Chapter 37: Principles (1)

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“….What?”

Asena noticed the change in my expression, but there was no reaction. She didn’t recall her earlier words, she didn’t feel bad about my expression, and she waited as she was.

Behind her, Judy gave a confused look. She first looked at Asena and then looked at me in turn.

I knew Judy was asking me for help.

If one was really loyal or respectful, one wouldn’t have any problems getting down on one's knees. But Judy had only recently met Asena. Besides, even the families they belonged to were hostile. Judy probably wouldn’t want to get down on her knees even if her life was at stake.

Even so, if Asena sincerely ordered her to, Judy had no other option. There was no way a knight who did not follow the instructions of their master could have a good reputation.

“…Asena, are you kidding me?”

I knew it wasn’t a joke, but I asked again because Asena’s orders were so shocking.

To some extent, I wanted her to read my feelings and cancel the order.

But she spoke lightly as if she were talking about something ordinary.

“Don’t worry, Oppa. It’s an order I gave to my knight.”

She showed no emotions. The Asena I read in the novel was standing in front of me.

On the other hand, I couldn’t hide my anger, frustration, and absurd feelings. I was speechless and didn’t know what to say.

There was nothing I could do but stare at her. Asena did not avoid my gaze either. An unintentional fight began.

Most of all, I couldn’t believe the terrible fact that Asena had chosen my friend Judy to punish me.

The most problematic thing was that the target was none other than Judy of the Ice family.

Even if she died, she wouldn’t want to get down on her knees.

She may start to resent me for putting her in this situation. In a few words, Asena separated me and Judy, and also shook the relationship with Daisy.

Here, to protect Judy’s self-respect, if I said ‘for escort training, we did not need to go so far’ and we would only perform our missions in the future, my relationship with Daisy would also turn into a businesslike one.

But, if no action was taken, Judy would have no choice but to kneel.

Even in a chaotic situation, I did not avoid a snowball fight with Asena.

Asena’s unfamiliar wickedness seemed to flow from within herself. Whether it was originally inherent or not, I was starting to wonder now.

Did Asena have an irreplaceable fate of becoming a villain no matter what I did?

If so, it was disappointing and at the same time very sad.

In the end, I was the first to avert eyes.

“…Asena, let’s not do this.”

I shook my head slightly and said. I took a step back from the fight. However, Asena did not yield and instead pushed forward.

“Like Daisy, I’m just confirming Judy’s loyalty.”

“…why are you so adamant? Is it such a big deal to go in and out of a room once? Keirsey, please stop Asena.”

Most of all, I didn’t want to fight the twins again, so I looked at Keirsey next to her and asked for help.

…but, I did not receive any reply.

“…”

“…Keirsey?”

I felt a weak sense of betrayal as my belief that she would be on my side was broken.

“…It’s Oppa’s fault.”

I couldn’t believe Keirsey's words.

“…why are you like this? No, is it because of yesterday?”

I asked in a soft voice.

“…it’s not that.”

“Then, I don’t understand at all. How could this be my fault…?”

“Oppa… you didn’t follow the rules, why is it not your fault..”

Keirsey spoke in a crawling voice.

Her expression was as hard as Asena, but she couldn’t even make eye contact with me.

“…there’s a thing called flexibility, Keirsey. Are you really telling me to turn away from someone in need because of a door?”

“…if you don’t follow the rules, why are there rules?”

A laugh came out of my mouth automatically.

Only the sound of my laughter echoed through the momentarily silent hallway. It was a pity that all the young girls had already gone to the academy, otherwise this ridiculous appearance would have been seen by everyone.

Asena gently placed her finger on my chest.

“…I don’t want to do this either, Oppa.”

For some reason, I didn’t believe it. It was the first time I felt like this for Asena.

I calmed down my frustrated laugh and spoke briefly.

“…you can’t do it.”

“But Oppa isn’t admitting his mistake.”

“No… haah…”

I stopped my mouth just before the harsh words came out.

Why does our relationship keep getting worse?

Asena wanted to subdue me somehow to hear an apology from my mouth.

I still couldn’t figure out what I was doing so wrong.

Was she ashamed that being with Daisy would spread strange rumors about her like Asena warned me before? Or was she ashamed that those rumors would spread with the name ‘Cayden Pryster’?

“…Just say you were wrong.”

she said.

“What?”

I really didn’t understand, so I asked.

“You went into Daisy’s room. Say you made a mistake and say you won’t do it again.”

“……”

Just because of this, did we have to fight once more? Did Asena really want me to see that way?

“…Of course, I’m not going to let it go this time just because you made a mistake.”

Besides, whether she was angry or not, the punishment had already been decided. Asena paused for a moment, then swallowed her saliva and spoke.

“…Come to my room tonight. After work.”

“…..”

I ground my teeth and closed my eyes.

Taking a deep breath through my nose, I tried to meditate.

For a while I stood still, controlling my emotions.

“…if you don’t like it, then don’t... But Judy, when are you going to get down on your knees?”

And Asena mentioned Judy once more as if pressing me.

I opened my eyes.

“….Sorry.”

Asena looked at me for a moment, then sighed.

“…it’s good to admit it. still. Tonight in my room-”

However, I was not finished.

“Judy, Daisy. Sorry.”

Asena’s snake-like eyes, which had slightly relieved tension, glared at me again.

Again this time, I did not avert those eyes.

Looking at Asena, I told Judy and Daisy.

“I could only raise twins like this.”

“…..”

For the first time, there was a change in Asena’s expression. She blinked once or twice for a moment, showing a hurt face, but I wasn’t sure.

Keirsey said next to her.

“…is it so hard to just promise not to go into her room next time, Oppa?”

“The next time something like this happens, I will do the same. Do you really think this is my fault?”

“I told you before…! If you don’t follow the rules, why do you need rules…!”

I nodded slowly.

“Is that so…?”

Maybe it was because I was angry because they touched Judy—

“So far, you’re just saying you want me to be an inflexible…principalist?”

—No matter the reason, I had to admit that I was a little childish.

I fixed my posture – like an armed soldier.

I spread my shoulders wide, took a deep breath, and spat out childish words.

“Asena Pryster, Keirsey Pryster. Okay. From now on, we will abide by the rules.”

“…..”

“…..”

There was silence for a while.

Keirsey, who was looking at the floor, raised her head, and Asena’s expression wrinkled.

Keirsey asked me with a trembling voice.

“…what are you doing, Oppa?”

I took turns looking at Judy and Daisy.

“After all, everyone here knows. As you know, I will be expelled from the Pryster family after two years. It can be said that I am a prospective commoner. It’s impossible for me to… speak nonsense to the girls of the great Pryster family.”

As if talking with a stranger, I spoke those words in a businesslike tone.

“I was being rude. We will talk about this in the future.”

Asena spoke in a voice full of pain. Her normal voice was already broken.

“…Stop it. Not funny.”

The situation was reversed. Asena showed a lot of emotions as if she had become me, and I hardened my expression and hid my emotions like Asena.

“It doesn't suit you to speak like this with me, Duchess Pryster.”

“…Stop it!”

Perhaps forgetting about the hallway, Asena raised her voice.

I acted like it didn't matter.

It was always frustrating when the other person didn’t respond. I knew that too, so I didn’t have to answer her.

The twins might be sad, but I had no intention of being pushed back.

I didn’t mean to do this for the rest of my life. It was just a childish rant. But I was so angry, for now, I wanted to be harsher and colder than ever.

Keirsey took several rough breaths from the side and clung to my arm.

“….Ah Okay. Okay, because…”

What Keirsey and Asena said were different things, but that didn’t mean that I could just forgive Keirsey.

“Don’t touch me, Keirsey Pryster. According to the rule, you must not touch the body of a knight.”

-Slap!

I slapped her hand away. Keirsey looked at her hand, then looked at me, and tears began to fill her eyes.

“…Oh..oppa..don’t do this..why are you talking like I'm a stranger…”

As I was a human being, I had desires as well. I felt sad too. It was too difficult to bear the tingling urge of not bending their words to create a distance.

“You say you value principles... Judy? What do you do when you talk to your brothers?”

I instantly turned the conversation around and asked Judy.

“I’m confused,” said Judy, but then she spoke, stuttering.

“I… I… respectful…”

After hearing the answer, I looked at Keirsey again.

“You heard. Even the Ice family is the same. I can do more if I have to adapt, but I can’t do less. In the future, I will continue to treat you with respect. Sorry... Still, I wanted to get along for the next two years, then leave.”

I didn’t look at her; I turned my head.

I had endured a lot. I won’t give in this time.

“…Uh…Ugh…Ugh…!”

After holding back her tears and pushing me weakly on my chest, Keirsey wept and started running away.

Judy gave me a confused look.

But now there was no time to send any signal to her.

Even if Keirsey left, Asena was right in front of her. Judy had to remain as well.

Asena looked at me, the bridge of her nose and her eyes were red.

Obviously, this was surprising; Asena was looking at me like she was about to cry like Keirsey. But usually, no matter what happened, she wouldn’t shed tears in front of people.

But looking at her now… the brother inside me felt remorse.

I looked at her and nodded.

“I am sorry. I won’t go into Daisy’s room from now on.”

“……”

“Duchess Pryster, we are getting late. Let’s go to class.”

At my words, she bowed her head and shook it. Opening and closing her mouth repeatedly, she finally kept it close and turned her body around as well.

Predictably, it seemed like she was going to cry if she said more.

Judy glanced at me and mouthed, 'we’ll talk later,' then followed Asena.

“…whoah..”

Things were settled,

I turned to Daisy.

I felt sorry again.

This time, I was not alone with twins. But we brought this family drama to others and made them uncomfortable for nothing.

“…Sorry... Haha, I just keep apologizing, huh?”

But Daisy opened her eyes and shook her head.

“…I’m surprised.”

What did she mean?

“….yes?”

“…No…I’ve never seen anyone arguing with Asena like that.”

Daisy’s words indeed made sense. Even when I read the novel, the only one who stopped Asena’s momentum was the main character, Eric Endra.

Daisy wasn’t a pushover either, but she didn’t even try to beat Asena because of Eric.

From that point of view, it could be a refreshing shock to see Asena’s such expression.

“…but she’s my younger sister.”

“Weren’t you being persecuted?”

“…Did you think I’d never say anything back?”

Daisy nodded her head.

I scratched my head. It was a family matter, so I was reluctant to bring it up even in front of Daisy, with whom I shared a connection since I read the novel, but it seemed to be the right thing to say since she also stepped to some extent.

“Actually, if we’re alone, we get along well.”

“…yes?”

“Really. But it’s always like this in front of people. That’s why I can understand if you don’t believe it…but me being angry is usually enough punishment for them.”

“….I see…”

Daisy seemed to be very surprised and said after thinking about it for a long time.

“…I was surprised that the twins seem to like you a lot more than I thought.”

“…..”

“Just seeing how sad she looked….. it’s the first time I’ve ever seen Asena show her emotions.”

“They like me, but they don't seem to like me being in the family.”

“Ah. That… it looks like it.”

“And, I can’t help it, huh?”

I looked at Daisy and forced a smile.

“…the only way is to leave.”

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