The Tyrant Wants To Live Honestly

Early in the morning, Stefan was wielding his sword alone, cutting through the air.

There was no opponent, but he felt like he had to move his body like that.

“I’m thinking of appointing you as vice-leader of the knights.”

It was because Arthur, the leader of the Knights of Brilliance, said that yesterday.

Arthur, the leader of the knights, said that he wanted to give the position of vice leader of the knight to Stefan.

But there was no way Stephan couldn’t have known what he meant.

‘It must be because of the princess.’

On the day of Dorothea’s debut, the knights who ridiculed him were right.

As Dorothea’s status has been upgraded, Stefan’s position also went up because he has been taking care of her for a long time. As a special case, there is no promotion test.

At that moment, Stefan felt a presence rushing behind him and swung his sword. With a clang, his opponent was knocked back.

“Ugh, my wrist hurts….”

“….!”

It was Dorothea who was holding her sword and touching her throbbing wrist.

Stefan was so startled that he put his sword in and ran to her.

“It’s okay, Stefan.”

Dorothea waved her hand to convince Stefan that it was okay, but Stefan looked restless and looked at her wrist.

It was a good thing Dorothea hadn’t fallen to the floor, because he habitually pushed people as rough as he faced the knights.

“After a long break, my skills are not the same as before.”

Dorothea smiled as she relaxed her aching wrist.

Before the return, I had a skill that could be compared to that of knights around this time, but I didn’t know I became so weak.

The body is very honest because it becomes weak as much as it has not been trained, and becomes stronger as much as it has been trained.

“But you’ve been training since dawn. Do you have any concerns, Stefan?”

“….”

Of course, Dorothea didn’t ask expecting to hear the answer.

Stefan, who doesn’t usually talk, won’t be able to share his worries.

Dorothea smiled and put her sword.

“Is it because of your promotion?”

She already knew what was bothering him anyway. He hasn’t told her, but she already knows that.

His eyes widened at her guess.

‘When he doesn’t deny it, it’s usually a yes.’

“I heard, they were appointing you as vice-leader of the knights.”

As she moves to the palace, the employee that has been taking care of her will also soon undergo a major reorganization.

Stefan’s appointment as vice-leader of the knights is part of that reorganization.

“It’s a good thing, but why is your face so dark?”

Once appointed as vice-captain, he won’t have to be Dorothea’s escort anymore.

The escort had to devote an entire day to the point where there was no personal time, and it was very boring.

Especially when you’re Dorothea’s escort, who doesn’t do social activities or public affairs.

When he becomes the vice-leader, he will have more personal time, and the influence and decision-making power he can exercise within the Knights will increase.

In addition, his salary has risen significantly.

But even with all this good news, Stefan only looked at Dorothea.

Dorothea looked into his black eyes and smiled.

“Are you upset about something?”

At Dorothea’s question, Stefan’s eyes shook slightly.

“Do you feel like you’re going up because of me?”

When she asked with a smile, he didn’t deny it.

Because this appointment was more influenced by Dorothea’s status improvement than his skills.

He felt that he ascended to the rank of vice-leader in an unfair way.

It was an unacceptable decision for him, who tried to live his life upright by keeping his beliefs.

Dorothea laughed as if she could not help the appearance of Stefan, who was as honest as ever.

“You’re not climbing on my back, Stephan, you’ve been tied to me all this time.”

As Dorothea corrected his concerns, Stefan shook his head, telling Dorothea that She had never tied him.

Truly, a man who knew only one thing, before or after the return.

Dorothea liked his behavior, which was too warm for loyalty.

‘I thought I was lucky enough to meet Stefan in this life.’

But that’s just her personal impression.

“I am not stupid. I already know that Stefan and Joy were ignored by the Knights because of me.”

There is no way not to know that he was secretly devalued by the Knights because of protecting the poor royal woman.

Dorothea’s escort was in such a poor position that knights would avoid it.

The knights preferred to have the opportunity to go outside and set up a ball rather than to escort Dorothea.

Because of this, Stefan and Joy were always pushed aside for their lack of ability. Until Dorothea’s spirit awakening.

“If Stefan had served the Emperor or Rey, you would have become the vice-leader sooner.”

“….”

When Dorothea’s words hit the spot, Stefan kept his mouth shut and lowered his head.

“I’m glad I didn’t hold Stefan down.”

Before the return, he should have already been the vice leader. It was a time when his abilities were recognized as he played a role in several battles and served as Raymond’s escort.

“Now is your chance, Stefan.”

Until now, Stefan has shown excellent results without missing out on the annual knight’s training or skill test.

In addition, he was also highly regarded as a knight for being honest and protecting Dorothea.

There was nothing better than his sincerity to prove his loyalty to the imperial family.

So, this is an opportunity that Stefan himself created.

But Stefan still kept his mouth shut and stared at her. As if something was still bothering him.

Dorothea didn’t understand why and looked into his eyes and realized the reason a little later.

“Are you worried about me?”

“….”

Dorothea laughed at his blunt reaction.

“Besides Stefan, there will be other knights assigned as escorts now, so what do you have to worry about?”

Stefan grim and pressed his lips.

He doesn’t like the fact that the knights who had not even considered Dorothea’s escort were now offering to be her escort.

“Joy is there too.”

Joy doesn’t know it yet, but at the upcoming knighting ceremony, he will be knighted.

And she’ll be assigned as Dorothea’s escort, replacing Stefan.

“So, don’t worry about me and try other duties as a knight. As much as Stefan cares for me, I also care for Stefan. So… I wish you would do better.”

Dorothea smiled.

He stayed by her side until nine-year-old Dorothea, who went to the detached Palace for recuperation, made her debut.

Ten years. It’s been too long for his talent to be tied to a princess.

“Obviously, watching Stefan do well, Joy and the knights who serve me will be able to dream too. And it’s not like we’re breaking up completely.”

After all, he is a knight of brilliance serving the imperial family, so Dorothea will often meet him as an imperial family.

He would be working at the palace if there is not a major emergency, and sometimes he would be escorting her around.

“So, it’s okay to go further. Because I will be moving forward with Stefan.”

At that, Stefan looked at Dorothea silently.

The child, who was so small that it could not even reach his waist, had grown to the height of his chest.

After not reading Raymond’s letters, she now had a comfortable conversation with Raymond, and Carnan gradually began to pay attention to her.

There is Joy, a new knight who will protect her, and there is also a spirit of light.

Dorothea, who breathed out her breath with a fragile body, is not here.

Dorothea Milanaire, who was anxious as if watching a toddler, became firm.

It may not be without wounds, but Dorothea will no longer hug him and cry.

Stefan realized. While he was tied to Dorothea, she was moving on. The only one who stayed in place was him, not Dorothea.

So the time has come for her to become independent from Stefan, and Stefan from Dorothea Milanaire.

Realizing this, Stefan gently stroked Dorothea’s hair with his big hand.

‘A little child was so grown up, why did I still see her as a little child who could not be left alone?’

He quietly looked into Dorothea’s eyes, and a smile appeared on the corner of his lips.

“Thank you, Princess.”

Thank you for allowing me to stay by your side. Thank you for believing in this inadequate and frustrating knight. Thank you for growing up beautifully and wonderfully so that I am not afraid of leaving you.’

He should have said thank you more by now, but he hated his mouth for not being able to express it to Dorothea.

Dorothea looked up at Stefan and smiled softly.

“Thank you too, Stefan.”

* * *

The inaugural ceremony of the Knights of Brilliance was held in the largest main hall in the Imperial Palace.

Dorothea doesn’t like to go to big events, but this time, she took the initiative and attended the ceremony.

This is because Stefan’s appointment as the vice leader and Joy’s appointment were carried out at today’s inauguration ceremony.

She takes the time to visit Stefan before the ceremony begins.

“Knight Stefan! It looks so good on you! Should I call you Vice-leader now?”

Clara, who came with Dorothea, made a fuss when she saw Stefan in his new uniform.

However, Dorothea decided to listen to the fuss pleasantly.

As Clara said, the uniform suited Stefan very well.

The shoulders were wide, the back was wide, and the body well muscled was perfect for the uniform.

“You look great, Stefan. I’m glad I asked you to be the vice leader.”

When Dorothea joined Clara to make a fuss, Stefan looked a little embarrassed and looked away.

“Wow, look at the medals on the uniform!”

Clara pointed to the flashing medal on Stefan’s chest.

Stefan couldn’t answer the compliments pouring in succession and pursed his lips.

All the battles and achievements were things of the past before Dorothea’s escort, and most of the others were for faithfulness or loyalty.

Among them was a medal to commend the achievement of finding Dorothea, who had been kidnapped as a child, and bringing her to Lampas.

‘There aren’t many medals for the appointment of the vice-leader…’

He made eye contact with Dorothea as he swept the medal on his chest with embarrassment.

* * *