CHAPTER 75………………………
“Ren! What have you been staring at all this time?”
A fellow knight approached. He was the only one around the same age as Lennox, also a former boy soldier. Perhaps because of that, he often tried to strike up conversation with him.
In Lennox’s gaze lay the last gift she had given him.
She had pressed it into his hand, calling it a protective magic tool, before bidding him farewell.
‘Come back safely, Ren.’
Her golden eyes, filled with worry, had looked only at him.
That look still lingered vividly in his mind.
“Oh, a ring? Did you leave a fiancée back home?”
Another squire nearby shot to his feet.
“What? You’ve got one, and I don’t? Lucky brat! But then why enlist early if you’ve already got a fiancée?”
“I didn’t want to be tied down.”
At Lennox’s calm reply, the other knights gasped.
“What? Listen to this spoiled brat!”
“You’ll regret it someday—when you realize being by her side was the happiest time!”
“Oh, you fool!”
Lennox ignored their teasing in silence.
At that moment, a lookout at the front signaled.
“Enemy sighted! Battle formation!”
The soldiers, who had been relaxed a moment ago, instantly hardened with tension.
So did Lennox.
Sword in hand, he took his stance.
On this border between life and death, he felt no regrets—unlike what the others had said.
Because he already knew chasing fleeting happiness was meaningless.
‘I intend to sever this chain of patronage.’
Yes, to sever it…
Clemence was not merely an agent of a patron.
She herself was the true patron.
That was the secret he had pursued so long to uncover.
The young marquis was nothing but a puppet, dancing on strings tied to her will.
When Lennox discovered the letters in the marquis’s office, he understood.
If he wished to reach her, he couldn’t remain just a sponsored boy.
He had to stand as her equal.
Only then could he follow his heart freely.
Once he realized that truth, his path was already chosen:
He would go to war.
Earn military merit.
And return to her side.
As Lennox cut down his enemies, obsession flickered in the depths of his green eyes.
Five years later.
That morning, I had just checked the balance with Dinelle Trading Company:
Principal repayment remaining – 0.
No more debt.
Tears nearly welled up as I thought of Melin’s upcoming debut ball—finally, I didn’t have to dress her in penny-pincher outfits.
Wow, I finally paid it off. I worked myself half to death.
Even in my past life, clearing student loans hadn’t felt this liberating. I’d thought it was impossible, yet somehow, I had done it.
At this point, I felt like I could conquer the world.
“Congratulations, my lady!”
“Congratulations, young mistress.”
Melin had safely graduated from the Academy and come of age. Over the past five years, she had grown tall.
She might actually be taller than me now.
She stood above the average imperial woman in height, giving her a slender, graceful impression.
In the original story, she’d been described as small and frail from malnutrition. With proper meals, she’d shot up like a sapling.
Arthur, that bastard…
Just thinking of him still made heat rise in my gut.
Flustered by all the congratulations, Melin touched her small nose and smiled shyly.
Though her features had matured, her dimples still appeared when she smiled, just as cute as when she was younger.
Grinning wide, I said:
“Since your debut ball is soon, let’s buy you a proper dress to mark the occasion! Get ready—we’re going to the capital.”
How long had it been since I smiled this freely?
Ever since the debt, I had avoided the capital, afraid of running into Dinelle agents who might hound me for repayment. I had skulked like a criminal.
“S-sister!”
Melin’s startled reaction was nothing like the joy I expected. She fidgeted anxiously instead.
“Sister, it’s fine if I just alter one of your old dresses! The ones I have are already so pretty.”
“Why? Wouldn’t it be better if you had a brand-new one?”
At my question, she averted her violet eyes and fidgeted.
Why was she acting like this?
As I watched curiously, she twisted her fingers and finally whispered:
“It’s just… we should save as much as possible…”
Ah.
That’s when I realized I hadn’t told her.
“Melin, we don’t need to save anymore. We’re debt-free.”
“You… you paid off that debt?”
Her eyes widened like a startled doe.
She hadn’t known—I had hidden the entire process from her while she was studying, not wanting her distracted by worry.
“Six million gold including interest…? Really?”
Her mouth fell open in disbelief.
“Have I ever lied to you?”
I smirked proudly.
“So hurry up and get ready, Melin.”
Not just one dress—I could buy her a hundred.
Returning to the capital by carriage after so long, I found much had changed.
It wasn’t the most expensive boutique, but it was a reputable one, well-visited by nobles. There, Melin and I began choosing dresses.
“Sister, do I look pretty?”
She twirled in a violet gown the same shade as her eyes, its hem fluttering in waves, gold accents glittering.
I was so dazzled I blurted instantly:
“Yes. We’re buying it right now.”
“Sister! That’s the twentieth time you’ve said that.”
She pouted.
“You haven’t picked even one for yourself, and yet you’ve bought me twenty dresses already.”
“Just seeing you wear them fills me up.”
“Sister! If you keep this up, I’ll walk out and have them refund everything!”
She stamped her foot in genuine anger, making the shop clerk glance at us nervously.
“You pick something for yourself, too!”
Grumbling, I pretended to browse. Then Melin suddenly snatched a gown.
It was the most ornate thing yet, encrusted with tiny jewels.
“You’re going to wear that?”
“I’m not. You are.”
And she thrust it at me.
“Sister, hurry and try it on!”
Shoved into it, I emerged a moment later.
Melin’s eyes sparkled in awe.
“Sister, you look like a goddess! Everyone who sees you will fall down in worship!”
“…Really? Maybe I should start a religion.”
“Then I’ll be your first devotee!”
I laughed at the joke, but her face looked oddly serious—almost crazed. Quickly, I called the clerk.
“We’ll take it.”
After purchasing gowns together, Melin and I stepped onto the streets of the capital.
This wasn’t in the budget…
Glancing down at the new dress I still wore, I felt a pang of guilt.
“Agathe, how do I look? Does it suit me?”
“You won’t keep warm in such a rag, my lady.”
“Lisa!” Melin shrieked, scandalized.
“You look too beautiful for words! Beautiful! Wonderful!” Lisa corrected herself hastily, giving a thumbs-up.
“See? I told you it was worth it!” Melin beamed.
“…Right.”
I nodded reluctantly. Seeing her so happy made the expense sting less.
But still, I can’t help worrying.
Because I had rejected the Emperor’s proposal for the fighter project, I was already ostracized in society.
No one in their right mind would invite someone who’d fallen out of imperial favor.
What if no one invited Melin to her debut?
Just then—
“Wooooah!”
A roar of cheers erupted around us, making me frown.
“What’s going on now?”
I turned toward the commotion—and saw banners: golden cloth emblazoned with a crimson sun.
“That’s… the returning army?”
At my fingertips, fluttered the empire’s symbol—the Sun Banner.
Lisa whispered, stunned:
“T-then… the war is really over!”
That banner was the flag of victory, the announcement of triumph.
The war… is over?
Already?
