Chapter 4
The youngest member of the knight order was always the first to arrive at work.
They had to take care of basic cleaning and organizing, as well as any errands entrusted by the senior knights.
Preparing for the morning training was also the responsibility of the youngest, Reyana.
Having arrived at work, Reyana hung her outer coat in her place.
She was about to head straight to the training grounds when the door suddenly opened.
“Uh… Have you already arrived, sir?”
It was an unexpected person.
The Knight Commander was already at work. Why had he come so early?
The Commander never arrived early. In the mornings, he usually attended official meetings at the Emperor’s palace.
Normally quick and efficient, Reyana answered a bit dazed.
“Is there something you need me to do?”
The Knight Commander nodded and beckoned her with two fingers, motioning her to come.
Was he calling her over?
Reyana quickly stood before him.
With her posture straight and tense from discipline, she heard him say,
“Come to the estate after this.”
“…Me, sir?”
The Knight Commander glanced left and right before adding,
“Who else would I be talking to?”
Caught off guard, Reyana couldn’t respond, but the Commander took her silence as agreement and left.
He was probably off to his official meeting.
Why do I have to go? — the question lingered in her mouth but never came out.
“…Do I really have to go?”
Reyana was uncomfortable around the Knight Commander.
There were two reasons.
First, he was a superior of such high rank and a revered war hero.
And… second, he was her future father-in-law.
The Knight Commander of the First Order, where Reyana worked, was Crociad Dea Valencia.
He was the Duke of Valencia.
Though he once acted as if the wedding would happen immediately, it had already been postponed for seven years.
Has he changed his mind? Or did he just need the engagement for some reason?
She didn’t know why the Duke had wanted the marriage in the first place, but from the start, a union between the Duke’s family and an adopted daughter of the Chester family was unequal.
Whatever the Duke wanted—whether it was marriage, an engagement, or something else—Reyana and the Count’s family were expected to comply.
Whatever it was, Reyana was ready to accept it.
Now, seven years later, standing before the Duke, Reyana recalled the day he had proposed.
According to the Count, that was the day the Duchess had died. For some reason, on the very day his wife passed away, the Duke sought out a fiancée for his son.
And why did it have to be her?
Reyana glanced at the Duke, as if trying to read his thoughts.
“The reason I called you today is to talk about the marriage.”
So it had finally come.
Reyana swallowed hard.
“The Imperial Family is against your marriage to Theodore.”
It was expected.
There was no reason for the Emperor to approve such an unequal match. But countless reasons existed to oppose it.
The House of Valencia was special. The reason lay in Duke Crociad’s origins—just a few years ago, he had lived in the capital as the Crown Prince.
Had he not suddenly abandoned his title and left the Imperial Palace, he would likely be the current Emperor.
A Duke of royal blood and a war hero, no less.
And his only son was to marry the adopted daughter of a mere Count’s house?
Of course, his younger brother, the Emperor, would be furious.
“Are you going to call off the engagement?”
Was that too bold a question? A faint crease formed between the Duke’s brows.
“Why do you ask?”
“I hope you don’t cancel it.”
Reyana had resolved to do whatever it took to avoid offending him—but anything but calling it off.
She stood up and bowed deeply to the Duke.
“I need this marriage, Your Grace.”
“…I didn’t realize you wanted it that badly.”
The Duke’s lips trembled slightly. The trembling faded quickly, but his face showed a flicker of interest.
It didn’t matter what that interest was based on. All Reyana wanted was for the engagement to remain.
If it were broken—
The Count would never let her go unharmed.
At first, the Count had been terrified of the match, but once his reputation soared through social circles thanks to the engagement, his fear disappeared.
Instead, he became anxious, constantly worried it would fall apart.
Whenever a letter came from the Duke postponing the wedding, the Count would summon Reyana—who also worked in the knight order—and accuse her of doing something wrong.
Reyana wasn’t afraid of his anger. She just didn’t want to be hated by him.
On the day she joined the knight order, the Count had patted her shoulder and said:
“You did well.”
That single phrase had etched itself into her memory so deeply that it felt like her mind had broken.
Since then, she had felt she could do anything to gain his recognition.
Facing the Duke’s probing gaze, Reyana met his eyes.
Overcome by a sudden impulse, she dropped to her knees.
“I’ll serve the young master with all my heart.”
“Do you think the House of Valencia lacks in care?”
“I’ll do everything I can to make sure you never regret this marriage.”
She clenched her fist over her heart with fierce determination.
“Are you here for an interview? Unfortunately, we’re not hiring knights right now.”
The Duke’s tone felt like he was hinting she wasn’t fit to be his daughter-in-law.
Reyana became desperate.
“If I become your daughter-in-law, I’ll do anything you command!”
“That doesn’t sound like a daughter-in-law—it sounds more like a dog.”
“…If that’s what you want, I’ll do that.”
“That?”
A crooked smile appeared on the Duke’s lips.
Like a child who had found an amusing new toy.
“What do you mean, ‘that’?”
“…Your dog, sir.”
Reyana’s face turned red. It was the first time she had ever uttered such coarse words.
She had heard harsh language in the knight order, but saying it herself was a different matter.
“Hahaha.”
Perhaps the contrast of such crude words from her innocent mouth amused him. He burst into laughter.
“I’ve got a funny daughter-in-law.”
It sounded like a promise not to cancel the engagement, and a bright smile spread across Reyana’s face.
“Then, does that mean you won’t break it off?”
As she excitedly rose to her feet, the Duke narrowed his eyes.
“Did I tell you to get up?”
Startled by his stern tone, Reyana immediately dropped back to her knees.
Maybe the Duke is a little strange.
She’d already thought he was odd—looking for a wife for his son on the day his wife died—but…
Is he planning to treat his daughter-in-law like this?
Reyana quickly straightened her expression, sensing she was becoming disrespectful.
She was the one who said she’d do anything.
“You meant it when you said you’d do anything, right?”
“Yes, of course, Your Grace.”
“Good.”
The Duke smiled faintly, as if pleased.
“I plan to make you the Empire’s sword.”
“…Pardon? Me?”
“What, do you not want to now that it’s about becoming the Empire’s sword?”
The Empire’s Sword—only twelve were chosen for that elite knight order, proof of being the strongest in the realm.
Even the Duke was one of them.
How could she possibly join such a group? She was only a novice who happened to be good with a sword.
It all felt so out of reach.
“The Emperor only opposes your marriage to my son for one reason—you’re not enough.”
It felt like a steel rod had pierced her chest.
Was that really necessary?
Reyana barely stopped herself from scowling.
“So you’ll have to grow. If you go to war, earn merit, and receive the title of hero, then we’ll have some justification.”
As if he were asking her to run an errand for the neighbors.
Her jaw dropped slightly in disbelief, and frustration clouded her eyes.
The Duke had earned that status with monstrous talent. Reyana was just a fledgling knight.
Telling her to follow in a prodigy’s footsteps felt impossibly unfair.
As she struggled to respond, the Duke added,
“Only then can you become Reyana Valencia.”
Reyana Valencia.
That name also felt like a distant dream.
But she had to have it. She needed it.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Ever since she heard the word “war,” her heart had been pounding, though she couldn’t say exactly why.
“You can do it, right?”
“…Of course, Your Grace. I will… I’ll do my very best.”
With a clenched fist, Reyana answered.
