IWTGHFW CHAPTER 17

Episode 17

“So you’re saying you came from a completely different world? Is that even possible? Or is this some ploy to tame me with lies…?”

“If it were, would I be crying like this? Pathetically, in front of a kid.”

At my firm answer, Naraein nodded, though he stuck out his lip and muttered, “I’m not a kid.” His expression, so out of place for the situation, was unexpectedly cute, and I let out a small laugh. He waved his hand, telling me not to laugh.

I stifled my amusement, then pointed alternately at him and myself.

“Between the two of us, who do you think is more unhappy?”

“…You can’t rank unhappiness.”

“You’re right. Then let’s just say we’re both unhappy. So don’t push me away too much.”

His clear eyes wavered greatly. A blue light shimmered in them, like waves surging high. They looked like gems a master jeweler had cut perfectly. The kind of beauty you could get lost in just staring.

After hesitating for a long while and fidgeting with his hands, he finally asked me a question.

“If you’re that unhappy… how can you still smile?”

He was probably remembering how I’d laughed and chatted with Ron.

I only answered after my flood of emotions had subsided a little. When they came crashing in, it felt like I was the most miserable person in the world—lonely, wretched. But when they ebbed, I could calmly look back at them.

Reflecting on those emotions, now fertile after the flood, I replied:

“Because I’m alive.”

It was also the answer to my own feelings.

I didn’t know why I was alive, but I was. And if I was alive, shouldn’t I keep living? There was no clear answer, just a blank expanse ahead, but if I kept going, somehow I’d manage—and if I was lucky, I might stumble upon something that resembled an answer.

I didn’t explain all that to Naraein. But from the look on his face, he seemed to have heard everything hidden behind that short answer.

Imperial Knights.

The very name was dazzling—a symbol of all honor.

Anyone with a sword in their hand dreamed of reaching that position.

When they walked around in their navy uniforms, the imperial crest gleaming on their chest, anyone passing by would look at them with admiration.

Especially knights like Ron, and a few others with good looks, were constantly the subject of attention among the palace maids. Their portraits were sold at high prices, and there were even secret circles of knight admirers within the palace.

One of those admired knights, Heffi, stomped his foot petulantly and plopped down.

“Ayl won’t hang out with me. She even got annoyed yesterday.”

“That’s because you always zone out after calling her over.”

“But I can’t get used to how pretty she’s gotten.”

Pouting, Heffi twirled his pink hair around his finger. A group of maids delivering water to the training grounds saw him from afar and squealed.

“Ayl was always pretty.”

Rheinolf replied flatly, rotating his arms to loosen up before picking up a sword. From far away, every time Rheinolf stretched, faint squeals drifted through the air.

“Sure, maybe. But she always hid behind her hair, so I didn’t notice. I’m weak against pretty women, you know…”

“Is her appearance that important to you?”

“Why wouldn’t it be?”

“No matter how she looks, Ayl is still Ayl. She’s a competent worker, diligent… a bit prickly, but she’s got a good personality.”

“Yeah, that’s true. But I can’t even talk to her now. Every time I see those gray eyes, my heart drops.”

Like storm clouds. Beautiful.

He added with a silly grin.

“You’re ridiculous.” Rheinolf muttered, picking up his wooden sword. Today his body felt light, and his stance was sharp and satisfying.

While Rheinolf started training, Heffi lay flat on the ground. He had no intention of practicing. Rheinolf told him to leave if he wasn’t going to train, but Heffi stomped his feet and refused, his petal-like hair swaying with each shake of his head. Every time it swayed, the squeals in the distance grew louder.

“What do you expect me to do? Go build up some resistance to pretty women?”

“Rhei, you’re so cold. If your friend’s in love, shouldn’t you help him?”

“Whether you’re in love or not… wait, what? Love?”

“Yeah. I think I’ve fallen in love with Ayl.”

What?

Rheinolf’s swing froze midair. He looked down at the sprawled Heffi. In those pink eyes shone something like excitement.

Rheinolf suddenly felt like the lightness in his body had turned heavy. Something like a stone pressed on his chest. The pink hair and eyes he’d always found charming now irritated him. His pale face, his dreamy voice—it all got on his nerves.

Thud—

Before he knew it, Rheinolf had smacked Heffi in the chest with his wooden sword. Realizing too late what he’d done, he tried to stop, but Heffi, having been hit, jumped up and retaliated.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?!”

Ron’s roar rang out across the training grounds. Vice-captain Sean surveyed the mess before ordering the trainee knights to clean up the broken swords and gouged floor.

They weren’t trainees, nor low-ranked knights—Rheinolf and Heffi were among the best in the order. Which made the damage all the more telling.

Sean calculated the cost of the damage and shook his head.

This was a real fight.

The two were famously close friends—what could possibly make them brawl like this? Sean glanced at them as they got chewed out by Ron.

“Are you kids?! You wanna brawl like this with the juniors watching? Or are you just begging for a beating? Should I give you one? Huh?!”

“We’re sorry.”

“If you’re sorry, you should take your punishment! I swear, I go easy on you because you’re good, and this is what happens!”

Ron was furious that his direct subordinates had turned the training grounds into chaos. This wouldn’t end quickly—at least two months under his brutal drills, until they were lumps of dirt.

Sean sent a trainee with the repair invoice to Ayl, then approached. Both knights now sported matching bruises on opposite cheeks.

When Ron’s anger flared again and he raised his fist, Sean stopped him quietly.

“We need to know the cause if we want to prevent this. Violence isn’t always the answer.”

Ron, somewhat agreeing, lowered his fist. Muttering that if it weren’t for Sean, they’d be pulp by now, he prompted both knights to thank the vice-captain.

“So, why exactly were you two fighting?”

“Well…”

Heffi’s pink eyes slid toward Rheinolf. He’d hit back after getting smacked first, but still didn’t understand why Rheinolf had attacked him.

Under three pairs of expectant eyes, Rheinolf bowed his head deeply. His chest felt tight—how could he even begin to explain this mess of emotions? He just kept his mouth shut, forehead pressed to the floor.

“I’m sorry.”

That was all he could say. Ron could only sigh heavily.

Late that night, after Ron had worked them to exhaustion, the two showered and began changing.

Knock knock—

To their surprise, it was Vice-captain Sean. He rarely came to the training grounds himself, so they quickly straightened and greeted him.

Looking between the two, Sean grinned.

“You two—how about a drink, if you’ve got time?”

“Heffi and Rheinolf fought? Why?”

“I don’t know. They won’t say. By the way, you’ve gotten pretty close with that kid, huh?”

“Ah, Narin’s surprisingly affectionate.”

“Narin?”

“Naraein’s too long. I shortened it to Narin.”

I draped a blanket over the sleeping Narin’s shoulders, then followed Ron to his office.

He brewed me some fragrant tea, saying it would help me sleep, and sat across from me. The warmth spread through my whole body.

“How’s the kid? Think he’ll pass the entrance exam?”

“I don’t know about his sword skills. But for language and etiquette, you don’t have to worry—he learns fast.”

“His sword skills aren’t a concern either. None of the applicants can match him.”

“He’s that good?”

“Yeah. That good.”

So delicate-looking, though.

Picturing the thin, frail Naraein, I gave Ron a skeptical look. He told me to just watch on exam day, pounding his chest in confidence. Clearing his throat, he spoke in a careful tone.

“Ayl, tomorrow I’m getting off work early, so how about we leave toge—”

“Marquis! Urgent news!”

Bang bang—

The pounding on the door was too forceful to be called knocking. Ron’s face darkened as he barked at them to come in. The steward rushed in, bowing.

“The city guard reports that two imperial knights have been detained!”

“What? Why would imperial knights be with the city guard?”

“Well, um…”

Seeing Ron’s face grow dangerous, the steward blurted it out.

“They… got into a fight at a tavern.”

The city guards didn’t know how to handle the prestigious imperial knights. They couldn’t be rough with people of such high rank, but they also couldn’t just let them go after wrecking the tavern so badly it couldn’t operate.

They turned pleading eyes toward a lean man with light violet hair.

Sighing softly, the man approached Rheinolf and Heffi, who were still growling at each other.

“You couldn’t even wait until I got back from the restroom to start fighting?”

It was Sean, who had dragged them to the tavern to patch things up. His expression was weary.

“The captain will be here soon. I can’t protect you anymore, so good luck surviving.”