I could stomp on the weaklings, but there was nothing I could do about Leonard, who led the bullying.
So I no longer talked about solving anything.
I, too, was just getting by, walking on thin ice every day in the midst of the abuse and contempt led by those guys.
"......You and I, what a truly miserable life we lead."
Suddenly, a hollow laugh burst out of me.
How could I have chosen such a bottom-of-the-barrel male lead, even with all my favoritism?
Thinking about it, it was because my situation was like that.
I knew it was easier to win the favor of those who had nothing rather than those who had a lot.
"Here, take this."
For someone as weathered as me, a situation where a normal-mode heroine gives a surprise gift with a loving face was impossible from the start.
I loosened my grip on the necklace I had been holding tightly and offered it to him.
"This is......"
"It may look like a toy, but it's a sword. Hold the hilt and infuse it with magic."
Eclis looked down at the necklace suddenly thrust at him, his face bewildered, as if he couldn't quite believe it was a sword.
"Hurry up."
At my urging, he reluctantly picked up the sword pendant with his thumb and forefinger.
At that moment.
Whoosh! A bright light burst from his hand, and before long, a long sword was in Eclis's hand.
"Ah."
Eclis stared at the sword that had suddenly appeared, his eyes wide with surprise.
Unlike other swords, it had a rough appearance with no jewels or ornaments, but the light flowing along its blade was extraordinary.
'I thought it was a scam and would get a refund if it was fake. It's real?'
Indeed, a male lead is a male lead. Eclis, dressed in new training clothes, holding a majestic iron sword in one hand, looked very impressive.
To the point where no one would imagine he was a slave.
I could feel the sparse crowd around us glancing and gesturing at him.
"Why......"
Eclis looked down at the sword in his hand, his voice sounding strangely choked.
I gestured to the magnificent iron sword he held and spoke.
"In the Inca Empire, it's absurd for a slave from a defeated nation to wield a magic sword."
"......"
"But if you still want to serve me as your master, the knight I will keep by my side from now on......"
"......"
"Will be you alone."
Eclis's pupils dilated even more than when the necklace turned into a sword.
"What will you do?"
I never intended to give him a sword like a threat.
I had planned to say something touching, like a normal-mode heroine, "Regardless of status, you will always be my knight," but......
'Ha ha. Emotional stuff is for the birds with me.'
From the moment I brought up the bullying, the atmosphere had turned sour, and I swallowed my tears, reaching the peak of my threat.
"Will you take the sword I give you, or continue to be a slave?"
"......"
Eclis stared at me, but didn't answer.
I was half-giving up.
If he didn't take it, I planned to take it back and give it to the duke or Derrick as a gift.
That's when it happened. Eclis suddenly raised the sword high. And.
Crack!
He plunged the sword forcefully into the wooden floor.
"What, what are you doing......"
Stunned by his sudden action, he slowly knelt in front of me.
Then, he rudely grabbed my hand, which was lying around, and held it tightly in his grip.
"I swear eternal obedience and loyalty as your one and only sword."
Eclis murmured these words and slowly bowed his head.
His soft lips touched the back of my hand.
The first skinship with the male lead was neither cold nor hot, just a faint temperature.
But I couldn't even feel that properly.
- I swear eternal obedience and love as your one and only sword.
Was it too early for our private knighting ceremony?
It was clearly different from the oath Eclis made to the heroine in the normal mode. Anxiety crept in. But then—
[Goodwill 40%]
The soaring goodwill instantly suppressed the unknown anxiety.
'It's just a different situation.'
I consoled myself and looked down at Eclis, who was kissing the back of my hand.
I could see his neatly groomed brown head.
"......Don't betray me, Eclis."
I muttered my first sincere words to my favored male lead.
"Betrayal......"
is death.
* * *
The items purchased from the weapon shop were all delivered to the duke's mansion the next day.
The servants gaped in amazement at the mountain of boxes piled up by the workers in front of the gate.
"Miss Penelope! What are all those things?"
The startled butler hurried to my room, and I had just woken up and finished washing my face.
"What?"
"You went out after a long time, so......"
The butler couldn't continue at my calm question.
"Why did you buy so many weapons? Especially, there are over sixty boxes filled with wooden swords."
"Hmm, it doesn't seem enough."
I shrugged, recalling yesterday's events.
The butler was silent for a moment.
He sighed, looking at me as if I were a naive child, and then spoke again.
"......Your concern for the knights is truly admirable, Miss."
"......"
"The duke's mansion does not skimp on the budget for the knights. The same goes for wooden swords. There are still many left, so there's no need for you to buy new ones."
'Who's worrying about who?'
I tilted my head at his words.
Meanwhile, the butler added with a regretful look.
"It was your first outing in a long time. Wouldn't it have been better to buy jewelry for you to wear? Or a dress......"
"Butler, there seems to be a misunderstanding."
I frowned and corrected his thoughts.
"I didn't buy those for the knights affiliated with the family."
"Excuse me? Then......"
"They are gifts for my bodyguards."
He stammered, clearly not believing my generous actions.
"Then, all those......"
"You must have heard about the commotion yesterday."
The butler's face, which had been flustered, suddenly darkened at my words.
'Why would I spend money on weapons for the people who insulted me?'
I inwardly snickered at his reaction and drove the point home to prevent any misunderstandings.
"I bought them because I thought Eclis's training equipment was lacking. What? Don't you have enough storage space?"
"No, no, that's not it."
The butler shook his head hastily.
It was absurd to say there wasn't enough space in the duke's mansion.
Of course, the butler wasn't flustered for that reason, but I deliberately misinterpreted his question to answer.
It meant not to pry further.
"You must have your reasons, Miss."
The butler slowly nodded, accepting my words.
'Surprising. I thought he would add a few more words.'
Although I had reminded him of my position a few times, his attitude of considering me ignorant hadn't changed.
I looked at him curiously, as he had clearly changed after the apology two days ago, and spoke.
"Taking care of that boy is enough for me. There's no need for the busy butler to pay special attention."
"Then......"
"Just keep an eye on things as usual. If something like yesterday happens again, let me know."
"Understood. I will properly store the gifts you purchased in the warehouse for your bodyguards."
"Thank you."
I smiled briefly at his polite response.
It felt good to have some mutual communication in this house for a change.
After the butler left, Emily came in with breakfast.
"Miss! The items that arrived this morning are gifts for the bodyguards, right?"
She chattered excitedly while setting the table.
"News travels fast."
"Why didn't you take me with you......"
Emily looked very disappointed.
Originally, a dedicated maid to a noble lady is an inseparable presence.
Since the trust of the mistress directly translates to the power of the maid, I understood her pouting, as she had decided to be my right-hand person a while ago.
"Here."
I handed her something I had taken out in advance.
"This, this is......"
It was an amulet of the same color I had bought from the weapon shop.
Emily didn't take it immediately, only looking down at my hand with wide eyes.
"What are you doing, take it already."
"What is this, Miss?"
"It's a gift for you."
"A gift......?"
"It's said to protect you from unknown dangers when you carry it."
The amulet I gave to Emily wasn't particularly valuable, as the magic it cast was too broad and vague.
But it was a common gift to give to loved ones.
"I have many enemies. Now that you're one of my people, you never know when something bad might happen. So, always carry it with you."
I felt a bit guilty about my previous outburst at Emily.
Moreover, since she had once refused the expensive jewel I offered, I also had a bit of a testing mindset.
If she refused this, there might be something else going on.
"Miss......"
But when Emily looked up, her eyes were brimming with tears.
"I've never received such a gift while working at the duke's mansion."
"So?"
"It's so beautiful. I'll treasure it."
"Good."
"I'll serve you even more diligently from now on! I really will!"
She pledged her loyalty several times with a determined look.
Seeing her, I felt as if the incident of being pricked by a needle when I first came here was a distant memory.
That's when it happened.
〈SYSTEM〉 Your reputation has increased by +5 due to improved relationships with the people around the duke's family. (Total: 15)
A white square window appeared in front of me, and my reputation, which had recently declined, was restored.
"Thank you, Miss! Thank you so much!"
With Emily's repeated bows and grateful voice as background music, I thought the same thing as always.