TSMMT Ch 37

Taillach

[Anders] "Can you keep our meeting a secret from your father?"

Dianna nodded at his request. The scandal involving Emil undoubtedly strained the relationship between her grandfather and her father. She couldn't predict how her father would react if he discovered she met her grandfather in secret.

Fearing her father might uncover the truth, Dianna wandered through various merchant shops today, using a casual outing as her perfect alibi.

[Dianna] "Then, how will Barot teach swordsmanship to Guiscard?"

Barot flashed a confident grin at her question. True to his word, he appeared at the estate in a completely unexpected role.

[Barot] "Hello! My Lady! I am Barot, the newly appointed manager of the training grounds!"

[Dianna] "……."

The estate actively sought personnel to manage the weaponry and training facilities, as those tasks required specialized skills. However, Dianna never expected Barot to secure the position instantly.

He is the Mercenary King.

The legendary warrior who guaranteed victory in any battle he joined... Of course, he didn't hold the title of Mercenary King yet.

She stared at Barot in awe.

[Barot] "My Lady, you are exceptionally beautiful! I will serve you with all my heart!"

Dianna deflected the suspicious glares from the onlookers regarding his excessive loyalty and sighed.

Meanwhile, Barot observed Guiscard standing behind Dianna. He narrowed his eyes.

---

Dianna faced Barot as he visited her room. His eyes sparkled with sheer excitement.

[Barot] "My Lady, where did you find such a masterpiece!"

[Dianna] "A masterpiece? What do you mean?"

[Barot] "Ah, it is just a figure of speech."

Dianna studied the excited mercenary. Barot stroked his beard and spoke with gleaming intensity.

[Barot] "His swordsmanship fundamentals are solid, and he possesses perfect physical strength. Give him a little more time, and he could even slay a dragon."

Yes, his words held the truth. Guiscard actually slays dragons in the future.

[Dianna] "Is it true his skills surpass those of average knights?"

[Barot] "Yes. He lacks live combat experience and remains unaware of his own potential, yet he is outstanding. To think such a genius stood by your side all this time! Your eye for talent is incredible, My Lady!"

Dianna forced a smile.

[Dianna] "As I mentioned, he is a slave…… My father brought him here."

[Barot] "……."

He examined her face and spoke with a dark expression.

[Barot] "It is a waste for him to rot as a slave."

[Dianna] "I agree. He is far too valuable to rot by my side."

[Barot] "Ah, I don't mean becoming your escort knight is a waste!"

Barot shook his head. Dianna understood his meaning perfectly. Noting her calm reaction, he lowered his voice to a secretive whisper.

[Barot] "Should we help him escape?"

[Dianna] "He wears restraints."

[Barot] "We can break the restraints somehow. We have handled slave escapes before."

[Dianna] "……."

[Barot] "We can smuggle him away from the Duke—ah, I mean, away from your father—at any time."

Dianna fell deep into thought. Entrusting Guiscard to her grandfather would guarantee the removal of the restraints. She could help him escape. She could grant him the freedom she so desperately wanted for him.

Can I help him escape this easily? My grandfather will definitely ensure his safe getaway. His suffering will finally end.

However……

Dianna shook her head.

[Dianna] "I have a use for him."

[Barot] "My Lady, even so, the boy—"

[Dianna] "I can't free him. He needs to remain a slave for now."

She firmly rejected the offer. At some point, she concluded that merely breaking the restraints and setting him free would not solve the overarching problem.

However, she remained completely oblivious to the fact that the 'slave' overheard her entire conversation.

The eyes of the boy standing outside the bedroom door turned frigid. Guiscard glared at the door for a long moment before walking away from the deceiver's room.

Unaware of Guiscard's presence, Dianna spoke to Barot.

[Dianna] "I need to impress my father during this upcoming monster incident. We must publicly demonstrate Guiscard's genius-level combat skills by having him eradicate the monsters."

[Barot] "Do you have a specific plan in mind?"

[Dianna] "Yes. I can't burden my grandfather. I can handle this task on my own."

---

Managing the estate proved an arduous task, despite her prior experience. Dianna spent her days incredibly busy, juggling the duties of a maid alongside managing the entire mansion.

The upcoming winter festival, Taillach, hosted by the Brienne Duchy, demanded an overwhelming amount of work from her. Taillach commenced with a monster hunt.

The western territory, the most useless plot of land owned by the Brienne Duke, bordered the "Forest of the Abyss." This massive forest dividing the Lodbrog Kingdom and the Panborough Kingdom stretched far enough to connect the southern Brienne Duchy to the capital, Tallinn, holding countless hidden secrets within its depths. Furthermore, monsters emerged from this forest to attack the people.

Does the Poison Dragon exist there as a monster as well?

Dianna recalled the name of the dragon Guiscard would slay in the future. Regardless of whether the monsters spawned because of this dragon or because the forest connected to the Demon Realm, as rumors suggested, the aristocratic territories bordering the forest suffered from an overwhelmingly high number of monster attacks. This proved especially true when spring arrived.

Therefore, the winter festival of Taillach transformed into an event where the nobles gathered en masse to eradicate the monsters. Standard hunting served as a luxurious hobby that tormented commoners, but hunting monsters benefited everyone.

Regardless, Dianna took full responsibility for managing this year's Taillach. The center of high society would shift to the Brienne Duchy for an entire month.

Factor in the Tally's Ball—a noble dance competition—and Dianna lacked the time to even sleep. Suffering from constant headaches, she completely ignored her own thirteenth birthday party to focus on the endless preparations.

Many events unfolded during the three months leading up to winter.

First, Emil returned home for his school vacation. Dianna and Emil continued to treat each other like strangers. He frequently picked fights, but she deflected his provocations with practiced ease.

As winter approached, Alexa suffered from fevers and coughs, but for some reason, she refrained from throwing tantrums at her older sister. She remained immature, yet her gaze carried an uncharacteristic depth. Alexa occasionally stared at Emil and Dianna with an inscrutable expression.

Finally, the Duke placed immense trust in Dianna, delegating almost every task within the mansion to her. Consequently, she secured full control over everything, including the room where Guiscard stayed. This meant she held the authority to fire even the head butler.

[Dianna] "I appoint Guiscard as my escort."

Therefore, absolutely no obstacles prevented her from appointing Guiscard as her escort slave. The knights, however, raised strong objections.

[Dianna] "If you knights can't accept this, I will demonstrate his skills. Guiscard."

The moment arrived for her year-long education to shine. A knight stepped forward and swung his sword, but Guiscard immediately moved and dodged the strike. The instant the knight turned around, Guiscard raised his weapon and lunged to pierce his opponent.

The blade grazed the surface of the knight's armor. If not for the heavy plating, the strike would have sliced the knight's side wide open.

The overwhelming difference in skill caused the knights' faces to stiffen in shock. Although the Brienne family lacked a reputation as a martial household, these men held the official title of "Knights." Yet, a mere slave easily dodged their attacks and humiliated them.

Guiscard looked at Dianna, and she beamed a bright smile. However, he furrowed his brows at her smile and turned his head away. His reaction radiated pure disgust.

What is wrong with him?

Just then, one of the knights spoke up.

[Knight] "I can't accept this. He is just an unverified slave!"

Just as Dianna prepared to speak...

[Emil] "He just proved his skills right in front of you."

Emil stepped forward. Dianna stared in absolute shock.

Why is Emil interfering?

The knight backed down at Emil's sudden appearance.

[Emil] "Didn't you just prove you are a knight incapable of defeating a single slave?"

[Knight] "Young Master. My point is, the origins of that slave……."

[Emil] "Regardless of his origins, a slave remains a slave. Do I need to remind you he wears restraints?"

Emil spoke coldly, glaring down at the knight. He shifted his gaze to the silent Knight Commander and spoke.

[Emil] "And what kind of knight yells at a Lady like a common thug?"

[Commander] "……."

[Emil] "Hmm? Do you dare show such disrespect to my younger sister?"

[Knight] "I-I apologize!"

What just happened? Did he actually take my side?

Dianna stood frozen in disbelief. Frustratingly, the knights lost their voices the moment Emil intervened. After the knights retreated, Emil grumbled at his sister.

[Emil] "You speak to them too kindly, so the knights look down on you."

[Dianna] "……."

Didn't he and I cross an irreversible river of hatred?

She stared at Emil with deep awkwardness. At that moment, he muttered under his breath.

[Emil] "We can't keep living like this."

He placed a hand on her shoulder. A sudden wave of emotion threatened to choke her. They shared different mothers, but they absolutely shared their father's blood. She knew that fact all too well.

[Dianna] "Yes……."

[Emil] "Let's do well during this Taillach. You get recognized……."

He patted her head.

[Emil] "And I redeem myself."

In that instant, a sinister chill laced his voice.

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