47

During that time, he swung his sword every single day and did not leave the mansion.

He persevered to the end with only one determination to realize sword skills.

But nothing changed, and my body and mind were slowly getting tired.

‘The answer must have been nearby.’

Risking one’s life, reaching one’s true heart, one’s determination to protect.

Since Shion met those conditions, he must have created the sword in that moment.

Of course, even that would have been impossible without the innate talent and senses.

‘… I’ll have to go find it.’

Barhen slowly raises his body and recalls what happened then.

He said that he couldn’t teach him swordsmanship because he was obviously lacking.

After that, he gave up joining the Royal Knights and focused only on sword training.

Perhaps Shion also felt a sense of distance from him.

‘Even if I can’t apologize… I have to say thank you.’

Barhen felt his muscles throb and moved slowly.

I wanted to visit the Duke of Adelaira right away tomorrow, but even moving in this state was not easy.

First of all, I should have told my family about this and then rested for a while.

‘I need to meet my fiancée too.’

Barchen hadn’t faced Hannette Adelaira yet.

I had only heard that she was called a foolish young lady and behaved a little strangely.

However, rumors tended to contain lies and exaggerations, and I wasn’t sure about anything until I checked it myself.

‘How deeply in love did he even use his sword skills? What kind of woman are you… … .’

* * *

The residence of the Duke of Adelaira, Zion’s room.

Shion checked the letter Barhen had sent several times and was locked in doubt.

It was impossible.

Obviously, it would have been possible to reach it only after spending more than a year.

Nevertheless, Barchen had to do it in one month, and the result was written in the letter.

‘… Will this work?’

Zion puts the letter in an envelope and puts it in a drawer.

Clearly, this result was unexpected.

Of course, it wasn’t a problem for me.

Rather, I felt a little relieved because I had returned to the original process.

‘Now I’m going to join the Royal Knights.’

Barhen gave up joining the Royal Knights because he felt inadequate.

The cause was in Shion, and it must have had a significant impact on Barhen’s state of mind.

However, since he had achieved what he wanted so much, he had no choice but to follow the king’s orders.

‘well… Is it solved?’

The fact that Barhen became stronger also meant that the Marquis of Reggiard would prosper.

This would give them an edge over other aristocratic families, and arranged marriages with direct royals would be easy.

In conclusion, Shion, a member of the Marquis of Reggiard, would benefit indirectly.

‘Still, I have to meet him.’

Shion left the room and went out into the hallway.

Barchen expressed his intention to visit the Duke of Adelaira in a letter.

He gave the reason that he wanted to see himself and his fiancé, so he had no choice but to adjust to that.

Shion went straight to the next room and knocked on the door.

When I opened the door, Hannette was sitting on the bed, looking at me.

“Are you here already?”

“No, I just came first.”

“Hmm… Are you scared?”

“… What am I?”

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen you, so I’m afraid.”

“after… I’m not that timid.”

“Even if I were in your position, I would have been a little uncomfortable. Something got twisted because it was black.”

“… Probably.”

“But how did it turn out?”

“As my sister said, you learned it in one month.”

To be honest, I had no choice but to acknowledge Hannett in this part.

Even he, who knew about the setting and future of this world, could not predict that fact.

Harnette would have said it would happen without thinking, but in the end, it just happened to happen.

“Doesn’t the kid who uses a sword know that? How did you learn swordsmanship?”

“Are you pretending to be proud because you want to be at this time?”

“Then when am I going to pretend again?”

“I guess I always acted proud.”

“Is that what I want to say?”

Shion smiled calmly and answered instead.

Hannette pauses for a moment, then turns her head away with an empty laugh.

“Why are you laughing?”

“How come?”

“Are you laughing at me?”

“I wasn’t laughing. just… I feel like I’ve gotten a little more comfortable.”

“… … .”

Harnette agrees with that and glances at Shion.

Unlike the first time we met, the atmosphere seemed to have softened.

It was as if saying the same thing was not being sarcastic, but it was going through the routine.

“It must have been a little friendly.”

“We know a lot about each other.”

“For what we fought childishly, you’ve become much calmer.”

“I feel like I’ve lost a little bit of poison.”

“Since we know enough, there is a feeling that we accept each other.”

“I hope my sister doesn’t have to be coercive now.”

“When did I force myself?”

“A lot. When I was drinking, when I was paying debts… In addition… … .”

“How can that be contrived? I was crazy when I was drinking. It’s because you didn’t answer.”

“When I fall, they say it’s my fault, that I’m not like me, or why I stepped forward… … .”

“Do you remember all of them?”

Harnette glared at Shion and fired wildly.

They were all for a reason.

However, it was just astonishing to say such a thing without knowing the human heart.

“I remember everything because it happened to me.”

“Do you know what you did well? Didn’t you make a strange noise to be summoned to the palace? You can just stay still when Sedrin comes, so why are you raising things?”

“The palace has already told you. I did it because I had to step in at that time.”

“Because it’s wrong! Go ahead and make the head of the household pull out the sword? You think raising work is fun, but I’m not having any fun at all.”

“So, by paying off the debt… … .”

“I should have given it to you, but are you changing your words like this?”

“Then you should have gotten it then.”

“It’s obvious that you got it from the Marquis Reggiard, but what did you get?”

Shion shakes his head with his mouth shut.

If he had accepted it at that time, it would have been more comfortable.

But they didn’t accept it until the end, and I was able to return it only after getting the funds from Robbins.

“Does my sister know my heart?”

“Do you know my heart?”

“after… … .”

“Sigh… … .”

The two feel a sense of distance and avoid each other’s gaze.

Even though it was obviously for a reason, the other person did not convince me.

It seems like we need to spend more time to understand each other.

A knock on the door broke the silence.

The maid entered the room and lightly bowed her head.

“Varchen Reggieard came to visit the mansion. He is on his way to the drawing room.”

Shion and Hanette look at each other and then move on at the same time.

They were guests who came to meet them.

He must have come directly because he had something he wanted to say.

‘I don’t know what to say.’

‘It must be because he’s black.’

* * *

The residence of the Duke of Adelaira, the drawing room.

As soon as Shion and Hanette entered, they faced Barhen.

Barhen saw the two and stood up immediately.

“It’s been a while, Shion.”

“Ah, yes. brother.”

Shion answered carefully and looked at Barhen.

I hadn’t met him once since he asked me to teach him swordsmanship.

They must have deliberately avoided each other because they were well aware of the situation they were in.

“Hi, I’m Hanette Adelaira.”

Hannette approached first and opened her mouth without hesitation.

Barhen quickly recognized Hanette and answered politely.

“Ah, are you Zion’s fiancée?”

“yes that’s right.”

“Nice to meet you. This is Barchen Reggiard. My brother owes a lot to me.”

“No. I rather owe it.”

Varchen took a sneaking look at Hannette and came to a quick conclusion.

It seemed that the refreshing voice and elegant appearance went well together.

Although she is called the crazy young lady, I wondered if she felt a strange sense of distance from her first impression.

“I won’t hold on for long. Just listen to me for a moment.”

“As much as you like.”

Harnette smiled and headed to the other side.

Shion followed and sat down with Hanette.

“Shion, how have you been?”

“Yes, it went well.”

“I don’t know what to say, but… First of all, don’t apologize. sorry.”

Barhen vomited out the emotions in his heart and conveyed his sincerity.

His own arrogance and greed should have made him jealous of Zion and turned away from him.

It was just that Shion’s talent was outstanding, but his heart couldn’t admit that fact.

“Brother, what is that… … .”

“I couldn’t accept it. You have achieved in an instant a level that could not be reached no matter how hard you tried. At that time, you said that you reached a higher level than me, but I refused your request because of my pride. I am so sorry.”

“… … .”

Shion kept his mouth shut and lowered his head.

Having said that, there was no excuse whatsoever.

He realized his sword skills through his demonic sword, and Barhen reached that level after repeated efforts.

There was a huge difference, but only he knew it.

“And thank you. Thanks to you, I was able to implement the sword skill. Without you, I wouldn’t have learned so quickly.”

“… If my brother is satisfied, that is enough.”

“I am grateful that you think so.”

Barhen turned to Hanette with a little relief.

Hannette waits for her to open her mouth first while looking at her.

“I am also grateful to Miss Hannette. I was able to gain enlightenment because Miss Harnett was there.”

“My… me? I haven’t done anything.”

“It’s not like that. If it hadn’t been for Miss Harnett, I wouldn’t have known about the secret. Thank you very much.”

“Um… … .”

Harnette is troubled and turns her gaze to Shion.

Shion, in fact, only looked at Hanette in doubt.

“Are you on good terms with Zion?”

“Yes? Ah yes. We became closer than during the engagement ceremony.”

“There may be something lacking in Zion. Sometimes we disagree and fight each other, and there will be times when we stay far apart. Still, I hope you take good care of Zion. It’s not a request because you’re my brother. I am saying this because I want you to see me as a man.”

“Yes? That… of course.”

Harnette answered indifferently, perplexed.

I couldn’t even figure out the reason because he suddenly brought up the story of Zion.

But since I couldn’t blindly refuse, I had to at least pretend to agree moderately.

“I must now join the Royal Knights. I may be busy during this time, but if you call me, I will spare no effort for Miss Hanette and Shion.”