“What’s wrong?”

“It feels like something has changed.”

His handsome features were the same. But the melancholy that always lingered on his face was gone.

“Does it feel that way?”

“Yes. You seem more at ease.”

“Actually, I have something to tell you. After this month, I plan to secularize.”

“What? Secularize?”

To hear the word ‘secularize’ from Gined, who seemed destined to live and die as a holy knight?

If he had said this a year ago, I would have immediately thought of marriage.

But now, I just wanted to genuinely bless his future.

“I realized through you. Until now, I was just wallowing in self-pity, running away without any effort. That’s why I regret the past so much. So, I intend to face my past even now. I hope it’s not too late.”

I didn’t want to give him any clumsy comfort. Instead, I gladly sent my encouragement.

“That’s a brave decision! I hope everything goes well for you as you intend. Where do you plan to stay in the future? If you don’t have any plans, you can come to the capital. I can help you find a suitable place to stay.”

Gined shook his head.

“I plan to return to my homeland.”

Gined’s homeland, the Kingdom of Freyr, was quite far from the empire or the Holy Kingdom. Once he returned, it would be difficult to see him. While it was welcome news that he had resolved himself, it was quite sad.

“I’ve heard the Kingdom of Freyr is a beautiful country. Unlike you, Sir, I’ll come right away if you invite me.”

“Thank you, lady. Meeting you has been a great fortune for me.”

Gined reverently kissed the back of my hand.

With a relieved face, he looked like an ordinary young man. A young man who gets hurt by trivial things and heals from them with trivial reasons. Of course, his appearance was far from ordinary.

I sincerely prayed that his wounds would heal.

* * *

Iscallion was tending the garden as usual today.

In the spring garden, statice flowers of a color similar to Lou’s hair were in full bloom. The cute, dainty flowers reminded him more of Lou the more he looked at them.

He wanted to pick a bunch and present them to her. But Lou always refused, saying she preferred to just look at them.

Iscallion put down the scissors he had aimed at the stems and gently touched the petals. As Lou said, the flowers seemed prettier now, firmly rooted in the ground, rather than wilting in a vase.

“When will she come…?”

Right now, Lou was away from the mansion. Occasionally, she would leave for a long time and then return after a while. And her face was always glowing with anticipation when she left.

Iscallion quickly realized that Lou had fallen in love with someone else. Although it was disappointing that her affection wasn’t directed at him, he wasn’t lonely.

Suddenly, a small shadow fell over his head. The Duchess had shaded him with a parasol.

“It’s hot today. How about we stop here and have some tea together?”

Already thirsty, he had no reason to refuse.

In front of the Duke and Duchess was black tea, and in front of Iscallion was a cool fruit juice. He preferred cool, sweet drinks over tea. But his favorite was snacks and cakes.

As he unconsciously tried to stuff his mouth with cake, he belatedly cut a piece with a fork.

The Duke and Duchess watched him fondly. But after he had eaten more than five pieces of cake, their expressions became subtle.

The Duke, unable to bear it any longer, stopped him.

“Stop eating now. Too much sweet stuff isn’t good for you. And don’t forget to brush your teeth.”

“Yes.”

When Iscallion obediently put down the fork, the Duke’s heart softened again.

In the end, he slid his untouched cake towards Iscallion.

“Just this once.”

“Thank you.”

Iscallion thanked him politely. His speech, which had been awkward like a foreigner’s, now felt quite natural. He savored the last piece of cake as much as possible. No matter how much he ate, it was always sweet and soft.

“It’s amazing how he doesn’t gain weight despite eating like that.”

“He works hard. Even if he’s as slim as you, he’s fundamentally different from a picky eater like you.”

The Duke pretended not to hear his wife’s words.

“Is the work too hard?”

“It’s fine. I’m very strong, so I don’t get tired easily.”

Iscallion said boastfully. The Duke chuckled.

“Good. Being healthy is the best.”

Even after finishing their drinks, the three of them continued chatting for a long time.

Iscallion found it fascinating. Despite being so close and casual, he felt completely comfortable and unbothered.

He was naturally blending into the Duke’s family. Although they didn’t share blood, he thought this must be what family is.

But there were times when he was plagued by inexplicable anxiety. And since such feelings were familiar, he might have been a person far removed from happiness in the past.

Iscallion feared that this happiness might be an illusion.

When he suddenly stopped talking, the Duchess carefully observed his expression.

“What’s the matter?”

“Oh, nothing.”

“Are you feeling unwell?”

A gentle hand touched his forehead.

“No fever.”

“I’m really fine. Maybe it’s because I ate too much cake. I think I’ll feel better if I drink some tea.”

“You finally appreciate the taste of tea, Leon. You’re an adult now.”

This time, the Duke personally poured tea into a cup for him.

As soon as he took a sip, the characteristic bitterness spread in his mouth. Iscallion slightly furrowed his brows.

“How is it?”

“It’s good.”

He lied. But after saying it, he felt like it wasn’t so bad. He hated bitter things, but he liked the aroma of the tea.

He took another sip.

This time, the fragrance preceded the bitterness.

“I really like it.”

Even if his current happiness disappeared, he felt that he would never forget the aroma of the tea he drank today.

* * *

“Can’t you change your mind now?”

The Pope spoke heavily.

“My mind is already made up.”

Gined replied.

With his last persuasion attempt failing, the Pope finally gave up. Instead, he burst out in anger.

“Fine, but don’t think of setting foot in the Holy Kingdom again. I don’t want to see your face, so get out!”

“I pray for your peace, Your Holiness.”

But the Pope did not accept his farewell.

Gined hid his complicated feelings and returned to his room. Then he took off his clerical robes and changed into his newly bought clothes. Wearing casual clothes for the first time in a long while felt very unfamiliar.

Respecting his wish to leave quietly, only his subordinate holy knights and the three priestesses who had accompanied him to Pontos saw him off.

After brief goodbyes, as he was leaving the main temple, someone called out to him loudly from behind.

“Sir Roengreen!”

Turning around, he saw High Priest Dominique hurriedly running towards him. After catching his breath for a while, he handed him a small pouch.

“Take this.”

The High Priest said.

When he opened it, it was filled with silver coins.

“You’ve spent your entire salary on the Holy Knight Order’s operating expenses again, haven’t you? Knowing your personality, you wouldn’t have left any travel expenses.”

At Dominique’s pointed words, Gined gave an embarrassed smile.

“…It’s fine.”

“Take it. If you stubbornly refuse until the end, I’ll really get angry.”

Dominique’s tone made it clear he wouldn’t back down this time.

Overwhelmed by his determination, Gined reluctantly accepted the pouch. Only then did Dominique’s face soften.

“Thank you.”

“Now that you’ve secularized, eat lots of good food, sleep in, and enjoy your youth. And even if the secular world is too enjoyable, don’t forget to visit here occasionally. Despite what His Holiness says, he’ll be secretly waiting for you.”

“I’ll definitely visit.”

After patting Gined’s shoulder a few times, Dominique turned away.

Gined watched his retreating figure for a while before finally leaving the Holy Kingdom.

The journey back to his homeland was unexpectedly leisurely and enjoyable. As Dominique had suggested, he indulged in snacks and took naps.

Despite nearly a decade of disciplined living, he quickly adapted to ordinary days.

Finally, he arrived at the royal palace. Everyone immediately recognized him upon his return.

Not only was the fame of Holy Knight Gined Roengreen widespread, but he was also a prince too beautiful and kind-hearted to forget.

The quiet palace buzzed with his arrival.

While everyone was unsure of what to do, the queen ran out, abandoning her dignity.

“Gined!”

However, she stopped a little distance away, unable to approach him directly.

The mother and son, reunited after a long time, exchanged awkward and stiff greetings.

After a while, the queen spoke.

“Follow me. You need to greet the king.”

Gined followed the queen with heavy steps.

As she looked back at him, the queen added cautiously.

“The king prayed for you every day. He was very proud to hear that you became an excellent holy knight.”

But he couldn’t believe his mother’s words. Did the king truly worry about his adopted son, with whom he shared no blood?

He was suddenly terrified. He didn’t know how to face the king. He wanted to turn around and run away.

Suddenly, the face of the bravest and most reckless person he knew popped into his head.

If Lou saw him now, what would she say?

Gined could easily imagine.

‘If you’re going to regret it anyway, just face it without hesitation!’

In his imagination, she smiled brightly and comforted him. Gined barely managed to gather his scattered courage.

The queen led him to a chapel within the palace. A man was kneeling in prayer before a statue of the Mother Goddess.

“Greet him.”

The queen stepped aside to give them privacy.

Gined slowly approached the man. He was smaller and thinner than Gined remembered.

The man turned around slowly.

He stood still, staring at Gined for a long time. But Gined saw intense emotions flickering in his eyes.

The king finally spoke in a trembling voice.

“You’ve returned, my son.”

His wrinkled hand gently touched Gined’s smooth cheek. Unsure of what to do, Gined bowed his head. Facing the king’s face, which bore no resemblance to his own, the guilt he had suppressed began to resurface.

At that moment, a gentle breeze blew, ruffling the hair of both men.

Gined stared blankly at the king’s hair. What was once dark brown had turned silver, like his own.

Sensing his gaze, the king smiled.

“When you were young, you always lamented that you didn’t resemble me. Do you remember what I said each time?”

Overwhelmed with indescribable emotions, Gined nodded silently. Whenever he pouted, the king always gave the same answer.

‘When you grow up and become an adult, we’ll surely find things in common.’

“Every time I saw this hair, I thought of you.”

“…You were right, Father. I was foolish.”

“It’s enough that you understand now. Thank you for coming back.”

Gined realized that he had always missed the king. And that he had been his true son from the beginning.

It was the moment his long wandering finally came to an end.