When hearing Ellen's sudden query, Kenta froze for a moment before speaking.
"Yes, I already have something planned for when I leave this place." He said, in a clear tone. And upon hearing his confirmation, she widens her eyes in surprise. Naturally she was curious.
"Oh, is it okay to ask what that might be?" She questioned aloud, while gazing at his side profile beside her.
"Hmm... I wonder, maybe I'll tell you some other time." Kenta said, awkwardly dodging the question.
Hearing his blunt responds Ellen pouted her lips cutely. Seeing that, Kenta could only chuckle while awkwardly adverting his eyes guiltily.
"Would it be okay for me to ask you a question too, lady Ellen?" He suddenly asked, turning his gaze back towards her. Ellen tilted her head slightly when she heard his words.
"Sure, what is it?" She readily gave her consent.
"Is there something you want to do once you leave here?" Turning her original question back at her, Kenta stared into her amethyst-like eyes curiously. Hearing that she laughs feeling slightly amused.
"About that, you see... The truth is that I'm not from the Orphanage, my parents are still alive." She explained, with an awkward chuckle. Kenta's eyes widen slightly, expressing mild surprise.
"Oh, in that case... Why are you here?" Kenta inquired while sending her a curious look. Seeing the clear surprise on his face, Ellen only showed a wry smile.
"My dad is a noble man of this country, he's the duke." She stated proudly, expecting him to be amazed by her status. However, Kenta's face became a bit conflicted. He furrowed his brow in displeasure.
"Hmm... Is there something wrong?" She asked, noticing the change in his expression.
However, he simply shook his head denying it before standing back on his feet, he walked and picked up his wooden sword and resumed his training.
The sound of his swinging resounded the vicinity, his swing was sharp but sloppy at the same time.
Of course, he still lacks a lot of experience and the refinedness most swordsmen would have when wielding a sword, but he continued swinging his sword, nonetheless. Ellen silently watched him swinging his sword with a gloomy face.
'Did something happen to you?' She wondered internally before sighing; she didn't hear much about the circumstances of how he ended up as an orphan since both Michael and Suzette were hiding the information from her. But based on the sadness she felt coming from Kenta, she assumed something bad must have happened.
She was curious, but she hesitated to ask due to the sensitivity of the topic.
Kenta continued swinging his sword vigorously with an expression as though he was lost in thought.
Ellen notice that and cocked her head. However, before she could say anything.
"Ellen, I've been looking everywhere for you!" A loud voice resounded, catching the attention of both Ellen and Kenta who had stopped his training when hearing the sudden voice.
A boy who seems to be roughly 14 years of age came towards Ellen with brisk steps.
His short silky dark green hair swayed with the gentle breeze, as his green eyes shone once he had caught sight of Ellen who was sitting elegantly on the rock beneath the tree.
"Sir Jake, it has been a while hasn't it." She said, somewhat awkwardly.
"Yes, it has. I heard from your aunt that you were here, so I immediately came here to greet you!" He said, while grabbing both her hands, Ellen made a troubled face, he was close, too close was what she thought.
Of course, she was used to this as they had known each other for a long time now, but he was being way too clingy with her. Her expression contorted into a strained smile.
Kenta watches their interaction with an indifferent face, before swinging his sword once again.
With his face at a distance so close that she could easily hear his breathing he spoke.
"What are you doing out here? Shouldn't you be with Lady Charlotte?" He asked confused, since he had known her very well, he was aware of her friendship with the other girls in the orphanage, in fact this was the first time he had seen her here without them.
"Umm.... Well..." Ellen stumbled for words while making a troubled face, unable to come up with a good answer.
She had actually come all the way here in order to spend more time with Kenta, but... she naturally couldn't say that out loud, it wasn't because she was worried about Kenta's reaction, but Jake's instead.
She was faintly aware of his feelings towards her if she said anything careless, she may end up causing trouble for Kenta.
Seeing her nervous expression that was unlike the usual Ellen, he looked at her while tilting his head in confusion.
"I came here to watch Kenta train; I'd like to get close to him even if it's just a little." She said honestly, gazing at Kenta with a beautiful smile on her face.
She decided to go with an option that wouldn't cause Kenta any harm.
However, even Kenta could easily misunderstand the meaning behind her words as his indifferent expression faintly contorted into an awkward face, refusing to make eye contact with Jake's.
Following her gaze, Jake finally notices Kenta's presence. He narrowed his eyes faintly as though he was evaluating him.
"Hmm... this guy? I don't know why you're so interested in someone like this." Jake said, observing Kenta's appearance closely.
Even while being looked at with such calculating eyes there was no visible changes in Kenta's expression.
Jake walked over to Kenta with an elegant gait before giving his introduction.
"Allow me to introduce myself, I'm Jake Amor the son of the head count of this country." He gave his introduction, his voice lace with pride.
It was clear to Kenta that he takes a lot of honour in the name of his household.
Of course, those with power are the one who stands at the top, whether it's through strength or social status, the one with the highest power are treated with greater importance. It was the natural way of the world.
'While the rest of us without power or status is treated as mere trash, you all can get rid of at your own convenient.'
That fact alone is absolutely unacceptable in Kenta's eyes, humans are to be treated equally.
Just remembering that prince arrogant attitude towards his father irritated him. Jake waited for Kenta to give his own introduction, as per the usual custom when introducing oneself.
However, Kenta had no interest in such things, he simply turned his back and walked away. He didn't want to waste any more time dealing with nobles, any more than this will only ruin his mood further. So, he chose to leave that place quietly.
Seeing that, Jake was stunned, his brow twitching faintly while his expression was contorting into a cramp smile.
Walking away without even introducing himself after he had just given his own introduction, that was the first time someone had ever dared to humiliate him like this.
He who already had a lot of pride in himself.
Discreetly, he shifted his gaze towards Ellen who had a sad expression on her face as she watches Kenta leave, and then he finally notices.
"So that's how it is..." He murmured so low, his whispers failed to reach Ellen's ears. Jake clenches his fist as an unpleasant feeling surge up within him.
'So, she like him, no that's impossible! After all she was always supposed to be with me, wasn't she? She was supposed to marry me. I won't let some guy who doesn't even have a single shred of elegance have her.' He thought, glaring at Kenta's back with a murderous look on his face.
It was the look of a tiger that had found its prey. He obviously did not hold the slightest of good intentions towards Kenta at all.
Kenta could somehow feel his gaze on his back, but he chose to ignore him while walking back towards the mansion within his field of view.