Trean examined his bankbook. He’d managed to save up a decent amount—enough to buy a nice house, though he was still a bit short.

“I want to get married.”

The house where Suran and Fazel lived was old, but it had been well-maintained and the interior was clean. Even so, Trean wanted to let Fazel and Suran live in a new house.

That’s why he’d paid off his debts and scraped together every coin he could. Count Asnel’s household paid him well for his knight lessons and provided room and board, so he had no other expenses.

He’d saved bit by bit, and now with a small loan from the bank, he had enough to buy a decent house.

“The problem is, once I buy the house, I won’t have any money left.”

Still, having a lump sum would make getting married more convenient. Trean wanted to buy a house first, then propose to Suran.

Of course, he didn’t know if Suran would accept.

“I’ll need to think about it more.”

Trean put the bankbook in his safe and left the room. Today, after sword training with Louelle, he had to oversee the knight order’s practice.

* * *

I did thorough basic training with Trean. He always taught me kindly, and I exercised diligently.

After practice ended and we had a light sparring match, Trean and I drank cold water and chatted.

“Knights can get loans easily. Especially if you have regular income like you do, Trean—it’ll be even easier.”

His concern was housing.

When he mentioned wanting to get a new house, I agreed and eagerly added my opinion.

“Still, I need money. A wedding doesn’t cost just a penny or two.”

I spoke to him like I’d been waiting for this moment.

“How about taking on more students?”

“More students?”

“I’m done with the basics now, so honestly, there’s not much left for you to supervise. We train and spar, and then you have time left over, right?”

What I said was true. Trean nodded.

“But where would I find students?”

“There are quite a few people who sent letters to the castle saying they wanted to learn from you.”

However, Trean had politely declined the letters, saying he would focus on me and Fazel.

“I already turned them down.”

“Don’t worry. If you ask again, some of them will say yes.”

Thanks to Fazel becoming famous for his swordsmanship, Trean’s reputation had risen along with it.

“Then can I ask you a favor?”

“Of course. I’ll look into it myself.”

Trean smiled brightly at my words.

This is how I need to handle things.

Fazel needed someone he could rely on. For that to happen, there had to be others besides Suran.

What would happen if he had a father figure?

Even if the fate where Fazel tries to end his own life approaches, he won’t be able to give up his life easily.

I decided to bring work to Trean so he could propose to Suran quickly.

Now that I had Trean’s permission, I contacted the boys who had wanted to learn from him.

Soon after, some of the boys contacted me saying they would become his students.

Trean’s income increased compared to before, and he saved even more money.

* * *

It was near the end of winter. The frozen river began to flow, and the scent of early spring filled the air—that’s when Fazel was running around the training grounds.

The three months of training had been truly grueling, but his swordsmanship skills improved day by day.

“Fazel, you’re out early training again today.”

Garen, wearing armor, walked over slowly with his sword. He checked on the trainees who came out to train every morning.

At first, many people trained, but as the winter camp neared its end and morning training was no longer mandatory, many began to rest.

But Fazel was different. From the beginning until now, he continued training without change.

“Of course I have to. Who knows when I’ll get another opportunity like this.”

Fazel’s expression held desperation. He thought this winter camp might be his last.

“Is that so?”

“Soon I’ll start learning magic in earnest. Taking three months off for that would be difficult.”

“That’s true.”

Garen nodded and made a regretful expression.

“I was hoping you’d work hard and come back next time too.”

He chuckled and raised his sword.

“Fazel, shall we have a match?”

Fazel bowed his head at his words.

“Thank you.”

“That’s right. Good attitude.”

Sparring with Garen was exhausting. But it let him know clearly how far his skills had come. If Trean fought using orthodox swordsmanship, Garen had many uniquely unusual attacks.

Fazel liked dueling with Garen. Because it was hard to predict, he had to prepare thoroughly.

It was also a moment when he could see how prepared he truly was.

As the winter camp drew to a close, Caslan and Fazel had become close enough to chat occasionally.

“You really crossed swords with the Commander-in-Chief?”

Caslan, like Fazel, never missed morning training. However, this morning, someone from his family came to meet him, so he couldn’t make it.

Afterward, he heard the news that Garen, the Commander-in-Chief, had sparred with Fazel.

“I want to do it too.”

Garen didn’t do private sparring matches with Caslan. And even when they did spar, he only did things related to basics, never anything serious.

But today was different.

“He’s truly an amazing person.”

Fazel said that and pressed his arm firmly.

He’d instinctively reacted and dodged the sword in a truly dangerous moment.

Garen said that in actual combat, he needed to be even sharper than this.

Fazel recalled the assassin who had come to take his life before.

Thinking about that incident still made him dizzy.

“Why today of all days.”

Caslan sighed.

“But Fazel, did you pack everything?”

Fazel nodded at Caslan’s question.

“I packed everything. I sent it by courier yesterday.”

“Wow, you’re diligent. A servant came and took mine today.”

That’s why he’d missed the last morning training session, and in the meantime, Garen had come by.

Fazel could understand Caslan’s disappointment.

The winter camp ended in the afternoon. Garen lined up all the participating children and spoke loudly.

“You are children who will become knights in the future. Many trials await you. So never neglect your training, and make good use of what you learned at winter camp.”

Everyone answered Garen’s words vigorously.

“Yes, sir!”

“Then I’ll announce the students who will receive swords.”

At his words, everyone looked at Fazel and Caslan. The two had trained so intensely during this winter camp that everyone was impressed.

“Fazel Asnel, Caslan Jennell.”

When their names were called, Caslan and Fazel quickly stepped forward.

A knight brought two swords used by the Imperial Knight Order. The two boys received the swords and bowed their heads.

“Thank you.”

“It’s a natural result. Caslan, the last day was unfortunate.”

“Ah, I was disappointed too.”

Garen grinned at Caslan’s words.

“You two will always be rivals to each other. Rather than being jealous and envious of each other, use each other as stimulation to grow yourselves.”

At Garen’s words, Caslan and Fazel looked at each other.

“We’ll meet again someday, right?”

Fazel nodded at Caslan’s words.

“I think so.”

After answering, Fazel looked at Caslan. He was conscious of him, someone with swordsmanship skills similar to his own.

“Let’s not write letters.”

Fazel answered first.

If Caslan contacted him, he felt he wouldn’t be able to focus on sword practice because he’d be thinking about him.

“Let’s do that.”

Caslan felt the same way.

But Fazel and Caslan both knew.

They didn’t know why, but there would come a day when they’d meet again.

Fazel gathered his sword and climbed into the carriage.

Finally, the three months of training were over, and it was the day to return home.

Once he got to Asnel territory, there was something he had to do first.

The last letter Louelle sent last week was in his pocket. He’d read it several times, but reading it again made his heart race.

He read the letter again inside the carriage.

“I’m happy that Fazel is coming back next week.”

“I’m happy too.”

After being separated from Louelle, he realized how precious she was.

Fazel read Louelle’s letter as he headed to Asnel territory.

* * *

Suran grabbed the broom. Today was the day Fazel returned, so she decided to do a thorough cleaning.

When spring came, she used to clean the house together with Fazel. But this year, Trean was by her side.

This unrequited love has lasted quite a while.

Her family’s fortunes declined, and she became a duke’s mistress to save her younger brother. She didn’t regret it because she was able to save her brother, but she did feel wistful.

If she hadn’t become the duke’s mistress, she would have confessed to Trean.

Seeing him brought back the past. She felt wistful about the different life she could have lived—marrying him and living together.

“But Suran.”

Trean asked something he was curious about while tidying the house.

“Don’t you plan to get married?”

“What marriage for a woman with a child who was a married man’s mistress?”

Suran shrugged and spoke calmly.

“No matter what circumstances there were, there aren’t many men who would accept my past.”

Trean looked at her with serious eyes.

“I’m debt-free now.”

Suran smiled like she was very happy.

“I heard rumors that you’d been earning some money. So you settled your debts. It wasn’t even your debt—your brother is a rotten bastard. Anyway, congratulations.”

“Thanks.”

“I feel like I’m the only one who lived a pathetic life.”

“If it weren’t for your brother, you wouldn’t have become the duke’s mistress either. And you paid back everything the duke gave you and ended your relationship with him.”

Suran nodded. Thanks to that, she was able to raise Fazel as she pleased.

Duke Zieten had many illegitimate children. Some of those children went to the main house and disappeared without a trace.

Now she knew how they disappeared.

Nertian must have taken care of them.

Just like he did with Fazel.

“I think that was the right thing to do.”

“It’s not easy to do that. Once you’re immersed in that lifestyle, it’s hard to break free.”

“I know.”

“You’re an amazing woman.”

Trean smiled at Suran. Suran shook her head at that.

“You’re the only one who says things like this to me.”

Because he remained so consistently kind, she wanted to lean on him. Suran realized she felt this way and suppressed it.

She needed to prepare herself mentally so that later, when Trean met a good woman and got married, she could smile for him.

When that time came, she hoped Trean wouldn’t be too kind to her.

That way, she felt she could let go of her lingering feelings.

“Suran, you know.”

Trean looked at Suran with serious eyes. At the unusual atmosphere, Suran tensed up as well.

Had something happened to him recently?

“I’m going to get a house soon.”