Allen shifted his gaze and sat down with a soft bend of the knees.
He lowered his head.
Before his eyes was a plate already filled with lunch prepared by Sylphy—all his favorite foods.
He had once felt embarrassed about it, thinking it made him seem too much like a "young master." He had even tried to tell Sylphy gently that she didn't have to go through the trouble, that he could do it himself.
But she had refused with a smile.
"Allen, lately you've been really troubled with the Silent Blade. I only know magic, so the only way I can support you is through these simple things. I know what you're thinking—but it's okay."
"This is my 'payment' for the dress you bought me."
At this moment, Allen had originally intended to lift his head and say thank you to her, but after blinking, he instead picked up a piece of bread.
He stiffened his neck and didn't look up.
Ever since half a year ago, when he wrote Sylphy's name on paper, for some reason, every time he saw her face now, he felt this strange sense of "panic"—he would subconsciously avoid her burning gaze.
He could no longer see her as just a child.
Tch...
But at least Sylphy hadn't seemed to notice that he had once again let Eris skip class.
It seemed that helping Eris change clothes and fix her hair while he intentionally didn't change his own clothes had been the right "strategy."
A perfect alibi.
That way...
He didn't have to look into her eyes and explain.
That was harder than achieving Saint-level swordsmanship.
Next to him, Rudy glanced at Allen's expression the entire time and revealed a satisfied smirk.
But then his expression froze.
Because—
He felt a "scorching" gaze.
From beside his ear.
He suddenly turned his head.
And there—
Eris was mimicking Allen's raised-eyebrow expression, narrowing her eyes at Rudy.
Rudy shivered.
Wait! Eris?! You're going to compete over this too??
But then he realized it might not be what he thought.
Because in the next moment, Eris spoke.
Her voice was loud and clear!
It was an explanation—
But also a top-down, commanding declaration of "facts."
"I skipped class today and went to nap in the stables! I didn't go looking for Allen! See? My clothes aren't wet at all!"
As soon as she said this, smack, Allen covered his face and helplessly rubbed it, while Eris watched him proudly, arms crossed, clearly proud that she had perfectly repeated the explanation Allen told her to give.
Look, Allen, I explained it just like you said! Amazing, right?!
Meanwhile, Rudy and Sylphy, who had both witnessed the two training on the rooftop that morning, turned to look at Eris in complete shock.
A flawless alibi!
Those who had watched Conan and those who hadn't both fell silent.
Allen rubbed his face for a long time and finally looked up.
Just as he was about to explain—
He saw Sylphy's ears twitch.
As if she sensed Allen's gaze, she immediately turned her head toward him.
Allen froze, forgetting what he was going to say.
Because—
The wind stirred.
A gentle autumn breeze, carrying the scent of rain-soaked earth.
It touched the curtains in the dining hall—
Swaying and fluttering.
Sunlight spilled across the table.
Maybe it was the clarity of morning sunlight after the rain—
But in that moment—
Allen saw swirling, radiant colors like a rainbow in Sylphy's eyes.
Those beautiful reddish-brown irises.
Within them, light and shadow danced along with the curtain's movement.
And then—
Sylphy's signature soft and gentle voice rang in his ear.
"It's okay."
"Allen."
She smiled, eyes full of warmth, and pointed to the plate before him.
"Start eating, okay? The soup's getting cold."
Allen looked at her and quickly turned his gaze away.
He lowered his head to look at the soup in the bowl.
But in his mind was still that vivid image.
In her eyes...
There was—
His own reflection.
——
"Don't look at the facial expression! Feel the killing intent! Faces can lie, moves might be feints—but killing intent is never fake. Understand?"
Wooden swords clashed, splinters flying.
Allen looked at Eris's eyes, who was now right in front of him, her wooden sword pressing against his with a loud crackle, overwhelmed by the pressure.
Yet Allen's wooden sword didn't budge an inch.
As if—
Only Eris was clashing swords on her own.
Eris stared into his eyes and growled in frustration.
"I'm trying to feel it! But I don't feel anything!"
Allen paused for a moment, then realized something, raising his brows.
He looked down—
At the wooden sword in his hand—
Avoided her gaze—
And then...
Killing intent!
Suddenly surged!
Eris stiffened. Goosebumps raced from her wrists up her arms.
Her keen swordsmanship instincts told her something unspeakably cold had crept up from the blade in front of her.
Sticky.
Cold.
She shivered and clatter, dropped the sword.
Then looked at Allen's eyes.
He raised his eyelids, meeting her gaze.
His "eye expression" looked the same as always.
But in just an instant, the cold had faded.
Eris reflexively looked toward the setting sun.
The sunlight was still warm.
Immediately dispelling the chill.
"Remember this. That's killing intent."
Eris blinked dumbly and nodded.
"But why couldn't I feel it earlier?"
Allen twitched slightly and glanced at her.
"...That's my fault. I probably didn't release it properly earlier."
"Hah?"
Nearby, Ghislane shook her head at the sight.
She stepped forward and picked up Allen's sword, then turned to Eris.
"I'll train with you now."
"Okay!"
Allen stepped aside and walked to Rudy, who was reading a book.
"You really giving up swordsmanship entirely?"
Rudy didn't even lift his head.
"I still practice, Allen-dono~ But just enough to stay healthy. Plus, you're here, so why would I need to?"
Allen rested his chin on his hand, pondering.
That actually made sense... Rudy didn't really use swordsmanship in the original timeline, did he?
Not much.
The only moment he remembered—
He froze.
In the original story, Rudy's swordsmanship only really came up once—when Ariel decided to entrust Sylphy to him. He had a light spar with Luke at the mansion gate. That was pretty much his only swordsmanship highlight.
Too bad—Luke's Sword God Style was only intermediate, and his Water God Style was beginner-level.
So yeah... probably unnecessary.
Just as he was thinking this, Allen suddenly paused.
He glanced around.
"Where's Sylphy?"
Only then did Rudy look up.
He squinted as he looked at Allen.
Staring until Allen's scalp tingled, before finally speaking.
Still watching Allen's expression.
But before he could finish, Allen already reacted.
"Every time Lord Sauros and Lord Philip are away from the estate, Eris comes to the servant dining hall. And in the afternoon, Sylphy always takes leave to have 'tea' with Madam, right?"
As he spoke, Allen looked up at a second-floor window.
No one was there.
Sylphy had gone to make up for her absence.
She was thoughtful, always putting herself in others' shoes.
Worried that Hilda might feel lonely.
(End of Chapter)
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