Only Obedient to Me! Sir Knight Chapter 19

“Yes.”

Van showed him the restraint around his neck. Having passed the aesthetic standards of Rowy and Seilan, the restraint looked like a mere ornament at first glance. Thus, unless he mentioned it first, it would be difficult for anyone to tell that it was a slave restraint.

“Whoa, this is my first time seeing a slave. Oh, I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine.”

Van shrugged off Finn’s reaction calmly. Just because he was a slave did not mean Van felt any particular inferiority complex, and he was not the type of person to care about others’ gazes. Besides, buying and selling people was no small feat, and since slaves were essentially the exclusive property of the nobility, Finn’s reaction to having never seen one before was natural. However… the reaction that followed was a bit strange.

“Um, then… you came here without knowing anything….”

“Pardon? What should I know?”

“Ah… right, I wonder if the master is awake? I’ll prepare his meal.”

Van looked at Finn with a questioning gaze as the chef abruptly ended the conversation. However, Finn was busy transferring the food and didn’t notice. In an instant, the tray was full.

“There you go.”

“Thank you.”

“It’s my job, really. You should go on ahead.”

“Right.”

He didn’t know what on earth he was supposed to not know… but for now, taking care of Rowy’s meal was the priority. Van turned and strode away with the tray full of food. The distance between the room and the kitchen was quite far, so he had to move quickly to get it there before it got cold.

“Um, mate!”

“Yes?”

Even after calling him over first, Finn hesitated to speak. After a brief silence, Finn said:

“Um, at night, do not leave the master’s side.”

…It was the second time he had heard that. Van’s face stiffened as he exited the dining room.

. ꕤ ｡ ˚⋆

“Yaaawn….”

He felt lethargic. Rowy stretched out widely. Did I lie down too much? My lower back hurts. Rolling around to navigate the bed, Rowy finally pushed himself up and twisted his body here and there.

‘Where did Van go?’

He was right next to him when he woke up at dawn.

“Yawn.”

Why was he so sleepy no matter how much he slept? Rubbing his eyes, Rowy slowly approached the door. He intended to find Van. And just then, the door clicked open.

“You’re awake. Are you feeling alright?”

“Mm.”

“Come here.”

Van, who happened to have brought the meal, called Rowy to the table. Rowy hesitantly approached Van. It was because Van’s expression looked strangely stiff.

“Did something happen?”

“Pardon? No. Here, drink some water first.”

However, Van simply seated Rowy in the chair and took attentive care of him, just like usual. After watching Van for a moment, Rowy quietly took the spoon being handed to him.

“This is something they eat in Finn’s hometown. He said it’s something people eat when something good happens. Have you ever tried this, Master?”

“Is this something you eat when something good happens?”

Rowy recalled a vague memory. He had definitely eaten it before. But back then, Finn hadn’t said anything particular to Rowy. Of course, he didn’t talk much to begin with. Rowy frowned, thinking of Finn, who would stammer, avoid his gaze, and run away whenever he saw him.

“He doesn’t talk to me.”

“Pardon? Is that so? Finn seemed quite energetic.”

“I don’t know, he runs away whenever he sees me.”

Rowy said, pouting.

“He’s probably intimidated. You are the highest-ranking person here, after all. It’s understandable for someone young like Finn to find you daunting.”

“Everyone’s like that. The butler, and the twins too.”

As he talked, he started to feel worse. Rowy eventually put down his spoon. Van naturally picked up the spoon and scooped up some soup to feed him.

“Why is everyone like that? To someone who is so baby-like.”

“Don’t tease me.”

Despite complaining loudly, Rowy obediently accepted the soup. Seeing this, Van laughed to himself. Rowy certainly wasn’t a particularly authoritative person. While he did have a tendency to be impulsive and headstrong, it was more accurate to say he was just like a child. There was only one thing that made Van feel like Rowy was actually a noble: when he spent money.

‘To see five billion sen in reality. If I told the priests that, no one would believe me.’

The black sword worth five billion sen was still hanging at Van’s waist. One more modifier had been added to the “God-given sword”—the God-given, five-billion-sen sword. The point was that Rowy was not a master who was difficult to deal with. Finn even seemed to already know well through his eating habits that Rowy was more easygoing than he appeared.

‘But why does Finn avoid Rowy?’

And the countless warnings he had heard.

‘At night, do not leave the master’s side,’ Finn had said.

‘Do not leave the master’s side at night,’ the butler had said.

‘The captain had also warned me. That it’s a cursed island.’

What on earth was going on here? Van looked back at the master of the castle, Rowy. Rowy was eating bread by himself as if he hadn’t been complaining just a moment ago. Van stared as if bewitched at how Rowy used his elegant knife skills to cut the small bread even smaller, watching him chew, before he quickly came to his senses.

In Van’s view, Rowy… since returning to the castle, definitely looked much more comfortable. While Rowy’s signature blank expression made it hard to read his emotions, Van, having watched Rowy’s crying face and smiling face over the short time he’d been by his side, noticed those subtle differences.

‘Some call it a cursed castle, and others seem so comfortable here.’

He couldn’t figure it out at all. Eventually, with that lingering feeling of unease, Van asked about something else.

“You said you found your magical tool again, didn’t you?”

“Hm? Yeah.”

“Then why do you keep struggling to sleep at night? Shouldn’t you see a doctor?”

“Hmm, I wonder.”

At Van’s sudden remark, Rowy put down his knife. Van picked it up and cut the bread into pieces for him. Having chewed and swallowed a piece of bread held out by a fork, Rowy opened his mouth.

“I don’t know. Actually, I have a few more magical tools, but I haven’t found them yet….”

“Pardon? You have more?”

“Yeah. Four more.”

“Why haven’t you retrieved them?”

Well… it’s just a bit difficult to take them out right now. Rowy scratched his cheek in a quandary. When Rowy stammered and couldn’t answer, Van spoke more firmly.

“Since you keep feeling unwell, it would be better to find all of them unless it’s something special. I heard there isn’t even a doctor here. What would you do if you got seriously ill?”

“That’s… because this castle is so old.”

“Yes.”

“It’s too dirty, and there are so many places that need repair, so I’m maintaining it with my magical tools.”

“…You mean the entire castle?”

“Yeah.”

It’s just a bit difficult to remove them right now. Rowy said, looking troubled. However, Van remained adamant.

“Is there no other way? You are a great mage, so what about the magic stones from before? Can’t you use magic stones instead?”

“Magic stones? Hmm….”

After the incident at the auction house, Rowy had absorbed most of the magic stones into himself. However, there was one magic stone remaining that was too large for him to touch. It was the very magic stone Seilan had come to sell.

If he could process a magic stone of that size… it might be possible. But again, he would need more magical tools to process something of that scale. Regardless, he would have to find more magical tools.

“Hmm….”

But it’s a bit difficult to touch the others…. Noticing Rowy’s dilemma, Van urged him on sharply.

“Pardon? Is there really no way? Or should I try repairing the castle myself?”

“This huge place?”

“Can’t we just find a way somehow? I think it would be better if you had all your magical tools.”

Van said persistently. No matter how he thought about it, the word “curse” bothered him. Rowy being safe was more important than anything else. The more safety measures he had, the better.

‘If he’s capable of dealing with the offerings without anything, then with just his magical tools, most things shouldn’t pose a threat.’

Van would be by his side to protect him, but he didn’t want to create any room for unforeseen circumstances. How terrible had he felt when he thought Rowy might be hurt? That day, Van realized for the first time that his own skills were woefully inadequate to protect someone. And he also realized that Rowy being in danger was the scariest thing in the world.

‘I absolutely do not want this person to get hurt.’

Van waited for Rowy’s definitive answer with a firm expression. However, Rowy still couldn’t give a proper response. It really was just a bit awkward. Really… Rowy rolled his eyes in embarrassment.

‘But why is he so persistent?’

Van was still pressing Rowy with a stiff face. Even though normally, Van would listen to anything Rowy wanted to do without a word. Feeling a bit hurt, Rowy pouted. He wanted to stop talking about this. Rowy hurriedly changed the subject.

“I want to take a bath. Stay by my side.”

“…Yes! Shall I draw the water? Where is the bathroom?”

…The effect was immense.