Barbie, The 'Silent Knight'

MSG – Volume 1 – Chapter 23

Time flew by, and soon came the time for breakfast.

Of course, Astraea had returned to the realm of demons as agreed.

He had gotten accustomed to entertaining some of the goddess' odd behaviors from time to time—one of which was the one that had just happened, resting her head in his laps while he strokes her hair.

It was not every time they met that she would spend her time trying to convince him to be the new demon king.

Sometimes, she would just opt to do some mundane things with him, like going to the beach to swim or just chill under some shade.

Other times, she would join him when he went out to his 'secret spot' to watch him sculpt things.

Being a divinity did not automatically make her talented at everything. The Goddess of Night and Death actually sucked at sculpting.

However, her painting skills were… divine.

.

There was a knock on the door of his room and he answered.

The visitor was someone unexpected. It was neither his mother Ria, nor his stepsister, Sadie.

It also was not the maid either.

"Barbie?" He blurted out in confusion.

Standing before him was Barabara Rafflesia, a girl that appeared to be plus or minus 20 years of age, stood at a height of about 5 feet and 5 inches, and had near-porcelain skin.

She had the signature crimson eyes of her father and short blonde hair that could make anyone mistake her for a boy from behind if they could not spot her bite-sized earring and could not see her face that was actually quite pretty.

She was the first daughter, and second child, of the Rafflesia family, and also the undisputed most talented of her siblings.

She was considered the 'crown jewel' of the family by many.

That was why despite her age, her wish to not get married 'until she was ready' was being entertained.

'That would not go on forever though.' I, like everyone else, thought.

She was called the 'Silent Knight' because of her talent in swordplay, stealth, and Darkness Magic.

When she was not out practicing the sword with the mansion's guards, of whom she is actually the captain of, she is usually busy isolating herself in her room or in either one of the libraries.

She hardly ever talked too. She was kind of like a ghost, honestly.

You could stay in this mansion for a month and never know she existed, much less meet her as she would not even show herself at meal times, having her meal wherever she pleased.

'What is she doing here?' he wondered.

"Good morning? Hello?" he asked, trying to get a response out of her as she had remained silent the entire time he had been drinking in her appearance—which included a black knee-length sundress by the way.

"Do you need something from me, perchance?" he asked again after sometime, getting a bit exasperated by her behavior.

He had had little to no interaction with her since coming to this family but he had heard of her strange 'charms' as they called it.

Meh. They just did not dare spout negative comments about the gem of the family.

Even if she would never be allowed to inherit the Count's position due to the unreasonable patriarchy, she would still come to be someone influential and powerful in future.

About three minutes passed and his patience was running low.

He had better things to do than to have a staring competition with a Rafflesia.

Exhaling audibly, he nodded and said; "Suit yourself then."

He stepped backward and closed the door… not.

His room's door was halted by the blonde's left foot, causing him to crease his brows.

Reopening the door fully, he asked her; "I can't read your mind, Barbie. Tell me why you're here or…"

He trailed off as he was actually not sure what he would do if she continued to do as she currently was.

Use force on her? That was a no-go.

That would prop up a lot of problems whatever the outcome of their confrontation was (he could decide the outcome since for him she was akin to a broom stick that he could snap in half in a single motion).

Simply ignore her and return to what he was doing?

Fat chance. There was surely no way she would let him do that?

Walk past her and leave the mansion?

That was an option too since he really did not have anything left to do in the room but have a shower. He could have his shower someplace else.

However, recalling the whispers he'd picked up about the Silent Knight, he could imagine himself walking on the streets of the Earldom with a 'shadow' silently following him—whether or not she would bother to even hide her presence while doing that was anyone one's guess.

He could only sigh helplessly.

Finally, it seemed that she had had her 'fun' as she suddenly stretched out her right hand before him like she was expecting to receive something from him.

Looking down at her, he could only blink in confusion, not understanding what she sought from him.

"Barbie… actions speak louder than words but some actions are not enough on their own," he said. "You have to give me a bit more than that for me to go on."

Finally, her thin lips parted as she spoke; "Book."

Solon blinked once, and then a second and third time.

"Book?" he regurgitated.

She nodded with an 'Mm'.

"You want me to give you a book, Barbie? Which one?" he probed.

He wondered if she just wanted his help in getting a book she could not reach in the library. Maybe she was not adept at using the ladder.

However, he soon discarded that line of thought as her hand gesture made it seem like she wanted it from him.

A book that was in his possession?

"The novel?" he spat those words aloud as he realized what she meant.

Confirming his speculation, Barbie nodded; "Mm. Need next volume."

Hearing her words, he could not help but be even more exasperated.