Chapter 32

Chapter 32

However, Nathan had been the first to know about the magic circle of the Sonen territory. Then it meant Hizen had been investigating it separately. As if to prove the idea, Hizen spoke insignificantly.

“We’ve already checked the other three places. We’ll take care of it as soon as possible.”

Hizen put the papers down on the table and raised himself up. He had nothing more to say as the deal was completed. Max also stood up with him.

As the two approached the door, Nathan opened his mouth.

“Hizen.”

Looking at Hizen, who stopped walking, Nathan sighed. After a long time, only bitter words to tell his friend’s son came to his mind. He spoke as if he were teaching the child without realizing it.

“I heard from the butler that you were still investigating the fire. If you’re going to waste your time…”

Waste your time. At the words, Hizen clenched his fists. He turned and spat words at Nathan.

“Your Grace the Duke. Did you just say it was a waste of time?”

His blue eyes were heavily colored with resentment and anger. Nathan felt sorry. He did not want Hizen, who he cared for like his son, to be tied to the past.

“Yes, it’s a waste of time. Stop doing the stupid thing of investigating what’s already over. It was an accident.”

Anger filled his throat. Hizen had to take several deep breaths to suppress it. He pressed down on everything and said in a harsh voice.

“Never mind. I’ll take care of my business.”

“It sounds like you’re telling me to ignore your father’s will.”

Nathan and Hizen stared at each other. Calibaut’s will to Nathan was to prevent Hizen from going the wrong way. Hizen had done so well that the will was overshadowed. It was clear that Calibaut, watching from heaven, would be proud. But Hizen had one big problem. He had clearly not yet forgotten the dead rose of Vermanga.

At first, Nathan thought little of Hizen’s feelings. It hurt, but he believed that he would become dull over time. However, over the years, Hizen’s mind has not changed. The long-festering wound had rotten away. It was really time to stop. Nathan emphasized by raising his voice.

“It’s not your fault that the child died.”

Hizen left the office without answering. Nathan called, but he did not stop walking. Max stared blankly at his back and bowed his head.

“I’m sorry, Your Grace the Duke. We’ll go now! Goodbye, then!”

Max also left the office before Nathan could answer. He followed Hizen and sighed. He knew that they did not get along well, but he did not know that their relationship had such an emotional depth.

The two left the building quietly. Max closed the door and told Hizen.

“Let’s go together.”

“No. I’ll go alone.”

“But…”

“I’m faster alone.”

Max closed his lips. There was nothing to refute because it was true, and Hizen’s expression was too dark to say anything else. Still, there was one thing to be clear about. Max asked carefully.

“Are you going to tell Miss Leasis about this?”

Hizen shook his head quietly. He could not help it, he had to say it after the amendment was passed. It was consideration for Leasis, as she wanted to join the Imperial Elite Knights. If he told her now and the amendment ended up being rejected, she would be hurt.

“We had to change it one day anyway. It’s not necessarily because of her.”

Yes, of course. Max took a deep breath inside. He risked all this trouble for Leasis, but he was not going to tell her the truth. Max felt sorry for Hizen, who had no knack of living in the world. Even if the amendment was not passed, Leasis would be moved just by the fact that Hizen did something for her. However, he did not say anything because it was their business.

Hizen and Max headed back to the Knights’ building. Then, by chance, Leasis, who had finished the laundry, found them. She came running as joyfully as usual.

“Count-nim! Count Dratius-nim!”

The tip of Hizen’s mouth went up slightly. He did not even eat macarons, but he had a sweet taste in his mouth. It seemed like honey was applied to his ears. When he turned his head, he saw Leasis running.

One, two, three, four…

“Count-nim, Count-nim! I didn’t expect to see you here?”

As Hizen predicted, Leasis was in front of him before he could count five seconds. He glanced down at her. He was worried that she might have been hurt yesterday, but it was no use. Leasis was bright and cheerful again today. Her sleeves were wet so he guessed she was working in the laundry.

His low mood got a little better, and a smile came up. From some point on, Leasis could control Hizen’s mood. When she smiled, the flowers seemed to be in full bloom in his heart.

“Haha. Miss Leasis. I’m here, too.”

“Ahh! Max-nim, I’m sorry. Hello, Max-nim.”

“Yes, hello.”

Max and Leasis greeted each other amicably. Hizen, who was staring at them, approached Leasis.

“…Count-nim?”

Large red eyes looked up at Hizen. He patted her head with a gentle touch. Leasis’ face suddenly heated up. It was an act of kindness that she could never have imagined. Suddenly, Hizen felt like someone else. She was embarrassed and bowed her head.

Hizen called her quietly.

“Leasis.”

“Yes, yes?”

Leasis raised her head. Her embarrassed red eyes and his calm blue eyes intertwined in the air. He was rarely smiling.

Hizen’s slightly curved eyes were like a sea embracing the sun. A calm and warm blue light. It was so beautiful that Leasis opened her mouth and admired them. As expected, Hizen looked much cooler with a smile. Time seemed to have stop like this, and she thought she only wanted to see him smile.

He looked at her and whispered low.

“Don’t look away, and clean my room well.”

What was that? Leasis blinked her red eyes. Before she could understand, he left. He could not add anymore delay to his departure because it was urgent.

When Hizen’s back was far away, she belatedly came to her senses and shouted.

“Count-nim! Count-nim, wait a minute! I need to tell you…”

She had to tell Hizen. She wanted to say she was sorry, and that she would try to become a member of the Imperial Elite Knights on her own. For the time being, she had to tell him that she would try to compete in the gladiator tournament.

In a hurry, Leasis tried to go after Hizen. But then, Max caught her.

“Miss Leasis. Not now. The Commander-nim has to carry out a top-level mission.”

“When… when will he come back?”

“He won’t be back for a while.”

Leasis stared blankly at Hizen’s back.

*

Due to Hizen’s absence, Leasis was given a special vacation. It was Hizen’s consideration for her. But she did not have a full vacation. At dawn, she cleaned up Hizen’s bedroom and the Commander’s office and helped the servants. After that, she spent the rest of the day and the evening at Liduré. No one told her to help, but she did it at random. She felt like she had to do anything to calm down.

Leasis’ expression on the counter chair of Liduré was dark. She sighed, fiddling with a wrapper containing macarons. The thought of Hizen made her head full of confusion. Most of them were regretful, but there was also a longing for a dream.

Leasis wanted to compete in the gladiator tournament as Owen had advised her. However, she was concerned about her participation without Hizen’s authorization, and what he would think if she did it. She continued to worry whether Hizen would allow her or not, and was therefore not confident about what to do.

The wrapping paper felt especially rough today. At that time, she heard the staff quarreling from the kitchen.

“Let’s go to the Maple Autumn Festival this time!”

“What are you talking about? In autumn there’s the gladiator tournament!”

The gladiator tournament. Leasis looked up. Compared to the other employees, a relatively young man and woman were arguing. They were a young couple recently hired at Liduré. The young man spoke loudly.

“The gladiator tournament will be the best. His Highness The Crown Prince is coming.”

“Ha. You don’t even understand how a woman feels?”

“You have to understand how a man feels! I went to the maple festival last year, so this year it’s definitely a sword fight for me.”

“Hmm! Leasis. What do you think? Yes? You think we should go to the maple festival in fall, right?”

“Leasis, aren’t you curious about the gladiator tournament?”

The couple came to the counter asking one after another. Leasis hesitated instead of folding the wrapper. She thought it would be better not to say anything because one person would get hurt no matter what her answer was.

The young couple had a quick temper. They kept pushing her. Leasis was hesitating and slightly opened her lips.

“I’m…”

“The gladiator tournament.”

The answer came out of the kitchen before Leasis could say it. When the three turned their heads, they saw Setchen. He came out of the kitchen and spoke in a stern voice.

“Of course it’s the gladiator tournament.”

“Why?”

The woman had a crying face. She could not ignore his opinion because Setchen was the second most powerful person in the store after Grien. Setchen said, twinkling his eyes.

“The gladiator tournament is the best. It’s nothing compared to just looking at leaves.”

“Sure! As expected, Young Master Setchen.”

The man and Setchen exchanged excited glances. The woman entered the kitchen irritated by the sight.

The man who won the argument began to chat with Setchen. This gladiator tournament would be the best ever, and he wondered who would win the title and become an imperial knight.

Hearing the story, Leasis became more disturbed. She sighed deeply. Owen’s words came to her mind again.

[Participate in this gladiator tournament! It is said that someone with great skills can be an imperial knight. And even if you don’t win, if you stand out in front of the Crown Prince, you’ll be able to get a good place!]

It was a great and sweet opportunity. However, Leasis did not respond readily. She had to talk to Hizen before participating. But Hizen left on a sudden mission. She could not help it without him. What could she do, a competition or something, when her master was not here?

Leasis folded macaron wrappers and sighed deeply again. Besides, there was one more reason. She had never actually fought before. She had only practiced against Neren, and her first time was when they caught the robbers. It was impossible for her to disgrace Hizen’s name in the gladiator tournament.

Anyway, for Leasis, other things were more important than achieving her dreams quickly. Especially when it came to Hizen, it was the most important.

“I’m going out with my mother’s permission!”

Leasis, who was absent-minded, looked up surprised. When she turned her head, the man was already gone, and Setchen was smiling at her.

Leasis’ red eyes blinked with suspicion. Setchen spoke triumphantly.

“The gladiator tournament. I’m going to compete in the gladiator tournament. Actually, I saved my pocket money without my mother knowing and hire a swordsmanship teacher.”

“A swordsmanship teacher?”

Leasis asked at the unfamiliar words. Then he replied in a very excited voice.

“Yes. The swordsmanship teacher told me that I could do well in this competition.”

A little boy like this in a swordsmanship contest. Leasis said outright no. Setchen must have been upset, so he pouted his lips.

“That’s mean. I thought Noona would support me even if no one else did…”

“But it’s still dangerous. If you get hurt, Grien-nim and I will be heartbroken.”

“What if I get hurt? Men get stronger when they get hurt.”

“Hey. Setchen, when you fell down before…”

“Stop talking about it! It’s time to forget. It was a long time ago!”

Anyway, she had a good memory for nothing! Setchen’s face turned red. He huffed and shook his hand in front of Leasis. She nodded at the desperate gesture.

Setchen grumbled and approached the shelves. The jewel-like macarons showed off their beautiful light. But they only looked like useless lumps in his eyes. It was a huge lump of sugar that blocked his dream.

After the robbery, Grien’s crackdown got worse. She was anxious that her precious son might get hurt. It backfired more on the little boy’s mind.

What Setchen needed was not overprotection. It was a family that believed and supported his dream. But there was no one by his side. Setchen clenched his fists.

‘You’ll see. I will definitely win the gladiator tournament and be recognized by my mother and Noona.’