Chapter 2.1 – Young Earl Yerenst and the Royal Knight

‘That’s how it was back then.’  

To Evelyn, who was now a Royal Knight, those days felt like a distant past. Returning to the banquet hall, Evelyn picked up an apple that had been placed in a corner. It wasn’t meant to be eaten but served as decoration. She handed it to Donovan.  

“Do you know how much apples cost these days?”  

“You’re treating me as if I’m completely ignorant.”  

“You didn’t know anything back in the academy days.”  

As the heir designated for the Earldom, Donovan rarely ventured outside. After learning about his status, Evelyn came to understand the life of a noble.  

A bird in a cage.  

Though surrounded by abundance, there was something missing in his life. Donovan did not trust people easily and had built walls even with Evelyn.  

“All you ever did was study magic without any fun. That’s why one day, I took you to the market outside the academy.”  

At the time, Donovan didn’t even know how much a single apple or an accessory cost. Evelyn had wanted to show him the world and joyfully led him through the market.  

– Young master, come to our shop. Over here!  

– No, come to our shop. We’ve just received some amazing accessories! 

The finely dressed young master, carrying a pouch full of money, caught the attention of all the merchants, who waved eagerly.  

To them, Donovan was a tempting prey. Seeing their obvious attempts to take advantage of him, Evelyn glared at them. 

These people?  

– So this is what a market is like. Fascinating.  

To Evelyn’s surprise, Donovan wasn’t displeased and carefully examined each item the merchants presented. Of course, she was surprised in another sense as well.  

“You almost bought something worth a few copper coins with gold coins—do you know how much I panicked?”  

“…I didn’t know back then.”  

Donovan scratched the corner of his mouth with an awkward expression. It was such a rare sight that Evelyn found it amusing as she rolled the apple in her hand.  

– Is this your first time in a market? 

– Yes, it’s my first time.  

– So, what do you think?  

– It’s noisy, chaotic, and crowded.  

Even so, Donovan never said they should leave the market. That was another one of his charms.  

“Do you remember when I bought you herbs to help with your insomnia?” 

Evelyn asked with a cheerful smile.  

Back then, Donovan had been like a blank white canvas, untainted. He absorbed everything Evelyn taught him.  

“I remember. I could never forget.”  

As if reminiscing about the past, a faint trace of joy appeared on Donovan’s face.  

– It must be hard to cover your academy expenses. Let me take care of it. You get money, and I get safety. Isn’t that a fair deal?  

He had hired her, a mere student, as his bodyguard and paid her a proper salary.  

With that money, Evelyn was able to cover the exorbitant tuition fees of the academy. Donovan was her benefactor.  

Initially, their relationship had been one of mutual necessity, but at that time, Evelyn had erased the line between them.  

– You can’t sleep?  

– It’s just mild insomnia.  

– That’s because you stay up late studying while drinking tea full of caffeine. From now on, no reading after midnight.  

Donovan had been enduring sleepless nights. Evelyn had inserted herself into his life, giving unsolicited advice.  

– Relax and lie down. No thinking about magic formulas. Clear your mind of unnecessary thoughts and let yourself unwind.  

Once, under a tree, Evelyn had even offered her lap for him to rest his head and had patted his chest.  

– Sleep is coming. Sleep is coming…  

Her words, chanted like a spell, seemed to work as Donovan gradually drifted off. Encouraged by this, Evelyn became even more enthusiastic in her care for her employer.  

– I’ve brought some aromatic herbs. They’re supposed to work wonders. Brew them into tea, and you’ll fall asleep.  

Evelyn would rush to Donovan’s side whenever he called, bringing high-quality tea leaves and willingly offering her lap.  

“Even though I was worried about tuition, looking back, those days were fun.”  

“That’s how it always is with the past.”  

“Exactly. Back then, it felt difficult, but now it doesn’t seem like a big deal.”  

Thinking about her days as a student, Evelyn found the courage to face her current situation. Losing her aura was a severe blow, but it wasn’t an insurmountable obstacle. In the end, this too would pass.  

Her feelings of confusion began to settle over time. Though nothing was certain yet, she couldn’t back down.  

“You’ve done well before, so you’ll do well again. I guarantee it.”  

“Oh, you only say good things to me, Senior.”

“Is this the only time you call me ‘Senior’ instead of ‘ Young Earl’? That’s an expensive title.”  

At his mockingly disappointed tone, Evelyn let out a clear, bell-like laugh.  

Even in the past, when everything seemed pitch-black and uncertain, hadn’t a path always appeared? Standing by his side always made her feel like she could accomplish anything.  

“Thanks for helping me back then. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have graduated.”  

“It feels awkward hearing thanks now.”  

“Back then, nobles were just annoying people in my world.”  

Donovan had taught her about the nature of nobles and how to survive in their society.  

“Even though I lived among them every day at the academy, I didn’t know how to truly get along with them.”  

“…”  

“I never thought the person I met would turn out to be a genius in magic.”

“Today, you’re unusually sentimental. You didn’t talk about these things much in the past.”  

Donovan disrupted the mood as if he found it embarrassing. Evelyn, knowing he was shy, smiled without saying more.  

“Bring me something to drink. I’m getting thirsty from staying here so long.”  

“What should I bring?”  

“I heard the fruit wine served at the banquet this time is delicious. I overheard my colleagues talking about it.”  

Donovan acknowledged her request and disappeared into the distance. Evelyn was waiting for him at one corner of the banquet hall.  

Then, the sound of footsteps echoed. A man with his hair neatly slicked back approached, holding a glass.  

“Sir Stina. Fancy seeing you here.”  

“Greetings.”  

He was a senior who had once belonged to the same First Knight Order as her but was now part of the Second Knight Order.  

“It’s been a while. These days, your name has been quite famous in the knight order. Is something going on? Everyone says they can’t even meet your eyes.”  

“What do you mean by something?”  

“Well, they say you act like you’re about to ask them out on a date.”

Everyone?  

“…They seem completely unsettled.”  

He finished his words with a meaningful tone. 

Here we go again. 

Evelyn, knowing he was teasing her, made a tired expression.  

“If you’re just here to tease me, forget it. Introduce me to someone good instead.”

“Would an introduction from me even work? I thought you had very high standards. Was I wrong?”  

“Who says I have high standards?”  

“Well, isn’t the Young Earl you always keep by your side proof enough? I thought that level of looks was your baseline.”  

“That’s ridiculous.”  

Evelyn didn’t expect an extraordinary handsome man. She just wanted someone who could love her enough to break her curse.  

“Do you happen to know something?”  

“Me? Well, hmm…”

Wait, is there someone who likes me but can’t confess because they don’t look as good as Donovan Yerenst?  

“I thought you only liked faces like Donovan’s. Everyone probably thinks so too.”

If that’s true, the bar is set way too high. At this rate, she’d never have a relationship, even in a lifetime. This realization made Evelyn feel light-headed.

“So, everyone rejecting my invitations is because…”  

“With the Young Earl standing so firmly by your side, who would dare compare themselves to the heir of Yerenst?”

The more she thought about it, the more it made sense.  

Otherwise, how could she have spent so many years in a knight order full of men without a single romantic story?  

‘I need to do something about this.’

After her senior knight left, Evelyn made up her mind and clenched her fists tightly.  

A little while later, when Donovan returned with the fruit wine, Evelyn had calmed down.  

“I’ve been thinking carefully. I think we should keep some distance.”  

Evelyn dropped a bombshell on him. The hand that had been about to hand her the fruit wine froze in midair.  

“What exactly do you mean?”  

“We’re not academy students anymore, and we’re at an age where we should be more mature.”  

“I don’t see what the problem is at all.”  

Donovan replied stiffly. Evelyn, looking at his hardened expression, spoke clearly.  

“Let’s spend a month apart. Just a little distance between us.”

“Don’t just say it out of nowhere. Give me a reason I can accept, and I’ll consider it.”  

“I need to date someone. At this rate, I’ll never experience romance in my life.”  

Donovan stared at Evelyn without even blinking, as if he couldn’t believe the words coming out of her mouth.  

“…What did you just say?”  

“I said I need to date someone. So let’s meet less often for a while.”  

Finally, Donovan’s composure completely broke. His face seemed to say:  

We were fine, weren’t we? So why?