SPMB - Special Side Story 1

This is Claude (1)

"Hey, Claude."

One day, the Duke of Addis came to visit me.

"Are you really going to stay stuck in this country?" 

I scratched my cheek and then laughed.

"Who serves Alessandro if not me?

"I can't help it."

My name is Claude Azelle.

I was once a promising knight in Addis, but now live in a small coastal town.

Did he feel sorry for me like that? 

The Duke of Addis came in person.

"Don't do that, return to the capital. The position of Knight Commander is currently vacant. You do it."

"Oh. Are you here to scout now? It's hard to find someone like me, isn't it?"

"Shut up and tell me whether you want to do it or not."

"Hmm."

I pretended to think for a moment.

It's literally 'chuck'. It's just a courtesy given in consideration of the Duke's sincerity in coming all the way here.

Because my answer was fixed.

"Unfortunately, I have to decline." 

And I shed a lot of tears.

"Ugh, what a waste. The position of knight commander. My salary is times that, so I can't believe I'm missing out on that."

"What? Are you crying?"

"How do I not cry? I lost my position as Commander of the Knights of Addis! Ugh, it feels like the world is falling apart. My life is such a mess!"

Of course, you have to prepare the ground food in advance. That person is very violent, so if he gets rejected, he might hit me because he feels bad.

"But that won't work. Alessandro lives in this country, right? Sob. If I don't take care of that poor widower, who will?"

The acting worked. Orsini sympathized with me.

"I wonder if the boy is getting into trouble, You bastard."

Ah, this is this person's unique method of comfort.

"Well, I guess it would be a waste. There's no way that insensitive person would give you a proper salary."

Then they raised my salary. Wow. What kind of fortune is this? 

I just accepted without saying anything.

"Hehehehehe. Thank you After all, the Duke is the only one who cares about me."

Then I covered my pants pockets with my jacket. Don't get caught. Because I have a checkbook in this pocket. These are blank checks that Alessandro gave me, saying, 'You can use them however you want.'

"So stop chasing that person around. He'll treat you like nothing more than a chasing dog. So why are you so loyal?" 

That's because he's the one who gives me a whole blank check! I swallowed those words and cried.

"What should I do? Sobbing. I'm his dog."

It was truly a successful salary negotiation.

***

The day after Orsini left.

"The Lord sent me a gift!"

An errand boy has arrived from the Lord's castle.

Right next door to me Alessandro Addis.

"Wow, what is this?"

These were three very pretty golden carp. Thank you for giving me this precious carp!

"He made a pond in the garden not long ago! He saw it and sent it to you as a gift!"

That's right. These days, Alessandro is very passionate about gardening. He recently dug out a pond and built it himself.

It seems that the Lord saw this and sent a carp as a gift.

"It's annoying. Send it back."

"I will raise it! I can raise it myself."

"Send it back."

"No! I already made a name! This is Robin, this is Elizabeth, this is Jonathan!"

"....Who says who?"

"This is Robin, this is Elizabeth, this is Jonathan!"

"..."

"Can't you tell the difference? Find out who Jonathan is."

"...Hey?"

"She's Elizabeth."

"..."

"Why don't you recognize them? Is it facial recognition disorder or something like that?"

"Shut up."

I laughed heartily. It felt good. Why not! Alessandro finally has a friend!

"It seems like you two have become quite close. Are you becoming friends?"

"What are friends? We just meet sometimes and play chess."

"Ahaha. Then I guess he's a chess friend. Aren't chess friends friends?"

They are glaring at me with eyes telling me to shut up, yes. Then I should shut up.

Well, after being silent for about 5 seconds, I opened my mouth again.

“Alessandro.”

"Why?"

Alessandro is looking really good these days.

He must have made friends and hobbies.

So what do you need now?

"Shall I introduce you to a nice woman?"

"I have a lover."

"Do not lie. A man with a lover doesn't even comb his hair, huh? Do you dress like a shepherd on some ranch?"

"None of your business."

"I take care of things on my own."

Thank God, I was born with a handsome face, so I have never lost interest in women. Well, it was always a casual meeting.

"Anyway. Even if you die of old age as a widower, I will not be responsible. You're saying that even if I ask you to come visit me during the holidays, you won't come?" 

"Don't make crazy dreams about me. Uncomfortable."

Well, it's still a huge improvement compared to before.

Until recently, he lived like an expired waste, but for some reason, he seemed to have regained his vitality some time ago.

Compared to that now look at that. Aren't Alessandro watering his flowers?

"Oh, isn't that the place where you planted the flower seeds that Lady Kanna gave you?" 

"Yes."

"Are the flowers blooming?"

It was a sprout not long ago, but for the first time in a while, the petals are fully open.

"Maybe it's because she looks like Lady Kanna, but she's really pretty."

Then Alessandro looks at me intently.

"You think Kanna is beautiful."

"Of course! She's not just beautiful, she's incredibly beautiful."

"Claude, this is the first time I've heard you praise someone like that."

"Oh, that's because I have a high sense of aesthetics. There are only a few women who look pretty to me."

"Do you really like that kid?"

"Of course."

I nodded without hesitation.

"Honestly, if I had met her somewhere else, I would have approached her at least once. Wahaha."

This was half a joke, however.

Alessandro's face doesn't look good.

Wow, this is my first time seeing this expression. Should I say that I feel a little nervous?

"Why? Can't I like Lady Kanna?"

"No."

"Why?"

"She's too much for you."

"So why? Can you tell me why I can't do it?"

"Rather, I would like to ask. What makes you think it will work?"

"Well, I'm a pretty nice guy, right?"

"That's not even funny..."

Alessandro speaks slowly, his eyes dropping below zero.

"That bastard that smells like milk."

"..."

Yes?

What fishy smell?

While I was distracted by the tremendous verbal abuse, Alexandro left.

I guess you misunderstood that I like Lady Kanna as a woman, but no. That's aside, am I that bad? Enough to cut it with a single knife like that?

I think of Alessandro as my father. He is the one who took me in and raised me, an orphan. He is my teacher and Lord. However...

What on earth am I to Him?

The next day, grumpy. I decided to rebel for the first time in my life.

<For once, let's live without the milky smell!>

I left this note and left for the capital.

The Duke of Addis.

To where Lady Kanna is.

***

Arrived at Addis Mansion a few days later.

"It's been a while, Miss Kanna."

"Why is Sir Claude here?"

"Oh, that's it."

I slumped my shoulders and confessed everything to the truth.

"Oh my God."

Lady Kanna seemed surprised but eventually burst into laughter.

"Really? Is it really true that he did that?"

"Yes. He had this scary look on his face and called me a baby with a wet smell."

“Aaaak.”

What is this reaction? Lady Kanna loves it.

But then he cleared his throat and spoke sternly.

"You're not a runaway teenager. What is this? If there are any complaints, you should be resolved through dialogue."

"Conversation? Lady, do you think it is possible to solve the problem through conversation with Master Alessandro?"

"Of course, it might be a little difficult."

"Ah. I don't know anymore. You could just keep clicking here."

"Why?"

"That's because Master Alessandro doesn't need me."

After saying that, I realized it was true.

Oh yeah, that's right.

Alessandro is now retired.

There is no need for an ascetic knight like me anymore... Sheesh.

"Sir Claude, why do you have such a misunderstanding?"

As I was feeling glum, Lady Kanna came to comfort me.

"I assure you, he really likes you. Otherwise, there's no way he could take you with him for the rest of his life, right?"

Miss, you really misunderstand.

The only person who means anything to him is you, right?

Actually, I don't know why he cares about Lady Kanna. I'm just making two guesses.

First, because Alessandro loves a person named 'Seon-hee'. So he seems to be protecting her daughter, Kanna. That's a pretty plausible guess.

Second, in fact, Master Alessandro took Lady Kanna...

Hmm..

I will have no comment on this.

***

"It's Sir Claude."

It's been a while since I was sparring with my fellow knights at the training ground.

"It's been a while, Sir Claude."

A gentleman with neatly swept white hair, no, a devil wearing a gentleman's mask is approaching.

This is Kalen Addis. He is the most dangerous person I know.

As he hoped.

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