46

I could understand the reason, but I couldn’t follow it completely.

It wasn’t something he experienced himself, and it was just a glimpse of what was described.

It was only a vague sense of sympathy and encouragement.

“If you cried because of me, I apologize. I didn’t mean to.”

“… that’s what it says You did nothing wrong.”

Hannette wiped away her tears and took a slow breath.

I’ve been enduring it for a long time, and only occasionally poured out those emotions when I was alone.

Of course, when I was young, I cried inadvertently, but now I only show cold eyes.

No matter what I did, it was my fault, and I didn’t want to appear weak.

“I must be responsible. I insulted my family, and I didn’t act like a noble lady. The head of the family probably didn’t like that.”

“You must have wanted to live as an aristocrat. Your sister might be isolated.”

“That’s right, because it’s not very useful… You and I are betrothed for the sake of the family.”

Harnette did not want to conform to the customs of the nobles, but she could not reject them outright.

Because I couldn’t do anything alone.

That’s why he cowardly siphoned off his pocket money and tried to gain time with his engagement to Shion.

“… I don’t think it’s useless I just need more time than others.”

“Do you really think so?”

“If my sister was really an idiot, would she have talked to me? Rather, he would have hurt his feelings or unilaterally ignored him.”

“That’s just… So… … .”

Harnette tries to find an excuse, but is soon enveloped in silence.

I wondered if that was true to some extent.

I was wary when we first met, but I had no intention of pushing too hard.

It was because Shion was in the same position of being used as he was.

“Sister, how long do you think it will take for the seeds to bloom into flowers?”

“I don’t know.”

“Actually, I don’t know either. I know one thing though. Each flower blooms at a different time. There may be some flowers that bloom at the same time, but not that many.”

“… … .”

“There are flowers that bloom early, and there are flowers that bloom late. My sister is the same. If I wait a little longer, won’t pretty flowers bloom?”

Hanette laughs as she thinks over what Shion said.

He must have said it to comfort himself, but if you think about it, it wasn’t a very wrong statement.

Even if you plant the same seeds, the growing time will be different, and the time will be different depending on the given conditions and environment.

“You know what I mean?”

“… You say things that are not like you again.”

Hannette denies what she said and lifts her head.

Wouldn’t the image we’re showing now be Zion-like?

Until then, I felt a sense of difference, but now I wonder if I can feel the sincerity.

“Because I don’t want anyone to see me cry? Do better in the future.”

“What are you doing well?”

“So you know how to do it well.”

“… … ?”

Shion smiles even though he doesn’t understand the words.

I could feel the familiar tone and atmosphere.

Although there were traces of tears, the eyes and expression seemed to have returned to their original state.

“You seem a bit like a sister now.”

Shion returns to her seat and looks the other way.

Harnette, who had regained her vigor, was looking at herself.

It may have been that he said it for no reason, but from Hannette’s point of view, wouldn’t it have eased her mind a little?

‘Well… What should I do with Barhen-nii?’

The food was coming out late, but Shion didn’t even pay attention.

It was only recently that I heard that Barhen was not joining the Royal Knights.

He must have given up joining because of himself, and he would have been concentrating on training to learn swordsmanship.

‘I can’t be honest… Even if you stay still… It doesn’t matter.’

According to the original content, Barhen should be connected to the 3 princesses, but from an overall point of view, it didn’t mean much.

No matter who the 3 princesses marry for convenience, it doesn’t have much of an impact on the main character and her colleagues.

Marriage partners would be limited to dukes or marquesses at best, and even if it wasn’t Barhen, the position of the three princesses would not be shaken.

‘Still, I wish I could join the Royal Knights… … .’

“What are you doing without eating?”

“Well? oh Just thinking about it for a second.”

Shion belatedly holds a fork and looks down at the food.

It was an appetizer with a variety of vegetables and fruits mixed together.

The unique and fresh scent seemed to stimulate the sense of smell.

“… Are you thinking about that?”

“What are you thinking?”

“That Mr. Barhen does not join the Royal Knights.”

“uh… Is that like a gut feeling?”

“What is intuition… Everyone knows but you?”

Hannette sips a glass of water as she replies curtly.

Shion nods slowly, recalling the existence of a social gathering.

Even if only one aristocrat had access to the information, it was almost impossible to keep it a secret because it spread widely through social gatherings.

“If you know everything, you won’t have to explain.”

“I know you are uncomfortable.”

“… I’m not that nice.”

“But you have a conscience, so why not think about it?”

“Then let’s have a conscience.”

Shion rummaged through the dishes and then put the fork down.

I wondered if it would take about a year at the earliest for Barhen to learn swordsmanship.

Until then, he probably wouldn’t have even thought of joining another order, let alone the Royal Knights.

“I don’t care, but I don’t know what the head of the family will think.”

“You gave up joining the team, too.”

“It won’t change anything if I join.”

Hannett looked at Shion’s condition with her chin resting on her chin.

On the outside, he looked calm, but there was also a feeling that he was a little confused.

If you leave it as it is, it will interfere with swordsmanship training and magical power enhancement.

“Is it a sin that you are proud? don’t think hard Mr. Barchen must have an idea.”

“I have an idea, but… … .”

“You said you put your enlistment on hold? There is still a chance. You will learn swordsmanship soon.”

Barhen announced that he would give up joining the Royal Knights, but the King did not accept it.

Rather, he said that his talent was a waste and that he would leave a spot for him to join later.

Perhaps he had noticed how Barchen expressed his intention to give up.

“Sister, he said he wanted to learn swordsmanship… … .”

“I heard Mr. Barchen is the best among the young swordsmen? Then I can use it within a month.”

“… … .”

Shion tries to refute right away, but soon swallows silence.

No matter how many times I explained it, the same answer would probably come out.

Wouldn’t it be reluctant to accept it only after seeing the results for yourself?

“Everything is good, but why did you take it for a month?”

“I think you learned it in a month.”

“So, since I learned it in a month, does that mean Barchen-nim-nim can do it in a month as well?”

“right.”

“… It makes sense.”

Only then did Shion shake off his thoughts about Barhen and pick up his fork again.

With luck, it might be possible.

Barhen’s talent was excellent among the young swordsmen.

‘Still, isn’t a month a bit long?’

* * *

The residence of the Marquis of Reggiard, an outdoor gymnasium.

Under the evening sunset, a young man was swinging his sword with dignity.

No one could stop him, and the Marquis Reggiard only received periodic reports about him.

Except for meals and bedtime, he always came here to practice swordsmanship.

He did not spare even the use of mana, and when his mana ran out, he poured out heat even with his bare body.

‘If Shion did it, I can do it too.’

Barchen Regiard made up his mind, scattering beads of sweat.

My whole body felt like it was being throbbed, and the hand holding the sword was trembling.

I wondered if I could fall asleep like this.

However, there were many regrettable things to give up, and the words I heard then kept coming to my mind.

‘There must have been a trigger.’

accidentally wrote.

I can only use sword skills, and I have never experienced swordsmanship.

I thought I should become stronger.

In order for these results to come about, there had to be a desperate desire.

‘… Was my fiancé so precious?’

Barchen slowly stops and catches his breath.

Shion met her fiancé and showed a changed side, and eventually realized the sword skill.

Because he had to protect his fiancé, he did not want to die fleetingly, so he must have put that feeling into the blade.

‘I have nothing to protect. I’ve never been in a crisis like Zion.’

Barhen showed talent for swordsmanship from an early age, and his level improved as time passed.

Many nobles had expectations, and some knight commanders expressed their desire to teach.

At some point, he became a promising swordsman, and the Royal Knights were reviewing whether to join.

But now everything was meaningless, and his aspirations were shattered.

‘You must have been conceited.’

He always received attention and never came down from the spot.

He received lessons from the members of the Knights, and gained experience while fighting demons in the outskirts.

However, he was never put in a precarious situation, and he always enjoyed praise and encouragement.

He had lost his original intention and was obsessed with the idea of becoming perfect.

Barhen released his mana, recalling the emotions Shion must have felt.

He must have raised his sword at the risk of death.

She goes to protect her fiancé, and does everything in her power to return to her fiancé.

Even if I fall here, I will not give up.

‘What I want to protect… … .’

The gray magic power rose violently and began to wrap around the whole body.

Eventually, following both arms and reaching the fingertips, it spreads along the hilt and rides the sword body.

It seemed like a heavy vibration was spreading from the sword, but even that stopped in a moment.

‘My pride and goals… For the Regard family.’

Throw away the thought of using swordsmanship.

Even the desire to wield a sword fades.

Only the tenacity to protect is put into the sword.

If he did this, he would be able to follow Zion’s heart.

A gray hue flashed across the darkening sky.

Numerous curves appear and intertwine, and at the end only the sword remains.

As time passes, the magic power fades, but the body moves faster.

‘Something is coming… … .’

The magical energy gathered in the blade raged wildly and gradually became brighter.

Originally, the mana should have been scattered, but rather it was gathering towards the blade.

Barchen is instinctively confident and draws a trajectory toward the sky.

A gray line curved along the sword.

However, the lines did not disappear, rather, the color only deepened.

Let’s put down the sword, a form is completed and it gushes out as it is.

“this… Is it a sword?”

Barhen sat down as he looked up at the sky.

The black air, dyed in gray, rises vigorously and then slowly disappears.

His tired body leaned little by little and touched the ground.

I felt like I could get some rest now.

“Zion… You woke me up.”