Chapter 48

The boy, burdened by the carcass of a massive beast, moved with remarkable poise. Despite the creature’s immense size—several times his own—he carried it with ease, standing balanced and composed, as though he were a seasoned knight. How could someone who had yet to be knighted display such effortless confidence?

Odette’s eyes sparkled with a sly curiosity as she studied Matthias. Just as he stepped into the manor, she moved to block his path.

“Hello.”

His indifferent gaze sent an involuntary shiver down her spine.

“You’ve got quite a face, I’ll give you that,” she said, her tone deceptively mild. Yet “quite” hardly did him justice. He wasn’t just handsome—he was breathtaking, surpassing even his famously beautiful betrothed, Jocelyn.

It was no wonder the servants fawned over him. His rugged appearance, from the battered plate armor to the unruly locks of hair, only amplified his striking features. A true gem, after all, shines no matter how much it pretends to be ordinary—just like Matthias.

Rumors of his upbringing painted him as a malnourished orphan raised in squalor, leading her to expect someone frail and unremarkable. Yet the reality was starkly different. He was taller and more solidly built than she had imagined. Broad shoulders, a tapered waist, and long legs spoke of a natural elegance that could not be overlooked.

At his young age, it was likely he would grow even taller. And once he officially became a knight and began rigorous training, his physique would no doubt become even more striking. The potential was unmistakable—he was destined to grow into a figure that would command attention with both presence and beauty.

“Are you mute? Why aren’t you saying anything? Didn’t anyone teach you manners?”

The boy, who had been silently observing Odette, let out a low chuckle. It wasn’t warm or friendly; it was a disdainful sound, his smirk betraying the annoyance etched into his sharp features.

“What do you want?”

“Do you know who I am?”

“Should I?”

His curt, arrogant tone should have been grating, yet his flawless appearance softened the edge, transforming his insolence into something oddly captivating.

“I’m Odette, your master’s sister,” she replied, ignoring the lack of recognition in his gaze.

With practiced grace, she slipped her arm through his, leaning closer as though to close the emotional distance he had firmly established.

“I heard my sister brought you here after you saved her life. Thank you for that. Since you saved her, you’ve also become my savior, wouldn’t you say?”

“I was curious to meet you, and you’ve exceeded my expectations,” she continued, a sly smile on her lips. “Knowing someone like you is by my sister’s side puts my mind at ease. Though, I admit, I’m a bit envious. What luck she has, stumbling upon such a well-mannered young man.”

As she spoke, her ample chest brushed against his arm—an act that, under normal circumstances, would have left a boy his age flustered and awkward. The softness, combined with her beauty, would have made most men falter, their composure undone by her deliberate closeness.

But Matthias was different. Despite his youth, he didn’t flinch. He didn’t blush or avert his gaze, nor did his eyes linger on the pale, full curve of her chest. His expression remained cold and unbothered, as though her presence was nothing more than an inconvenience.

The lack of reaction left Odette momentarily off balance. Embarrassment flushed her cheeks, her earlier confidence cracking under the weight of his indifference.

“If you have nothing else to say, I’ll take my leave,” he said, his voice devoid of emotion.

Without waiting for a response, Matthias turned and walked away, his back straight and resolute, leaving Odette standing there—flustered, and for the first time, unsure of herself.

As Matthias walked away, Odette’s expression darkened with realization—she had been rejected, outright. Her chest tightened with the sting of it. She straightened her clothes, an attempt to recover her composure, and instinctively covered her chest, as though to shield herself from further humiliation.

Nearby, a doorman who had been sneaking glances at her chest quickly averted his gaze, a mix of regret and relief washing over him.

“What an insufferable, arrogant child. Just like his master,” Odette muttered, her voice laced with disdain.

“They say he’s peculiar,” the doorman offered hesitantly. “Apparently, he only listens to the young lady and refuses to speak to anyone else.”

“Oh?” Odette raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into a knowing smile. “Then I should consider myself fortunate. At least he spoke to me, didn’t he?”

She straightened her back and turned to leave, her poise intact, though her trembling fingertips betrayed the simmering frustration beneath.

How dare he.

Rejection was a rarity for her, something she was entirely unaccustomed to. Men, married or not, longed for her. Husbands, betrotheds, and lovers alike had bowed before her beauty, driven by desire, regardless of their vows or commitments.

In her world, no man was beyond her reach if she set her sights on him—not even an aging king.

She had learned early that men’s minds weren’t in their heads but in their lower bodies, a vulnerability she had mastered exploiting. Time and time again, her beauty had bent them to her will.

But this boy—what was his problem? Too young? No, his age was precisely when boys were at their most eager, driven by curiosity and hormones.

Was he incapable as a man? Or did he prefer men? But then why would he follow Odeliana so devotedly?

No matter the reason, being treated as second to her sister was an insult Odette couldn’t abide. Her rising humiliation stoked a fire in her chest, a mix of shame and fury. While both her sister and the servant were detestable, her competitive nature surged. The harder the conquest, the sweeter the victory.

I’ll prepare an aphrodisiac, she thought, her lips curling into a dark, calculating smile.

***

The news that Odette had personally gone out to greet Matthias reached Odeliana through Malena. While she had anticipated this from the moment Odette showed interest in him, the swiftness of her actions was still surprising. It made one wonder if she truly intended to entangle herself with someone so young.

How could anyone entertain the thought of pursuing a minor who hadn’t yet reached adulthood? The depravity of Odette’s intentions was both shocking and appalling. A grown woman lusting after a child who hadn’t even completed his coming-of-age ceremony—clearly, the woman once heralded as a saint had no moral decency left to speak of.

At least Matthias treats women like stones, Odeliana thought, feeling a brief sense of relief.

But that fleeting satisfaction soon gave way to a more complicated expression as new information reached her.

“He stopped by the kitchen briefly,” Malena continued. “Apparently, he brought back the corpse of a mid-tier beast—a Probe. He handed it over for the staff to prepare Probe meat for your meal.”

“A Probe? A mid-tier beast? Are you saying he brought that massive creature here by himself?”

“Yes. The kitchen staff were ecstatic. It was an intact, unprocessed carcass.”

“Well, Probe meat is an exceptional delicacy,” Odeliana murmured.

Even the byproducts of low-tier beasts often fetched high prices at auction, but the Probe, a prized mid-tier creature, was in a class of its own. Its meat, softer than fish and more flavorful than beef, was renowned for its exquisite taste.

The rarity of Probe meat made it a coveted prize. There were few who could hunt such a creature, and even fewer who had the means to acquire it. Whenever one appeared at auction, it was sold at astronomical prices. Royalty themselves participated in such events, with the finest cuts of meat, particularly the belly, often making their way to the king’s table, thanks to the weight of wealth and influence.

“It’s incredibly rare for Probes to appear in summer,” Malena said. “But it seems one turned up near a civilian area, devouring people. Over fifty casualties were reported.”

“Still, that’s a relatively low number,” Odeliana remarked thoughtfully. “I suppose it was dealt with quickly?”

“Yes, though the incident disrupted the knights’ examination near Mount Laero,” Malena explained. “The Probe attacked a nearby village, forcing the test to halt. Most of the participants armed themselves with specialized equipment to deal with the creature. But then, a young boy who had left the camp returned—carrying the Probe’s corpse.”

“…That boy was Matthias?” Odeliana asked, her brow furrowing in disbelief.

“Yes. When the knights asked why he left the camp without permission, he replied that the delay in the exam irritated him. He said he simply wanted to end the test quickly, so he took care of the Probe himself and returned.”

Odeliana’s eyes narrowed. “Where on earth did you hear all this?”

“The knights stationed here were talking about it,” Malena answered. “Apparently, the story has already spread like wildfire among them.”

“Seems like the rumor traveled faster than its subject,” Odeliana muttered, her lips curling into a bemused smile. She hadn’t sent Matthias off expecting him to return famous, but here he was, already making waves. Perhaps a hero-in-the-making stood out no matter where they went.

“It seems the protagonist of this tale has arrived,” Malena said, standing. “You can hear the details directly from him.”

The sound of approaching footsteps echoed in the hallway. Malena rose, gracefully excusing herself from the room. Odeliana remained seated, her posture tense as she listened to the brief and almost perfunctory exchange of greetings between Malena and Matthias outside. After a pause, the footsteps resumed, stopping just outside the door.

The door creaked open, and Matthias stepped inside. Clad in plate armor, every step he took was marked by the rhythmic clinking of metal. Odeliana straightened slightly, though her gaze remained fixed on him.

“Welcome, Matthias,” she greeted, her voice betraying the tension she felt. It cracked slightly as she spoke, an unexpected vulnerability slipping through.

Matthias didn’t respond immediately. His silence hung heavy in the air, an awkwardness that neither seemed willing to address. The affectionate disciple she remembered was nowhere to be seen. In his place stood a colder, more hardened version of the boy she had once known.

His icy gaze lingered on her leg, which was still wrapped in layers of bandages.