For the better part of the morning, Vierenna stayed glued to Deon, not leaving his side for even a moment. She chose his clothes—which were overly flashy—fixed his hair, and even instructed him on how he should address the coming Guest. Annoyed as he was, Deon did as she said and listened to all her instructions. He didn’t want to leave a bad impression on someone who would accompany and protect him—even if that was just an assumption.


    “You look amazing,” Vierenna commented on Deon’s attire as she inspected him with a scrutinizing gaze.


    “I’ll head back to my room to change. Wait for me downstairs, okay?” Without waiting for his response, she rushed out of his room.


    ‘She seems overly excited’ Deon thought to himself. Yet deep down, he only hoped everything would go smoothly. But what were the chances, especially with Vierenna involved?


    Deon followed her instructions and went down to the first floor. He intended to wait in the dining room but was surprised to see it bustling with life. A large number of servants moved around the room, bringing in various dishes and then leaving to return with more. He was astonished for a moment but quickly left the room—it wasn’t his place.


    ‘All this for one person…’ Deon sighed wearily and headed toward the front gate of the palace.


    The gate was wide open, unusually so, but at least it was empty. Deon stepped slightly to the side and stood there, letting the cold morning air brush against his skin. He stood there for a while, occasionally receiving curious glances from passing servants. But none of them spoke to him, which he preferred.


    “My baby brother, what… You ruined your hair!”


    Vierenna emerged from the front gate and came directly toward Deon as if she had known exactly where he was.


    “You… Why are you standing here?”


    She stood in front of him and started fixing his hair again.


    “I didn’t ruin it, the wind did.”


    “Oh, so it wasn’t your decision to stand here? Why then?”


    “I don’t like crowded places.” Deon answered honestly, finding no reason to lie.


    “You could’ve gone somewhere else, like… inside.”


    “How did you find me, anyway?”


    Vierenna tucked some strands of Deon’s hair behind his ears to hold them against the wind, but the strong gusts quickly tossed them around again.


    “So you were avoiding me?” she said angrily, throwing her hands down in defeat.


    “I wasn’t. I was just curious.”


    She stepped to the side and leaned against the wall beside him.


    “I asked some of the servants.”


    “What do we do about my hair now?” Deon asked, though he didn’t care much. He already looked fine, and Vierenna herself had confirmed that.


    “You already look good. There’s not much to do. Besides, we were going to wait outside anyway.”


    Deon looked at her, ready to question what she meant, but she interrupted him.


    “So, how do I look?” she asked as she stood in front of him again, doing a complete turn to show off her appearance.


    She wore a fully black dress that ended just above her knees, leaving the best parts of her chest exposed. A beautiful blue necklace rested against her flawless white skin. Her white hair was tied into a ponytail at the back of her head, and high heels made her the same height as Deon.


    Deon took his time examining her, though his expression didn’t change. He was already accustomed to her stunning beauty but still gave her an honest answer. She seemed to like those.


    “You’re already beautiful. I like the dress. It’s the opposite of you, but it suits you well.”


    Vierenna smiled, satisfied with the compliment, but a sly grin appeared on her face.


    ‘Here we go again…’


    “Don’t fantasize too much,” she commented.


    By now, Deon sighed in exasperation at her remarks, but he still answered when she looked at him, expecting a reply.


    “I’ll try.”


    She smiled in satisfaction and stood beside him again, placing her hand on his shoulder as if to reassure him.


    “I know you’ll fail. And when you do, try not to tell me, like you did the day before.”


    Deon turned his head toward her sharply, his calm demeanor crumbling.


    “That’s not what I meant…”


    But she silenced him by placing her hand over his mouth.


    “You don’t need to explain yourself. I understand. But that doesn’t mean I agree.”


    Though her tone was serious, her expression dripped with mockery.


    Deon simply let his shoulders slump in defeat and looked ahead toward the garden, his mind blank.


    Vierenna noticed this and her amused smile widened. She loved what she was seeing. She was about to add more salt to the wound, but her personal maid suddenly appeared through the gate.


    “Young lady, they’ve arrived.”


    Deon glanced at the maid from the side. She was a fully grown woman with blonde hair tied in a bun and faint blue eyes. She wore the usual maid’s uniform, which suited her perfectly.


    She caught Deon’s gaze and bowed to him respectfully before turning back to Vierenna, her movements professional and composed.


    Deon looked at Vierenna to hear her response. The whole situation was still a mystery to him. But he gathered from the maid’s words that the knight wasn’t coming alone, which made sense.


    “Go ahead and escort them. Deon and I will greet them here. Everything is ready inside, I assume?”


    “Everything is as you requested, young lady. The head servant is already at the front.”


    Vierenna nodded with a professional expression.


    “Very good. You may go now.”


    The maid bowed deeply again.


    “I won’t let the young lady down.”


    She walked away with steady steps.


    Deon’s eyes remained on Vierenna. He barely recognized her during the brief conversation between her and her maid. She seemed...


    “Are you thinking I was professional?” Vierenna interrupted Deon’s thoughts as she turned her head toward him, her usual smile returning. “Or perhaps you were thinking my maid—”


    “Actually, I was going to say effective, but professional works too,” Deon interrupted, knowing exactly where her words were headed. He didn’t need that right now.


    “Hmm, fine. I suppose I’ll believe you. But time will tell.”


    With that, she grabbed his hand and dragged him up the few steps in front of the palace gate.


    “Waiting here in the center is better than hiding on the side, don’t you think, my dear baby brother?”


    Vierenna stood in front of the palace gate with her back to it, while Deon stood beside her, his posture straight and his expression cold as he gazed forward.


    “Remember what I told you. You must be on your best behavior. You’re not very liked by her family.”


    Deon scoffed coldly. Vierenna had mentioned this before, and if not for her, he would never have agreed to such a thing. Even so, he couldn’t stop himself from complaining.


    “This is nonsense. If they hate me, why bother coming at all?”


    Vierenna turned toward him, her expression grim. “This isn’t about them, and they don’t hate you. If they dare disrespect you, I won’t let it slide. But they know their limits well and won’t act outside their authority. However, they can sabotage the entire agreement, and… well, I don’t want that.”


    Deon looked into Vierenna’s sincere eyes, closed his own to clear his mind, and then reopened them. “I wasn’t trying to do unspeakable things to you. You just misunderstood, as always.”


    Vierenna’s eyes widened briefly, but a sly smile quickly formed on her face. “Are you trying to use this moment to clear your name?”


    She leaned closer to Deon’s face, scrutinizing his unchanged expression. “Just so you know, I had my suspicions before! Of course, my sweet, handsome baby brother Deon, despite his impure thoughts about me, wouldn’t act on them. He’d have the willpower to stay on the right path. I wanted to believe that, even though the obvious signs always said otherwise.”


    She placed her cold hand on Deon’s cheek. Despite the pity in her expression, Deon could see the mockery there. She wasn’t even trying to hide it, as if she expected him to see through her.


    “Well, that settles it. You have more than just thoughts…” She closed her eyes in exaggerated sorrow, as if mourning a loved one. “I’ll miss my Deon.”


    Deon only sighed in defeat. His earlier attempt had been to clear his name of the injustice he suffered two days ago, but everything had turned against him... again. And it wasn’t as if he wasn’t used to it by now. His expression remained unchanged despite Vierenna’s verbal torment.


    He looked at her fake sorrowful expression and addressed her. “I didn’t think there was a ‘right path.’”


    She looked at him again, the sorrow vanishing as if it had never been there. “Of course there is. Sure, people like us don’t take it, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t there or isn’t valid. It’s just a matter of appropriate use.”


    Deon stared at her seriously, unable to believe her words. But then again, he was in a world unlike his own.


    “Do you plan to take it?” She asked mockingly, but he caught a hint of seriousness in her voice.


    “Why not?” Deon answered seriously, mostly to see her reaction. Things couldn’t get worse than they already were.


    She looked at him for a long moment, words stuck in her mouth. But Deon could tell the thought had crossed her mind.


    ‘How interesting…’


    Now it was his turn to smile mockingly.


    But Vierenna quickly wiped his smile away with a pinch to his side.


    “They’re here.”


    She raised her head to look at him angrily.


    “And we will talk later, oh, we will talk very thoroughly.”


    She looked ahead again, her professional expression once more masking her face.


    “You need to relearn how to respect your elder sister.”


    ‘I never learn my lessons!’


    Deon also looked ahead, trying to muster as much professionalism as he could.


    He didn’t know if he succeeded or failed, but as long as Vierenna didn’t say anything, he was probably fine.


    “I hope this ends quickly. I miss my room.”


    ???


    On the stone path passing through the front garden leading to the palace, a group of individuals moved gracefully. Their figures, clothing, and the way they carried themselves spoke only of their high status.


    Deon watched from his position at the palace gate with an indifferent expression.


    “Let’s proceed.” Beside him, Vierenna, who wore a friendly smile, spoke and moved down the steps.


    Deon followed her without delay.


    The group of people approached, led by Vierenna’s personal maid with her radiant blonde hair, alongside the butler with his neatly trimmed brown hair and beard. With each step closer, the shapes of the guests became more distinct.


    There were four in total. An elderly man with white hair and a long white beard, wore loose gray garments and carried a long sword in his hand. His gaze was sharp but carried a sense of calm within.


    Beside him was a middle-aged woman dressed in what appeared to be a long blue gown, though its modest appearance negated the idea of it being a dress, especially with the long black cloak she wore. Her hair was a shade of black tinged with gray, and her light blue eyes resembled the sky on a good day. She carried a gentle smile as she looked at both Deon and Vierenna in her line of sight.


    One of her hands held onto a young girl with short, layered, glowing icy-blue hair, giving her a radiant and ethereal appearance. Her hair fell over her forehead, partially covering it. Her face was partially hidden by a band covering her eyes, though it did nothing to obscure her beautiful features. She wore an elegant blue dress with a shimmer that matched her icy hair.


    Despite her eyes being covered, Deon felt her gaze on him from all directions. It was a strange sensation, but he managed to connect it to her.


    Behind the trio, a boy with similarly icy-blue hair walked with steady steps. His gaze was calm, but it lingered on Deon and Vierenna, especially Vierenna. Like the old man, the boy wore long, loose black garments and carried a sword, though it seemed more like a decoration than a functional weapon in his hands.


    “This humble household welcomes the esteemed De Ressa family. Welcome with us today.” Vierenna bowed slightly, her hand placed over her chest as the distance between her and the guests narrowed to just a few steps.


    Deon followed her lead but remained silent.


    The servants who had guided the guests toward the palace gate stepped aside and disappeared into the space, as if their work was done.


    “It is our honor,” said the elderly man, bowing deeply, with the others following his example.


    Vierenna turned toward Deon with a friendly smile, gesturing to him with her hand as she spoke proudly. “This is my younger brother, Deon V. Eirenios.”


    Deon did not wait for the group’s reaction as he bowed once more. “Pleased to meet you.”


    The elders of the De Ressa group smiled at the respect Deon displayed, returning it in kind—except for the boy in the back.


    He looked at Deon with a sense of mockery and spoke, his tone matching the derision in his gaze. “We are well aware of the youngest of the Eirenios Household… and his reputation.”


    ‘Great, just what I needed!’


    Deon raised his calm gaze toward the mocking boy and responded with a cold, composed tone that defied expectations. “I wish I could say the same…”


    The group’s expressions faltered, especially Vierenna’s. She glanced at Deon from the side with a knowing look, but Deon paid her little attention. “But it’s never too late to get acquainted, and I trust you share the same sentiment.”


    Deon’s words carried a deeper meaning. He would not allow anyone to belittle him. Though he didn’t care much, in Vierenna’s presence, he cared enough. Letting her defend his honor was not ideal for him.


    The group’s smiles returned, albeit forced.


    “Then let’s make use of this opportunity,” said the middle-aged woman on behalf of everyone.


    Vierenna seized the moment and addressed them all with a smile. “As Lady Lena said, let’s do so over breakfast. Everything is ready.”


    She gestured toward the palace gate and led the way, followed by Deon. She couldn’t help but glance sideways at him, her smile revealing much about her thoughts.


    Well handled.


    For the next few minutes, Vierenna initiated small conversations with the De Ressa group to dispel the awkward silence. Meanwhile, Deon maintained his quiet and calm demeanor. None seemed eager to engage with him now, which suited him perfectly.


    Before long, the group arrived at their designated destination and took their seats at the breakfast table, which was organized and filled with various delights. Deon sat beside Vierenna on the side of the table facing the window, while the rest of the family sat on the opposite side.


    …


    “I wouldn’t say I was that good; I was just fortunate with my opponents in the tournament,” Vierenna said, speaking about her victory in some kind of competition between imperial academies. Though she insisted her win was mere luck, everyone emphasized her talent and mindset.


    “Even if you say so, my eyes tell a different story,” said the elderly man, Jan De Ressa, his tone calm but filled with praise.


    “Luck or not, you have brought great honor to your name. That alone is worth mentioning,” added the woman, Anna-Lena De Ressa.


    Deon paid little attention to the conversation, his focus instead on the girl with the band over her eyes. From his observations, he discerned that she was blind… yet not blind.


    Though her mother held her hand to guide her here, the girl’s movements didn’t align with those of a blind person. Deon himself would have sworn that the girl was looking at him, though he couldn’t pinpoint the source of her gaze. It was as if she saw him from every angle.


    She truly made him uneasy.


    And all the while, she seemed aware of his focus on her, though she couldn’t understand why. Thus, her focus didn’t waver from him either.


    “Pleasure to finally meet you. Vierenna has spoken much about you…” She was the first to initiate a conversation. “My name is Anna-Accia De Ressa, if you weren’t aware. Knowing Vierenna, you’ll have to take that route.”Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    ‘I already like her.’


    Indeed, Deon didn’t know the names of any members of the De Ressa household. He had read about them during his studies in his room but never knew that his soon-to-be knight bore this name. Thus, he remained ignorant. Moreover, he appreciated Anna-Accia’s gesture.


    “Pardon my ignorance. Pleased to meet you as well,” Deon finally replied.


    “If you have any curiosities, feel free to ask me anything. And as you might have guessed, I am indeed unable to see. It wasn’t natural but the result of a past incident.”


    Everyone at the table seemed to ignore their conversation, busy with their own talks. However, Deon felt their attention hadn’t strayed from them, especially Felice and Vierenna, for some reason.


    “I do have my curiosities, but you’re free not to answer. Well then, how can you see if you’re blind?”


    The girl tensed at that but quickly regained her composure, smiling at him.


    Before she could speak, however, Felice intervened in their conversation.


    “That goes beyond curiosity, and forgive me for interfering,” he said respectfully, though the anger in his voice was evident.


    Deon couldn’t blame him for this; he was trying to protect his sister. Deon himself thought the question had crossed the line and was ready to apologize.


    But Anna-Accia spoke directly behind her brother. “I don’t see it that way. It only goes to show that young master Deon has sharp vision and a high sense of his surroundings.”


    Deon said nothing, and Felice simply turned his face and returned to his conversation with the rest of the group without another word.


    “Though I am unable to see with my eyes, I can sense my surroundings and the people around me,” the girl continued enigmatically.


    Deon fell silent for a moment, observing her honest expression before deciding to continue his questions.


    “That’s impressive, but other senses aren’t as precise as the eyes, if I may say so. And I can tell your training is above mine, which speaks volumes about your talent.” Deon left his question ambiguous; he didn’t want to pressure the girl to answer but was genuinely curious.


    ‘Could she have something similar to my mana sense?’ The thought crossed Deon’s mind, but he didn’t voice it aloud.


    The girl’s expression flickered, but she was good at maintaining a neutral face. The same smile never left her lips. “The young master is right in his assumptions. I don’t know how to explain it, but I’ll say that when you lose something, you gain something in return. Although it’s not always fair or present in most cases, I count myself lucky for what I have left.”


    “That’s an excellent mindset. I wish I had it, but it’s never too late,” Deon replied, knowing the girl wouldn’t say more about her condition.


    And so, silence returned between the two, leaving room for the rest of the group to talk as they enjoyed their breakfast. Deon himself was still waiting for his coffee with milk but didn’t stop himself from tasting the food out of respect for the group.


    Not even a minute had passed before Yven entered the room, carrying a small tray with a single white cup on its surface. She handled it with the care of a mother toward her only child, seeming completely unaware of her surroundings. Her eyes were fixed solely on Deon and the cup as she made her way toward him.


    She reached his side, oblivious to the curious gazes that followed her. Carefully, she picked up the cup and placed it in front of Deon with the same exaggerated delicacy.


    Standing upright again, a satisfied smile adorned her captivating features.


    “Eh…”


    But the smile quickly faded, replaced by unease, as she glanced nervously around at the other attendees.


    For a moment, she seemed unsure of what to do, but Deon, feeling pity for the young girl, decided to help her this time.


    “You may go now, Yven.”


    The words seemed to release her. She gave Deon a slight bow before hastily exiting the room.


    At that moment, Deon raised the cup of coffee with milk to his lips, ready to savor its heavenly taste.


    But Felice couldn’t hold back his comment, interrupting Deon’s single moment of happiness with his cup.


    “You have quite an interesting choice of maid.”


    Deon stopped the cup just before it reached his mouth. The aroma of the coffee tempted him to ignore the remark and focus on his joy, but he couldn’t.


    Lowering the cup back onto the table, he turned toward Felice with a sharp gaze.


    “You have a keen eye, indeed. Yven is fascinating, but not for the reasons you think. She was my mother’s choice. Who am I to question it, let alone anyone else?”


    The expressions around the table soured, and all eyes turned to Felice, particularly Vierenna, who cast a piercing look at the boy when their mother was mentioned.


    Realizing his mistake, Felice lowered his head slightly and apologized. “I misspoke. Please forgive my rudeness, young master, and don’t see my words as a lack of respect.”


    Deon shifted his gaze between his cup and Felice before deciding not to escalate the situation. “I won’t hold it against you, but I expect more of these reactions in the future. Yven has that effect, and I’m the one who will bear the consequences. How unfair.”


    The middle-aged woman, Anna-Lena, chuckled softly, seeming to grasp the meaning behind Deon’s words. “Such is the price of beauty—the blessing of women and the curse of men.”


    Even Deon couldn’t suppress a smile at that. She wasn’t wrong, though he bore no grudge against Yven. The coffee she made was more than enough to make up for anything.


    From there, the conversation returned to its relaxed flow. No one addressed Deon, leaving him free to enjoy his coffee.


    But all good things come to an end.


    Deon felt a pang of sadness as he stared at the empty cup, but he also felt hopeful for tomorrow morning.


    A new day, the same coffee with milk.


    ‘If only life is that simple.’


    Setting the cup back on the table, he shifted his focus to the conversation around him, which, fortunately, was reaching its end and moving toward a more serious topic.


    The elderly man, Jan De Ressa, adjusted his posture, his previously relaxed demeanor giving way to a professional seriousness as he addressed everyone at the table. “Let’s talk about why we’re really here.”


    ‘Finally.’


    ???


    “The lord of the house has reviewed your unusual request. The fact that it didn’t come from your father, the head of Eirenios Household, raises some thoughts. However, considering your good friendship with my granddaughter and her expressed interests, we are here to discuss further.” The one who spoke these cryptic words was none other than the old man, Jan De Ressa. His expression was serious, his gaze sharp as he addressed Vierenna directly.


    ‘So they are under the impression that it was Vierenna’s request? Perhaps it was?’


    Deon watched silently from the side, gathering as much information as he could.


    “I understand the nature of my request, and please, do not regard it as disrespectful, as that would be far from the truth. To be transparent, neither my brother nor I have a good relationship with our father at the moment. Hence, I didn’t feel the need to involve him. If his intervention is necessary, I will have no choice but to summon him, though he isn’t currently present at the manor. If you have any concerns, I would like to hear them first, so we can proceed in a way that suits all parties.” Vierenna rested her hands on the table, her gaze unwavering as she looked directly into the old man''s eyes.


    He, in turn, regarded her with a contemplative expression. “I appreciate your honesty. Although it does raise some concerns, honesty is a good trait…”


    The old man leaned back, glancing at his family members seated beside him before returning his attention to Vierenna. “Indeed, we do have some concerns. The first of which, since you have chosen honesty, is whether your strained relationship with your father might result in repercussions for my granddaughter''s safety if she truly intends to follow the path of the knight, as it was once known.”


    “You can rest assured that any concerns regarding my father''s interference are unfounded. Besides, Accia is, first and foremost, my friend. You have my word that she will not suffer from anything beyond what she faces in pursuing the path of the knight,” Vierenna responded confidently, her tone unwavering, showing no hint of nervousness.


    “That doesn’t say much, but I’ll take your word; it holds some value,” the old man replied.


    He picked up his teacup, taking an unusually long sip. The room fell silent as everyone waited for him to speak again.


    “Our other concerns, and forgive me for saying this, involve the reputation of young master Deon. You, Vierenna, are the wiser one here,” he added.


    Despite mentioning Deon, the old man didn’t look at him, as though he were unimportant.


    Vierenna frowned, particularly when she noticed Deon’s curious gaze on her.


    Pretending not to notice, she returned her attention to the old man. Her tone, while respectful, carried a hint of sharpness and warning. “Those rumors have no basis in truth—just words piling upon words.”


    “Yes, I can believe you. But the words originated from your house. Regardless of their validity, I must consider my granddaughter’s reputation.” The old man’s face remained impassive as he spoke.


    Vierenna’s frown deepened, but before she could say anything, Jan addressed Deon directly, breaking his silence for the first time. “What does young master Deon think? Do this old man’s concerns seem logical to you?”


    Deon remained silent, his eyes fixed on the old man. He could feel Vierenna’s gaze on him, but she didn’t seem inclined to intervene. In fact, it felt like she wanted to hear his thoughts too. But truthfully, Deon didn’t know what he was supposed to say. He didn’t even understand why his reputation was so tarnished or how bad it truly was; he simply didn’t care enough to begin with. However, he knew one thing—his bad reputation had a lot to do with Viktoria De Avila, his supposed mother. And Vierenna always did her best to keep him in the dark about it.


    Deon understood that her actions were meant to protect him, and he couldn’t bring himself to confront her. He wanted her to tell him herself. Forcing the issue and extracting the truth by force would only backfire. There were too many things Deon didn’t know, things he should have known.


    He thought and thought about what he should say, but nothing logical came to mind.


    ‘It doesn’t have to be logical!’


    Deon settled on that. Under the expectant gazes of everyone, he finally spoke, his tone dramatic. “I was taught for most of my life that lying is the absence of truth. And that is a truth in itself, though it’s not a complete truth. In recent days, I’ve come to realize that the truth, logical to everyone, isn’t necessarily the truth that suits everyone.”


    He bowed his head slightly, a sorrowful expression washing over his face for all to see. “And so, I could tell you what I believe to be true, and you might believe me... but I won’t.”


    He raised his head again, meeting the old man’s gaze, who now looked at him in confusion. Deon didn’t blame him; he himself was confused by his own words. “It’s a matter of good perspective—if I’m not mistaken. One truth is clear to everyone: your concerns about your granddaughter’s reputation. I won’t deny that.”


    Deon expected some sort of reaction, but no one spoke. They simply stared at him in silence—even Vierenna looked at him with a dumbfounded expression.


    Despite his discomfort, Deon remained silent. But as time passed, the silence began to gnaw at his composure.


    Just as he was on the verge of losing his calm completely, the old man finally spoke. “I see that honesty is something you and your sister share. That is a good thing—a very good thing.”


    He nodded at Deon, but his expression didn’t carry a smile. “However, your words have done nothing to ease my concerns or those of anyone else here.”


    Deon seized the opportunity to interrupt. “Forgive me for the interruption, but I wasn’t trying to ease anyone’s concerns. My reputation is bad, and I won’t do anything about it. Personally, I don’t care what anyone thinks of me. I am the second-born, which means my sister will inherit the role of our father’s successor. I’m fine with that and will not oppose it... I used to care about reputation, but not anymore.”


    The old man didn’t seem pleased with the interruption, but he didn’t comment on it. Vierenna, however, glared at Deon angrily from the side. Or at least, her expression was angry—but inside, she felt proud. Her brother had grown so much.


    ‘But is he trying to ruin the agreement?’


    Before she could reach any conclusions, Deon continued speaking.


    “If you ask me, I believe Lady Anna-Accia’s opinion matters the most. If she wishes to proceed, she can. If not, that’s her choice. And please, don’t take my words to mean that I don’t care about your opinion as representatives of House De Ressa—I do. But—”


    Vierenna kicked Deon under the table to silence him. It wasn’t that no one noticed what she had done; everyone did. But it was still infinitely better than letting him continue.


    “Please excuse my brother; he tends to speak his mind without concern,” she said, trying to smooth things over.


    Deon stared at her in shock, confused as to why she would stop him. All he was trying to do was help—or so he thought...


    A heavy silence fell over the breakfast table despite Vierenna’s words. Both Jan and Lady Anna-Lena frowned at Deon. On the opposite side, Felice’s eyes burned with anger, though this time, he merely stared without saying a word.


    Deon turned his gaze to Anna-Accia, but her face was turned downward in defeat. She looked as though she had lost all hope.


    After a long silence, the old man finally spoke, as always, breaking the tension. “Since young master Deon has taken the liberty of speaking his mind, I shall do the same. I do not believe my granddaughter is suited to you as a knight. Naturally, this also means she will lose the opportunity to join Sable as she wishes. But her talent is greater than that. If Sable won’t accept her, there are plenty of opportunities, both within and beyond the empire.”


    Vierenna’s expression fell, and she looked at the old man to speak, but Deon was faster.


    “I understand.”


    Deon knew his words had sabotaged any chance of a compromise, but he didn’t care. If speaking one’s mind was a sensitivity in this world, he would speak his mind no matter what. He wouldn’t apologize for it.


    “Deon, you’re not helping!” Vierenna warned through clenched teeth.


    Deon felt a twinge of guilt for the effort she had put into making this happen, and he was ruining it right before her eyes. But he couldn’t stop himself.


    “I’m sorry, sister. I tried, I really did, but being looked down on before we even get to anything—this is something I won’t accept. As I said, I don’t care what others think of me, but it’s a different story when it happens in my own house.”


    Vierenna frowned deeply, her eyes fixed on Deon. But they quickly softened, even turning apologetic. “You’re right. I tried to ignore it since you did the same, but I shouldn’t have.”


    She turned her gaze to Accia, whose face remained lowered. “I’m sorry, Accia. I tried, but my brother is more important to me.”


    Jan’s frown deepened, and he opened his mouth to say something, but Vierenna stood from her seat to address everyone. “This agreement can still proceed if my brother agrees, of course. But an apology for the disrespect he faced will be necessary to move forward. I won’t discuss the validity of the claims, as there is no need, since everyone here is wise enough to discern the truth.”


    Her gray obsidian eyes burned as they locked onto Felice, who stared challengingly at Deon.


    Deon, however, kept his gaze on Vierenna.


    “Once again…”


    Vierenna shifted her gaze to Anna-Accia.


    “Accia, you are my friend—a dear friend. But please understand, there are always things more important than others.”


    Anna-Accia sighed in defeat, her expression clouded with sadness.


    “I understand.”


    And that was the end of it. Deon wouldn’t get a knight. He thought he’d be happy about it, but he wasn’t...


    His unreadable gaze lingered on Vierenna, who stood tall, looking down at everyone.


    She, in turn, looked at him with a gentle smile, which only deepened the guilt weighing on Deon.


    ‘If only I had kept my mouth shut.’


    But it was too late now.


    ???


    “You damn fool. You had to show everyone how amazing you are! But instead, you showed how stupid you are. Why, why do you always ruin everything I want? Why?!”


    “Accia, please calm down.”


    “You want me to calm down? This fool ruined my chance. Why should I calm down? Why did he have to come in the first place? Everything would have gone smoothly if not for his selfishness. And now, what do I have…? Say something, you… you idiot!”


    Anna-Accia stormed toward a set of sofas and collapsed into them, overwhelmed by frustration. She covered her face so she wouldn''t have to look at her family, but she didn’t really need her eyes to see. She could still sense every movement they made.


    Her mother, Anna-Lena, cautiously stepped toward her, unwilling to ignite her anger again. “The fact they didn’t throw us out means there’s still a chance for reconciliation.”


    However, her mother’s words only served to reignite her fury.


    By instinct, Anna-Accia turned her face toward her mother. “Oh, you think so? Or do you think it’s only because Grandfather was the former head of the family before Father? I’ll believe you if you come back downstairs with me and apologize for that idiot’s actions.”


    Though no agreement had been made between the De Ressa and Eirenios Households, they were still inside the palace, in one of the guest rooms. The hospitality customs of the Macezar Empire were strict for both guests and hosts.


    Silence filled the room as no one spoke.


    “That’s what I thought,” Anna-Accia muttered, once again covering her face with her hands.


    “My dear, there are many excellent academies you could—”


    “No! No! I want Sable!”


    Anna-Accia interrupted her grandfather’s attempt to console her. She didn’t give him a chance.


    “If it’s not Sable, then I don’t want it, and this will all be on you.”


    From the saddened expressions on the faces of those in the room, Anna-Accia knew she had gone too far with her words. But she couldn’t bring herself to apologize. She certainly didn’t feel sorry for Felice, who hadn’t uttered a single word from the start.


    His silence was beginning to grate on her nerves. “Why don’t you say anything? You’re the cause of all this.”


    She lifted her head and turned her face toward him, even though the motion was pointless and a waste of energy. It still emphasized her dissatisfaction.


    “What should I say? If I apologize, it’ll only make you angrier,” Felice replied with his head lowered.


    Anna-Accia felt an urge to slap her brother but refrained. Instead, she returned to the sofa and threw herself onto it again. In a strange way, Felice’s honest words calmed her, though not enough to quell her anger and frustration.


    Again, an oppressive silence filled the room.


    This did not help Anna-Accia at all. Even with her face buried in her hands, she could still feel everyone’s pitying gazes on her.


    “Can you all stop looking at me like that?!”


    Everyone averted their eyes, except for her mother. Instead, Anna-Lena approached her and sat beside her, gently patting her back.


    “Come on, Accia, surely there’s still something we can do. We still have time.”


    Anna-Accia was about to snap at her mother’s words, but Felice spoke first. “I can fix this.”


    And so, her anger shifted toward him.


    “You won’t do anything! Every word that comes out of your mouth will only make things worse. I’ll fix this myself.”


    Her grandfather intervened, stepping between Felice and Anna-Accia, who seemed ready to lash out at her brother.


    “Calm down, little one. Let’s hear what he has to say first.”


    “No! Do you really think he has anything going on in his head? He’s probably just going to—”


    “I’ll apologize.” Felice’s words silenced Anna-Accia and everyone else in the room.


    His words shocked them. They all knew how proud he could be. Naturally, Anna-Accia didn’t believe him.


    “Haha… you? Apologize? I’d love to see that, but I don’t believe you, and I don’t want you interfering again.”


    “I’m trying to help you!”


    “Oh, of course! Since you want to help me, I should just forget that you’re the reason this happened in the first place.”


    “Fine. If you don’t want to help yourself, then don’t.” Felice moved away from the center of the room and leaned against a wall angrily.


    “My dear, why don’t you give him a chance—”


    “No! I won’t do that.” Anna-Accia sat back down on the sofa, her anger refusing to dissipate.


    “I’ll fix this myself,” She muttered under her breath.


    Once again, silence enveloped the room.


    To everyone else, Anna-Accia seemed like she truly didn’t want to help herself. Yet no one spoke. They only looked at her with pity.


    “Stop looking at me like that! I’m not helpless!”


    Everyone turned away again.


    Anna-Accia buried her face in her hands once more.


    After a few minutes, she realized that wallowing in self-pity wouldn’t get her anywhere. So, against her better judgment, she stood up and turned to Felice.


    “You said you’d apologize?”


    Felice nodded.


    “Then let’s go.”


    “I was planning to go alone.”


    “I don’t trust you enough to let you go alone. It’ll just be the two of us. And believe me when I say, if you do anything other than apologize, I’ll break your legs.”


    Felice stared at her in disbelief. They were twins, but he was still the elder. Regardless, he nodded again and followed her.


    Anna-Accia opened the door for her brother to leave. Once he did, she turned to her mother.


    “Wait here.”


    She closed the door behind her, leaving only the two of them inside.


    “Do you think they’ll reach an agreement?” Anna-Lena asked the old man, even though she already had an idea.


    “I don’t know. If it happens, it’ll surprise my son.”


    Indeed, the current head of House De Ressa had no idea what was going on. He didn’t even know they were at the Eirenios Palace in the capital.


    “This will be amusing,” Anna-Lena commented, her expression delighted.


    “No, it won’t be.”


    “That’s what makes it even funnier.”


    The old man sighed and made his way to the sofa. Despite his great strength, he felt a wave of fatigue washing over him.


    …


    Guilt still haunted Deon for ruining the meeting between them and the De Ressa household that morning. He didn’t feel much toward them, considering their dismissive behavior toward him. But his guilt was for Vierenna, who, once again, stood by his side.


    ‘If only I had swallowed my grievances.’


    But what’s done is done.


    It wasn’t that Deon couldn’t endure and ignore Felice’s disdain for him. He could have, but he chose not to. He didn’t want to cultivate such a habit.


    ‘You can hate me, you can look down on me, but keep it to yourself. Don’t be two-faced in my own home.’


    That was Deon’s thought at the time, and it played a significant role in his outburst.


    Deon remembered the day he was robbed by a group of teenagers who eventually ran him over. At that time, too, he wore the mask of indifference toward the injustice he faced. And look how that turned out.


    Now, he stood up for himself. Even though it ended in his favor, allowing him to keep what little dignity he had, Deon felt no joy—only guilt.


    ‘What was the right answer?’


    To leave your space and swallow your grievances under a facade of indifference and rationality, or to defend yourself even if it means ignoring everything else?


    Once again, it wasn’t that Deon cared much about what others thought of him. But he did care if it could place him in a situation where he might be run over—figuratively or literally. He didn’t want to be trampled again.


    “Hey, baby brother.”


    Deon’s senses snapped back to the present at the sudden call. He turned toward the voice only to see Vierenna’s smiling face peeking out from behind a shrub in the backyard garden.


    He was sitting on a bench by the small lake in the palace’s garden.


    “What are you doing in my spot? It’s still morning, or did you forget?” She emerged from the bushes when she failed to scare him, but she didn’t seem upset.


    “No, I didn’t forget. I’ll make it up to you later.”


    Vierenna raised an eyebrow. “Really? And would you have done so if I hadn’t caught you red-handed here?”


    Deon smiled at her words. “Well, that’s another story. Either way, I would’ve done something nice for you and made you owe me.”


    Vierenna remained silent, her expression unchanged. She took steady steps toward Deon until she stood directly in front of him with no space between them.


    Deon looked at her cautiously from his seated position, his body language instinctively defensive. He was ready to warn her not to do anything, but it was already too late.


    Her hands began squeezing his cheeks with force.


    Deon tried to push her hands away, but that only increased the pain in his face as she refused to let go of his cheeks.


    She, in turn, waited until Deon stopped all genuine attempts to free himself before she spoke. “You’re a mischievous villain. And I love that about you.”


    She still hadn’t let go of his cheeks, but her grip softened into playful squeezing. “I love that you don’t lie to me.”


    Deon, once again, felt guilt. This time, for deeper reasons he couldn’t talk about even if he wanted to. So he remained silent until Vierenna finished playing with his face and sat beside him.


    “So, how will you make it up to me?” She asked, her face only a few inches away from Deon’s.


    “What do you want? Though I have a history of ruining everything you want.”


    Vierenna frowned slightly at Deon’s words. As she was about to reassure him, Deon continued. “Sorry about that. I should have—”


    “It wasn’t your fault, you silly. If anything, it’s mine—”


    “No, it’s not.”


    Deon interrupted her interruption, and to make sure she wouldn’t cut him off again, he covered her mouth with his hand under her astonished gaze.


    “This time, it really is my fault. You asked me for something, and I ruined it. I should’ve tried harder, for you. My selfishness got the better of me. Even though I came out with a shred of self-respect, you were left with nothing. I might have even ruined your friendship with your blind friend.”


    Deon released her mouth and bowed his head deeply toward her.


    “I’m sorry.”


    “But we can still fix this as long as they’re still at the palace.”


    Vierenna looked at Deon with a calm and sad expression. She didn’t know what to say. She had ignored Felice’s insulting remarks toward Deon just to maintain relative peace, and in doing so, she had disregarded her brother’s feelings, aligning with his calm demeanor at the time. She felt guilty, but now she felt even guiltier seeing Deon blame himself.


    So instead of words, she reached out to him and hugged him tightly.


    Deon tensed at first but soon relaxed.


    “I’m sorry.” He apologized again, and Vierenna only tightened her embrace.


    She held him for a good minute before letting go.


    “You don’t have to feel guilty or think about this now. I’ll put an end to this matter, whether it’s for better or worse.”


    She placed her hand on his cheek, stroking it gently.


    “The only thing you need to think about is how you’ll make it up to me.”


    Deon’s gaze held a hint of confusion, and Vierenna was happy to clarify.


    “Did you forget that you’re in my lake right now, without my permission? Quite arrogant of you. Have you forgotten how to respect me again—”


    Deon started rolling his eyes.


    “Don’t roll your eyes at me.”


    And she began pinching his cheeks again.


    Deon quickly pushed her hand away, shielding his cheeks with both hands.


    “I won’t do it again! I’ll respect you from now on.”


    “Oh? So you haven’t respected me from the start? We need to work on that.”


    With those words, Deon knew it was the end for him. He prepared to flee, but he didn’t get far. He didn’t even rise from the bench before Vierenna stopped him first with her hands, then under her knee.


    But instead of what he thought would be his punishment, Vierenna simply released him.


    Deon looked at her in confusion, unsure of what to do until she began tidying his clothes, which had been ruined in the process.


    “Two are coming.”


    That made sense. But the confusion over Vierenna’s actions didn’t leave Deon’s expression.


    She patted his chest with a playful smile.


    “This? This just means that I love you.”


    ‘That! That made sense in a strange way, even if Deon didn’t want to admit it.’