The Female Lead Takes Care of Everything - Chapter 80

Thanks to Ardores, the workloads of both Caleo and the secretary had greatly decreased.

“Thank you for letting me know!”

The secretary turned and headed back toward the office.

His steps were light and cheerful, like a happy cat walking with ease.

“I should’ve told him sooner.”

Feeling a bit guilty, Ardores turned around.

“Ouch!”

“Oh no.”

He had bumped into Aref, who had somehow ended up right behind him.

Aref landed on the floor, and Ardores quickly helped him back up.

“Are you alright?”

“Yes…”

“Your nose is red. Are your hands and hips okay? When you fell earlier, it looked like you landed pretty well…”

“I used the falling technique I learned.”

Aref looked up at Ardores with a mixture of surprise and admiration. His nose stung enough to make his eyes water, but a small part of him was proud. It was the first time he had been able to use something he learned during training.

“Sir Ardores.”

“Yes?”

“About the Red Saint…”

“You realized it wasn’t a monster, didn’t you?”

Aref didn’t answer.

He looked away like a child caught doing something wrong, avoiding Ardores’s eyes.

Watching him fidget and glance around was strangely funny, and Ardores let out a quiet chuckle.

“Aref. You don’t need to agree with everything Nini says. If something is wrong, it’s okay to speak up.”

“But…”

“Why? Are you worried Nini will be upset with you?”

Aref paused, then gave a small nod.

After a short silence, he quietly shared the real reason he had come.

“M-my lady is afraid of swords.”

“I know.”

“At the palace, she hid her face in the Tower Master’s arms. She couldn’t even open her eyes. She was really scared.”

“I see.”

“But I’m learning swordsmanship too…”

Now Ardores fully understood what Aref was trying to say.

“What if she ends up hating me?”

Ardores also understood that this fear was not good for Aref’s growth.

He let out a deep breath and then gently picked Aref up in his arms.

Compared to when they first met in the spring, Aref was no longer a thin and frail boy.

He had gained healthy weight, and his skin looked clean from eating and sleeping well. His belly had grown a little from eating snacks with Nivellia, but it only added to his charm.

His once dull blond hair now had a soft shine, and his lips and fingernails were healthy and pink.

But inside, he was still a timid boy.

“You saw her earlier, didn’t you? Nini was growling that she was going to destroy the Red Saint.”

“Yes…”

“She’s my granddaughter, but she’s an incredibly honest child.”

“Yes.”

Aref already knew that very well.

Ardores raised one side of his lips in a proud smile.

“Nini says what she means. If she really didn’t like that you were learning swordsmanship, she would have said so. Don’t you think?”

“…”

“But she didn’t say anything. In fact, she always waits for your training to finish so you two can play together.”

Aref nodded again without saying a word.

But this time, something was different.

“You’re just as honest, you know that?”

Ardores smiled again when he saw Aref blushing and grinning.

“So, if you’re worried or curious, you can just ask her.”

“What if she doesn’t like it but is pretending for my sake?”

“Then explain it to her. Tell her why you want to learn swordsmanship. When two people care about each other, they should try to understand one another.”

Ardores continued gently.

“You and Nini are not the same. You are different people, each living your own life side by side. Even when you are together, there will be things you can’t do together.”

“I don’t really understand what that means…”

“It means you don’t always have to agree with Nini.”

If she does something wrong, tell her.

If you don’t understand something, ask her why.

“Saying yes to everything doesn’t make things better.”

Aref thought deeply about what Ardores said.

Then he asked quietly,

“If I keep saying she’s right, could she grow up to be selfish and only think about herself?”

“That could happen.”

“That wouldn’t be good for her.”

“You’re right. Everyone would end up turning away from her.”

And it would be hard on you too.

Ardores gently brushed his large hand through Aref’s soft blond hair.

With a firm tone, Aref said,

“From now on, if that happens, I’ll talk to her calmly and help her understand.”

That too was a way to protect her.

Realizing that, Aref looked up at Ardores.

Ardores smiled gently, as if to say that was exactly the right answer.

Since the topic was already out, Aref decided to go ask Nivellia how she really felt about him learning swordsmanship.

Ardores followed behind him.

Even if she says she doesn’t like it, I still want to learn…

So, I have to explain clearly why it matters to me.

With his heart set, Aref headed straight to the living room.

Nivellia was sitting in front of the fireplace with Deter.

Soot was smudged on her face, clothes, and hands as she angled the sharp end of the poker upward toward the chimney.

“My lady, at this rate, the Red Saint might run away crying…”

“No! Monsters are dangerous! We just have to light a fire here and burn them all!”

“We’re holding the Red Saint Festival in a few days…”

“I’ll tell my dad to cancel it!”

“My bonus…”

Deter covered his face with his sooty hands and started to sob.

“M-my lady!”

Aref called out.

“Aref!”

Nivellia grabbed Aref’s hand and pulled him close.

“Come on, Aref! Let’s do this together! So the monster can’t get in…”

“It’s not a monster.”

Aref gently corrected her misunderstanding.

“The Red Saint is actually a good person. Not a monster. He’s like an angel who gives presents to children who’ve done kind things.”

Well now.

Deter stopped pretending to cry and glanced at Aref in surprise.

This was unexpected. The boy who usually acted like Nivellia’s shadow was actually speaking up against her words.

“If you do this, the Red Saint won’t be able to come give you presents.”

“But he’s a monster…”

“He’s not a monster.”

“Really not?”

“Monsters disappeared forty years ago. Lady Muniel and Sir Ardores got rid of them. Isn’t that right?”

Aref turned to Ardores, who had been quietly observing from the side.

Ardores nodded.

“There are no more monsters.”

“…”

“So, Nini, you don’t have to be scared anymore.”

“I see…”

Aref nervously looked at Nivellia.

She glanced back and forth between the fireplace she had been working on and her soot-covered hands.

“I see…”

She mumbled again, her voice quiet and unsure.

“Did I do something wrong?”

Nivellia gave a quick glance at the fireplace where she had firmly planted the poker.

“You were trying to protect us.”

Aref gently wiped the soot from her face with his handkerchief.

“That’s something kind so the Red Saint will definitely come to bring you a gift. I believe it.”

“What if he doesn’t come…”

“Then I’ll give you a present instead.”

Promising with a warm smile, Aref held out his pinky finger.

Nivellia stared blankly at his pinky for a moment, then broke into a bright smile.

“Hehe! Promise!”

“Yes. I promise. And also…”

While their fingers were still linked, Aref carefully asked,

“Um… is it okay if I keep learning swordsmanship?”

“Of course.”

This time, Nivellia answered without hesitation.

“Aref likes swordsmanship.”

“But you don’t like it.”

“Hmm… that’s why I think you’re amazing. I think you’re really cool.”

She spoke while pulling out one of the pokers from the fireplace.

Deter took the one she pulled and added it back to the pile.

“Because, you keep doing it even though it scares you.”

“…”

“Nini gets too scared to try. But you still do it. That’s amazing!”

“Even if I become a knight, you won’t dislike me?”

“No! Nini likes Aref!”

I just like you!

“…”

Those were the words he wanted to hear most.

Aref bit his lip to hold back the tears that almost spilled out from his eyes.

His eyes were getting hot, and if he opened his mouth, he knew he might cry.

“She likes me even if I do something she’s afraid of…”

She just likes me.

Aref held back the tears and helped Nivellia pull out another poker.

Then he carried it over and placed it with the others.

“I’m really glad the Red Saint isn’t a monster!”

Nivellia completely accepted what Aref had said.

She had listened to his thoughts.

Just like Soles always believed in him, Nivellia had believed in him too.

It felt like getting every gift he had never received from the Red Saint all at once. That was how happy Aref felt.

The day of the Red Saint Festival.

“Auntie is here!”

Armiphera had returned.

“…”

Nivellia quickly hid behind Deter’s skirt and peeked her head out just enough to watch carefully.

Her face clearly said, “Who are you?” as she eyed the visitor with suspicion.

“Wait… did you forget about me already?”

Shocked, Armiphera slumped down as if completely drained.

“Oh! Ah!”

Nivellia suddenly remembered who she was.

“Auntie! Mercenary Queen Auntie! The one who ran away from home!”

“Yes! The aunt who ran away and became the Mercenary Queen!”

“I missed you so much!”

“Hey, you totally forgot about me just a second ago.”

Where did this sneaky little liar come from?

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