The Tyrant Wants To Live Honestly

The two ate fresh wheat bread and duck meat at a restaurant they had reserved for Thanksgiving.

 

They walked down the street where paper pollen was flying, ate crepes in a cone cup, and watched the final parade.

 

They also went into a small game store they found along the way.

 

“That’s amazing, knight! You get the highest score for every dart you throw!”

 

People gathered around to see Stefan play the game, so it was natural that the store owner disliked him.

 

Stefan won a wooden doll, a cheap jewelry box, and a badge through a game of darts and was kicked out.

 

Even though they were kicked out, the two had a lot of fun.

 

As they walked around like that, the day passed in an instant.

 

“I don’t know how long it’s been since I’ve enjoyed a festival!”

 

Clara said as they climbed the hill into the sunset.

 

Normally, Stefan would have made it to the top in a sprint, but Stefan followed her at a slower pace.

 

“I have never enjoyed a festival since I entered the imperial palace.”

 

Even if she had a day off, she just rested at home and didn’t think about enjoying it.

 

“Really, it was the best festival of my life.”

 

Clara looked back at Stefan, who was following her and smiled broadly.

 

Perhaps because of the sunset, her smile was particularly pretty.

 

“Thank you, knight. For coming to the festival with me.”

 

“…..”

 

Stefan wanted to say the same thing to her.

 

Joy and Po were busy and Stefan was not the type of person to enjoy the festival alone, but thanks to Clara, He was able to enjoy the festival for the first time.

 

The two sat side by side on the hill and spread out the bread, cheese, tomatoes, and light wine they had bought down below.

 

The last night of the festival. It was to see the fireworks festival.

 

Thanks to Stefan’s knowledge of the best fireworks viewing spots, the two were able to quietly wait for the spectacular final night.

 

“Come to think of it, we’ve known each other for over ten years already.”

 

Clara said while looking at the city overlooking in the distance.

 

Perhaps because of the red sunset, she felt sentimental.

 

“It was really nice staying in the detached palace with her Majesty, wasn’t it?”

 

Those days when she went down to the detached palace with Dorothea, Because it was a trip to a place far away from the Lampas, being by Dorothea’s side was a place that everyone avoided.

 

Clara was in her third year at the palace. She was neither new nor in a position of authority, but just the right maid to be sent to escort the princess to the detached palace, especially since she needed money.

 

Stefan was a commoner, unsociable, and at the same time, a knight of great skill at a young age, who was hated by all.

 

But more than anything, the two volunteered to go to Ceritian.

 

Where no one else wanted to go, they were willing to go.

 

“Her Majesty the Emperor was very small back then.”

 

Clara spoke in a thoughtful voice.

 

A time when no one paid attention to Dorothea. They both loved Dorothea.

 

“Joy and Po didn’t know manners and did funny things, and the weather was much warmer than Lampas…”

 

There was much to reminisce about.

 

Stefan pretended to be a lion warrior for Dorothea’s birthday, taking a walk on the beach, Clara telling Dorothea to stop practicing swordsmanship, the day Clara first met Joy and Po, the day Dorothea broke her arm.

 

As they sat down with wine and told old stories, the sun had completely set.

 

“Even back then, I really owed you a lot of things. If I had to carry something heavy, you would carry it for me. Looking after her majesty when I couldn’t, and… stayed behind when you could have gone up to the Lampas.”

 

Clara shrugged her shoulders awkwardly.

 

“Actually, I was very worried about what would happen if the knight left for the Lampas at that time. Her Majesty depended on the knight a lot at the time, and so did I.”

 

As Clara continued chatting alone, Stefan spoke.

 

“I was like that too.”

 

Clara turned her head in surprise at the sudden voice.

 

Stefan sat quietly looking at her.

 

“Really?”

 

When Clara asked as if confirming, Stefan nodded once.

 

‘I was so lucky to have you. I also depended on you a lot…’

 

If Clara had not been in Ceritian’s villa, Dorothea would have become more depressed.

 

However, thanks to cheerful Clara taking care of Dorothea like family, Dorothea was able to laugh and have fun while she was there.

 

Stefan felt fortunate that Clara was there for Dorothea.

 

At that time, the fireworks cut through the darkness and rose into the night sky, emitting colorful fireworks.

 

A loud explosion made the two people look up at the sky together.

 

Colorful lights split in all directions like falling stars.

 

“It’s so pretty!”

 

Stefan, who was looking at the sky, heard Clara’s voice and looked at her.

 

Stefan could see sparkles sparkling inside Clara’s eyes.

 

“…..”

 

“Look at that! It exploded so loudly—!”

 

Clara turned her head, pointing at the fireworks, and for a moment their eyes met.

 

The twinkling lights, bustling sounds, and joyful atmosphere that marked the last night of the festival were far away.

 

Instead, Stefan’s black hair and serious eyes filled her.

 

Clara felt like her heart was pounding and her head was dizzy.

 

Slowly, the distance between the two became closer.

 

Just like a magnet attracting them, naturally, without them even realizing it.

 

The two were so close that they could feel each other’s breath.

 

At that time, the wine glass caught on the tips of the two people’s fingers and they fell. 

 

Wine poured over where they sat.

 

“ah…!”

 

Clara came to her senses and took a step back.

 

It was the same with Stefan. For some reason, his heart was beating faster than before.

 

To hide his racing heart, Stefan took out a handkerchief and repeatedly wiped the wine-stained area.

 

Meanwhile, the long-running fireworks display died down and darkness fell.

 

“It’s very late.…!”

 

Clara cleaned up the place quickly and neatly, just like she usually does.

 

Stefan also nodded and helped clean up.

 

“I guess I’ll just go in now. I’m worried about whether my brother had a good dinner.…”

 

Stefan nodded again at her words that sounded like an excuse.

 

‘Is her face red because of the wine?’

 

“Then I’ll go.…!”

 

“I’ll take you home.”

 

“No, it’s okay!”

 

Clara waved her hands and said.

 

They were pretty far out to watch the fireworks where there were no people.

 

There was no way Stefan could make Clara go alone at this late hour.

 

He had prepared a carriage for her, but Clara ran down the hill before he could reply.

 

Stefan hurriedly followed after her.

 

‘It’s dangerous to run down a dark hill alone…!’

 

“Ah!”

 

As expected, her feet tripped.

 

Stefan hurriedly caught her.

 

“Are you okay?”

 

Stefan looks at her with a bewildered look in his eyes.

 

Clara, who was in Stefan’s arms, felt her face turn bright red.

 

More drunk than the last time she drank brandy.

 

“Uh….Thank you, knight!”

 

“Let’s go together.”

 

“Yes.”

 

Clara lowered her head in embarrassment, not knowing what to do.

 

Stefan and Clara came down the hill keeping a reasonable distance apart.

 

They got into the waiting carriage, and the carriage headed towards Clara’s house.

 

Stefan was silent as always and Clara also said nothing.

 

* * * 

 

The next day. Clara, as always, helped Dorothea with the little things.

Ethan visited Dorothea early in the morning and talked to her about everything.

 

Clara brushed Dorothea’s hair absentmindedly, for she had not slept well last night.

 

“Clara, how was the festival yesterday?”

 

The topic of their conversation suddenly jumped to Clara.

 

“Huh? Ah! It was fun.”

 

“I heard you went there with Stefan?”

 

“Huh?! How did you know?”

 

“Joy told me that you and Stefan decided to go to the festival together. That’s why you went on vacation together.”

 

“Uh…yes. It was fun.”

 

Clara’s hand combing Dorothea’s hair became faster. Ethan’s eyes narrowed as he looked at Clara.

 

* * * 

 

In the afternoon that day.

 

Ethan was walking along, thinking about going to play the piano.

 

At that time, a noticeably tall man appeared in the distance.

 

It was Stefan Greenwall.

 

He was talking about something with the knights. No, would it be correct to say that he was listening?

 

‘His mouth is unnecessarily heavy, but the knights manage to follow it.’ 

 

Ethan found the existence of Stefan fascinating.

 

‘He has the power to mysteriously attract people even without words.…’

 

As he thought so, he saw Clara in the distance.

 

Ethan stopped and watched her. It seemed like something interesting was going to happen.

 

And as he expected, Clara, who found Stefan, stopped and stood there.

 

Stefan also noticed her and raised his head.

 

‘Hmm…’

 

Ethan observed the two people with narrowed eyes.

 

Clara, who looks embarrassed, turns and leaves as if running away, and Stefan, frustrated, considers whether or not to follow her, but ends up being caught by the knights.

 

Ethan, who was quietly watching the two people, shook his head.

 

‘Should I engrave my sincerity on them?’

 

* * *