Only Obedient to Me! Sir Knight Chapter 33

Rowy and Van, having each overcome their respective ordeals, only managed to reunite in their bedroom after the sun had set. Perhaps the conversation with the Duke had been exhausting, as Rowy had collapsed into a chair the moment he entered the room.

Van looked around the awkward space next to him. He had thought their previous inn room was luxurious, but… a real noble’s mansion could not be compared to that. Van stood even closer to Rowy, who was the most familiar presence among the antique furniture and ornaments.

“Did the conversation go well?”

“…I don’t know.”

Rowy said listlessly. Even after being lectured for so long, the word of permission never escaped the Duke’s lips. On top of that, the Duke declared he would no longer speak with Rowy and ordered him to bring Seilan immediately the next day. Rowy had quickly agreed, but….

‘I wonder what Seilan will say when he finds out about this.’

He would probably be angry if he found out, but… since he couldn’t refuse the Duke’s order, Seilan would have no choice. At the thought of the Duke, Rowy’s shoulders slumped again. Van gently hugged him from behind. A rich scent of perfume wafted from Van’s body.

“Did you go wash up?”

“Yes….”

Unlike his usual self, Van’s response was lackluster. Rowy glanced back at him. What’s wrong? His face looks like he’s about to cry.

“Why? Did someone bother you?”

At those words, Van rubbed his head against Rowy’s shoulder and acted spoiled.

“Really? Who?”

“It’s nothing… I’m just not used to a place like this. Is this place unpleasant for you, too, Master? I heard you haven’t visited even once in two years.”

“Yeah. Because it’s uncomfortable.”

“Then is it true that we are staying for just one day and leaving?”

“I wish that were the case.”

He had naturally assumed they could go to Marzen without any issues, but… seeing the furious Duke, it seemed uncertain when he would truly receive permission. For now, he had no choice but to pin his hopes on the silver-tongued Seilan.

“What did the Duke say?”

“I got scolded. He said I’m loose….”

“What? Ha, really! What kind of nonsense is that!”

Suddenly, Van exploded in anger. No, where else in the world would you find someone as chaste as this!

‘…Is he teasing me, or is he throwing a hint?’

Seeing Van flying into a rage, Rowy narrowed his eyes. Even when Van met his gaze, he just laughed. It was obvious he was trying to cheer Rowy up, but laughter didn’t come easily. Rowy let out a deep sigh.

“Sigh, I don’t know. He said he wouldn’t talk to me anymore. I have to leave it to Seilan.”

He’s better at talking than me anyway. He’s a merchant, after all.

‘I suppose that’s true….’

Rowy wouldn’t know, but Van simply nodded, having a feeling why the Duke had chosen Seilan as a conversation partner instead of Rowy.

“I’m going to sleep.”

“Come here.”

Van led Rowy to the bed. Having comfortably laid Rowy down as if he hadn’t just been awkward here a moment ago, Van took the spot beside him and lay down. Rowy naturally burrowed into his arms.

“Tomorrow, yawn, Seilan is coming. He made such a fuss demanding him to be brought immediately….”

“I see.”

“If Seilan talks well… if we get permission, let’s leave right away.”

I’m uncomfortable here. With those final words, Rowy buried his face in Van’s chest and fell into a deep sleep in an instant. Van continued to stroke Rowy’s hair for a long time.

. ꕤ ｡ ˚⋆

“Rowy! Is this how you repay a favor?”

The next day, Seilan, who had come running in pale-faced at the news that Duke Irad was looking for him, pointed a finger directly at Rowy. But Rowy felt aggrieved, too.

“What favor? I did exactly what you told me to do, and I just got scolded.”

“What exactly did you say!”

“I didn’t say much. I said I was going to visit my lover’s house like you told me to, but he suddenly flew into a rage.”

Seilan looked at Rowy with eyes full of suspicion. It was a look that said if there was any fault, it was certainly Rowy’s.

“What?”

At that disrespectful look, Rowy didn’t back down and glared back at Seilan. Snap, an uncomfortable atmosphere flowed between them. Van stood between them, at a loss and fumbling, but he couldn’t stop them.

“Sigh.”

In the end, it was Seilan who looked away first. He realized that if he engaged in this useless squabble with Rowy, he would only end up looking foolish himself.

“Fine. Is there any way around it now? If his Excellency the Duke says to come, I have to say ‘yes’ and run over.”

Seilan walked slowly toward the room with the communication orb. Before opening the door and entering, he glared at Rowy once more.

“You, if this whole thing works out well, you really have to treat me to a meal. Got it?”

“Just go in.”

Rowy nodded perfunctorily and shoved Seilan into the room.

. ꕤ ｡ ˚⋆

For that reason, Seilan and Duke Irad faced each other. Even through the communication orb, Seilan had never imagined he would have a private audience with the Duke of Irad. Swallowing his dry saliva in tension, Seilan spoke first.

“I greet your Excellency the Duke. I am Seilan Levien.”

Seilan performed a deep bow, utilizing the noble etiquette he hadn’t used in a long time. However, without even acknowledging Seilan’s greeting, the Duke went straight to the point.

—What on earth is Rowy Irad doing over there? I heard he’s taken a lover. Do you know what kind of man he is?

A sharp gaze pierced through Seilan. Under the blade-like atmosphere of Duke Irad, known as the Empire’s greatest knight, cold sweat poured down Seilan’s back from the very start of the conversation.

‘What kind of wealth and honor did I expect to enjoy by becoming friends with that Rowy, when I can’t even handle the consequences?’

On top of that, it felt like he had seen no benefits and was only suffering losses. While grumbling internally, Seilan showed the Duke a smile with the most harmless expression possible.

“H-he’s not a strange person. He used to be a holy knight. From the Elysion Order… he’s from a small temple in Marzen.”

—…A holy knight, you say?

At the unexpected news, the Duke raised one eyebrow. He had thought that perhaps he could earn points with the Duke—a knight to the bone—since they were both knights, and judging by his reaction, it seemed to have worked. Seilan didn’t stop there and promoted the product—or rather, Van—once more.

“Yes. As you know, Rowy is… well, so innocent that he requires a lot of care.”

Phew, almost cursed there. Seilan, who had barely survived the crisis, let out a laugh and quickly added.

“Rowy listens to that man quite well.”

—…He listens well?

As expected. He could see the Duke was intrigued. It was natural for someone raising a rowdy child to have their heart swayed by such words. Seilan appealed in a more persuasive voice to convince the Duke.

“Think about it. He was born and raised in a temple. How righteous of a life could he have led?”

—Hmm….

“Of course, it seems he was sold as a slave due to money problems, but he wasn’t born a slave, to begin with. Surely that’s just a matter of touching up some paperwork?”

“…”

…It seems he’s being swayed. The capable merchant, Seilan, threw his winning move at this point.

“I actually think it’s more appropriate to have them get married rather than just dating.”

—What?

“We can’t leave him living so recklessly forever, can we?”

—How dare such a lowly person…

“When someone noble was pushed onto him, it ended in this catastrophe… ahem, excuse me. That was a slip of the tongue.”

At the murderous gaze piercing him, Seilan hurriedly lowered his head.

“Anyway, I don’t think it’s a bad idea. Because….”

Seilan stopped mid-sentence and swallowed. It was because he still wasn’t sure if he should be saying this.

‘Am I going to die a sudden death after this…’

However… seeing the image of Rowy within the Duke’s frost-like face, Seilan carefully opened his mouth again.

“Above all, the Elysion Temple hunts demons. Wouldn’t they be a good partner to clear up a false accusation? That rumor that Rowy is… the child of a demon.”

. ꕤ ｡ ˚⋆

It was quite some time later that Seilan managed to escape the Duke.

“Seilan? Why does your face look like that? Did you get lectured a lot?”

“Sigh… really, ‘lectured’? A lecture, my foot. If I suddenly end up murdered, know that it’s all your fault.”

Seilan, who had become visibly haggard while talking to the Duke, flopped into a chair.

“I might really get stabbed in my sleep at this rate. Why did I have to be so meddlesome, sigh.”

“What did he say?”

“What do you mean what did he say? He said to go ahead.”

“Really?”

“Yeah! But in exchange… he said I have to go with you.”

“Huh?”

“What’s with that look? I don’t want to go with you either, okay? I’m busy, you know!”

Seilan flared up in anger before drooping back down.

‘Sigh. I can’t really blame this on Rowy…’

If only he hadn’t added that last part…. The problem was that he had let his mouth run too freely. The Duke hadn’t been unexpectedly angry when he mentioned the taboo words about the “child of a demon.” It even felt like he had become more focused on Seilan’s words.

Everything up to that point was great. However… just as the Duke seemed completely won over, the problem was that Seilan, intoxicated by his own eloquence, had said something he didn’t necessarily need to say. In his excitement, he had…

‘Oh, and it’s huge there, too. That’s what the slave trader said. He said it was a size he’d never seen before… and there’s no reason for an engagement to be broken like with the Crown Prince.’

‘…Stick to the side of Rowy Irad and watch over him so the two don’t do anything foolish!’

Duke Irad, filled with rage, had eyes burning with fire. Recalling that pouring killing intent, Seilan shuddered.

‘Ridiculous. They’ve already passed the marriageable age. He’s treating them like children. It’s been ages since they’ve been attached at the hip.’

…Van would have jumped with indignation if he had heard that.

“Ugh, I don’t know. Anyway, I’m the one who said I’d help first. Let me know when you’re leaving. I need to adjust my schedule, too.”

“Yeah.”

“I’m going now. If anything happens, contact the trade guild.”

As Seilan hurried toward the door, he turned and pointed at Rowy.

“You, I’m going to get all of this back from you later. Got it?”

“I got it.”

“Honestly, the kind of friends you make….”

Rowy stared blankly at Seilan’s retreating back as he grumbled. Van gently wrapped his arms around Rowy’s shoulders.

“Still, it seems like things worked out well.”

Rowy nodded.

“Yeah. Now, let’s leave. For Marzen.”