chapter 13
“Why didn’t you just stay where you were instead of coming all the way here and making everyone tired?”
The uncle didn’t greet me properly, so I didn’t bother to greet him either. Not that I would’ve responded politely even if he had.
I just stared straight at him. Then he frowned and turned to look at Schloitz.
“Tsk, tsk. If you had just handled things better, none of this would’ve happened.”
He was talking about the incident where Schloitz’s stepmother clashed with me.
“And what was that? Giving up the priority claim? You must’ve lost your mind. That young lady got herself a valuable claim for free thanks to you. Your little noble lady’s family sure knows how to play the game. So easy to trick a child and take another family’s honor.”
The uncle’s face twisted even more.
“Honestly, your father wasn’t wrong. You don’t even realize you were used, do you? If I’d known you’d bring this much harm to the family, I would’ve sent a pretty girl your way first.”
At that, Schloitz’s expression changed.
So much so that the uncle looked a little startled. He seemed irritated at himself for flinching and clenched his teeth in frustration.
But he didn’t dare raise his hand. Instead, he shifted his glare to me and spoke with clear hostility.
“You must be too young to understand, but because of you, my sister-in-law is quite upset. You could’ve let it go, but no—you had to make a big deal out of it. Just a warning: if you ever come to the capital, you’re in for a hard time.”
“Yes, Sir Timothe. You’re absolutely right.”
Dylan, who had been quietly standing behind me like a shadow, suddenly stepped forward with a bright smile.
“Our young lady was gracious enough to show your family’s dogs great mercy.”
“…What? Dogs?”
“Yes. If she’d wanted to, she could’ve dragged them straight into the middle of the capital’s social scene. Imagine the talk—what kind of noble lady raises dogs who dare raise their hands against another noble lady? As you know, unlike some families, the Siedo family’s reputation in society is quite clean.”
The uncle’s face turned red and then pale. Clearly, he hadn’t expected to be attacked like this—especially by Dylan, who was technically part of the Lefebvre household. But clearly, when it comes to verbal battles, confidence makes all the difference in any world.
And what Dylan said wasn’t even wrong.
The uncle, desperate to stay in his older brother’s good graces, probably got nervous thinking I might really go through with it.
I truly liked Schloitz—but his family? I absolutely hated them.
“Damn it! Do you even understand how furious my brother was when we got hit with the troop limit penalties because of that damn claim you took? What’s Siedo planning, building up so many private soldiers?”
Wait—Procyon got hit with troop restrictions?
For a prestigious military family like Procyon, that must have been a huge blow. The tension in that house must be unbearable now. Schloitz’s stepmother really had awful timing. I hadn’t meant to, but I guess I ended up taking something even more valuable than I realized.
The uncle ground his teeth and turned to Schloitz.
“I’ll be back tomorrow. Pack your things and be ready. This place stinks—I can’t stay here any longer.”
He stormed off. Probably afraid that if he stayed in front of me, he’d start another fight and get roasted by Dylan again.
“Telling him to pack up the moment he arrives… How thoughtful.”
I turned my gaze away from the departing carriage and looked back at Schloitz. At least we could still have dinner together tonight.
And the medicine’s effect had just worn off, too.
“Schultz.”
While his uncle and Dylan were arguing, Schloitz stood there quietly, his expression cold. Now, he turned to look at me. I gently took his hand and placed the flowers I had been holding into it.
“A gift… The flowers will… bloom in a few days.”
“A gift? All of a sudden?”
“I just… suddenly… wanted to give you flowers.”
After handing them over, I felt a bit embarrassed. He couldn’t even see the colorful flowers right now—maybe bringing them was pointless. I scratched my cheek with my pinky finger, feeling awkward.
“It can be… a farewell gift too. Let’s… eat together, Schultz. As for packing…”
Dylan immediately stepped in.
“I’ll handle it, my lady.”
“Mm. Thank… you.”
As always, I took Schloitz’s hand and led him inside the house. Saying goodbye always comes so suddenly. I guess that’s the same no matter what world you’re in.
Schloitz sat quietly in his chair without saying much. Dylan quickly started packing. Amid the clinking of items being packed, we waited. After a while, a servant brought our meal—just like always, a hot bowl of stew for each of us.
That must be the last dose of medicine…
I watched as Schloitz slowly lifted his spoon. Then I took a bite of stew myself. But I was too lost in thought to even taste it properly.
Should I ask him to marry me now?
Maybe even tell him my real family name? As I debated, Schloitz asked,
“Are you going to stay here?”
“No. I… need to go… back too.”
“To your family?”
“Mm-hmm.”
“You really…”
He gave a faint, bittersweet smile.
“You were here just to save me, weren’t you?”
“That’s right.”
There was no reason to deny it now. It was goodbye anyway. He couldn’t see it, but I smiled.
“I… wanted to save you.”
So later, when you grow up… will you marry me?
That unspoken question fluttered in my chest. Schloitz had a faint smile at the corner of his lips.
“Why?”
“I’ve always been… weak… for little kids.”
This time, Schloitz didn’t look exasperated like he usually would. Just a quiet, fading smile. Then, as if sensing something, the boy facing goodbye asked,
“The Siedo family?”
Ah.
Should I tell him I’m actually from the Lefebvre family? Maybe I should—especially if I’m going to propose. I need to present all my best qualities. I was still hesitating when—
“Enri.”
“Yeah?”
Once I returned to the mansion, I felt like I’d think of Schloitz every time someone called out Enricor. Well, I already did most of the time anyway.
Then, in a calm but firm voice, Schloitz asked:
“I want to go with you.”
“…What?”
For a moment, I thought I’d misheard him. His eyes—still likely unable to see anything—were pointed right at me, and it almost felt like he was looking directly into mine.
“I want to follow you… I can become your knight or something.”
“No.”
I said it almost without thinking. I saw his expression slowly harden. I quickly tried to explain:
“Even… if you go… back to your family… you’ll be fine now. Don’t… worry…”
He asked,
“Because I’ve taken all the medicine now?”
“…What?”
At the same time, clang—I dropped my spoon. I couldn’t even think about picking it back up. I just stared at Schloitz.
He knew?
My lips parted slightly as I looked at him.
“…Schultz?”
Since when did he know? But before I could ask, he spoke first.
“…I don’t want to say goodbye to you.”
“………”
“I’ll learn swordsmanship… and become your knight.”
His voice faded slowly, like paper soaking in water.
“I don’t even want to go back there anymore…”
“………”
I couldn’t say anything. Not a single word.
Schloitz, in the original story, was someone who endured countless abuse just to regain his rightful position as heir. Even when his family tried to throw him into hell, he held on—because he was the legitimate successor.
For that one goal, he survived the military, killed countless monsters, and eventually became such a legendary knight that even the king respected him.
And now… Schloitz was saying this?
When I didn’t respond, he stood up and walked toward me.
“Enri.”
“………”
“Please…”
My vision blurred.
I was witnessing the boy who would one day become the noblest hero in the kingdom, clinging to me. I wanted to take him with me—so badly. I really did.
The Lefebvre family is powerful. My parents are kind. I knew that if I brought Schloitz home, they’d help. No question about it.
I wanted to care for him, heal him, and make sure he never suffered again. But I couldn’t.
This boy—who had endured abuse from such a young age, who believed that hell was the entire world, who thought he needed to rise above that hell—he wouldn’t have become who he was without that harsh, cruel environment, no matter how talented he was.
But what if he doesn’t become a national hero?
What if all that incredible talent gets wasted?
I liked Schloitz. Truly, I did. But I needed to be honest with myself. I came here to change fate—to stop the kingdom from falling to monsters, to prevent my own early death.
In that moment, I felt a wave of self-disgust. But it was the truth.
I looked at Schloitz—he couldn’t see me, but I looked anyway. His eyes, always steady and unreadable, were trembling.
That’s when I realized how horribly arrogant I had been.
I reached out to “save” him like it was nothing. Comforted him. Whispered promises about how warm the world outside was.
And then I just assumed he would quietly return to his hell later?
What was I thinking?
It felt like someone had dumped cold water over my head. The sharp pain of reality hit me hard. I wanted to slap myself.
Had I really still been thinking of Schloitz as just a character in a story?
