When I thought about it, Sir Themanon was truly a good man.
I’m not even his real daughter…
Yet he was someone who gave me the feeling of meeting my father again.
Someone as kind and warm as my dad, always looking out for me.
Someone who protected me steadfastly against the constant threats of death that crept closer day by day.
The days I spent in the Queyback household were the safest of my life.
My family home had been relatively safe too, but Queyback was on another level.
As long as Sir Themanon stood firm, those “constant threats of death” could hardly touch me.
I just want to stay here forever.
The yearning swelled inside me—the wish to lean on someone like a father and live depending on him.
But that could never be the answer.
Sir Themanon could not stay by my side forever. Someday, he would leave me—just like my father, who had suddenly disappeared from my life one day.
No matter what, I had to stand on my own.
Still, I’m really grateful.
Part of me wanted to whine and act spoiled, but the dignity of this body did not allow for such childishness.
“Thank you—for saying that.”
Too reserved. That was as far as I could go: brief, plain words.
Compared to the sincerity Sir Themanon showed me, my response felt meager to the point of being shameful.
A few days later, I announced my intent to return to my family home.
“Why? Already?”
“Because the admission conditions for Somarfy Academy are very strict.”
I had no choice.
To be accepted into Somarfy, one had to be on good terms with their family—or at least appear to be.
They thoroughly investigated any signs of misconduct before admission, and family harmony was also a key factor of evaluation.
“I must return to my family to prove that I am living peacefully with them.”
“……”
“There are many who say I ran away from home and sought refuge in Queyback.”
I grasped the hem of my dress—rarely worn these days—and bowed politely.
“Thank you for everything. I will not forget your teachings, and I will continue to train diligently until the day I achieve greatness as a swordswoman. May I occasionally visit and ask for your instruction?”
“No.”
Sir Themanon folded his arms—though his muscles were so thick that the gesture quickly unraveled on its own.
“No?”
“Not occasionally. Frequently—no, often—no, every day. Otherwise, don’t expect any more lessons from me.”
He looked truly dejected.
For a moment, he overlapped with the memory of my father when I had once asked to go on a simple overnight trip with friends.
“I’ll come often and pay my respects.”
I stepped closer and held out my hand.
For someone of lower rank to initiate a handshake was against propriety, but Sir Themanon didn’t care in the least—he grasped my hand firmly.
He really is just like Dad.
My father had spoiled me a little too much, truth be told.
No wonder I want to act spoiled with him too… huh?
Sir Themanon’s eyes shimmered with tears.
Compared to Dad, he had far more muscles, a slightly more sentimental nature, and keener awareness.
Neither of us said anything about the small folded note I had slipped into his hand during the handshake.
The Diss brothers came to see me off.
“Seila. Stay well. See you at Somarfy Academy.”
“Seila. Stay well. See you at Somarfy Academy.”
Huh? Somarfy Academy?
The Diss brothers never enrolled in Somarfy. Their characters were built solely for swordsmanship—they didn’t fit the type of talent Somarfy sought. In fact, the academy would only hinder their growth.
“Have you already been accepted into the academy?”
“No. We’ll try now. We’ll transfer in.”
“Yeah. We’ll try now. We’ll transfer.”
Ah.
So that’s how it was.
They’ll never make it in.
Transferring into Somarfy was extraordinarily difficult. Even Prince Leon only managed after achieving great success in a ruin expedition.
So it’s just wishful thinking.
I didn’t have the heart to crush their hopes, so I simply nodded.
Beside them, Hamyun waved a handkerchief.
“See you at Somarfy Academy.”
“Yes.”
He smiled warmly.
Just seeing that expression filled me with soft warmth.
The Diss brothers were handsome enough, but beside the protagonist, their shine dimmed.
At some point, Hamyun had shot up in height.
Even though I was considered tall compared to other young ladies my age, I now had to look up at him.
Lady Rachel handed me a small chest.
“You’ve worked hard. This is my gift. Open it once you arrive home. My husband had to miss your send-off because of a monster subjugation mission. He was very regretful.”
“Yes, I heard. Thank you. I’ll write to Sir Themanon separately.”
“Good. Stay strong.”
I bid farewell to those who cherished me deeply.
Then I climbed into the carriage, and we traveled for some time.
After a long silence, Mary finally spoke.
“Um… may I give my greetings now?”
Mary must have felt unbearably awkward. She had boarded the carriage first, but couldn’t greet Sir Themanon, forced to ignore his presence.
For Sir Themanon had not gone off on a monster hunt at all—he had secretly boarded my carriage ahead of time, even keeping it from his beloved Lady Rachel.
The night before, upon receiving my note, Sir Themanon had wept openly with emotion.
[To my dearest Sir Themanon,]
How fortunate that I could write “dearest” rather than “respected.”
[I ask shamelessly for one favor: would you accompany me to House Dvernon?]
It was only a small scrap of paper, so not much could be written. But Sir Themanon vowed:
“Not only to Dvernon—I’ll go as far as Dvernon’s grandmother if need be!”
She must have had a reason to pass this note in secret.
That night, he claimed urgent subjugation duties and slipped away—only to sneak into the carriage I would board the next morning.
He spent the entire night inside, waiting.
The only ones who knew of this were me, Sir Themanon, and my maid Mary.
When Mary finally gathered the courage to greet him, Sir Themanon responded.
“Why did you ask me to accompany you?”
“I wanted my final send-off to be from you.”
“Don’t say ‘final.’ I’ll send you off next time, and the time after that, and the time after that—why, I’ll even walk you down the wedding aisle.”
“…What?”
“Don’t worry. I’ll just knock out Depelto and disguise myself as him.”
“……”
“I’m joking.”
…It didn’t sound like a joke.
When I looked at him suspiciously, he quickly changed the subject.
“If that’s all, you wouldn’t have gone to such lengths to pass a note. What’s the real reason?”
“There are those in Queyback who wish me ill.”
First Elder Rekso, now confined, had been one such person, as were other elders and officials of Queyback. Even the branch families and vassals looked at me with disfavor.
“I feared the road back to Dvernon would be perilous.”
“Then why not request an official escort—ah.”
Sir Themanon paused mid-sentence, realization dawning.
“So that’s why you arranged all this trouble.”
“Leave a cancerous growth alone, and it spreads until it consumes the body.”
“You mean to act as bait?”
“I never intended to bait them. I’m merely returning home. But those with ill intent would not let such a chance slip by.”
And I was right.
There were several attacks.
I personally repelled them.
After wiping the frost from my blade with a cloth, I returned to the carriage.
“Still, the elders surely know how much the Lord cares for me. So they will test the waters cautiously, several times.”
They couldn’t be sure what measures Sir Themanon might have set in place. Even those who attacked earlier had been nameless wanderers with no ties.
“They will keep probing until they feel safe. Then, just before we cross into Dvernon’s lands, at the final moment, they will reveal their true faces.”
“……”
“In times like these, their goal is obvious. To weaken the Lord and Lady of Queyback, to erode their political standing, to spark conflict with Dvernon. Such people cannot be left unchecked.”
This plan protected me—and at the same time, it was a gift for Sir Themanon.
Before we reached Lake Bayern, the true culprits finally showed themselves.
They wore masks, but could not hide from Sir Themanon’s sharp eyes.
“Well, well. What brings a Queyback elder here?”
“L-Lord…!”
The masked man froze at the sight of Themanon, trying to flee—but couldn’t. His legs were no longer his to command.
“Why attack this carriage?”
Sir Themanon approached the fallen man and yanked off his mask.
