Chapter 236

Chapter 23 Small Matters of the Manor

“Daydreaming?”

“Ahh!”

The sudden voice beside me made me jump and let out a soft cry as I turned my head. Before me was Victoria’s side profile, as fresh and elegant as a lotus emerging from the water.

“What are you doing! You scared me half to death…”

I wrinkled my nose at her.

But Victoria ignored my annoyed tone completely. She stood steadily on the lawn beside me, her gaze fixed ahead, watching the carriage depart. The wind blew fallen leaves from the honeyfruit trees onto her hair.

“Do you know Margaret well?”

After a long pause, she suddenly asked me this.

“Hmm?”

I was puzzled, not quite understanding the meaning behind her question, and my head tilted slightly to the right involuntarily.

“Not really.”

As I spoke, I reached up to remove the leaves from Victoria’s hair and tossed them aside.

Victoria glanced at me with a faint expression: “She knows about you.”

!!

I froze, staring at her in shock.

But then I quickly realized that Victoria probably didn’t mean what I had initially worried about.

Though her face showed no ripples, I couldn’t guess what she was thinking, but my intuition told me that she was just concerned about Margaret’s previous statement, “I know about you.”

I wasn’t very sure either; no one could figure out what this woman was thinking.

So I cautiously asked her, “Do you want to know… why I went to Silgaya?”

Victoria nodded gently.

“Yes.”

I actually guessed correctly…

I blinked, looking at the golden-haired beauty before me who shone like a goddess, my heart gradually becoming calm and peaceful.

Well, I might as well tell her.

“You remember, I told you about having an older sister…”

Starting from three years ago when Edward forced me off the cliff, I calmly recounted to Victoria the hidden matters in my heart. But what I told her was that I lost those three years of memories, and woke up already in Woodward Forest.

I wasn’t lying to her; it was the truth.

I spoke slowly, but Victoria listened patiently. After I finished, she fell into a long silence.

We sat on the bench under the honeyfruit tree, watching as many pink flowers bloomed on the branches above. After a while, Victoria softly spoke.

“So, that’s also why you chose to become a knight.”

“Yes.”

I closed my eyes, humming softly through my nose.

Only then did I suddenly realize that what Victoria said seemed to be the same question she had asked me on our first meeting.

I almost forgot… but she still remembered.

The first time I met her, I didn’t understand her yet. I remember that night we talked rather unpleasantly… or perhaps it was only unpleasant for me. I disliked her domineering attitude and her habit of toying with others, always appearing superior.

Back then, Victoria exuded a suffocating aura of superiority.

But now…

I could feel Victoria sitting there, less than a meter away, within arm’s reach. I could even hear her steady breathing clearly.

Her innate air of arrogance never faded, but I no longer felt that heart-pounding pressure. Moreover, having her by my side made me feel very comfortable, even secure…

Thinking of this, I secretly raised my eyelids to sneak a glance at her.

Then I met her gaze.

Hmm?

This woman has actually been sneaking glances at me all along!

Seeing my gaze, Victoria abruptly said, “Payello, you are very strong.”

I was instantly stunned.

Wow…

This seems to be the first time she has praised me? She actually compliments others!

Oh no, I suddenly felt flattered. A little happy, wanting to smile…

This made me feel somewhat immature, so I didn’t want Victoria to notice. So I tried hard to suppress my expression, putting on a composed demeanor.

With a calm appearance, my head involuntarily tilted back.

“That’s right.”

Victoria stared at me for a moment.

“Just a bit foolish, it’s a pity.”

The corner of my lips, which had just risen, immediately fell.

…………

Later, I followed Victoria to the neighboring mansion No. 2 to retrieve Captain Gray. Teresa’s giant axe was also there, and Victoria planned to hand them both over to me.

“Keep the Crescent Moon blades from the Central Workshop. You can decide whether to return them to the Church or give them to someone else.”

“Do you not want them?”

“I can’t use them.”

“…Oh.”

Looking at the two black, ominous blades quietly leaning against the corner, I walked over and first grabbed the double-bladed giant axe, feeling its weight… unexpectedly, it was slightly lighter than the scythe.

But it still weighed over a hundred pounds.

“Oh wow, so heavy…”

While saying this, I carried the scythe and the giant axe on each shoulder and walked out of the courtyard with Victoria, swaying my head.

At the door, I frowned and asked her, “Is that family really okay?”

“It’s fine.”

“What can I help with?”

“Lift these two weapons away.”

“Uh…”

Hearing this, I felt a bit embarrassed.

“If there’s anything I can help with, tell me.”

Victoria curled up the corners of her mouth, and her eyes gleamed with amusement.

“Go back.”

Her voice was indifferent.

As she spoke, a luxurious carriage slowly drove from one side of the street, and a strong unicorn neighed loudly, stomping its hooves and stirring up dust before stopping steadily behind Victoria. The green head of Reckt popped out of the carriage, smiling and waving at us.

Then he saw the two large, black Crescent Moon blades on my shoulders, opened his mouth in surprise, and gave me a thumbs-up.

My cheeks felt a bit warm.

“I’m leaving.”

Victoria turned and left.

I couldn’t help but ask, “What are you going to do?”

“Prepare for the next funeral ceremony.”

She waved and stepped onto the carriage.

After Victoria left, I went back alone to No. 3 Mansion, carrying the two Crescent Moon blades upstairs. I folded Captain Gray and put him back in the black leather case, while the giant axe… I hadn’t decided how to handle it yet, so I leaned it against the corner for now.

After finishing everything and rushing downstairs, I ate the whole tray of custard with great effort, then patted my little belly.

I didn’t feel full, so I wanted to eat more.

Had my appetite increased? Why could I eat so much, where did all the food go?

I don’t know, even I was confused.

Anyway, I was craving something.

But I was a bit sleepy.

Maybe I should eat something and go to sleep…

I got up and walked to the kitchen, opened the storage cabinet, and a strong sour smell hit me.

“Ew~”

I frowned, stood on tiptoe, pinched my nose, and took out the source of the smell—a few pieces of butter wrapped in parchment paper.

The butter had gone bad…

I turned around and threw it into the trash bin in the corner, then walked back to the cabinet and peered inside.

…Flour, honey, a little spice. Nothing else.

This isn’t enough for me to make anything. What should I do?

I’ll go buy some from the nearest market.

With a plan in mind, I left the kitchen, rubbed my sore eyes, and slowly walked toward the front door, yawning widely after only a few steps.

“Haa—”

I stopped, stretched my toes, and lazily extended my arms, my gaze landing on the sofa in the living room.

I was so tired… I had felt somewhat listless since earlier.

I’ll take a nap first, then eat when I wake up.

So I turned and walked back to the sofa, took off my leather shoes, curled up on it, and rubbed my body on the soft fur.

Finding the most comfortable position, I closed my eyes.