The End of Your Arrogance - Chapter 13.1

Nazz bowed his head. “Madam.”

“Sir Nazz. It’s been too long.” Evelyn relaxed a little when she saw a familiar face.

Ilya waved his hand. “Nazz, will you leave us?”

Nazz looked at Ilya worriedly. He bowed and then left. There was silence in the office.

“I didn’t expect you to come all this way,” said Ilya.

“I am sorry. I tried not to but…”

“I wasn’t scorning you for coming here,” said Ilya gently.

Evelyn took off her veil that covered her face. Ilya raised an eyebrow as she saw the bruise on her face. It would leave a scar.

“What in the world happened?” he growled.

Evelyn’s eyes were lowered. She looked up at him slowly. “My brother is a greedy man. But he is also fearful and paranoid.”

“What does that have to do with that bastard beating you up?” Ilya seethed.

“I tried to drive a wedge between him and my father. I didn’t expect him to hit my maid.”

“Did I ever tell you to do such a thing?” His eyes were fierce.

“You forget that you don’t get to tell me what to do and what not to do,” she said. “But I promised I would act as a spy for you. I know my brother the best. I wanted to do something.”

Ilya’s face stiffened. “All you think about is that stupid deal we made so that you can leave here as quickly as possible.”

Evelyn lowered her head, unable to meet his eyes. She felt her palms sweat.

Ilya sighed. “Even if you don’t hurry, Ayatollah Maduse will die by my hands soon.”

“I am sorry. Because of me, Arthus…” Her voice broke. This is not the time to cry, Evellyn chided herself. She looked at Ilya’s cold face.

“Arthus hasn’t even been promoted to full knighthood. Please stop this fight. You can do it, can’t you?” she pleaded.

“Nazz and the deputy tried but he was unwilling to step down. I cannot do anything about it. He has made his choice,” said Ilya, his tone kind. “Arthus is your knight. No knight would stand down if someone else lays a hand on the lady he is supposed to guard.”

“But—”

“I know. But the kid will do what he must. Don’t feel sorry for him. He won’t like it.”

The knight and his lady. She thought it was something that sounded like a fairytale. But it seemed it meant more to the knights than expected. Maybe because he was so straightforward with her, Ilya’s words comforted her.

He reached out and she flinched. His touch was soft on her cheek. “Has this… happened before?”

Evelyn lowered her head. She didn’t know how to tell him that she wasn’t the loved and spoiled princess that he always thought she was. She didn’t know how to tell him that she had always been beaten like an animal until she left.

He stood up and walked towards her. Evelyn slowly raised her head. “Have you ever gone hunting before?” he asked.

“No… not once.”

Evelyn couldn’t read his face at that moment. The way he looked at her. He offered her his arm, and she took it. They walked to the small room inside the office. She saw many weapons hung on the wall with skin of hunted beasts. Ilya stopped and unhooked a weapon from the wall.

“A bow?”

“A crossbow. It was a favored weapon of the founding father of the Aujantice bloodline. From what I know, he enjoyed going hunting with his wife.”

Evelyn could not tell the difference between a bow and a crossbow, but she quietly listened to him talk. Ilya held her hands and led her to the window. He handed the crossbow to her.

“Do you want to try?”

“Huh? My father never let me near a weapon… since I’m a woman,” Evelyn stammered. She had never had anyone even ask her something like that.

He chuckled. “You father is an idiot. Sir Beline will throw up if he hears that,” he said. “Here. Try. You can do it.”

What if I drop it? Evelyn took in a deep breath and held the crossbow. This is… so light. She lifted the weapon to her eye-level and looked at the weapon in confusion.

“Perhaps I am stronger than I thought,” she said.

“The weapon has a weightless spell cast on it,” he said.

Evelyn was disappointed. Ilya stood behind her and placed his arms on her hands. “But that doesn’t mean you aren’t strong.”

“Raise it to your eye-level,” he said, while helping her hands up. “Hold the bottom with your left hand.” He grabbed Evelyn’s left arm and adjusted the weapon. He then adjusted her right hand which was on the trigger.