HTNSA 36

Chapter 36

Some who were offended by his indifference would occasionally pick fights or disrupt his practice to express their dissatisfaction.

Each time, a wave of bitterness would wash over him, but he tried not to let such trivial matters sway him.

What mattered to him now wasn’t how others reacted, but proving his own worth.

And fortunately, there was one person nearby who supported and watched over his progress.

Felix recalled the time he had met with Eila not long ago.

“The Duke of Agenta said he was quite impressed by your duel, didn’t he?”

Eila took a bite of the sandwich in her hand, a cheerful smile on her face.

The two would often share lunch together like this, flaunting their close friendship.

Felix blushed at her words and slightly averted his gaze.

“Well, I’m still not at the level you’re expecting from me.”

“Huh? What level am I expecting from you?”

“You said before… that I would become a Sword Master. I still have a long way to go before I get there.”

Felix mumbled something about needing to train more, looking a bit embarrassed.

Seeing that, Eila’s eyes sparkled as she responded.

“As expected of Felix. Always so diligent, just like a future Sword Master.”

Whenever he saw her smile so brightly at him, Felix would feel a strange warmth spread in his chest.

It was a completely different sensation from the intensity of swinging a sword in a fierce duel—an unfamiliar and indescribable feeling.

Reflecting on his emotions, Felix suddenly realized something one day.

He had never in his life received such warm encouragement or kind words.

Having lived a life full of ridicule and neglect, a single heartfelt word or smile meant more to him than anything else.

It was as if Eila’s very existence acknowledged all the sweat and effort he had poured in over the years.

‘…I should definitely give her something in return.’

Becoming the Duke of Agenta’s disciple had only been possible thanks to Eila.

So he felt the need to repay her, somehow.

‘I’ve received so much from her already.’

Thinking that, Felix leisurely strolled through the streets.

Becoming the duke’s disciple also granted him financial freedom.

The duke’s aide, Yetien, had promised him an allowance that far surpassed the scholarship he used to receive.

‘Starting this month, you’ll receive a monthly allowance from the duke’s household—consider it both a stipend and a gift.’

And the sponsorship amount suggested by the duke’s family was an amount Felix had never even imagined.

‘It’s not much now, but once I officially join the Kystar Knights… well, I’ll probably gain even more as I go.’

Being the duke’s disciple didn’t just mean financial ease.

It meant that honor and influence would also one day be within his reach.

Of course, none of this felt entirely real to Felix just yet.

Right now, the most important thing was choosing the perfect gift for Eila with his thickened wallet.

But there was one thing Felix had foolishly overlooked—he had never once bought a gift for a girl before.

‘What… should I get?’

Felix wandered the city for a long time.

No matter how much he walked, nothing suitable for Eila came to mind.

In front of a store adorned with flashy jewels, he shook his head—it felt too extravagant.

At a small trinket shop, he hesitated—it felt too plain.

No matter how much he thought, choosing a gift only became more difficult.

Eventually, he stopped in the middle of the street and sighed.

‘I need… something special.’

She had once been a noble lady of the Blanche family, so her taste in items was undoubtedly discerning.

If he gave her something half-baked and saw a disappointed look on her face…

He bit his lip hard.

In that moment, her former fiancé Kadin’s face flashed through his mind.

His fists clenched without him even realizing.

‘I have to give her something better than what that guy ever gave her.’

Even if it took time, he wanted to find a gift truly worthy of her—something more valuable than anything Kadin had ever given.

Just then, a store selling various armaments caught his eye.

A sign displayed on the front caught his attention:

“Fully Stocked with Self-Defense Gear!”

‘Self-defense gear, huh.’

Felix furrowed his brows.

Come to think of it, Eila had a knack for getting into risky situations.

Like wanting to venture into monster-infested forests during a full moon, or secretly summoning the imperial princess for a confrontation.

‘I don’t know why she does those things… but giving her something that helps keep her safe can’t be a bad idea.’

Having made up his mind, he stepped into the shop.

Inside, the store was filled with all kinds of weapons and protective items.

Small, sharp daggers, tiny magical orbs that shot flames, and even rings that could create instant barriers—

Countless curious objects filled his vision.

Felix picked them up one by one, examining them with a serious look.

‘This one’s too big… that one’s not portable enough. I need something she can actually use.’

He got so immersed in browsing that he forgot how much time had passed.

A middle-aged shopkeeper approached him with interest.

“Looking for something specific, sir?”

“Oh, something suitable for a gentle woman’s self-defense…”

At Felix’s response, the shopkeeper quickly offered a sleek self-defense dagger.

“This one’s quite popular with female students these days.”

Felix held the dagger, tested its weight, and nodded.

“Not bad. I’ll take this. Also… can I get one of those barrier rings over there too?”

“Oho, good eye! Those rings are very beginner-friendly and popular lately.”

In addition to the dagger and ring, Felix picked a few more small self-defense tools.

The shopkeeper, amused by Felix sweeping through his inventory, began preparing the items with a pleased smile.

Then, he suddenly pointed to a small jewelry box displayed beside the weapon shelf.

“Oh, sir. How about this? It’s a bracelet made of turquoise—very popular among young ladies nowadays. It’s said to ward off misfortune and bad luck.”

Felix’s gaze followed the shopkeeper’s gesture.

The bracelet was made of deep teal turquoise beads, simple yet elegant.

‘Wards off misfortune and bad luck?’

Those words struck a chord with him.

Eila’s life, like his, never seemed smooth.

She often walked into danger knowingly—perhaps this bracelet could provide her some small comfort.

More than anything, its delicate design looked like it would suit her slender wrist perfectly.

“I’ll take the bracelet too.”

Felix nodded without hesitation.

The shopkeeper, satisfied, picked up the bracelet.

“An excellent choice. Is it a gift?”

Felix hesitated briefly, then nodded.

“Yes… for someone I’m very thankful to.”

As he stepped out of the store, he carefully slung the bag of items over his shoulder.

‘Now it really feels like I’ve prepared something proper.’

Felix smiled faintly, imagining how Eila would react when she received the gift.

A few days had passed since Eila had given her the antidote.

It had been a short time, but the emotional turmoil Peony experienced during that period was indescribable.

 

After all, realizing that someone so close had been poisoning her without her knowledge was an immense shock.