Chapter 46

"It never fails to defy expectations."

Werner felt a throbbing headache as he bowed his head to Dani.

"Welcome, Young Master Dani. What brings you to the training grounds?"

"Do I need a reason to come? I can go wherever I please within the family grounds."

"That may be true, but…"

Werner's eyes narrowed as he tried to pacify Dani. It was because of the knight standing behind him—an unfamiliar face and an unfamiliar style of armor, clearly someone from outside the family.

"Who is that, Young Master?"

"Ah, you mean Sir Gino."

Dani smiled, puffing his chest out as if showing off a prized possession.

"He's a knight I met in the capital recently. He used to be with the Golden Lion Order and said he wanted to pledge his loyalty to me."

"I am Gino Rubl. I've heard much of your reputation, Sir Werner."

The knight who introduced himself as Gino bowed slightly toward Werner. Although his greeting was polite, his squared shoulders and bright smile hinted at the confidence of a young knight.

Werner's eyes flickered as he observed the two.

"Are you saying you've entered a lifelong contract?"

"Well, that's how it turned out."

"If I may ask, what is Sir Gino's salary…?"

"Don't worry about that; I've arranged it myself."

Dani cut him off before he could finish, his face showing clear irritation, signaling that he wanted no further discussion.

Werner sighed inwardly, having guessed the situation.

'He must have asked for help from his maternal family.'

Helena's family, the Barzini family, was well-known for its wealth. Moreover, the current head of the Barzini family was Dani's maternal grandfather.

If the grandson requested it, they likely provided the funds for the knight's salary without much thought. The problem was the ripple effects that would follow.

'How can a knight hired with external funds truly be considered one's own?'

Regardless of the ideals of knighthood, reality isn't a romance. Knights, too, are human and often tempted by glittering gold. It is even said that half of a knight's loyalty stems from wealth. But to pay the salary using someone else's money, not one's own?

It wouldn't be surprising if the knight's loyalty shifted to the one funding him. Unlike Sir Toby, who remained loyal despite knowing his lord's circumstances.

'That's all the influence of the Barzini family.'

While Werner clicked his tongue inwardly, Dani wrinkled his nose and sniffed the air.

"By the way, Sir Werner, why does the training ground reek so badly?"

"The smell, you say…?"

"As I said before, it smells like commoners. It's a disgrace that this sacred training ground reeks like this."

Dani pinched his nose and glanced at Sylas. As Dani's gaze settled on Sylas, Werner, who had stiffened, asked.

"Who is he?" 

"He is Young Master Dani. I believe you've heard of him before…"

"Ah!"

Sylas clapped his hands as if he had finally remembered and laughed.

"Oh, so it's my brother! Nice to meet you, brother!"

Sylas cheerfully opened his arms as if inviting an embrace. The gesture caused everyone in the training grounds to freeze. A moment later, Dani's face turned bright red as he regained his senses.

"You lowly wretch! Who are you calling brother!"

"I heard about you. We're the same age, but your birthday is a bit later, right? So I'm your older brother, correct?" 

"Shut up! Where does a farmhand who skinned animals get off pretending to be a noble!"

Dani pointed at Sylas's face, shouting insults. Sylas tilted his head and glanced at Werner, who looked flustered.

"Sir Werner."

 "Yes?" 

"I've heard that nobles sometimes adopt commoners. Is that correct?"

 "Th-that's correct."

It's rare, but it's not unheard of. One of the paths for commoners to rise to nobility is through adoption.

"If a commoner becomes adopted, they become siblings with the noble's biological children, right?" 

"That's correct."

 "I'm not sure, but in such cases, do they address each other differently?"

 "…No, it's the same." 

"Then, I'm not sure why my younger brother is treating me like this."

Seeing Sylas shrug his shoulders, a vein bulged on Dani's forehead.

"You fool! Do you think this situation is the same?"

 "What's different?" 

"Of course it is! Listen carefully!"

When nobles adopt a commoner, it's usually for the family's benefit. For instance, it might be due to exceptional talent in strategy or swordsmanship.

Or it could be to forge ties with a powerful mercenary captain or military leader. In such cases, adoption is a form of contract.

The noble status is granted, and the family supports them in exchange for their service. Naturally, the children have no qualms about addressing each other as siblings.

Even though they are called children, they are, in essence, vassals. And if changing how they address each other fosters camaraderie, then it's a small price to pay.

"Do you think you're the same? You came into this family solely relying on my father's kindness!"

"Hmm, I see."

Sylas nodded as if he understood. Then, in a tone full of regret, he said:

"I'm sorry. I have nothing to offer you."

 "What?" 

"How could I not want to fulfill my duties as an elder brother? But I have no wealth or power… I truly wished to be a proper brother to you."

Dani tilted his head in confusion at the sudden statement. A few seconds later, he pieced together the context.

"We share the same father, so we are siblings."

"But you're a commoner, a lowborn."

"Even unrelated nobles call an adopted commoner sibling." 

"They do it because it's beneficial."

"Oh, so you'll be happy to treat me as an older brother if it benefits you?"

 "What? "

"But I have nothing to give you. Since I don't have the money or power you like, I can't be your older brother."

"You scoundrel!"

Dani, now fuming, clenched his fists so tightly they nearly cracked. How dare he insinuate that his attitude changed based on benefit like a leech!

What infuriated him more was that he couldn't find a way to deny it, considering what he had just said.

"I'll deal with you right now…!"

 "Young Master Dani!"

Werner intervened just as Dani was about to charge. Toby, who had remained quiet, stepped forward.

"That's enough, Young Master Dani."

 "And who are you to stop me!"

"I am Toby Baston. I am a knight loyal to Young Master Sylas." 

"What? This lowly knight took a lifelong oath?"

Dani stared at Sylas in disbelief, but soon, the shock on his face turned into a sneer.

"Ah, now I remember. Sir Toby from the south, or rather, Toby the Gold-Grubber, was it?" 

"Young Master!"

 "I've been called that before."

Despite Werner's attempt to stop the insult, Toby accepted it without concern. Having lived through enough insults, especially in the notoriously foul-mouthed southern region, this was nothing.

"Yes, it's a fitting master-servant pair. But to think you also have a knight?"

Dani's smile deepened. He wanted to challenge the lowly one to a duel immediately. However, his opponent was a complete novice who had just begun learning the sword.

Even if he won, he'd be criticized for challenging someone so inexperienced. But if his opponent had a knight, the situation was different.

"Sylas, was it? I challenge you to a duel for insulting my honor."

 "Young Master Dani, but Young Master Sylas is…"

 "He's just started learning, right? But since he has a knight, he can send his representative."

Werner fell silent. Technically, proxy duels were allowed. It wasn't a direct fight but a contest between knights under their command.

'He has no way out.'