Only Obedient to Me! Sir Knight Chapter 46

After the meeting with the High Priest ended.

“…”

“…”

A chilly atmosphere began to flow between Van and Rowy. For the first time, the two clashed strongly.

“I’m not going to the Empire.”

“The curse must be lifted at all costs.”

Their argument stemmed from a difference of opinion regarding the cleansing. Van insisted they go to the Empire to retrieve the holy artifact and complete the cleansing, while Rowy, deeming the cleansing unnecessary, refused to return to the Empire. Usually, Van would grant Rowy whatever he desired, but this time was different. When it came to Rowy’s safety, Van was firmer than anyone.

“We haven’t even properly identified what kind of curse it is. It’s dangerous if we don’t cleanse it quickly.”

“What’s so dangerous about it? I just lost a few memories, that’s all.”

“That is exactly what makes it dangerous.”

Van said firmly. This wasn’t something to be taken lightly or dismissed as unimportant. If the curse was strong enough to interfere with a cleansing ritual, it was clearly linked to a high-ranking demon. What would happen if that demon decided to attack with full intent? Van’s face grew serious. But Rowy had no intention of returning to the Empire. He had gone through so much to escape that place—why would he go back on his own two feet now?

“I don’t want to go home! I don’t want to! I’m not even going near the Empire!”

“Master!”

“I’m not going! If you want to go, go by yourself!”

Rowy shouted and turned his head away entirely. However… the response that came back from Van was completely different from what Rowy had expected.

“Then I will go alone and bring back the holy artifact.”

“…What?”

…Is he really planning to go alone just because I told him to?

“Are you saying you’re going to leave me behind and go by yourself?”

“Yes.”

“…How can you say that?”

“Since you said you don’t want to go, I have no choice.”

Van’s voice as he said that was cold. Eventually, Rowy glared at Van with trembling, teary eyes, his lips pouting, before vanishing in an instant. He had used magic.

“Master! Ha….”

Van, having missed Rowy without even being able to reach out a hand, let out a loud sigh and sat slumped in his chair.

“Are you okay?”

“…Master Seilan.”

Seilan, who had visited when the atmosphere was already sour and had been watching the two argue while barely daring to breathe, finally spoke up cautiously.

“Well, you two… honestly, from the perspective of watching a fight, it’s entertaining. But it’s a bit draining.”

“Ha, don’t just stand there, please try to persuade him, Master Seilan.”

“Me? Persuade him? How?”

“…”

There was no answer to that. Van let out another deep sigh.

“Hah, is there really no way?”

“Why are you asking me that? You should figure it out yourself. You’re the one closest to him.”

Ahem, the person closest to him… well, that was true. Van smiled briefly at Seilan’s remark about being the closest to Rowy, but his face turned into a pained grimace again. Close or not, he had absolutely no confidence in winning against Rowy.

‘Would he listen if I knelt down and begged?’

But recalling those stubborn eyes, that didn’t seem like it would work either. And yet, he couldn’t just give up on the cleansing….

“Ugh….”

Van sighed incessantly.

. ꕤ ｡ ˚⋆

The solution to their dispute came from an unexpected place. That afternoon, an unexpected letter arrived for Rowy. It was a wedding invitation for Rowy’s cousin—the first son of Duke Irad and the current Commander of the Imperial Knights, Liam Irad. The letter added that since the wedding was being arranged suddenly, it would be a small, family-only affair.

“Wow, are those two finally getting married? They acted like they’d never do it, so why so suddenly?”

“Who knows. Maybe they have a kid on the way.”

It’s none of my business. Rowy crumpled the invitation with an expression full of annoyance.

“Hey, hey, don’t be like that, just congratulate them. They’ve been dating for over ten years now. That’s not easy in noble society.”

Let’s see, Seilan snatched the letter Rowy had crumpled.

“Hmm, but it really is tight. We’d have to leave right now to make it in time. Whoa, they already sent out the knights while you were in Serafilla! As expected of Duke Irad. He’s thought of everything.”

“…Aren’t they getting married in a rush just to spite me?”

“Of course not. Who do you think you are?”

“…”

Rowy glared at Seilan. But Seilan was too distracted by the sudden grand event to care about Rowy.

“In that case, we need to prepare a gift before you go. What should we give them? I’m a member of the Velloa trading company, I can’t give them something common. Hmm… I’ll look for something good, so make sure you deliver my gift along with yours. Oh, and give them my regards! Make sure to tell them how sincerely I took care of you. Got it?”

“Hmph.”

Rowy snorted. Seilan immediately gave Rowy a sharp look.

“Again with that, stop being grumpy. You need to prepare a wedding gift too. Should I look into it for you? What about gifts for your family? Aren’t you returning after a long time?”

“Why would I do something like that?”

“I guess you’re right, just staying quiet while you’re there is a gift enough.”

…That guy has been picking fights since earlier. Rowy’s gaze grew even sharper.

“Anyway, a marriage between the Irad family and the Mare Count family, I wonder how long it’s been since we’ve had a ‘wedding of the century’ like this. It’s a shame it’s a small wedding, I’m quite disappointed.”

Whether Rowy glared or not, Seilan just kept blathering on about whatever he pleased. And the chatter shifted from the love stories of the bride and groom, Liam and Renee, eventually flowing into talk of Rowy’s own wedding.

“But don’t worry. Rowy, I’ll be sure to come to your wedding no matter what.”

“Thank you.”

…Is he crazy? Why are you thanking him? Van, who had been exuding nothing but coldness until a moment ago, immediately offered a polite greeting for this kind of thing, which irritated Rowy enough to shoot him a glare.

“Anyway! Don’t forget to give them my regards, okay?”

After chatting for a while longer, Seilan left the room in a hurry, saying he would go find a gift.

“…”

“…”

Once the noisy person disappeared, silence immediately returned to the room.

“He’s gone.”

“Mm-hmm….”

The two exchanged awkward glances. Ever since their heated argument about whether or not to go to the Empire, a subtle tension had been flowing between them.

“…”

Just as Rowy was about to say something to break the silence, Van suddenly knelt before him.

“I apologize for earlier.”

“…”

Rowy closed his mouth, which he had been about to open at the sudden apology. Van looked at Rowy once, then continued in a small voice.

“I’m sorry for speaking so coldly. No matter how worried I was, I shouldn’t have said those things to you… and I lied, too.”

“…Lied?”

“About going to the Empire alone. I only said that, but I was planning on secretly scooping you up and taking you with me.”

“What…?”

Is he joking? But Van’s eyes as he looked at Rowy were serious.

“You were going to kidnap me?”

“Yes.”

“…Ha.”

At the absurd statement, laughter finally burst from Rowy’s lips. It was a laugh born of sheer disbelief.

“How were you planning to take me secretly? I’m a totally powerful mage, you know.”

“Well, of course, I assumed you would let me. You don’t like being separated from me either, Master.”

“…”

That’s… Rowy couldn’t find the words and closed his mouth. But why is this guy so shameless? Rowy’s eyes began to grow sharp again.

“Master….”

Sensing Rowy’s mood, Van cautiously wrapped his arms around Rowy’s knees. Then, whether he was trying to be cute or what, he began to rub his face against Rowy’s knees repeatedly.

“Please forgive me….”

No… I wasn’t really that angry. Rowy, whose heart melted for a moment at the sudden display of affection, scratched his cheek. And besides….

“Anyway, you can’t go anywhere alone without me.”

“Pardon?”

“Exactly what I said. You seem to keep forgetting.”

Having said that, Rowy tapped Van on the neck. It was the slave collar.

“Ah….”

“I’ve infused it with my mana, so I can find you wherever you go. It’s useless to try and leave secretly.”

Rowy said, tilting his nose up. At that, Van touched the collar around his neck anew. He had long since forgotten that he was even wearing it.

‘He threatened to blow my head off at first, but…’

In reality, the collar had never once forced Van to do anything, so its existence had inevitably faded into the background. But as it turned out, it seemed the collar was fulfilling its purpose perfectly just by existing.

“I see. If I have this, I can stay with you forever….”

Van stroked the collar with a new sense of appreciation. He knew nothing about magic, but somehow, it felt as though he could feel Rowy’s mana….

“…I’m so happy. I want to wear it for the rest of my life.”

The moment he felt connected to Rowy, Van couldn’t overcome his overwhelming emotions and pulled Rowy into a fierce hug.

‘…He likes the slave collar?’

Rowy could only let out a dry laugh at the sight of Van, who loved his slave collar so much.