I Kidnapped the Hero’s Women

Chapter 28 - Julia is a Spoiled Brat

“What could it mean…?”

Tap. Tap.

Sylvia’s foot kept tapping the ground as she made a makeshift sandwich with the remaining ingredients in the kitchen.

She had long stopped eating, lost in her thoughts.

Her mind was preoccupied with Aslan’s words from earlier.

‘Stop worrying unnecessarily. You’ll wield your sword for me all your life. I’ll make sure to put you to good use.’

She was startled.

He would let her wield her sword all her life?

Aslan wasn’t that kind of person.

After all...

‘You wretched woman. You think you can spy on me? Because your father told you to? You’ll beg to be released from being a knight. You’ll cry and beg for it. Just wait.’

Aslan had hated me.

And because he hated me, he despised the sword I loved.

He had even threatened to make me give up the sword.

At that time, I was so scared and upset that I cried.

I had never cried, not even when my life was threatened on the battlefield.

The fear of having to let go of my sword made me cry secretly, like a baby.

The sword was all I had left.

With my mana core damaged and unable to use magic, being a knight was my only remaining identity.

What would I become without my sword?

How would I live?

I didn’t even want to imagine it.

“He’s changed too much…”

At first, I saw Aslan’s change positively.

He had spread negative energy throughout the estate, constantly harassing employees and residents.

He used to bring strange goat heads and conduct bizarre rituals.

But Aslan had come to his senses.

He was trying to do things on his own.

I thought that was commendable, but just that.

I had never trusted Aslan, nor had I considered trusting him.

He went from being human garbage to somewhat human.

As a guard and observer, I stuck by him. Otherwise, I would never have associated with such trash.

But he was changing.

Steadily. And surely.

At first, I tried to deny it.

It couldn’t be true.

He wasn’t really changing, just pretending.

Taking care of the children was ultimately for his own benefit.

He was just pretending to be nice.

That’s what I believed, but that belief began to waver.

“Why are you confusing me like this…?”

My teeth ground together.

If you’re going to be bad, stay bad. If you’re going to be good, be good from the start.

What are you doing, confusing people like this?

What am I supposed to do?

Can I trust you?

And get betrayed?

My head said I should never trust him.

But my heart was drawn to him.

It was tempting me to trust Aslan.

Though he was still as harsh and gloomy as ever.

But his intentions had clearly changed.

No, how can anyone really know if someone’s intentions have changed...

Sylvia just felt that way.

“You’ll wield your sword for me all your life…”

He had said I’d wield my sword all my life.

For sure.

Despite my inability to produce mana.

Despite my mediocre skill level, only upper-tier among Sword Experts.

Despite the appearance of Charlotte, who could wield a Holy Sword, he didn’t discard me but kept me around.

There was only one reason for that.

‘Did he see the potential for me to become a Sword Master?’

A path I had long abandoned.

Could he have seen the potential for me to become a Sword Master?

In the past, I would have dismissed it as nonsense.

But after seeing Julia and Charlotte both awaken under Aslan’s guidance, it didn’t seem so out of reach.

Can I try again?

Even with this half-functional body, can I become a Sword Master?

Sylvia felt her heart pounding and her cheeks flush with excitement.

“Eek, look at her blush!”

“Hey! Don’t shout!”

“...?”

The sound of hurried footsteps retreated from the kitchen.

What are the maids so worked up about?

Sylvia tilted her head and shoved the remaining sandwich into her mouth.

***

“I’m hungry…”

“Then come out and eat.”

“But if I go out to eat, I’ll have to face Mister!”

“...”

Charlotte, having remembered the recent embarrassment, buried her face in the pillow and kicked her blanket.

Julia looked at her with a pitiful expression.

She thought Charlotte had no sense of shame.

But acting like a tragic heroine must have been embarrassing.

“What are you going to do? You can’t starve forever.”

“What should I do…”

“Should I bring food to you?”

“Yes, please… And if you can, could you also find out where the Super Strong Sword is…”

Mumbling from under the blanket, Charlotte’s voice was barely audible.

Julia sighed, then yanked the blanket away.

“Okay, miss dying heroine.”

“Ah! Really!”

The embarrassment will pass soon.

Time will make it better.

Thinking that, Julia left the bedroom.

“Why isn’t Charlotte coming out?”

“Well… She says she’s not hungry. Maybe she hasn’t fully recovered from mana exhaustion.”

“Hmm…”

“She’ll get her strength back later, so can I take some bread for her?”

“Do as you wish.”

Dining room.

Julia calmly ate from her plate, pretending nothing was wrong.

Aslan watched her intently, a faint smile playing on his lips.

Her table manners, once quite crude, had improved remarkably.

[The evil god, \'Kali,\' seems displeased.]

Why? What now?

Aslan tensed up.

[The evil god, \'Kali,\' demands that the child be fed more, as she looks too thin.]

Isn’t Julia eating quite well for her age?

Considering she’s still growing, she should be eating enough…

Aslan sighed and shook his head.

\'So now Julia and Charlotte are seen as allies. Kali wants me to treat them well.\'

A necromancer and a dark knight.

Perhaps due to their dark appearances, Kali now saw Julia and Charlotte as allies.

Before, Kali would give me suspicious looks for treating the kids well.

Now, Kali would throw a fit if I didn’t.

[The evil god, \'Kali,\' demands that you bring our dark knight immediately, as she’s starving!]

She said she’s not eating.

What am I supposed to do?

I can’t force-feed her.

Aslan felt a headache coming on.

“And the Supa Stronk Sword…”

“The Super Strong Sword.”

“Yes, the Supa Stronk Sword…”

“The Super Strong Sword. Watch your pronunciation.”

“Sigh. Anyway, that long-named sword! Where is it?”

“Charlotte asked you to find out, didn’t she?”

“Huh? No. Just curious…”

You’re curious about the sword?

You, who has no interest in swords and barely knows their types?

Aslan immediately saw through Julia’s lie.

“Tell Charlotte the Super Strong Sword is with me. If she wants it back, she’ll have to come to me.”

“…”

Aslan responded with a sly smile.

If Charlotte continued to avoid him, there were plenty of ways to force her out.

But it would be more amusing to have her come willingly.

It would also give them a chance to talk.

‘So petty…’

Julia shook her head.

That man can be childish sometimes.

\'Julia, must be asleep, right?\'

Late at night.

Stirring under the covers, someone cautiously pulled back the blanket.

Julia’s bed was bulging, indicating she was still asleep.

Not wanting to wake her, Charlotte quietly slipped out of bed.

“The Super Strong Sword is with Mister…”

Thanks to Julia, Charlotte had obtained valuable information.

If the Super Strong Sword was with Mister, did he think she would go straight to him?

If so, he was sorely mistaken.

She wasn’t a fool.

\'There’s no way Mister can carry the Super Strong Sword around. He must have stashed it somewhere.\'

Although Mister said he had it, it didn’t mean he carried it.

The most likely place was his office.

Charlotte crept silently, avoiding the maids working late, and headed for the office.

“I’m not stealing… Just taking back what’s mine…”

I’m not acting like a thief.

I just don’t want to face Mister directly.

Swallowing nervously, Charlotte gently pushed open the office door.

\'Phew. It’s dark.\'

Of course, he wouldn’t be working at this hour.

Feeling relieved, Charlotte opened the door fully.

“Oh…”

“I’ve been expecting you.”

What greeted her was Aslan, immersed in paperwork, with a small candle lit on the desk.

And…

“Why is Julia there?”

“Hmm, yum. Hmm…”

“That’s a difficult question to answer.”

Julia was sleeping peacefully, Aslan’s hand resting on her cheek.

Charlotte was momentarily stunned, then broke into a smile.

“Hehe. So, Julia is a spoiled brat who can’t sleep without Mister.”

She had found Julia’s weakness!

Charlotte had already forgotten why she had been avoiding Aslan.