Only Obedient to Me! Sir Knight Chapter 20

The two of them moved to the bathroom attached to the room. Van was strangely nervous, so much so that he seemed to have forgotten all about the magical tools. He didn’t say a word even as Rowy filled the tub with water using magic. Soon, a warm, cozy air filled the bathroom. Rowy, his face visibly relaxing, began to peel off his clothes one by one.

“Gulp.”

Hm? Gulp? Rowy turned to look at Van. Van seemed completely out of it. What is up with him?

“What’s wrong? You’ll get wet, so take yours off too.”

Saying that, Rowy pulled off his shirt. Van didn’t move an inch even while Rowy stripped down to his pants.

“What are you doing?”

Rowy handed his clothes to the dazed Van. Startled, Van took the clothes and finally stepped toward Rowy.

“I—um. Bathing, I’ve never actually helped someone bathe before.”

“Then get out.”

“No, I’ll do a good job!”

Van hurriedly stripped off his top and rolled up his pants. Rowy watched him scramble about with a weird look before slowly stepping into the tub.

“Ugh, it’s just the best to soak in the water yourself.”

“Shall I wash your hair?”

“I thought you said you’d never done this.”

“I came from a temple, remember?”

“Hm?”

Not quite understanding what he meant, Rowy tilted his head back to look at Van. Van supported Rowy’s head and began to comb through his hair naturally.

“They get a lot of little ones at the temple. Bathing the children was a common occurrence.”

“Are you saying I’m a little kid?”

“Where else would you find a kid like this?”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

Van just laughed at Rowy’s words. Rowy intended to retort, but Van’s hands were brushing through his hair so cautiously that Rowy quietly closed his eyes.

“But what about you, Master? Has anyone ever washed your hair like this before?”

“Mm? Me? I did when I was little….”

Rowy nodded. After all, he had been raised in a Ducal household. There were always servants around.

“When you were little? How little?”

“Hm?”

How little? What kind of question was that?

“Just, when I was a kid. Once I grew up, I did everything myself. Besides, I couldn’t bring servants to the Academy….”

Bringing servants to the Academy was forbidden. It was meant to reduce the social gap between students. It was a joke, though, since you couldn’t even enter the Academy unless you were a noble to begin with.

During his time at the Academy, Rowy had seen other students grumble about how inconvenient it was several times. Of course, that didn’t apply to Rowy. In that situation where he was finally all on his own, Rowy felt a deep sense of liberation for the first time.

“It was just inconvenient. You’re the first person to do this for me since I grew up.”

“I’m… the first?”

“Yeah.”

“Wh—why is that?”

“Well, because you’re….”

Indeed, why? Rowy blinked his eyes shut. Why…. Rowy had never liked having people around. Naturally, it couldn’t be helped. Rowy recalled his own unhappy childhood.

Growing up from infancy while absorbing all sorts of negativity—hostility, fear, and disgust from those around him—Rowy had always found it uncomfortable to be with others. Even though there was no one left who treated him that way anymore.

‘As if I know what they’re thinking inside.’

Rowy didn’t trust humans. So then… why was Van the exception?

“Well….”

Rowy looked up at Van with his head tilted back. Their eyes met.

“…”

Black eyes. The eyes Rowy had liked since the moment they first met. In those straight eyes, Rowy saw himself reflected clearly. It had been like that from some point on. Rowy was always in those eyes. And, that… A brief silence flowed between them. But it wasn’t awkward. And so, the reason was… because….

“I don’t know.”

Rowy, unable to handle the strange feeling, ended up closing his eyes.

“Keep them closed. The soap will get in.”

Van began to touch Rowy’s head carefully again. The firm fingertips digging into his scalp gave Rowy goosebumps. As Rowy shifted his body, Van’s touch became even gentler.

“I’ve never seen hair of such a beautiful color.”

“They say I take after my mother.”

Rowy said in a slightly muffled voice. Silver hair was the hallmark of the Duke of Irad. But while most people just had a faded silver color, Rowy’s hair was a shimmering silver-blonde. He had heard that Rowy’s mother, Duchess Estellia, had hair exactly like that.

“Was your mother a beauty like you?”

“They say I look exactly like her. I’ve never seen her. She died giving birth to me.”

At those words, Van’s hands, which had been stroking his scalp, faltered.

“Do you miss her?”

“…Sometimes.”

Rowy said honestly. It was the first time he had ever revealed such inner feelings to someone. It just felt like it wouldn’t matter if it was Van. Soon, strong arms pulled Rowy into an embrace from behind. Rowy slowly relaxed and leaned into that warm chest.

“Haa….”

Rowy sighed deeply, filled with a profound sense of stability.

“…Then, one more thing. Ahem. I have one more question.”

“Hm?”

“Did you, by any chance… buy me as a ‘bed warmer’ slave?”

What is this guy saying now?

. ꕤ ｡ ˚⋆

After Rowy’s gaze turned icy, the bath ended in an instant. Van was incredibly embarrassed, but since Rowy wasn’t the type to dwell on such things, the tension in the atmosphere actually lifted quickly. After Van dried his hair meticulously, applied oil with his rough hands, and combed it through with care, he asked if he could look around the castle for a bit.

“I’d like to check if there’s anything dangerous.”

“Dangerous? Because it might collapse?”

“…Is it really going to collapse?”

“As if.”

Rowy laughed. As long as Rowy supported the castle with his mana, it would be fine even if a meteorite fell. Well… only on the second floor. Still, it had been perfectly fine until now, so what could possibly happen?

“Look around. Not that there’s anything much to see.”

Giving a light nod, Rowy dismissed him.

“I’m going to sleep, so get out. And from now on, go sleep in your own room at night.”

“Pardon? Why?”

Do you have to ask? Rowy answered with his expression. Van rushed to follow Rowy, who was walking toward the bed without looking back. However, Rowy’s expression toward Van remained cold. Van left the room, trudging away with a thoroughly sulky face.

. ꕤ ｡ ˚⋆

And that night, contrary to his heartbreak, Rowy called Van into his bedroom once again.

“I’ll change my clothes myself.”

Of course, Rowy had developed a slight wariness that hadn’t been there before… but Van didn’t care as long as he could sleep next to Rowy. It wasn’t that he wasn’t disappointed. He was disappointed, though. Van, who had been covering him with the blanket and brushing his hair with lingering regret, finally sat quietly by the bed only when Rowy grabbed his hand and told him to stay still.

“Have a good dream.”

“You, leave once I’m asleep.”

“…Don’t worry.”

Van said with a deeply hurt expression. Rowy, of course, didn’t care. How much time had passed? Rowy’s breathing deepened into sleep. Van watched that gentle face, sleeping without a stir.

‘Treating me like some kind of pervert.’

He only asked if he was a bed slave, but his face had gone so cold. It was so hurtful he almost teared up. Even while thinking that, Van was beaming with a silly smile.

‘Still, for someone who looks like he’d follow anyone home, he knows how to be cautious. It’s so adorable.’

His face is like an angel, and he’s so sharp too! …Van had already completely lost all objectivity when it came to Rowy. It couldn’t be helped.

‘How could I not like you?’

Beautiful looks, an innocent personality, and on top of that….

‘I’ll protect you.’

Van, who had always stood in front of others facing demons, remembered the time he was powerfully protected by someone for the first time. The absolute strength he experienced for the first time… it all shook his heart.

Van humbly accepted the feeling he had encountered for the first time in his life. Of course, he had no intention of forcing his feelings if Rowy didn’t want them. It wasn’t that he lacked the desire to be a special person to Rowy, but having served God his whole life, Van knew well enough that unrequited love also held plenty of value.

‘Just being by your side like this….’

The look in Van’s eyes as he watched Rowy was full of affection. Van watched Rowy for a while longer before walking out of the room with slow steps. He didn’t make a single sound, careful not to wake the sleeping one. Even as he walked to the end of the corridor and down the stairs, Van constantly checked the room’s presence. What if he woke up suddenly and cried alone…. But fortunately, Rowy showed no signs of waking. Only then did Van let out a sigh inwardly and moved his feet toward the stairs.

‘I was told not to leave the master’s side at night.’

That warning was actually for Van himself, not Rowy, who had always spent his nights alone. So, Van decided to check for himself what kind of danger existed in this castle. Holding the Holy Sword, Van had nothing to fear in the world. What would someone who had even defeated the Great Demon fear?

Looking down at the first floor, plunged into deep darkness without a single light, Van adjusted his grip on the Holy Sword hanging at his waist and stepped firmly down the stairs. Thus, the midnight exploration of the castle began.