Chapter 378: Clues
Time passed quickly, and soon it was the day of the New Year’s party.
Like last time, the party would be held in the evening, but preparations had already begun that morning.
This event was different from the previous knights’ festival. This time, it was personally hosted by the current King. It was more grand, more prestigious, and every guest invited was someone of high status. If one didn’t prepare their appearance well, at best they would look out of place compared to others. At worst, it would be seen as disrespect toward the King and the many nobles attending.
Evelia woke up early, sitting on Armand’s bed and letting out a yawn.
But even though she had woken up while it was still barely light outside, Armand had been up much earlier.
The security arrangements for the entire ball were under his responsibility. To ensure the safety of the old King, who rarely appeared in public, the officials close to the King had ordered that most of the knights be stationed around him.
At first, Armand had opposed this plan, believing the entire royal palace needed protection and that placing so many guards in one area was risky. But even as the captain of the Royal Knights, he could only follow the orders of those “above” him.
“Don’t you think it’s strange?”
In his office, Carle had brought up the question.
Although Armand had already told Carle to take time off, as one of the invited guests to the New Year’s party, Carle still needed to prepare. And as the vice captain of the knights, he was supposed to discuss important matters like this with Armand. But no matter what suggestions they gave, all of them had been rejected by the King’s officials.
“…Haa…”
At that time, Armand was pressing his fingers to his temples, his brows furrowed tightly.
“You okay? You’ve barely said anything since this morning.”
Carle turned slightly and poured him a cup of hot tea. But Armand didn’t seem like he planned to drink it. He just kept his eyes fixed on the cup in front of him.
To be honest, he had a headache.
Both physically and mentally, his head hurt.
The day was bitterly cold. When he had stepped down from the carriage earlier, a sharp gust of wind had hit him, and his temples had been aching ever since.
Maybe his old illness was acting up again. One hand rubbed at his head, the other pressed against his stomach under the desk. Even though he hadn’t eaten much that morning, he still felt nauseous.
“What a shame… at a time like this, I can’t even take sick leave.”
Armand let out a long sigh, rubbing his face hard enough to make his cheeks turn red. His hair fringe lifted slightly from the motion.
“Yeah, this is the kind of thing you can’t get out of. You just have to endure it.”
When it came to the King’s arrangements, Carle had no way to resist either.
If it had been an order from one of the princes, he might have pushed back a little. But the King was still the country’s absolute ruler, and he didn’t dare defy him.
“Is your whole family going?”
Leaning back in his chair, Armand reached for the cup of hot tea and blew on it.
“Yeah. Me, my wife, and my daughter, we’re all going.”
“Annoying.”
“Yeah.”
Carle sat on the edge of the desk. His expression didn’t change much, but his tone made it clear he was unhappy.
“I don’t want to throw my daughter into that social circle when she’s still so young. Just thinking about it makes me sick.”
Carle had never been close with the nobles. Even though, as a businessman, he was supposed to maintain good relations with his wealthy clients, he clearly disliked those nobles who showed one face in public and another in private.
If Carle really had to deal with them, he definitely wouldn’t be able to stop himself from making sarcastic comments. Saying it wouldn’t affect business would be a lie.
So, to avoid harming his family’s business, Carle simply chose not to interact with them. It was better to be seen as a “cold and aloof young master” than as an “arrogant businessman.” After all, a little mystery wouldn’t hurt his ability to make money.
“Rachel too, she’s still so young… I don’t want her getting too involved either. It’s better if she only attends as my daughter.”
Armand’s thoughts weren’t much different from Carle’s. He disliked the nobles, hated the social culture, and didn’t want Rachel to be exposed to such things at such a young age. But more than that, what Armand cared about was their relationship and her identity.
The title of Captain of the Royal Knights sounded impressive, but in truth it made him an easy target. Armand didn’t want Rachel’s appearance to draw the attention of certain political factions.
But when a royal decree was issued, there was no way to refuse.
“Speaking of which, Armand…”
Carle sat on the desk, idly spinning a pen that had already run out of ink, as if trying to pass the time.
“Mm? What is it?”
Armand leaned forward, resting his head on his arm and pushing the inkwell to the side.
“Your Rachel… that child, do you think…”
Carle’s words trailed off. It was unclear if he was leaving room for Armand to answer or if he just didn’t know how to phrase it.
“……”
Armand didn’t answer right away. He simply turned his gaze to the side, staring at a random corner of the room.
“Looks like you’ve noticed something.”
“…Maybe.”
Carle and Armand had both picked up on small clues that Rachel wasn’t an ordinary child.
Whether it was the way she spoke, her thoroughness in doing things, or her understanding of the subtle, unspoken rules between adults, things a normal child could never fully grasp, Rachel showed signs in small details that she was different from other kids her age.
Rachel worked hard to handle everything with care, but it was precisely this carefulness that made Carle and Armand notice her unusual traits.
After all, they were the two highest-ranking leaders of the Knights. Without a certain level of observation skills, they could never have reached their positions.
Carle’s observation skills were sharper than Armand’s. He often silently noticed little details that others ignored, a “professional instinct” he had developed as a businessman.
But Carle had far less information than Armand. He noticed Rachel’s differences but didn’t know the reason behind them or how she managed to be that way. It would never occur to him to suspect something like alchemy.
Armand, however, was different. Because of Evelia’s confession, he knew about the kind of alchemy that could change a person’s body. That was why he had already started paying attention to Rachel even before winter came.
But he never said anything, never asked anything. He simply treated her as a child, nothing more.
Even now, Armand still treated Rachel as just a little girl, doing his best to take care of her. Perhaps as a way to make up for the childhood he could never have again.
“Maybe it’s just that she’s too mature? She is a stray child, after all. Kids like that often grow up fast.”
Armand chuckled, offering an excuse that, to Carle, didn’t really explain much.
To Carle, it was simply a way for Armand to avoid the topic.
“I see. Well, that’s true.”
Carle understood what he meant and let the matter drop without asking further.
Armand did the same, leaving his suspicions as nothing more than guesses.
Maybe it was just greed, greed for the fact that for now he still had a family.
Even if, when you looked closely, what he had was just a patchwork version of warmth.