episode_0007

Luna’s parents sent a letter to the Iris Duke.

The content was naturally about wanting to discuss the engagement, and it didn’t take long for a reply to come back.

One week.

It was a very short time compared to the immense distance between the two dukes.

It would take about a month by carriage, but using the madogu that connected each major city made the distance almost meaningless.

Of course, as the time shortened, the financial burden skyrocketed, but both families were not just any dukes in the empire.

If one could buy time with money, it was a privilege to give as much as needed.

Anyway, yes.

The arrived response was positive, and it stated that they would visit in a week.

One week.

The time it took to send a letter and receive a reply.

And the time left for me to meet Luna in the future.

Thinking about the days that have passed, it seems like time will flow very quickly.

I was really busy without a moment to spare.

I closed my eyes, and when I opened them, it was morning, and the sun had already moved on.

“I can finally meet her.”

I’m looking forward to it.

I don’t know you well at this time.

That’s why I want to see you even more.

What would you be like now?

* * * * *

It was no different from any other morning.

To be precise, it should be called dawn.

The darkness of the night still lingered in the sky.

Knock-.

I heard a knock before I could fully wake up, but this was also a familiar occurrence, so I got up from bed and said,

“Come in.”

With permission granted, the door opened silently.

Melina came in carrying a glass of water and a basin of water.

After placing what she was holding on the table, she politely bowed her head.

“Are you coughing, sir?”

“Yes, good morning.”

Since starting early in the morning, Melina began to come to me at my waking time.

Of course, there was no need for that.

As a personal attendant, it was natural to serve the master, but it was too early for that.

So far, I must have gone through all the hardships of serving a foolish master, but I couldn’t make her life any harder, let alone treat her better. However, she was extremely insistent. She even said it was an honor to be able to serve like this. So, I just let her do as she pleased, leaving room for her to speak up if things got tough. Anyway, I shook off the morning drowsiness with what Melina had prepared. After drinking water and lightly washing my face, I felt refreshed. When I came out to run, familiar faces were stretching outside. About 20 people wearing comfortable clothes, the knights of Duke David. As they guard the castle, their numbers aren’t that large. The knight commander who spotted me approached, stretching his body. His face, now younger than before, was becoming familiar. “You’re three minutes late, my lord.” “Maybe your watch is three minutes fast.” I confidently replied and started stretching beside them. I did say it as a joke, implying ‘what are you going to do if I’m late’, but of course, it was just a joke. The knights seemed to know that and chuckled. I didn’t feel too bad since dawn. After warming up, we started running along the outer wall of the castle. We decided to run at our own comfortable pace without necessarily keeping in step, but everyone seemed reluctant to go ahead of me and stuck behind. With a relaxed air, the knight commander smiled and approached me. “I never knew there would come a day when I exercise with you, my lord.” “I didn’t know you guys would come out and run with me either.” It was the day after I started running. As the knights began to join one by one, soon all the personnel guarding the castle participated in the morning jog. I didn’t particularly dislike it. Rather, it was something to welcome. It was more motivating to run with others than alone. Even when I felt like giving up, hearing voices cheering me on made me push a little harder. And thanks to that, now I’ve become somewhat conversational with the knights.

It felt incredibly reassuring to have someone on my side.

This made me realize once again.

In the end, it was my fault, and I had just been turning a blind eye to it.

After running for quite a while, the knights and I finished our morning exercise when we were almost out of breath.

I couldn’t believe how they managed to endure so much, almost stumbling several times during the run. I couldn’t bring myself to give up due to pride.

Well, that’s probably because they serve under my father.

Anyway, that concludes the morning routine.

From now on, a somewhat special day is about to begin.

Today is the day I meet Luna.

After quickly finishing my shower and returning to my room, Melina came to find me not long after.

She entered the room carrying a sandwich and some peculiar items.

“What’s that?”

“I heard today is a special day. So, I thought of preparing this for you, but if you don’t need it…”

“Do it.”

A special day and preparations.

Melina seemed to be trying to dress me up, wanting to look a bit better for Luna, so I decided to accept it.

I tried to recall if she had been this kind even during my foolish days, but nothing particularly memorable came to mind.

This too was all a result of my change.

“When you finish the sandwich, we’ll get started.”

After finishing the sandwich, I sat down, and Melina began to groom me using various tools.

Should a maid know how to do this?

It might be a surprisingly demanding job.

I wondered how much time had passed.

“Done. So, how does it look…?”

Melina asked nervously.

I looked at the mirror in front of me.

“Oh…?”

Even as someone unfamiliar with dressing up, I looked quite good.

The neatly arranged bangs made my impression appear brighter, and the calm skin tone softened my fierce face considerably.

There was nothing more to ask for.

I hope Luna likes it too.

“I like it. Thank you.”

“Phew… I’m relieved.”

Melina seemed to have been quite nervous.

After that, I had breakfast with my parents.

My mother smiled contentedly and spoke.

“Are you nervous?”

“Yes, a little… I’m nervous.”

The visit from the aristocrats, including Luna, was for lunch.

However, her heart had been pounding since earlier.

She thought she wouldn’t be able to eat properly because of it…

But her body, which had started to improve its appetite through rigorous training, demanded that she inhale the food as soon as it touched her tongue.

So, she ate well.

Even the dessert was neatly finished.

After finishing the meal, the servants seemed noticeably busier.

It was the aristocrats from one of the only eight families in the empire who had come.

Moreover, it was for the consultation of their only son.

There was a grateful heart not to appear even slightly displeased, and it was also a matter of the servants’ pride.

“This is driving me crazy.”

As time passed and lunch approached, her heart throbbed heavily.

To the extent that she couldn’t calm down and was moving around.

What’s the big deal about meeting Luna?

Didn’t they even get married once?

They even slept in the same room.

“Well, we just slept.”

Anyway, it’s no big deal.

She tried to hypnotize herself like that, but it had no effect at all.

Meeting Luna is a big deal.

And it’s even their first meeting.

This is a very significant event in her life.

If she makes a mistake today and earns her resentment, she’ll bite her tongue and commit suicide.

Then it happened.

Finally, the expected news came.

“Young master, the Iris family has arrived.”

“Okay, I’ll go down right away.”

He answered nonchalantly, but his heart was beating like crazy, unlike anything before.

I rushed out of the room.

At first, my steps were slow, as if trying to maintain the dignity of the nobility, but they gradually accelerated and soon reached the level of running.

You, who liked morning glories.

You, who enjoyed walking in the garden.

You, who worried about me.

You cried when I was dying.

Turning back time.

Today, we meet again.

When we arrived at the entrance of the mansion, my father and mother were there without my noticing.

Both of them looked tense.

Mother thought it might happen, but it was unexpected that Father was nervous.

Maybe it’s because it’s our son’s first consultation.

As I turned my gaze away from my parents, I saw a carriage coming from the far end of the castle entrance.

It was a luxurious carriage that exuded elegance at first sight.

Luna must be riding inside.

What should I say first?

“You are beautiful?” “Nice to meet you?” Or should I introduce myself first?

My head is spinning.

I couldn’t calm down at all.

Even as I was in such confusion, the carriage continued without stopping and soon slowed down in front of the mansion before coming to a gradual stop.

Eventually, the carriage door opened.

Creak-.

The muffled sound of high heels echoed loudly.

Gradually, my world was dyed in black and white.

Except for one person.