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As if trying to help me through a rough day, Sion pushed Kun Deman back slightly and said.
“Have you been well?”
“Of course! Though, I must admit it felt a bit lonely with no word from you, Young Lord.”
“My apologies.”
Kun Deman smiled warmly, his white teeth showing beneath his mustache.
“I took your silence as a sign that things were going smoothly. But it’s been nearly six years, what brings you all the way here without a word?”
Dismounting his horse, Sion answered simply.
“Let’s talk inside.”
We stepped into the forge together.
“I’m here to leave a sword in your care.”
Sion said, pulling the sword from his back and handing it to Kun Deman.
“Oh-ho, it’s been a while since I’ve seen this one.”
Kun Deman accepted the sword with practiced ease and examined it closely. A faint sense of nostalgia glimmered in his eyes.
“Hmm, you’ve maintained it quite well. With it in this condition, it shouldn’t take too long.”
“I’ve regularly sharpened the blade, but permanent damage during training is unavoidable.”
“That’s only natural. A sword wears down as its wielder trains. Back when Sienna was just a trainee knight, blades would snap in the training grounds almost daily. Compared to that, this one’s in pretty good shape.”
“…I see.”
Sion gave a faint smile, one tinged with both bitterness and longing.
“Wait here a moment. This won’t take long.”
With that, Kun Deman took Sion’s sword and disappeared deeper into the forge.
A little while later, the sound of steady hammering echoed from beyond the wall.
I poked my head out from under the folds of the robe and asked.
“Sion, when he said ‘Sienna,’ did he mean your mother?”
“Yes. Kun Deman used to be a knight as well. He was once her fellow knight.”
“Heeh, I see…”
Time passed, and eventually the sound of hammering stopped. Kun Deman returned.
The blade, once nicked and worn, now gleamed like new.
“It’s been sharpened well. It should hold up for another year without issue.”
“I see.”
“…By the way.”
Kun Deman smoothly changed the subject.
“It seems something significant prompted you to get your sword sharpened after six years. May I ask what it is?”
As Sion took the sword back, he replied.
“I’m about to take the entrance exam. I’ve been offered a position in the First Order of Knights.”
“……!”
“If I become an official elite knight, I’ll likely be stationed in the borderlands.”
“I see… so that’s how it is.”
As a former knight, Kun Deman seemed to grasp the situation with just a few of Sion’s words. He nodded slowly, then gave a broad smile and said.
“If Sienna were here, she would’ve been overjoyed, Young Lord.”
“……”
“An offer to join the First Order at such a young age… It reminds me of my own youth—”
“…I’ll be going now.”
Sion shook his head slightly as he spoke.
Kun Deman watched him with a warm gaze and a playful smile, like an uncle looking fondly at his nephew.
Moved by the gentle atmosphere, I couldn’t help but speak up.
“Even if he acts like that, I bet Sion is secretly a bit shy about it.”
“Oh, of course. I’ve known the Young Lord since he was eight years old…”
Kun Deman suddenly stopped mid-sentence.
His gaze slowly traveled downward and landed on me, peeking out from under Sion’s collar with my chin resting on his chest.
“……???”
His eyes went as wide as lanterns.
Seeing his stunned face, I couldn’t help but giggle.
“It was brief, but it was nice seeing you, Mr. Blacksmith. Thanks for being kind to Sion.”
“…At this rate, there won’t be anyone in Luxior who doesn’t know about you.”
Sion let out a long sigh, as if resigned, and stepped out of the forge.
I smiled brightly and added.
“But he's someone Sion really trusts, right? So, it’s fine.”
A short while later, Kun Deman came outside, scratching the back of his head. He saw Sion mounting his horse and called out.
“Take care of yourself, Young Lord. And if possible, let us know you’re still alive from time to time!”
“I’ll try, if I have time.”
“Like mother, like son. So cold and distant—just the same.”
To Kun Deman’s mock-complaint, Sion replied indifferently.
“Sounds like you're getting lonely in your old age, Kun Deman. Perhaps you should get married before it’s too late.”
“Hmph, as if finding love at my age is easy!”
Kun Deman waved his thick arm at us as we slowly rode off.
“Young Lord! I’ll be waiting for good news from you!”
Sion didn’t look back, only gave a lazy wave of his hand.
It had been their first reunion in six years, but-true to Sion’s nature-the farewell was brief and simple.
***
Somewhere in the Grand Duke’s main estate.
Genevia knocked gently on the door.
Knock, knock, knock.
“Who is it?”
“It’s Lilo, the lay priest.”
“Come in.”
Genevia stepped inside.
This was the office of High Priest Bashuram.
However, to Genevia’s eyes, the room appeared far too spacious and luxurious for someone in religious service.
Of course, she didn’t show her reaction.
“Greetings, High Priest. I’m Genevia Lilo, a newly assigned lay priest to the Luxior Grand Duchy.”
Bashuram, lounging in his chair while reviewing documents, gave her a disinterested glance.
“Ah, you must be the one the temple sent as my replacement.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“What’s your name again?”
“Genevia Lilo.”
“Your age?”
“I’m nineteen this year, officially an adult.”
“Your parents?”
“I have none.”
“Any ties in the North?”
“No, none.”
“…I see.”
Bashuram narrowed his eyes.
‘Tch. I get the picture.’
From the moment she entered the room-with her frizzy, unkempt hair and plainly dressed appearance-he could tell. She was a poor, unfortunate soul with no family, no connections, and no backing. Pushed out to the cold frontier at such a young age, she was the perfect scapegoat.
Her shabby image reminded him of his own past, ten years ago, when he had been driven out to the North after being ousted from the political scene. That memory annoyed him, and he took it out on Genevia.
“Hmph. According to the schedule sent by the temple, you were supposed to arrive at the Grand Duchy several days ago. What were you doing until now?”
“I apologize. On the day I arrived, something unexpected occurred-”
“Lateness, failure to report, and now irrelevant excuses? I’ll be noting your lack of diligence during the handover period.”
“…Yes. I’ll improve.”
Genevia clenched her fist tightly inside her sleeve to maintain a respectful expression.
‘Ugh, I’m so sick of this.’
It was always the same.
Everywhere she went, the world was full of rotten people.
This so-called high priest in front of her was the very image of a corrupt priest, exiled to the North after committing all sorts of political schemes and acts of bribery in the central temple long ago.
‘They’re all just hypocrites, stepping on the weak and clinging to the powerful for personal gain.’
“Tsk. These young priests nowadays…”
Bashuram clicked his tongue.
“I’ll say this now, during the handover period, you’d better stay sharp. The Northern Grand Duchy is no place for the careless.”
“Yes, I’ll keep that in mind.”
Genevia answered politely.
She was just one of many orphans abandoned by their parents and taken in by the temple. With barely enough divine power to qualify as a lay priest, there was nothing she could do to fight the unfairness of the world.
All she could do was navigate it-avoiding offense, playing her part.
‘Otherwise I’ll go hungry. Otherwise I’ll lose my place.’
Even if it meant enduring everything, she had to think of the children in the orphanage she supported with what little money she earned.
“Are you even listening to me?!”
“Yes, of course, High Priest. Every precious word, I will take them to heart.”
“Tsk tsk. So clueless.”
“I once again ask for your generous understanding for the delay in my greetings and report, which was due to carrying out orders from above.”
“…? Orders from above?”
Realizing the scolding was over, Genevia quickly added politely.
“Perhaps you haven’t received the letter yet? I believe Lord Sion Luxior of the annex sent a letter addressed to you a few days ago.”
Bashuram’s jaw twitched.
“…The young lord from the annex… sent me a letter?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Ahem, hmm!”
Bashuram cleared his throat in an attempt to hide his flustered reaction, then anxiously began rummaging through the stack of letters on his desk.
“Now that you mention it, I think something did arrive the other day… But still, what kind of orders could a mere lay priest like you receive from that young lord?”
“He instructed me to stay in the annex for a while to monitor his health.”
Since she couldn’t mention Lin, Genevia offered a vague explanation.
With a furrowed brow, High Priest Bashuram cautiously asked.
“Did the Grand Duchess also receive a report about this matter?”
“Yes, I was told she has been informed.”
“…Hmph.”
Bashuram made an uneasy face.
Genevia, who had already picked up on the complex political undercurrents within the Grand Duchy these past few days, stared up at him with deliberately innocent eyes.
“Ahem. Very well then, off you go.”
Waving his hand irritably, Bashuram clearly wanted nothing more to do with the situation.
Genevia gave a quick, respectful bow in response to the abrupt dismissal.
“Understood. I’ll return next week to give another report.”
As she turned to leave.
“Wait, lay priest.”
Bashuram called out to her.
Genevia quickly layered a polite smile over her blank expression and turned back.
“Yes, what is it?”
“Let me give you a bit of advice, for your own good.”
“I’m listening.”
“If you want to survive comfortably in the North, make sure you align yourself with the right people. And you’d better figure out quickly whether the line you’re following is one made of gold or shit.”
“……”
“Getting involved with that young lord in the annex won’t do you-or me-or the temple’s reputation-any good. And don’t you dare let your behavior cause trouble for me during the remainder of my term. Understand?”
“…Yes. Thank you for your advice.”
Genevia bowed deeply, then finally exited the office.
“Haaaa~~.”
She let out the sigh she’d been holding in, grumbling to herself.
“So basically, he’s saying not to get involved with the illegitimate son if I don’t want to clash with the Grand Duchess, who actually holds the real power here.”
Objectively speaking, he wasn’t wrong.
‘But it’s already too late for that.’
Even before setting foot in this political minefield of a Grand Duchy, she had already taken the wrong step.
One way or another, she’d ended up living with the young lord in the annex and a very unusual little fairy.
“…How did things end up like this?”
Genevia sighed again and trudged forward.
Her mind was tangled with thoughts, but somehow, her steps toward the annex didn’t feel so heavy.
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