A Knight Who Protects His Enemies Chapter 29

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Chapter 29

The witch's proposal lingered in Vivian's mind.

‘Vivian, you can survive and achieve revenge. Isn't that what you need most right now?’

Six times out of ten when she fell into deep thought, she thought of the witch. Of the remaining times, three were about Kylo Allen... and one was about her family...

Anyway, the words the witch had said—asking if she didn't need power—kept echoing.

Sometimes, she wondered if that might be the only path. To Vivian, who had lost everything to lean on, that outstretched hand felt like salvation.

It was an undeniable truth that the witch's approach had significantly lightened the burdens and pressures on her heart.

There was a vast difference between seeing hope and not seeing it.

But even at such moments, the reason she couldn't make a final decision was probably due to her ingrained aversion to witches and the sacrifice required to become one.

She had learned that witches worship demons. It was something her mentor, Lady Linne, had told her so many times that her ears were tired of hearing it.

Of course, the witch Elena herself had flatly dismissed it as mere baseless rumors... But from the standpoint of someone who hadn't become a witch, it was hard to trust that.

What if she decided to become a witch and ended up truly worshiping demons?

What if she got drawn in without even realizing she was worshiping demons, like a frog slowly boiling in hot water?

Also, to sacrifice what is most precious... What would she do if, when the time came, she didn't want to give up what was dear to her?

She felt she could never sacrifice the House of Rondor or the Roctana territory. Not so much because of deep affection, but because it would be shameless.

Even her two eyes, which allowed her to see the world, could become the most precious...

Could she give that up when the time came?

...Of course, if she died before that, it would all be meaningless.

Precious things only have meaning if one is alive; it's not the other way around.

Thinking that way, she wondered what reason there was not to sacrifice something precious.

"Lady Vivian."

A familiar voice pulled Vivian out of her thoughts.

White hair and deeply etched wrinkles. A straight back and a face full of spirit.

It was her mentor, Lady Linne.

"Please focus. You keep drifting into thought today."

"..."

Vivian suddenly recalled the witch's assessment of Lady Linne.

‘In this vast territory, isn’t Lady Linne Rommer the only person you could call your ally?’

The witch might not know everything, but she had concluded that at least Lady Linne was on Vivian's side.

Even though Vivian had never particularly thought of her mentor as being on her side... in her precarious state, she thought she might try trusting Lady Linne just this once.

"Miss Linne, before that... there's something I'm a little curious about."

Lady Linne raised an eyebrow, as if surprised that Vivian was the one to initiate a question, and replied.

"Go ahead."

"I... I want to know about witches."

"Witches?"

Though Lady Linne looked puzzled at the sudden question, the cane she usually wielded didn't move an inch.

Instead, she asked back in a somewhat warmer tone.

"What do you want to know about witches?"

"I'm curious why the Las Church rejects witches so strongly..."

"That's obvious."

Lady Linne answered without a moment's hesitation.

"Seeds of disaster that worship demons should not exist in this world. They bewitch people, bring misfortune, sow evil through curses... To protect the ones we love, we cannot tolerate their actions. From the moment they use heinous magic, they are no longer human."

If using heinous magic makes them non-human, wouldn't people who commit heinous acts also be non-human?

Is it okay for them, but not for witches?

Couldn't magic be seen as self-defense depending on the situation? Isn't it natural to defend oneself when attacked?

"Ah, do witches who haven't done anything wrong also have to die?"

Lady Linne looked puzzled as to why Vivian had such questions, but she answered earnestly nonetheless.

"If they weren't going to do anything, they wouldn't have become witches. I've heard that witchcraft is hereditary. Witches seek out those who feel the need for sorcery and promise to take revenge on the world together. Only those who desire malicious power become witches."

The more Vivian listened to Lady Linne's words, the less she desired to become a witch.

They seemed to make sense to some extent.

She had no desire to become someone whom the world found so unsettling.

Even her current wavering was, in the end, being pushed unwillingly.

It was extremely difficult to keep her sanity when the threat of death loomed daily.

Even when it came to meals, she couldn't eat without Kylo Allen; this, too, was a burden in its own way.

It was also humiliating to have to rely on her enemy.

With a sigh, Vivian temporarily brushed aside thoughts of becoming a witch.

And as soon as she dismissed that possibility, the burden on her heart grew heavy again.

Then, if not as a witch, how on earth should she live?

What path should she choose to survive until adulthood?

How could she revive the family that her loved ones had sacrificed their lives to protect?

How should she grow so she wouldn't be ashamed before Kylo Allen and wouldn't be ignored by the Allen family?

How could she grow up so that her departed family would be proud?

"…"

Vivian looked up at Lady Linne.

Once again, Vivian mustered the courage to ask. Lady Linne had always told her not to speak weakly... but she was too lost now.

"M-Master, j-just one more thing."

"…"

"P-Please, tell me honestly. W-What should I do to survive?"

At that question, Lady Linne showed both surprise and compassion.

They hadn't talked much even after the poisoning incident; this was the first time they spoke about matters of life and death.

A long silence hovered between them.

Letting out a long sigh through her nose, Lady Linne walked over slowly.

She approached Vivian, pulled up a chair, and sat down heavily.

Staring intently into Vivian's eyes, Lady Linne seemed to hesitate. As the silence lengthened, the awkwardness in the room deepened.

Finally, Lady Linne slowly shook her head and spoke.

"I... don't know either. The world is too complex, and things rarely go as predicted."

That wasn't the answer Vivian wanted. Lady Linne seemed to realize this and quickly added.

"But there's only one path I see. It's also the one with the greatest possibility."

"W-What is it?"

Lady Linne let out another deep sigh and spoke heavy words.

"...Grow into a beautiful woman. And take a powerful man as your husband."

"…"

At that moment, the room fell silent again. Lady Linne's words were succinct, but their weight was as heavy as the air between them.

Vivian could only look at Lady Linne, unable to respond.

Her mind was a whirl, and she felt something heavy pressing on her heart.

It meant she had to flatter someone she didn't love in order to survive.

Although Vivian had never been in love, she could vaguely imagine how she might feel then.

Even now, she lived without being able to say a word she wanted to the adults, just to stay alive.

And yet, that situation would continue even into adulthood.

She could rationally understand Lady Linne's words, but life felt miserable once again.

"Lady Vivian, a man's weapon is strength... but a woman's weapon is beauty. It's a mighty power that can demand loyalty and sacrifice."

—Tap.

Lady Linne's cane lightly struck Vivian's leg.

Vivian's legs, which had been relaxed and slack, straightened neatly.

Lady Linne shook her head.

"But Lady Vivian, as you are now, you are lacking. There aren't many who would want to take a stuttering woman as a wife."

Her firm voice carried a cold warning to face reality.

"Of course, many men would come running just for the title of head of the Rondor family, but if you stutter, your options will be limited."

"…"

To not stutter in front of ‘him’…

Why did Kylo Allen suddenly come to mind at that moment?

She didn't stutter in front of him these days. Perhaps it was because she had nothing to hide, as much as she disliked him.

At least they didn't wear masks around each other; she felt comfortable, if not safe, by his side.

It was ironic. The one person in the world she didn't stutter with was someone she could never be with.

Lady Linne sighed and spoke.

"It's not just about stuttering. Lady Vivian, have you started your monthly cycles?"

"…"

Vivian didn't answer out of shame.

Lady Linne didn't scold Vivian unnecessarily.

"When your menstrual cycles begin, you'll need to learn various knowledge and behaviors. The dances you'll perform at balls after you've grown, elegant manners, even sexual knowledge and conversation techniques."

"S-Sexual knowledge?"

"It would have been nice if you could grow up without knowing such things... but Lady Vivian, you're not in a position to be choosy. You need to learn all the theories in detail and also master how to pretend you don't know them, acting innocent."

As Vivian's shoulders shrank, Lady Linne lightly tapped her with the cane and continued without pause.

"I will also teach you how to seduce men. You must steadily learn alluring words as well. Your face is turning red now, but you must not be embarrassed. Don't you need to survive? Delicate hand gestures, eye contact, facial expressions... and even bedroom matters—you will learn them."

"B-Bedroom matters? What is that?"

"...You will find out soon."

At that moment, Vivian's perception of Lady Linne changed slightly.

Vivian had secretly disliked her, as all she did was cane her and teach ineffective lessons.

Though she couldn't suddenly trust Lady Linne just because she said these things, she couldn't help but feel grateful that at least there was a plan for her.

Lady Linne solemnly added, "You must become a perfect woman. It's easy to kill an unattractive woman, but it's hard to kill a beautiful one. It's cruel, but the repercussions are different. They would have to antagonize everyone who might have secretly loved you. You must manage not only your behavior but also your body. You need to have a voluptuous chest, a slender waist, and wide hips."

"T-That's not something I can control."

"Even so, you shouldn't let yourself get chubby. You need self-discipline."

Since the one saying this was Lady Linne herself, it was hard to argue.

Despite her old age, she was still well-maintained.

In the end, Vivian could only nod slightly in response.

"Your face is full of worry."

"...I-I'm sorry."

"This is why I hesitated to tell you first."

"…"

At the sight of her stern teacher scolding her coldly, Vivian shrank back again.

But how could she not feel intimidated?

She was being told that she had to live a life of seducing men... How could she not feel despondent?

It was devastating to hear that her future was being reduced to such a simple choice.

However, before her feelings completely crumbled, Lady Linne gave a small smile and said, "Don't worry too much."

"What?"

Vivian was dazed by those words. It was the first comforting thing she'd heard.

"If you learn everything and can love a man you want to love... Lady Vivian, you will surely find happiness."

The word "happiness" felt so distant. Without realizing it, Vivian asked, "B-Being with a man you love... Is it that happy?"

Lady Linne nodded.

There wasn't a hint of doubt on her face.

It was the expression of someone who had experienced the world.

"It's much warmer than your parents' love."

"…"

It was a comparison she couldn't understand.

Could there really be something happier than a parent's love in this world?

But perhaps because it came from Lady Linne, who usually spoke only cold and truthful words... she felt a slight hope.

—Clap, clap!

Lady Linne clapped her hands to lighten the mood.

She stood up again and said, "But all this comes after you fix your stuttering."

"Y-Yes..."

"If you can fix that, I'm thinking of inviting several guests to Roctana afterward. You desperately need friends for socializing, Lady Vivian. Inviting the young ladies of Viscount Dubois wouldn't be a bad idea. They're all very pretty and charming."

Friends?

But before she could question it, Lady Linne handed Vivian a book she'd brought and said, "Well then, shall we continue the lesson?"

—Bang!

Just then, the door burst open.

Startled, Vivian saw Kylo Allen with his black hair enter casually, as if walking into his own room.

"Thought I'd drop by and watch the lesson again today."

He said nonchalantly.

But given the topic of her conversation with Lady Linne, Vivian felt her face flush for the first time and shouted, "Get out!"

—Whoosh!

Without realizing it, she even threw the book in front of her at Kylo.

—Thud!

Kylo blocked the flying book with his arm and was about to complain.