Chapter 60

Hizen’s shoulders looked wider than ever when he left the dining room. Hesitating from behind, she caught him by the hem of his clothes.

“Hmm, Count-nim.”

He stopped walking, turned his head and looked down at Leasis. The two stopped in that position for a while and looked only at each other.

Reading concerns from her red eyes, Hizen smiled bitterly. The woman who wanted to be a knight still looked like a fool. How was she trying to get through this tough world?

Hizen reached out and patted her head. Her lips moved slightly at the friendly touch. What did she want to say? She had not even figured out what to do. Was it so hard to say thank you?

Hizen took off his cardigan and wrapped it around her shoulders. The cardigan had a generous size as it was tailored for Hizen, so she had a handful left.

She shivered a bit as he touched her shoulders affectionately.

“For the first time, I thought it was a good thing that Schwalnon came into the Imperial Knights.”

What do you mean? Leasis slightly raised her head at Hizen’s pleasant voice. He said, buttoning the cardigan carefully.

“Because of that idiot, I can be with you like this. I like it.”

It was a small and sweet voice that only Leasis could hear. Speaking softly, he held her trembling hand. A warm temperature was delivered to each other, and his heart was pounding.

He smiled, holding her rough hand.

“Leasis.”

“Yes?”

“I’m glad you came to this mansion.”

It seemed to be Hizen’s first time expressing good feelings out of his mouth. He spit out his words and scratched his cheek awkwardly. Then he said, pulling her hand.

“I’m so glad. So, think of it as your home until tomorrow and relax.”

Leasis shook her head. It seemed that Hizen, who was already busy, could not waste time because of her.

Despite her silence, Hizen remained firm. He led her by her hand to the library.

Upon arriving there, Hizen took out three old books from an empty bookshelf. He had been born into a family of knights, but he liked books better than swords. He had dreamed of becoming a scholar, reading books secretly without his father Calibaut knowing.

However, Calibaut had discovered it and had been furious that his son had not been able to get over the books.

Eventually, he had burned all the books of the mansion. In the meantime, the only thing left was a book related to the imperial court law and knights. The book had already worn out corners and its inner paper was discolored.

“It may be a little old, but it will help you.”

“Thank you.”

Leasis smiled happily as she received the book. Hizen looked at her closely.

“Smile like that. You look much better with a smile.”

“Please don’t joke.”

He had always said that she was a strange woman. Hizen smiled when Leasis hid her face with the book in shame. He moved to the corner to find one more book.

Leasis slipped down the book and glanced at him. Hizen in the mansion was more relaxed and soft than in the Imperial Palace.

‘This is what Count-nim looks like in his house…’

“Leasis.”

“Yes?”

“It’s homework.”

Hizen handed her the rest of the books. He advised her to completely memorize the contents of the books he had given her.

Leasis was confused because it was mostly books about laws. But there must be a reason for Hizen to say this.

“Okay.”

Hizen’s blue eyes shone when he saw Leasis responding positively. These books will surely be of help to her in the dangerous palace.

*

He pretended to be relaxed in front of Leasis, but in fact, Hizen was furious. The reason was the 1st Division of Imperial Knights.

He wanted to make all the 1st Division roll on the floor, but kept it to himself. When his thoughts moved to Leasis, who would be hurt by such a decision, his anger subsided.

Instead of punishing the knights of the 1st Division, including Furgin, he visited Schwalnon’s mansion the next day.

The mansion near the capital sparkled as if gold had been poured onto it. The servants who recognized Hizen greeted him loudly, and he entered the reception room. Schwalnon came in after a long time.

Schwalnon, whose hair was tangled sporadically, entered the reception room in a sloppy posture. Seeing the blonde handsome man sitting on a chair was unrealistic.

He squeezed his thin eyes. He wondered why Hizen had come. Did he find out that I was gossiping with the other Commanders, or did he notice that I have stolen some swords from the Imperial Elite Knights? He was frightened and looked around.

Contrary to his concerns, however, Hizen did not bring up anything. If his sins had been found out, Hizen would not have stayed silent.

Schwalnon decided to be a little shameless.

“Cough. Count Dratius, what brings you here?”

As soon as he opened his mouth, a disgusting smell of alcohol shook. With a slight frown, Hizen pointed with his chin at the chair opposite him.

Schwalnon, who sat quietly as ordered, kept coughing. A servant came in and brought tea and cookies, but he did not even touch them.

Hizen, staring at Schwalnon, took something out of his arms. It was a package of white cloth filled with heavy things.

In his experience so far, he would have thought it was a bribe if someone else had took it out, but the other person here was Hizen.

No way, poison? Is he going to ask me to keep my honor and to do it myself? The fancy table and the uncluttered package of cloth scared Schwalnon.

Hizen spoke low as he watched Schwalnon’s expression changing every minute.

“Take it.”

Schwalnon pretended to be bold and picked up the package on the table. But when he looked inside, it was filled with shiny gold coins.

Schwalnon looked alternately between the gold coins and Hizen with surprised eyes. Why is he doing this?

Looking at Schwalnon, Hizen’s eyes heated up. I can’t believe I’m leaving Leasis to such a pathetic bastard. He just regretted that he was giving him something.

Hizen opened his heavy lips.

“I heard that the operating expenses of the Knights were stolen.”

It was a businesslike voice as if it were a briefing on the case. Schwalnon, whose thought circuit had stopped, silently listened to him.

“This will cover the operating expenses of the Knights and the treatment for Furgin’s father.”

Hearing it, he could not understand. The source of this money, and why it was given. No matter how much he had told that he was short on money, he had to deal with it himself. Maybe it was a trap.

“Why are you giving it to me?”

“I told you. Use it for the operating expenses of your Knights and for the treatment of your knight’s father.”

“Why are you trying to help me…”

“No, no. I’m helping your knights, not you. This is my own money, so you don’t have to worry about it.”

Hizen, correcting Schwalnon’s words, touched the teacup. His plain voice made him unable to read any emotions, so Schwalnon thought deeply about it.

Why was this guy helping him with his own money? His expression changed clearly.

Hizen spoke quietly.

“We are the Commanders of the Knights.”

“…”

“Listen to the truth now and decide for yourself how to act.”

Hizen told Schwalnon the truth that Leasis tried to hide. A young knight who had to pay for his father’s expenses. And Leasis, who had covered up all the sins to protect him. The knights who bullied her and lied about the thief.

Schwalnon’s eyes were greatly shaken by these facts that could not be believed to have happened within his Knights. He murmured unknowingly.

“…That woman covered up for our knight?”

That woman. Hizen’s eyebrows twitched at the unpleasant title.

“Leasis.”

“Anyway… yes, so… but why didn’t she tell the truth?”

“If Furgin is punished, his father will die.”

Before he knew it, the tea cup cooled down. Schwalnon gulped down the cold tea all at once to try to cool down his burning throat. Still, he could not get rid of his thirst, so he swallowed his dry saliva several times.

Schwalnon looked at his empty teacup with a blank expression. For him, Furgin’s situation was not anyone else’s business.

Schwalnon, in fact, had been shocked by the death of his father during his childhood. Since then, he had realized that money was the best and had done his best to maintain his family.

Schwalnon liked money and entertainment, but he was a terrible man with a terrible family love. His heart was clogged with guilt. He did not like listening to an other Commander speaking of the division he was managing.

It made him regret drinking yesterday.

“Leasis doesn’t want the facts to come out. Handle it as quietly as possible…”

Schwalnon, listening to Hizen, had an absurd face. You’re saying we’re going to take that disgraceful misunderstanding and move on? Isn’t it stupid to be so nice?

He murmured unknowingly.

“Isn’t she stupid?”

“Marquis Schwalnon, be careful with your words.”

Hizen’s voice was dark and livid. He said, threateningly breaking the joints of his hands.

“Remember clearly that insulting Leasis in front of me is like asking for a duel.”

“I-I’m sorry.”

When Schwalnon apologized quickly, Hizen explained the idea he had thought of. He would cover the operation and treatment costs of the Division with his own personal money, and Leasis would be given a chance to return to the Knights.

It was not a bad deal in many ways, but Schwalnon agreed with Hizen as if he had been possessed. Rather, it was incredibly good.

Hizen, who had even signed a contract prepared in advance, got up from his seat as he had finished his business.

Then, Schwalnon got up with him.

Count Dratius.

Schwalnon stared at Hizen without saying a word. Then he asked in a flurry.

“No matter how much I think about it, I don’t understand it. The woman named Leasis… Did she really take the punishment for Furgin’s father?”

“Yes.”

“Even though it has nothing to do with her?”

Hizen glanced at him, who was waiting for an answer. He was pathetic no matter how much he looked at it. You’re the Commander and you get all kinds of favors, but you don’t know a thing about your own Knights. If it were him, he would not have left Furgin and Leasis alone.

He had wanted to take care of him coldly, but Leasis had refused, saying that she did not want anyone to get hurt.

He explained kindlier than usual.

“Why not? The two knights belong to the same division. Isn’t it natural to do it for your colleague?”

Shortly after he spat out his words, Hizen left the reception room. The cold wind hovered around the room.

Schwalnon, who was left alone, sat down for a long time. He felt like he was possessed by something. A person who could throw away what they had for someone they barely knew.

Schwalnon had only lived for his family and himself so far, so he could not understand.

But why was he feeling like this all of a sudden? His mouth was more bitter and his stomach felt softer than after drinking for several days. He murmured with a bitter face.

“What a strange woman…”