TYFGU 38

Chapter 38

Rayana changed clothes in preparation for an early leave.

She peeled off her training gear and slipped into the crisp, clean uniform of the knighthood, tying her tousled hair back into a neat braid. This was the women’s changing room—hastily constructed after her induction into the Order.

There had been much gossip and protest, calling it “special treatment,” but Rayana, uninterested in rumors or the opinions of others, had paid it no mind.

“I feel like I’ve improved a little…”

She tilted her head thoughtfully, though she couldn’t say with certainty. Her bout with Revil had been too brief.

Had they exchanged more strikes, she might have confirmed it.

Suppressing her frustration, Rayana clenched her hand into a tight fist.

Before heading home, she stopped by the shopping district near the main road.

Although she received a monthly allowance from the Grand Duchy, the sum was so large that she couldn’t bring herself to touch it. As a result, her personal funds were still meager. After a moment’s hesitation, Rayana stepped into a rather modest-looking shop. A clear chime rang as she entered.

“Welcome! This is Blanc’s!”

Rayana remembered her promise to Theodore.

She had told him she would bring a gift after work.

Figuring sweets would be the best choice for a child, she’d chosen a dessert shop.

The shelves were filled with cookies crusted with nuts, chocolates, and brightly wrapped candies.

They looked so sweet her tongue felt numb just looking at them.

“What’s your most popular treat?”

“Oh my, is it for a gift?”

“Yes.”

“And how old is the lucky recipient?”

“He’s seven.”

The shopkeeper beamed—perhaps the boy was even younger than expected.

She’d found the perfect customer.

“At that age, they like just about anything! Our best-seller is the chocolate chip butter cookie. But if he likes tea, we also have a tea-flavored chocolate that’s quite popular.”

“I’ll take the chocolate chip butter cookies.”

At Rayana’s answer, the shopkeeper smiled proudly and began wrapping the cookies with care.

As she tied the ribbon, her eyes landed on Rayana’s uniform.

“Is it true? That there’s going to be a war soon?”

The war wasn’t a rumor anymore. News of its imminent outbreak had already spread through the capital by that morning’s papers.

Rayana nodded, and the shopkeeper gasped.

“Isn’t that dangerous?!”

“It won’t happen on the mainland, so there’s no need to worry too much.”

“Oh… well, that’s a bit of a relief.”

The shopkeeper sighed with visible relief and offered a warm smile.

“We’re going to win, right?”

A fresh edition of the morning newspaper lay on a nearby table.

On the continent of Ascalive, the Astell Empire occupied nearly half of the land. To the side lay Gelta, home to gold mines, and Griffon, blessed with vast underground waterways.

The cooperation of these three nations had once been essential. But after ten years of famine—aggravated by magical beasts contaminating Griffon’s lands—Griffon’s economy had collapsed.

In accordance with a treaty, both Astell and Gelta had sent knights and supplies to aid in monster-hunting efforts, but it hadn’t been enough.

Griffon began demanding more troops and funding. Gelta, the nation farthest from the monster-infested region, refused.

And so war broke out.

That war ended quickly—laughably so. Griffon, battered by a decade of famine, suffered a crushing defeat and was absorbed by Gelta.

But Gelta’s ambition didn’t end there.

Now nearly equal in size to the mighty Astell Empire, Gelta aimed for complete domination.

They launched a ruthless campaign of conquest, using dark tactics. Gelta unleashed magical beasts from Griffon’s territory to attack Astell.

Griffon was lost, reduced to scorched earth under monster claws.

Caught between Gelta and the ravaged Griffon, Astell had no choice but to fight on two fronts. For years they battled both monsters and soldiers.

It was during this “Monster War” that the Grand Duke rose to prominence, celebrated as a hero.

“But wasn’t the war over?” the shopkeeper asked, recalling past headlines. “Didn’t the Duke of Valencia’s intervention bring victory?”

Rayana shook her head.

Calling it a victory was generous. It had taken Astell five years just to rebuild its forces, so great was the damage.

Meanwhile, Gelta had suffered little. Though they lost the Griffon territory they’d stolen, their military remained largely intact.

The Duke of Valencia, having fought them firsthand, believed the brutal king of Gelta would stop at nothing to reclaim the lost land.

Thus, Astell acted preemptively.

Rather than wait to be invaded again, the Emperor chose to strike first.

“This time, too, we’ll win. Astell doesn’t lose.”

It wasn’t just empty reassurance to calm the shopkeeper.

With the Grand Duke—known as the undying warrior—on their side, victory felt inevitable.

And more than that…

Rayana glanced at her left arm, rubbing it gently with her other hand.

There was a devil bound to her—one that had never let Astell lose.

With such a presence on her side, how could she fear defeat?

The shopkeeper, encouraged by her confidence, smiled broadly.

“You’ll be going to the front lines as well, knight?”

“Of course.”

The shopkeeper crossed herself.

“May the blessings of the gods be with you.”

Could someone like her, bound to a devil, really receive such holy grace?

Rayana felt a twinge of fear. If devils existed, gods surely did too—and might not look kindly on her.

“Take care.”

As she paid and left, the shopkeeper called after her brightly.

“Come again! Promise you will!”

When Rayana arrived at the mansion, she headed straight for Theodore.

As she stepped off the carriage and looked up at his window, she saw her young fiancé clinging to the frame, peering down at her. Their eyes met instantly.

He must’ve waited for her all day.

“Your Grace, did you wait long?”

“If you took any longer, I was going to come find you myself!”

Theodore clung dramatically to the hem of her uniform.

Rayana found him so endearing that she reached out and ruffled his hair.

“Here’s the gift I promised.”

“A present!”

With a bright smile, the boy carefully peeled away the wrapping.

Curious, Rayana asked why he was being so delicate.

“I’m going to keep it.”

“The wrapping paper?”

“Mm-hmm.”

It was just an ordinary paper wrapper.

She chuckled and said, “All right, all right, whatever you wish.”

But as he reached into the bag, Theodore’s expression grew complicated.

“Co…okies?”

“Yes. Those are apparently the most popular ones.”

He didn’t look particularly thrilled.

Then again, they weren’t fancy cookies, nor were they made by a renowned patissier.

Rayana recalled that the Grand Duchy’s chef hailed from the imperial palace. It made sense that Theodore’s palate might not be impressed.

“I suppose I wasn’t thoughtful enough. Hand it back—I’ll get you something else.”

“N-No! I-It’s just that these are my favorite cookies…!”

He hastily hid them behind his back, as if afraid she might snatch them away.

Then he sputtered nervously,

“I-I swear! I love cookies!!”

“Really? You don’t look very happy to see them.”

“You’re imagining it!”

Theodore began bouncing in place, practically yelling.

“I’m going to eat them now! So don’t bother me!”

“…Very well.”

Her curiosity, which had begun to fade, flared back up again.

She understood the instinct to protect a gift—but Theodore’s over-the-top reaction made her want to tease him.

“…They look delicious.”

The boy sat at the table and removed a cookie from the box.

Despite how frantically he had opened it, his fingers were oddly delicate as they broke off a piece.

So delicate that all he had in his hand now were crumbs.

“I-I’m going to eat it now.”

Standing in her line of sight, Theodore squeezed his eyes shut and brought the cookie fragments to his lips.

She watched as his complexion instantly paled.

How could someone’s face change so drastically after such a small bite?

That day, Rayana learned two things.

One: Theodore absolutely hated sweets.

And two: he was willing to endure even that—for her.

As he reached for another piece, his face drained of all color, she gently stopped him.