The Genius Son-in-law of the Swordmaster Household—Blessed by Authority Chapter 80

Preparing One's Self to be Thrown into the Spider's Web (3)

"And here—take this too."

Yuria unclasped the necklace from her neck and handed it over.

"It's an artifact with a shield and detoxification functions. Remember, it only works if you wear it with that ring."

"...!"

After the Heavenly Bone Ring, she was letting him borrow this as well...?

Ian, holding the necklace in his hand, moved his lips in a complicated expression.

"......"

The necklace that still held a warm trace of Yuria's body heat.

This necklace was a keepsake her birth mother had left behind.

A protective artifact left to guard the Yuria who would be left alone after her mother's long journey.

Corgardin.

'She barely uses this herself, even when she needs it.'

Corgardin was a powerful artifact that could automatically manifest a shield strong enough to block the slash of a Grandmaster, and to immediately neutralize poison terrible enough to melt a dragon's hide.

However, it was undeniably consumable.

Once all of the magic power of Yuria's birth mother, Riana, sealed within the pendant ran out, Corgardin would simply crumble into dust.

'So usually, Yuria just keeps this treasure safely locked in her secret box.'

After all, this necklace was one of the few keepsakes in which Yuria could still feel any trace of her late mother.

'And yet, she's lending me something this precious...'

Ian clutched the necklace tightly, feeling a deep sense of responsibility.

"It's... it's precious, so you absolutely can't lose it, okay?"

"......"

Ian was overwhelmed with a feeling he couldn't put into words.

Between the Heavenly Bone Ring made from her own bone and Corgardin, her mother's keepsake.

Both were among the top class of artifacts even in Hisperion, and held even greater meaning for Yuria personally.

Ian gripped the Heavenly Bone Ring and Corgardin tightly and nodded firmly.

"I swear. I will never lose them, nor let them be damaged. I will protect them more dearly than my own heart."

"O-oh? T-that much? I appreciate it, but I'm lending them so you'll be careful, so don't overdo it. You must use them if you're ever in danger! That's the whole reason I'm lending them. And if they break, then it can't be helped... B-but if you return them safely... I think I'd be happy. Heh."

Yuria scratched her cheek awkwardly, shifting her gaze to the side in embarrassment.

Ian, just as he often had in their previous life, wanted to pull her into an embrace, but at this point, their relationship wasn't at that stage.

"T-then, let's confirm before you go! You haven't forgotten what I told you, right?"

"... To be careful of Lady Aris."

Yuria nodded.

"That's right. For a while, you should act as if you're paranoid. Don't forget! Make sure to lock up, never just eat things someone gives you! Double-check all the security devices in the mansion. If there's anything suspicious, no matter what it is, be sure to tell me. Even if it seems trivial, just talk to me first. I'll help you however I can."

Ian bowed his head.

"I will remember. And I will also handle the items you've lent me with utmost care. Thank you."

"... You do trust me, right?"

"Yes. I do. If it was you telling me, lady Yuria, I would believe you if you said the sun was the moon."

"Come on, don't joke! Be serious!"

Ian nodded.

"I believe you, sincerely. I will be thorough in my precautions, as you advised."

In fact, he already was.

You could never be cautious enough with Aris.

"... Good. Then that's fine."

Yuria quickly glanced around.

"Well, I should go. It's not good to linger here too long. My sister's eyes are everywhere in the Sword Dragon Hall."

Yuria pulled her cadet uniform's hood down low.

"Then Ian, you go first. I'll wait here a bit longer and leave about five minutes after you. If Aris finds out we were together, she'll definitely interrogate us about what we talked about, both you and me."

"... Understood. Then, I'll excuse myself first."

"Yeah. Go."

"Then..."

Ian made a brief bow and left first.

As she said, there was no good in the two of them being seen together by Aris.

Ian, having also pulled his hood low, looked around to make sure no one was eavesdropping, then walked out of the Sword Dragon Hall.

Fortunately, it seemed there was no one tailing him.

There were no dangerous presences, so Yuria should be able to return safely.

Now, it was time to return to Lunabreeze and instruct Charlotte on what to do next.

* * *

The annex, Lunabreeze, where Ian resided.

—Thud! Thump!

Sophia set down Charlotte's two suitcases in the living room.

"Phew! So heavy! Is this all your luggage?"

"... Yes."

"Then please have a seat on the sofa! Young master will be here soon! Would you like some tea?"

"... Black tea."

"Yes! I'll bring it right away!"

"Hmph."

Charlotte snorted, watching Sophia rush into the kitchen.

'That older sister... I like how polite she is.'

When Sophia first approached her and introduced herself as a girl living together with Ian, she'd been quite shocked, but seeing how Sophie had behaved along the way, it didn't seem like she needed to be that wary.

'But still, to think Ian was living with someone like her in the annex.'

Ian. That woman. Just what was their relationship?

When Charlotte had asked Sophia earlier about her family, Sophia had said she grew up in an orphanage and didn't really know—so she didn't seem to be a noble, but rather a commoner.

Judging by her Sword Dragon Hall cadet uniform, Sophia wasn't strictly Ian's personal maid, either.

'Then... could it be...'

His girlfriend?

'I-Ian Greysel...! Quicker than he looks...! Not bad!'

Though Ian was a year younger than her, he was already living with his lover!

Charlotte prided herself on being rather mature for her age, but she had never even held a boy's hand.

'I-Immoral! Ian Greysel!'

Soon, Sophia brought the black tea.

Charlotte considered asking what her relationship with Ian was, but decided against it. The atmosphere wasn't yet relaxed enough for that kind of question.

"Wow, I'm really hungry...! I'll get dinner started! Please, make yourself at home, miss!"

Sophia, saying she would prepare dinner, returned to the kitchen while Charlotte sipped her warm tea and looked around the living room.

'This house isn't bad... It's a bit behind compared to the Heavenly Gold Hall where I used to live, but it should do well enough for a while.'

Compared to the shabby inn where she'd been staying for the past few weeks, this place was practically a paradise.

'No more smelly rooms and bad food... No more washing with cold water in a bucket... No more hand-washing with hard soap...! I won't have to get up before dawn for city wall construction anymore, either!'

—Clack!

Just then, she heard the sound of the front door opening.

—Step. Step. Step.

Followed by someone striding inside.

"Uhk...!"

Charlotte instinctively stiffened, snapping her head around.

'I-Is it Ian? S-stay calm...'

She straightened her cadet uniform and steadied her breathing.

In truth, this was unthinkable for her under normal circumstances.

Her whole life, Charlotte had been the one waited upon, not the one greeting others.

"Young master!"

At that moment, Sophia, wearing her apron, burst from the kitchen to greet Ian.

"Hm? Making dinner?"

"Yes! But where were you? I asked earlier, but you left without answering!"

"I'll explain later. But where is Lady Charlotte?"

"... Ah!"

Hearing Ian ask for her, Charlotte swallowed nervously.

'D-do I need to go out and greet him? How should I greet him!?'

She couldn't act haughty, chin raised, as she had in the Heavenly Gold Hall.

She was at this annex to serve as a maid.

But she also didn't want to be so humble as to grovel pitifully.

Just what was the right attitude toward Ian now...? It was a dilemma.

'Like the butler... I could be elegant like the butler... but how did the butler usually greet people...?'

Even though she had received such greetings every day, her mind drew a blank.

—Step. Step. Step.

Ian's footsteps grew closer.

Charlotte bit her lip.

'N-no! Why am I so nervous? I'm the Heavenly Sword Lord's third daughter, and Ian is just a guest!'

But as soon as she thought that, she remembered Ian's frightening eyes.

"Eep...!"

She couldn't imagine how Ian might react if she tried to act proud or defiant.

'Those eyes really look as if he could do anything without a second thought...'

Logically, as the Heavenly Sword Lord's third daughter, there was no way Ian would dare do anything to her.

Still, seeing Ian's eyes made her body shrink in on itself.

Ian was a year younger than her, about the same height, and of lower status.

'At this rate, I won't just fail to make Ian my subordinate—I'll be branded as nothing but a cowardly joke...!'

In the end, Charlotte only fidgeted and couldn't bring herself to go out first.

—Step.

Soon, Ian appeared in the living room.

"...!"

The moment Charlotte met Ian's eyes, she froze like ice.

"Uhk...!"

His expression was quite different from the menacing stare he'd given her at the opening ceremony a few days prior.

Rather than being filled with murderous intent, his gaze was much more collected.

But that didn't mean his hostility had vanished.

A chillingly calm apathy rested in Ian's eyes.

'Ugh...!'

Just his gaze felt as if her heart had been struck.

A sharp sting pierced her chest as if her heart had been pricked.

"... Uh! ... Ah!"

Desperate to break the awkward atmosphere, she tried to greet him, but her throat caught.

She barely made a sound, lips moving uselessly.

"......"

"......"

After a brief, silent exchange of gazes—

It was Ian who spoke first.

"Was your journey comfortable, lady Charlotte?"

Though a courteous greeting, his tone was as cold as his eyes.

"Y-yes... it was."

"That's good to hear."

Ian checked the leather watch on his wrist.

"It's nearly time for dinner. Would you please prepare the evening meal?"

"Wha, what?!"

R-right away? Asking her to work straight off?!

I-Isn't showing me my room and letting me unpack supposed to come first?

"A-ah, that is..."

On top of that, dinner prep right away!

She'd lived her whole life never even pouring herself a glass of water—she'd only tried it a few weeks ago.

"Why are you standing still?"

Ian's gaze grew colder.

"N-no, it's just..."

How could he ask her to do something she'd never done before?

She couldn't possibly do it properly.

If she went into the kitchen now and ruined dinner, what would happen...?

Ian would no doubt look at her with an even colder, more contemptuous face.

Even Sophia, always gentle and kind, might look down on her.

If that happened, her life at this house would become as hellish as her time at the shabby inn.

'Augh! No! Being despised by Ian and looked down on even by a commoner?!'

"......"

Charlotte fumbled uncertainly. Ian let out a silent sigh.

"If it's difficult, then don't bother. But if you won't cooperate, I can't help you. I'll write to the Heavenly Sword Lord and tell him you were unfit to serve me. Please see yourself out."

"Wha-what?!"

Just a bit of hesitation and he was about to throw her out!

'G-getting thrown out is not an option!'

If she was expelled from here, she'd have to return to that shabby, filthy, miserable, uncomfortable, and downright creepy inn.

She'd just been lucky these past few weeks, but there were plenty of mercenaries on the street with grudges against Charlotte.

She'd sent them on terrible assignments for money, working them to the bone several times.

If she ran into any of them at night, even she might not come out unscathed.

Besides...

'If I disappoint father again, I'm finished!'

The Heavenly Sword Lord had given Charlotte a generous opportunity.

Technically, he'd told her to humble herself by serving as a servant in Ian's house, but deep down, he wished to create a bond between her and Ian, who was regarded as an unparalleled genius.

'If I throw away this chance, father will never give me another...!'

Although the Heavenly Sword Lord wasn't as cold-hearted as Charlotte thought, sometimes fear distorted reality.

"I-I'll do it! Right now! I-I can! Anything!"

Clutching her skirt, Charlotte answered urgently.

She dreaded the idea of returning to that wretched life on the street, and even more so, the notion of disappointing her father.

"......"

Ian blinked twice, as if surprised by Charlotte's desperate response.

No other emotional reaction showed on his face.

Ian's eyes quickly returned to their icy calm.

"Then, please help Sophia with dinner right away. She'll tell you what to do in the kitchen."

He added in a low voice.

"And Sophia is staying here as my family, not as a maid. Please do not treat her as a servant. I emphasize, just in case."

"... Y-yessir."

Charlotte's ears burned at her small reply.

It was deeply aggravating and humiliating to have to listen quietly to someone younger and of lower status than herself.

"Then, go help Sophia right away. The kitchen is that way."

Charlotte pursed her lips and headed to the kitchen.

'Humiliating... This is just too humiliating...! Me, of all people...! Being ordered around so completely like a maid...!'

Most of all, she was ashamed that she couldn't even protest in such a degrading situation.

'... But right now, I have no choice. I know... sob... There's nothing I can do but endure...! This is father's wish... Once I gain Ian's trust...! Everything will change then...!'

Trying to console herself, Charlotte entered the kitchen.

What greeted her was a chaos of scattered ingredients.

Charlotte felt her breath catch in her throat.

Why were there so many things?

How was she supposed to deal with all of these?

'N-no...!'

Charlotte shook her head vigorously.

'I-I can get through this step by step! I'll adapt soon. Yes. I can endure...! If I build up trust bit by bit every day, Ian will soon be mine...!'

But even as she thought that, deep down Charlotte knew the truth.

"Ugh...!"

In the face of Ian's contemptuous gaze, she would freeze up and be unable to do anything as she wished.

"S-Sophia... I-I was told to come help with dinner... W-where should I start...?"

Thus began day one of Charlotte's life as a servant.

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=

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