Trean Arnold walked with heavy steps. Esran was beside him.

Esran looked at him and smiled. Since he said he urgently needed money, Esran gave him an advance payment with the condition that he had to teach for at least a year.

Trean naturally signed that contract. He probably put out the urgent fire with the money Esran gave him.

His daughter told him to offer a generous amount, and that strategy worked.

Trean was tall with a sturdy build. He had short blond hair and a scar on his cheek that made his impression look sharp.

“I’m worried about what to do if the lady finds me scary.”

Trean rubbed his chin as he spoke. Esran shook his head.

“That won’t happen. My daughter has no fear.”

Even at those words, Arnold rubbed his eyes and sighed.

“A lady once found me scary before, so the lessons fell through. That’s why I’m a bit worried about teaching a lady swordsmanship.”

“Worried my daughter will quit? That’s why you put that non-refundable clause in the contract, didn’t you?”

“You understand my feelings too well.”

Trean smiled, showing his teeth. When he smiled like that, the scar looked even more menacing.

“Maybe I shouldn’t smile.”

Trean sighed. He worried that even Lady Asnel might run away because of this face.

“Don’t worry.”

Esran said that and opened the door for him.

In the room, a girl was turning pages of a book. Wearing flowing clothes overall, she looked so delicate that one might worry whether she could even hold a sword.

Still, looking at her forearms, it didn’t seem like she didn’t exercise at all.

Trean was assessing Louelle.

“You’re Trean Arnold, right? Nice to meet you.”

The girl spoke with a smile. Then the atmosphere became very soft, and it seemed like a halo shone on her pretty face.

“By the way, my daughter smiles well.”

Esran approached Louelle.

“Isn’t she really pretty?”

“I agree.”

Trean also snapped out of his daze and quickly came to his senses.

“Father.”

At Esran’s bragging, Louelle made a troubled expression. The subtle change, seemingly shy, was very endearing.

“Are you the one who chose me, miss?”

Trean extended his hand to Louelle. Louelle, who had been looking at Trean’s black eyes, nodded lightly and took his hand.

“Sir, you’re a talent our territory absolutely needs. And now you’re my master, so please speak comfortably.”

“Mm, should I? By the way, I heard there’s something that might pique my curiosity.”

“You’ll find out soon.”

“Should I guess?”

Trean pondered, then continued speaking to Louelle.

“I heard Fazel Onyuran is also taking the test. Isn’t that what will surprise me?”

“That’s right.”

“Fazel, that’s a name I haven’t heard in a while.”

Louelle’s eyes widened.

“Did you know each other?”

“I know his mother. We were academy classmates.”

He swept back his hair.

“She was also my… first love.”

Trean Arnold murmured that and shook his head. He had to give up his feelings when she became the duke’s mistress.

Still, he secretly liked her even while working at the imperial palace. She was a charming woman who perfectly fit his taste for capable women.

“Really?”

Esran also showed curiosity in the story.

“Of course. After meeting again at the imperial palace, I was about to seriously ask her to date, but my younger sibling caused trouble and died, leaving me with so much debt that I had to give up my feelings once again.”

He smiled bitterly, remembering the twisted connection from the past.

“But to be testing that boy’s swordsmanship—this must be fate too.”

“Still, since you know someone, you’ll be able to live well in the territory.”

“I’ve completely settled things in the capital. Lord, I’m counting on you.”

“Between fellow Counts, let’s be comfortable with each other.”

“I can’t do that!”

Trean Arnold laughed. When he laughed, his menacing impression softened a bit.

“Miss, don’t be scared of me.”

At Arnold’s words, Louelle laughed.

“I’m not scared.”

Saying that, Louelle’s laughing figure seemed to radiate warm light.

* * *

I waited for Fazel to arrive.

“I often heard stories about Fazel from Suran.”

“Really?”

“She bragged a lot that her son was really smart.”

Trean had distant eyes as he recalled those times.

“I thought I’d never see her again.”

“I see. But is it okay to openly talk about your feelings like this?”

“Everyone knows except Suran.”

Ah, I see.

Come to think of it, the mother and son seemed alike in being dense. Almost everyone except Fazel’s family knew about the feelings I was having for Fazel right now.

Still, everyone was kind. They cheered me on but didn’t make unnecessary interference.

“Fazel is extremely handsome.”

“Really?”

“Enough to make me admire him.”

Then curiosity appeared in Trean’s eyes. He whistled and waited for Fazel to arrive. When the appointed time came, Fazel arrived. But Suran was also coming with him.

There was no lesson today, so I glanced at Trean. It seemed like she came to meet him.

“Suran, it’s been a while.”

Trean sent a warm gaze toward Suran with a shy expression.

‘Wow.’

I could clearly feel that he had feelings for Suran. But Fazel and Suran, not knowing that, greeted Trean casually.

“Trean, it’s been a while. Lady, you’re well too, right?”

“Of course.”

“I’m Fazel Onyuran.”

Fazel bowed his head and greeted Trean. But Fazel stared at Trean with a strange gaze, then looked at Suran.

“Is this person that person?”

“That’s right. He’s your mother’s friend, Sir Trean Arnold.”

“I see.”

Fazel was very tense.

“Am I scary?”

Trean asked in a worried voice. Then Suran answered for him with a laugh.

“Trean’s impression isn’t exactly gentle.”

“Suran, isn’t that too much?”

“But he’s a child who follows well once you show him affection.”

“I see.”

Then Fazel bowed his head.

“I’m counting on you.”

“Right, since we’re all gathered, let me introduce myself. My name is Trean Arnold, my title is Count, and I was a fairly successful knight.”

“How do we take the test?”

At my question, Trean gave us light wooden swords for children.

“Just attack freely! Life is about real combat.”

Hmm, is this okay?

Still, since he’s a skilled knight, he’ll recognize Fazel’s potential. I quickly picked up the wooden sword and attacked Trean together with Fazel.

But there was no way I, who had never learned swordsmanship, could properly attack Trean.

Every time I swung my sword, Trean blocked it all. Just my test alone kept me so busy that I couldn’t pay any attention to what Fazel was doing.

“I can’t do anymore!”

“You barely filled 30 minutes.”

“Only 30 minutes?”

I sprawled on the ground. I sat down in the training ground full of sand and gasped for breath. I suddenly felt wronged that only that much time had passed when I moved so vigorously.

That’s proof I attacked with all my might.

“I can do a bit more.”

Fazel was also gasping for breath, but his breathing was calmer than mine. He looked like he had a bit more stamina left.

“I see. Try attacking alone.”

Trean’s eyes sparkled as he looked at Fazel. He definitely recognized Fazel’s hidden talent.

‘I told you you’d be surprised.’

Fazel becomes second in swordsmanship after the male lead. He gets frustrated at the threshold of Sword Master, but still becomes an amazing expert.

But this was because Fazel started swordsmanship late through self-study, and if he learns from an expert like Trean at this age, who knows how his fate might change.

I smiled slightly and watched Fazel’s swordsmanship test.

Even to me, who knew little about swordsmanship, Fazel’s attacks looked special. He sharply attacked Trean’s openings.

Trean’s eyes flashed as he blocked all of Fazel’s attacks. Fazel bit his lip when his attacks didn’t land.

“Stop!”

Noticing Fazel was exhausted, Trean told him to stop. But Fazel didn’t sit down on the ground like me. He still had stamina left to swing his sword.

“Suran, has your son learned swordsmanship before?”

At Trean’s words, Suran shook her head.

“No. He hasn’t.”

“I thought so.”

Swordsmanship cost a lot of money since you had to buy weapons too. Unless you were from a family of knights for generations, a wealthy noble, or a great merchant, ordinary people rarely had opportunities to learn swordsmanship.

In Trean Arnold’s case, he had so much talent that a knight specially taught him with free tuition, but buying equipment nearly made his household stagger.

In Suran’s case, even though she was a Baron, she didn’t have a territory. Moreover, her only income was money earned from teaching children as a tutor or working at the imperial palace.

Living in the capital while paying off family debts and raising her son alone must have been tight.

“Does he have talent?”

At Suran’s question, Trean Arnold clicked his tongue.

“It seems he was influenced by his paternal family?”

Then Suran’s complexion wasn’t good.

“He’s really a regrettable talent.”

“If you’re saying this much, he must really be amazing.”

Fazel looked at the sword. He seemed surprised to realize he had talent in swordsmanship. And he sent his gaze to me.

“What do I do about this?”

Trean Arnold was pondering.

“Ah, of course, from my greed, I want Fazel to learn together too. I won’t charge tuition.”

And Trean turned his gaze toward me.

“Miss, you’re not thinking of running away after showing me this, are you?”

He’s a clever person.

“Now that I know Fazel has talent, it’s my turn to step up.”

“Right.”

Trean nodded.

Suran and Fazel’s eyes widened, seemingly not understanding.

“How about this? If Fazel studies hard and maintains his skills through effort, the territory will provide tuition, swords, and armor.”

Fazel and Suran gasped in surprise.

“You’ll also pay me separately for Fazel’s tuition?”

“Of course.”

Trean spent all his money paying off debts. He can’t propose to Suran without money. Even in the novel, Trean was written as a decent person. I thought it would be good if this man ended up with Suran.

For that, I need to help him earn more money.

“But I have a request.”

“What is it?”

“Please also take charge of the knight order’s training. I’ll pay you separately for this too.”

Trean’s face lit up.

“You’re just piling on work.”

“I knew from watching the swordsmanship test. How much you’ll work the knight order.”

“I do make training quite strict.”

When I acknowledged it, Trean smiled slightly, seemingly pleased.

“More work increased, but these are good conditions for me. Alright, I accept everything.”

I can’t let a talent like you go.

I looked at Trean with sparkling eyes.

“I’ll go report the results to Father first.”

“Will the Count allow it?”

Suran asked in a worried voice. She seemed concerned I might get scolded for nothing.

“That’s right, Lady Asnel. It seems like something that needs the Count’s permission.”

Fazel was also tense.

“Don’t worry.”

I lightly tapped Fazel’s forearm with my forearm.

“I have it all thought out.”

Like that, I headed to Father’s office with the anxious Fazel and Suran, and the excited Trean.

* * *

As I expected, Father was very pleased after hearing the test results.

“For such talent to appear in our territory—good at studying, good at swordsmanship, and talented in magic too.”

“What, Fazel can also do magic?”

“Of course.”

Trean looked at Fazel again in surprise. Father nodded and stared at Suran.

“Investing in future talent in the territory is something we always do. My daughter has an eye for recognizing talent.”

Father was satisfied. Trean nodded and approached Suran’s side.

“Contact me anytime if you have questions about Fazel’s lessons.”

“I will.”

Trean didn’t miss the opportunity after all. He didn’t miss creating an excuse to contact Suran. Father also realized that and smiled slightly.

Like this, it was decided that Fazel and I would take lessons together.

Everything was proceeding smoothly according to plan, so I also smiled broadly with joy. Then Fazel approached me.

“My lady, I have something to talk about.”

“To me?”

“Yes.”

Noticing he wanted to be alone, I left Father’s office with Fazel.

“Why exactly are you being this good to me?”

“Well, you’re someone who’ll become great. If I invest in and sponsor such a person, our territory’s recognition will rise, and later you’ll become part of my network.”

I explained using reasons he could accept. Of course, this was only the public justification. Actually, I personally was happy that my time with Fazel increased. It would help his life too.

But I didn’t mention such private desires.

“Well, still, I’m purely happy I can learn together with Fazel.”

“It was decided from the start.”

“What was?”

“Nothing, I thought you were speaking impulsively, my lady.”

I shook my head firmly.

“I hate false hope t*rture. If I didn’t plan to teach Fazel swordsmanship, I wouldn’t have shown you those documents.”

Fazel stared at me with quiet eyes.

“This is why you’re scary.”

“That again. Why?”

“Just, that’s how it is.”

This time too, he didn’t tell me his feelings and left.

Anyway, Fazel and I ended up learning studying from Suran and swordsmanship from Trean together.

Like that, spring was passing.