Chapter 135

Chapter 107 Why?

“It’s fine.” I smiled and shook my head.

“That’s good.” Sophia said.

She had already made her bed, and at this moment, she was sitting gracefully on the edge of the bed, looking at me with curious eyes.

“In fact, I only heard about it by chance from my father. The current situation in the empire is very tense. It seems that something significant happened between Schintler Castle in the Winter City and the palace of Cheliers. They told us not to go there for a while. Peyelo, do you know what’s going on?”

“I’m not sure.”

There was no need to explain these matters to them.

“Is that so… Probably another power struggle among the direct royal family members. Survival of the fittest, such things happen everywhere…” Sophia stood up and walked to the window, pulling down the curtains. “Actually, it’s quite good like this. Not getting involved in those cruel competitions, just being an honest nobleman, living a life without conflict, enjoying everything, no one will harm you. In the future, find a good man who deserves you, get married, and have children. Since there’s no need to worry about daily life, everything will be arranged for you… I envy your kind of life.”

She probably thought of me as a distant collateral branch of the “Winter Moon” clan. Indeed, there were many such families in the Winter City, and I had met some of them at banquets. But actually… if there was a union between the “Winter Moon” and someone outside the clan, their offspring would have a high probability of not having black hair and black eyes. They wouldn’t be called “Winter Moon” anymore and would lose the rights and honors associated with the name. Therefore, all the “Winter Moon” clans in the empire were black-haired and black-eyed. It seemed that Sophia didn’t understand this point.

But there was no need to explain; besides, such things couldn’t be explained. Letting her misunderstand was fine too.

On the other side, after pulling down the curtains, Sophia walked back to the bed, began to take off her outer clothes, revealing her fair belly.

I quickly shifted my gaze away, but I just happened to see Daisy’s smooth and delicate back. She was also changing clothes, but she looked a bit shy, showing only her back to us, but it seemed she wasn’t wearing anything underneath… Why!?

I hurriedly lowered my head to look at my feet, focusing on Sophia’s continued words: “Although I envy you, I can’t do the same. Although my brothers are still supporting the family now, they don’t seem to be doing well… One day, my parents will grow old, and I will have to shoulder the responsibility.”

“Families have their own troubles,” Sarah said.

“In fact, it’s not always like that. It’s just that my father values the family honor more… Look at Peyelo, he looks so relaxed, doesn’t care about anything, how nice…” Sophia asked.

“Yes. I don’t really like those things.”

I hadn’t paid much attention to the Central Workshop. With Father there and Percival growing rapidly, and regarding the territory management, Lafayette was already doing an excellent job. With them at Schintler Castle, there wasn’t much for me to do.

And I… had my own things to do.

“Peyelo, aren’t you changing clothes?” Sarah asked.

“Oh, I am.”

“Sarah, you haven’t changed either?”

“I’m not used to sleeping in pajamas.”

“…What bad habit is this, sleeping naked?”

“You don’t need to mind…”

After I climbed onto the bed and took off my dress, the three girls looked at me with wolf-like eyes.

“Woah—your body is really… uh, small.”

…Don’t say that, it’s hurtful.

“But your skin is amazing… I’m so envious, how did you take care of yourself!”

“I didn’t pay much attention.”

“You’re lying, you just don’t want to tell us!”

“Exactly!… Peyelo, I think except for your chest which is a bit pitiful, everything else is almost a masterpiece of the gods!”

…I know!

I am indeed small, but I will grow! What does emphasizing this mean? Isn’t it too much to describe it as pitiful?!

“So beautiful, I wonder which lucky guy will benefit from you in the future…”

Impossible, how could I ever get married?

“I want… to touch, is that okay?”

Daisy, why are you too? Don’t really touch me, it tickles…!!! Sarah, where are you reaching with your hand!

“Don’t, don’t touch there!”

“Hehe, don’t be shy, we’re all girls… Here I go!”

“Giggling! No, it tickles…”

After some playful teasing, the four of us each lay down on our beds.

Perhaps because it was the first day of school, including me, everyone was a bit excited and couldn’t sleep. Taking advantage of the fresh feeling of familiarity, the topics kept coming one after another, mostly things that girls would be concerned about, such as the dishonest shop owner of a jewelry store in the city, or the packaging boy at a tea shop in the suburbs. Girls got to know each other very quickly, and soon they were talking about almost everything.

Gradually, I immersed myself in this atmosphere. For a moment, I felt like I was back in the university days long ago, those memories buried deep in the corners of my mind.

Back then, the faces around me, now forgotten, laughed and chatted in countless nights, talking about meaningless yet fearless trivialities, playing…

The guitar sang on, unwilling to sleep long after the lights had been turned off.

Those days, now floated back before my eyes once more.

“… Peyillo, why aren’t you talking? What are you laughing about over there? Got something interesting to share with us!” Sarah suddenly said.

“Nothing much.”

“Nothing much, and you’re smiling so happily!”

“Really, nothing much.”

“Sarah, don’t change the subject! You haven’t told us why you want to become a knight!”

Unsatisfied words came from below the bed, and Sarah pouted upon hearing them.

“I really have nothing to say. Our family has always been knights, so I also strive to become one.”

“Oh~ Not because you were impressed by some nobleman and strive to follow in his footsteps? That would be a much more interesting story.”

“No way! You know that’s just a story too!” Sarah said irritably. “But speaking of someone I admire… there is one person.”

“Is there? Who is it, who is it!”

“Why should I tell you?”

“Tell me, tell me—! Anyway, I can’t sleep and it’s boring~”

“No.”

“Tell me~ Daisy wants to hear it too, right Daisy?”

“Hmm? Ah… yes.”

“See! Hurry up and tell us~”

“Um… alright. Actually, it’s not much, just Lord Carlos.”

“Lord Carlos?… Oh, you mean the silver flash, Sir Carlos the Pope Knight?”

“Mm-hm.”

“Then you have quite a few rivals. There are countless girls in the capital who dream of marrying him every day. Keep going!”

!!!???

What?

Carlos? That guy?!

“What are you thinking about? I just admire him… wandering through the abyss’s swamp, wielding his sword to slay monsters. Who wouldn’t like such a great hero?”

“So much that you want to marry him?”

“I’ve already said it’s admiration…”

“If he proposes to you, could you firmly decline, saying: No need, I only admire you~ Is that possible?”

“Mm…” Sarah remained silent.

“Therefore, you don’t admire him; you just haven’t had the chance.”

“Sophia, don’t say it like that…” Daisy softly said.

“Did I say something wrong? It’s just that little Sarah isn’t honest enough… Have you ever seen Sir Carlos?”

“…No.”

“I heard he recently came to the capital.”

“Really!?” Sarah’s voice became agitated.

“Yeah, but I haven’t seen him myself… There are so many rumors about him, I don’t know if they’re true or false.”

“He’s not in the capital.” I said calmly.

I feel like Sarah might have some misunderstanding about Carlos… I can’t let her get deeper into this.

“Huh? How do you know?”

“Peyillo, do you know Sir Carlos?”

I pursed my lips and turned away.

“No.”

Pfft, who knows that kind of person who comes and goes as they please.

“But you’re so sure…”

“Peyillo, do you have someone you admire… cough, admire?”

“Sophia, stop beating around the bush and insulting me! I’m getting angry!”

“Don’t blame me, now it’s Peyillo’s turn to confess.”

“I don’t.”

“Don’t believe you~”

“It must be a lie!”

“Yes, there isn’t.”

“Could it also be… Sir Carlos?”

Daisy’s casual question made me immediately anxious: “Im… Impossible!”

What a joke. Although I do respect that guy’s character, and there is definitely some respect, but what you’re asking about ‘admiration’ clearly isn’t just the surface meaning.

“…Why such a big reaction?” Sarah was somewhat puzzled.

“I think… Peyillo admires Prince Scargill,” Sophia said.

“But she reacted so strongly…”

Seeing Sarah’s intention to hold onto that point, I quickly admitted: “Yes, I admire Prince Scargill.”

“Right, after all, he is the Pope Knight of Winter Moon… Peyillo, have you met him?”

“…Met him.”

“Speaking of which… Have you all met the Pope Knight?” Sarah’s attention was successfully diverted.

“I’ve only met Her Majesty the Queen,” Sophia said.

“Oh~ You’ve actually met Her Majesty the Queen!”

“…Only once from afar with my father.”

“How impressive, I haven’t seen her… Daisy?”

“Met… once.”

“Who is it, who is it!”

“Just… Half a year ago, wasn’t there a famous Pope Knight who held a knighting ceremony at the church in Narangad? I went to see it… there were a lot of people. They say he’s the youngest Pope Knight in history.”

“Oh oh! I know I know!” Sarah’s voice sounded very excited, “It’s Lady Silvija! What does she look like?”

“Mm… Too far, and she was wearing a cloak, so I couldn’t see clearly… She looked small, and her voice was sweet, but she seemed to be in a hurry and left quickly… She released a lot of large ice blocks, freezing the church terrace solid. The monks took a long time to clean it up.”

“So, that new Pope Knight is from the Frost Order… But why freeze the terrace?”

“Yeah, why?” I asked expressionlessly.