Ch.129EP.32 – The Knight is Enhancing (2)

*Rustle.*

Ihan was sitting in the wooden gazebo he had built, reading a newspaper.

Occasionally he would sip the lemonade Leira had made, or…

“Here, have some.”

“…I can eat it myself.”

“Whaaaat?”

“…I’ll just eat it.”

Unable to resist her innocent gaze, he accepted the lemon tart from her.

Being fed by a woman was a luxury he’d never experienced before—he wondered if he deserved such good fortune.

Still.

‘…It’s delicious.’

Was it his imagination that it tasted better than any tart he’d ever eaten?

“Would you like some more?”

“Yes…”

It was a temptation too difficult to refuse, and Ihan indulged in this untimely luxury as he accepted another tart.

Even so, he didn’t take his eyes off the newspaper.

‘…Things are developing interestingly.’

Though unintentional, he was one of the few people closely involved in the events unfolding in the kingdom.

As such, he knew how most of the kingdom’s turmoil and topics of interest had come about.

For example…

*Rustle.*

“…That golden boy looks good in photos.”

[Today it was revealed that Aren Pendragon, Captain of the First Order of the Silver Lion, personally mobilized both the First and Second Orders to capture escaped prisoners from the tunnels. This is being praised as a noble and great action befitting royalty. Meanwhile, the Noble Council is facing criticism from citizens for making absurd claims that he is ‘abusing his authority.’ The Guild Council has expressed its displeasure with the Noble Council, seizing this opportunity. In this situation—.]

The prince’s photo occupied the entire front page of the newspaper.

Using his authority as captain to mobilize the First and Second Orders was certainly drawing significant attention.

“Hmm, will he do well?”

Honestly, he didn’t have much faith.

Ihan’s principle was that once a troublemaker, always a troublemaker, and anyone could talk big.

What mattered were actions and results.

In that sense…

‘If he produces results, I’ll reduce my scolding from twice to once, I suppose.’

He limited his expectations to just a slight sense of anticipation.

*Rustle.*

As he turned the pages, he found news about people he knew or whose circumstances he was somewhat familiar with.

To summarize the most notable ones:

‘The owner of the salon leading new trends in the royal capital is the young lord of Lionel?!’ or ‘Has the Mercenary King decided on a successor?’ or ‘Is the lady of House Guinevere in love?!’ and so on.

Somehow, he knew all these people.

And then…

[Amid speculation that the Imperial Tower’s heir and the Sultan are visiting to meet Galahad’s adopted daughter, the whereabouts of the subject of everyone’s attention remains unknown, leaving people watching to see what stance the royal family and Galahad will take. The focus of attention, Irene Windler, Galahad’s adopted daughter, is being hailed as the sacred figure of the magical world despite her young age.]

…Even the neighboring chick who was muttering to herself while nibbling on tarts—the one being revered as the sacred figure of the magical world.

“Tch, I could feed her too, I could feed her well, I’m really confident I could…”

“……”

Hmm… These big shots are flocking here to see that kid?

*Inhale!*

‘Do these guys have nothing better to do?’

Ihan began to see the Tower Master’s heir and the Sultan as rich, idle good-for-nothings.

Utterly pathetic.

* * *

Was it a coincidence, or was it because he had been away from home for so long?

*Clatter.*

“Master!”

Judging by the succession of unfamiliar faces visiting, Ihan personally felt his home becoming increasingly lively.

*Ring ring!*

A woman riding a bicycle that looked like it belonged in a classic French film—distinctively antique yet modest—called out to him energetically.

She was refreshing yet somehow sorrowful, but her purity stood out in a way that would make anyone walking down the street turn to look and feel affection.

Like everyone’s first love from school days, she wore a straw hat that matched her well, a white dress, sandals, and carried a picnic basket—a scene straight out of a photo spread that would make anyone gasp in admiration.

“…Looks like a photo shoot.”

As if thinking the same thing, the possessed chick sitting right next to him muttered to herself.

Indeed, with her blue hair reminiscent of hydrangeas flowing in the wind as she rode her bicycle, it did evoke a scene from a movie…

While he agreed with that assessment, one thing was absurd:

‘Does she even intend to hide her identity, or not?’

Looking at her, she seemed even less inclined to hide her identity than Taechang.

Or maybe she was just honestly naive or clumsy.

‘…Maybe all three?’

As Ihan shrugged his shoulders, the woman had already reached the entrance and came running toward him.

Like a loyal dog welcoming its owner after a long absence.

“Haa, haaa! H-have you been well, Master-!”

“First, catch your breath, Gom-soon.”

“What? I-I’m fine, haa, haaa…!”

“…You don’t look fine at all, so.”

Gom-soon, no, Levi seemed to have urgently cycled all the way from the marquis’s estate to here.

Upon hearing the news of his return…

“Did you cycle all the way here dressed like that?”

With difficulty.

Swallowing those words and expressing his concern, she…

“Ah!”

Realized her lady-like(?) appearance and covered her mouth.

“S-sorry, I-I must look terrible? I-I just got a day off from His Excellency today and was thinking of going on a picnic alone. I-I’m not used to staying still…”

“I see.”

“T-these clothes aren’t something I prepared myself! T-the maids prepared them, and I-I couldn’t go without wearing them…”

“Right.”

“…Master?”

“Right.”

“??”

“…I’m sorry. I must be getting old.”

“Pardon?”

“*Sigh*, menopause maybe…?”

Was it age that made him more tearful?

Ihan felt something welling up inside as he listened to his disciple’s chatter.

From their first meeting, he remembered a girl who was always intimidated, visibly anxious, and struggling desperately for others’ approval.

But now…

‘The kid’s developed some composure.’

Her complexion radiated vitality.

Her eyes were bright, and her clothes were neat.

Evidence of good care, and proof that the marquis was keeping his promise.

It was touching.

Like witnessing a swan who didn’t know how to use its wings suddenly realize it had them and could flap them powerfully, beginning to soar.

And for the person who had worked to help those wings unfold…

‘It was worth the effort.’

…It was bound to be overwhelming.

Ihan wept inwardly with joy at his disciple’s positive transformation.

…It was summer.

* * *

Though there was an awkward atmosphere as he tried to suppress his earlier surge of emotion, Levi soon began chirping like a lark, telling him about everything that had happened.

As if boasting.

“Recently, I’ve been learning archery from His Excellency. Since I’ve received the Tristan name, even if it’s just formal, he said it would be good for me to handle a bow as a basic skill. I’m working hard to master it.”

“T-thankfully I received the Tristan surname, but it’s not official yet. I think I’ll be formally granted the name at an official banquet in a few days. W-would you be willing to come as my partner then, Master?”

“Ah! Right. Please try this panini. I-I made it myself.”

Ihan listened to every word his disciple said without missing anything.

Offering advice where he could, saying no when necessary, and expressing gratitude when appropriate.

“And also…!”

She seemed to have so much to say that there was no sign of it ending even after an hour, but Ihan didn’t mind.

Rather, seeing her so free made him happy and filled him with warmth.

He wondered if this was the kind of pride one felt when looking at a much younger sister.

After listening to his disciple for a while…

“Um, Levi…”

“Huh? Lady Irene? How long have you been here?”

“…So I was invisible to you, huh? They say late-learned thievery is the most dangerous!”

“I-I’m sorry…! I-it’s not that I was ignoring Lady Irene, j-just somehow…”

“…It’s fine, I understand how you feel, you’re at that exciting stage.”

“……”

The sulky chick pecked sharply at the innocent bear cub, who hung her head in distress, unable to settle down.

What was this?

‘Why are these kids having this argument with an old man right here?’

Go find some handsome young men for this, kids!

Ihan hadn’t wasted his years.

He knew that both of them were showing him affection mixed with admiration, longing, or various other emotions.

But to Ihan, it looked like nothing more than playing with fire.

The rashness of youth that comes from being young.

Just that, and when they matured more, they would be embarrassed about this period, wondering why they ever liked an old man like him, making tearful faces…

‘*Sigh*, it’s a bit sad to make such an assessment of myself.’

But Ihan didn’t change his thinking.

His view of the world was too clouded to see things optimistically.

Therefore, he had no faith or hope that someone’s affection would last forever, and the goodwill these two showed seemed like lotus flowers that bloom briefly in summer before quickly withering.

It couldn’t be anything but a fleeting emotion that would dry up and disappear one day…

“—I think the knight will always be cool. And a cool man is always loved, even as time passes. In that sense, those ladies have an eye for recognizing a cool man.”

“……”

“Hehe, just saying.”

“H-have you learned mind reading?”

“No, it’s just that your expressions are easy to read!”

“…I’ve heard that line somewhere before.”

Somehow, both the princess and the maid claimed they hadn’t learned mind reading, but it certainly seemed like they had.

Ihan let out a hollow laugh and…

“Do you think my thoughts are too shallow?”

Since his thoughts had been exposed anyway, he asked directly, and Leira…

“Hmm, I think it’s more that you’re underestimating yourself. You’re plenty cool.”

“……”

“I hope someday you’ll love yourself more than you do now. You’re someone who deserves to be proud of yourself.”

“…You always overestimate me, miss.”

“I’m just stating things as they are?”

“……”

“Hehe, you’re embarrassed!”

“…Just give me more to drink.”

“Okaaay!”

…Ihan lowered his head as he faced her smile.

A sudden thought occurred to him.

‘No matter how strong I become, I don’t think I could ever win against this person…’

He instinctively felt he could never defeat a woman who offered such dazzlingly pure affection and goodwill.

…However.

‘I don’t think I’d mind losing.’

Rather, he wanted to lose—was that strange of him?

The man quietly resolved to never be a shy man in front of this person, if no one else.

“—Somehow, I feel like we picked the wrong day to visit.”

“Y-yes, indeed.”

The black-haired young man rarely scratched his head.

He had come to pay his respects, but it seemed…

‘…I was being insensitive.’

The returner awkwardly lingered in front of the fence, and it was only a moment later that the knight, who had noticed his presence earlier, came to fetch him.