04. Joining the Military (1)
A special autonomous territory—home of the military’s highest-ranking official.
It was far from the capital and clearly separated from the outside social world. The territory’s name would change depending on the surname of the current Commander-in-Chief. This wasn’t always the tradition. It began about two hundred years ago after a quarrel between the Crown Prince of the Rajak Kingdom and the military’s Commander-in-Chief.
The military had always been stationed at the frontlines. The royal family realized it was better to treat the Commander like a feudal lord, giving him high status and reducing the chances of dangerous rebellions. So, they changed the law and began naming the autonomous territory after the Commander’s surname.
Currently, this place was called the Procyon Special Territory.
“Commander Procyon. The direct heir of the Lefebvre family has arrived.”
Even after the aide reported this, Shuloitz didn’t reply. He was always like this.
“Won’t you go see them?”
Shuloitz rested one cheek on his hand and stared out the window with a bored expression. In his other hand, he spun a fountain pen, almost like a toy. It was a golden pen inlaid with tiny rubies and sapphires. The aide deliberately ignored the fact that it was a gift from the king.
This had been his routine for nearly a decade—especially around this time of year, early spring, when fresh green buds began sprouting on the branches.
He would often stare quietly out the window, and people chalked it up as one of his quirks.
After a while, Shuloitz finally lifted his head. Though he still looked like his mind was elsewhere, he had at least heard what the aide said. He thought back for a moment.
“They arrived earlier than scheduled.”
“Yes. They said there was some reason… they came a whole week early.”
The military was like an independent, giant order of knights. It was a great honor to be selected, but young nobles usually arrived on time, nervous and anxious.
Shuloitz finally spoke again.
“They brought new Opats from Lefebvre, right?”
“Yes. I heard there’s a new prototype. Their development is so fast, it’s scary. Seems like they do nothing but research day and night.”
Shuloitz stood up.
“Have they been shown to their room yet?”
“No. They just came through Gate 17.”
Shuloitz planned to check out the new Opats himself. Even if the head of the Lefebvre family had come, his expression would likely have remained the same—calm and unreadable.
The aide was used to it.
But…
The one who came wasn’t the eldest heir. It was the second child…
But the aide didn’t mention that. Shuloitz hated unnecessary chatter.
Even though the Lefebvre family was one of the highest-ranking noble houses, the Commander—who ignored even the queen’s repeated invitations—would likely find that detail pointless too.
“Commander.”
Knights passing by stopped and bowed as Shuloitz walked past, then resumed walking once he had passed.
Gate 17, the main gate, was busy with people.
Several wagons were unloading crates of various sizes. Workers led horses, and many officers were already present to greet the newcomer.
Even though this place was isolated from society, it still shared many aspects of noble culture. Due to the sacred swords used to fight monsters, most key members were nobles.
A direct descendant of the Lefebvre family was arriving—it was the perfect moment to make a good impression. Crates were being carefully taken down from the wagon…
And then, a woman stepped out.
Her golden hair shone brightly. She clearly came from a well-bred background. Just one look and anyone could tell—she was a Lefebvre lady.
Shuloitz recalled dancing with a Lefebvre lady years ago at the capital. This must be the same girl.
But something about her felt unfamiliar.
Even though everything looked familiar, something felt… off.
Many noble girls had come here before, following their brothers who joined the military. They’d step off the carriage, clasp their hands nervously, and quickly flee after catching a glimpse of Shuloitz.
So this should’ve felt familiar.
But the reason it didn’t… was because this Lefebvre lady was walking straight toward him.
Her face showed nerves, but her steps were urgent. Almost running. Shuloitz briefly wondered if she had mistaken him for someone else in her family.
The woman stopped right in front of him in an instant.
“……”
Even the aide, who would normally stop someone like her, didn’t say anything—he just smiled, as if this was normal.
“Commander,” the aide said, smiling, “this is Lady Blandea Lefebvre, here to join the military.”
It was a brief introduction, but clear enough.
Normally, the eldest child was the one obligated to join. And most often, it was a son. But exceptions did exist.
The woman finally spoke.
“Hello, Sir Procyon.”
Her voice was soft like spring sunlight, but her eyes trembled slightly as she looked up at him. That wasn’t unusual for nobles.
Not at all.
“I’m Blandea of the Lefebvre family. It’s been a long time since we last met.”
Shuloitz stared at her and finally replied,
“It has.”
A blunt response. Almost rude.
But his aide—and the knights nearby—were used to it. What was surprising, though, was the woman’s calm reaction. She just smiled kindly.
Birds chirped from a nearby budding tree.
“You came a week early, Lady Blandea. Your room isn’t ready yet, so—”
“I’ll return to the town area.”
“Oh. Will you? Then I’ll escort you. Shall we?”
Even though she had rushed toward Shuloitz like she was desperate, the Lefebvre heir now turned around brightly and walked away without a hint of regret.
To anyone watching, it would’ve looked like nothing unusual.
I must be crazy.
Back at the inn, I lay on the bed, silently screaming into the mattress.
Venus told me to show just a little emotion when I saw him again!
He definitely said that!
I had run simulations in my head again and again about how I would greet Shuloitz properly.
But something about the word “emotion” had gotten to me—and the moment I saw him, I ran. I literally ran to him without even realizing it.
Now that I think back… I can’t even remember his exact expression or the mood at that moment.
I must have been too nervous.
I do remember that his face was cold and expressionless. Which, honestly, was a relief.
If he had realized I was the former Lady of Enrike, he couldn’t have looked at me like that.
Actually… he probably would’ve grabbed me by the collar.
Still… why does my heart hurt so much? I guess it makes sense.
Shuloitz, now grown, looked more and more like the version of him I once loved in my past life. Back then, even child Shuloitz made my heart flutter… but now, it hurt for a different reason.
Still, meetings like today would be rare.
I was joining as an officer thanks to my family name, but it was an honorary title. I wouldn’t be close to the Commander.
In the original novel The Mad Beauty’s End, Enricor joined the military and grew close to Shuloitz—but our situations were different. Enricor was the heir. I was just another direct descendant.
So I’d probably just quietly stay at a distance, occasionally discussing the Opats that Lefebvre sent to the military.
All I had to do was survive the year… and return to the Lefebvre estate.
Or maybe not the capital. Maybe I’ll go to our territory instead…
Should I just hide away deep in the estate like the Enrike family?
By that time, the kingdom’s destruction in the original story should’ve already been prevented. I could live peacefully, far away from monsters and danger. In a beautiful and quiet countryside castle, I could stop running altogether.
With those thoughts, I fell asleep.
The next day, I learned something the original novel didn’t teach me:
Even the most impressive character becomes… not so great when he’s family.
“Lady Blandea. We meet again, so soon.”
Shuloitz’s aide greeted me cheerfully.
“You’re staying here?”
“Yes.”
“You picked the best place. The bedding’s the cleanest, and the food’s delicious—especially the chicken-onion stew and apricot jam. You should try it.”
The maids following behind me chuckled.
There was a large town in this special territory. It was only natural, with so many knights and soldiers. Some nobles even returned to the capital with stories of its beautiful scenery.
I hadn’t seen much of it yet, but I did notice how well-paved the roads were during our ride.
“Anyway, I didn’t expect the Lefebvre family to send so many Opats at once. Are the researchers being tortured? Oh—this way, please.”
Then the day’s trouble began.
Well, calling it trouble might be an exaggeration…
Enricor must’ve found out I left faster than I thought. Most likely, Hector snuck into the main house for my hair and noticed I was gone.
So Enricor immediately sent a large batch of Opats to the military. With a letter, saying he would demonstrate how to reduce side effects.
He was probably already on his way here—to convince Shuloitz that he should be the one joining.
Ridiculous.
Good thing the military asked instead of assuming.
Enricor was smart enough not to mention I had joined in his place. So the military just asked if I, as another Lefebvre heir, could do the demonstration instead.
Of course I could. It was simple. The wielder just had to kiss the back of my hand.
Enricor always wanted to change that method, but ran out of time.
Now the technique even had a name:
Blessing of Purification.
What a fancy name.
I understood why he named it that way—to stop people from misinterpreting it. Since it involved physical contact, image mattered. Better to wrap it in grand language from the start.
Nobody could call it something inappropriate if it was called a blessing.
Sure, it sounded odd… but better than rumors.
And thank goodness I’m not the one kissing everyone.
Also, most wielders were nobles. Cleanliness was their virtue. Even the non-noble ones were held to high hygiene standards, according to The Mad Beauty’s End.
Honestly, that was a huge relief.
Otherwise, I might’ve punched Enricor.
“The documents say the blessing lasts one week, correct?”
“Yes.”
“Then we’ll schedule weekly blessings. Your appointments are being arranged.”
I nodded.
Just like the aide said, the blessing lasted one week. So once a week, each wielder had to kiss the back of my hand.
The word blessing still sounded strange to me.
Enricor really had a good mind. He nailed the naming. No one could twist something called a blessing.
“Having to do this right after arriving must be tiring.”
“It’s fine. I slept well.”
“Thank you for saying so. For today, we need blessings for myself, Sir Agnes Filken from the Commander’s office… and the Commander himself.”
I froze.
“Sir Procyon? Isn’t he busy?”
“Well, yes. But he’s very interested in the Opats. Does it make you uncomfortable?”
“Not uncomfortable… just nervous.”
I remembered Venus’s advice: Act more timid over time.
“I’m just a little scared of him.”
“Haha. Understandable. Most nobles are, when they first meet the Commander.”
The aide led me to a large brick building in the center of the military base.
Inside was a spacious entry hall with three doors. The largest, most intimidating door in the middle was Shuloitz’s office.
Knock knock.
“Commander, it’s me.”
Without waiting for a reply, the aide opened the door and walked in. He must’ve been doing it like this for a long time.
With my heart racing, I slowly stepped inside.
