this distant island.

“Mm, I was kicked out.”

Crackle. It sounded as if Van’s heart were breaking.

“K—kicked out? Your parents kicked you out?”

“Hm? I don’t have parents.”

Crash. His heart didn’t just break; it shattered into pieces.

“Why? Why were you kicked out?”

“They tried to force an engagement on me, and when I said I didn’t want to do it….”

“W—what did you say? You were forced into an engagement?”

“I got scolded a ton and kicked out.”

Rowy said dejectedly, remembering the Crown Prince who had screamed at him as if he were going to devour him. Van grabbed Rowy’s hand firmly.

“That… those people who deserve divine punishment… to a child like this.”

“Hm? I’m not a child.”

“Forcing an engagement on such a young child!”

“I’m telling you, I’m not young.”

Van, who hadn’t listened to a word Rowy said, continued to lament. Just because you reach a certain age, does that make you an adult? Rowy was definitely a child. He only liked sweets and cried alone every night! Such a child, and what? An engagement? Whose permission did they have to decide that? Van became excessively agitated.

“So, that’s why you came here? How long have you been here alone?”

“About two years, I think?”

“Two whole years!”

Van, not knowing what to do with himself, clenched his fists tightly. If Rowy hadn’t refused the engagement, he would have already been engaged or married to someone he didn’t know—that thought was stifling in itself—but the fact that he was chased away to this remote place to live alone also broke his heart.

“Are you okay living here? You don’t want to go back home?”

“At first, it was nice because no one was nagging me… but later, it got lonely. That’s why I went to buy you.”

“Oh, my.”

In the end, Van couldn’t hold it back and pulled Rowy into a tight embrace. Rowy, who didn’t understand the situation, blinked vacantly while his face was pressed into Van’s firm chest. After holding Rowy tightly for a while, Van only let go once Rowy started to nod off from drowsiness.

“I think it would be best for you to get some sleep. Shall I help you change?”

“Hm? No.”

“Pardon?”

Van, not expecting to be refused, was visibly flustered. Why? I’ve been changing your clothes this whole time!

“W—why? Is there anything I did to make you uncomfortable….”

“Hm? No, I have my magical tool now. Like this.”

Rowy waved his hand carelessly. In an instant, his clothes were changed. An immense sense of deprivation washed over Van. What is this? Why is this so shocking, like something’s been taken from me?

Leaving the dazed Van behind, Rowy wriggled his way into the bed. He had wanted to take a real bath rather than washing with magic, but sleep was the priority for tonight.

“So you found your magical tool….”

Van said with a dry tone as he approached Rowy’s side.

“Yeah, look at this.”

Rowy lifted his hand to show the ring on his left hand. It was a silver ring with a blue gemstone embedded in the center. Van took that hand, lifted it, and examined it closely.

“Is this the magical tool?”

“Yeah.”

“It suits you well.”

It was the truth. The ring on his snow-white, straight finger suited Rowy so well that it looked like a part of his own body. Van didn’t let go of Rowy’s hand and massaged it rhythmically. Rowy’s eyes gradually closed.

“Yawn… Van.”

“Yes.”

“Hold my hand until I fall asleep.”

“I will stay right by your side.”

Mm. Before he could even finish the response, Rowy fell into a dead sleep. His outing was over, and finally, he was home.

. ꕤ ｡ ˚⋆

The next day, the kitchen was bustling from the morning. Finn, who had arrived at the castle early, was busy cooking, having spread all sorts of ingredients out. It was because he wanted to host a small welcome party for the newcomer, Van. Beside him, the twin brothers, whom Van hadn’t met yesterday, were helping with prepping the ingredients.

The twin brothers, who introduced themselves as Henry and Hudson, were middle-aged men with blunt expressions; it was peculiar that both of them wore their hair past their shoulders. Their messy, unkempt brown hair could never be called neat, no matter how generously one looked at it. Add to that their beards, and they were a sight one would never expect to see working in a noble’s castle.

‘These two are the maids in charge of cleaning and laundry.’

These strange maids were filleting a large fish, and the skill with which they drained the blood and dismantled it in an instant suggested it wasn’t their first time. The twin brothers didn’t open their mouths except to state their names, but the conversation continued without a break. It was because Finn kept talking, seemingly having forgotten his fear from yesterday when he had asked if Van was even human.

“Brother, have you ever tried the local food here? Come to think of it, where are you from?”

“Marzen.”

“Marzen! I’ve only heard of it. I’ve never left this place.”

“There’s nothing special about it. It’s a desolate country compared to Serafilla. Isn’t Serafilla a very glamorous city?”

“Eh, that’s only if you go out to the resort island or Seto. This place is completely rural.”

While chatting about this and that, Finn was continuously working the dough, and the dough quickly turned into thin noodles. Van, having seen noodles being made by hand for the first time, watched it with interest.

“Is that the local food here?”

“Yes. Actually, it’s just simple noodles, but—Soto, that’s the name of the island I live on. Did I mention it? Anyway, in Soto, we eat this when something good happens! Since you’re a new person I’ve met after a long time! You, Brother. That’s a good thing.”

Soto is rural, so the people I meet are always the same. It’s an island where you even know how many forks everyone has in their house. Even while babbling on without pause, the noodles were finished in no time. Once the clear fish broth was poured over them, they looked quite appetizing. At that sight, Van naturally thought of Rowy.

“Has the master tried this before? Do you think he’ll like it?”

“Ah, the young master? Um, yes. A long time ago…. The young master is not as picky as you’d think. He just has a small appetite.”

At those words, Van nodded. Rowy was indeed quite easygoing, contrary to his appearance. If there was one thing he was picky about….

“Do you know how to make desserts? He likes sweet things.”

It was desserts. Van smiled faintly, remembering Rowy laughing prettily while eating ice cream.

“You mean the young master? I can’t make ice cream. Actually, I grew up without eating cake, so I don’t know much about it. But I can make apple pie… though I actually don’t like sweets that much. Aren’t they bad for your health?”

It was a pity. Of all things, Rowy’s chef disliked sweets.

“They are bad for your health, indeed.”

However, from the perspective of a guardian, it was right to reduce sweets. Van thought this without even denying that he was now Rowy’s guardian.

‘If his family chased him away after trying to force an engagement on a child, it’s only right that I take him in.’

He thought this with a somewhat unconscionable mindset.

“Come to think of it, did you eat well yesterday? How about this morning? Hasn’t the young master woken up yet?”

“He had a restless night, so he will probably wake up in a little while.”

Van’s expression was clouded as he said that. Rowy had tossed and turned all night. Rowy himself didn’t seem to know why. If there was anything to be thankful for, it was that he didn’t have a fever.

‘Weren’t things supposed to get better if he had his magical tool?’

But contrary to expectations, Rowy couldn’t get a proper night’s sleep and was in distress. Van sighed inwardly, worried about Rowy.

“What should I do if he gets sick? There’s no doctor here, is there?”

“Pardon? Are you sick somewhere?”

“No. I’m just worried that the master might get sick.”

“Ah… the butler knows a bit about medicinal herbs. But I’m sure he’ll be fine. I’ve never seen the young master sick.”

He doesn’t seem fine right now…. No matter how he thought about it, the fact that he couldn’t sleep properly at night definitely meant there was a problem somewhere.

“By any chance, is there a doctor on the island where you live, Finn?”

“Yes. There is. By any chance, is the young master not feeling well?”

“No. Just for confirmation.”

It would be better to talk to Rowy directly about this. Van kept his words to himself. Meanwhile, Finn served noodles and simple side dishes to everyone. The conversation cut off as they ate noodles for a while.

“…!”

It was truly delicious. Van focused on the noodles. While Van was eating frantically, the twin brothers emptied their bowls in an instant, bowed to Van, and left abruptly. And Van was in the middle of his second bowl.

“Wow, you eat really well.”

“It’s delicious.”

Van emptied the bowl in no time.

“Would you like some more? It only takes a moment to boil the noodles.”

“No, thank you. I should eat with the master.”

“Ah.”

Finn nodded and cleared the bowls. Even then, he kept glancing at Van. Feeling that gaze, Van spoke first.

“Is there something you want to say?”

“Um, Brother, you’re a knight, right? Did you come from the young master’s family?”

“No. I met the master at a slave market.”

“Pardon? A slave?”

Finn’s eyes widened at the unexpected words.