Chapter~22
Eighth, Moving Your Superior
“Is this… a dragon’s egg?”
“Yes. If you look closely, you can see the dragon embryo inside.”
Just as he said, when viewed up close, the vague shape within became clearer.
Because of the thick shell, it was only visible as a silhouette—but that alone was enough.
Pierre nodded and handed a pouch of money to the employee.
“Platinum coins are inside. That should be sufficient.”
“Confirmed.”
Platinum coins—each worth 100 million, something commoners would rarely see even once in their lifetime.
Yet the employee counted them calmly, as if it were nothing.
“However, Your Grace… did you know that a dragon’s egg can also open a dungeon?”
“…What?”
The moment Pierre turned at being addressed as “Duke,” the dragon’s egg burst open with a chilling blue light.
“Ugh—!”
As he shut his eyes, a cold, frigid energy wrapped around his body.
Instinctively, he cloaked himself in mana to protect himself—but was still thrown across the floor.
The aftermath of the surge drenched the vault.
“A dungeon…!”
From the shattered remains of the egg, a dungeon gate began to spread.
Judging by the mana spilling out, it was a water-type dungeon.
‘No…!’
That meant he must not enter.
In a place filled with water, he wouldn’t be able to use his full strength.
He stabbed his sword into the ground to resist the pulling force dragging him toward the gate.
Still—
The force kept pulling him in.
Scrrraaape—!
The sound of metal grinding against the floor echoed loudly.
“Damn it…!”
Meanwhile, the employee stood calmly, smiling.
“You seem to be struggling.”
“Who the hell are you?!”
“The one you’re trying to interfere with.”
“Don’t tell me… a black magician—”
“What does that matter?”
One step.
The employee stepped back as if unaffected by the pull of the dungeon.
“If the opportunity arises… let’s meet again.”
As his figure dissolved like mist, a violent current swallowed Pierre whole.
* * *
The Duke tried to move his body, but the moment he fell into the water, it stiffened and refused to respond.
A sensation—strange, yet deeply familiar—rose from his memory.
A cold, pounding feeling began in his chest and spread throughout his body.
‘…I wish you had never been born.’
Through the foam stirred by his struggle, a man’s face surfaced.
The face of his father—who had looked at him as an enemy—was cold.
‘F-Father…!’
It had started as an accident.
At least, that’s what it was called.
But his father had been jealous enough to wish for his death.
…Was it really an accident?
That man, who never spared time for anything except his mother, had taken him alone to the lake.
Could any of that truly have been unintentional?
‘Help… me—’
Between fear and betrayal, despair surfaced.
One undeniable truth remained—
After that day, whenever he did something wrong, he would be submerged in water.
Craving affection. Suffering. And eventually giving up, fleeing from the ducal household.
Even now, he vividly remembered that lake.
Even after leaving, he was always drowning in that cold water.
There was no one to save him.
There never had been.
In that cold, he could only cry—hoping the anger directed at him would one day fade.
As his vision blurred and he slowly closed his eyes—
Someone grabbed him.
“Pierre!”
A vivid red flickered before his eyes.
A voice calling his name reached his fading ears.
Splash—splash—
Amid the crashing waves, he felt someone holding onto him.
“Pierre! Breathe! Seriously, don’t mess with me—hey! Open your eyes! Hey!”
Reassured by that presence—
He lost consciousness.
* * *
I frantically poured magic and mana into searching for Pierre.
The moment I finally found him and grabbed him—he fainted.
“Ugh, what would you have done if I didn’t have magic?!”
As soon as he lost consciousness, his heavy, muscular body weighed down on me.
For a moment, I seriously considered just leaving him and escaping.
“…No, first—escape! Escape!”
As soon as my mana recovered slightly, I activated the bracelet.
The moment I poured mana into it, it began to glow, enveloping us both.
When I opened my eyes again—we were back in the auction house.
“Pierre! Wake up! Pierre!”
No response.
Did he swallow water?
Seeing him lying there like a corpse, I scraped together what little mana I had left and cast healing magic.
My exhausted body screamed in protest.
At the same time, I pressed down on his upper body with all my strength.
Still no response.
Just as I was about to attempt CPR—
“Cough—!”
He spat out water and groaned.
“…Ugh…”
“Are you conscious?!”
“Wh-Where… is this…?”
Soon, focus returned to his violet eyes.
Cough, cough!
After a fit of coughing, he called my name.
“…Sonnet? Is that you?”
“Yes. I dragged you out of the dungeon.”
“…Thank you. That was close.”
We were in the corridor.
He looked toward the flooded vault and asked,
“…But the dungeon…?”
“We encountered enemies. They used a dragon’s egg to create a water dragon dungeon. If that’s true, I couldn’t clear it alone.”
“Then how did you escape?”
“I was using magic and accidentally poured mana into this bracelet. When I came to, we were outside. It must have some special enchantment.”
His expression hardened.
“…So you’re saying… you jumped in to save me, knowing you might not come back?”
“Uh… yeah?”
“…Why?”
He genuinely couldn’t understand.
“You could’ve left me. If it were an accident, your honor as a knight would’ve remained intact. But if you died, it would’ve been a meaningless death. No one would’ve known your virtue.”
His tone sounded almost like a reprimand.
“It was a poor decision.”
“…How?”
I felt anger rise.
Honor? Meaningless death?
What did that matter?
Saving a life mattered more than that.
“What’s wise? Only looking out for yourself? I don’t think so.”
“…Sonnet. Miss Sonnet. No—Sir Sonnet.”
He sighed.
“Knights aren’t as noble as you think. Like servants, they calculate their benefits. The only difference is that ‘honor’ carries more weight in those calculations—”
“I don’t care about honor.”
I cut him off firmly.
“As long as I can be honest with myself.”
“…Did you expect repayment?”
“No. Even if it wasn’t you—if someone I know was in danger, and I could save them, I would.”
“…Even if it wasn’t your precious sister? Even if they couldn’t repay you?”
“Yes.”
“…That’s… strange.”
He looked at me with an indescribable expression.
“To risk your life for something like that… Such kindness without expectation… isn’t that meant only for a chosen few?”
Why was he reacting like that?
To me, it was obvious.
“…Anyway, I owe you. What do you want in return?”
“Well, if you insist… I’ll accept. But there’s something I’d rather hear.”
“What is it?”
“Say ‘thank you.’ That’s what you say to someone who helps you.”
He froze for a moment, then avoided my gaze slightly.
“…Thank you.”
It was quiet—but enough.
That alone was satisfying.
I stood up, feeling a bit better.
“Let’s go back. Everyone must be worried.”
When I held out my hand, he hesitated—then slowly took it.
“…Yes.”
He seemed able to walk fine. Thankfully, no serious injuries.
* * *
“I lost my mask… I wonder if there’s something to replace it.”
“This place has everything. We’ll find something to cover you.”
Pierre watched her as she supported him, his expression complicated.
She saves lives simply because they are lives.
Even if no one sees it. Even without reward.
Simply because she wants to be true to herself.
To him, that was strange.
A noble society built on calculation and gain.
Love that could risk one’s life existed—but only for very few.
And yet—
“…Sir Sonnet.”
“Yes?”
“You are my knight, correct?”
“…Yes?”
Amid calculated loyalty and superficial affection—
what he found in her was warmth.
A coincidence, a miracle.
Something unexpectedly given to him—radiant and rare.
“…Then you won’t leave easily, will you?”
“…Probably not?”
“I see.”
Even the small portion of affection she gave as just “someone she knew” felt warm.
He found himself wanting more.
Among all the people she could love—
he wanted to be the most important.
‘…Was this how my father felt?’
He didn’t know.
What he did know was this:
Pierre wanted to get closer to Sonnet.
He wanted more of that gentle warmth.
That alone was enough.
A feeling that would have made Sonnet panic if she knew—
had quietly begun.
