Ch.163The Age When Pink Buds Bloom (5)

“Lize, you say? It’s been a long time since I heard that name.”

Irene’s reaction was ordinary. It had been so long since she’d heard that name that even after learning why it came up, she remained indifferent.

Perhaps she should have felt glad instead, since she had never considered Lize a rival in the first place. With a small smile, Irene turned her gaze toward Evan.

“Feeling guilty? I thought you said you only loved me.”

“How could I? It’s just… well, it bothers me a little.”

The name Lize brought back several memories for Evan.

Since he had always known how Lize felt about him, hadn’t he avoided her somewhat after falling for Irene?

Lize had left after he and Irene officially became a couple. It had been nearly ten years since he’d heard her name.

To think that Lize had become a nun, and moreover, that she disliked men.

He never would have imagined that the maid with such a bold personality would become a nun and raise Levi.

But that didn’t create any uncomfortable feelings. He had always thought they would meet again someday.

Evan recalled Levi’s face and let out a small sigh.

#

“Are you okay? I can carry you on my back if you want.”

“This much… is fine!”

Though tempted by Arthur’s offer, Levi chose to walk all the way home. It wasn’t just Arthur beside him;

he was also a bit conscious of Evan’s gaze on him. It seemed friendly yet observant at the same time.

‘Was it that obvious?’

He thought he had hidden it well, but it didn’t matter if he was caught.

After all, he wasn’t planning to approach him all at once, but to slowly open his heart over time.

If he joined the knights and gradually integrated himself… perhaps Evan would acknowledge him too.

“So, where is the church? We don’t have much time.”

“You’ll see it soon. It’s not far from here.”

“Hmm, how do you know the address so well? Did you look it up beforehand?”

“…I wouldn’t do that.”

Irene, who had been grumbling slightly, playfully smiled and nudged Evan’s side.

The two had their arms linked rather than holding hands as usual, and they looked quite close.

The townspeople who recognized their faces couldn’t help but smile at the sight.

It had been so long since Evan had been this flustered. During their honeymoon, he would get embarrassed even when she wore thin nightwear,

but now he had become quite nonchalant, making life half as fun. Determined to tease him thoroughly this time, Irene, who rarely linked arms, clung tightly to Evan.

“Aren’t you curious what Lize will say when she sees you? I’m so curious. I told you to look only at me. Why weren’t you careful enough to prevent this situation?”

“We weren’t even dating back then.”

“But we knew we liked each other.”

“Then you should have confessed first. Making me pine for you… if you keep teasing me, I have my ways too.”

Ways? As Irene smiled and asked him to elaborate, Evan narrowed his eyes and continued.

“I’ll sleep alone in the living room tonight.”

“…What?”

“I’m saying I won’t sleep in bed, but alone on the cold floor.”

“Why, why would you do that? You can sleep with me. The floor is cold, and your face might get paralyzed. You’re joking, right?”

But when Evan just stared at Irene without saying anything, she clicked her tongue softly and nodded, saying she understood.

He wouldn’t even let her joke around. After eight years of marriage, shouldn’t he be more tolerant of such teasing?

As she pouted, he poked her lips with his finger and spoke.

“It will be over soon anyway. We won’t be seeing her face for long; we just need to get one document and leave. So stop teasing. If you continue, I really will sleep alone.”

“Yes, dear, you do whatever you want.”

Silence fell again, and after walking for a while, Levi pointed to the church ahead and looked at Evan.

“This is where I live. Should I call the nun?”

“That would be helpful. Since we need to meet her anyway, should we wait here?”

“Please wait inside, and I’ll bring her!”

Despite being tired from the duel, he came all this way without resting, showing how desperately he wanted to become a knight.

But what should he say? If she had raised him since childhood, she probably raised him like a daughter.

No matter how he thought about it, suddenly appearing and saying he wanted to take the child away wouldn’t look good.

“Like a thief or robber, I suppose.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I mean Levi. It’s quite far from here to the duke’s mansion, so it would be difficult for Levi to commute. This isn’t even the imperial capital. And we can’t always use the gate. So I want to take him with us, but it must be hard to entrust a child you’ve raised since childhood to someone else.”

“…That’s true.”

Irene agreed with his words. If someone asked her to entrust Arthur or Robelia to them, she would rather give up being a duchess.

Since this was a sudden matter without prior notice, it was unlikely that everything would be resolved today.

Wondering how Lize would react, Irene, recalling that she had been quite close with the former maid, gazed intently in the direction Levi had disappeared.

“My lord! I’m back!”

At the sound of Levi’s voice, Evan slowly rose from his seat.

The woman in nun’s attire standing beside Levi had a familiar face.

As their eyes met, Evan carefully moved his lips.

“…Lize—”

“I heard you want to take Levi. May I ask why?”

Her gaze was colder than expected, making Evan smile bitterly and nod. It was an expression he had never seen before.

A look devoid of any affection, reflecting no emotion whatsoever.

Irene stared at Lize for a moment, then shook her head and kept quiet.

There was no need for her to say anything here. They weren’t meeting because of their past connection, but simply to take Levi.

Evan felt the same way, and after glancing briefly at Levi, he slowly began to speak.

“Levi has successfully passed the entrance exam I witnessed at Yuris. While he won’t become a formal knight yet, to remain as a knight apprentice, he needs to train at Yuris. Therefore, Yuris wants to take responsibility for Levi’s well-being, and I’d like to obtain a permit for that.”

“…Is this what Levi wants?”

“It’s what I want, Sister.”

Lize’s expression became subtle as Levi clutched her sleeve.

The look of desperate desire was something Levi had never shown before.

Until now, he had always smiled and said anything was fine, but now he was saying he wanted to do something.

The fact that the object of his desire was Evan made Lize quietly stroke her cheek.

She had long since abandoned her feelings for Evan. She became a nun to let go of her lingering attachment,

and deliberately avoided men because Evan’s face would appear whenever she looked at other men.

She thought raising an abandoned child would help her steady her heart, but in the end, that child too would go to Evan.

It seemed like a cruel twist of fate, but then again, perhaps it wasn’t so bad.

“…If Levi goes there, he will become a knight of Yuris, correct?”

“Yes. After successfully completing apprentice training, he will have a knighting ceremony, just as I did, and officially become a knight.”

“You’re really too much. Now you’re taking my daughter too. Were we enemies in a past life?”

But Lize’s expression wasn’t that dark. She laughed helplessly, then stroked Levi’s head and continued speaking.

“Did you suggest to Levi about becoming a knight this time too, my lord?”

“No, I was because of Arthur…”

“Arthur? The boy you always talked about? But why would the lord… oh.”

Seeing Arthur beside Evan, Lize finally understood why Levi had talked so much about that boy.

Slightly different from Evan but the spitting image of Irene, whom she had once served—a boy who was clearly their child.

For a moment, Lize frowned in disbelief.

“Arthur asked me if I wanted to come to Yuris. He said he would take responsibility so I wouldn’t be bullied for being a commoner.”

“Oh my.”

“…He seems to have inherited that trait too. Though his face resembles my lady.”

As Lize murmured quietly, Levi moved closer to Arthur and watched Lize’s reaction.

He was seriously wondering what to do if she told him not to go.

Seeing Levi like this, Lize could only nod. Though she had raised him since he was a baby,

he wasn’t her child after all. Shouldn’t he make his own life decisions?

“Take him. If Levi wants it, I have no choice but to give my permission.”

“Sister.”

“I’m really fine. You should do what you want to do. You’re already nine years old now.”

Though happy to have received permission, he couldn’t be entirely joyful about the separation.

In Levi’s life without parents, Lize was the only one who had treated him like a child.

He thought he would be overjoyed when he got permission, but that wasn’t the case, so Levi stood beside Arthur and quietly looked at Lize.

Despite Levi’s gaze, Lize silently filled out the paperwork. Writing the name, the church’s designation.

After looking at the now somewhat less familiar emblem of Yuris, she finally wrote Levi’s name at the bottom.

“I just hope I don’t hear that he’s been hurt, crying, or fighting with someone. He has a kind heart, so even if provoked, he’ll probably just endure the bullying.”

“I will… make sure that doesn’t happen. Absolutely.”

“Then take him. I’m overjoyed that Levi seems to have found his calling.”

Lize rose without hesitation and began walking toward her room.

Rather, lingering would only create attachment. It was a chance encounter anyway.

Disappearing like this would be better for Levi.

After walking for a while without looking back, Lize’s steps suddenly halted.

“…Thank you.”

Hearing the voice from behind, she let out a long sigh. If she turned around now, she would surely regret it. Lize clenched her teeth and her fists trembled.

-I met a boy named Arthur at the academy today! He seems like a noble, but he was kind to me too.

-Do you think I could become a knight? I’m… well, a commoner.

-I might become a knight. I’ll come back with good news today!

When he first mentioned meeting Arthur, perhaps she should have told him not to go. But then she pressed her eyes firmly.

Even to herself, it was a pathetic thought. How could she, as an adult, think so selfishly?

But that single word of thanks touched her heart deeply, and Lize, hiding her choked voice, continued walking forward.

“Eat well and live well! I’ll write letters and visit the church sometimes!”

Such words weren’t necessary, but the familiar phrase “eat well and live well” sounded particularly irritating today.

“So, you won’t forget me, right?”

How could she forget? He was the first child she had raised as her own. Lize walked forward without saying anything.

Resisting the urge to cover her ears, she kept walking until she could no longer hear Levi’s voice.

Now his voice was faint, and as Lize finally reached the end of the corridor and stepped toward the stairs.

As she took one step up, when no more voices could be heard, when the church door closed with the sound of bells.

Lize grabbed the stair railing and bit her lip hard.

“…I wished he wouldn’t go. I could have raised him a little longer.”

She felt disappointed, upset, but also happy thinking that Levi would be happy.

Her lips twitched, but her eyes weren’t smiling. With an empty gaze, she looked at the empty void again.

Will he be happy? Probably.

That was enough, allowing Lize to smile with some relief.

Perhaps she had thought of Levi as her daughter. Next time they met, she wanted to hear… the word “mom” a little.