The Male Lead Knelt Before Me

Edmund only sensed the atmosphere after that.

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He could see Caleb’s face when he abruptly raised his head, which had faded as much as the voice that had restrained him.

Edmund understood he had crossed the boundary when he saw the face.

His face paled a little.

“Lord Vessel.”

“Yes, Commander.”

“Right now, recite Articles 4 and 6 of the Royal Knights Rules.”

“Do not recklessly add personal opinions until you have independently verified them.
And don’t speak negatively about…… your colleagues.”

“But, Lord, what have you done?”

Edmund bit his lower lip in response to Caleb’s remark.

With a firm voice, he soon opened his mouth.

“I will fix my behaviour.”

“Never do that again.
It’s temporary, but Lady Oreu is one of our colleagues And it’s the same even if she’s not one of our colleagues ‘Don’t say things about individuals you don’t know in haste.'”

“Yes, I’ll keep that in mind.”

 

Caleb’s brows, which had lifted forcefully, relaxed somewhat at that time.

However, it was literally ‘a little’.

Caleb was still displeased.
As a result of what Edmund just stated.

He never expected to be told unpleasant thoughts about Lena in this way, especially since he was the one who had done anything unpleasant to her.

‘Exactly like Count Van Der said.’

Caleb recalled a time when Selvin visited him.

They knew each other through administrative work, and despite a few brief conversations, they had no personal acquaintance.

However, Caleb was indebted to Selvin a few years ago.

This was due to the fact that several of his subordinates were badly hurt after being assaulted by a herd of beasts suddenly.

If Selvin, who was merely passing through due to upper difficulties, hadn’t given up on finding a doctor, his subordinate would not have retired but would have died by now.

Caleb promised to repay the favour, but Selvine urged him not to worry.

It was rather shocking when she came to ask for a favour one day.

He was even more surprised when he learned about it.

‘I have someone I’d want the Duke to accept as a deputy before the Emperor’s birthday celebration banquet.’

Caleb first attempted to turn down Selvine’s request.

 

Originally, each department had two or three deputies, but Caleb was an exception.

He also felt having a deputy wouldn’t bad, but that was it.
Because he couldn’t find someone who suited his standards.

As he previously stated to Lena, a deputy should be well-versed in each member’s talents, traits, and practical experiences.

They had to be extremely skilled in swordsmanship, of course.

Furthermore, they needed to be well-educated enough to handle the paperwork.

Although there weren’t many of those among the highest-ranking noble spirits, it wasn’t uncommon either.

But they were all looking for a safe spot.

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As a result, there was no possibility for anybody to volunteer for the Royal Knights who went to subjugate the magical beasts.

The Royal Knights were, of course, made up of high-ranking nobility.

As Vice-Commander of the Royal Knights, for example, Edmund Vessel, the first son of Marquis Vessel.

Edmund, although being educated as a family successor, seemed to have no idea how to manage paperwork.

Other members, in addition to Edmund, were in a similar circumstance.

There were a few people among the commoners who were intelligent enough to pass the imperial family’s administrative test, but they knew nothing about swordsmanship.

The Royal Knights lacked a deputy as a result of this circumstance.

Caleb, too, did not bother with a deputy.

He felt uneasy at times since he didn’t have a deputy, but it was just because he could manage everything alone.

As a result, there was no need for a temporary deputy.

Caleb, on the other hand, couldn’t say no.
Because he was indebted to her a few years ago.

‘Could I ask who you would recommend as Deputy?’

‘I’d like to propose a young lady who I believe is deserving of this honour.
I decided to become her guardian, so I want to support her as I could.’’

Selvine then began telling him stories about Lena.

She informed him that she met Lena, an actor at Chloe’s theatrical company, a few months ago and occurred to know about her awful circumstances, so she volunteered to her to be her guardian.

Selvine stated that she did not plan to appoint Lena as her successor straight immediately, but rather to observe her.

But she wanted to give Lena time to develop a career before she became her official successor.

Caleb recoiled for a minute while listening to the story when he heard the words theatre and actor.

He couldn’t recall when, but he remembered a woman handing him a theatre ticket.

‘Your Excellency may comprehend what I’m saying.
What is the Empire’s personal impression of actors? Of course, Chloe’s Theater Company, unlike other local companies, focuses on the fundamentals, yet I can’t just ignore prejudice.’

‘……’ 

‘If I keep the child as my assistant and as my successor, she will never be appreciated for her own abilities and will only be questioned.
I don’t want the child to follow the same path as me.’ 

Selvine then asked Caleb for Lena to be his deputy, and he agreed.

Rather than developing a career by sticking by Selvine’s side all the time, even if it’s brief, if Lena had a recognized career as someone else’s aide, it would come in handy when Selvine introduced Lena as her successor.

Caleb didn’t entirely get Selvine’s thoughts, but he agreed with some of those.

That she would be accused of prejudice straight away.

Selvine took up the role two years ago, following the death of her husband, former Count Van Der, who was in charge of administration.

She was able to do so since she was so capable of passing the administrative test as the top student when she was young.

Although she was considered as the next chief due to her good practical abilities, she only lost her post to the former Count Van Der, who was second in line due to gender opposition, and there was no dispute about Selvine’s competence.

The current imperial administration presented as proof.

Because, even after she took over as the head, the administration was performing wonderfully.

But there was still a lot of rumour going on behind her back.

She wants to be the leader of the family, therefore she may have married her husband and then murdered him on purpose.

Of fact, the death of Count Van Der had nothing to do with Selvine.

Because he died on a rainy day while drunk outside the store entrance and fell.

Because she was subjected to such rumours and discrimination, she may have sought to make life a bit easier for the child she supported.

Caleb, who had previously been assisted by the Count, nodded after considerable thought.

‘…… I will.
But just till the birthday celebration banquet.’

‘That is enough.
Thank you very much, Duke.’

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He had no idea that the child he had chosen as the deputy was Lena.

But that was the end of it.

The unusual sensations he had had at first glance did not come back.

The reason why he kept paying attention was that the Count specifically requested it.

He assumed it was simply that.

Until he stretched out and unconsciously stroked Lena’s cheek.

Even yet, he believed it was his fault, and he never considered it was due to Lena’s profession or behaviour.

It’s his own fault that he can’t control himself, therefore it can’t be Lena’s fault.

Caleb felt uneasy and suffocated when he heard Edmund as much as he had thought it.

Caleb felt uneasy and constricted when he heard Edmund’s remarks, despite how much he had been thinking about it.

“Lord Vessel.”

“Yes, Commander.”

“Bring anybody who speaks badly or rudely about Lady Oreu in the future to me.”

“Yes, Commander.”

Caleb attempted to return to his office.
But he couldn’t move forward.

Because he was still ashamed of his unscrupulous behaviour towards Lena.
Caleb stood still hesitating, and Edmund cautiously opened his mouth.

‘Commander, if you don’t mind, would you like to duel me?’

“Duel?”

“Yes, I thought that my abilities were inadequate after a few days of dispatch, therefore I would like you to teach me.”

Edmund’s other remarks were supposed to blow over the ice a while ago.

Caleb noticed as well, but he did not object.

Because he needed time to figure things out right now.

* * * * *

‘Why isn’t he here?’

I remembered Caleb walked out after apologizing with a stern expression.

It was a bit early for him to go back home, so I expected him to return soon, but he didn’t even after 10 minutes.

He stated that he would go to the training site in the afternoon and that he would do nothing else because no one would have contacted Caleb.

“Is he blaming himself outside the door?”

If the opponent was Caleb, it made sense.

He simply apologized to me and disappeared……

Still, I couldn’t help but wonder whether I was mistaken, so I looked out the window.

If Caleb was at the practice field, I’d be embarrassed if it was simply my mistake.

‘He is not there.’

I glanced through the window for Caleb, like I had done the day before, but I couldn’t see him.

I’m guessing he’s still in the building or a blind place not visible through the window.

I got a lot of confidence after learning that it wasn’t simply my misunderstanding.

‘All right, let’s go look for him!’ I’ll go find him and tell him everything was okay.’

I exited the office, taking care not to scratch the floor with my chair.

‘He isn’t here.’

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Outside the door, there was simply a bare corridor.  I took a few more steps down the stairs.
Caleb was not there.

‘In the meantime, did he go to the practice field?’

It made sense given the time I was on my way down.

‘All right, let’s just go to the practice field and see if he’s there, then come back.’

It wasn’t difficult to locate a training ground.
Some of the windows indicate the general position, but the direction may be deduced from the men’s shouting.

I could soon see the training ground that I had seen through the window.
And in the midst of the training area, Caleb came face to face with a man with a sword.

The swords they were wielding were strangely shaped, with a halo of light swirling around them.

“Wow……”

It was my first time witnessing it, and the brilliant throng of lights took my breath away.

I could feel everything all at once.
The glow that surrounded the blade was known as ‘Auror’.

Every time the blade struck, a harsh iron clang pierced my ears.

I focused my attention on Caleb and the man’s Auror.

The other man was pale blue, whereas Caleb’s was white.

When the sword struck, the light group behaved as though it might get entangled and pushed each other apart.

The blade of the sword was extremely threatening, but it was as beautiful as a smattering of lights.

Clang! Clank!

The sword’s blade, surrounded by a dazzling Auror, scraped each other’s blade and bumped and banged again.

Unlike Caleb, who appears to be at ease, the man who dealt with him appears to be troubled.

It was when I was dazedly watching the two exchange swords.

Cling!

The final loud ironing sound signalled the end of the game.

Caleb’s sword was aimed towards the man’s throat.
The man’s sword, on the other hand, was thrown outward.

“……I lost.”

The Auror that encircled the man’s blade vanished as he conceded defeat.

When Caleb placed the sword, the other guys on the practice field applauded in unison.

The man motioned for Caleb’s handshake and muttered something.
Then a faint smile appeared on Caleb’s face.

My heart shook for no apparent reason as I saw the lovely smile.

Even though I knew he wasn’t smiling at me.

‘I think I got a little carried away while watching the duel.’

My cheeks began to flush.
My palms were heated as I wrapped my hands over my face.

I resolved to return as soon as possible before anyone became conscious of my presence.

I was going to go back and check on Caleb’s presence, but I was too distracted.

I was going to turn around with my hand covered my face.

“Ugh!”

My body, which had been struck forcefully, leaned back in an instant.

When I regained consciousness, I had already fallen to the ground.

‘Oh, that hurts.’

I was going to rise up swiftly, swiping the part I had bumped against with my palm when someone grabbed my hand.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, are you okay….huh?”

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My ears were penetrated by the voice of an unknown guy.
When I looked up, the man I had seen for the first time stood there, shocked.

“.……woman?”

The people surrounding me all turned to look at me in an instant.
Because just a single word said by the man.

“Crazy, an actual woman?”

“What is it that has you so surprised?” People will assume you’re seeing a woman for the first time.”

“No, it’s only that I’m seeing a woman for the first time in the Knights quarter.”

“Lord Seria, too, is a woman.”

“How can you claim Lord Seria is a woman……Anyway, I’m not talking about a knight, but about a typical woman.”

“But how did she get here?”

“Doesn’t she seem to be the one? A new temporary deputy who has been coming since yesterday.”

“You’re referring to the woman who the gatekeepers claimed was really pretty, correct? I’d heard she was an actor.”

“I believe so.
She is really pretty.”

Some of them had known about me.
I didn’t think it was a good thing, though.

Numerous eyes were poured out at the same time.

I was used to attracting people’s attention as an actor.
That look was also appealing to me.
It was because I was demonstrating my acting skills and receiving feedback.

But now I simply felt like a spectacle.
I felt like a zoo animal imprisoned in a cage.

For a time, I couldn’t think.

It was when I was frozen and didn’t know what to do.

“Lady Oreu.”

In my ears, I heard a familiar voice.

I peered back, barely moving my tight neck, and saw Caleb.

“Ah…”

“Are you all right?”

Unexpectedly, seeing Caleb gave me a sense of relief.

“Yes, yes, I’m fine.”

My body’s strength returned.

Because I stumbled on my foot, my eyesight went fuzzy as I stood upon the ground.

When I thought of falling again, my eyelids closed instinctively.

It happened as I grabbed for something to grab.

Someone gripped my waist and a strong body touched my side at the same moment.

There was no reason to turn around and face the opponent.

Under the circumstances, the only person who could hold me was Caleb.

“Tha, thank you.”

My heart was pounding with astonishment, and my voice was trembling.

I was going to walk away from Caleb because I felt I would be able to walk straight this time.

I was wondering if his arm wrapped around my waist would support me when his arm came under my leg.

“Please forgive me my rudeness.”

Uh, uh, uh?

My body shuddered before I could even make a sound of surprise.