Betrayal Knight's Joyful Faith

Chapter 242: People you should never touch

“…That.”After much inner conflict, Henry finally opened his mouth.

“Why are you here?”

The corners of his lips, which usually wore a pleasant smile, were stiff.

In the sunny window seat, Arendt was leisurely sitting with his legs crossed, holding a delicately decorated teacup between his fingers.

His silver hair, bathed in sunlight, sparkled particularly brightly.

“Why? Is this a place I shouldn’t have come to?”

The sight of the apprentice knight sitting against the backdrop of a carefully decorated interior was quite a sight to behold, but for Henry, it was nothing but a source of heartburn.

He already had a striking appearance.

Moreover, because he had recently become secretly famous along with Captain Laius, the gazes of the customers in the store were on Arendt since a while ago.

Even though Arendt was not someone who would miss such a thing, he was simply sipping his tea leisurely without a care.

Henry moved his body slightly to block the gazes and smiled awkwardly.

“It would have been nice if you had at least called to say you were coming.”

“Since when has the Khan Union been by reservation? The way they treat their guests is so disappointing.”

“…”

Henry didn’t know what to say in response.

As he was blankly staring up at the ceiling, Arthur, sitting across from Arendt, smiled awkwardly and lowered his head.

“I apologize, Union Leader. Please don’t mind what this guy is saying.”

Only then was Henry able to calm down and smile properly.

“What brings you two here?”

“I’m on vacation.”

“The captain specifically ordered that I should never let this guy go alone.”

Arendt and Arthur each gave different answers.

Henry had to struggle to suppress the urge to rub his temples.

“And I’m sure you’re not asking because you don’t know. You really have no idea why I’m here? Really?”

“…”

At Arendt’s sarcastic remark, Henry bit his lip and fell silent.

Arendt, who had been looking at him with pity, put down his teacup and spoke in a commanding tone.

“Okay, tell the Vice Leader to come and see me.”

“Huh? Why is Arcus…”

“Why?”

“No. I will call him.”

As Arendt glared, the Union Leader immediately backed down.

After a while, Arcus, who took Henry’s place, appeared with a pale face.

“Arendt, that’s…”

“You look quite presentable.”

Before he could even come up with an excuse, Arendt struck first.

Arendt, with his arms crossed, nodded to the seat next to Arthur.

“Sit down.”

“…Excuse me, Sir Arthur.”

“Uh, wait a minute. I’ll go look around and come back.”

As Arcus hesitated and tried to sit down, Arthur quickly got up from his seat.

Then, without even giving them a chance to stop him, he quickly fled outside.

Arcus just stared blankly at Arthur’s back as he ran away with empty eyes.

“What are you doing? Sit down.”

But there wasn’t much time to stand around blankly.

At the repeated urging, he sat down with the mind of a condemned criminal.

“…”

There was a terrible silence.

Arendt, who had left Arcus sitting, just looked out the window and sipped tea.

Outside the window, white clouds drifted leisurely, and the weather was annoyingly nice.

Besides, it just so happened that there were quite a lot of customers at this time.

The mere fact that Vice Leader Arcus and Arendt were sitting across from each other at the same table caused the attention to double compared to before.

Because of this, Arcus was increasingly feeling like he was sitting on a bed of thorns.

“That, Arendt. This time…”

After a while, Arcus finally spoke, and only then did Arendt turn his head to face him.

The moment he met those uniquely cold golden eyes, Arcus forgot what he was going to say and froze.

And after a while.

“What’s the matter?” Fınd the newest release on novel-fire.ɴet

Arcus was shocked to see Arendt asking as if he didn’t know anything.

It was clearly his younger brother who had been staring at him coldly just a moment ago.

But now, he was tilting his head with a look of innocence so pure, as if he had suddenly switched faces without any warning.

“Has something happened to the Union, brother?”

“…”

It wasn’t even the title ‘Lord’ with a tone full of sarcasm.

It wasn’t even the title of ‘Vice Leader’ that clearly drew the line.

Arendt spoke to him in a friendly manner, as if he had always done so.

The moment he realized that, Arcus’ already unpleasant expression suddenly turned grave.

Arendt went even further and frowned, showing a look of disappointment.

“The atmosphere in the palace is also unusual, and I came here on my vacation to see you. Why are you acting so awkward?”

“…If I did something wrong, please tell me.”

“Wrong? If there are wrongs, there are too many to count.”

As always, he had an indifferent expression, but his tone was just like a younger brother throwing a tantrum.

Because of that, Arcus felt like he was going to faint at any moment.

“…”

He tried to calm his mind and pick up the snack in front of him, but even his fingertips were shaking.

Arendt stared at him blankly, let out a short sigh, and finally gave him the punishment.

!

Arendt delivered a quick and accurate kick, kicking Arcus’ shin under the table.

“Ugh!”

Arcus barely managed to suppress the scream that was about to burst out.

Arendt quietly whispered into his ear as he trembled in pain.

“Don’t act stupid and respond tactfully. There are a lot of eyes watching you.”

“…”

Barely swallowing a groan, Arcus nodded hastily.

Only then did Arendt feel satisfied and straighten his posture.

Behind the faint smile, there seemed to be a deadly warning that if he acted carelessly, he’d be killed.

And, paradoxically enough, only then did Arcus feel a little bit more at ease.

His shin was really sore though.

Arendt asked the question again.

“Are you doing well these days? I heard you’ve been very busy. The union seems to be doing quite well.”

“That… I’m okay. It’s thanks to Henry’s hard work as the union leader.”

It was extremely awkward, but somehow, a line worth listening to came back from Arcus.

Arendt nodded and continued the conversation naturally.

“Have you resolved that issue?”

“Huh, huh?”

“Your father sent someone.”

Arendt answered in a lowered voice, but loud enough for those around him to listen in on.

Only then did Arcus realize his brother’s plan.

After thinking for a while, he stammered and gave his answer like a broken doll.

“…No, not yet. But I’m sure Father has some thoughts, too.”

Likewise, his voice was not loud, but it was loud enough to be heard if one was spying.

Up to that point, Arcus passed just fine.

Although he still looked nervous, the novice actor seemed willing to adapt to Arendt’s improvisations.

When Count Eckhart was mentioned by the brothers, the ears of the surrounding guests, that is, the audience, perked up.

Arendt asked with a fake sense of discomfort, aware of the curious gazes that were gathering, though not overtly.

“Is he telling you to go back, brother?”

“I don’t know. Those who came looking for me were sent away without any contact.”

“I see.”

Arendt lowered his gaze, trailing off.

Arcus, who had been watching him quietly, soon realized that it was his turn.

After thinking for a moment, he continued speaking slowly.

“…I have no intention of going back. As I said clearly, I was prepared to be cut off when I ran away from home.”

This was not made up, it was the truth.

Arendt seemed to notice it too, and looked up from the table to Arcus.

The coldness in his eyes, which had been acting like an ordinary little brother until just a moment ago, returned for a moment and then quickly disappeared.

Arcus was a little puzzled by the unknown change.

But that was short-lived, as Arendt pouted and held out his empty teacup.

“Please give me another cup of tea. I’m planning to stay nearby today, so I’ll come back tomorrow too.”

“…Okay, I understand.”

Arcus hardened his face and nodded.

Arendt looked at Arthur as if his work was over.

Arthur, who had been pretending to look around the store, met his eyes and nodded slightly.

.

Neumann was feeling a sense of newness at the East Merchant Group’s main office, which he had not visited in a long time.

It was his first time sitting in this luxurious reception room as a visitor.

‘…So this is what the atmosphere was like here.’

Neumann’s eyes, scanning the familiar space, sank slightly.

The reception room was decorated extravagantly everywhere you looked, but it was also oppressive.

It looked like a warrior’s exhibition hall with his spoils of war, perhaps because of the rare items gathered from all over the world.

Suddenly, he remembered the time when he was in the East Merchant Group and was disappointed that the leader was unable to obtain trade rights with the elves.

As evidence, not a single foreign object could be found in this reception room.

Of course, if she had truly set her mind on it, she could have easily obtained them. However, it seemed that her pride as a leader of the group wouldn’t allow it.

‘That’s the kind of person she is.’

She, Neumann’s only blood relative and older sister, was that kind of person.

She knew how to manipulate people and use them.

If there was something she wanted, she would get it without fail and use it for the benefit of the East Merchant Group.

She was generous with what she held close.

But she could not tolerate anyone who dared to go against her.

‘And now I am a being that goes against my older sister.’

It was like an item from the Elf Kingdom that had lost the right to enter this reception room.

It was clear from the fact that there was neither a greeting nor even tea served.

She still treated Neumann like a disobedient younger brother, not as a competitor.

‘Perhaps it’s a good thing.’

Neumann naturally thought of Arendt.

Because Arendt and his father, Count Eckhart, treated each other as perfect strangers and obstacles.

‘Though who knows what the Count truly feels.’

At least, it seemed that Arendt saw it that way.

Perhaps, it might be more humane for the East Merchant Group Leader to express her feelings this way, even if it meant being treated coldly.

After waiting for a while in the quiet reception room, finally, the door on the other side opened and a person appeared.

Neumann naturally got up and gave a polite greeting.

“It’s been a long time, East Merchant Group Leader.”

“It’s been a while, Neumann.”

The owner of the East Merchant Group, Angela Den East, nodded her head in greeting.

She looked almost the same as Neumann remembered.

Even from the way she stood, she exuded elegance, and even though she was approaching her fifties, she seemed to have a solid strength.

She, who brought the East Merchant Group to this point, was a huge support and wall for Neumann throughout his life.

“It’s nice to meet you here. You gave up the position of store manager that was given to you and went on to rise through the ranks on your own. Do you have any regrets now?”

Words with a hint of light humor flowed out.

Instead of narrowing his eyes, Neumann smiled warmly.

Then, he deliberately relaxed his shoulders and placed his hands behind his back in a comfortable position.

“I appreciate your welcoming me, but Sister, it would be a problem if you treated me like a child at this age.”

“…”

Angela tilted her head slightly in surprise at Neumann’s response, then burst into a small laugh.

Now that he was completely out of the East Merchant Group’s shadow, Neumann was ready to confront her in earnest.

The young apprentice knight had pushed Neumann’s heavy body forward to take his first steps toward independence, and now it was time to repay that debt.