Chapter 33: 33

Hanette answered calmly and bowed her head.

Only then did she fully realize the words she had spoken, but she did not regret them. Even if she was called the Crazy Young Lady or blamed by her family, she couldn’t give this up.

“Are you truly willing to sacrifice your life?”

“I can no longer live without my fiancé. I would rather accept death than be left alone.”

“Hmm…”

Brandish frowned in confusion.

If Zion Laird became a member of the Royal Knights, it wouldn’t mean they could never see each other again. There might be duties that required his presence, but he could still travel between the palace and the mansion regularly.

Yet, Hanette Adelaira only wanted Zion Laird to stay by her side.

“I’m not taking your fiancé away permanently. You will still be able to see him, and eventually, he will return to you. Is that not acceptable?”

“My fiancé and I were brought together through a political arrangement. I had many complaints initially, but now, I don’t mind. How can I reclaim a heart I’ve already given away?”

“A heart given away, you say…”

Brandish recalled Zion’s words about how his fiancée relied solely on him, and he couldn’t ignore her feelings. Hanette had given her heart, and Zion had deeply accepted it, swearing an oath.

Brandish herself had never experienced such a passionate relationship.

“Both of you are truly bold. How can both of you be so daring…”

Brandish erased her smile and finally relented.

She couldn’t persuade them even if she wanted to. Zion and Hanette both spoke of oaths and pledged their lives. What mattered most was that she reflected on her own memories and reality.

“If I were to kill you, Zion Laird would grieve. He might resent me and squander his talent.”

“…Thank you, Your Majesty.”

“Your fiancé awaits in the reception hall. You may return with him.”

“Does that mean…”

“I will not take your fiancé away. I hope you cherish that bond for a long time.”

Brandish turned away, still holding onto her regrets.

If she issued a royal command for Zion Laird to join the Royal Knights, not even Marquis Laird could stop it. But forcing Zion Laird to join this way wouldn’t achieve the desired outcome. Zion’s talents would likely only be used for the sake of his fiancée.

“Leave me now. I wish to be alone for a while.”

“…I will take my leave.”

Hanette bowed again and slowly exited the office.

Brandish stood still for a while before moving to her desk.

“How weak I have become. I am shaken so easily.”

Brandish mocked herself and picked up the bell on her desk.

As she rang the bell lightly, the door opened, and Gloné entered.

“Your Majesty, you called for me?”

“…Forget about Zion Laird’s enlistment.”

“May I dare ask the reason?”

Gloné had never questioned Brandish’s decisions before. Brandish’s commands were meant to be fulfilled, and his duty was to follow them. But this time, he couldn’t just let it go.

“Are you curious why I made this decision?”

“Forgive me, but I am.”

“I judged that I couldn’t win Zion Laird’s heart. Even if I did, what would change?”

“How can a subject of this country defy a royal command?”

“I understand that feeling. But I lost it a long time ago. Even if I want it back… I can’t.”

Longing for someone wouldn’t bring back the dead, and living in the past wasn’t an option for those who must lead in the present.

Brandish had a destiny to fulfill and had to keep moving forward, bearing the weight of her responsibilities. If she faltered, the Alain Kingdom would also falter.

“Whoever said what doesn’t matter now. Zion Laird has talent, but Hanette Adelaira’s reputation is not good.”

“…She is called the Crazy Young Lady, isn’t she?”

“Indeed, Your Majesty.”

Brandish remembered the impression Hanette had left. She spoke and acted boldly, but she wasn’t rude or arrogant. She showed firm resolve, and her words about risking her life were not lies.

“A Crazy Young Lady, indeed… If she were truly a brat, she wouldn’t have spoken so bravely before me.”

“If her words were disrespectful…”

“If they were disrespectful, I would have punished her myself. She was just… daring. Like Zion Laird.”

It was as if she was seeing her younger self. In her youth, she feared nothing and thought her life would never end. Zion and Hanette seemed to share a similar bond, risking their lives for each other.

“Hmm… I would like to see them marry before I die.”

“…Isn’t there a chance they might break off the engagement?”

“In that case, I will not forgive them. It would be like mocking me, and I would punish them accordingly.”

“…”

Gloné had more to say but chose to remain silent. Brandish was well aware of the political nature of the engagement. Whatever happened, the marriage had to take place.

“If the queen guarantees the marriage, it must happen. If they don’t marry, both families will face severe consequences.”

* *

Duke Adelaira’s Mansion, Head’s Room.

Robbenz had heard that Zion and Hanette had returned, but he stayed in his room.

Yenid spoke with them instead, but no significant information was obtained.

Since they claimed nothing had happened, Robbenz had to let it go.

“What could have happened?”

“…Zion went first, and then Hanette followed?”

“Yes.”

“There must be something. Zion had a reason to go to the palace, but Hanette did not.”

Robbenz guessed that Zion had taken the Royal Knights’ entrance exam. But he couldn’t figure out what happened afterward.

He could inquire through officials, but it would take some time since it had just happened.

“Could he have met the captain of the Royal Knights?”

“If it’s about joining, that makes sense. But it’s too secretive.”

“And the reason for summoning Hanette?”

“There must be a reason… but it doesn’t fit with joining.”

The Royal Knights’ enlistment was about Zion, and Hanette was an outsider. Although she was his fiancée, she had no connection to the Royal Knights.

It seemed more natural that Zion tried to use Hanette somehow.

‘Perhaps someone told them to keep it secret, or they both want to hide it.’

The possibilities were limited.

The person who could command Duke and Marquis’s children, involve himself in the Royal Knights’ entrance exam, and summon the fiancée of the examinee.

After considering it several times, only one conclusion remained.

‘The king summoned Hanette.’

The king could fulfill all three conditions. Zion must have mentioned Hanette while talking about the entrance exam.

‘What could Zion do using Hanette?’

Having a fiancée doesn’t make the enlistment easier. However, if the king was interested in Zion, the enlistment had to be considered positively.

Only one scenario remained.

‘If Zion used Hanette to refuse enlistment…’

Although not certain, there was no other logical conclusion. Only an unexpected situation would lead to involving an outsider.

The king must have been unsatisfied with Zion’s explanation and tried to resolve it.

“I’ll need to look into this later.”

“Do you think something really happened?”

“If it did, they would have told me first. Don’t worry.”

Robbenz saw it as a desirable outcome.

Zion’s value couldn’t rise too high, and he couldn’t give Marquis Laird any advantage.

Moreover, using Hanette in any way was unacceptable.

‘Their cooperation is beneficial. If they trust each other, they won’t face difficulties after marriage…’

* *

Alain Kingdom, Western Region, a land covered in dark clouds.

This area hadn’t seen sunlight for a long time, only a vast expanse of cloudy skies.

While other territories in the west experienced changes in weather, this place remained unchanged.

Local lords sent forces to investigate, but only reports of finding nothing returned.

‘It must be around here somewhere…’

A young man wandered the area, searching for something.

His skin was tanned, possibly from working in the fields, and his blue eyes sparkled.

His black hair shone even without sunlight.

Seran Sylase, a mere commoner, followed his intuition, feeling a constant urge to find something.

Though he didn’t know what he was looking for, he could only move as his intuition directed.

Seran pushed through thick rocky terrain, frequently touching the surfaces.

One of these rocks had to be hiding what he was seeking.

‘Is this it?’

Trusting his intuition, Seran placed his hand on one rock.

Suddenly, a loud noise echoed from the cloudy sky, and the dark clouds began to gather.

From the rock Seran touched, a faint energy emerged, slowly revealing its form.

“What?”

The clouds roared, emitting a bright white light, and yellow streaks of lightning zigzagged towards Seran Sylase.

A massive bolt struck, engulfing the rocky area instantly.

“Aaaah!”

Seran frantically searched the rocks, trying to grab something.

A familiar texture brushed his palm, and Seran Sylase quickly swung the object.

A yellow line cut through the lightning, releasing electrical currents that dispersed the bolt completely.

As the lightning vanished, the dark clouds began to dissipate.

The sky grew brighter, and warm sunlight illuminated the land.

Seran held a slender object in his right hand.

‘Finally found it.’

Seran smiled, looking up at the sky.

He had finally acquired the Magic Sword he had sought.

The moment it touched his hand, he instinctively knew its identity.

“Lightning Magic Sword… Nailing.”