Chapter 8
“What did you just say?”
Elias’s eyes widened while his expression remained unchanged, and Giulio, about to chew his meat, choked and reached for his water glass.
They’re engaged, so even their reactions are starting to look alike.
Dante briefly entertained the silly thought before repeating what he had just said.
“I’ve decided to give up entering the temple.”
Giulio, barely calming down after drinking water, asked with a flustered face.
“You’re joking, right?”
“Have I ever joked about something like this, Brother?”
“Of course not. No, wait…”
Watching the two struggle to hide their distress, as if unsure what to say, Dante tilted his head.
“Why are you so surprised?”
“Surprised? Becoming a holy knight has been your lifelong dream. What’s this all of a sudden?”
“Uh…”
Because I’ve tasted the sweet and bitter for seven years and came back.
He couldn’t say that, so Dante quietly closed his mouth.
Of course, there had been glorious moments. At twenty-four, he had risen to deputy commander—the youngest ever—and even received a fief for his wartime achievements.
But with Fay gone, it all felt empty. He’d rather take this path than relive that future.
“I’ve simply decided to prioritize something more important. I already informed the professors today.”
In other words, I’ve already made the move, so just approve it.
Elias, speechless at his son’s unprecedented rebellion, was replaced by Giulio, who asked in a slightly subdued voice.
“Do you know what’ll happen once this gets out?”
“I’m prepared to take responsibility for acting irresponsibly.”
“No, not that.”
Exchanging a quick glance with Elias, Giulio sighed at his brother, who seemed genuinely clueless. He glanced at his father.
You tell him.
No, you do it.
This is where the head of the family should show authority. I’m still just a greenhorn.
This kid—only claiming to be a greenhorn now.
After a fierce silent battle, Elias, defeated by the weight of being the patriarch, spoke softly.
“Are you confident you won’t regret it?”
“Yes.”
“…Fine, then there’s nothing more to say.”
With that, dinner resumed.
The unexpectedly smooth reaction left Dante a bit puzzled, but if it ended well, that was what mattered.
It would be several days later when Dante finally understood the meaning behind Elias’s words.
* * *
“You called for me, Father.”
“Yes.”
Summoned to the Marquis Igniel’s office, Dante blinked at the pile of booklets stacked high on the table.
“What are all these?”
Elias replied with utmost nonchalance.
“What else? Marriage proposals.”
“…Pardon?”
For a moment, Dante couldn’t process what he had heard. Unfazed, Elias gathered the booklets and handed them to him.
“There are quite a few refined young ladies at first glance. Take a look for now.”
“But why—”
“Why? Not entering the temple means you’re now eligible for marriage, doesn’t it?”
Most affiliated with the temple remained celibate unless in special cases. Holy knights were no exception.
He had known that, but he never expected to feel it this way.
“But I don’t even have a title.”
“Don’t worry about that. From the conditions, it seems most are families looking for a son-in-law to marry into the household.”
“What? What do you—”
Elias burst into hearty laughter at his son’s bewildered, frozen expression.
“I’ve told you before. Though you’re my son, you take after Joanna too much.”
“What does resembling Mother have to do with this?”
“A young man from a good family, handsome, diligent, and upright—who wouldn’t want him as a son-in-law?”
Does that really lead to this conclusion?
Dante stared at the booklets in his hand, then placed them on the table without even opening them.
“Please send them all back.”
Having aspired to be a holy knight since childhood and spent seven years in the temple, he had no immediate interest in marriage.
“I still plan to be knighted. I only said I wouldn’t enter the temple.”
“There’s a big difference between that and becoming a holy knight.”
“I didn’t realize our family’s prestige was this great. No, I knew, but…”
To think this many portraits would arrive in just a few days.
Elias gazed at his quietly lamenting second son and sighed inwardly.
Joanna, my love. Who on earth did this boy take after to be so dense?
Does he really think these proposals are just because of the family name? Honestly, it’s believable enough that he’d think that—I can’t even laugh.
“Dante.”
“Yes, Father.”
“What exactly do you plan to do that made you suddenly quit the temple?”
“Um…”
He had expected a deeply serious reason, but Dante’s answer was utterly out of left field.
“Sabotage.”
“What?”
“For now, I’m thinking of carefully planning how to go about it.”
With that, Dante bowed and left the room. Elias stared blankly at his son’s retreating back and muttered softly.
“…Is this really just a phase?”
* * *
Was mentioning it in the faculty office a mistake?
The fallout from declaring he’d quit the temple arrived steadily the following week.
“Senior Dante, I’ve liked you for a long time!”
Dante stared silently at the blushing girl confessing to him.
Judging by her cloak color, a fourth-year—probably two years younger than him.
Short brown hair, large eyes, a delicate and pretty girl—but surprisingly, he felt little excitement. He only learned her name, Roel, today.
And this was already the third confession this morning. Enduring a flood of confessions since Monday, three days in, he was starting to feel dizzy.
He had received confessions before, but never this frequently. Back then, he rejected them by saying he was entering the temple—but now he couldn’t use that excuse.
“My feelings are appreciated, but I’m sorry. I’m not interested in that sort of thing.”
He had simply stated the truth, yet instead of looking disappointed, Roel boldly asked,
“Is it because you’re dating Senior Fay Brabant?”
“What?”
Right, this was an annual event too.
He had forgotten since it stopped after graduation, once Fay revealed her status.
“I don’t know where you heard that, but we’re not like that.”
“Then won’t you give me a chance?”
“A chance?”
Taking a step closer, the girl clasped her hands and pleaded earnestly.
“I’m fine starting as friends!”
“We graduate next week—what friends?”
Of course, Dante’s iron wall remained unshaken.
“I appreciate the sentiment, but you’d be better off with someone more fun and better than a dull, old-fashioned guy like me.”
“What are you saying? There’s no one whose face alone is as interesting as yours!”
Dante silently looked down at the spirited girl approaching him.
He didn’t dislike her boldness, but honestly, it was a bit troublesome. How could he make her give up and back off?
“Dante!”
Just then, a cheerful voice answered his dilemma by latching onto his back.
Turning in disbelief, Dante was startled to see the black-haired girl burying her face in his back.
“Fay? How did you—”
Hugging his thick waist tightly, Fay peeked up at him with a grin.
“Of course I looked everywhere. Found you!”
“What’s going on?”
“It’s about the outfit for the graduation party—if you haven’t decided, let’s go pick them out together.”
“Oh, that.”
For any other party, he would have worn something from home, but for Fay, this was a once-in-a-lifetime graduation party. Showing up in just anything would embarrass her.
“Then a little later—”
“Wait a second!”
Roel, abruptly interrupting their conversation, grabbed Dante’s hand tightly. Fay’s eyebrow twitched ever so slightly, but naturally, Dante didn’t notice.
“Senior, does that mean you’re going as partners with her?”
