Chapter 37
“It seems like you know more than the other nobles, Teacher.”
“Since I’m not strong and don’t know how to wield a sword, studying was the greatest weapon I could have.”
“Hmm.”
“In that sense, today we’ll study the Ten Basic Laws. You don’t have to know civil or criminal law, but every citizen of the empire should know the basic laws.”
The lesson naturally shifted to legal texts.
Sir Aiden seemed intimidated by the word ‘law’ and struggled when difficult terms came up.
Yet, he didn’t avoid the lesson or get distracted.
He asked again whenever he didn’t understand, and when something didn’t stick easily, he tapped his head trying to memorize it.
“The tenth article is about slaves. Except for serious crimes or justified reasons, the enslavement of free citizens shall not be recognized. And—”
Sir Aiden muttered:
“The freedom of slaves is not recognized either.”
His face instantly darkened. He took a deep breath and wiped his face.
Maybe it’s better to just move on from this clause. It was as if he read my thoughts when he spoke.
“I recently saw a slave caught after trying to escape the market.”
“That must have felt awful.”
“Most people don’t treat slaves as humans. Even though I know that well, it still felt disgusting.”
“…Sir Aiden…”
He ran his hands roughly through his hair in distress.
“Why do some have red blood like me but are slaves while others are nobles? I don’t understand it, even after learning to read and studying. Actually, I understand less. I’m the same as before, but just being recognized as a free man changed how people treat me. Why do I need permission to be myself?”
Having never lived as a slave, I couldn’t offer a proper consolation.
But I think I vaguely understand how he feels.
He did nothing wrong; back then he had family but now he’s alone.
The society he belonged to changed, and so did how people treat him.
Of course, it’s not exactly the same for Sir Aiden and me, but I can relate a little.
My heart aches.
I carefully placed my hand over Sir Aiden’s.
I hoped warmth would pass through our touching hands.
At least I wanted him to know he’s not alone.
Feeling the rough skin, he looked at me with surprise.
Sir Aiden opened his lips, then firmly shut them again.
He just kept closing his eyes tightly, inhaling and exhaling harshly.
After a long moment, having collected his emotions, he suddenly changed the subject.
“Teacher. You seem different these days.”
“Huh? Me? Um…”
“Did something really happen?”
“Yes, something did.”
“What?”
Since he had just honestly revealed his feelings, I felt comfortable confessing too.
“I decided to try counseling.”
“Counseling? What kind? Why counseling?”
“Psychological counseling. Well… I think I have some problems.”
Sir Aiden’s face immediately hardened. His expression became serious as he asked,
“What kind of problems? Are they serious?”
“I sometimes suffer from headaches and nightmares. I don’t know what kind of nightmares exactly, but I think they relate to my lost memories. Oh, I don’t have memories from my childhood.”
Just before collapsing at the inn, I heard a voice calling ‘Uncle.’
I instinctively knew it referred to Lucas Estarion.
Headaches, nightmares, and memories are definitely connected to my uncle.
I felt sure that finding those memories would lessen my pain.
Also, I was angry at the Crown Prince’s words and wanted to prove something to myself.
Above all, no matter what, I want to recover my memories clearly — whether I’m truly Selena Estarion or a fraud’s daughter, and what happened in my childhood.
“I’m trying counseling to find my memories.”
“Memories? Ah, I see.”
For a brief moment, a complicated expression flashed on Sir Aiden’s face and then disappeared.
That expression was…
Why does he seem afraid?
Worry, sympathy… many words came to mind, but the clearest emotion was fear.
I didn’t understand his reaction.
“If you’re worried it might interfere with your studies—”
“You’ll do well, Teacher.”
“Ah…”
“Do your best. I’ll support you.”
“Um…”
Having been abandoned even by family, I thought no one would support me anymore.
So hearing those words stirred my heart.
Don’t cry.
Instead of tears, I smiled faintly.
I didn’t know being supported could feel so good… It felt nice to have someone on my side.
“Thank you.”
“Oh, yeah. Well, okay.”
This time Sir Aiden was flustered.
For a brief moment, curious, he pulled his hand away and suddenly stood up.
“Well… let’s end today’s lesson here. I have to go.”
Sir Aiden hurriedly left the room. The back of his neck was flushed red.
“Why is he acting like that…”
Then I noticed the book Sir Aiden left behind.
Remembering the doodles he tried to hide, I opened it.
The spilled ink earlier served as a bookmark, so I found the page quickly.
There was a small drawing in the corner — it looked like a person, but the ink was smeared and hard to tell.
However, the name below it was clearly preserved.
[Selena]
I couldn’t help but laugh quietly at the tiny doodle.
I happily closed Sir Aiden’s book.
“I’m going crazy.”
Blushing, Aiden fanned his flushed cheeks.
Then, cautiously, he rubbed the back of the hand Selena had touched.
The smooth sensation on his hand lingered like an afterimage.
When he closed his eyes, Selena’s bright smile appeared vividly beneath his eyelids.
Seeing her smile after only usually seeing his weary face made his chest sting painfully.
Her delicately folded eyes, neat teeth, lovely smile… the heat inside grew worse, as if his face might burst.
Why do you smile like that…
But it’s not that he disliked Selena’s smile.
He just didn’t like himself blushing from being unaccustomed to her bright smile.
At that moment, the servant Jackson was passing by nearby.
“Jackson.”
Jackson looked over as Aiden asked,
“Think carefully about my offer.”
“As I said before, I’m just a servant.”
“You were a great servant.”
“There are many great people besides me.”
“I don’t need a great person.”
He continued with a cynical tone.
“If you ask for money, I’ll give it. If you want respect, you’ll get it. Just teach me the basics. Only the basics. That’s all I need.”
Who would have known? The servant Jackson was actually a retired knight.
If it weren’t for that arrogant Peterson kid, I would have passed without realizing.
The night before the Crown Prince’s visit, Aiden couldn’t sleep and took a night walk.
There, under a tree, he found Peterson and Jackson talking.
“I didn’t think you’d live as a servant. Doesn’t that hurt your pride?”
“What does a job matter? I just want to survive.”
“It’s because you work under a slave, that’s why.”
“I’m not a slave, I’m Duke Calypso. Don’t call a war hero a slave. Do you think war is a joke?”
“No, I don’t mean that… anyway, did you know the military trainers who came after you were all useless?”
“Is that so?”
Jackson asked indifferently as Peterson’s voice became heated.
“That’s right. If you hadn’t stolen from the royal warehouse, things wouldn’t have gotten this bad!”
“What do you want?”
Jackson asked, and Peterson cleared his throat nervously.
“Ahem. Um. I want to make an external contract.”
“Excuse me?”
“I want you to work as an external instructor for six months or a year to train soldiers. It’s better than living as a servant, right?”
“What do you take me for? You kicked me out but now need me? An external contract instructor?”
“Then what about the soldier who stole the emperor’s pain potion? The Crown Prince can’t accept that, can he?”
“Hey, Peterson Dalton!”
Jackson shouted, startling Peterson and signaling him to keep quiet. But Jackson kept speaking.
“I know you’re the Crown Prince’s attendant and a powerful noble, but that doesn’t give you the right to treat me badly! Though I’m common-born, I’ve risen to a royal military trainer through skill, serving for 20 years!”
“You, you…”
“An external contract? Ha! Ridiculous! What country hires military experts like that? One more time and I’ll snap your stiff neck with my hands!”
Without taking a breath, Jackson fired off his words, then pushed Peterson’s chest and left.
Aiden, hidden in the darkness, watched with shining eyes.
After the Crown Prince’s inspection ended, Aiden proposed to Jackson.
He promised to do anything if Jackson would be his swordsmanship teacher.
Jackson asked,
“You already have battlefield skills. Why learn from me? Why want to learn at all?”
“My tutor Selena says studying is fun.”
“Huh?”
Remembering Selena, Aiden’s fierce eyes softened and he continued.
“Even among nobles, knowledge is power. To be as smart as Teacher, it would take me another ten years, but I can’t spend that long reading books. Even if I try hard, I don’t think I’ll be like Teacher.”
“…”
“I was reckless, swinging my sword just to survive. My sword has problems. I want to correct that and improve where I can.”
“You can leave that to other experts.”
“Jackson, wouldn’t you rather do something better than live as a servant under a naked slave? I need your skill.”
I thought about persuading him more, but decided to end the conversation.
He wouldn’t like me begging him with long explanations.
“Then I expect your answer within three days.”
Aiden left the decision to Jackson and walked away.
Jackson was left alone, troubled in thought.
