Don't Concern Yourself With That Book
Chapter Side Story 3-1

Side Story 3-1

Translator: yun

Side Story 3: Will You Marry Me?

“… What do you need?”

The girl looked up. However, she did not see anyone else in the room after scanning her surroundings. 

‘That’s weird.’

The girl who tilted her head looked lovely. This red-haired girl was none other than Rebecca Eileen Aventa, who had just turned 10 this year. 

‘I definitely heard a voice.’

Since some time ago, Rebecca had been hearing a voice inside her head. The voice would bother her from time to time. 

Combing through her hair, she pondered.

‘It did ask what the hell I needed, didn’t it?’

The unfamiliar voice piqued young Rebecca’s curiosity. Where was it coming from? Sometimes when it appeared, she would try to concentrate on the voice but the more she focused on it, the more muffled and distant it became. It sounded like someone was shouting at her from a distance away. 

Click.

“Pipio, are you ready to go?”

The attendant lowered her head. 

Rebecca was the Duke of Aventa’s cherished only daughter.

“Hold on. I’m coming.”

Rebecca glanced at the courtyard. The white marble used to build it was milky white and engraved onto these walls was the sword treasured by the God of Swords, ‘Ensis’. (1) 

Their estate resembled a temple.

‘That’s because father is the head templar.’

Rebecca stared at the statue erected in the middle of the courtyard. 

The armour-clad woman lifting her sword was their God of the Sword. 

Clang.

The sound of blades clashing against each other could be heard in the distance. Sounds that originated from the Temple of the Sword. The sound of swords. 

Rebecca slowly averted her gaze. The sounds of metal were so familiar to her. But why could she smell rusting iron? 

She was not just imagining it. 

But why was she smelling it? She was not allowed to bring anything even related to blades into her room so it was impossible for her room to smell of iron. 

It was all because her mother disliked it when Rebecca expressed interest in the sword. 

“A sword does not suit a virtuous lady.”

Soon after returning from her daydreams, Rebecca got up. Strolling lightly, she lifted the fabric elegantly. Though she was a mere child, the nobility coursing through her blood was evident from her face.

“Let us go.”

“Yes.”

In any case, swords were like fables that had nothing to do with her.  

***

For generations, the Dukes of Aventa had been the Head Templar of the Sword. Most that had Aventa as their last name were faithful believers in the Sword. 

However, in reality, this family was not originally from the lands of Kaltanias. 

“Heed this command, foreign kings who have surrendered!”

A long time ago, back when the First Emperor, Kaltanias, had conquered the western continent, she had granted special mercy upon the kings of 3 different countries during the early stages of her conquest. 

The recipients of this mercy were the Devolo, Aventa and Soletdion families, who had lost their territories but were granted honorary duke titles in turn. 

Afterward, the Aventas had chosen to worship the God of the Sword, the Devolos had chosen the ancient beast and the Soletdions had chosen the God of Winds. 

Despite their foreign ethnicities, they had solidified their positions in the Empire as templars. 

“May the Grace of the Sword bless us for generations to come. A True Sword does not rely on their tools.”

The doctrine of the God of the Sword was simple. 

“They who carry a sword in their heart will receive power.”

And the power the God of the Sword granted was ‘talent’. 

The sword was impartial to everyone. 

It did not matter if the believer did not know swordsmanship. It is only after they are chosen by the god, do they understand the reason why they were blessed with it. 

Although the powers were not hereditary like the Power of the Lord, the Aventa Family and their associates had always been chosen by the god. That was because they met the conditions of becoming a Templar of the Sword more easily than the others.  Sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ ɴ0velFɪre.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

Rebecca’s father was a prime example. 

“My child.”

Noticing his daughter’s presence, the duke wiped off his sweat as he welcomed her arrival. 

“Where did you return from?”

He could not help but to adore his daughter whom he received at his ripe old age after much difficulties. Staring back at her father with bright eyes, Rebecca replied. 

“I had just attended a small banquet for young nobles.”

Rebecca replied, almost snapping. 

Her expression might seem unchanging, but the duke noticed her sulking at once–though it was only noticeable once it was observed in much detail.

“Oh dear. Rebecca, did something happen? You don’t look too good.”

Rebecca tilted her head.

“Actually… it wasn’t just nobles who attended today. The 6th and 7th Prince were also in attendance.”

“But?”

Rebecca paused momentarily before replying. 

“The prince had asked me ‘Do you really think I’m that noble?’”

Rebecca recalled what happened. 

“I greet the noble prince.”

“… Noble?”

The 6th Prince. When she thought of him, the first thing she recalled was his arrogant expression and the way he narrowed one eye. 

“Do you really think I’m that noble?”

HIs hair, that fluttered over his face as he talked, looked as grey as ash yet as precious as silver. 

“… If you’re not noble, who is?”

“Enough. Leave.”

As he tilted his head and furrowed his brow, he soon smirked, rolling up the corners of his lips as though he was laughing.

“Because it’s just nonsense.”

His sneer lingered on her mind. Why did he smile like that? She had only left his interrogation with a dark cloud of displeasure looming above her head.

“Uhm, Rebecca… He has his reasons.”

“Reasons?”

After hearing her recount her story, the Duke of Aventa found himself at a loss. He let out a smile. He did not know how much he should tell the young Rebecca. She was a smart shield but he also thought that she might be too young to know. 

“He is a sacrificial lamb stuck between templars and non-templars.”

“A sacrificial lamb?”

“Yes. And that is all your father can tell you.”

He gave a comforting grin but even through her slight smiles, he could see her displeasure. 

“Let us discuss the rest later.”

“Yes. Father.”

Understanding that her father did not wish to speak on the matter any more, Rebecca nodded. 

However, from that moment forth Rebecca had inwardly decided to think of the 6th Prince as a ‘strange person’. 

Since then, Rebecca and Fleon would often run into each other. It was natural considering that one was the only Ducal Lady in the entire Empire, and the other was the Heir to the Wolves and a prince. 

But Fleon had never asked her any strange questions anymore. When she would occasionally greet him, he would merely frown before greeting back.

“Just as I thought, the 6th Prince is an arrogant prince.”

It was easy to compare Fleon’s attitude to that of the 7th Prince’s, Dane, who would sincerely reply to greetings one by one with a smile. This difference was pointed out even more so by adult templars who would gossip about him behind his back with their children. 

“This is absurd. He’s not even a templar but he will be inheriting everything from Vulcanus.”

“The 6th Prince isn’t crazy, right…”

“Who knows? But there’s no way he’s really alright in the head, right? She abandoned one of her sons. It can only be because of madness or plain cold-heartedness.”

Rebecca heard everything.

“It’s weird.”

She realised that all these murmurs were all because of the 6th Prince’s crumpled brows. 

Then, one day. Out of pure coincidence, Rebecca found herself in the middle of a conversation Fleon would have hated.

“His twin brother, the 5th Prince, is a templar… So, how did the 6th Prince turn out like that? The difference is too uncanny. To think that a non-templar is the Heir to Vulcanus… this is preposterous. No wonder there are rumours he’s actually a half-blood.”

“…..”

“I fully agree. This is an issue pertaining to one of the 12 greatest temples in the Empire, Vulcanus. He is truly the disappointment of the Empire, seriously.”

After listening to what one of the other children’s parents had to say, Rebecca quietly asked.

“Why isn’t the duke telling him that himself?”

The words the templar had heard loud and clear bewildered him.

“What?”

“…..”

He looked as though he did not expect Rebecca to question him.

“Ah, hahaha. The little Ducal Lady is only saying that because she’s still young. Haha.”

“Are you saying that I’m too young to understand what you are saying, duke?”

“Huh? Yeah. You’re not privy to this as you’re still too young. I’ll tell you once you’re a little older.”

“Is that so?”

Rebecca flashed a slight smile. 

“You are mistaken to think that I’m dumb just because I’m young. At least that’s what my father tells me, what do you think?”

Indeed, she was not wrong which was why the templar who found himself in hot water quickly grabbed his child and fled. Because the person he feared was not Rebecca but the Duke of Aventa who backed her. 

Staring at the fading silhouette of the templar, Rebecca turned her head. And made eye contact with Fleon. 

“…..”

For a long while, the tension between the two was palpable. It was Fleon who looked away first. For some reason, his deep blue eyes seemed brimming with anger. 

The same day, on the way back home, Rebecca found herself face to face with Fleon who looked to have chased after her.

“Look here.”

Rebecca turned around. 

“If you think I would be thankful for your words, you’d be sorely mistaken.”

“…..”

Still staring at Fleon, Rebecca tilted her head. 

“What might you be referring to?”

“… Huh? Th… T-those words you said earlier!”

“Ah.”

Staring into those flustered eyes, Rebecca could only blink. Because she finally recalled what occurred earlier. 

“If that’s what you’re referring to, I didn’t do it to receive your thanks.”

“Huh? You said it for me to hear. Didn’t you?”

“Do you think I said it to receive your gratitude?”

“H-huh?”

As Rebecca raised her pitch-black eyes, Fleon flinched. He looked a little perplexed. But Rebecca spoke regardless.

“If that’s the case, you should be thanking me.”

Fleon’s face turned so red, even his ears turned red. His mouth was left agape. 

“N-nonsense!”

Swivelling around, Fleon walked away. It was funny seeing him stomping away like an elephant. 

‘What an interesting boy.’

She might seem to have been taking him lightly but she could sense his dignity from the faintest of his movements. His gestures were clean as though he had thoroughly polished them. 

In fact, Rebecca knew better than anyone how hard one must work to achieve that level of pose. Because she had worked that hard. 

Rebecca turned back around to glance at his back. 

“… What do you need?”

The unfamiliar voice continued to whisper into her ears. 

***

There were some things that one had no choice but to learn about someone when one often met them. 

Once again, Rebecca found herself in the middle of a banquet hall where people wielded pretentious words like knives on their tongues. Rebecca happened to discover Fleon’s gaze fixated on one spot. 

She turned to face whatever that he was staring at. In the middle of the table lined with snacks, a boy could be seen.

‘That’s…’

The boy had black hair. She could clearly see who he was since the boy had not been situated too far from her. 

His timid gazes hidden beneath his thick glasses and strands of his long black hair. It was Ferdinand, the 5th Prince. Fleon’s older twin. 

‘Why is he just staring at his brother and not approaching him? Ah.’

It did not take long for Rebecca to recall the twins, the 5th and 6th Princes, were not on good terms. It was a well-known fact. 

Normally, Fleon would have left before the 5th Prince  arrived but on the days when he could not leave, he would only stare at him from afar. Rebecca thought he must have really wanted to talk to him. 

“I greet the 5th Prince.”

Out of another pure coincidence, Rebecca accompanied her mother shortly afterward to greet the 5th Prince, Ferdinand. 

T/N:

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(1): The Ensis is a mythical sword represented by the star Eta Orionis in the constellation Orion. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ensis_(disambiguation)

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