MTMT 38

Chapter 38

Arrogant Revenge

Taliah’s beginning was smooth. A festival following the footsteps of Tali, the goddess of winter. Following in the footsteps of the goddess who wielded a merciless spear and eliminated all evil, they walked through the snow-covered streets.

Diana, wearing a fur hat, looked out the window. Snowflakes fell one by one. The sky was already darkened.

“Aren’t you cold?”

Diana asked Giskar beside her. She wore a precious bright red fur hat, while Giskar’s attire looked shabby in comparison—a fur-lined cloak and a worn quilted outfit. Seeing how meager his clothing was for a guard, Diana thought she should give him proper clothes once they arrived.

“Giskar?”

Giskar didn’t respond. He was staring at Diana, his gaze cold as ice. Was he angry at me? Why?

A slave, angry at her master?

No, such thoughts shouldn’t occur. Yet it was undeniably strange. Diana tried to recall why Giskar might be in a bad mood.

“Could it be… Emil hit you?!”

Diana reached for Giskar’s hand. His hand moved weakly with hers. Even rolling up his sleeve, there was no sign of a bruise. Could there be a bruise under there…?

Sensing her concern, Giskar wrapped his body protectively.

“Nothing happened.”

“……”

“I want to remain quiet. If you need to speak, please command me.”

His icy words telling her not to speak made Diana nod, though an uneasy feeling lingered. She looked at Giskar and spoke.

“You’ll join the monster hunt this time.”

“……”

“Make achievements. Don’t make me ashamed.”

“I understand.”

Giskar replied coldly. Diana continued observing him, wondering if Taliah would be alright.

The castle of the Duchy of Brien, which she hadn’t visited in a long time, was much larger than she remembered. The Duke, who had arrived first, came out to see his children. The Duke, who had embraced Diana tightly, clicked his tongue and said:

“Alexis is a pity.”

“She caught a cold,” Emil replied, seeming genuinely regretful.

The Duke glanced at Emil coldly, then turned to Giskar, standing behind Diana.

“This slave…”

“She was trained as a swordsman. Now she’s my guard,” Diana said with a smile. The Duke’s expression shifted from surprise to a slight smirk.

“Yes, I’ve heard that this slave is skilled in swordsmanship. You handle your people well, Anne.”

“……”

“Very satisfactory. You made her truly useful.”

He then patted Diana on the head. The praise from her father felt bitter—it sounded more like he was praising an object than a person.

“I think she’s truly remarkable.”

“……”

“She can even participate in this monster hunt.”

Emil seemed unusually pleased—exactly what Diana hoped for: Giskar making accomplishments.

“Yes. Giskar can do it too,” Diana said to him. Sorry, Giskar. But this is your chance to show your skill.

“I will also participate,” she added.

“What nonsense!”

The Duke was startled.

“Even a young lady can’t say such things.”

Diana calmly replied to his stern words:

“Father, this winter festival is held by the Brien family. How could the eldest daughter remain idle?”

“……”

“I do not intend to fight like a knight. I only wish to observe how my guards and brothers fight.”

“……”

“Though I am powerless, I want to contribute with my slave. I will stay in a safe place. Please allow me.”

“……”

“Princes have kindly come themselves. Also, the influential families are watching us. We should show that Brien is not cowardly.”

The Duke fell into thought as he looked at Diana. He was already persuaded.

“Yes, she isn’t going herself—her slave will. That seems reasonable.”

“Exactly.”

“It seems a good opportunity.”

Decisively, Emil’s words made the Duke nod. Diana looked at Giskar. Did he not want to go? He still had a cold expression, staring downward.

Diana beamed as the royal carriage arrived—Philip and Ferdinand’s carriage. Having not seen Philip for a long time due to Taliah’s preparations, Diana ran toward the carriage.

“Long time no see, Princess of Brien.”

Ferdinand stepped down first. He looked Diana over. She smiled, clutching her skirt.

“I greet Your Highness.”

Diana lifted her gaze to the boy looking down at her. Ferdinand’s protruding cheekbones and refined features closely resembled his past incarnation. He looked irritable and sensitive, like he might snap at any moment.

“Thirteen now, yes?”

“Yes.”

“You’ve become quite lovely. One more year, and the entire social circle will be watching you.”

“Flattery, Your Highness.”

“Even humble.”

Ferdinand brought Diana’s hand to his lips. She wanted to pull it away immediately, but couldn’t.

“I’ll tell my mother to arrange frequent meetings at the palace. It would be embarrassing otherwise, for a lady who might become my bride.”

“I’m fine, Your Highness. The emperor’s side seat is coveted by all. It’s unreasonable for me to desire it alone.”

Diana truly didn’t mind; Ferdinand had been the worst fiancé anyway.

“It is your demeanor I like most,” he said with a smile.

Then a voice called:

“Anne!”

Diana turned her head. Ferdinand frowned.

“Philip! How rude to call the Princess that in public! You dare use a nickname!”

“What’s the harm? We’re friends.”

Diana smiled faintly.

“While coming here due to Princess Ionia’s matters, we often met. I asked Your Highness many questions to ensure there would be no lapses in serving the Princess.”

“I am not concerned with what to say to the Princess. I am addressing his rudeness,” Ferdinand said, looking at Philip. They greeted Emil and the Duke before following Diana into the castle.

Giskar watched them.

He always realized something when observing Diana: she seems adept in such grand events, showing no signs of nervousness.

Yet the one thing that makes her nervous is him.

Before someone who has done nothing, who is always cautious, yet speaks so confidently.

“I cannot let go. She is right to remain a slave.”

Cannot let go? Why? Is it because her behavior is crude? Because she is inherently lowly? Giskar could not understand Diana.

He must have wanted praise.

That was why he stood before that door. He thought she would rejoice at his achievements as if they were her own. Perhaps if Barot praised him, she would be pleased too.

“Why are you like this, insolent slave?”

At that moment, Emil, who happened to be at home, spoke. His silver-gray eyes were dark and sunken, and his smile was chilling, like a demon. When Giskar tried to ignore him, Emil spoke:

“Hey, don’t you want to work under me?”

“……”

“Huh? I said I’ll give you freedom.”

“……”

“The condition is…”

Giskar looked at Diana. The surface of the Abyssal Forest seemed like any ordinary forest. Hunting animals required beaters to drive them, but here, monsters emerged from within at the sound of a drum.

Previously, casualties occurred, but now they were unnecessary. A massive army and mages from the Magic Tower provided overwhelming support. Moreover, large monsters were rare. Perhaps for this reason, all the knights guarding Diana had entered the forest.

Giskar stood on the forest’s edge, confronting small fleeing monsters. Diana watched from afar.

With her red fur hat, she looked more like a leisurely walker than a warrior setting out.

For a moment, a white snowflake landed on Diana’s eyelashes. She quickly rubbed it away with her hand. The boy remembered the conversation from that moment:

“Make them crippled.”

“……”

“Or leave an indelible scar on their face.”

“……”

“It’s not like we’re killing them. I wouldn’t want to kill my own sister. But this way, we’ll continue fighting.”

Then Giskar noticed a white rabbit hopping toward him. Its soft fur resembled her hat. It wasn’t a long rabbit as he imagined—it was more like a round sphere. And there were several of them…

At that moment, someone pushed him with great force, causing him to fall. Simultaneously, a long rabbit opened its mouth aggressively. Giskar saw that it was clinging to Diana.

‘Lepus!’

He had seen monsters disguised as cute baby rabbits before. The danger lay in their adorable, harmless appearance while they always attacked in groups.

Impossible.

He thought he only had two choices: save her, or risk harm.

But Diana Brien saving him? That was unfair, unimaginable.

Unable to let go, seeing the slave in danger, he chose risk without hesitation.

“Miss!”

Crack—the sound of blood splattering.