The Knight Commander of the Second Male Lead [Novel] Chapter 3

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 3

Chapter Title: Stale Bread and Gentle Smiles

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After that, Adrian began looking straight at Nina. Every time they crossed paths, Nina flashed him a grin.

From some day onward, Adrian started smiling back. It was an aristocratic, elegant smile.

The shadow in his eyes hadn't completely vanished, but that was fine.

'What did the original story say?'

Nina sat on the now-familiar low chair, propping her chin up with her legs splayed wide, briskly peeling potato skins.

According to the original heroine Fiona's description, Adrian was like this.

[The Rubaenu Duke was a perfect gentleman who made his infamous reputation seem unfounded. An elegant smile, gentle tone, impeccable aristocratic demeanor.

A voice that exuded leisure.

Yet Fiona sensed cold fury behind that flawless smile and thoughtful consideration. She felt hatred.

That was why Fiona could never bring herself to like the Rubaenu Duke.]

But our Young Master wasn't at that stage yet!

With a final plop, Nina tossed the smooth potato into the water and stood up with the bucket.

As she set the potatoes down in the kitchen, her older sisters were whispering.

"Heard she called in the jeweler again?"

"Yeah, apparently bought a moonlight pearl necklace from the northern barren isles this time."

"Goodness, moonlight pearls. Wow, just hearing about it is impressive."

"One of those could feed us for life."

"And they hired a new swordsmanship instructor for Young Master Gerald."

Spotting Nina, the two paused their chat.

"All done peeling? Good girl. There should be some bread left in the cupboard."

"Thank you."

Nina bowed to her sisters and quickly fetched bread from the cupboard.

The best part of kitchen duty was never going hungry. Whatever the family left became theirs. The other servants were fairly kind to the kitchen maids to snag some food.

Tucking the bread into her bosom, Nina headed for Adrian.

In the past year, his treatment had worsened; the Duke no longer invited him to family meals.

Well, less the Duke not inviting him and more the Duchess barring him from the table.

When Adrian didn't appear, the Duke had asked, "Where's Adrian?" The Duchess replied, "He seems uncomfortable joining us," and that was that.

'What on earth.'

Nina wanted to crack open the Duke's skull. Acknowledging a bastard child wasn't ordinary.

Yet after that crucial recognition, he left the boy to fend for himself.

And now, remarried with a new heir?

At this point, disowning him would be simpler, but he didn't. From other maids' gossip, he seemed indifferent to Adrian and the other young masters alike.

That indifference might be what enraged the Duchess most. The Duke was equally aloof with her, never interfering in estate management, finances, or staffing.

Adrian mentioned the Duke had summoned him to his private chambers just once.

"Your mother is dead."

That was all.

'Lucky there were people around him then...'

Before marrying the Duchess, Adrian had been the estate's sole young master and cherished, or so the stories went.

'Heard that secondhand, too.'

Anyway, the Duke's attitude only worsened Adrian's situation.

Not content with banishing him from the table, the Duchess even meddled with his meals.

After she told the cook, "Adrian won't be joining, so no need to prepare for him," he got servant rations.

No one dared bring him food under her watchful eye, so Nina sneaked it in.

His personal allowance vanished too. Without Nina ferrying supplies like a mouse, his life would've been harsher.

"Young Master."

Adrian looked up from his worn book.

Nina pulled out the bread, snapping it in half.

"This half's yours."

Adrian reached out, swapping her crusty half for his softer one.

"This is fine for me."

"It's so hard."

"I'm older, so I'm tougher."

Adrian smiled faintly and closed his book.

Ignored as if he didn't exist, he roamed the estate freely—avoiding the Duchess, Gerald, and Jayden.

The library was off-limits to those three, a privilege Adrian fully exploited.

He devoured books and honed his swordsmanship relentlessly.

What pained Nina most was his meager diet during these growth years.

Chewing the hard crust, she said,

"The Duchess called the jeweler again. Bought a moonlight pearl necklace. Know what that is?"

"Pearls that glow faintly silver. They shimmer softly at night."

"Oh."

Nina's eyes widened.

The world held so many wonders.

Hesitating, she added softly,

"And they assigned a new sword instructor to the eldest young master."

"Is that so?"

Adrian smiled brightly. Nina pouted.

"I want a new sword teacher too. Every day..."

She bit her lip.

Adrian's bruises came from that instructor.

He disguised beatings as lessons, sometimes breaking bones.

"Better than nothing."

Adrian swallowed the hard bread.

Bread and water, no butter or jam.

'Someday, he'll feast on soft bread to his heart's content.'

Nina dreamed of that future. Even now, she had hope.

Adrian reopened his book and murmured,

"Nina, you should go. Staying too long isn't good."

"Got it. I'll come again."

With a smile and bow, Nina left. Adrian looked up, staring at the door long after, then sighed.

He worried what might happen if the Duchess learned of her.

Yet he couldn't tell her to stay away.

Forcing his gaze back to the book.

It was a rare day off. Nina had nowhere to go, but the kitchen maids bustled dressing up.

"Nina, want us to grab anything?"

"No thanks."

Now twelve, Nina still wore twin braids.

"How do I look?"

One maid flaunted the lace edging her dress—a year's work.

"So pretty, sis. What if someone proposes?"

"Oh, you."

She laughed delightedly. Another said,

"Funny how Nina's compliments always feel genuine."

"Because I mean them."

Nina blinked wide-eyed, drawing their laughter.

To the lace-clad maid, another teased,

"Who knows? Dressed like that, you might catch a noble's eye."

"What's the use? Look at that kid."

'That kid.'

That's what they called Young Master Adrian.

"His mother's an opera singer, right? Stunning beauty, deluged with gifts and flowers in her dressing room."

She pursed her lips.

"So what? Kid's a mess. The Duchess is too much. She knew about him from the start. Planned the marriage that way."

"Shh, watch your mouth."

"Ugh, forget it."

Hushing her, they turned to Nina.

"Got it?"

"Huh?"

"You—mind your manners. For us, falling out of favor means doom."

"Yeah, stop playing with that kid."

"But he's nice."

Her carefree reply ended their nagging.

"Jeez."

"Whatever."

Promising candy on return, they left.

Good people, all.

Then Cook Karin entered, spotting Nina prepping vegetables.

"Why're you still here?"

"No money to go out."

"Don't mess up the kitchen."

"I won't."

Straight-faced, Nina replied. Karin glanced at the veggies.

"Finish those, cookies in the right cupboard."

"Yay!"

"Secret from the others."

"Yes."

Her hands flew. Nina prepped twice as fast, snagging her cookies.