Chapter 1.6

Richard had struggled for days to protect the massive secret under his bed, but in the end, he had managed to gather some information. Today was the day to report his findings to his ruthless employer, Greta Lievo. The effort he had put into uncovering information about Duke Adantie, who was like a fortress in human form! But that wicked Greta Lievo would never appreciate his hard work. Richard inwardly shed tears.  

“So, what’s the result?”  

Greta asked, her gaze sharp and serious, almost glaring at Richard.  

“First, Duke Adantie’s romantic history is….”  

Gulp. Greta swallowed nervously.  

“Nonexistent.”  

“What?! How can someone as perfect as a creation of the gods have no romantic history? Are you even doing your job properly?!”  

“It’s true! Since he started living as a mercenary at such a young age, constantly moving around, and later during the Great Demon War, he barely had time to survive, let alone think about romance. There might have been casual encounters, but no actual relationships—that’s the consensus among the knights who fought alongside him. Of course, his life before the war isn’t well-documented, so we can’t be sure about his mercenary days.”  

“Then he could have an unforgettable first love.”  

“Don’t anyone should have one? It’d be stranger if someone his age didn’t have at least one person they liked. That would be truly terrifying!”  

“You’re no help at all! What’s next?”  

Richard, fuming at his subordinate position, wanted nothing more than to smack her on the head.  

“Since he has no romantic history, he obviously isn’t seeing anyone now. Not even a courtesan or a commoner. It seems like he’s cut ties with everyone from his mercenary days. So even if he has an unforgettable first love, he’s not meeting her.”  

“Really?”  

“Absolutely. Right after the war, when he was granted his title, he was so severely injured that he barely managed to attend the ceremony looking half-dead.”  

At this, Greta couldn’t help but feel a pang of sorrow.

“That time, I wondered if that could even be considered a human figure, but later, when he appeared all neat and tidy, claiming, ‘I am the commander of the knights,’ I was genuinely shocked. Anyway, after the war, he stayed secluded in the Adantie ducal residence for a while, focusing on healing and rehabilitation from his injuries. He only started actively participating in the knights’ activities a few years ago. Since joining the knights, his life has been monotonous: work, the imperial palace, and his mansion. It’s already widely known that he doesn’t have an official fiancée, and as for partners who accompany him on official occasions, they’re strictly political figures chosen by His Highness the Crown Prince or individuals representing the Crown Princess.”

“And? And?”  

“And?”  

“What about his preferences or things he likes?”  

Richard became tight-lipped. Seeing this, Greta let out a sharp yell.  

“You left out the most important part?!”  

“No, I told you! His life is monotonous! He trains in swordsmanship every day, occasionally gets summoned by His Highness the Crown Prince, and then returns to his mansion after work. How would I know anything personal?”  

“There must be something! You’re in the same knight order!”  

Richard couldn’t bring himself to admit that the Duke of Adantie didn’t hang out with him. Of course, the Duke didn’t hang out with anyone personally. He was a hero admired by all the knights, practically a public figure. A public figure named ‘Iron Wall.’ If one wanted to have a one-on-one conversation with him, they’d need a highly official reason and an appointment.  

“Well, uh, the Duke isn’t very sociable… and I haven’t been in the First Knight Order for long….”  

“Ugh, seriously! You’re useless!”  

“S-sorry….”  

Fearing that the secret under his bed might be fully exposed, Richard felt like crying. But Greta wasn’t the type of malicious younger sibling to torment him to the point of despair, though she would occasionally use his weaknesses to get what she wanted.  

“Fine. Still, if it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have learned this much.”  

“Really? Really?”  

“Here, go buy yourself something tasty.”  

Greta shoved a small wallet with some allowance into Richard’s pocket. Somehow, the roles felt reversed—a jobless younger sister giving her working brother pocket money. 

Well, who cares? It’s all good. 

Simple-minded Richard grinned widely.  

Although Greta had obtained low-quality information through Richard, she still had no idea how to use it to win her destined love, which hadn’t even begun. She decided to confess her secret crush to her friend—her soulmate, Tara, whom she had met at the academy.  

Greta pulled out her communication crystal.  

“I’m busy. Speak quickly.”  

Unfortunately, her soulmate was so busy chasing her dreams and future that she barely had time for her friends.  

“Tara, I have a confession to make.”  

“Unless it’s a marriage proposal, go ahead. I already have someone to marry.”  

“Uh, no. It’s not that.”  

“So, what is it?”  

Thus began Greta’s story. When the subject of her crush came up, Tara pushed aside the abstract for her unfinished thesis. Stories about a friend’s love life, especially a crush, were always fascinating. However, when Greta revealed the object of her affection, Tara was horrified.  

“My goodness, the Duke of Adantie? Are you talking about Ragaen Sol Adantie?”  

“Yes.”  

“My goodness. He doesn’t have an arm! He can’t shoot a bow!”  

“That doesn’t matter! I’m good at archery!”  

“Sure, missing an arm isn’t an issue beyond archery. But isn’t he completely different from your usual type? Weren’t you into delicate, fragile men who seemed like they needed protection? The Duke feels more like someone you need to protect the world from….”  

“I changed my type to Ragaen Sol Adantie that day.”  

“You’re serious.”  

“I’m very serious.”  

After discussing their thoughts on love for a while, Tara finally came to terms with the fact that her close friend had changed her ideal type entirely for Ragaen Sol Adantie.  

Eventually, Greta got to the main point.  

“Eurika said it’s good to see him often, but I have no idea how to do that.”  

“Wow, are you stupid?”  

“Yeah, I guess so.”  

“You’ve completely lost it.”  

Tara shook her head on the other side of the crystal.  

“My friend, you haven’t just lost your mind to love; your brain has gone empty too! You! Did you thank the Duke for saving you or not?”  

“What? Uh, um…?”  

“A month ago, he saved you. Did you personally thank him? Personally!”  

“Uh, I don’t think so. Mother said she expressed our gratitude, but….”  

“Ugh, you idiot! Still, this could be an opportunity. Ask to meet the Duke right away. Say you want to thank him, even if it’s late.”  

“Eek!”  

“What’s with the ‘eek’?”  

“I-I’m too scared to do that.”  

Greta briefly imagined herself writing a letter to Ragaen directly and felt a chill run down her spine. She just couldn’t muster the courage. Seeing this, Tara clicked her tongue.  

“Then ask Richard to do it for you. It’s already super late, but if you wait any longer, you won’t be able to say anything at all. Timing is everything in life, my friend!”  

“Ugh, I guess that’s true?”  

“Yes, it’s true!”  

“Alright, I’ll try….”  

“Make sure you try, and let me know the results. Share them in real-time!”  

“O-okay….”  

At Tara’s stern voice, Greta replied in a small, timid voice. After ending the communication, Greta fell deep into thought.  

‘It’s been a month, and now saying I want to thank him would make me seem really weird. But if not for that incident, I wouldn’t have any reason to meet him at all. So if I miss this chance and keep hesitating, I’ll truly have no dreams or hopes or future.’  

Her worries continued. Her thoughts spiraled between the worst possible outcome and the most ideal conclusion, repeatedly lifting her spirits to the sky and then crashing them to the ground. 

An hour later, just as Richard was preparing to go out and enjoy himself with the allowance Greta had given him, he was summoned again.  

“Richard.”  

“W-why again? It was over earlier.”  

Richard felt a chill down his spine at her ominous tone.  

“I have a favor to ask.”  

“Oh, not again!”  

“Tell the Duke that I want to thank him for what happened at the hunting competition and ask him to meet me. You must secure an appointment. Make sure he agrees. Got it? Now go.”  

“Hey, hey!”  

“Promise me. Do it. I’m going out soon to buy a gift for the Duke. If you don’t secure the appointment, the gift I buy will have no owner. And if that happens, if that happens…. I don’t know what I might do.”  

“Hey…!”  

Click. The door closed.  

Richard felt despair.  

“To think someone like that is my sister!”  

He recalled hearing somewhere that people are born into families with their enemies from past lives. 

Could it be true?