Chapter 118
Even though she knew it was a joke, Evi’s heart strangely thumped.
It was as if she were glimpsing something that would happen someday in advance.
At that moment, Irene approached Luska’s side.
Evi expected her to play another trivial prank, maybe tapping her on the back, but instead of stopping her, Irene took an even more courteous approach than Luska, holding her skirt and slightly bowing at the waist.
Her posture alone was so precise that it genuinely looked like she was paying respects to the emperor.
“I like it better when it’s Evi. Evi suits this role much more than those other fools. In that case, I’ll be the Minister of Finance.”
Upon hearing Irene’s specific ambition, Luska looked like she had been outplayed and hastily said,
“Then I’ll be the Captain of the Royal Knights! Also let me be the Captain of the Imperial Knights!”
Her voice sounded urgent, as if Evi actually held the power to decide.
At the sight of the two of them, Evi cleared her throat lightly and mimicked the way she remembered Clois speaking:
“Do as you wish.”
Perhaps because her imitation was surprisingly convincing,
Irene and Luska glanced at each other and burst into laughter.
“Evi, saying it like that really sounds like His Majesty!”
“Exactly! I just saw His Majesty in Evi for a moment. You two really resemble each other!”
“Really? Was it really similar?”
“Really! I’ve seen His Majesty since I was little. It was exactly the same just now.”
Evi felt a surge of happiness at Luska’s words.
‘They said I resemble His Majesty!’
Of course, she knew she couldn’t say such things inside the palace.
If she did, even the adults who were still laughing might narrow their eyes and say, “How dare an orphan speak so freely?”
‘But it still feels good.’
Being told she resembled someone was a compliment the orphans at the Poorhouse could only envy.
It was a word they rarely got to use.
Children walking past holding their parents’ hands had obvious similarities—hair color, eye color, faces, height, even tiny habits.
But orphans at the Poorhouse couldn’t find such comparisons.
So, while they sometimes commented on how their hair or eyes looked alike among themselves, everyone knew that deep down, they were subconsciously looking for adults who resembled them when out on the streets.
But for the first time, Evi had been told she resembled someone.
And that someone was the emperor she adored so much.
While Evi puffed out her chest in pride, Irene and Luska were pondering another issue.
“But what about Arcel? If you handle both the Royal and Imperial Knights, Arcel won’t have anything to do.”
“He wouldn’t enjoy being a knight captain anyway. Let’s see… what role suits Arcel? Since he’s good at studying, maybe Minister of State? But if he’s in that position, he’d constantly nag us to work.”
“Hmm, then what should we make him do?”
“Do work, but officially without power?”
“Does such a thing exist?”
Evi quickly chimed in on the conversation.
“Anyway, I want Arcel to always be with us!”
“I agree. Though he’ll tell us off, Arcel will take care of all the other troublesome people, so just glaring at them will shut them up. And he’s already scary now—he’ll be even scarier as an adult.”
Evi tilted her head in confusion.
“Irene, you’re afraid of Arcel?”
At first, he seemed a bit cold, but when together, Arcel was kind and attentive.
Whenever he went to buy candy in the village, he never let go of her hand and would notice immediately if she was tired, suggesting she rest.
If there was something delicious, he would offer it to her first.
He never hesitated to step in when he thought help was needed.
And had Arcel ever gone without smiling while together?
To think someone like him could be scary—Evi puffed out her cheeks, clearly not agreeing.
Irene pulled her into a hug while Luska held her forehead.
At the same time, the two muttered:
“Ha, that sly fox…”
“…?”
Confused as to why they were suddenly looking for a fox, they turned their heads when a loud noise came from the training ground.
Looking over, they saw the knight trainees were already out, training.
Among them, Eric waved at the three.
“Come to watch, ladies?”
Hearing “ladies,” the trainees simultaneously turned their heads.
Then, seeing Irene and Evi, they let out short sighs.
“You call them ladies, but they’re just kids.”
Still, worried about looking embarrassed without shirts on, they hurriedly put them back on.
Eric playfully swatted their heads.
“You’re playing around. Once they grow up, you won’t even dare talk to these ladies. Since they came to watch, at least bow and say thanks.”
Meanwhile, Luska led Evi and Irene down to the training ground, taking them to a shaded spot.
“It might be boring, but let’s watch a bit before going inside…”
“Boring? How could the training ground of the Marquis of Lagselv be boring?”
Irene handed a cool cup of water to Evi, her eyes shining.
“The skill of the knights trained here is known throughout the Empire. That’s why even our Terins family gives bonus points to those from here.”
Hearing this, the training knights turned around in surprise.
“Terins family?”
“The Terins from the South?”
Irene smiled at the trainees recognizing her family.
“Yes, the Terins from the South. As you know, our family promises higher wages than any other. We hope for many applicants with ambition.”
The trainees cheered.
Indeed, the Terins family was famous for being a noble family with one of the highest recruitment rates after the royal family and Imperial Knights.
Then Eric said,
“Alright, everyone, let’s start with some light sparring to warm up.”
“Understood!”
Excited to show their abilities before the Terins family, everyone responded energetically.
Luska wiped her face with her hand and sighed.
“I wanted to take a break and then go to the forest with Elisha…”
Evi had just been spoiled by all the luxuries at Irene and Arcel’s home.
Surely, she couldn’t find watching sweaty, muscular men clash entertaining…
Or so she thought.
“Eric oppa! Leg, leg!”
“Eric oppa! Back! Back!”
Minutes later, Evi and Irene jumped to their feet, fists clenched, shouting excitedly.
Perhaps because of their cheering, Eric lifted a massive trainee charging at him onto his shoulder and slammed him onto the sandy ground.
Bang!
The trainee groaned from the impact, while Eric casually twisted his arm to pin him down.
“Eric wins!”
As the judge raised Eric’s hand, Evi and Irene cheered in unison.
“Eric oppa is the best!”
“Amazing! Eric Lagselv!”
Luska stood beside them, mouth agape.
“How can you call him ‘oppa’ after just watching a bit?”
“You’re older than us! That’s why he’s oppa!”
Irene snapped, as if it were obvious. Luska indignantly shot back.
“Hey! I’m older than you too!”
“Eh, really?”
So… what do you want me to do with that?
Irene rolled her eyes at Luska and turned to Evi.
“Eric oppa is really amazing. Right?”
“Yes! So cool!”
Evi, too, couldn’t hide her excitement, clenching her fists tightly.
At first, she had been scared. Adult men, especially muscular ones, throwing punches…
‘It would have been terrifying before…’
But now, she wasn’t afraid.
‘Since when?’
The innkeeper’s husband had been a large man, and when Evi first came to the Poorhouse, she would hide under the bed whenever a big man passed by.
Over time, she relaxed, but still felt tense and sweaty passing by large people.
She remembered feeling that way even when she first arrived at the Academy for Gifted Youth…
‘When did it stop being scary?’
Evi recalled the first adult man she had never been afraid of.
‘His Majesty.’
Thinking back, why hadn’t she been scared at all?
Even though it was her first meeting, she had approached him to greet him first.
Subsequent adults she met were similar.
Not all, but many were kind and listened to her.
Eventually, she could greet them without flinching.
At that moment, another bang and cheer echoed from the training ground.
“Eric wins!”
Once again, Eric helped the fallen trainee up and gestured to Luska.
“Next is Luska. Ready to get beaten in front of the guests?”
“What! Why me!”
Luska hesitated and stepped back, prompting Irene to snicker.
“Of course, you can’t beat Eric oppa.”
“Yeah. He’s bigger than you.”
The two were so sure of his victory that a vein popped on Luska’s forehead.
“What’s with these reactions? Do you think I couldn’t beat Eric?”
Moments later…
“…I lost.”
Luska had to acknowledge her defeat under Eric, looking miserable.
“Ten years too early, little brother.”
Eric helped Luska up, tousling her hair roughly.
Luska trudged back to Evi and Irene, collapsing beside them.
“She lost. Miserably.”
Beside her, Irene teased, sticking out her tongue, making Luska’s face scrunch further.
“I would’ve beaten him if we were the same age!”
“Hmm, we shall see about that.”
While Irene teased her, Evi stood and handed Luska a cool drink from the kitchen for the trainees.
“Drink this, Luska. You’ve sweated too much.”
With a towel as well, Luska felt moved and nearly cried.
“Evi, you’re truly an angel. How did I end up with you and that devil Irene as roommates…”
As Luska pretended to sob, a ball kicked from the far side of the training ground flew straight toward where Irene was standing.
“…!”
By the time Irene noticed, it was already too late.
She couldn’t even blink as the ball approached.
Thunk!
Luska, blocking the path, punched the flying ball away.
Then she shouted at whoever kicked it.
“What are you doing so recklessly! Go somewhere else!”
Shouting over, she sat back down and drank the water Evi gave her.
Seeing how nonchalant she was about what she just did, Evi and Irene exchanged glances.
Unspoken, but both were thinking the same thing:
Luska had looked pretty cool just now.
