Chapter 75

In this place, the residential district reserved for nobles and the upper class was known distinctly as Royal Town. Fewer than a hundred individuals currently resided in the Eisenwald Royal Town, and even with their attendants included, the population scarcely surpassed three hundred.

Though sparsely populated, the area spanned a generous stretch of land, making it a perfect retreat for a leisurely, unhurried life. Nearly all conveniences were readily available, and refined diversions abounded. The original plan had been to spend time within Royal Town itself, but knowing the unspoken burdens Matthias carried, they had opted for a quieter place on the outskirts.

“Do you still have people offering to sponsor you these days?” Odelliana asked.

“Since the investiture, it has slowed somewhat,” Matthias replied, “but it hasn’t stopped entirely.”

“Well, I suppose that’s something,” she murmured.

After the incident where Matthias had caused a stir by presenting the sacred letter, she had hoped that the would-be sponsors would finally back off. But demand for a young, capable knight remained high. Some traveled from distant provinces just to seek him out. It might have been tolerable if all they wanted was to support his career, but a troubling number had intentions that were far from noble.

Some offered him money in exchange for a single night. Others sent invitations to vulgar gatherings meant for unmarried men and women. Even elderly noblemen had tried to entice him with offers of indulgent hospitality. Those least interested in his talent were often the most brazen and disrespectful.

Filthy bastards.

It was painful to admit they couldn’t fend off every one of those creeping advances. The reality was filthier than she had imagined. Odelliana had always known that many of those who played the part of high society were, behind the curtain, reveling in debauchery. But to think they would extend their hands toward a boy who hadn’t even reached adulthood—it was beyond contempt.

“At the very least,” she said, voice cool and steady, “you won’t find anyone here trying to buy you with money. So don’t worry. Of course, there may still be the occasional fool who tries to pick a fight, but… they’re not people you need to concern yourself with.”

At her words, Matthias stopped walking and turned to look at her. Amusement flickered in his eyes as he let out a quiet laugh.

“You really do know everything about your disciple, Master,” he said.

“Even when I don’t want to hear it, the rumors find their way to me,” she replied dryly.

“I didn’t intend for any of that to reach you.”

“I know. Still, for you, those things must have become a kind of daily routine. Maybe it’s a fate you have no choice but to endure, having been born so beautiful and magnetic. It isn’t your fault that some people would throw money at you just to possess you.”

Matthias tilted his head slightly, his voice quieter now. “Were you worried I might stray down the wrong path?”

Though the series of incidents Matthias had endured were by no means insignificant, he spoke of them as if recounting someone else’s life. That detached composure, the way he brushed off the severity of it all, was quietly heartbreaking. Even without knowing every detail, Odelliana could sense that this was far from the first time he had been treated as some nobleman’s plaything.

“I never believed you would truly go astray,” she said softly. “But imagining what you’ve had to bear in such an unjust situation… it hurts.”

Matthias remained silent.

“Honestly,” she continued, “if you told me you wanted to strangle every one of them, I wouldn’t blame you. But the law doesn’t work like that. What angers me is how those wretched men are protected by it, while you are not. I brought you here, and yet I can’t even protect you as your guardian. That helplessness—it makes me furious. And ashamed.”

What they had done was clearly immoral, yet the law offered them no consequence. And because they knew that, they never hesitated to direct their filth toward Matthias.

It was despicable, but there was no recourse. The power the noble class held was simply too great to challenge through personal means.

“I’ve worried every day,” she said quietly. “Ever since I learned what happened to you.”

“You don’t need to feel guilty, Master,” Matthias replied. His voice was calm, almost indifferent. “To be honest, it’s not something worth troubling yourself over. It barely qualifies as a real concern.”

“Even so…”

“Please, don’t worry,” he said, meeting her eyes for a moment. “I won’t become a burden to you. I won’t fall for their disgusting schemes, and I won’t act out of rage and do something I’ll regret. No matter what they offer me, I’ll stay by your side. I have no interest in people so pathetic they try to measure someone’s worth with money. And besides…”

His voice dropped to a murmur.

“We are bound by a vow, are we not?”

As he spoke, he reached out and gently laced his fingers through hers. The gesture carried quiet weight, as though to say, Do not forget this.

The warmth of his touch brought her back to the moment he had told her to remember the feel of his hand—just before death. That memory lingered now in the press of his fingers.

With his eyes still fixed ahead, Matthias began to move again, weaving calmly through the crowd. He focused on clearing a path so that Odelliana could walk without trouble. Perhaps it was the density of the people, but despite his composed expression, there was something slightly sharper in his demeanor than usual.

“What should we do first?” Odelliana asked as they moved along the quiet street.

“Whatever Master wishes to do,” Matthias replied without hesitation.

“Then how about we start with a meal?”

“Is there something you’d like to eat?”

Matthias paused thoughtfully, then admitted, “Mm, truthfully, I’d rather have a drink than food.”

“…Alcohol?” Odelliana raised an eyebrow.

“Of course, not for you,” he added lightly.

“Why not?” he asked, his tone more clipped this time.

“Because you’re underage,” she said plainly.

He furrowed his brow, just enough to show his displeasure. It wasn’t the restriction on drinking that bothered him. It was the implication—that he was still a child in her eyes.

“I’m not as young as you think I am, Master,” he said quietly.

“Whatever might be hidden beneath the surface, right now you’re a seventeen-year-old boy,” she replied. “That’s what I see, and the law sees it the same way. Serving alcohol to a minor is forbidden.”

With a quiet sigh, Matthias stopped briefly to survey their surroundings. After a moment, he chose a direction and began walking again, his stride steady.

“…Understood,” he said. “Let’s go to a tavern that serves both food and drink. I know one. I’ll take you there.”

The tavern he led her to was one frequently visited by the knights. It was larger than the neighboring buildings, with a wide interior that could accommodate plenty of patrons. According to Matthias, it was the usual spot for post-training meals. The menu was varied, and given that the place attracted knights, mercenaries, and travelers alike, it was also a convenient place to catch whispers of useful information.

They found a quiet table tucked into a corner. Once seated, Odelliana slipped off the robe that had been pulled up over her head. Matthias took it from her without a word, folding it neatly and setting it at his side—a lingering habit from his days as a retainer, still intact.

“Shall we order?” he asked, looking to her for direction once again.

Odelliana nodded and gave her selections to the server: a bottle of rum, an apple juice, grilled fish marinated in lemon, and a slice of apple pie.

Come to think of it, she mused, it’s been a while since I last ate with Matthias in a place like this.

During expeditions, they often camped in the open or stayed at modest inns, and it wasn’t unusual for their meals to be taken at taverns. Those evenings almost always turned into drinking parties. Yet, if she recalled correctly, Matthias had never shown much enthusiasm for the food—or the alcohol. Back then, she used to wonder what use a man with such a picky appetite could possibly be. Now, knowing what he truly was, it made more sense.

“If you don’t feel like eating,” she said gently, “you don’t have to force yourself.”

He glanced at her, curious. “Why bring that up now?”

“I was just wondering,” she replied, “if human food really suits your taste.”

“It’s not that I dislike it,” Matthias explained. “It’s just that I don’t need to eat in order to live. But I’m actually quite familiar with human food culture. It’s what I’ve known the longest.”

Odelliana studied him, intrigued. There was something oddly gentle in his manner, and she found herself watching him with new interest.

Matthias gave a small laugh as he reached for her glass and filled it with water.

“Are you finally curious about me, Master?” he asked playfully.

“I’ve always been curious,” she replied.

“Then why not ask? If there’s anything you want to know, I’ll answer.”

“I never wanted to pry into anything sensitive,” she said. “Just as you never push into my business, I try to respect your boundaries too.”

There were, of course, countless things she longed to ask. His true form, his origins, the nature of his magic, whether he had any family at all—if she listed them all, the questions would stack high enough to reach the sky.

And yet, the thought of truly learning who Matthias was unsettled her more than she expected. Even what little he had already revealed was difficult to digest. The fact that he was powerful enough to intimidate even high-ranking beastkin was more than extraordinary. It was almost unreal.

He probably carries a far more tragic story than I ever will, she thought, her gaze drifting toward him. But is there any need to uncover it?

The boy sitting across from her now was not some legendary creature or fearsome magical entity. He was simply Matthias. A seventeen-year-old who, above all else, needed someone to protect him.

“If you wish,” he said quietly, breaking the silence, “I could show you.”

Odelliana looked up, startled. “…What?”

“My true form,” Matthias replied, his voice steady. “Without this human disguise.”