Chapter 90

The final exams were over, and their free time had drastically increased.

As a result, Chase and Judith began meeting almost every day, enjoying dates like a newly in-love couple.

That day, Judith’s class ended early.

Usually, she would have lunch with Rodesha, but since Rodesha was absent, Judith decided to go straight to find Chase.

When she reached the classroom where his schedule indicated he would be, she was fortunate enough to spot him standing in the hallway, his back turned to her.

“Chase—”

She was about to call his name in excitement when she noticed he was talking with someone else, and she stopped mid-sentence.

Standing in front of Chase was a tall, slender woman with her hair tied up high.

She was strikingly beautiful, with sharp, defined features and dimples that added charm to her face.

“……”

Judith observed the two of them with an uncertain gaze.

They were far enough away that she couldn’t hear their conversation, but it was clear from their expressions that the atmosphere between them was friendly.

It was the first time Judith had seen Chase talking so politely and respectfully to another woman.

Normally, Chase would bristle and act annoyed when receiving attention from unfamiliar women. Yet now, he didn’t seem to mind the woman in front of him at all.

Perhaps it was only natural.

A woman as stunning as that could easily win anyone’s favor. Even from a distance, she seemed to complement Chase’s tall and well-built frame perfectly, like a picture.

But what were they talking about that was taking so long?

Judith wanted to walk up to them and ask, but for some reason, her confidence wavered.

As she hesitated, stuck in place and awkwardly observing the two, their gazes suddenly turned toward her at the same time.

I had been quietly holding my breath, so how did they notice me?

Chase’s face lit up with delight as he said something to the woman in front of him and quickly ran over to Judith.

“Judith, what’s going on?”

“…Ah, Rodesha isn’t around today. So I came to find you for lunch, but you were in the middle of a conversation, so I waited.”

“I see. You didn’t have to wait; you could’ve just interrupted.”

“No, I didn’t want to disturb you. Are you done talking? And who is that…?”

As Judith asked, the woman approached them and stood beside Chase.

Did they still have more to talk about?

Judith had thought the woman was beautiful from a distance, but up close, she exuded an air of maturity and composure.

“Who is she, Chase?”

The woman crossed her arms and asked the same kind of question as Judith, her slightly husky voice adding to her charm.

Chase politely answered her with a courteous tone.

“Oh, she’s my fiancée.”

At the same time, he gently placed an arm around Judith’s shoulders, as if to show her off.

“Hmm.”

The woman scanned Judith from head to toe while Chase, now smiling brightly, responded to Judith’s earlier question.

“Oh, Judith, you were asking who she was, right? She’s my direct superior… I guess you could say. She’s one of the Imperial Knights in the class above mine.”

An Imperial Knight?

Judith’s eyes widened in surprise as she looked at the woman in front of her.

“You’re a knight…? But what do you mean by ‘direct superior’? That is, um…”

As Judith stammered, the pieces of the situation began to fall into place in her mind.

This woman was an Imperial Knight, and Chase’s direct superior… meaning she was in the class above him.

Seeing Judith’s expression of disbelief, Chase ran a hand through his hair and smiled proudly, as if to confirm her thoughts.

“You’re right. I passed the Imperial Knight exam, and I’m set to be knighted next year.”

“…What? Really?”

Judith asked in astonishment, her face blank with disbelief.

The Imperial Knights?

Weren’t they known to be the most elite and difficult Knight Order to join among all the Knight Orders?

Even with outstanding swordsmanship, one couldn’t easily claim a spot due to the intense competition.

The selection process was rigorous, evaluating not only one’s skills but also their background, academic achievements, and behavior. Only exceptional individuals were chosen.

As a result, the number of knights admitted each year was often no more than three or four, sometimes as few as one or two.

And now Chase had been accepted into such a prestigious Knight Order? He was going to be knighted by the Emperor himself?

Noticing Judith’s astonished gaze, Chase cleared his throat and added an explanation.

“Well, as you know, my grades and behavior weren’t exactly exemplary. But Professor Karel wrote me a recommendation letter without me even asking. Thanks to that, I passed the practical exam without any issues.”

As if the fact that Chase had become an Imperial Knight wasn’t surprising enough, Judith was further shocked by this new revelation.

“Professor Karel’s recommendation letter?”

“Yeah. I think he must’ve appreciated the effort I put in during my final semester.”

Chase spoke with a proud smile, which made Judith feel a lump in her throat.

Professor Karel, despite his stern demeanor, must have cared for Chase in his own way.

In the past, the two had often clashed due to their differing personalities, leaving Judith caught awkwardly in the middle.

But to think that their relationship had improved so much without her even realizing it.

After collecting her thoughts, Judith spoke.

“In any case, this is all thanks to your hard work. Congratulations, Chase. You’ve done so well.”

Judith congratulated him sincerely, as if it were her own achievement. Chase, looking a bit bashful, scratched the back of his head and smiled.

Then Judith turned her gaze back to the female knight.

Not knowing she was Chase’s superior, she had almost let herself feel jealous for no reason.

Judith gave the knight a polite nod.

“I apologize if I was impolite earlier. I didn’t realize you were Chase’s superior… Please take care of him.”

“Hmm…”

But the female knight’s reaction was unexpected.

Frowning deeply, she shook her head and spoke.

“A cute fiancée like this? She’s far too good for a reckless rookie like you.”

Being called cute by such a beautiful woman left Judith feeling both flustered and embarrassed.

“I agree with you.”

Chase, too, didn’t seem offended by the self-deprecating comment. Instead, he nodded in agreement with a grin.

The knight, looking as though she had a headache, fiddled with the ends of her tied-up hair and frowned.

“…This is troublesome. The reason I came here today isn’t exactly a pleasant one.”

“What do you mean?”

“Honestly, I’m not happy about Chase joining the order.”

“…”

The knight’s blunt statement left Judith speechless.

It wasn’t unusual for Chase to receive such criticism.

While he had been admired and envied by his peers, most of the professors at the academy had strongly disliked him.

Still, his once-arrogant demeanor had softened considerably, and he had grown into a respectable gentleman. 

What could be the issue now?

Moreover, Chase hadn’t even been officially knighted yet.

Why would she already dislike him? Had he caused some kind of trouble again?

Judith glanced at Chase reproachfully, and he, understanding her look, vigorously shook his head in protest of his innocence.

The knight, noticing Judith’s confusion, kindly explained.

“There’s only one reason I don’t like Chase. He received an inexplicable advantage during the admission process. I was the first to review the documents he submitted for the exam. At the time, I fully expected him to fail outright.”

“…”

“But just because he performed decently in the practical exam and won a few swordsmanship tournaments, the Knight Commander decided to accept him. Does that make sense? Every single member of the Imperial Knights is an elite.”

As Judith had suspected, Chase’s acceptance into the Imperial Knights was indeed an extraordinary case.

The knight, seemingly holding back her frustration, continued to vent her grievances to Judith.

“There’s a saying that one bad apple spoils the bunch. I worry about what kind of impact Chase might have on the future of the Imperial Knights. That’s why I’m here. If his swordsmanship turns out to be as unimpressive as I expect…”

The knight fixed Chase with a sharp, menacing gaze and continued.

“I’ll formally challenge this decision and have his acceptance revoked.”