Chapter 12

“…After the Knight Order Commander died, things must have been very hard for you, Dion. If only I had found a way to help you a little sooner…”

“No, Miss, I know you did your best. It’s just that at that time, because of my father’s death, which I hadn’t expected, I realized painfully how incompetent I was. Since my father was such an upright man, there were people who didn’t look kindly on us, so we were also pressured to leave the official residence quickly.”

“What? Who on earth…!”

“There wasn’t much money left either, since my mother had helped out relatives… It was then that I heard the story. About Young Viscount.”

“What did my brother say?”

Dion looked at Lisbeth, who was angry, and gave a powerless smile.

He regretted his younger self, who had believed that was her brother’s way of loving Lisbeth.

‘Eavesdropping like that, how shameless!’

‘I’m sorry, Young Viscount. But, Miss, m-marriage? Miss is only seventeen, isn’t she?’

‘There are marriage proposals coming in from everywhere. Lisbeth is the precious daughter of the family. Isn’t it natural that many families want her?’

‘B-but. Young Viscount… Miss and I…’

‘Ha, really. Dion.’

At that time, Lisbeth’s brother smiled as if he felt sorry for him. But was it really pity? Thinking back now, it might have been contempt.

Lisbeth’s brother, arms crossed, sat on the desk and explained Dion’s situation to him.

‘The Commander was awarded a brevet title for his achievements. You know what a brevet title is, right? Your father can’t pass on the title, so you’re not a noble. Besides, your father was so upright that he didn’t save anything, right? There’s already a report that you’ll have to leave the official residence soon. Do you have anywhere to go after that?’

‘…That, not yet…’

‘I know you two love each other. Honestly, if the Commander were still alive and you two were a bit older, I might have mentioned something to Father. You take after your father and have some talent, so if you achieved something, you could be awarded a brevet title like the Commander and maybe even become a son-in-law. That’s what I thought.’

It was probably just something he said to sound nice. At the time, Dion was grateful and blamed his own lack of ability, believing Young Viscount really thought that way.

But in reality, to the Young Viscount, Dion was nothing but a bothersome obstacle—someone who had to be removed to easily sell off his useful little sister.

‘If you insist on staying by Beth’s side, I won’t stop you. But think about how others will see her. You were once the Knight Order Commander’s son, but now, well. Aren’t you just a penniless commoner?’

‘I’ll do whatever it takes to earn a title, or at least become a knight, so I can be someone she won’t be ashamed of. Young Viscount, I, I truly…’

‘Yes, yes, I know. I know.’

But in the end, the Young Viscount said he couldn’t help him. At that time, Dion realized painfully that with nothing to his name, he was nothing but a burden to Lisbeth.

‘If I tell Father, maybe he’ll let you help out with his work… And I’ll find out soon how much money I can use, since I was told to ask. Dion, I’m sorry it’s so hard for you and that I can’t help sooner.’

Seeing the young and gentle Beth apologizing, Dion couldn’t stand it. He avoided Lisbeth for days. Even when she called or came looking for him, he didn’t show his face. Then he persuaded his mother and quickly packed their things and left the Marquis’s house.

Without even saying goodbye to Lisbeth. He couldn’t remember what he was thinking at the time. He just thought disappearing quickly, as the burden he was, was the best thing for her.

Looking back, it was an incredibly cowardly thing to do… After telling his story, Dion bowed his head deeply.

“You can call me a fool. I have no excuse. In the end, I was only thinking of myself. I acted on my wounded pride, shaken by the reality in front of me, rather than thinking of the pain and hurt you would suffer.”

“…So, after you disappeared without a word, where did you go?”

“I went to the countryside, where my mother’s relatives lived. It was far from the capital, but perhaps because we had helped them before, they let us use a small room.”

“Then, couldn’t you have become a knight or an official and come back to find me?”

At the resentment in Lisbeth’s voice, Dion bowed his head even lower.

“My relatives weren’t well off either. To support my mother and myself, we needed money right away. In that situation, it was impossible to become a knight’s squire or prepare for the civil service exam. That’s when I found a way to lessen the burden and even get paid. It was to enter the temple.”

“…Don’t tell me that’s why you became a priest?”

“Did you think I became a priest because I was incredibly devout?”

Lisbeth nodded. Isn’t that what it means to become a priest? To dedicate everything to the Gods, to give up both body and mind, and walk the path of praising only the Gods.

A priest vows to distance themselves from all worldly pleasures. Their body and mind belong to the Gods, so any act for personal enjoyment is not allowed. But to hear that he chose the path of Priesthood not out of firm conviction, but to escape poverty, was shocking.

Seeing the stunned Lisbeth, Dion smiled sadly.

“Unfortunately, there are countless people like me.”

“…But, if so, Dion…”

That’s not sincere. That can’t make you happy. 

Dion nodded, as if he understood the words Lisbeth couldn’t bring herself to say.

“Yes, I am someone who deceived both the Gods and myself. Still, I never regretted it. Thanks to that, my mother could live comfortably, and I was able to study more of what I wanted. Surprisingly, I was good at spreading the teachings of the Gods, so even the High Priest heard about me.”

“…”

“Until I heard news of you in the capital, I truly had no regrets.”

Dion’s eyes reddened.

“I hated myself for dreaming of becoming High Priest, forgetting the sin I had committed against you. When I learned how terrible your past had been…”

“It’s not your fault, Dion. It’s just… something that could happen to anyone.”

It was just one of the many paths a noble family’s daughter could face. Her father and brother were incompetent but ambitious. On top of that, her father, mother, brother, and younger brother were all extravagant.