Violant of the Silver Chapter 2 Part5

Chapter 2: Part 5

"A phobia for going outside, huh?" 

Jill nods and leads Legion to a seat. In the servants’ cafeteria, there is a table for six. "Please sit down in the meanwhile. I will make a cup of tea."

As prompted, he lowers himself onto the leftmost chair. Then his eyes wander past Jill's figure, losing focus as his mind floats back to that room on the second floor. And he remembers the previous incident.

As the butler carried Vio's unconscious body out of the room, Legion summoned a physician. He let out a sigh of relief after hearing the results of the examination. There were no underlying causes for his collapse, nothing to suggest it was due to illness. It was his unnecessary kindness that made Vio faint. If this was the worst outcome, Legion wondered if his master could cause his own harm.

After brewing the tea, Jill arranges the cups neatly on the table and sits opposite of the him. He imitates Jill in bringing the cup to his lips. Once he takes a sip he realizes his throat is dry.

Eventually, Jill lowers his cup. Those intelligent grey eyes size him up.

"Does Sir Legion know of the traitor known as Erik?"

"Erik? No, I'm afraid I don't… Was that who Lord Violant was referring to back then, the person whose shadow he can’t escape?"

"It is as you have guessed. However, are you unfamiliar with this name? It is famous around the area."

"Although I'm from this territory, I've been stationed at the royal capital since age 12. I've just returned to my hometown. Certainly, I've heard rumors. But the name itself has never crossed my ears."

"Is that so? That man has been wanted in this territory for two years and counting. Perhaps the public has lost interest in these rumors."

Jill breathes out a heavy sigh. As his gentle grey eyes seem to darken, Legion rotates the empty cup in his hands. He sets it on the table.

"Two years ago, Erik Kahland served as young master's guardian knight."

"Guardian knight?" Legion's eyes widen. "But Lord Violant said he hated them…"

Then it hits him. Violant's hatred of knights may have been spurred by Erik.

With a nod, Jill continues. "Erik was young master's most trusted subordinate. Young master placed his absolute faith in him, cared for him from the bottom of his heart. Erik also called him his important lord and had served him well. They seemed like brothers separated by an age gap or best friends. As you may know, since there is a close relations.h.i.+p between Nada town and us, Erik blocked a strike from young master's elder brother that was meant for him. As such, young master trusted Erik all the more."

"And such a man betrayed him?" Legion's brow furrows.

In all honesty, he's envious of Erik and despises the man without ever having met him. If it isn't for him, Legion won't have such wicked thoughts.

Jill flashes a wry smile. "Erik's circ.u.mstances were also tragic. He was sent over when young master was around eight years old. Perhaps his heart had already been broken at that point. For that reason, young master is unable to hate Erik even though he had attempted to kill him."

He goes on to explain Erik's backstory. His father had been imprisoned for false charges and he tried to appeal to the duke. However, his pleas fell on deaf ears. Eventually, his father breathed his last breath in prison.

Following that, Erik pointed his blade at his own master, leaving him to bleed out on the snowy ground.

And then—

"Young master has been unable to go outdoors ever since. It's diagnosed as a phobia. The wound he bears in his heart is clearly the cause. Stepping outside seems to trigger the memories of that night, along with the intense fear that someone is planning to kill him. The effects can be as severe as what has happened today."

"Why have you let Lord Violant come to this place alone after knowing all this?" Legion clenches his jaw, hands balled into fists. He can't comprehend it. Don't parents protect their children when their children are hurt? Even birds won't drop their injured chicks from their nests. What Jill said doesn't sit well with him.

"Because the Lesserhain family is distinguished in martial arts, if one of its members cannot go outside, no matter how much blood is drawn, they would be deemed worthless. Like in hunting, an inability to fight proves fatal. The duke practiced this philosophy, and as a result banished young master from the estate."

Jill pauses, before resuming. "However, due to the d.u.c.h.ess' desperate pleas, young master was given the rural Leca town under the guise of banishment. It seems the duke was concerned that the d.u.c.h.ess would demand a divorce otherwise, and consult with her brother the king."

"Ah, then is the d.u.c.h.ess Lord Violant's ally?" Legion feels relieved from this information. Imagining that Vio has no place in his own home is too painful to bear.

"His sister is as well. On the other hand, it is his elder brother Rupheus that I cannot approve of the most. Although it's common in the aristocracy for siblings to be on bad terms, I wish he would give a little more affection to young master. Even though Lord Rupheus is an able person, it is still such a disappointment." An extreme look of hatred paints Jill's usually calm face.

(So the butler despises Lord Rupheus.)

Fired after three days, he also holds no love for him. In fact, because of this, Legion feels some affinity toward Jill.

"Young master lives alone under these circ.u.mstances. Going outside will set off another one of those attacks. So do not invite him outdoors ever again."

"I will comply."

Right as he nods, Lil stomps into the kitchen. Her eyes pierce into Legion, frigid and red with anger.

"Excuse me, Mr. Jill. I have a message from Lord Vio to Mr. Legion."

"What is it?" His back grows damp from her intense stare. 

"The words are 'you should understand now that I am lacking as a master. Leave the estate by tomorrow morning,'" says Lil, bitterly gritting her teeth. "To be honest, I want to beat you up. I don't ever want to hear Lord Violant say something like this!"

"Now, Lil." But the butler’s effort to calm her is unsuccessful.

"No Mr. Jill, I will not keep quiet about this!" Her breathing comes out rough, powered by her fit of rage. "If you continue to cause Lord Vio to suffer, I won't show you mercy. Pack up at once." Cheeks swollen from displeasure, she exits the kitchen in a huff.

Not skipping a beat, Jill turns to Legion. "Please accept this apology, Sir Legion. I have failed to discipline the maids and let such remarks be spoken…"

"No, it's fine. What Lil said has some truth to it. Certainly, I am unpleasant."

Jill watches intently as Legion rises to his feet, surprised.

"Are you alright?"

"I want to self-reflect."

"Hah? O-oh…"

Without another word, Legion departs from the mansion, leaving behind the confused butler.

Ending notes:

I feel like the drama’s picking up. Also, where are you going Legi?

Next release should be NHAD 9.

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