Chapter 19 - Chapter 17

When I arrived at the Marquess Estate, a butler guided me into a spacious room. As I entered, I saw a handsome man who appeared to be around the same age as Sir Owen and my father. His long hair fell to his shoulders, and his striking purple eyes held a depth that caught my attention. He stood at a height comparable to Sir Owen, with a well-proportioned body—slightly less muscular than my father, more in line with Sir Owen's build.

"Are you Hayden Reggian?" he asked, his tone direct yet weary. I nodded in response.

"I see... Thank you for coming," he continued, gesturing for me to take a seat. "I'm Marquess Theodor Olivarez the Third, and the one you'll be protecting is my daughter, Olivia Olivarez."

From the manga I had read, I knew Sir Theodor was a loving father who would do anything for his daughter. I couldn't help but wonder why he had accepted the marriage proposal for her. Perhaps he felt he had no choice, bound by the king's authority, and he seemed to blame himself for tying his daughter to someone she hadn't even met.

With a heavy sigh, he turned to face the window, his back to me. "It's my fault for agreeing to the marriage proposal... I should have refused," he admitted, his voice filled with regret. He then turned back to me, sincerity radiating from his eyes. "I beg you... Please do everything to protect my daughter."

Looking into his eyes, I could see the weight of his worries. To be honest, Sir Theodor was one of my favorite characters in the story because of his unwavering love for Olivia, to the point of sacrificing everything for her. I felt a pang of determination to save him from his tragic fate. Why do I feel like I'm spoiling something? I thought, shaking my head.

"Don't worry, sir. I'll do my best," I replied, though my expression remained unchanged and emotionless. He thanked me, and after about an hour of discussion, I was shown to my assigned room, which, according to the maid, was conveniently located near Olivia's.

Once inside, I unpacked my clothes and personal items, organizing everything in the designated spaces. Afterward, I lay down on the bed, staring at the ceiling. The image of Aria-sama filled my mind. I wonder how she's doing right now… I sighed, shaking my head. There were still preparations and checks to complete.

As an assassin in my past life, I meticulously examined every corner of my room. After confirming there were no abnormalities, I glanced out the window. It appeared safe for now.

The journey from the Williams estate had taken about two and a half hours, which felt long without a bath. I retrieved my bathrobe from the closet and made my way to the bathroom. Thankfully, this room had its own bathroom, just like my room at the Williams estate, making it very convenient.

Upon entering the bathroom, I turned on the shower, which used magic stones to produce water—a much easier method than what I was accustomed to on Earth.

After bathing, I dried myself and slipped into my bathrobe. Just as I was wiping my hair, I heard a knock on the door.

Curious, I opened the door, revealing a girl slightly shorter than Aria-sama. She had long, smooth sky-blue hair, and her sparkling purple eyes were wide with surprise. Her mouth was agape, as if she were taken aback by something. She must be Olivia, I thought.

Without hesitation, she turned away and covered her face. "A maid told me that you're already here, so... I thought I should visit you. I'm sorry for intruding! I'll come back later!"

I simply stared blankly as she dashed away, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

I shrugged, closing the door behind her. I wonder why she ran off so quickly? I pondered. However, I couldn't help but feel that Olivia was cuter than I had expected. I could understand why many might fall for her at first sight. Still, even with her charm, Aria-sama remained the cutest in my eyes.

A deep sigh escaped me as I changed into fresh clothes, missing Aria-sama more than I cared to admit.