Actually, I Was The Real One
Chapter 13

Joseph: "It has been a long-standing tradition for the eldest daughter of the Grand Duke to serve as the Knight Captain. Having the next head as our Captain is an honor for us. Who had the courage to say such rude things? I'll find them and punish them."

Keira: "Please calm down. No one said it."

Joseph: "Then does someone show their displeasure? That is also unforgivable. I will definitely punish them so please don't mind them, Madam."

Keira: "No... Not really, but..."

When Keira said her words with a stutter and scratched her cheek, Joseph seemed to have guessed the situation harshly.

Joseph: "Then do you think that way to yourself?"

Keyra nodded slowly.

"..."

Then Joseph's expression turned into total astonishment. Keira could not help but cringe as if she was doing something wrong.

An unexpected comment came out of his mouth, "Why do you think like that? We are proud to have you as our captain."

Keira: "W-what?"

Are they proud of him? His eyes are wide open.

Joseph: "Even the vassals are proud. Why don't we if you're the type of talented person who only comes every hundred years?"

Keira: "But I have no experience and only became a captain because of my bloodline."

Joseph: "Who in the world would consider you that way? They won't doubt you after you beat them up during practice."

Sir Joseph struck his chest in frustration.

With his head bowed, Keira wondered if it was just a misunderstanding caused by his insecurity for not being quite in his father's eyes?

He lifted his head and asked, "But even when everyone is having fun talking, why are they silent when I show up?

Joseph: "Who can joke in front of their boss? Especially in front of the next Saintess?"

"..."

Keira became a mute who ate honey[1].

Making use of the silence, Sir Joseph continued excitedly, "In addition, my lady is a little. It's not that my lady is disliked, but people don't like her. know how to approach you."

Keira: "a: "...Do I look difficult?"

Joseph: "Think of Your Majesty. Let's say he sits there empty and says nothing. Can you joke around in front of him when he's like that?"

Lark: "Oh..."

Indeed indeed. Who could joke around in front of his cold, reserved father?

He always thought he shouldn't laugh out loud or talk too much because it didn't suit the nobles and the next Saints. But he didn't expect it would make him seem unapproachable.

Keira: "I don't think like that. I just thought that laughing out loud wasn't aristocratic..."

In the past, he didn't really care if they were reluctant to approach him. With all his attention focused on his father, he was unaware of it.

Come to think of it, Cosette was always smiling. His cool features that resembled Duke would soften when he smiled. He spoke to the people who were wary of him and extended his hand with a smile on his face.

Now, Keira understood why Cosette could win the hearts of everyone so quickly.

Keira: "So that's what everyone thinks ..."

Joseph: "Is it still true that you want to be friends?"

Keyra: "Huh?"

Joseph: "You said you went to a drinking party to get to know us."

To be honest, she went to the drinking party because she thought it was her duty as the eldest daughter of the Grand Duke to make connections with the knights, but she did not say that and just nodded her head.

Joseph: "Then we're on time."

Keyra: "What?"

Joseph: "Everyone is waiting for our mistress."

Keira: "Waiting? Why?"

Joseph: "There's a welcoming party for new recruits, right? If you're late, everyone might already be drunk and passed out. Let's go."

Keira: "Well? G-go?"

Sir Joseph stood up from his seat and looked at him with a gaze that said, 'Are you not going?'

Was he hypnotized by that look? When Keira came to her senses, she had already followed him.

'B-can I go?'

Don't they want the boss gone? Keyra's mind was mixed. When he began to hesitate to leave, he remembered what Sir Joseph had said.

"We are proud to have you as our captain."

He lived his entire life wanting to be perfect and recognized by his father, but found it useless. His father would never appreciate it.

'...I'm acknowledged.'

Someone admitted his effort. It was an affirmation that all his efforts were not in vain.

He had a lump in his throat when he realized it.

-AIWTRO

A party was held at a bar outside the mansion. The two decided to take the train as it would take quite a while to walk, and the bar was not a place frequented by high-ranking nobles.

However, Keira often attended drinking parties in her past life, so she had visited the place several times.

He walked to the bar without thinking twice. Still, his heart was pounding.

"Oh, are you here, Madam?" Reina, one of the few female knights, greeted the two.

At that greeting, the knights who were busy eating raised their heads. They greeted both at the same time.

"Please get through here."

"Hey, we need more glasses."

"It's booze, is it okay?"

He was ushered to the middle of the table, and Sir Joseph was beside him. Keyra looked around. Everyone at the table buzzed and prepared a drink.

"I think everyone is here."

"Then can I roll it?"

"Hey, stop that."

What are they drinking? Keira was confused by what the knights said. Looking closely, the situation at the table was unusual.

Large glasses of beer lined up. On top of it, a small glass was placed on top of the chopsticks [2].

Are they trying to build a tower?

For Keira, drinking means sipping a glass of cocktail or wine. He had never seen anything so strange.

A knight he did not know stepped forward. "I am Dame[3] Kirix who joined the Knights of Parvis today."

"Miss, this newcomer showed you his skills."

A skill? Keyra.

Have they done this before in their past lives? He doesn't remember at all.

No, the atmosphere is not this relaxed.

They used to sit stiffly, greet each other, eat snacks, and disperse. He wasn't sure if it was really a drinking party or a meeting.

Dame Kirix unsheathed his sword with a tense look. Immediately after, a blue light surrounded his blade.

Lark: "Oh!"

"Come on!"

Keira thought everyone knew how to do that to the sword and wondered why everyone became excited. But he kept his mouth shut.

It was a wise decision.

Dame Kirix stood in front of a row of glasses and swung his sword across. With overwhelming control, he stopped right before the sword touched the glass.