The World Has Become Kinder to Her

“My lady!”  

Rutin hurriedly supported her as she stumbled, his youthful face full of concern.  

‘Does she… dislike water, perhaps?’ he wondered, struggling to make sense of the situation.  

Rutin, at just twenty years old, was a competent knight for his age. By chance, he had caught the faint sound of sobbing coming from the carriage earlier. It had been barely audible, as if she had been crying with her mouth covered—something even a knight wouldn’t have picked up on unless they were paying close attention.  

‘My lady…’  

He recalled how Lotus’s face had been clouded with weariness when she stepped into the carriage. Like a flower battered by wind and rain, she seemed exhausted, and there had been a small scratch on her right cheek as well.  

‘Something must have happened at the tea party.’  

Rutin had heard a few stories about the capital from people more familiar with its intrigues. Words could sometimes be sharper than swords.  

The social battles between noblewomen in the capital were said to be as fierce as duels between men.  

‘Ruining dresses or jewelry and offering veiled insults with a smile. It’s more than that young lady could handle.’

Contrary to Lotus’s assumptions, Rutin actually found himself liking her from the moment they met.  

Hession had offered favorable terms when hiring them, and the person they were assigned to protect was not only beautiful but didn’t seem to have a prickly demeanor.  

However, hearing her cry had made Rutin uneasy. Should he simply pretend not to notice?  

As he mulled this over, he caught sight of the stunning Venus River glimmering in the sunset’s light. It was his first time in the capital, and the view was truly breathtaking. He had hoped that showing this to the lady might lift her spirits—nothing more.

“Are you alright, my lady?” he asked.  

He hadn’t expected this kind of reaction.

“Yes, I’m fine…”  

Her pale face and unsteady voice, however, were far from convincing.  

This must be why Sior and Millen, more experienced knights, had warned him not to act impulsively and simply focus on guarding her.

While Rutin was still at a loss, Sior and Millen approached, concerned.  

“My lady, are you alright?”  

“Yes, my legs just gave out for a moment. I’m not very strong,” Lotus said.

It wasn’t hard for Rutin, Sior, or Millen to see through the lie.  

Her small face was etched with fear. Rutin spoke in an awkward, apologetic tone.  

“I’m sorry, my lady. You didn’t seem well, so I thought the beautiful scenery might help improve your mood.”

Lotus blinked at him, clearly surprised. Her face, still pale, now held a look of astonishment.  

“You… were concerned about my mood, Sir?”  

“Y-yes. You looked troubled from the moment you boarded the carriage,” Rutin stammered, unable to mention that he had heard her crying.

Lotus, still confused, asked another question.  

“Did my brother instruct you to consider such details?”

“Huh? I’m not sure what you mean, my lady,” Rutin replied, puzzled by her implication.

Before he could clarify, Sior, the oldest and most experienced knight, stepped in to explain.  

“If I may answer, my lady.”  

“Please, go ahead, Sir Sior.”  

“Several days ago, the young marquis suddenly arrived at the estate and held a selection trial for the knights. The requirements were strict—only sword experts or higher were eligible, and the candidates had to be both diligent and free from vices like drinking or chasing women.”

Those were indeed strict conditions, which led many to believe that Hession was recruiting knights for his own personal guard.  

“Seven knights were tested in duels against the young marquis as part of the trial.”

Given that Hession was the deputy commander of the sixth imperial knight order and an esteemed knight of the empire, personally crossing swords with him was the best way to assess the candidates’ skill.  

“In the end, Sir Millen, Sir Rutin—who is the youngest knight of the estate—and I were chosen. Afterward, the young marquis asked us to be your personal escort.”

“He asked you?”  

“Yes. He asked us to take good care of you, to treat you with respect, and to beat up anyone who tried to approach you against your will—so long as we had the ability,” Sior said with a straight face.

“…Beat them up?” 

“Yes, that’s exactly what he said, my lady,” Sior replied. “As for the instructions you mentioned, there were none like that. However, Rutin is young and eager, so he may have acted out of enthusiasm. If his unnecessary actions have upset you, please forgive him.”

“No, it’s not that, Sir…”  

A single tear gathered in Lotus’s emerald eyes, shimmering with the light of the sunset.  

“Sir Rutin was just too kind.”  

The word “kind” carried a weight of sadness, as if it had taken on a sorrowful meaning over time.  

Rutin bit his lip unconsciously, and Sior and Millen exchanged glances, their expressions tinged with melancholy.  

Unlike Rutin, Sior and Millen had enough experience to understand why Lotus might feel this way.  

The bastard daughter of the Marquis, a woman who had struggled to be recognized for so long—of course, she would carry many scars.

“I should be thanking you for that kindness, but instead, I’ve only caused you more worry due to my poor health,” Lotus said. By the time she spoke, both the sadness and fear had retreated behind a faint, serene smile.

“No, my lady, not at all,” Rutin replied hastily.

“Is this your first time in the capital, Sir Rutin?” Lotus asked, changing the subject.

“Yes, I was born and raised in the Estelle Marquisate,” he answered.

“I’ve read that it’s a beautiful place in books, and seeing you makes me certain it must be. It sounds like a wonderful place,” she said.

“Thank you, my lady. It is a great place to live, but I wanted to improve my swordsmanship and broaden my experience, so I came here,” Rutin replied.

“I don’t know much about swordsmanship, but I’m sure you’ll improve, Sir Rutin. You have an openness about you,” Lotus said with a bright smile that matched the glow of the setting sun perfectly, making Rutin’s heart flutter.

“Both my brother and Sir Kenneth, who will be staying at the estate for a while due to work, are excellent swordsmen. If you ever need their advice, don’t hesitate to ask. You can even mention my name once or twice—but no more than that,” she teased with a playful smile.

“R-really?” Rutin’s eyes widened in surprise, as though he couldn’t believe his luck. Sior and Millen exchanged glances again, astonished.

“It’s not much of a reward for showing me the beautiful sunset, but I hope it’s enough,” Lotus said softly.

“This is more than enough! I’m so lucky, right on my first day!” Rutin exclaimed, his face beaming.

“The Venus River is a popular spot for families and couples because both the sunset and the night view are stunning. Perhaps you’ll bring someone special here one day when you’re on leave. For now, let’s head back,” Lotus said as she stepped back into the carriage.

As she did, Sior fell into thought.  

The young lady they were assigned to protect was peculiar. Despite her youth, she was unpredictable.  

Her earlier reaction to the river had been the epitome of fragility, but the calm and resolute demeanor she regained afterward resembled that of a seasoned knight. And the way she mentioned her brother and Sir Kenneth made her seem like a shrewd noblewoman.  

Regardless, the favor she offered Rutin was an appealing reward for a knight, and Sior found himself feeling a little envious.  

‘Maybe I should start practicing kindness too…’

***

The carriage arrived at the Estelle Marquisate just before nightfall, during that brief moment when the remaining light fought not to be swallowed by the dark. As Lotus stepped down from the carriage with Rutin’s assistance, she noticed someone standing in front of the main gate.

“Brother?”  

“Greetings, young marquis,” Rutin and the other knights saluted.

Hession, the deputy commander of the Sixth Imperial Knight Order, who usually returned home late from the palace, seemed to have come back a bit earlier today.  

In his hands was a bouquet of lotus flowers and hydrangeas, their colors resembling both his and Lotus’s hair.

He approached her, handing over the beautiful bouquet with a smile.  

“I heard you attended the tea party at the Cabella Duchy. It’s your first official event since your debut, right? Congratulations…”  

But as he spoke, Hession’s eyes caught sight of Lotus’s swollen cheek and red eyes. The scratch on her cheek was unmistakable.

His rough, calloused hand, trained from years of wielding a sword, gently brushed against her tender cheek.  

Lotus knew that Hession had noticed. She saw the way his green eyes, so similar to hers, darkened with anger.

In an attempt to divert his attention, Lotus spoke in a slightly brighter voice than usual.  

“Thank you for the flowers, brother. I didn’t expect you to go to so much trouble for me.”

Hession opened his mouth as if to say something, but then closed it, seemingly thinking better of it.

Lotus felt a flicker of anger as she sensed Hession’s reaction, but he wasn’t about to lose his temper and ask her who had hit her in front of the gathered knights and staff. It was wiser to save such questions for a private moment between the two of them.

“How are the knights treating you?” he asked.

“I’ve actually been meaning to talk to you about that. The knights you assigned to me are far too skilled,” she replied.

“Too skilled?”  

Hession’s gaze turned icy as he looked over the knights standing behind Lotus. Rutin, feeling the weight of that cold stare, visibly stiffened.

“I mean it in a good way,” Lotus quickly added.

With that explanation, the chill in Hession’s eyes seemed to lessen slightly.

“You haven’t had dinner yet, have you? If you can spare me some time, I’ll come find you after I’ve eaten,” she suggested.

“…If you’re up for it, how about we eat together?” he asked hopefully.

“Another time. I’m a bit tired from going out, and I’d prefer to take it easy tonight,” Lotus replied.

“Alright, I understand,” Hession said, though he couldn’t hide his disappointment. He had hoped to spend more time with her, but he took comfort in the fact that she had at least accepted the flowers and initiated a conversation with him about the knights. A few weeks ago, such a gesture would have been unimaginable.

As Lotus made her way up to her third-floor bedroom, Jane, her maid, met her on the staircase and asked cautiously, “Did you have a good time, my lady?”

“It was alright,” Lotus answered nonchalantly.

Her response sounded normal enough, and Jane almost felt reassured. But then she noticed the slight swelling on Lotus’s right cheek. Being a noble-born maid, Jane understood all too well what such a mark could mean.

‘…My lady,’ Jane thought with concern.

While the atmosphere in the Marquisate seemed to be changing, the outside world’s view of Lotus probably hadn’t shifted much. At the slightest provocation, there would always be those who would insult or mistreat her because of her status as a bastard.  

‘If only they could dream the way I do. If they could feel even a little of her sorrow, they wouldn’t treat her that way.’

But as a mere maid in the Marquisate, there wasn’t much Jane could do. She quietly helped Lotus out of her dress and removed her makeup. 

Lotus then soaked in the warmth of a bath, letting it wash away some of her fatigue. Afterward, she filled her stomach with a soft potato salad and stew before heading to Hession’s office.

‘Come to think of it, I didn’t see Kenneth at all today,’ Lotus mused.

Even when she had been absorbed in her books, she had occasionally run into him when going downstairs to grab a newspaper or when taking a short walk through the hallways.  

One of the downsides of attending tea parties or banquets was how much time they consumed. Preparing and attending took up most of the day, and today had been no exception.

‘I didn’t even get a chance to visit Frederick’s room or talk to Mr. Manores,’ Lotus thought with mild frustration. 

After her talk with Hession, she would stop by Frederick’s room. After all, he had collapsed because of her, and it seemed proper to check on him at least once a day.  

She also needed to apologize to Mr. Manores for missing their conversation.

Just as she was deep in thought and walking down the hallway, a dark shadow loomed in front of her.