Chapter 20
Valentis, Arthur, and Arabel had never seen Sophie’s face look so stiff before.
Even when she was being pouty, she always smiled faintly.
And then—
‘Sherikas?’
Sherikas was a marquess family based in the capital.
It was one of the most famous diplomatic families in the Sylok Empire, known for producing many distinguished diplomats.
As a founding family of Sylok, they were well-known and wielded great power.
Rather than staying in the Empire, they were mostly stationed in foreign countries—a true noble house of the highest prestige.
‘She’s from the Sherikas family?’
Valentis had always been curious about Sophie.
He had tried to dig into her background, but could never uncover much—until now.
He had finally learned something about her. But never in his wildest dreams did he expect her to be from that family.
‘Then why would a daughter of a marquess be running an herbal shop here?’
Valentis was confused.
“This herbal shop is yours?”
Kevin and Sophie were chatting as if it were the most natural thing. Despite being former lovers, they didn’t seem awkward at all.
“Yeah, I opened it a long time ago.”
“Then what about your work as a spirit user?”
“I stopped doing that too when I opened this shop. Most of the herbs here are grown by spirits.”
“That explains why this place is so famous! Because they’re grown by spirits!”
Kevin gave a small impressed exclamation and winked at Sophie.
Kevin, who knew exactly how to charm women, spoke to his ex-girlfriend like it was nothing.
“Then, will you make me a nice cup of tea?”
That guy just winked at Sophie?!
Arthur and Valentis both frowned at Kevin’s wink. On top of that, Kevin and Sophie seemed unusually close.
No matter how often they visited her shop, there was always an invisible wall between them and Sophie.
But Kevin seemed to have already crossed that wall.
Oblivious—or perhaps pretending not to notice—the man casually placed his hand on Sophie’s back and smiled sweetly, his hazel eyes glimmering.
“Sure, I’ll make you some. Not sweet, right?”
“You still remember my taste.”
This was an unprecedented threat. Arthur gulped.
Sophie headed toward the greenhouse to prepare the tea.
“Um… Sophie. Who is that man?” Arthur asked cautiously.
“Who? Oh, Kevin?” Sophie murmured.
“He’s my ex-boyfriend.”
“……!”
“……!”
Both men were stunned.
While Kevin was sipping tea, Sophie was in the garden drying some leaves.
The sudden appearance of her ex-boyfriend had thrown the two men into a panic.
Arabel, clearly entertained by the situation, followed Sophie around like a duckling.
“An ex-boyfriend? From when?”
Why’s she asking that? Sophie tilted her head and answered.
“About three years ago, I think.”
“They must have broken up badly.”
Valentis declared firmly.
“No, we ended things on good terms.”
That meant there was a possibility they could get back together. Arthur and Valentis exchanged glances.
This was dangerous. Very dangerous.
“Then you must be happy to see him again,” Arthur tried.
“I suppose so, yes.”
Valentis wanted to find out more about that man immediately.
Something about his clothes and face looked familiar—as if he’d seen him at the imperial palace before.
“Did you date him for a long time?” Arabel asked.
“Yes, for quite a while.”
We started dating back when I became a low-ranked spirit user, Sophie said calmly.
Valentis and Arthur listened attentively, deep in thought.
An ex-boyfriend from long ago had returned.
‘Is that why Sophie was so shaken?’
When she first saw Kevin, she had faltered.
That could mean she still had feelings for him.
‘It’s shocking enough that Sophie’s from the Sherikas family…’
Valentis felt a sense of danger he had never experienced, not even on blood-soaked battlefields.
“Could you tell us more about Kevin? I’m curious.”
Arabel, curious about Sophie’s love life, pried. Arthur and Valentis perked up, eager for answers. Good job, Arabel.
“Well, we got along after becoming adults, so we dated.”
“So Kevin was your first and last love? A romantic relationship like that?”
“No. I’ve dated other people besides him. He wasn’t the only one.”
Sophie spoke nonchalantly, and Arthur and Valentis were shocked.
That meant there could be other rivals.
“Then… he’s not your first love?”
“My first love was someone far more perfect and wonderful than him.”
There’s no comparison. Hearing about a perfect first love on top of an ex-boyfriend left Arthur dazed.
Sophie’s love life was very healthy—and very active.
“Well, it was nice seeing someone I used to date again,” Sophie murmured.
“But Sophie, earlier he called you Sophie Sherikas. Did I hear that right?”
“You heard correctly.”
“Then… are you really from the Sherikas family?”
Arabel asked the question that had been burning in the two men’s minds.
“It’s a bit complicated… but yes, I am.”
Her expression darkened. Arthur decided to drop the topic.
“What do you mean ‘it turned out that way’? How does one become a Sherikas?”
“…Your Highness.”
Arthur nudged Valentis with a warning look.
“It just happened somehow.”
“Somehow?!”
“Oh, come on!”
Arthur finally snapped.
“Excuse me!”
At that moment, someone came looking for Sophie. She quickly excused herself to go see the customer.
“You really lack tact,” Arabel scolded Valentis.
“I said stop it.”
“When exactly did it happen, though?”
“Can’t you see Sophie’s upset? She clearly doesn’t want to talk about the past!”
The two ganged up on Valentis. At times like this, they really did feel like siblings.
“Get a clue, Your Highness!”
“Did all your sense get replaced with muscles?”
These little—! Valentis glared at them, but they didn’t flinch.
To Valentis, Sophie was a mystery.
He wanted to know everything about her. Curiosity drove him, but he had a strange feeling that he shouldn’t dig too deep.
“Thanks, the tea was great.”
Kevin smiled and took Sophie’s hand.
“I’ll come back for more next time.”
“Sure.”
Thankfully, Sophie didn’t show any unusual reaction. Apart from being a little surprised at first, she didn’t pay Kevin much attention.
She was calmer than expected. So Valentis decided to let it go without comment.
“It was really great seeing you again, Sophie.”
Then, Kevin suddenly pulled her into a hug. Sophie looked startled, but she patted his back.
“You can always come again, you know.”
“Yeah. I will.”
People in the village and customers turned to watch the scene outside the herbal shop. They seemed very intrigued by the situation.
Some even squealed at Kevin’s romantic behavior. He clearly knew how to use his charm to draw attention.
He was handsome and had a friendly smile.
“I just couldn’t help myself—it’s been so long.”
Kevin kept brushing Sophie’s hand or making casual physical contact. He even draped his large hand over her delicate shoulder, making them look quite close.
“I’m a bit busy,” Sophie said.
“All right. I’ll come next time, then.”
Thankfully, Sophie didn’t respond to any of his gestures. Kevin seemed a little taken aback but backed off.
So Valentis decided to keep pretending not to notice. He tried to let it go.
“You know the Sherikas family? That herbal shop owner’s from there.”
Behind the shop, Kevin was chatting with his companions about Sophie.
Valentis, hidden at a distance, was eavesdropping.
“What? Why would a marquess’s daughter be doing that?”
The Sherikas family was said not to have a daughter—or at least, no one ever mentioned it.
“She’s not really a daughter. She’s an illegitimate child.”
“What? The Marquess of Sherikas did that?”
“I thought he was such a noble man…”
“You never know what someone’s like behind closed doors.”
Who knows? Maybe the shop owner isn’t what she seems either. Kevin snickered.
“Not only is she illegitimate, but she’s just a low-ranked spirit user. Of earth, at that.”
They spoke with contempt about earth spirit users.
Their tone was nothing like the friendly act Kevin had just shown Sophie.
“You saw how cold she was to me, right?”
You never know what she might be doing behind people’s backs. Kevin chuckled.
“She probably did something to make me break up with her, right?”
Maybe Sophie had sensed that personality of his. Valentis believed she was sharp and intelligent.
She was far too good for someone like him.
‘How dare they!’
Valentis clenched his teeth.
Just hearing them mock Sophie made his blood boil.
And imagining how much she must have suffered—his heart ached at the thought.
He never imagined Sophie had gone through something like this.
And yet, these men mocked her past.
Valentis gripped the hilt of his sword, which he rarely drew.
He took a step forward, ready to strike.
“…Wait.”
But someone grabbed his hand—Sophie.
“…It’s okay. You don’t have to step in.”
“…Sophie.”
She had heard everything they said.
“Really, it’s okay. I already knew.”
