Don't Concern Yourself With That Book
Chapter Side Story 3-6

Side Story 3-6

Translator: yun

Rebecca had accepted who she was.

Even though she was not a templar or the most perfect lady, she was Rebecca Eileen Aventa. 

When she accepted this fate, the knot in her stomach had unravelled. After walking in what seemed like darkness for so long, her world had been basked in light. 

That was what happened. She had lost her path for a while but her eyes had merely been covered. She had been unable to take off the blindfold thus far because her mother had been the one who covered her eyes in the first place. She had been afraid she would get hurt, things might get difficult for her or she might do something wrong. And she knew she had been killing herself by doing so. 

“Father, please allow me to become the heir to Aventa.”

After finally opening her eyes, she first ran to her father to tell him. 

“… Rebecca.”

“Yes. I am not a Templar of the Sword, so I cannot succeed the temple. But wouldn’t becoming the duke be a different story? I shall take control of Aventa.”

“Wait, hold on, Rebecca. I still do not understand what you are talking about.”

“Is it because I’m your daughter?”

“Rebecca.”

“If I had been a son, I would have inherited your sword or received your title. However, father. The law might state that women cannot become templars but there is no law that prevents women from inheriting noble titles.”

No, that was not true. There merely had not been a precedent where a daughter had inherited a title. 

In a land where divinity translated to power, the law that stipulated that women could not become templars was synonymous with women being unable to receive titles. 

“I hope to have Aventa as my last name for the rest of my life.”

But Rebecca cleverly struck at the loophole. Though she could not become a templar, she could still keep her family name.

“How did you come up with such an idea?”

The duke asked with an evidently perplexed look. 

“Because I am a Unica (Lady-in-waiting). I wish to fulfil my duties.”

Traditionally, Unicas did not marry for the entirety of their lives to stand by their mistress. That was what Rebecca was referring to. The duke could not hide his surprise. 

“… Your mother will be shocked.”

“Father, I do care for mother very much but she does not live my life.”

Though she did not like thinking about it, at times, Rebecca did feel lonely. That was what it meant to live in a household where everyone other than her carried and learned the sword. 

“Father, I know how much you and mother care about me.”

“…..”

“But have I ever made a decision for myself before?”

The duke stared at his daughter with mixed feelings as she stared back at him with a matured gaze. 

“Please stop making my decisions for me, father.”

The people of Aventa carried their faith within their hearts. No matter who they went up against, their will remained unshaken. That was what formed Rebecca’s roots and stem. Even if she was going up against her father, she would not waver. 

‘… You’ve grown.’

The Duke of Aventa had been living his life indebted to his daughter. He had been worried about his weak wife and had made his young daughter carry their burden. 

Despite it all, their daughter matured gracefully, came to her senses on her own and pointed out his mistakes. 

“Alright. Go ahead.”

Even if she was about to tread on an arduous path, he would not stop her as long as this was the path his daughter chose to travel. 

“From this moment forth, you shall be the sole heir to the duchy. You shall be the next duke.”

“Yes.”

Contented, she smiled. Though the duke was bitter, he could not hide his own satisfaction at this turn of events.

After leaving the duke, Rebecca found herself lost in her own thoughts as she walked through an empty hall. That was why she did not realise she had walked past someone she had been familiar with. 

“Hello?”

When she raised her head, she discovered a woman who was slightly taller than Rebecca.

“It has been a long time, child.”

The woman was dressed in plain clothes that did not suit the hallways of the royal palace they were currently in.

“No, should I refer to you as my niece?”

Marissa smiled coldly. 

“Address me however you like.”

Quickly realising who the woman was, Rebecca calmly lowered her head. 

It was her aunt, Marissa. More than three years had passed since the last time they met–back when Rebecca was 16. Rebecca continued staring at her aunt in silence. 

“God might have left you but your will remain stronger than anyone else’s I’ve seen.”

As though she could see through her, Marissa smiled. 

“… I didn’t mean to eavesdrop but I know of the conversation you had with your father.”

Marissa grabbed her fan, as though she was wielding her sword, out of habit. Rebecca’s gaze shifted to fixate on her hand but Marissa hadn’t seem to notice. 

“Don’t you think it’s a pity?”

“What might you mean?”

Marissa flashed a bitter smile.

“The sword the Templars of the Sword carry is the one in their hearts. You are more qualified than anyone else to become the head templar now.”

“…..”

“… But that chance will never return now.”

Rebecca, who had remained silent thus far, parted her lips.

“Why would you feel pity for me?”

“If you had become a templar, it would have been a lot easier to protect things and support your favourite princess.”

For some reason, Marissa seemed to know the princess well. 

Did her mistress and her aunt ever meet before? Ridding herself of the curiosity, Reebcca flashed a slight smile. Though it was elegant, the smile was also frosty. 

“I don’t know. Do you only carry that one sword, aunt?”

 “… What?”

The words Rebecca had uttered were ones Rebecca had once pondered about. If she had carried a sword, could she have better protected the little girl who kept finding herself in danger and crises better than she was now? 

“If my heart was a sword, I’m sure its strength cannot be measured merely by the divinity I possess. I am myself and though I am not a templar, I am still me. Even though I am not holding a sword, I will continue doing my best in supporting my mistress from the position I am in. I don’t think it would have been any different if I were to carry a sword.”

Whether or not she was holding a sword, whether or not she was a templar, Rebecca was still Rebecca. 

In the end, the point was that she was herself. Rebecca did not think she would be any more if she were to carry a sword. 

That was why she could say with a smile.

“You are getting too meddlesome, aunt.”

***

The announcement of Ahasia’s engagement to Fleon–the one Ashley had planned—did not go well. 

It was all because Fleon had arrived, stabbed, on the day the engagement was meant to be announced. 

While everyone was thrown into a state of pandemonium, Dane eventually stepped up to take Fleon’s place. Seeing him step up like that, Rebecca helped him prepare for the announcement, knowing that there was nothing else she could do. Already dressed as Ahasia, Ashley would be waiting for him in the banquet hall. 

After Dane left, only Rebecca and Fleon were left in the room. 

It would take a while before the templar, who had left to call for a cleric, returned. 

“… You had been too reckless.”

Rebecca’s voice cut through the silence. 

“You should have gone to find a cleric instead of walking in here with a blade inside of you. What were you planning on doing if anything went wrong?”

“… Do you think I have the time to do that? All I could do was run over here.”

Grabbing onto his stomach, Fleon grumbled. However, his voice sounded weaker than usual. 

“I’ll press onto it harder now.”

“… Alright. By the way, you seem used to this sight, ducal princess.”

“Being from the Temple of the Sword, I am used to seeing sword wounds. I have learned how to stop bleedings… But my mother did not like that.”

Looking at Fleon as she tried to stop his bleeding, Rebecca blurted out.

“That’s why if you had gotten engaged to me from the start, this would have never happened.”

“What?”

Startled to hear that from her at a time like this, Fleon stared at Rebecca. Rebecca continued nonchalantly. 

“Do you not like me?”

“What are you trying to say?”

“Why not me?”

“…..”

Eyes of different colours stared into each other. The first to avert their gaze was Fleon. 

“… If I had wanted the most advantageous engagement, I would have chosen the ducal princess.”

Being part of the neutral faction, many had coveted an alliance with the powerful Aventa family. Because it would be a miracle to have the Head Templar of the Sword on your side.

If Fleon had plans for the throne or had coveted even a single piece of power, he would have been one of the many approaching the Aventa family for political reasons. 

“Yes. I would have been a good bride.”

He furrowed his brows as though to say he would be insane to even have that thought.

“Perhaps I had suggested an engagement too early.”

He did not like where Rebecca’s words were going.

“But I would like you as my marriage partner, my prince.”

“What?”

Fleon froze. Her pitch-black eyes lowered like a dark blanket fluttering down, Rebecca spoke.

“Because you’re someone who understands even if I am to put the princess first.”

For some reason, Fleon’s heart dropped when he heard that. The feeling of his heart thumping out of his chest was surreal. He wondered if a space had opened under his chest. 

“… No, I would like it if you paid more attention to me.”

Perhaps it was because of the blood flowing out of him, he blurted out something he would not have normally said.

 “Huh?”

“T-t-that’s not what I meant! I mean, my wife! I was talking about my wife!”

“… Have you already imagined yourself getting married to me? That was fast.”

“W-when have I ever?”

Not realising it himself, Fleon’s ears had turned beet red as he exclaimed. He instantly turned his head away but Rebecca noticed his reddening ears.

“… Are you embarrassed?”

“Y-yes. B-because I made a slip of the tongue!”

“I see.”

Rebecca accepted his excuse. 

“… It seems like no matter what I do, nothing will work on you, my prince.”

“H-huh?”

“I will stop my fruitless efforts. You must have been uncomfortable with my advances especially since you had not permitted me to do so, my prince.”

After stopping his bleeding, Rebecca gracefully lifted her head. With a calm expression on her face.

“I will not mention it from now on.”

“M-mention what?”

“Hm? Of course… I meant an engagement.”

Tilting her head, Rebecca soon focused on trying to stop his bleeding once again. Staring at Rebecca, Fleon’s hands twitched.

“Ducal princess… I–”

Just as his voice was about to break the silence, the cleric arrived. Eventually, Fleon could only close his eyes as he was unable to tell her that he did not mind if she were to continue. 

***

Rebecca and Fleon kept a strange distance from each other. Rebecca had been responsible for it but so was Fleon. 

It was not like something suddenly changed between the two. As the days went by without much of an issue, Fleon spoke.

“… Nothing normal is happening these days.”

Unlike herself, Rebecca quickly reflected on the current situation. She was again reminded of something her father had once told her. 

Noticing the seriousness in his voice, Rebecca asked albeit in passing. 

“… Are you referring to the 2nd Prince?”

“Yes. Brother had approached Vulcanus.”

For some reason, Fleon’s expression, as he mentioned him, looked uncomfortable. His face looked as proud as ever but he looked like someone who had just swallowed a bitter pill.

“Perhaps mother will align with his thoughts.”

“… Aren’t you the heir to the head templar, my prince?”

“But the retainers support my mother, not their heir… Because their affection for me is also a result of my mother.”

Recently, there were rumours that the 2nd Prince had been going around and meeting with Head Templars. Those were rumours that were best kept secret but as they both hailed from prominent temples, they knew that the rumours were true. 

The 2nd Prince was planning on a mutiny. 

But they could not bring themselves to speak the truth. It was because the Terena Palace, the palace they were currently in, had become busy with other things. 

“Aren’t you going to tell the princess?”

“You’re not planning on telling her either, ducal princess.”

“…..”

Knowing there was another truth, the two fell into silence.

“The chick seems to be distracted with something else…”

“She’s probably upset because she is being sent to the Kingdom of Ripe. I understand that you will be accompanying the mistress to the academy.”

“Yes. I will. Mother has already given her permission. Since she will be with me, nothing will happen to her.”

Nothing will happen to her. 

Rebecca considered those words to be a talisman. Because she felt relieved as soon as she heard them.

‘It will be alright.’

Thinking nothing would happen, Rebecca sent Ashley off to the academy in the Kingdom of Ripe without much thought. 

But his words did not hold true.