The Guardian Knight of Affection-Starved Young Ladies

143 – Daphnis (05)

144.

“Oh, Daphnis. My beloved daughter. How did you know?”

“From the rumor Mars told me!”

“Is that true?”

“Yes!”

“Haha! You’re smart, Daphnis. You have talent!”

“Dad, are you happy?”

“Of course, I’m happy.”

Realizing her talent.

It must have been when she was quite young.

The ability to deduce the truth from a rumor accidentally leaked by the family’s apprentice informant.

It was a talent worthy of the name.

“Daphnis, listen carefully.”

“Yes! Dad!”

“You have talent. A talent that will shine and bring honor to our family, following in my footsteps.”

“Is that a good thing…?”

“Of course, it’s a good thing. So, it would make me very happy if you could make me even prouder, Daphnis.”

“Um… Okay! Hehe.”

Every time I successfully handled the family affairs.

Every time I overcame the tasks my father set for me, like tests.

My father looked at me with eyes full of love.

I liked that.

I liked my father who cherished me.

And every time I shone with that talent, it seemed like his love deepened.

Yes.

The way he loved me.

Just that, I liked it.

“You’re truly amazing, young lady!”

“How can you be so talented at such a young age…”

“Miss Daphnis!”

When I became able to think a bit more, I realized that it was called expectation.

I didn’t dislike it.

Listening attentively to the words of the family elders.

Empathizing as if understanding their hearts.

“How can you have such a kind heart…”

“Thank you, young lady! You truly are remarkable!”

“You’re so mature for your age. Truly like Miss Daphnis.”

They were pleased.

And seeing their happy faces made me happy too.

Daphnis is kind.

Daphnis is a deep-hearted child.

Daphnis is talented.

Daphnis was already helping with the family’s affairs.

Their praise was pleasant to hear.

Well, no one dislikes praise.

There was no one in the family who disliked Daphnis Lecalin.

Before long, the name that stuck to him was ‘Lovely Daphnis.’

Everyone had expectations.

When he acted in line with those expectations, he heard pleasant praise.

He couldn’t stop it, he addicted himself to it.

Before long, he had become the Daphnis who had to be lovely to them.

He vaguely realized that fact…

When he first brought back incorrect information.

“Daphnis.”

“I’m sorry… Father…”

“Does this look like something that can be resolved with an apology?”

“…”

“Sigh… Go out.”

Father habitually said.

That he should blossom his talent and illuminate the Lecalin family.

That he could do it.

To Father, a talented daughter was a source of pride.

Father, who had always envied the position of the four great families, felt it even more so.

Naturally, I became the hope of Lecalin.

The retainers were not much different.

“The young lady is handling this matter…”

“She was summoned by the head of the family…”

“The young lady also made a mistake…”

It was a bit scary.

Their eyes, which had always been favorable, changed.

Those gazes that seemed to doubt me.

The words of praise were pleasant.

I liked their expectations of the lovely Daphnis.

But as it turned out, that wasn’t my story.

It was a story they made up about the lovely Daphnis.

When I first understood that gap, I was scared.

Scared they wouldn’t praise me.

Scared I would fail their expectations.

Scared I would no longer be the lovely Daphnis.

Their expectations of me were a kind of fact.

Facts are simple and clear.

Facts are the truth, unchanging.

For Lecalin, who deals with information, that was only natural.

So their expectations of me had to be natural too.

Daphnis is naturally kind.

Daphnis is naturally deep.

Daphnis can naturally do anything.

Daphnis will naturally help with the family’s work.

When I realized that, it made my chest feel tight.

For some reason, the feeling of disgust was quickly forgotten.

So I tried.

Tried not to fail their expectations.

Tried to keep their expectations as natural facts.

Distanced myself from the things I liked.

Instead, I received the office.

Cut down on sleep to help with the family’s work.

And so, at some point, I started helping my father.

I didn’t neglect smiling either.

Whenever the retainers sighed, saying they had worries, I gladly sat beside them.

The negative words they uttered made my chest feel tight, but I smiled without showing it.

Ironically, their expectations could be met with just that.

I hated being expected.

But I wanted them to expect it.

The me they didn’t expect, the useless Daphnis.

The Daphnis they expected had to be the lovely Daphnis.

Effortlessly accomplishing anything.

Understanding the words of her people well.

A girl so lovely just to look at.

That girl’s name was Daphnis Lecalin.

In truth, it was hard.

I wanted to eat what I liked with my fiancé, just like other noble ladies.

I hated staring at papers from the moment I woke up until I fell asleep.

I’ve cried secretly under the covers many times.

No one knew that I was so tearful.

Their expectations were heavy.

But I had to overcome it.

Even if it choked me.

Because I had to smile.

I accepted it.

I thoroughly hid my tears.

I scoured the papers even more intensely.

Sometimes, when I socialized with the noble ladies for the sake of the family.

The slight respite I could barely obtain then was the only sanctuary I could lean on.

Someday.

What they wanted became what I had to want.

Without knowing what I wanted,

I just kept going.

Protecting their lovely Daphnis.

I met the boy on the day I learned of a shocking rumor.

*

‘W-what…’

Eyes as dark as ink, captivating.

He was a boy who looked good with an eyepatch over his left eye.

At most, he might be around the same age.

The sight of him, as if seeing a mature adult, was a past that now, in hindsight, only brings embarrassment.

The shocking news I encountered that day was that the young lady of the four great families was returning.

It was a dangerous matter.

There was a risk that it would shatter the idea of making Ecclesia his own and illuminating Recalin.

So, I tried to keep her in check.

Or, I tried to befriend her.

In the end, like the other young ladies, I would have had to forcefully approach her to bring glory to the family.

Still, if I became friends with the young lady of the four great families, it would be of great help.

However.

As if to make such determination meaningless.

I couldn’t forget the boy I saw that day.

At first, I thought I was simply surprised.

Ecclesia is a forbidden place for men.

I thought I was just surprised by the boy who stepped in without a word.

Falling in love at first sight-

Such a fresh and childish love story is a novel that the lovely Daphnis might dream of.

‘Callen…’

However, I couldn’t forget my thoughts about the boy, no matter how hard I tried.

They kept circling in my head, pushing away the already insufficient sleep.

What is his relationship with the young lady of the four great families?

Did he not know that men are not allowed in Ecclesia?

…I want to meet him just once more.

Thoughts of the boy filled my head.

Questions about the boy disrupted my focus.

So, a day passed.

Weeks passed.

Months passed.

By the time the thought of wanting to meet the boy just once more became desperate.

“W-would you like to have dessert together…?”

“…Dessert?”

“Yes… There’s a new place selling chocolate desserts…”

I met the boy again, and we even made a promise to eat our favorite chocolate dessert together.

That day, I was truly happy.

I don’t know why I felt happiness.

I just wanted to meet the boy, even if it was just once, and it happened.

Time passed again, and I met the boy.

The first time he deceived me…

I wasn’t angry, but rather upset.

The fact that he deceived me made me feel strangely disappointed.

But we quickly cleared up the misunderstanding.

Moreover, Kallen said he wanted to focus only on me.

…It wasn’t because he called my name in a low voice, making me unable to think straight.

Every day with Kallen was enjoyable.

Had I ever been this happy?

Was it okay to be this happy?

It was sweeter than chocolate dessert.

The clothes he chose for me were more to my liking than I expected.

When we visited the prophet, I was angry.

When I lay on the village hill, resting my head on the boy’s arm as I pleased, I felt comfortable.

When I expressed my gratitude at the Ecclesia tea house, I was very nervous.

When he occasionally approached me nonchalantly, I found it hard to breathe.

But somehow… I grew to like the boy even more.

I wondered if it was okay to continue being this happy.

If by any chance it was okay, I wanted to just leave together like this.

The days I met Kallen felt like I could die of happiness.

Unexpected misfortune came like that.

My father’s expectations.

The family’s expectations.

I am the lovely Daphnis, but I must not be the Daphnis who likes Kalen.

It is a fact I have already accepted.

I have endured it for years.

But strangely, I couldn’t bear it anymore.

So, for the first time, I raised my voice.

I shouted at my father, uttering words of resentment.

The lovely Daphnis shouldn’t do this.

I must be good.

I must be deep.

I must do everything well.

I must prioritize the family.

Only then could I face the disgust that had risen to my throat.

Is this really what I wanted?

Is the expectation they have of me really what I wanted?

No, I hate it.

I want to quit.

This is not what I wanted.

I just wanted to be loved.

The love my father gives.

The expectations the family has.

If I am not the Daphnis they want, I feel like I won’t be loved.

But…

Now I know.

What I wanted was not love, and by meeting a boy, I finally realized what I wanted.

I could barely face myself.

*

“…”

Scratch… Scratch…

As I quietly opened my eyes, the man’s strong scent rushed in.

The sound spreading in the quiet workshop was the sound of the craftsman’s brush moving.

Daphnis was quiet.

He opened his eyes very slightly and stared blankly at the boy in front of him.

The hand supporting his waist, trembling.

Yet maintaining an unwavering, upright posture.

…The boy’s face, close enough to lean on Daphnis himself.

Why is it so warm?

Why is he doing so much for me?

I don’t know any of it.

But I didn’t want to know.

It might be a little selfish.

I just wanted to lean on the warmth the boy offered without expecting anything in return.

Daphnis nestled into Kalen’s warm embrace, curling his body slightly.

Thump… Thump… Thump…

His heart pounded like it was broken.

“…Haa…”

A short breath escaped from his lips.

His cheeks and ears, dyed red…

They hadn’t been his for a long time.

So…

Now I know.

That I liked you from the moment I saw you.

That I fell in love at first sight.

Such a fresh and childish love story, something only a lovely Daphnis would dream of.

But you know, Kalen.

Do you know?

The lovely Daphnis was me before I met you.

So I’m willing to become.

The lovely Daphnis who fell in love at first sight the moment I saw you.

Such a fresh and childish, lovely Daphnis.

“…”

Daphnis slowly closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

Looking at Kalen who was staring straight ahead, he smiled shyly.

Then.

Smooch.

He lightly pressed his lips to the nape of the neck where his face was buried.

“…Daphnis?”

Kalen, not understanding what had just happened, looked down.

Daphnis’s eyes, holding a shy smile, gently curved.

With that, once again.

Daphnis willingly returned to being the lovely Daphnis.

If there was a slight difference, it would be the words that came before.

Kalen’s own lovely Daphnis.

The Daphnis he faced was undoubtedly showing such an appearance.