IICSYIRD l CH 21

chapter 01

 03: The New Head of the Rebel Family

Rumors spread quickly that House Procyon had a new head.

“You know, the first son who was half-disowned because he was illegitimate?”

“They say the number of Holy Swords he awakened is beyond belief. That’s why His Majesty made the shocking decision to appoint him as the new head.”

“I heard he awakened a three-digit number of Holy Swords.”

“Three digits? Even with Procyon blood, is that even possible?”

But the nobles knew: the king wouldn’t return the Procyon estate so easily unless the achievement was truly remarkable. That made them start hoping for more.

“Then… Do you think the young head might be able to restore the Shillon sea route?”

Whenever that topic came up at tea parties, everyone’s ears perked up. Some said it was impossible, others said it would be amazing if it happened, and a few admitted they secretly believed it might.

While pretending to crunch on cookies, I quietly listened in on the adults’ sharp gossip and thought to myself:

“That route gets restored by the original female and male leads.”

The sea route they were talking about, the Shillon Route, was the only passage connecting this continent to the neighboring one. It used to be very active, but I heard it was cut off even before I was born. After suffering huge losses during a major battle against monsters, the kingdom gave up on it. Since then, there had been no contact with the other continent. I remember that the Lefevre family had a major trading company over there too.

“It gets restored about halfway through the novel.”

“By the way, does the Procyon heir have a fiancée?”

“A fiancée? Not at all. That’s why all the families with daughters are in a frenzy. If that young heir ever leaves the military and comes to the capital, it’ll cause a huge stir.”

“Well… that’s true.”

They weren’t wrong. Even now, I could see some nobles’ eyes gleaming with ambition.

“But… was he supposed to become this famous this early?”

From what I remembered, he was supposed to reclaim the family name much later. I nearly sighed out loud. If Schloitz had changed from the original story, then it was definitely because of me. The wounds I’d given that child… just remembering them made my chest ache.

“I’m really the worst.”

Suddenly, I lost my appetite. Was it even right for me to be eating cookies right now? This self-loathing always hits me like a recurring illness. I started chewing much slower. But I couldn’t exactly spit it out either.

Just as I swallowed the cookie and took a sip of tea, a noblewoman sitting across from me spoke.

“You’re looking so lovely again today, Lady Blandea.”

“Thank you, Madam.”

I replied with a gentle smile. The noblewoman’s kind gaze flickered quickly. My mother once told me that this was her “calculating” look. And there must’ve been a lot to consider—after all, all the ladies invited today had children around my age.

“When Lady Blandea makes her official debut, families with sons will be quite busy too.”

My mother smiled softly while lifting her teacup. I remembered her once saying that comments like this were subtle ways of suggesting they were interested in a marriage proposal.

“Blandea is still young.”

“Still, Madame Lefevre…”

The noblewomen kept telling my mother how calm and mature I was for my age—and how they admired me for it.

“At least I don’t speak as slowly anymore.”

I had recovered faster than expected—faster than even the doctors predicted. I believed it was thanks to Sir Balock, the commander of the knights, but he always said otherwise:

“It’s because you worked so hard, my lady.”

The tea party was in full swing when I politely asked to excuse myself and stood up.

Today, everyone was talking about only one person—Schloitz. It was obvious that all of high society in the capital must be buzzing about him too.

It was such a contrast to how things were inside our own estate. No one there ever mentioned Schloitz. Not even the maids who spent every day with me. Not even the ones who had been with me since my childhood in the slums.

Schloitz wasn’t a common name, so they must’ve guessed that he was the abandoned boy from back then. And yet, they said nothing.

Not just the maids—knights, doctors, everyone who had accompanied me that day… not one of them ever brought him up. Not even once.

Maybe that’s why…

The time I spent with Schloitz as a child felt like a dream. Like a passing spring day. Like a private illusion that only I remembered. Since no one else spoke of it, it became a memory deeply buried in my heart.

Even Venus, who used to serve me most closely back then, said nothing. She was standing right beside me in the tea room today, so she must have heard everything too…

“Milady.”

I looked up.

“I’m sorry, but Sir Balock said you’ll need to add one more hour of training from today.”

I broke into a cold sweat.

****

Time passed like an arrow.

“Enri!”

I ran up to Enricor. When he turned around and saw me, he shouted in delight and scooped me up into a spinning hug.

“Blana!”

He laughed brightly, then leaned close to whisper:

“Where’d you learn that kind of dramatic entrance?”

“It was my dad’s childhood fantasy… He hinted at it in the carriage.”

“Wait, your dad came too?”

Enricor looked around while still holding me, but only my maid, a knight, and I were in the hallway.

“He’s in the principal’s office.”

“Again? That principal always runs to greet your dad before I even get a chance.”

This was the academy building where Enricor studied. He gently set me down, and I took his hand and swung it back and forth as I said:

“I’m gonna do that hug again in front of Dad later… so make sure you catch me. Don’t drop me.”

“Come on. How could I drop something as tiny as you?”

“Say it.”

“Fine, I won’t drop you.”

Enricor smiled with a “you’re unbelievable” kind of face, but he was clearly happy. Holding my hand, he started walking and said:

“Hey, Blana. You know what?”

“What?”

“The academy’s swordsmanship instructor is way less scary than our knight commander.”

“…What?”

“He’s supposedly a former military commander, but the training is way easier.”

I froze in shock.

“Are you serious…?”

“Totally serious.”

He added casually,

“Well, Sir Balock was also a military commander, to be fair.”

“……”

“Just don’t tell him I said that. I’d like to go home alive.”

“Okay, I won’t.”

“I’ve been tricked.”

What a mean guy. Sir Balock always told me that the academy and military training were even harder than what I was doing now. I believed him completely…

Well, what can I do now?

As I was trying to accept the truth, Enricor threw out another comment.

“Still, it’s amazing how you manage to keep up with all that training, Blana.”

I chuckled. Sure, I nearly died—actually, I almost died just a few days ago—but it was true that Sir Balock’s training had made me stronger.

It had also been a while since I last saw Enricor. In the original story, he rarely came back home from the academy.

He was supposed to be a genius swordsman, the heir to House Lefevre, and already had a knighthood and an impressive role in the military…

“Enri. Mother told me to ask when you’re coming home next.”

“Tell her I’ll come back early this break.”

“But you don’t have to.”

“What am I to you, Blana?”

“Just Enri.”

“Your tone, seriously…”

He gave a half-laugh and dropped into the chair in front of me. His red eyes, just like mine, sparkled.

“You’re making your social debut this winter, right? I’m coming to that.”

“So that’s why you’re coming home early?”

“Of course. Oh, by the way…”

“Yeah?”

“He got invited too.”

“Who?”

“You know… the head of House Procyon. The famous one from the military—wait, Blana? Blana? Blandea Lefevre?”

I froze in place, unable to even breathe.

Who did you say is coming?