Chapter 7 –
The blue eyes of the father and son landed on Irene in unison.
Feeling the stares tinged with bewilderment, she blinked and stared back at the Duke and Mikhail.
‘Why are they looking at me like I’m some anomaly?’
“…I didn’t know there was an illegitimate child.”
Even Reinhardt seemed taken aback by the unexpected revelation.
Irene recalled something she had momentarily forgotten.
At this point in time, her existence likely hadn’t yet been made public.
It was Reinhardt who broke the awkward silence caused by her sudden appearance.
“Your family seems more liberal than I expected.”
His calm smile didn’t match the coldness that lingered in his eyes as he looked at her.
‘It must be because of Lloyd.’
About ten years ago, the current empress arrived at the palace carrying a newborn.
The issue was, the child she carried was the Emperor’s.
She wasn’t a noblewoman of status—just a former dancer. The revelation that she bore the Emperor’s child had turned the palace upside down.
As time passed, the infamy of Lloyd, the Emperor’s illegitimate child, reached even the remote Lykaon territory.
It wasn’t hard to understand why Reinhardt harbored such a strong aversion to illegitimacy.
‘Still, something feels off.’
When she met him in the palace eight years later, he hadn’t been this openly hostile toward her.
The Reinhardt standing before her now was far colder and more sensitive.
Certainly not ideal for Irene.
‘This is going to be a headache.’
The enemy of my enemy is a friend.
She had considered Reinhardt as someone who could one day replace Lloyd and take his role.
She had planned to maintain a cordial relationship with him for that purpose…
‘But I didn’t expect to be rejected outright just because I’m illegitimate.’
Thanks to the Lykaon household, she was used to being looked down on for her origins.
But having her plans disrupted like this was troublesome.
It was Cedric who first spoke, having observed the subtle exchange of glances between the two.
“Irene Lykaon. Return to your room for now.”
“…Yes.”
Irene gave a light bow toward Reinhardt.
‘There’s still plenty of time. I’ll find another opportunity later.’
With that thought, she turned to leave.
But just as she was about to step away, her eyes met Mikhail’s.
Her face froze.
His expression was unreadable as always, calm and silent.
The first thing he said upon becoming head of the family had been:
“Leave the house.”
His tone, when notifying her of her expulsion, was dry and cold.
‘You kicked me out like you’d been waiting for it.’
And yet—
Years later, he had led an army to the battlefield… just to rescue her.
Feeling strange again, Irene turned back toward her room.
Or rather, she tried to.
“Hah, I knew from the start you didn’t know your place.”
A boy’s mocking voice blocked her path.
It was Dietrich, arms crossed and face twisted with ridicule, clearly having watched the exchange between her and Reinhardt.
“Getting a better sense of your place now?”
Then, with a sudden change in tone, he muttered coldly,
“So stay locked up in your room like the bastard you are.”
“I don’t want to,” Irene said, brushing past his shoulder.
“If you want me locked up so badly, beat me in a sparring match. Then I’ll consider it.”
In other words, you don’t even have the skill to talk big.
Dietrich’s cheeks flushed with anger at the blatant attack on his pride.
“Are you insane?”
He pointed a trembling finger at her.
“You think I’m just going to let this go?”
‘At least he’s not grabbing me by the collar this time.’
Irene looked at him impassively from a short distance.
“Sure. Do what you want.”
She passed by him, mentally replaying their last spar.
It would take him at least ten more years to match her.
‘And if I keep improving, even that won’t be enough.’
Hmm.
After a moment’s thought, Irene turned away from her room and headed toward the training grounds.
Because she had no intention of being caught by him even ten years from now.
At the training grounds, Erica was practicing diligently. Noticing Irene, she approached.
“My Lady!”
“I thought you were under disciplinary action.”
“Fortunately, the Duke allowed me to continue training.”
Seeing her train here rather than just doing chores felt strange.
‘That’s how we met, wasn’t it?’
In her previous life, Irene had first spoken closely with Erica at the well.
That’s when she learned Erica wasn’t just a helper but the only female knight in the squad.
‘How cool… a woman knight.’
Maybe she had sensed Irene’s admiration—
Erica had spoken, uncharacteristically for her:
“You can learn swordsmanship too, my lady.”
“I… can’t.”
“Why not?”
“Just….”
As Irene had fidgeted shyly, unable to explain her lack of confidence, Erica had said firmly:
“There’s no such thing as ‘just can’t.’ If you try, you can do it too.”
After that, as if they had a silent agreement, Erica often appeared at the well and helped her with basic sword forms.
‘But still…’
She had lost her life because Irene couldn’t refuse Kyron’s unfair orders.
Young and powerless, Irene hadn’t been able—or brave enough—to stop it.
“It’s all thanks to you, my lady. Thank you.”
Erica bowed deeply, as if making a resolution.
Watching her for a moment, Irene spoke.
“If you’re thankful, teach me swordsmanship.”
“…Pardon?”
Erica’s eyes widened at the sudden request.
“But you already have enough skill… I don’t think I’d be much help—”
“Was your gratitude just words, then?”
“N-no! I just… I think you’d benefit more from a better teacher than me.”
Erica smiled sheepishly. It was a pure, unpretentious smile with no hint of deceit.
“But if you’ll allow me, I’ll do my best to teach you.”
And so, the training began.
After going over basic stances a few times—
“Your sword style is oddly similar to mine,” Erica said curiously.
‘Of course it is. You taught it to me.’
Even though Irene had later received formal training after joining the palace knights, she couldn’t shake off the habits she’d first learned.
Just like those habits, Erica had become a part of her she couldn’t erase.
It was a sad, painful memory. But now, Erica stood before her once more.
“Yeah,” Irene replied, a faint smile playing at her lips.
Then suddenly, sensing a gaze, she turned—and saw a familiar face.
‘Reinhardt?’
But he was looking at other knights as if she had imagined it.
He seemed to be simply observing their training.
‘Perfect!’
Irene quickly approached him.
Her charge was almost like a bull’s rush, and Reinhardt flinched.
He felt oddly overwhelmed. Glancing around briefly, he turned back to her.
Irene stared directly at him.
‘He looks like a squirrel.’
The way he seemed intimidated reminded her of a small animal facing a predator.
Unable to withstand the silent gaze, Reinhardt finally spoke.
“…What is it? Do you need something from me?”
“Isn’t Your Highness the one who has business with me?”
She had almost slipped into military speech, then quickly corrected herself.
“Irene, your looks are decent, but you talk like a soldier,” Lloyd—no, Kim Taeheon—used to say that to her often.
Looking back, it had been ridiculous.
The memory annoyed her, but she had to admit the way she spoke probably did distance her from boys her age.
“Me?”
He looked at her like he didn’t understand.
“Weren’t you staring at me earlier?”
“That doesn’t mean I have business with you.”
At least he didn’t deny looking at her.
“…That’s true.”
She nodded.
Reinhardt fell silent, a little dumbfounded at her quick acceptance.
His gaze now seemed to ask, “If you’re done, then leave.”
She quickly scanned the area.
No Chloe or Mikhail in sight.
If they caught her talking to the prince, they’d surely try to cut her off.
So this was her chance.
“Actually, I do have business with you.”
“I don’t particularly want to hear it.”
“I want to be friends with you.”
Irene pressed on without hesitation.
Reinhardt blinked. He’d heard that line many times before.
But this was the first time someone had said it with such an expressionless face.
He wasn’t interested in chatting, but he was curious about one thing.
“Why do you want to be friends with me?”
Irene fell silent, staring into the air.
‘I didn’t really prepare an answer for that.’
She had only thought I need to get close to him and jumped in.
Mentioning Lloyd would just make him more wary. Better to save the real reason for later.
What would a kid our age typically say?
After some deliberation, Irene looked straight at him.
“You’re handsome. Your face is exactly my type.”
She said it as politely and earnestly as possible.
“……”
Reinhardt was momentarily speechless.
Irene waited patiently, not realizing what might be so strange about what she’d just said.
oh..?