Chapter 19: 19

Chapter 19

Alan might have a lack of interest in the gladiatorial game, but it was a completely different matter for a merchant to mock the duke. 

During the carnival season, gladiators were treated as players, not slaves. Unfair corporal punishment was not allowed right before the festival, as physical damage could disrupt the game.

“Thi, this is during training…”

“How many years have I been on the battlefield, do you think I can’t tell? There’s a degree of being ridiculous.”

As the president glossed over and lied, the more Alan raised his eyebrows and stared more and more harshly.

“Besides, it looks like a wound that just happened. Surely you didn’t cause a commotion in my castle, did you?”

“Tha, that!”

Hopeless. It was a stage where no more excuses worked.

“Nike.”

“Yes!”

Nike, who was standing next to him, answered quickly. Alan glanced at Benny indifferently.

“The Bauner family supports him. However, I can’t believe the place he’s staying right now.”” 

“Yes! We will move the training camp right away!”

The president of the training center, who was sweating profusely, sat down in his place.

It was unusual to move slave gladiator training camps. Rumors that he had incurred the duke’s wrath would spread quickly.

‘In other words, his business is dead.’

“Ah, right, Duke. If you want to move the training camp, you have to pay the ransom to buy this laborer.”

Nike scratched his head. Upon hearing his words, the president of the training center suddenly raised his head.

“Yes, yes! Yes. Actually, that guy is quite expensive. Just by looking at him, doesn’t he look pretty good?”

There was still a chance for revival. The duke only buys slaves expensively. Maybe they could get some money to start over.

It was obvious that he was thinking that way. Then the servant of the Bauner family came in and handed the papers to Nike.

Nike quickly skimmed through the paperwork, and it went well. And then he grinned.

“Ah! I don’t think so. He’s already on the market. You even put a price on it.”

“What?”

“Oh, Father. That is.” 

Klaus was perplexed and looked at his father’s eyes. 

Nike pretended not to see the father-son who had become contemplative and continued to speak naturally. 

“It was… one flora coin.” 

This time, Klaus sank down. 

One flora coin. 

He couldn’t even buy a loaf of bread with it.

*** 

“Do you like this dress?” 

Alan swept down his cravat slowly.

“I’m older than the other dads. I’m afraid you’ll be embarrassed if I appear.”

The black hair of the man who said that brushed against his wonderfully young face.

I barely smiled while puffing my mouth like a carp.

“Dad, you don’t have to worry about that.”

“Really?”

“Yes, what do you mean I’m embarrassed by Dad. There’s no way that’s going to happen. In the first place, Dad…”

You’re handsome. Even if he had wrinkles, it wouldn’t have hidden his beauty. This person doesn’t even know that, does he?

“I haven’t paid much attention to my appearance for the past 10 years, so I can’t seem to get inspiration. Although Nike worked hard…” 

Wow, he really doesn’t know it. 

“I’ll try my best. I can’t help but pay attention to my beautiful daughter.”

Alan took off his leather gloves and stroked my hair affectionately.

I peeked at him while there were only two left.

“Dad, can I go to the gladiator fight?”

Actually, deciding to sponsor the main character was a gamble on my own.

If I just wanted to get Benny’s liking, I just had to be like, ‘Dad! I’ll buy him!’ It would have been better if I had asked him to take him as my slave and treat him well.

But what I wanted was not just a child named Benimus.

‘I want to prove it.’ 

Is Benny really someone who can help me?

‘At least, he needs to win a gladiator match for me to be sure.’

It sounds harsh, but I didn’t have time. Now was the only chance to see if Benny could be as strong as the Duke of Bauner’s family in four years.

So instead of hiding until the end of the meeting, I asked Verney, ‘Make me a princess,’ and came out proudly.

It was an insurance that I had in case I ran into Klaus on the way.

‘I was nervous for a moment, but I didn’t have to.’

Unlike before, Klaus didn’t recognize me.

The child judged others only by clothes, tone of voice, and the gaze of those around him. I laughed inside. 

I laughed inwardly. ‘I’m glad the insurance worked well. It serves you right. Peek-hole eyes.’

Now all that was left was to go see a gladiator match.

I leaned my cheek against Alan’s hand, large enough to cover my entire face, and waited for his answer.

“He’s the gladiator I chose.”

I thought Alan would say, ‘Of course. I’ll have you next to me.’ However…

“It’s not for you to see.”

Uh, not this one.

“It’s too cruel for a child, and above all… the streets of the carnival are crowded. If you leave the castle, I might lose you again.”

As if terrifying to imagine, Alan grabbed my hand.

“Stay home. You’ll have enough fun in the castle.”

Of course, I had no intention of going to the carnival either.

Gladiator fights weren’t considered ‘more interesting’ to me. The only thing I was interested in was the ‘possibility’ of Benimus.

I had to see with my own eyes how strong the protagonist is… so I must watch the carnival gladiator match!

“But…”

“Lily, why did you choose that child?”

That was a surprise. I’d be curious too.

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“Well, that’s… he’s pitiful.”

I couldn’t be honest with him, so I picked the best answer.

“Dad, you don’t like it?”

“His look is a little…”

Really? Even though he was messy, it’s a beauty that couldn’t be hidden even with dripping dirt.

Is it because we have different aesthetic sense?

“If you’re worried about the child, go see him for a while before you go.”

Alan patted my head. This was a clear warning. He was satisfied with my sympathy for a moment, but he couldn’t allow me to leave the castle.

***

“Hey!”

I called until my throat was about to burst, but there was no answer.

Can he not hear it because of the rain?

“Benimus! Benny!”

The boy, drenched in the rain, turned to look at me.

What, he heard me properly.

The knights who were monitoring Benny saw me and made a way.

I gasped on my knees in front of Benny.

It was the first time I’ve ever sprinted in a dress.

A carriage was approaching from the stable street. The servant hanging from the back of the carriage looked at me and took a step back without opening the carriage door.

Nice timing. I would have missed it if I was a little late.

“…How did you know?”

I was wiping my wet forehead with the back of my hand, when I heard a husky voice passing through my ears.

I realized that it was Benny’s voice a little later.

“Huh? What?”

“Just now….”

Benny looked at me puzzledly. His purple eyes were strangely hostile.

“You call me Benny…”

Oops! That’s a nickname!!

“I, I just called it at once. It’s nice to shorten it. How about it? Benibeni. Hehe.”

Even though I laughed awkwardly, Benny was expressionless.

You have no sense of humor. 

I was a little embarrassed, so I spoke hurriedly.

“Hey, how are you? Did you apply any medicine to your injury?”

“…I heard they’ll heal me when I get there.”

“Really? You must be in pain by then…”

I pulled out a cloth bag tied with a ribbon and handed it to Benny.

“Take it.”

Benny just looked at me without receiving the heavy pocket.

As if to confirm that there was no danger, I opened the pocket and showed what was inside.

“It’s not something strange. I’ve put everything you need. With ointment and snacks… eat the chocolate before it melts. Oh! Are you allergic to peanuts?”

In fact, I sent Benny to a dangerous gladiatorial game to prove his potential.

From Benny’s point of view, it’s just an excuse for his situation.

So at least I wanted to give him the best condition.

Even after checking the contents, Benny’s handcuffed hands were still down.

He muttered

“Is that why you look like that just to give me this?”

What do you mean?

While tilting my head, I touched the top of my head and suddenly realized something.

My beautifully curled hair was wet from the rain and all messed up. The white dress I wore was very spotted, and the pair of shoes was worn out from scampering all over the place.

I was somewhat embarrassed. 

I didn’t think I looked like a princess.

“But I didn’t have time to care about it.”

I covered my flushed face with the back of my hand and held out the pocket.

“What if you leave while I was relaxing?”

As soon as I said that, Benny’s expression became grim. It was closer to confusion than anger. He licked his lips and asked the same question as Alan.

“Why… did you choose me?”

This time, I couldn’t give the same answer.

I sighed and rolled my eyes.

“That’s…”

“…Of course because she pitied you! You should be grateful, you brat!”

Nike, who had been following belatedly, gasped out.

I wanted to cover his mouth by taking off my remaining shoes.

“Oh, Princess, how can you be so fast?”

“It, it’s not like that.”

“Eyy, you ran really well. What do you mean no?”

I was frustrated and shouted out loud.

“I didn’t choose him out of pity!”

“What? But you clearly said that to the Duke… “

Ah, this ignorance. Nike, please shut up.

“I’m not. Not because I felt sorry for you, but because I thought he’d win…!”

Thud!

I fell on my butt in the mud.

The medicine and snacks that were packed to the point of bursting from the pocket dropped, scattering in the muddy water.

I grabbed my throbbing shoulders and raised my head blankly.

Benny knocked me over. It happened in an instant.

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