Building a Harem in a Noble House

Chapter 96: A Drink Would Be... Greatly Appreciated.

The crowd gasped.

Meredith froze for half a second. "Idiot"? The word struck sharper than she’d expected it to. Her jaw tightened. Her gut twisted.

Then everything snapped into place.

"I... have made a mistake," she muttered.

Of course, she had. The Rogue had played her. He manipulated the Wizard with ease and made her look like a fool in front of half the town.

Heat, both anger and embarrassment, rushed up her spine as she sprinted after him, steps carried by faint wisps of easily suppressed magic. The chase took her weaving through clustered vendors, down narrower and narrower streets until the buildings leaned inward like eavesdropping giants. Her boots pounded stone. Her breath came out sharp. And she cursed herself with every step.

"I should have trusted my gut," she hissed between breaths. "What a fool. He was obviously playing you. Idiot. I should have smote him where he stood...!"

But Paladins in the city were forbidden from using magic except under strict circumstances. And this? This was technically still a civilian dispute. She could barely justify chasing the Rogue, let alone drawing on her magic... which was why she was hiding it right now. If she used it, she could be reprimanded... or worse. Her instructors always told her physical skill mattered. "A Paladin who cannot fight without magic is a liability," they’d said.

And in this moment, she felt every bit the liability.

The Rogue darted down an alleyway. Meredith followed... and stopped dead.

He wasn’t alone.

A group of other Rogues. Five, no, six of them, waited in a semicircle around the main one with the talisman. All smug. All armed. All very aware she could not use her spells.

The Rogue who tricked her tossed the talisman between his hands, grinning. "Told you she’d follow."

Her stomach sank. "This is foolish," she said, voice steady only because she forced it to be. "Hand over the talisman. No one needs to be harmed."

One of them laughed. "She’s a cute recruit. She thinks people are scared of her!"

The alley felt narrower with every breath she took. Walls pressing. Air thinning.

She tightened her stance. She could fight. She trained for this. But six against one with her magic bound? Her chances were... less than ideal. She hated that she hesitated even a fraction of a second, but she had to be realistic.

"I suppose we’ll just have to teach you a lesson," the lead Rogue said.

Then, footsteps behind her. Heavy. Confident. Unhurried.

Meredith didn’t dare turn her back to the group. Whoever was coming didn’t feel like an enemy. No hostility, no malice, but the timing wasn’t exactly comforting.

A tall man stepped beside her. She blinked.

He had black hair barely styled, like he’d simply wet his hair shortly after waking. The man was broad-shouldered, tall, physically fit, but not hulking like a Barbarian or the Instructors at the Order. His tunic and pants looked well-worn, and the sword at his hip looked rather plain.

Meredith had no idea who he was.

"Step aside. I’ll handle them," he said to her, voice low but firm.

Meredith stiffened, unsure whether to protest or welcome the aid. "I-I do not require–"

"Yes, you do," he cut in simply.

She turned fully toward him then, and realization hit her belatedly.

He looked... familiar. Or rather, his insignia did. The crest etched into his chestplate.

House May.

Her eyes widened a fraction. "Are you... Lloyd May?"

His eyes widened.

"From the House on the farm...?"

He nodded, eyes softening. What was that about...?

"We can save introductions for after this," he answered.

The Rogues tensed. Even they recognized that name.

Lloyd stepped forward, drawing his blade with a metallic whisper that felt like a promise. "A Paladin called for peace. You chose violence instead. That was unwise."

Meredith unsheathed her own weapon. No magic, just steel. "I will not allow you to fight exclusively on my behalf, regardless of your strength."

"That’s fine."

The fight broke like a storm.

Lloyd moved first. He was swift for someone his... their size, Meredith corrected, cutting down the nearest Rogue with a calculated strike that sent the man sprawling. Meredith followed, focusing on precision over aggression. Every step carried the annoyance she felt at herself. She should have been able to handle this alone. She should have trained harder. She should have recognized the Rogue’s lies.

Rage sharpened her movements, but she wasn’t reckless. A Paladin never was.

Steel clashed against daggers. The narrow alley echoed with grunts, footsteps, and the hiss of metal scraping stone. Lloyd fought like someone used to ending battles quickly–clean, fast, and efficient. Meredith, meanwhile, fought like someone with something to prove–focused, careful, and fierce.

A Rogue lunged at her with twin daggers. Meredith blocked the first strike, stepped back from the second, and slammed her shoulder into his chest. He stumbled. She brought her pommel down hard across his wrist, forcing him to drop the blade.

Lloyd disarmed another with a swift kick and a brutal elbow.

The group realized too late that they were outmatched. Their formation broke. Fear replaced bravado.

"Enough!" Lloyd barked.

The Rogue who started all this hesitated, the talisman trembling in his hands. For a moment, Meredith thought he might actually try something desperate.

But instead, he tossed the talisman toward her feet and fled. The others scattered behind him like startled rats.

Meredith exhaled shakily and picked up the talisman, brushing off the dirt clinging to its surface.

"I-I must return this," she said. "To the Wizard. I owe him an apology."

"Pretty sure he’s already on his way," Lloyd said. "He was following after me while I was following after you."

Before she could inquire further, she turned, unsurprised to find the Wizard at the entrance of the alleyway, panting heavily, red-faced from running.

"You!" he jabbed a finger at her. "You gave my talisman away! To a thief!"

Meredith bowed her head, cheeks burning. "I was mistaken. Swayed by his smooth words. Please forgive my ineptitude, Wizard. More care must be taken in future interrogations."

"Ineptitude?! I’ll say! you–"

Lloyd raised a calm hand. "Easy. She corrected the mistake."

The Wizard huffed, glaring between them. "Use your brain next time, Paladin."

Meredith swallowed her pride. "Yes. I will."

He snatched the talisman from her hands, still grumbling, but he no longer looked ready to explode.

Meredith let out a breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding.

Lloyd turned toward her. "For what it’s worth," he said, tone gentler. "You acted. Many wouldn’t have. Not even full-on Paladins."

"That is hardly comforting," Meredith muttered.

"It was meant to be." He paused, then allowed a faint smile. "How about this: let me get you a drink. After a day like today, I feel like you need one."

She almost accepted immediately, but duty tugged at her. "I must report this to the Order of Paladins. And to the Adventurer’s Guild. Proper documentation–"

"Already handled," Lloyd said casually. "My partner, Lyra Knight, is handling the reports as we speak."

"...And I can trust your word?"

Lloyd put a hand over his heart. "If I’m lying, strike me down."

Meredith allowed a faint chuckle. "I’ve seen you fight. That might be easier said than done. In that case, sure. A drink would be... greatly appreciated."