Death.
There were not many people who failed to understand the weight carried by those two letters. Perhaps only young children who had yet to fully mature. And if the person that word referred to was a beloved member of one’s family, then there was no need to say more.
That was why my expression collapsed for an instant.
A sharp silence gathered force like a blade and surrounded the middle-aged man across from me. My instinctive rejection had become tangible violence, crashing down upon him.
Enough to leave Marquis Findleston struggling to breathe.
“Hiik! I-Iron-Blooded Duke…… Hah…… I-If what I said…… ngh, was insolent…….”
“……No.”
Only then did I realize what I was doing and withdraw my pressure.
Apparently, I still lacked discipline. To reveal my emotional agitation this quickly. If the person sitting here had been the Saint or the Archwitch instead of me, they would never have grown furious over something this minor.
A ‘Master’ ought to be calmer than this.
A long sigh escaped me as I settled my heart.
“My apologies. It hasn’t been long since I saw blood, so I suppose I failed to control myself.”
“O-Of course. Naturally. I understand.”
Had he taken my words as some kind of threat?
The face of the…