Chapter 24

Three long days had passed since Matthias left for training. Now, he stood before Odelliana.

“The basic training went smoothly,” Mrs. Magdalene reported. “The boy is exceptionally bright and learns quickly. We planned a week of training, but he mastered the program early.”

“Really?” Odelliana raised an eyebrow.

“Indeed. He’s intelligent and nimble. I believe he’ll be a valuable asset, Miss Odelliana.”

“Thank you for taking such good care of him, Mrs. Magdalene.”

“Of course. Don’t hesitate to let me know if there’s anything you need.”

Odelliana knew complaints would fall on deaf ears. She smiled politely as Mrs. Magdalene left. While she yearned to dismiss the knights assigned to her, she understood Mrs. Magdalene wouldn’t be able to intervene. The woman’s sympathetic glances were another burden.

“Come in, Matthias,” she called. “The clothes suit you well.”

His hair neatly trimmed and grime scrubbed clean, Matthias stood transformed. He wore a black tunic and brown trousers, the typical squire uniform. He seemed far removed from his slum origins.

No wonder the maids blushed at his arrival. This handsome young man was sure to become a heartthrob, stirring up whispers throughout the social circles.

“Have you been here all day?” asked Matthias.

“This is my new home,” Odelliana replied as Mathias took a quiet look around. He couldn’t stifle a chuckle at the meager room, furnished only with a bed and a single blanket.

“It’s worse than the servants’ quarters,” he remarked.

“Apparently, this building was abandoned,” Odelliana explained. “They hurriedly repaired it for my arrival, but this is the best they could manage.”

“Doesn’t this treatment bother you?” Matthias questioned.

“Not at all,” Odelliana assured him. “I didn’t expect special treatment. This is perfectly adequate.”

Matthias remained silent, unconvinced.

“This place isn’t ideal,” she conceded, “but isn’t it a step up from your old shack?”

“The streets don’t bother me,” he countered, “but it’s unacceptable for my master to live in such a shabby place.”

Well, compared to the ramshackle room where I was born, this feels luxurious, she thought. There’s no need for shock.

“Disappointed?” she asked.

“By what?”

“My situation,” she clarified.

“Not disappointed, but surprised. You’re treated worse than I imagined.”

He pondered how Matthias would have reacted to witnessing her ordeal at the Hirschberg Forest mansion firsthand. If this basic living situation shocked him, the sight of her locked in a filthy, cramped room would have been horrifying. He might have even run away, seeing no way to help.

“Honestly, this seclusion suits me perfectly. It’s far quieter and more private than I anticipated. No one bothers me here, not even my family. That’s precisely what I wanted – no unwanted attention, and a peaceful environment. Believe me, I’m not forcing positivity.”

At first, the blatant neglect had stunned her. But after a few days, the tranquility and a strange sense of coziness had begun to grow on her.

“Here, I can focus entirely on you, without the prying eyes and judgments of others. Staying in the main residence would’ve been stifling, filled with restrictions.”

The knight exam loomed large. With just five servants and guards who patrolled the perimeter but didn’t pry within, this secluded place offered the perfect training ground. Who cared what transpired within these walls, anyway?

“If this is what brings you comfort,” Matthias conceded, “then I understand.”

“You seem relieved,” Odelliana noted, a hint of amusement in her voice.

“Perhaps it’s not so terrible after all,” he admitted, a hesitant smile playing on his lips.

“Exactly! The main residence is a constant bustle of activity. There, proper focus on your training would be impossible.”

“True. This remoteness… it’s almost like a hidden sanctuary. No one would suspect a thing, should something happen.”

A shadow of regret crossed his features. “It’s a shame we’re not entirely alone, though.” Even the presence of the five servants seemed to grate on him. He’d always been a solitary child, preferring his own company to the chaos of crowds.

One could almost call his enjoyment of solitude a running joke. No friends, no romantic entanglements, not even close family ties. On the surface, his isolation might seem pitiful, but perhaps his striking looks warped the perception. People likely viewed his aloofness as him being selective in his companions, unaware of the truth: his crippling lack of social skills.

“Regardless,” Odelliana continued, “we’ll remain here. You’ll manage my daily routine, leaving the chores to the others. You can focus better. Additionally, I’ve requested a knight’s manual from my brother. We have a knight exam to conquer this summer.”

Matthias narrowed his eyes. “You wouldn’t be taking the exam yourself, would you? You must intend for me to become a knight.”

“Do you have any objections?”

He shrugged, a picture of indifference. Unlike most commoners who’d react with disbelief at the prospect, Matthias seemed oddly calm.

“Aren’t you nervous at all?” Odelliana pressed. “The odds of a non-noble or merchant’s child passing the knight exam are slim to none.”

Matthias met her gaze, a question of his own forming on his lips. “What about you, master?” he countered. “Do you truly believe your student can rise to the challenge and become a knight?”

Before she realized it, Matthias had crossed the room and settled naturally on the bedside. Taking her hand, he toyed with it, his noble face radiating a sense of ownership despite his lowly position. This audacity, which should have seemed vulgar, somehow came across as charming. Perhaps it was his striking features, or maybe because the so-called noble lady he served was far from a true aristocrat herself. Odelliana watched in silence as his large hand enveloped hers. Then, a smile played on her lips.

“You will meet my expectations. If it’s you,” she declared, her thin and frail fingers slipping between his.

The boy, who had been nonchalant until now, stared at her hand curling around his like a snake. She muttered, “I have high hopes for you.”

“I know you can rise higher,” Odelliana continued. “You’re too talented to waste as a squire. So, I’m going to make something big out of you. To fulfill the promise I made, I’ll elevate you to a position where no one can look down on you.”

“You have a keen eye,” Matthias finally responded.

“Yes,” she agreed, “the only thing this insignificant person has is the ability to recognize you. I trust my judgment. So I will surely keep my promise to you. Then, what can you do for me?”

Odelliana’s grip tightened around Matthias’ fingers, holding them like shackles. “What can you do for me?” she repeated, her voice low and urgent.

“Well, what would you like from this student of yours?” He squeezed her hand tightly and leaned in close, his face hovering just inches from hers. Though young, his cold eyes shone with a mature intensity. “What shall I give you?”

His arrogant tone implied he could offer her anything. Yet, it was laced with a strange affection, like a devil’s whisper promising to fulfill her every desire. It felt almost like a desperate plea to serve her, to be of use.

Odelliana’s shoulders trembled slightly. This clever boy, she realized, knew he was being manipulated, yet reveled in the prospect of being useful.

“Give me yourself,” she whispered, her voice husky.

The corner of Matthias’s lips curled into a sly smile. Whatever her words implied, he used his youthful innocence as a weapon, drawing her into a gentle embrace. Despite being as gaunt as her, his frame possessed a surprising breadth.

“That has already been given,” he murmured against her hair.

“You don’t have the world yet,” Odelliana countered, her voice laced with a hint of steel.

“The student who will conquer the world for you is right here in your arms, isn’t he?” He gently brushed a stray strand of hair from her face before burying his face in the slender nape of her neck. The scent of woodsmoke lingered on his clothes, a subtle reminder of his past.

“I will make you the most esteemed woman in the world,” he declared, his voice filled with the bravado of an inexperienced boy. “Someone no one can disrespect. Not in this shabby room, but in a castle more luxurious and splendid than a palace, adorned with countless jewels and attended by loyal servants.”

His words were fantastical, bordering on absurd. Even a stray dog might scoff at such grand pronouncements. But Odelliana, her heart heavy with unknown emotions, hugged him close and patted his back, a gesture unexpectedly tender for a woman in her situation. 

“…This time, I’ve taken your hand.”

In response to her small murmur, a ghost of a smile played on Matthias’s lips. He closed his eyes and whispered something so faint she could barely make it out, “Well done.”