Chapter 3.1 – Curiosity

The next day, Rizle, having calmed herself down, regretted her actions. Heizen hadn’t actually laid a hand on her; he had merely affirmed that her words weren’t wrong. 

Yet, feeling as though she had been caught having inappropriate thoughts, she panicked and ran away—from someone who even bought Germain’s chocolate for her sake. 

“That was truly improper behavior.” 

Reflecting on her actions, Rizle decided to apologize and went to find Heizen. Resolutely, she knocked on his door, but he wasn’t there. 

This slightly deflated her resolve. Regardless, having drawn her sword, she couldn’t return without apologizing. Rizle wandered around Troskan Castle in search of Heizen. 

However, Heizen was nowhere to be seen. 

“With all this snow, it doesn’t seem like he’d go outside…” 

Where else hadn’t she checked? Or perhaps they had missed each other? As she pondered, Gilbert approached her. 

“What are you doing here?” 

“I’m looking for the Count.” 

When Rizle answered, Gilbert frowned. 

He still seemed to harbor bad feelings and opposition toward Heizen. With their marriage approaching, if they continued to have a strained relationship, it would only make things uncomfortable for everyone. 

Rizle worried about their relationship. It seemed like she would have to act as a mediator. 

“Gilbert, the Count, you know…” 

She was about to say that, surprisingly, Heizen had a kind side. 

“Leave the poor Count Warkliber alone.” 

Gilbert sighed deeply. 

To be honest, he hadn’t liked Heizen even before he proposed to Rizle. 

Gilbert had always been regarded as the most skilled knight in the order. It wasn’t because the other knights feared retaliation from Gilbert’s father, the Marquis of Thruella, but because Gilbert was genuinely talented. 

‘Albert will inherit the marquisate, and Gilbert will take over as the guardian of Loen.’ 

That’s what everyone thought. Gilbert appreciated the expectations placed on him and felt confident. 

Even when the Imperial Army swarmed in front of Troskan Castle, he believed it was his duty as the guardian’s successor to defend the castle. He fought earnestly, and in the end, the Imperial Army failed to capture the castle. 

Gilbert considered this achievement a lifelong source of pride. However, in the world, there are always those who soar higher than others. Gilbert’s accomplishments were soon overshadowed by Heizen’s. 

If he was such an exceptional individual, he would’ve stood out earlier—but Heizen hadn’t. Far from standing out, he left only a faint impression, as if he were someone you might vaguely remember existed. 

‘Heizen fights terrifyingly. Watching him sends chills down your spine and makes your whole body tremble.’ 

Albert, who owed his life to Heizen, had said this, but Gilbert found it hard to believe. Upon closer reflection, he recalled sparring with Heizen a few times during training. Yet, Heizen’s skills hadn’t been particularly remarkable—average at best. 

Gilbert assumed people were exaggerating and decided he needed to see Heizen’s combat skills on the battlefield for himself. 

That opportunity came during the final war against the Imperial Army at Castle Boeur. Heizen cut down enemies relentlessly, resembling a wild boar monster. In the midst of battle, his senses sharpened to the extreme, allowing him to dodge incoming magic attacks from behind. 

Even Gilbert, who was on the same side, felt fear watching him, and the Imperial Army was paralyzed with terror, unable to fight properly. 

Gilbert had no choice but to admit his brother’s words were true. This wasn’t just a matter of being skilled; Heizen’s prowess was terrifyingly extraordinary. Gilbert even felt relieved knowing they were on the same side. 

After the war ended, the world’s attention naturally turned to Heizen, the hero who saved the nation. All credit for their victory was attributed to him, which Gilbert found unfair. 

‘I also defended Troskan Castle with Father until the end.’ 

Had they failed to hold out, the king would’ve been killed long before Heizen displayed his strength. But Gilbert didn’t voice these thoughts aloud; he knew it would make him seem petty. 

Gilbert quietly harbored his grievances. Since Heizen had been granted Boeur, their encounters were rare. Even when they did meet, Gilbert simply concealed his feelings. He managed to endure even when invited to a party by his father. 

But when he heard that Heizen had suddenly proposed to his sister, he couldn’t hold back anymore. Wanting to be magnanimous but unable to help himself, Gilbert was furious. 

It felt as though Heizen was trying to take not only his achievements but also his family. Albert, who had long been captivated by Heizen, was already lost to him, which made Gilbert worry even more. 

As the saying goes, “A quiet cat climbs the stove first.” Gilbert thought Heizen Warkliber was exactly that kind of person… 

“Do you never tire of bothering the Count Warkliber every single day?” 

Having observed Rizle and Heizen’s interactions, Gilbert changed his perspective. Heizen wasn’t a sly person; he was a pitiful one. 

Rizle often suddenly charged at Heizen, delivering body slams. For reasons unknown. Body slamming was something she often did when displeased. 

Her father, the Marquis of Thruella, would laugh and say his daughter had grown quite strong. For everyone else, including Gilbert, it was an annoying and bothersome habit. At least she didn’t do it to random people—only to family members. And now, to Heizen, her soon-to-be husband. 

Heizen often fell victim to Rizle’s antics. Gilbert had witnessed it three times but suspected it had happened more often when he wasn’t around. Yet, Heizen never frowned. 

Contrary to expectations, Heizen Warkliber didn’t seem to be a narrow-minded man. Reflecting on the years he had disliked Heizen, Gilbert apologized. 

‘I’m sorry, Count. My father spoiled Rizle too much, so she grew up a bit unruly.’ 

‘It’s fine. The young lady—no, Rizle—is charming.’ 

Charming? Was he out of his mind?

Gilbert thought no one could be so blinded by love. 

When Gilbert asked what Heizen found charming, Heizen replied that it was her tendency to charge at him with her whole body. Gilbert had always found Heizen’s twitching mouth corners odd after Rizle’s tackles. He had assumed it was Heizen holding back his anger, but it turned out to be because he liked it. 

Gilbert concluded that Heizen was one of those people who adored everything their partner did. 

‘You’re different from how you were on the battlefield.’ 

Not wanting to bluntly ask if Heizen was blinded by love, Gilbert chose a subtler approach. Heizen responded: 

‘When I heard Troskan Castle was in danger, an unknown strength surged within me. I can’t fight like that now.’ 

Even if someone asked to spar with him to learn a thing or two, Heizen couldn’t replicate his battlefield prowess. The sharpness and power he displayed in war didn’t manifest anymore. 

When Heizen confessed this, Gilbert was shocked. 

Did Heizen have such strong attachment to Troskan Castle? Enough to summon unknown strength? 

No, Gilbert realized the hidden meaning in Heizen’s words. 

Gilbert asked if Heizen had been worried about Rizle. Heizen replied that he couldn’t think about anything else. 

The power of love had turned a reluctant, ordinary man into a monster. Gilbert had no choice but to acknowledge the sincerity of Heizen’s feelings. Who else would love a woman with a habit of body slamming so deeply? As her brother, Gilbert felt that Rizle couldn’t let this man go. 

“Treat the Count well. Don’t do anything strange.” 

When Gilbert turned his criticism toward her, Rizle felt wronged. She had never considered herself to be tormenting Heizen. 

Sure, she had tackled him a few times or blocked him from entering his room. But wasn’t it Heizen’s fault for being petty and uncooperative? 

“What’s so bad about asking him to propose again, or about asking how he proposed in the first place?” 

Rizle was unapologetic. 

Gilbert, fed up with his stubborn sister, felt exasperated. 

“The bad thing is your brain for not remembering such things.” 

No matter how good a match they found for Rizle, it would be hard to find someone as tolerant as Heizen. He was the kind of man who didn’t just say “It’s fine,” but “She’s charming.”

“Be good to the Count. He’s a man who’s willing to live with you, so at least give him a massage or something.”

Rizle was both dumbfounded and angry at her brother’s drastically different attitude from a week ago. He wasn’t Heizen’s brother—he was her brother! Why was he taking Heizen’s side?

“Ugh!”

Fueled by rage, Rizle charged at Gilbert with her shoulder, causing him to cry out and fall over. Angered, he immediately stood up and shoved her shoulder in return. 

The two clashed like stags locking horns, beginning a small war between the second and third children of the Thruella family. 

The commotion only ended when Albert arrived to break it up.

“Why are you two fighting again after being so quiet for a while?”

Rizle’s behavior was understandable, but Gilbert usually maintained a calm and composed demeanor in front of others. However, he often failed to do so with his youngest sibling. 

‘Is it because he lost his position as the youngest child and still harbors jealousy over how much Father doted on Rizle?’

Feeling a pang of sympathy for his younger brother, Albert patted Gilbert on the shoulder as he straightened his disheveled clothes.