Epilogue.1

Ellen had to assist the villagers, while Leon, as an Imperial Knight, had to stay in Melchia, marking the beginning of their long-distance relationship.  

Though the distance was vast and both were busy, they compensated by exchanging letters.  

[Leon, the villagers have finally realized how skilled you are. They all feel sorry and, as an apology, they plan to send the Guilford family the harvest they’ve collected. I’ve already given them the address, so it should arrive this week. The villagers’ sincerity is deeply embedded in these gifts, so please enjoy them all—it would make them happy.  

Also, I have good news regarding Lady Rhoda. She’s pregnant! You wouldn’t believe how thrilled Mr. Rhoda is. If it’s a boy, they plan to name him Leon, hoping he’ll grow up strong and admirable like you. If it’s a girl, they’ll name her Ellen—you can probably guess why. So please visit Alber Village before the baby is born.  

Everyone wants to see you. Of course, I miss you too. Let me know if you plan a visit—I’ll be waiting eagerly.]  

[It’s good to hear everyone is doing well. I’ve returned as the ace of the Knight Order. This is all thanks to you, Ellen. During my next leave, I’ll bring some of my fellow knights to visit.]  

Ellen’s letters remained lengthy, while Leon’s were brief.  

However, Leon sent twice as many letters as Ellen did. Perhaps feeling guilty for not replying in the past, he made up for it by sending short but frequent letters. Thanks to this, Ellen never felt lonely.  

Ellen had no immediate plans for marriage. While she wasn’t considering marrying Leon right away, it wasn’t solely because she had things she wanted to accomplish in Alber Village—it was mostly out of rebellion against her father.  

Viscount Novary’s constant insistence on marriage had made Ellen develop a near-phobia of the word itself.  

Previously, her father had tried to pair her with men she didn’t love, but now he wanted her to marry the man she did love. Though the situation had changed, her feelings remained the same—she didn’t want it.  

For now, Ellen wanted to enjoy her relationship with Leon, and she didn’t see the necessity of rushing into marriage.  

Additionally, Ellen’s business ventures were at a critical stage.  

Fortunately, the products she had worked on with the villagers were beginning to sell reasonably well in the city, and the income generated was likely to restore the Novary household to its former financial state.  

If Viscount Novary could avoid being overly greedy, the family could maintain their estate and live comfortably.  

With just a bit more effort, their finances could stabilize. Ellen planned to deepen her interactions with the villagers until Luca grew old enough to help her.  

Ellen thought she might consider marriage once her goals were nearly achieved. Of course, this wasn’t a decision she made alone—Leon respected her opinions.  

“Are you sure you’ll follow my wishes? What if I decide never to marry?”  

Ellen asked Leon for confirmation before he returned to Melchia.  

“You don’t need to marry right away. But forever… that’s a bit difficult. I’ll just have to try my best to make you want to marry me.”  

Leon’s lips curved into a smile despite his uncertain expression.  

“I can accept most of your decisions, but there’s one thing I can’t tolerate.”  

“What is it?”  

“I hope you won’t meet other men alone. Especially not with Young Lord Goat—I would prefer you never meet him at all.”  

“But I’ll have to meet him for work.”  

“You can relay messages through your brothers. You have two of them, so just use whichever one is convenient.”  

While Leon respected Ellen’s opinions, he was adamant about one thing: avoiding contact with other men.  

Whether it was conversations, assistance, or anything else, he disliked it. He especially forbade any meetings with Bernard.  

Even though Bernard was currently rebelling against Viscount Goat and maintaining his relationship with Emma, Leon still harbored a strong dislike for him.  

“How can you focus on your work if you’re always worried about me talking to other men? You’ve only just been accepted back into the Knight Order—are you planning to get reprimanded again? How do you manage with so much jealousy?”  

“Do you think it’s just jealousy? My possessiveness is quite strong as well.”  

Leon’s lips curled into a faint smile. His relaxed demeanor was still irritating yet endearing to Ellen.  

Avoiding one-on-one meetings with other men wasn’t a difficult task for Ellen. Considering how much she received from Leon compared to what she gave, fulfilling his request wasn’t a challenge.  

Instead of responding verbally, Ellen gently bit his lower lip and released it with a radiant smile.  

The next day, Leon reluctantly returned to Melchia.  

“Wow! Another letter from Leon today?”  

Ellen’s lips curled into a smile as she checked the letter from the Guilford household. She eagerly anticipated what it might contain. Holding the letter, she cheerfully headed to her bedroom.  

“Ellen!”  

She heard someone calling her from behind. Turning around, she saw Viscount Novary looking at her with a displeased expression.  

“What is it?”  

“When are you planning to marry? Has Sir Guilford proposed yet?”  

As soon as their eyes met, Viscount Novary started nagging. Despite Ellen rejecting marriage twice, he still fixated on it.  

Ellen sighed deeply.  

“You wouldn’t approve of the men I brought home anyway.”  

Ellen wasn’t pleased with Viscount Novary’s attitude, so she ignored his words.  

There was a specific reason for Ellen’s coldness toward Viscount Novary.  

When Ellen informed her family about her relationship with Leon, she received congratulations from everyone except Viscount Novary.  

‘Sister, your first love has finally come true. Congratulations.’  

‘Congratulations, Ellen.’  

‘Congrats, sis.’  

Her mother, Anna, and Luca all celebrated. While Leon had already won their favor before dating Ellen, they were especially delighted that Ellen had succeeded in her long-time crush.  

But Viscount Novary was different.  

‘How dare you lie to me?’  

He refused to believe her. He ranted about how she hadn’t managed to attract any men during the social season and couldn’t possibly be dating a nobleman of Leon’s stature. Then, he insisted she stop lying and marry Bernard.  

‘….’  

Ellen wanted nothing more than to sever ties with her father, but as the head of the Novary household, she couldn’t simply cast him aside. So she endured.  

Viscount Novary’s attitude changed dramatically the moment he saw Leon.  

‘You’ve finally done it,’ he muttered absurdly, then immediately demanded they hold the wedding.  

Done what? 

Ellen felt embarrassed by her father’s behavior and glanced at Leon, but fortunately, he didn’t seem to mind.  

As a result, the person most dissatisfied with Ellen and Leon’s long-distance relationship was Viscount Novary. Every time he saw Ellen, he would call her over and nag her, just as he was doing now.