The knights were on full alert, as if a royal figure were passing by.
‘Surely they’re not doing this because of me, standing under this scorching sun?’
The salon employee following me hesitated, overwhelmed by the intense atmosphere that felt like warriors preparing for battle. She gave me a questioning look, as if asking what was going on.
Just as I was about to avoid answering with an awkward smile, Rail came running so fast that his tie fluttered in the wind. He stopped right in front of me, slightly out of breath, wiping the sweat off his forehead.
“My Lady, if you enter the knights’ building, I will send them in one by one.”
“If you could do that, I’d be grateful.”
I was already feeling overwhelmed by the knights’ rigid demeanor.
“Then, I’ll leave it to you, Rail.”
I patted his shoulder and headed toward the building with the salon employee. As I changed direction, the knights all turned their heads in unison, staring at me in bewilderment.
Did they expect me to go there and greet them with some kind of military salute? I wasn’t a knight or a superior officer—I was just an ordinary woman.
Recalling how absentminded the knights had been the previous day, I grew increasingly concerned about the discipline among the private soldiers of the Mipedian Duchy.
Just as I was about to enter the building, I noticed Rail smacking someone on the back, scolding them for being useless. I was slightly taken aback but chose to ignore it and stepped inside to avoid the knights’ piercing gazes.
“Come in.”
I clipped the prepared questionnaire onto a clipboard and called for the waiting knight outside. Considering the afternoon training schedule, I planned to meet about ten knights today. One of them entered, rubbing his back.
I was surprised to see an identical face walk in.
‘Because there are two Rails…? No, it’s his twin brother, Tale.’
It seemed that Tale had been the one who got smacked by Rail at the training ground.
Rail practically dragged him in front of me like a piece of luggage. Tale shot him a resentful glare and brushed off his sleeves where he had been grabbed. Rail clicked his tongue in annoyance before quickly changing his expression and offering me a friendly smile—the butler-like demeanor I was familiar with.
“My Lady, I will take my leave now. I will have the knights wait, so call me when you’re finished.”
“Thank you.”
As Rail bowed and turned away, I pulled over a drum chair and sat down.
Unlike Rail, who was composed and refined, Tale stood there with his hands behind his back, giving off a rebellious air.
“I didn’t get to properly greet you yesterday. You must be Rail’s older brother, Tale?”
At that moment, I realized that a person’s expression could crumble like a collapsing stone tower.
Rail, who had been heading for the door, turned back to me with a look of utter despair. His monocle slipped from his eye socket and clattered onto his shoe.
‘Why is he reacting like that?’
Meanwhile, Tale’s face was filled with triumphant satisfaction. He slithered up to Rail like a snake and patted his shoulder.
“As you said, she truly has keen insight.”
It was then that I understood. These twin brothers were engaged in a meaningless battle for dominance.
Tale’s smug grin was irritating, even as an observer. It was enough to make the usually composed Rail stomp on Tale’s foot before leaving.
“Ahh! That bastard—!”
Tale hopped in place, clutching his foot, before awkwardly smiling when he met my gaze. I smiled to myself, deciding to cheer Rail up later.
“Tale, let’s start by taking your measurements.”
After finishing my session with Tale, I continued my interviews with the knights one by one. They followed my instructions rigidly, as if frozen in place. Whenever I asked a question, they answered mechanically, like phonographs, their eyes vacant.
At first, I thought they were just nervous around a woman, unable to even make eye contact.
‘But as expected…’
I subtly glanced toward the back of the room.
Edmund was leaning against the wall, watching me closely.
Just as I was about to meet the third knight, Edmund had finished his work early and arrived. When I asked why he was there, he cast me a doubtful look and said, “I can’t leave the Countess alone with the knights, so I’m here to keep watch.”
Did he think I was going to harass his subordinates or something?
I wasn’t trying to seduce them—I was just gathering data!
Though I was indignant, his presence did help maintain discipline. Under his watchful eyes, I was able to remain unfazed, even when faced with the knights’ impressive physiques.
Honestly, even I was surprised. Despite seeing the bodies sculpted by rigorous training, I felt nothing. Perhaps it was because I was already familiar with Edmund’s rock-solid chest and sculpted abs. My standards had risen so high that ordinary men no longer impressed me.
‘He really is a man who causes trouble in many ways.’
After sending off the ninth knight, I called in the last one.
“Come in.”
As the final knight hesitantly stepped inside, the temperature in the room seemed to drop.
I suddenly felt a chill and rubbed my arms before widening my eyes in recognition.
‘Oh, that knight…’
He was the handsome knight who had caused me to argue with Edmund the previous day.
According to his file, he was a noble-born knight who had been raised in a wealthy and proper household. Even now, he hesitated at the doorway.
“I’m not going to eat you. You can come in.”
Instead of answering, he glanced at the wall—as if seeking permission from Edmund. Edmund shot him an icy glare before giving him a brief nod. The knight, looking like a frightened rabbit, cautiously stepped inside.
Our brief yet suffocating conversation ended quickly, and the knight bolted out, pale as a ghost. His answers had been vague at best.
I let out a deep sigh.
‘At this rate, they’ll all pretend to be sick to avoid cooperating.’
Leaving the salon employee to wrap things up, I exited the room. Edmund naturally followed me.
Hugging my clipboard, I said as we left the training ground, “Dear younger brother, please don’t come for the next few days.”
Edmund suddenly stopped, looking utterly shocked.
“Why…?”
“How can they focus when their superior is glaring at them from behind? They’re too scared to answer properly.”
Edmund rubbed his furrowed brows, looking troubled. Then, with a deep sigh, he relented.
“…Alright.”
His expression was so crestfallen that I curiously asked, “Are you afraid I’ll steal your men?”
“Well, that’s not entirely untrue.”
I pursed my lips in amusement. Maybe I should actually seduce one of them just to prove him right.
As I mused, Edmund muttered gravely, “You do like handsome men.”
“…Well, yes.”
“And you like well-built ones even more.”
“…That’s also true.”
Edmund narrowed his eyes. “How can I possibly relax?”
“I can’t relax because of this.”
“……”
Edmund spoke as if I were a child who would follow anyone offering me candy without hesitation.
Was he really worried that a grown woman like me would chase after someone just because they’re handsome and muscular? I mean, come on. That’s just—
‘…Not entirely impossible.’
I inwardly admired Edmund’s sharp insight and tried to hide my embarrassment with a light cough.
“Ahem, still, please try to hold back for the next few days. The knights tremble in fear just from seeing you.”
“Sigh, fine. I’ll try.”
He muttered, barely loud enough to hear, that his patience had been improving lately. Then he grabbed the slightly open collar of his shirt and flapped it to cool himself off.
The thin silk shirt subtly revealed some skin. As it moved, his thick chest muscles peeked through—sensual and striking.
I stared blankly at his chest, then flinched when I felt Edmund’s gaze.
I quickly turned away, trying to ignore how my eyes kept drifting to his stunning chest.
“Ahem, let’s go.”
Then I heard a soft chuckle from behind. He also murmured something about how the workouts had paid off.
But by the time we reached the mansion, the air around him had turned sharper than usual.
“Count.”
“Yes?”
“This may be unpleasant to hear, but it’s something you need to know.”
“What is it?”
Once we entered the mansion garden, I glanced at him and asked.
“Did you know that Devon’s trial ended with a sentence of about 50 years in prison?”
“I read about it in the papers.”
My revenge was complete only after Devon was put behind bars. A retrial had been held, and the judge, who was displeased by his appeal, gave him an even harsher sentence. I remembered it clearly, since I had asked my maid to read the article out loud—I didn’t even want to read it myself. It had been incredibly satisfying.
I held back another smile as I spoke.
“And why are you telling me this?”
“Recently, that man applied for temporary release to attend Baroness Dien’s funeral.”
“But I didn’t see him at the funeral.”
“He was denied. They thought he might try to escape.”
“I see.”
I answered calmly, though my mood had turned more serious. Even though Devon didn’t get what he wanted, I couldn’t feel purely happy. Still, not being able to see his mother one last time—that was his own punishment.
