Episode 26
Lize always had an intimidating presence that made people shrink back.
Mars had always disliked that about her.
“You’re absolutely right, Mars. That’s why I can’t write it for you. I can’t recommend someone who has abandoned all notions of chivalry to the Imperial Knights.”
“Are you saying I lack chivalry?”
Lize said nothing, merely looking at Mars.
The corner of her mouth lifted slightly, and a dry laugh escaped her lips. Her expression clearly conveyed how absurd she found his question.
Of course, Mars knew what incident Lize was recalling.
But he felt wronged about it.
“Is this because of what happened yesterday? That was an accident. You know that!”
It wasn’t as though he had intended to kill her; he had merely pushed her.
Hadn’t Lize always boasted about her exceptional abilities?
She could have easily dodged or clung to the cliff edge and climbed back up.
She practically invited such outcomes with her attitude, didn’t she?
If anyone bore responsibility for what happened yesterday, it was Lize.
If she had avoided it better, she wouldn’t have fallen, and the outcome wouldn’t have been what it was.
Besides, and this was the most important part—she didn’t die in the end.
With such thoughts bubbling in his mind, Mars eventually said them aloud to Rize.
“See? Refusing to write my recommendation for such a trivial reason is nothing short of disgraceful!”
Lize blinked slowly.
Was she persuaded?
“Mars.”
“Alright, then hurry up and write the letter.”
“A knight should at least have the ability to reflect on their actions and consider what they’ve done. But you…”
“I have reflected! Weren’t you paying attention to what I just said?”
Having concluded that he was entirely blameless, Mars grew bolder, even rebuking Lize.
Lize’s expression shifted to one of surprise. Mars couldn’t understand what she found so shocking.
Lize finally spoke with a resigned look on her face.
“One more question: why did you act independently during the match?”
Mars failed to realize that this was his last chance.
“‘Independently’?”
Mars frowned at the negative implication of the term.
“Why, as an attacker, were you in the defensive zone without coordinating with your team?”
“Come on, Lize! That’s just how it’s done! Stop asking irrelevant questions and write the recommendation already!”
Frustration bubbled up as she ignored his demands to focus on unrelated matters. Mars stomped his foot in irritation.
“You need to stand out in matches to gain recognition! How are you supposed to shine if you just follow the strategy? Why are you even asking such obvious questions?”
Rize nodded a few times.
Her resigned expression shifted slightly, now carrying a faint smile.
“Alright. That’s enough.”
“Finally! Now hurry and—”
“I still won’t write it, Mars.”
“…What?”
“Giving you a recommendation would be no different from dereliction of duty.”
“What are you even saying…?”
“I know what kind of person you are. I can’t allow someone like you to bear the title of knight, let alone a knight who protects the Imperial Palace and the Empire.”
With that, Lize turned to leave.
Shocked, Mars grabbed her shoulder.
“Wait! You said you’d write the letter in exchange for handling your marriage arrangements! What about that? You’re going to accept the proposal, right?”
“I already sent a rejection this morning.”
“What? When?”
“This morning.”
“T-This can’t be…”
Mars had secretly been looking forward to the marriage alliance with the Duke’s family.
The benefits of becoming in-laws with a Duke were obvious and numerous.
But now his recommendation letter was gone, and even the marriage had fallen apart?
Mars’s mind boiled with fury, as if his world were collapsing.
“Hey!”
As Lize turned again to leave, Mars swung his fist at her.
But Lize easily dodged and twisted his arm behind his back, immobilizing him.
“Argh! You’re going to break it!”
Behind the whining Mars, Lize spoke coldly.
“Mars, do me a favor. Be careful not to get hurt in front of me from now on.”
“…”
“No matter how badly you break or bleed, I won’t help you. Ever.”
“W-What?”
“That includes injuries caused by me, of course.”
Her voice was cold and low, devoid of emotion, yet laced with a long-simmering anger.
Mars’s legs gave out, and his hands trembled.
Lize shoved him away as though he were nothing and left the room.
***
“So you fainted recently, is that right?”
At the temple, in the private office of Priest Julius.
Julius gently stroked Golden Bunny’s head, deep in thought.
Golden Bunny let out a sharp Beep and shook off Julius’s hand.
But Julius only saw it as an adorable complaint and showered more affection on the rabbit.
“Priest Julius?”
“Ah, Lady Lize, my apologies. So, you fainted, you say.”
Julius looked up from pampering the Bunny, his eyes filled with concern as they met mine.
I regularly visited the temple to consult with Julius and retrieve medicine infused with divine energy.
He was one of the few who knew about my illness—how I suffered excruciating pain under the moonlight.
“Yes, the window was open that day. I think the direct exposure to the moonlight made it worse.”
“Have you been exposed to direct moonlight before?”
“Yes, but…”
I searched my memories. When was it?
“During the demon war a few years ago, I think…”
It was when I had joined the war against the demons as part of a reinforcement unit.
Though still a cadet, the sheer scale of the war had left certain regions critically short on forces, necessitating my deployment.
“During one of the battles, there was a full moon.”
I had taken refuge beneath a tree where no one could see me.
It was agonizing to think that while my comrades were fighting, I was hiding. But I knew moving would only be reckless bravado.
Even under the tree, the moonlight seemed to find me, sneaking through shaking leaves and the shifting night sky.
Was this what it felt like to be pierced by a demon’s claws?
The pain was so intense that I found myself whispering for someone to save me.
“But I don’t think I fainted back then.”
I had sat there, barely breathing, until the moonlight faded behind clouds and the sun began to rise. Only then could I force my trembling body to stand.
“But how I managed to return to the base…”
“Beep.”
Golden Bunny, which had been quietly listening to the conversation, interjected with some words.
It was in rabbit language, so I couldn’t understand what it said.
“Hm? Golden Rabbit?”
As usual, I softly asked while meeting its golden eyes.
And then.
‘Lize!’
In that moment, a memory that had been lying dormant suddenly resurfaced.
Back then, at the edge of the forest, someone had found me and carried me back. Now that I think about it, the voice and the broad back…
“No way.”
“Lady Lize?”
“It’s nothing.”
“What do you mean?”
“…”
Could it have been Cassium who took me back then?
His tone, his voice—those things were eerily similar to what I had heard when I nearly drowned and woke up, unsure if it was a dream or hallucination.
Even in that dream, Cassium had called out to me with great concern, his expression seeming almost frightened.
‘I don’t know if it was really a dream.’
Was it a dream?
Or was it not?
On the day of the training match with the Visel Knights, after the game, I went to find Captain Denver.
‘Captain, I have something to ask.’
And despite how busy he was, I held him back to ask again.
‘It’s about Cassium. What mission is he carrying out?’
I had already received an answer once, but asking again might make Captain Denver think I didn’t trust him.
Still, I had to confirm.
The moment Cassium saved me—it felt like it wasn’t just a dream or hallucination, and I needed to know.
‘Why are you suddenly asking about that?’
‘Because his recent actions seem quite different from his usual assignments.’
I stopped short of asking outright if something had happened to him…
‘How many days are left until the Elder Council meeting?’
‘A week, sir.’
‘I’ll tell you then. For now, go back.’
That’s all Captain Denver said to me.
In truth, while speaking with him, I almost accidentally blurted out words of concern for Cassium.
‘Am I… worrying about him? Cassium? Why? Why on earth?’
Lost in thought, my gaze shifted to the golden rabbit.
As my thoughts tangled into a complicated mess, my eyes lingered on the bunny.
• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •By Esraa• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •
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