The Story of the Golden Spoon in Another World

Chapter 15: Lady Knight – 1

—–CROW—– 

“Haa, haa…”

I held Noona’s shoulders, pulling her against me as she caught her breath.  She buried her face in my shoulder, her hand resting on my chest.  Her legs, weak from our passionate lovemaking, tangled with mine.  We lay in bed, like a couple who had just spent a comfortable night together.

“Truly… haa… just as I’d heard, Leo.”

“Heard? Heard what?”

I stroked Noona’s fragrant hair, enjoying the soft texture.  She blushed slightly, then looked up at me.

“Your libido.”

“My libido, huh?”

But this was my first time? I had refrained from masturbating as much as possible.  Wasting seed was considered shameful for a noble.

“You check through wet dreams, don’t you?”

“Ah, that.”

Hmm.  Having held back for so long at this age, wet dreams were a natural occurrence.  Of course, changing the sheets was the maid’s job…

“Can you really tell from that? It’s embarrassing, but isn’t it a natural phenomenon?”

“Hmm.  I hear it’s common for commoners… but rare for nobles.  Perhaps even for knights?”

I had suspected as much.  Did they really have such low libidos?  Even knights?  The people of this world… was it because of magic?  I had heard commoners were normal.

Noona’s hand slowly traced the contours of my chest.  I was confident in my physique.  I had trained since childhood, and my magic-enhanced body was always in peak condition.  The only things I had to be careful of were mental fatigue and shock.

“Leo, you… did it quite often, didn’t you?”

She blushed innocently, as if her unrestrained passion from last night was all a lie.  I caressed her body in return.

“But how did you know that, Noona?”

“Well, I’m a member of the Franz family now.  I hear things.”

It was a bit embarrassing.  I playfully pinched her.

“Eek…! Really, you’re such a tease.”

“Haha.”

She lightly punched my chest.  I pulled her close for a kiss, then got out of bed. It was time for me to leave.

“Noona.”

I looked at her, the embodiment of beauty, sitting up in bed, the sheets wrapped around her body.

“I always keep my promises.”

“…Leo.”

We exchanged one last look, and I rang the bell next to the door.

*Ring!*

The door opened, and maids and attendants entered.  They moved quickly and quietly, bringing in various items.  A folding screen was placed between Noona and me, blocking us from view.  We exchanged one last glance over the screen.

“Then, Leoric-nim.”

As I stood there looking at the screen, Lena appeared.

“I’ll make the preparations.”

“Alright.”

I nodded, and the familiar maids began their work.  I closed my eyes, feeling them cleaning my naked body.

* * *

The sounds from beyond the screen faded.  Leoric Franz.  He was gone.  Sensing his departure, Grace slowly closed her eyes.

“Grace-nim.”

“Saren.”

My sister, Saren.  The daughter of her wet nurse, who had been with her since birth.  An attendant who could have become a knight and made a name for herself if she had chosen to.  Grace opened her eyes and looked at Saren.  Kind brown eyes filled with concern.  Meeting her sister’s gaze, Grace felt at ease.

“I’m alright, Saren.”

“But…”

“Really.”

Grace smiled at Saren. It hadn’t been bad at all.  On the contrary…

“Ah… so warm.”

The scent of him still lingered on the bed, making her feel as if he was still holding her.  When she had first met him, when he was still a child, he had been cute.  She had been wary, but she quickly realized how kind he was.

Was it rude to say he didn’t seem like a noble? That kind and considerate boy had grown into such a man.  It was probably just wishful thinking, and the feeling had already faded, but Grace slowly curled up, caressing her lower abdomen.  She felt a strange sensation there.  His seed, planted deep inside her.

“He was kind, Saren.”

“Was he?”

“Yes.  It was a truly wonderful night.”

Aidan.  A man she had been betrothed to through a political arrangement.  He wasn’t a bad husband.  Grace and Aidan loved each other, but they couldn’t conceive.  The pain of that fact… Saren knew it well.

After a short while, the door opened with a creak.  Saren frowned at the sound.

“Could you give us a little more…”

“It’s alright, Saren. It’s only natural.”

Grace wanted to rest a little longer, but she stopped Saren’s complaint.  Saren sighed and stepped away from the bed.  Lena emerged from behind the screen.

“Grace-nim.”

“Lena-nim.”

Lena’s perpetually stern expression had intimidated Grace when she first arrived at the mansion as a young bride, but now she found it comforting.  She had come to understand that Lena’s demeanor was simply her way of life, as she treated everyone the same way.

“Excuse me, but…”

“Yes, I know.”

At Lena’s words, the surrounding maids and attendants turned away.  Saren nodded and pulled back the covers.  Lena carefully examined the evidence on the bed and nodded.

“Confirmed.”

“Yes.”

As soon as Lena spoke, Saren quickly covered Grace with the sheets, who had instinctively closed her legs.

“Then…”

“Yes.  Leoric-nim approached me last night with proper decorum.  He seemed concerned for my well-being and made sure to compliment me before…”

Slowly, Grace recounted the events of the previous night, recalling the passionate and warm night, his touch.  She gently caressed her lower abdomen beneath the sheets.  It felt warm.

* * *

“Are you alright?”

“Hyung.”

As I was changing clothes and enjoying tea in my office, Hyung came to visit.  He asked if *I* was alright?  I should be asking him that.

“…I…”

“I’m fine.  I am.”

Hyung smiled gently.  He seemed genuinely fine.  It wasn’t wise to question his true feelings.  If Hyung said he was fine, then as his younger brother, I should accept that.  I nodded.

“I’m alright.  It was a good first experience.”

“I’m glad.  I’ll be counting on you in the future.”

“…Yes.”

So I could meet with Noona regularly.  Neria quietly poured tea for Hyung, who sat across from me.

“This tea is still the same.  So sweet.”

“Isn’t that sweetness what makes it good?  Better than something bitter and astringent.”

Our eyes met.  A sign of the strong Franz blood flowing through our veins.  Golden eyes, filled with golden magic.  We held each other’s gaze for a moment, then chuckled.

“It’s time for you to gather your own vassals.”

“Yes.”

The discussion began.  The reason I had remained quiet and focused on my education was simple: to avoid any unnecessary power struggles.  While outright internal conflicts were rare, things like the Muller situation could happen.  Even if not, vassals seceding with the territory’s resources wasn’t uncommon.  That could escalate into a full-blown war.

That’s why I had kept a low profile.  To be honest, I couldn’t confidently say I was intelligent.  Me, involved in politics?  Internal affairs?  It was a hopeless endeavor.  So, I wanted to live a comfortable life, and I had.

Even with the lessons and training, life here was more relaxed than my modern life with its endless cycle of school and military service.  Thanks to the peculiar laws of this fantasy world, despite being in a medieval-like era, there were unexplained advancements.  Aside from the lack of internet, there wasn’t much inconvenience.

It wasn’t that no vassals had approached me.  After a few years of feigning disinterest, the Franz territory had become peaceful.  My life had become peaceful.

But now, it was time for me to start making moves.  Honestly, it was a bother.

“I sense a great deal of reluctance.”

“Dealing with people is bothersome.  You have to look after them, give them orders, reward them…”

“Haha.”

Hyung laughed at my words.

“That’s a noble’s duty.”

“Well, I know that.”

I sighed, savoring the sweet taste of the tea.

“So, vassals?”

“Yes.  Vassals who will be your eyes, your ears, your hands, and your feet.”

“Hmm.”

So I had to use my own head, huh?

“I’ll assign you a few people, including Zeke.”

“Zeke?”

“…That’s Zeke, right?”

Hyung seemed slightly flustered when I tilted my head in confusion.  Zeke? … Ah, the blue-haired guy?

“Wasn’t it Czek?”

“Czek?  That…”

“The one with blue hair, right?”

“Yes.”

“It was Czek, I think.”

“Was it?”

We both tilted our heads simultaneously.  Wasn’t it Czek?

“…”

“Neria?”

“Y-yes?”

“Do you have something to say?”

“…No.”

I sensed a hint of unease from beside me and turned to see Neria hesitating.  Was I mistaken?

“…Czek. Yes, that’s right.  Czek.  He’s alright, isn’t he?  Smart for his age. He’ll be useful.”

“I see.”

“I’ll assign you a few people, including Czek. They’re all young and capable.”

I knew the situation in the territory.  Czek was probably the oldest of the bunch…

“Start by working with them. It shouldn’t be too difficult.”

“Understood.”

“And…”

He continued explaining my duties, the things I should be careful of, and how to make sound judgments.  He was quite thorough.

“And lastly, you’ll need a knight as your escort.”

“A knight?”

“Yes.  A close aide, a knight who will assist you.”

Ah, I understood.  Once we went to Muller, this knight would command the other knights in my stead.  Czek would manage the civil officials, and the escort knight would manage the military.  That’s how the system would work.

“You can’t be expected to handle everything yourself.”

“That’s true.”

That was another issue.  Having to personally deal with every matter requiring military force was more than just a bother.

“I’ve looked into a few candidates, but it’s best for you to choose yourself.  Hans has vetted them all, so their skills are reliable.”

“I understand.”

There had to be a female knight, right? There had to be. I had seen them occasionally. No, there *had* to be. This was a medieval fantasy world! There was no way there wouldn’t be.

“…I don’t know what you’re expecting, but there will be.”

“Ah, yes.”

Hyung’s gaze was a little intense.

—–CROW—– 

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