Chapter 42
Half the crowd chattered, claiming they had always believed Elixon would win; the other half buzzed with excitement over the emergence of a new swordsmanship prodigy.
Elixon looked visibly uncomfortable, even as he accepted his prize.
Standing beside him, Leiana faced his displeasure head-on.
“What is the meaning of this?” he asked sharply. “Did you receive some sort of bribe I’m unaware of? Or perhaps you’re flattering me to win my favor?”
“That’s not it,” Leiana replied calmly.
“Do you not realize your actions are an insult to me?”
Elixon loomed over her, his towering presence and intimidating aura making even the bystanders shrink back in fear.
But Leiana simply looked up at him with an awkward smile.
“I was bound to lose,” she said. “My stamina had reached its limit, and my movements slowed. I couldn’t block your blade.”
“But what I saw was the opposite—you moved with vigor and charged in, not fell behind.”
“…I misjudged.”
Leiana lowered her gaze.
In truth, it was the result of her young fiancé, who harbored demonic powers, secretly healing her.
She hadn’t intended to cheat, but by the time she realized what had happened, it was too late.
Still, by all logic, she should have lost the match.
She couldn’t bring herself to confess the truth to Elixon.
“I heard your wife recently gave birth,” she said, suddenly shifting topics.
“…Why are you bringing that up now?”
“I wanted to offer a gift, but I have nothing of value,” Leiana replied, scratching the back of her head with an embarrassed smile. “Please consider this as a substitute.”
“…What?”
Only then did Elixon realize she had lost on purpose—to let him win, so he could receive the gemstone prize.
“You threw the match… for that?”
Leiana looked at him with a guilty expression.
“Elixon, why are you doing this?” he asked, voice low and barely containing his anger.
As his tone sharpened, Leiana bit down on her lower lip.
“That’s enough, Elixon.”
At that moment, Crociade stepped between them.
“Commander, this outcome is unjust. I can’t accept it.”
“Weren’t you confident you’d win anyway?”
“Yes, but—”
“The match is already over. The more you deny your victory, the more people will question it. It’ll just cause unnecessary trouble.”
A vein bulged on Elixon’s forehead. His expression made it clear—he couldn’t stand this.
Yet within the knight order, people were celebrating his victory.
The knights, in particular, were in a festive mood.
From atop the podium, the Grand Duke handed Elixon a box containing the black gemstone.
“Congratulations on your win.”
“…Thank you.”
Crociade clapped a firm hand on Elixon’s shoulder, noting the burning dissatisfaction in his eyes.
“Elixon, look at her face.”
He whispered softly, nodding toward the crowd. Elixon turned.
There stood Leiana, smiling brightly and clapping for him with genuine joy.
She was truly happy for his victory.
“Does that look like someone with ulterior motives to you?”
“….”
Elixon couldn’t respond.
His boiling frustration slowly cooled.
Then, noticing both commanders were looking at her, Leiana’s eyes widened in surprise.
Like a guilty puppy needing to pee, she squirmed and looked down, visibly uncomfortable.
Elixon let out a helpless laugh.
The black gemstone in his hand could’ve been hers. Yet she showed no sign of regret.
No greed whatsoever.
Even when she’d spent five years at the bottom of the knight order, receiving the cold shoulder, she never complained about the unfairness of her seniors.
She had simply endured, trained relentlessly, and finally proved herself.
Except for the incident at the end, it had been a time that revealed her true potential.
“She did her best,” Crociade said. “She just wanted to congratulate you. She wasn’t mocking or belittling you. Let it go.”
“…Yes, Commander.”
“You’ve received your gift, so now it’s time to pay for it. Enough of that dusty old tradition—prepare for the promotion exam. As soon as possible.”
Elixon realized once again that the Grand Duke’s eye for talent was exceptional.
Leiana’s swordsmanship was still rough and unrefined, but it was dynamic, and her reactions were lightning-quick. She was also deceptively strong.
Every time their swords clashed, it felt like he was fighting the Grand Duke himself.
If she continued to grow like this, she might truly become a hero of a new era.
“Yes, Commander.”
As soon as the match ended, Leiana bolted off in a hurry.
Leiana sprinted toward the locker room the moment the match concluded.
“Your Highness!”
She looked around, but there was no sign of Theodor.
Just as panic began to rise, the locker door suddenly creaked open.
“I’m here.”
The child had curled up and hidden inside the locker.
Leiana quickly pulled him out and cradled him in her arms.
“…Why were you in there?”
“If someone saw me, you’d be in trouble.”
“You couldn’t return to the estate?”
“You told me to wait, remember?”
…So he could have gone back.
Leiana sighed, rubbing her temple at his innocent reply, making a mental note to explain things more clearly next time.
“Next time, even if I ask you to wait, if there’s a chance of being seen, go back to the estate. Understand?”
“Mm-hmm.”
“Promise me.”
Theodor linked his pinky with hers and smiled.
Just seeing him smile so brightly washed away all the tension from earlier.
“Your Highness… you healed me, didn’t you?”
The boy’s round eyes looked up at her, shining with pride—as if asking for praise, Didn’t I do good?
Leiana’s face stiffened a bit.
“Can you control your power now?”
“…A little,” he replied with uncertain confidence.
But seeing Leiana’s serious expression, Theodor instinctively grabbed the hem of her cloak.
“Even if I’m about to lose, you can’t heal me like that again. If someone sees a worn-out person suddenly brimming with strength, they’ll suspect drugs or foul play.”
She spoke firmly, making sure he understood that he mustn’t use his demonic powers carelessly.
He wasn’t yet capable of defending himself.
Though he was the Grand Duke’s heir, he was still just a timid, fragile child.
With the Grand Duke and Leiana soon heading to war, she feared for the boy left behind in the capital.
“…I’ll be more careful next time.”
“Promise me you won’t ever get caught.”
“Okay. I promise.”
Leiana made him repeat the promise several times until she felt assured.
Theodor, ever compliant, repeated the words to soothe her unease.
“How was the match? Did you win?” he asked eagerly.
Leiana grinned.
“I came in second.”
“Really?!”
Theodor jumped with joy, his voice echoing through the room.
Seeing him happier than she was herself made Leiana’s heart flutter.
Feeling a strange warmth bloom inside her, she knelt on one knee to meet his eyes.
“Your Highness… may I call you young master from now on?”
“Huh? Young master?”
At her unexpected request, Theodor tilted his head.
“I’d like to call you that. Please allow me.”
“Why?”
“Because I finally feel like I can protect you.”
Once the war ended, Leiana would become a knight of House Valencia. And Theodor would be its master.
Their engagement would be annulled. She would no longer be his fiancée—but his knight. She wanted to get used to the proper title in advance.
Of course, Theodor didn’t understand the deeper meaning behind her words.
He simply felt like they had grown closer.
“Then… can I call you Leri?” he asked shyly, hiding his face.
If she could call him young master, she didn’t care what nickname he gave her.
In fact, to be the first person he gave a nickname to—it warmed her.
“Please do.”
“Okay, Leri.”
“That sounds lovely, young master.”
When Leiana burst into a bright smile, Theodor beamed too.
“I like it… I like it a lot.”
His cheeks flushed a soft pink.
“I’ll protect you no matter what,” Leiana said solemnly.
Placing a hand over her heart, she met his gaze and pledged her vow.
