Cherrya left as energetically as she had entered, her red hair flowing behind her.
The atmosphere felt as if a storm had just passed, and Melsia and Benedict exchanged glances before bursting into laughter.
“She desired it so much, and now she’s going after it herself,”
“An adjutant is truly important,”
Listening to Lawrence’s chatter as he trailed after Cherrya outside the door, Melsia commented,
“Being a Knight Commander isn’t just about wielding a sword well. There are countless matters to attend to. That’s why the adjutant must be someone who can support and grow alongside them.”
“Is that why Cherrya is so determined to have Kane as her adjutant?”
Benedict had already thoroughly investigated Kane, the person Cherrya had set her sights on. In truth, he wasn’t entirely in favor of Kane becoming Cherrya’s adjutant.
From what he had discovered, Kane harbored a strong resentment toward the nobility and made no effort to hide it.
Since entering the academy alone and graduating, he had consistently kept people at arm’s length and refused to build relationships.
Kane was known for disregarding and insulting nobles, and he often criticized commoners who sided with them, calling them parasites.
Despite his intelligence and skills, he bore scars too deep to easily coexist with others.*
“He’s fundamentally a timid child,”
Benedict remarked, summing up his impression of Kane.
“But if he stays by Cherrya’s side, he’ll have no choice but to push forward. If he doesn’t keep up with her, he’ll inevitably fall behind. From what I hear, he can’t stand being surpassed by others.”
“Well, in that case, he and our Cherrya might get along splendidly,”
Benedict replied with a chuckle, his lingering worries dissipating.
“I just hope our Cherrya can convince him, it’s a bit concerning.”
“There’s no need to worry, Mel, once Kane meets Cherrya in person, he’ll be captivated.”
Pride laced Benedict’s voice. He was certain that since Cherrya herself was involved, Kane would soon become one of the Emblem’s people.
“If our Cherrya wants something, she must have it.”
Benedict’s gaze turned cold as he stared at the door through which Cherrya had exited.
However, the chill in his eyes faded quickly as he buried his head against Melsia’s shoulder and let out a deep sigh, as if venting his frustrations.
“The Gray Duke House was so insistent. It was utterly exhausting, Mel,”
The reason why the Gray Duke House couldn’t recruit Kane into their knightly order was due to Benedict’s interference.
He was well aware that Kane wished to join the Gray House’s knights, but what mattered most to Benedict was that Cherrya wanted Kane.
“Considering the effort Cherrya has put into this, she deserves a chance to persuade him, don’t you think?”
“Of course,”
Melsia agreed, sharing a satisfied smile with Benedict.
***
The Continental Academy was located in the Pavan Kingdom. Known for its commerce-based economy, the Pavan Kingdom, a thriving trade nation, was an ideal place for the academy to flourish due to its active exchanges with other nations.
Though I once wished to study at the Continental Academy, it wasn’t necessary for me. Having already completed my entire education through private tutors at Emblem, enrolling in the academy would have been redundant. Yet, I couldn’t help feeling a slight pang of regret.
“I wanted to make lots of friends there too…”
In the Lutinas Empire, admiration and envy for Emblem and Gray were so prevalent that Olivia was the only genuine friend I had.
Though I was always surrounded by people and universally liked, the desire to connect with someone on a more personal level only grew stronger.
“Maybe this is a chance to win over Kane and make some friends too!”
With a modest hope, I gazed at the magnificent structure of the Continental Academy that began to come into view.
Its towering spires, seemingly reaching the sky, and its sprawling, vast buildings were a testament to the academy’s long and storied history.
Rumor had it that the academy’s scale was several times larger than the royal palace of the Pavan Kingdom.
“Commander, is it true that the academy offers a course on ‘The History of Emblem and Gray’? I heard it’s even a mandatory general education subject.”
“Goodness, how embarrassing. Why on earth would they document the history of family feuds…”
The city where the academy was located had developed solely because of the academy’s establishment and was home to the largest number of its alumni.
Perhaps that’s why, as we neared the academy, the gazes of those who recognized Emblem grew noticeably more intense.
There were people trailing behind us, hesitant to approach yet unwilling to let the moment pass without saying something.
“By the way, Olivia said she’d meet us. Where is she?”
I craned my neck, looking for Olivia, and finally spotted her at the far end of the crowd.
She stood awkwardly with a troubled expression, wearing the academy’s uniform alongside a few other students in similar attire.
Seeing Olivia in her school uniform, rather than her usual elegant dresses, felt both unfamiliar and envy-inducing. I puckered my lips and called out to her.
“Olivia! What are you doing over there?”
“……….!”
At my shout, the crowd around us parted like the Red Sea, clearing a path.
At the end of the newly opened passage, Olivia stood, her face flushed bright red in embarrassment.
“Thank you, everyone!”
Grinning, I strode confidently down the path made by the people.
As soon as I reached her, I grabbed Olivia, who looked older and more mature than I remembered, and spun her around in a hug, shouting joyfully.
“It’s been so long, Olivia! Didn’t you miss me?”
It had been five years since we last met. Once enrolled in the Continental Academy, it was nearly impossible to meet someone unless they were family.
Although we had exchanged countless letters over the years, seeing her in person made my heart flutter with excitement.
“I-I missed you so much! But, um, could you…”
“Oh, oh no! Sorry, my bad!!!”
Realizing my mistake, I quickly put Olivia down. Her face had turned pale, as if she might faint.
She had been smiling brightly when she first saw me, but now that expression was nowhere to be found.
I immediately recognized the symptoms. It was the same thing I had experienced when my grandfather picked me up and spun me around as a child.
“Ahhh, Olivia’s going to die! My friend’s going to die! Somebody bring a doctor!”
“Yes, Commander!”
“Is there a doctor here? A doctor, please!!!”
At my command, my subordinates rushed through the crowd, searching for a doctor.
Spotting someone raise their hand, they grabbed the person and dashed toward me.
Watching Lucas approach, I closed my eyes tightly in embarrassment.
“Sorry, I’ve gotten… a lot stronger recently…”
My time as the Commander of the Emblem Knights had been filled with countless missions and relentless training.
As a result, my strength had grown to the point where people often said I truly embodied the Emblem bloodline.
Living and working among the robust knights had made me momentarily forget that Olivia was an ordinary, delicate woman.
“Well… congratulations on that… Ugh!”
“Olivia!!!”
Unable to hold it in, Olivia began retching, and I had no choice but to catch it with both hands.
It was then that I had to admit—I had caused a major incident on my very first day at the academy.
🍓; *Means that Kane had emotional or psychological wounds—likely from past experiences—that affected his ability to interact or form meaningful relationships with people. These scars could refer to his resentment toward nobles, his mistrust of others, or his isolation, making it difficult for him to fit in socially or work well with others.
