episode_0096

Zeros has finished preparing to leave for the academy.

He was moving towards the carriage waiting in the garden, carrying his luggage in one hand and Katlena’s in the other.

‘It’s already been 5 years. It’s been so long since I came to this world..’

Although his physical age is only that of a 14-year-old boy, in real age he is starting to look like he is in his 30s.

In that respect, Zeros felt a bit bitter, but also fortunate.

Unlike back then when he had just spent his time without accomplishing anything, he had achieved quite a few goals despite being only 14 years old.

Zeros was appointed as the official butler of the Duke’s household in recognition of his achievements.

Although his job was still to stay by Katlena’s side and assist her, his authority and position within the Sophia Castle were now almost at the level of a senior officer.

And one more thing. What he got was not only a title within the ducal family.

Training with Elios over the past three and a half years.

As a result, Zeros’ current fighting power had grown to the level of a mid-level magician, and he had mastered most of the basic magic.

‘Although we haven’t reached the level of developing our own magic yet… if this trend continues, we should be able to achieve that within a few years.’

With this, Zeros succeeded in securing at least a certain level of strength.

Of course, fighting top-tier powerhouses would be impossible, but at least it would be a completely different position from when he was busy running away in emergency situations such as raiding an auction house.

however..

At this moment, what Zeros treasured most was neither his authority as a butler nor his power as a mid-level magician that he had so hard acquired.

‘Although I’ve accomplished many things, the most important thing is my relationship with that person, Katlena.’

She was the first person to reach out to him after he came to this world, and has shown him unchanging affection ever since.

Which made him regret his actions of initially trying to push her away just to survive.

And at this very moment. That person, who is more precious than life to him, who he loves more than anyone else in the world.

The relationship with Katlena, who is both his master and his lover.

That was what Zeros thought was the most precious thing to him right now, something that could not be exchanged for anything else.

‘And now. Katlena and I are both old enough. To the point where we can think about a deeper relationship, not just a childish one.’

In this world, depending on the circumstances, there were cases where marriage occurred as early as around the age of 14.

In that respect, it’s quite natural for Katlena and Zeros to consider a more serious relationship than they have now.

Of course, considering the gap in social status and other factors, there were still many hurdles to overcome, and it was still necessary to be cautious when thinking about Katlena’s fiancée, who might appear at any moment.

‘You never know when a person’s heart will change. Of course, if Katlena had been a little more mature, then we wouldn’t have had to worry so much about that.’

Katlena is currently 14 years old.

It could literally be called a stormy adolescence, and in that sense, it was a time when one could easily be swayed by small things and even lose one’s heart.

Even if she had always shown affection for Zeros, she might change her mind the moment she saw her fiancé appearing before her eyes.

‘Decisively. Strictly speaking, the two of us are just friends, not officially in a romantic relationship, so for now. We need to give Katlena a chance to make up her mind.’

While thinking about that, Zeros arrived near the entrance.

At that moment, a familiar face suddenly appeared in his eyes.

“Hello, Zeros.”

“Yes, it’s been a while.”

A woman bowing politely as she looks at herself.

Zeros accepted this with a slight smile.

Arachne Sacrifice.

Elios’ secretary, and a person who became somewhat acquainted with Zeros due to the orphanage incident.

Although, unlike Zeros, she did not become an academy student, she accompanied Elios, who was recently appointed as a director of the academy, as his secretary.

In other words, it means that while others are still students, they are already employed as full-time employees and living in society.

From that perspective, Zeros felt a little envious of her, and spoke to her with a calm smile, as if he were talking to a colleague who worked in the same place.

“Well, the method is a little different, but this way we can live in the same space during the semester. I look forward to working with you in the future.”

Since they had some kind of connection as servants serving the same master during the vacation period, Zeros reached out to her with a friendly feeling.

“Yes.. Me too.”

Arachne held Zeros’ hand as she said that, with a slightly reminded expression on her face and a smile on her lips.

Zeros slowly shook his arm and shook her hand, looking at the familiar smile she always wore whenever she met him.

at that time..

“Zeros.”

“… .”

“Ah, Lady Katlena.”

Zero lets go of Arachne’s hand when he hears a voice from the side.

Then, in front of him, he saw his master smiling while looking at him.

“Thanks for bringing it here. Could you please load my luggage right now? As you know, it’s a little late now.”

“Ah.. yes. I understand, Katlena.”

Katlena speaking in an affectionate voice.

Then, Zeros left Arachne behind and walked towards the carriage with some haste.

*

“… ”

Immediately after Zeros left, Katlena’s gaze slowly moved towards the person who was looking at her with a slight chill.

“.. It’s been a while, Katlena.”

“Hehehe. Yes. It’s really been a long time. Arachne.”

A woman bowing politely to herself in front of her eyes.

Catlena began to feel a slight sense of sensitivity as she gazed upon Arachne’s appearance.

‘Has it been almost a year since I’ve seen your face properly? You seem to have gotten prettier than I thought. Your body has also become more solid than mine..’

Katlena has a gentle smile on her face, but inside she is analyzing her opponent with a cold gaze.

Although their goals and positions were different, Katlena was feeling a bit uneasy at this moment as she looked at Arachne, who was now heading to the academy with her.

‘I thought the troublemaker would disappear after the annoying princess graduated from the academy for a while… but is this how a new one appears?’

Princess Maeb, whose interest in Zeros had grown significantly since Benessa’s auction.

But that situation only lasted for a short while, as she soon entered her senior year preparing for graduation, she had no time to care about Zeros or anything else, and as a result, there was no clear connection between the two.

In addition, Princess Maeb ended up leaving the academy more easily than expected due to graduation coming up shortly after.

Compared to how tense she had been, the target of her guard had disappeared relatively easily, and Katlena had been smoothly continuing the chain of emotions with Zeros for the past three years.

In a situation where the mood is right, they naturally hug and kiss each other.

However, even so, at this point, there was still an element of anxiety that could not be ignored in Katlena’s mind.

If the two people are of average adult age..

No, maybe if she had started when she was 14, the minimum age for marriage, and had continued for this long, she wouldn’t have had to worry at all.

however..

The two people are now just 14 years old.

In this period when the body and mind change rapidly, Katlena knew very well that all the emotions she had accumulated so far could change in an instant with a small trigger.

‘I was like that too. Because of a very small reason, I foolishly… lost my mother.’

An act of emotion that left me with only regrets of never committing it again.

From that point on, Katlena gradually began to distance herself from her mother, which ultimately led to her own catastrophe, her own death.

Although the situation was not that dramatic, Katlena knew very well that Zeros, like her, could be shaken by small triggers, and she also recognized that she had to be on guard against this.

‘Not yet… I must not let my guard down until that man’s heart is completely hardened. Until he becomes completely mine…’