TYFGU 39

TYFGU

Posted by Arsiii_here, Released on July 31, 2025

Chapter 39

“Your Grace, the Archduke’s son, I suddenly have a craving for cookies. Would you be willing to share with me?”

“H-Huh?”

Theodore, who had been stammering, broke into a bright smile.

“Of course! I really want to eat it myself, but I’m giving it to you because it’s you, Rayana.”

“Wow, thank you so much.”

Rayana immediately snatched the cookie from Theodore’s hand and popped it into her mouth.

Ugh, sweet.

The taste of the intensely sweet cookie made Rayana’s expression turn haggard.

It tasted exactly like her financial situation—cheap and sugary.

“Since I took your gift, I’ll grant you a wish in return.”

“A w-wish!”

Was it really that exciting?

Theodore stood up abruptly, both hands slamming onto the table.

For a moment, it looked like stars had appeared in his blue, sea-like eyes.

If she’d known he’d be this happy, she would’ve skipped the cookies and offered a wish from the start.

“D-Do I have to say it right now?”

From the way he asked in a panicked voice, it seemed like he might burst into tears if she said yes.

“Take your time. There’s no rush.”

“That’s right. We live together now, after all.”

Heehee, Theodore giggled into his hand, then quickly used both hands to hide his smile when he met Rayana’s gaze.

Rayana burst into quiet laughter at his puppy-like cuteness.

“When you think of a wish, let me know. I’ll be waiting.”

“No take-backs later!”

“Of course, Your Grace.”

“You promise? Really?”

“Yes. Really.”

Even after confirming several times, Theodore still didn’t seem convinced. He only let go of his doubts after she pinky-promised him.

Rayana, watching the child blush and agonize over what wish to make, suddenly felt it would be better to talk now and opened her mouth.

“By the way, Your Grace, you don’t need to worry anymore.”

“Worry?”

Theodore tilted his head.

“About marrying me. The Archduke promised. He said if you didn’t want to, he wouldn’t force you into marriage.”

“…What?”

Theodore’s eyes trembled.

He shook his head slowly, denying it in a barely audible voice.

“Father would never allow that.”

It was no wonder he couldn’t believe it. The Archduke was not a man who went back on his word.

Theodore, his own son, would know that better than anyone.

But the Archduke wasn’t a man who broke promises, either.

Rayana clearly remembered the promise she had secured.

“No, it’s true. He really promised me.”

“No, it’s not!”

Rayana was flustered by the way the child shook his head so vigorously.

“What’s not true? That you’re marrying me?”

At her question, Theodore looked even more wronged.

“No! No!”

He was on the verge of tears. Rayana looked at him with troubled eyes.

When she placed the teary-eyed boy on her lap, he burst into louder sobs.

Rayana felt a headache coming on. Comforting a crying child was one of the hardest tasks in her life.

Theodore, now on her lap, burrowed deeper into her arms.

“That’s not it. I never once thought that.”

Thought what?

She couldn’t bring herself to ask the crying child directly, so she awkwardly patted his head and gently rubbed his back.

As his sobs slowly quieted down, Rayana calmly spoke.

“I thought you’d be relieved. You ran away because you didn’t want to marry me, remember?”

“T-That was… because I thought you’d die if you married me. That’s why I ran away. Not because I hated you!”

So it was because of the demon’s curse—he feared she’d die.

Rayana’s face filled with sorrow.

Back then, it was only their first meeting, yet he’d feared for her death.

Understanding a little more about how Theodore approached people, Rayana felt her heart sink.

“You don’t have to worry about that anymore. I’ll do my best to ensure the demon’s curse doesn’t affect anyone else.”

“Mhm.”

The child snuggled deeper into her embrace.

Feeling the warmth in her arms, Rayana realized it was the perfect time to say something she’d always wanted to.

“Your Grace, I joined the knights as the youngest recruit. I’ve been gifted with the sword since childhood, and I’m physically robust. I’ve never been ill.”

The child’s eyes sparkled in admiration, and Rayana grinned.

“So I won’t die easily. There’s no way someone who’s going to become Valencia would die so easily, right?”

Slowly, Theodore’s delicate eyes turned red.

“…I know.”

“No, you didn’t.”

Rayana chuckled and gently pinched his cheek before letting go.

As he rubbed his cheek with his hand, Rayana’s laughter grew.

This soft, tender child clearly held a special power.

“You told me to become a knight when I said I wanted to, right?”

There were only two people who had sincerely encouraged her to be a knight for her own happiness—the Archduke and Theodore.

Rayana wanted to give happiness back to those two, who felt more like family than her own blood.

“You should do what you want too, Your Grace. Don’t care about what others say. No one else lives your life for you.”

This was the best advice she could offer him.

Theodore, shifting slightly in her arms, tugged on her collar and drew her gaze.

“Then… what about the marriage?”

“You should marry the person you want to marry, Your Grace.”

“Then if I want to break the engagement, I can?”

“Yes.”

There was no way the grown-up Theodore would want to marry someone twelve years older than him.

A breakup was inevitable. She would attend his wedding as a guest and celebrate with a smile.

That was enough.

In the future Rayana imagined, Theodore was smiling happily.

But he tugged on her collar again, snapping her out of her thoughts.

“Okay. Then keep your promise, Rayana.”

The boy’s blue eyes held a mysterious power.

Rayana couldn’t tear her gaze away, as if bound in chains.

“Yes, Your Grace. I’ll keep it.”

Rayana’s response made the boy beam.

The rumor that the First Knights were holding a sparring tournament had drawn a huge crowd to the arena.

Since it was taking place in the official stadium and not the usual training grounds, the public was allowed to attend.

Looking at the packed arena, Elickson expressed concern.

“This might not be a good idea.”

“Then do you have a better one?” Crosiard asked, turning to Elickson.

“A faster way for Rayana to gain recognition as a knight?”

“If something serious happens…”

“Anyone who can’t even handle themselves before a war isn’t worth bringing. Charging blindly is the same as throwing away your life.”

Crosiard’s cold judgment made Elickson murmur in a low voice.

“…There’s no chance.”

He left much unsaid, but Crosiard understood.

“You mean Rayana has no chance of losing? Is my knight order really that weak?”

Crosiard laughed at his own confidence, while Elickson subtly shook his head.

Today, Rayana would taste defeat.

Because of her future father-in-law, the Archduke.

“This is how the matches are set up.”

Elickson handed over the match bracket.

The tournament would proceed in a knockout format. The final winner would receive a year’s salary and a black gem once owned by Crosiard during his crown prince days.

The black gem was the first known petrified monster core, discovered in a rare state and once the talk of the empire.

Under the light, it sparkled like a real gemstone, hence the name “black gem.”

Just as it was about to be returned to the national treasury, Crosiard offered it up as a prize, causing more than half the knights to volunteer for the competition—most of them high-ranking.

“We prioritized volunteers.”

As Crosiard scanned the bracket, a familiar name caught his eye.

Elickson—he was participating too.

It was then that Crosiard understood what Elickson had been worried about.

“You should’ve told me if you wanted the gem.”

Elickson avoided his gaze.

Having recently had a child, it made sense that he needed money. With war approaching, he probably wanted to leave something behind for his family.

“I’ll be rooting for your victory.”

Crosiard patted his shoulder, and Elickson looked up at him with a confused expression.

Unlike the bewildered Elickson, Crosiard remained calm.

His face was so composed it looked like he was simply waiting for lunch, which stung Elickson’s pride.

Just then, the knights entered the arena.