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“Stop!!”

At Burgor’s command, all the boy soldiers dropped their wooden swords and sat down on the ground.

The training ground was filled with heavy breathing.

And alongside that heavy breathing, cheers erupted here and there.

The ones cheering were from the ‘Kyle Unit’, our side.

“…Hah.”

The guy whose neck I was aiming at with my wooden sword sighed.

It was Yanes, who was also in charge of leading 50 boy soldiers just like me.

At 18, mature, and rumored to have had a fling with some maid… a man with a scruffy beard.

There was a mock battle between Yanes’s unit and mine.

The battle ends when we make the opposing unit’s captain surrender.

Yanes was bent on losing to me, so the training was over.

“What just hit me?”

Yanes complained indignantly as he pushed my wooden sword away.

His forehead was swollen red from the mark of my recent hit.

“Even with this size difference, I still get beaten every time…”

I chuckled at his remark and extended my hand.

Yanes glanced at me for a moment, then nodded and took my hand to get up.

Standing up, he was a head taller and bulkier than me.

As he quietly inspected me, he said,

“Aren’t you in a growth phase? It feels like you keep getting taller every month.”

“I am in a growth phase.”

“Just how monstrous are you going to become? Is this why Rondore lost?”

As Yanes muttered this in complaint, Balron, Willas, and Martin came up with grins and patted my shoulder.

“Good job, Kyle! Thanks to you, I don’t have to do laundry!” Balron said with a smile.

Willas chimed in cheekily, directing his words at Yanes, “Hey, Yanes, make sure to bring clean clothes!”

“And clean the sleeping quarters properly!” Martin added in.

They snickered as they teased Yanes.

It seemed that after the maid rumors circulated, their teasing towards Yanes had intensified.

Yanes shook his head as if he found their provocation absurd, but he was smiling.

Seeing the corner of his mouth lift slightly, it looked like he wasn’t too bothered by it.

This wasn’t just a conversation between us, either.

The boy soldiers of my unit who were knocked down by Yanes’s unit were too busy teasing their opponents while lying on the ground.

I realized then.

Testing physical strength and tactics was one thing, but it was considerably helping to build camaraderie and trust within our unit.

If I were back in my hometown, I’d have to manage and lead knights like my father, so I couldn’t help but notice these aspects.

“To our lord, salute!”

At the sudden shout, the boy soldiers who were laid out on the training ground hurriedly jumped up.

They saluted a girl with red hair approaching from a distance.

I simply stood still, looking up at her.

Her eyes were also searching for me.

-Nod.

Vivian gave me a short nod as a signal.

I handed my wooden sword to Balron and asked, “Can you put this away?”

“Looks like you’re being called again. Don’t let them bully you, okay?” Balron said as he took the sword.

“We’ll just take it easy.” Yanes added, teasing me as if getting revenge.

I shook my head and moved on.

I stood a bit behind Vivian, following her.

It didn’t seem like Vivian had a specific destination in mind either.

She seemed to be wandering aimlessly, trying to pass the time.

“Why did you call for me?”

I asked her.

Vivian paused for a moment, then responded in a flat voice while looking ahead.

“I think we need to have dinner earlier today.”

“Why?”

“…I have something to do at night.”

After dinner, Vivian would always shut herself in her room as night fell.

No matter how many knocks I gave, she would tell me to leave, and even when I tried to open the door, it was always locked, leaving me curious about what she was up to.

My anxiety may have stemmed from how precarious she always seemed.

Recently, though, she appeared to be settling somewhat, so it seemed alright to some extent.

“What on earth do you do every night?” I suddenly asked.

“…”

Vivian paused in silence at my question before softly responding.

“What do you care?”

“Just curious.”

With my lax response, Vivian concealed the sharpness she had prepared.

With a sigh, she answered.

“…It’s just studying.”

“…”

Studying, huh?

I couldn’t respond much.

Having observed her efforts lately, I felt it was wrong to tease her anymore.

I followed her in silence.

Vivian turned right at the corner of the castle.

I stopped her and pointed towards the river ahead.

“Let’s go that way. We can rest and enjoy the view.”

“…”

Vivian didn’t reply, but her body steadily moved towards the river.

The rivershore was always nice.

The gentle flow of the water brought a sense of peace, and it provided an escape from the hostile adults around.

The suffocating atmosphere felt within the castle seemed to flow away with the water.

With the guards a bit behind, it became the perfect spot to relax.

Vivian seemed aware of this too, pushing away the guards and approaching the river.

While taking in the scenery, I picked up stones from the ground and began skipping them across the water.

Vivian quietly sat next to me, watching the splashes as the stones hit the water.

As I tossed stones and stole glances at Vivian multiple times, I noticed her expression gradually zoning out, suggesting she had some troubles of her own weighing on her.

I asked,

“Does it feel real?”

With a blink, she returned to reality and asked back.

“What?”

“Do you feel it’s real?”

“…What do you mean?”

“You gathered everyone and complained about it. Do you think anything has changed?”

Finally comprehending my words, Vivian let out a small chuckle.

Within her laughter lingered an unrecognizable fatigue and a hint of self-reflection.

“It feels real. Everyone’s expressions are quite intense. You’d understand if you were in my shoes.”

-Thud.

Suddenly wanting to look at the sky, Vivian laid back.

The grass softly bent beneath her, forming her bed.

Her red hair spread like flowing water in the gentle breeze.

As I looked at her peaceful expression gazing up at the sky, it felt like my breath caught in my throat.

It became hard to look at her, so I kept throwing the unfortunate stones into the river.

“It feels like everyone is just waiting to kill me…”

Vivian whispered, unaware of my changes.

Hearing those words made my heart feel heavy. Trying to lift the somber atmosphere, I playfully said,

“What should I do? I won’t be here in 10 days.”

In 10 days, the Rondore knight battalion would set out.

I heard I’d be living outside for at least 10 days this time.

It meant I would be separated from Vivian for 10 days.

I expected responses like, ‘I’ll be just fine without you’ or ‘Do you think you matter?’ or ‘I already told you, no need to protect me,’ but Vivian was silent.

Surprised by her silence, I turned back to see a subtle fear and worry emerge on her face.

I felt a bit embarrassed for even bringing it up.

It made me wonder just how much pressure she was under while trying to act strong.

Realizing that the fierce expressions of the retainers weren’t just exaggerations after all.

She noticed my gaze and quickly hid her expression.

I also turned a blind eye and threw one more stone into the river.

“…Well, I guess I need to plan well. Prepare 10 days’ worth of food. So I don’t starve like last time…”

I was rambling without much coherence. But I could tell that these words didn’t comfort her at all.

In a way, it might be a kind of growing pain.

Even if the retainers acted more viciously, or if she had to face even more dangerous situations… she had no choice but to endure.

“…I’ll need to bring along a lot of maids.”

Vivian finally blurted out.

But both she and I knew that wouldn’t solve anything fundamentally.

Rather, trying to increase the number of maids protecting her might actually bring those who wish her harm even closer.

As our hearts awkwardly collided, Vivian slowly got up.

I didn’t look at her.

She dusted off her clothes and began to walk away.

She was now headed back.

“…Or…”

At that moment, I spoke without thinking.

She turned to look at me, and Vivian was also looking back at me.

It wasn’t the usual stubborn look in her eyes… rather, it was a hint of longing for help.

I could feel she was focused on what I had to say.

“…Or you could just come along on the expedition.”

“…What?” Her eyes widened in surprise.

If she came on the expedition, I could stay by her side.

Though it would mean being surrounded by smelly men, eating horrible food, walking to the point of exhaustion, and witnessing cruel sights… it would at least ensure her safety.

“As the lord, it’d be good for you to see what your soldiers are up to. It’s better to have a lord who participates rather than one who just commands from a distance.”

I even offered an excuse for her to follow along.

Vivian’s eyes wavered for a moment.

Seeing that she didn’t immediately dismiss my proposal, I felt a glimmer of hope.

“Have you ever been outside?”

I cautiously continued.

“The scenery is quite beautiful. It might be more enjoyable to get out and see things, even if it’s a bit rough, rather than being cooped up in this oppressive castle all the time.”

Like a rolling wheel, I was now seriously persuading her.

It felt like it would be better for her to be by my side, even if it was dangerous, rather than staying alone in the castle, anxious.

After contemplating for a long time while looking down at the ground, she slowly looked up at me.

Our eyes met.

…I could tell that she wanted to come along.

“…No.”

But her answer was the complete opposite.

“…My uncle will arrive at Roktana during the expedition. I have to welcome him as the leader of the Rondore.”

She rejected my proposal with logic and reasons far more solid than mine.

“…Suit yourself, then.”

Knowing she couldn’t break away from her position, I couldn’t find any more words to say.

Vivian turned her back and walked towards the castle.

In the end, only an uncomfortable silence lingered between us.

 

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