A day before the decisive battle.
Hanna and I strolled through the capital to mark the end of the duel.
Some might say going out on the eve of an important duel is inappropriate, but sometimes a change of mood can lead to better outcomes.
Of course, af confined to the dusty training ground.
Exci too much.
Catching my eyes by chance, Hanna smiled awkwardly.
“Hehe.”
“Is there something on my face?”
“No. You’re just handsome.”
“I’m aware.”“…”
Even to my cheeky remark, Hanna nodded with a smile.
“I know too…”
“Pardon?”
“Nothing.”
With a pleasant smile, I looked up at the sky.
Hanna enjoyed the moment, touching the petals falling on the streets lined with cherry blossoms.
Seeing Hanna in such a good mood, I decided today was a day to open my wallet generously. Though I wasn’t someone who liked splurging, I generally avoided overspending. But today, I intended to spend freely for my disciple.
Today felt like one of those days.
A day when spending money didn’t feel wasteful.
I stole a glance at Hanna’s ears. Her earlobes were clean without earrings.
‘I hope I made a good choice.’
I thought they would suit her when I bought them, but I wasn’t sure if Hanna would like them. I wasn’t familiar with gifting accessories to women.
If it were band-aids I always carried in my pocket, maybe. But truthfully, I lacked an eye for accessories like earrings.
Fiddling with the earrings in my pocket, I glanced at Hanna.
I wasn’ift to a disciple, tossing it like picking a pebble off the ground felt lacking.
Though calling it the first gift wasn’t quite accurate since I had already given her a sword, it was the first gift I was personally handing her, so technically, it was the first.
I contemplated and contemplated again while observing Hanna.
“Hmm… The weather is nice.”
“Indeed.”
“The flowers are in full bloom too.”
Hanna smiled at the fully bloomed flowers on the street.
“But Butler, you’re prettier.”
“Pardon?”
“You’re more wonderful and beautiful when you speak than those flowers.”
“What is this alluring comment?”
Hanna clasped her hands behind her back, took a step forward, and looked at me. The gentle spring breeze brushed past Hanna’s hair, releasing a faint floral fragrance.
“So what if it’s alluring? I only do it for you.”
“…Huh.”
I let out a hollow laugh and placed my hand on top of Hanna’s head. With her hair tousled, Hanna gave me a mischievous smile.
“I will win.”
“You’re stating the obvious.”
“No, not just that. Something else too.”
“Pardon?”
Hanna grasped my hand with a playful smile.
Amidst the soft touch folding into mine, I momentarily lost my focus as Hanna, with a happy smile, pulled me along.
“Let’s go quickly. I’m hungry.”
I smiled, led by Hanna’s hand.
‘Is a spring day coming into my life too?’
It felt like flowers were blooming in my gloomy life that had been hit from all sides.
*
Inside the bustling restaurant.
Seated at our reserved table, we quietly poured water into each other’s glasses.
-Glug.
“…”
-Gulp.
I wasn’t feeling good.
I had entered the restaurant with a pleasant mood, but as soon as we sat at the table, that cheerful mood faded.
It wasn’t because of the crowd.
We had expec. The person sitting at the table across was displeasing.
Hanna was emptying the water bottle alone.
She kept pouring water into her empty glass and drinking, as if trying to fill her frustrated heart. She looked at the person next to her with a growling voice and spoke.
“You wouldn’t come even if I begged you to come just once…”
“Haha…”
“It’s so absurd I can’t even speak.”
With an awkward glance, I looked at the two men sitting at the next table.
Watching the middle-aged man in a neat uniform and a young man in a white academy uniform, I emptied my glass with a bitter smile.
‘They shouldn’t underestimate us that much.’
I found it amusing how I was thinking. After all, I was here to lighten the mood for Hanna. I could understand it, like looking in a mirror.
I nodded with a smile.
“We came because we believed we could win, didn’t we? Just like us.”
At the casually spoken words, Rowen chuckled and nodded. It seemed the slight provocation was clearly heard by the Swordmaster.
Rowen’s unfiltered reaction made me smile too.
With his arms crossed, Rowen looked at Michail and said.
“It seems you’ve done well with the assignments I’ve given you. Better results than I expected.”
“You flatter me.”
“Achieving such results in just 15 days is something you can be proud of.”
“It’s all thanks to your teachings, Master.”
Observing Michail’s humble response, I turned to Hanna and said.
“Doesn’t he seem insufferable?”
“Yes.”
“He keeps acting all grand after losing to me all the time at the Academy.”
“Pfft.”
“He always says he could have beaten me anytime. Ugh.”
-Jerk.
I smiled as I observed Michail’s s aids to him, but it seemed unnecessary now.
With the thought that my provocation had worked, I clenched my fist and looked at Hanna.
As our eyes met, Hanna also beamed with a bashful smile, making me smile in return.
“But drinking so much water isn’t good. The food hasn’t even arrived yet.”
“It’s okay. I can eat anything if you’re buying, Butler.”
“We’re gonna be stuffed today.”
“Hehe…”
Hanna brushed off her heavy feelings with a bright smile.
Seeing the waitstaff slowly bringing the food, Hanna widened her eyes and looked at me.
“Wow… It looks expensive.”
“It is expensive.”
“Then I’ll contribute too…!”
“It’s a big faux pas to offer that to a rich butler.”
As we chatted amiably, a slight sneer floated in from the next table.
“Can someone in debt even have money?”
That comment couldn’t be ignored.
I perked up my ears at the seasoned middle-aged man’s provocation and focused. Getting provoked about money when there’s nothing else to criticize can be hurtful.
Mocking someone like me, who is freshly out of debt and comfortably off, was unbearable.
Of course, Rowen likely had more money than I did, but still, the insult was offensive.
Before I even calmed down from my indignation, Rowen’s provocation continued unabated.
“A fallen family’s servant has no place here.”
“Is that… so?”
“People should play within their means. There’s an old saying, ‘A crow-tit that follows a stork will have its legs torn,’ isn’t it fitting?”
“…”
I smiled, dismissing his provocation.
I fel the young lady.
Insults about money or status, unrelated to her, held little effect.
Of course, the provocation wasn’t solely directed at me; Hanna was included as well, but so was Michail, his disciple.
Rowen may not know it, but Michail came from the bottom. It would sound distasteful to him.
I looked at Michail’s hardened expression and gave a bitter smile.
“Shall we eat?”
“Pardon?”
Ready to draw her sword at any moment from Rowen’s provocation, Hanna tilted her head as she looked at my composed reaction. Answering Hanna’s questioning gaze, I swept a slice of steak onto her plate and said.
“Ah.”
“Ah…”
-Nyum.
“Tasty, right?”
“Yes…”
“I carefully selected this place because I know Hanna likes meat.”
“How did you know?”
“I know everything.”
With a thought about the middle-aged man next to me, I said.
“Unlike someone.”
At the mention of someone, Rowen’s expression began to stiffen.
Whenever I offered a bite of steak to Hanna, she’d happily bob her head, leaving Rowen with a heavy expression, seemingly ready to leave at any moment.
“I can eat by myself…”
“Say ah.”
“Ah…”
-Bang!
“Let’s leave.”
“Pardon?”
Michail, munching his steak, looked up at Rowen as he abruptly stood, starting to gather his things awkwardly.
“I remembered some forgotten work.”
“Ah…”
“A victory toast can wait until after we’ve won.”
Resting one arm on the chair, I leaned back arrogantly and said.
“Leaving already?”
Rowen left without responding.
Hanna spoke one last time towards Rowen’s departing figure.
“I will win.”
“…”
“I’ll prove this time that you are unnecessary to me, Father.”
“…Let’s go.”
In the now peaceful restaurant.
I didn’t stop feeding Hanna.
“You can stop now.”
“Pardon?”
“Aren’t you doing it because of my father?”
Looking at Hanna’s somewhat downcast face, I placed my fork on the table. Resting my chin on my hand, watching Hanna intently, she rolled her eyes, unsure of what to do.
Seeing the shy Hanna, I said.
“That’s not true.”
“Pardon?”
“I’m not feeding you because of him.”
I picked up the fork again and said.
“It’s because Hanna eats so well.”
“That’s not fair…”
“I’m really unfair, you know.”
Smiling, I offered another piece of steak to Hanna.
As the meat on the plate gradually diminished, Hanna’s expression suggested she was full, so I put down the fork and started rifling through my pocket.
Seeing my bustling actions, Hanna questioningly looked at me and asked.
“What are you looking for?”
“Oh, it’s nothing. Hanna, can you wear earrings?”
“Yes… I had my ears pierced a while back, so I can. Why do you ask?”
With a small chuckle and the words ‘That’s great,’ I pulled out two small earrings from my pocket and handed them over.
“It’s a gift.”
A pair of gold earrings adorned with green emeralds.
With trembling eyes, Hanna raised her hand to look at me.
“I thought I hadn’t given you a decent gift.”
I placed the earrings in Hanna’s hand and said.
“Let’s win, shall we?”
*
And so, the day of the decisive battle arrived.
End of Chapter
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