Sarak.
Lee Han sat in the wooden pavilion he had made and read the newspaper.
Occasionally I would drink lemonade made by Leila, or.
“Here, eat.”
“…I can eat it myself.”
“Huh?”
“… … I’ll just eat it.”
I couldn’t resist the innocent look in her eyes and even received a lemon tart.
This is the first time in my life that I have received such a luxury as receiving food from a woman. I wonder if it is okay for me to be treated like this.
still.
‘…It’s delicious.’
Is it an illusion that this tastes better than any other tart I’ve ever had?
“Would you like some more?”
“yes….”
It was a temptation that was hard to refuse, and Lee Han enjoyed the luxury of eating the tart again.
Yet he never took his eyes off the newspaper.
‘… Things are turning out interestingly.’
Although it is not his intention, he is one of the few people who is closely involved in the events taking place in the kingdom.
That’s why I knew most of the chaos and troubles that occurred in the kingdom and how they happened.
If I may give an example.
Sarak.
“… That little guy, he’s good at taking pictures.”
[Today, the First Captain of the Silver Lion Knights, Aren Pendragon, personally took action to capture the prisoners who escaped from the tunnel, and mobilized the First and Second Knight Divisions. It is being evaluated as an honorable and great move worthy of royalty. Meanwhile, the Noble Council is unable to avoid criticism from the people due to the outrageous remarks of ‘abuse of power’ in the Noble Council. The Guild Council that caught the case is said to have conveyed its uncomfortable regrets to the Noble Council, and in this situation-.]
The picture of the golden prince took up the entire front page of the newspaper.
It seems that the fact that the 1st and 2nd Knights were moved by the captain’s authority is certainly drawing a lot of attention.
“Hmm, I’ll do well, right?”
Honestly, I don’t believe it.
Lee Han’s motto is that once a loser, always a loser, and anyone can talk nonsense.
So what matters is action and results.
In that sense.
‘If you achieve something, you’ll be punished twice, but only once, right?’
He was the one who stopped his expectations at the level of having a little bit of anticipation.
Sarak.
As you turn the pages of the newspaper, you will find news about people who are related to him or who have some idea about the situation.
Let me just summarize the most representative ones.
‘The owner of the salon that is leading the new trend in the royal capital is the Prince of Lionel?!’, ‘Has the head of the mercenary confederation, the King of Mercenaries, decided on a successor?’, ‘Is the young lady of the Guinevere family in love?!’, etc.
As it turns out, they are all familiar faces.
and….
[While speculations are running rampant that the visit of the Imperial Tower’s successor and the Sultan is to meet Galahad’s adopted daughter, the whereabouts of the person in question, who is receiving everyone’s attention, remain unknown, and attention is being paid to what stance the royal family and Galahad will take. As a side note, Galahad’s adopted daughter, Irene Windler, is receiving attention as a newcomer to the magical world representing the era despite her young age.]
… … Even the neighbor’s chick, who is considered a divine being in the magical world, is grumbling alone and slowly eating a tart.
“Tch, I can feed you too, I can feed you well, I’m really confident I can do it well…”
“… … .”
Um… So these big guys are flocking here just to see that guy?
Swoop!
‘Do these kids have nothing better to do?’
Lee Han began to see people like the Sultan and the successor to the Magic Tower as nothing more than rich, worthless bastards.
It’s so pathetic.
* * *
Is it because the coming day is a market day, or is it because the house has been empty all this time?
Dalgrak.
“Master!”
Lee Han could feel that his house was becoming noisy as faces he had not seen for a while kept visiting him.
Ring ring!
A woman riding a bicycle with an antique and simple feel that seemed to come straight out of a classic French film called out to him in a powerful voice.
She was a woman who was refreshing, yet somehow sad, yet with a purity that stood out. She was the kind of woman that anyone walking down the street would look back at and feel love for.
It was as if she was reminiscent of everyone’s first love during their school days, and wearing a straw hat, white one-piece dress, sandals, and even a picnic basket that went well with her, it was a scene from a pictorial that would make anyone exclaim in admiration.
“… I thought we were taking a photo shoot.”
As if he was thinking that way, the baby chick sitting right next to him also whispered to herself.
The sight of her riding a bike with her blue hair fluttering, reminiscent of hydrangeas, definitely brings to mind a scene from a movie… .
However, I agree with that, but there is one thing that is absurd.
‘Is this person trying to hide his identity or not?’
If you look closely, it may not be just my illusion that Taechang has no more intention of hiding his identity than I do.
Or maybe I’m just being stupid and clumsy.
‘… All three?’
As Lee Han shrugged his shoulders, the woman who had arrived at the front door got off her bike and ran as fast as she could.
Like a loyal dog welcoming its owner whom it hasn’t seen for a while.
“Haa, haaah! Well, how have you been, Master-!”
“First, let’s catch our breath, Gomsoon.”
“Huh? I, I’m fine, haa, haaah…!”
“… No matter how I look at it, it doesn’t seem right, so I’ll do that.”
It seemed to me that Gomsuni, or rather Levy, must have come here in a hurry by bicycle from the Marquis’ house.
When I heard that he was back… .
“Did you ride your bike all the way here in that outfit?”
Hard.
As I swallowed such gossip and expressed my worries, she… .
“ah!”
She covered her mouth as she realized that she looked like a young lady.
“I’m sorry, I, I must have looked bad. I, I was just wondering what to do since Your Majesty gave me the day off today, and I was thinking of going on a picnic by myself. I, I’m not used to sitting still…”
“I see.”
“I didn’t prepare these clothes either! The maids prepared them for me, but, ah, I couldn’t go without wearing them…”
“okay.”
“…Master?”
“okay.”
“??”
“… I’m sorry. I’m getting older too.”
“yes?”
“Hey, are you going through menopause…?”
Are you starting to cry more as you get older?
As Lee Han listened to his disciple’s chattering, he felt something stirring.
Because I remember that girl who was always timid, always had an anxious look on her face, and struggled to be recognized by others since the first time we met.
But now… .
‘The child has some free time.’
Even her complexion is full of energy.
His eyes were also bright and his clothes were neat.
It is proof that he is being well cared for, and that the Marquis is keeping his promises.
So touching.
It was like watching a swan that didn’t know how to use its wings realize that it actually had wings and that it could flap them powerfully, and then start to fly.
And from the perspective of the person who made the effort to spread those wings.
‘It was worth the effort.’
… … It was bound to be overwhelming.
Lee Han cried with joy at his disciple’s positive change.
… it was summer.
* * *
There was an awkward air of tension as he held back the excitement that was building up ahead, but Levy soon began to tell the story of what had happened, chirping nonstop like a lark.
As if boasting.
“I’ve been learning archery from His Majesty lately. I’ve been given the name Tristan, even if it’s only formal, so he said it would be good for me to be able to handle the bow at least as a basic skill. I’m also working hard to learn it.”
“Ah, I was thankfully given the surname of Tristan, but it hasn’t been officially granted yet. I think I’ll be receiving the surname at a formal banquet in a few days. … H, would it be possible for Master to come as my partner then?”
“Ah! Oh, right. Try this panini. I, I made it.”
Lee Han listened to every word his disciple said.
I give advice when I can, say no when I can’t, and respond to each and every thing with gratitude.
“And also…!”
There was so much he wanted to say that it seemed like it wouldn’t end even after an hour, but Lee Han wasn’t bothered.
On the contrary, it was much more pleasant to see her looking so free, and it just made me happy.
I think it would be strange to see a younger sister who is much older than you.
While I was listening to my disciple’s story like that for a while.
“Hey, Levy over there… .”
“Huh? Miss Irene Youngae? How long have you been here?”
“… I didn’t even see it, anyway, they say that stealing late in life is scary!”
“I’m sorry…! I, I didn’t pretend not to know you, Irene Youngae, but, uh, somehow…”
“… It’s okay, I’m not unaware of that feeling, and it’s just the best time of the year.”
“… … .”
The grumpy chick pecked the innocent bear in a rude manner, and the innocent bear hung its head in a state of restlessness.
What is this?
‘Why are these guys arguing like this with the old man right next to them?’
Shouldn’t you go and find some good-looking guys other than me and do this, guys?
Lee Han didn’t age in vain.
That’s why I know that those two are showing him favor with a mixture of affection, admiration, and other emotions.
But to Lee Han, that just seemed like a bit of a playful emotion.
Still looking immature.
That’s about it, and when you grow up a bit more, there will come a day when you will be ashamed of this time and cry, feeling embarrassed about why you liked an old man like me…
‘Sup, it’s a bit sad to have to make this assessment of myself.’
However, Lee Han did not change his mind.
His perspective is too clouded to see the world in a positive light.
So, there was no belief or hope that the goodwill that someone sent would last forever, and the goodwill that those two people sent seemed like a lotus flower that bloomed on a summer day and quickly withered.
It couldn’t help but be a feeling of emptiness that dries up and disappears one day… .
“-I think the knight will always be cool. And cool men are always loved as time goes by. In that sense, I think they have an eye for recognizing cool men.”
“… … .”
“Hehehe, that’s just it.”
“Hey, have you learned any mind-reading skills?”
“No, it’s just easier to read facial expressions!”
“… Where did you hear that?”
Why is it that the princess is like that, and why is it that the maids are like that too?
He claims that he has not learned the art of poison, but no matter how I look at it, it seems like he has.
Lee Han lets out a hollow laugh.
“Do you think my thoughts are too shallow?”
Since I already found out what he was thinking, I asked him outright, and he said, “Layla.”
“Hmm, rather than that, I think you’re underestimating yourself. You’re a great person.”
“… … .”
“I hope that someday you will love yourself more than you do now. You are someone who can be proud of yourself.”
“… The maid always thinks too highly of me.”
“I’m just telling the truth?”
“… … .”
“Hehe, you’re embarrassed!”
“…Please give me another drink.”
“Yes!”
… … Lee Han lowered his head, meeting her smile.
It was a sudden thought, though.
‘No matter how strong I become, I don’t think I can beat this person… .’
Lee Han had a feeling that he would never win against a woman who showed him such dazzling, clear affection and kindness.
…however.
‘I don’t think I’ll feel bad even if I lose.’
If he wants to lose, is that weird of him?
The man quietly made a promise to himself that he would not be an embarrassing man in front of anyone else, even if it meant being embarrassed in front of this person.
“-Something like that, I have a feeling I picked the wrong day to visit.”
“That, that’s right.”
The black-haired young man scratched his head occasionally.
I came to say hello, but it was like this.
‘… I was oblivious.’
The regressor loitered awkwardly in front of the fence, and it was only a short while before the knight, who had noticed his presence, came to get him.
