Chapter 12
Chapter 12
First Meeting (11)
Elena von Castel stood by the large window of her office, watching the sunset slowly fade.
In her hand was not a polished real sword, but a training wooden sword with its tip brutally crushed.
It was the very sword Ian had swung in the training ground.
"...An unbelievable child."
Elena muttered quietly.
In her mind, Ian’s movements replayed again and again.
The sensation of letting her blade—called the strongest in the empire—slide past him by the width of a sheet of paper.
And even at the moment his bones were being crushed, the chilling killing intent that drew the shortest line toward her heart.
That was not something that could be explained with the word “genius.”
She had seen countless prodigies in the empire, but never someone like Ian.
While ordinary geniuses burned brightly like fireworks, Ian was like a vast abyss.
Swallowing all light and leaving only the result.
"A body that frail, at that age…."
A strange smile spread across her lips.
In the empire, a man holding a sword was considered abnormal.
But Elena was different.
To her, swordsmanship was a path beyond gender.
And Ian was a bizarre existence who had already grasped the edge of that path.
Her gaze shifted to a report on the desk.
It contained records of Ian’s daily life, submitted by the mansion staff.
[Record 1: Trips over a stone while walking slowly in the square every morning.]
[Record 2: Struggles to lift even a single heavy book and asks others for help.]
[Record 3: Sees a deer jump over a fence, gets startled, and hides behind someone trembling.]
"All of it… acting."
Elena closed the report with a dry laugh.
A boy who confined himself within the frame of weakness to hide his true self and protect himself from the world.
"Yuki… well done. To find such a gem in the mud."
When she first heard rumors that Yuki was tormenting the boy, she thought her daughter had fallen apart.
But after witnessing it herself, she realized—
it wasn’t torment.
It was attention.
Seeing how desperately her daughter tried to protect him, her satisfaction as a mother outweighed her curiosity as the head of the house.
Knock knock.
"My lady, that boy—Ian—has awakened. It seems the young lady is attending to him personally."
At the head maid’s report, Elena turned.
"Attending? My daughter?"
"Yes. She’s been making a mess in the kitchen baking cookies and feeding him porridge herself. It’s the first time we’ve seen Lady Yuki devote herself to someone like this."
Elena let out a small laugh.
That arrogant daughter, struggling in a kitchen she had never entered in her life—for a single boy.
"...That boy certainly has a talent for captivating people."
"Bring him to my chambers once he has recovered. And keep Yuki away for a while—she’ll interfere."
An hour later.
With Yuki’s dramatic farewell of "Be careful not to get eaten by my mother!" echoing behind me, I stood in front of the office door.
My ribs had somewhat healed thanks to magic, but they still throbbed whenever I breathed deeply.
When I entered, Elena sat gracefully on a sofa, sipping tea.
"Sit. I’m not so heartless as to keep an injured person standing."
I quietly took a seat across from her.
After observing me for a while, she spoke.
"Ian. Do you realize what you’ve done?"
"...Not really. I’m still confused."
"If you intend to keep acting even before me, so be it. I’ll be direct. You see lines, don’t you?"
My heart dropped.
A secret I had hidden my entire life had been seen through in a single spar.
I remained silent.
"Don’t be afraid. I didn’t call you here to reprimand you. In fact, I want to thank you."
"...Pardon?"
"Yuki admired me."
Elena set down her teacup and looked at a photograph on the table.
In it, Yuki smiled brightly.
"But perhaps because that admiration was too strong, she began to drive herself recklessly, trying to earn my recognition. As a parent, it was painful to watch."
She smiled bitterly at the photo.
"And eventually, she fell into obsession."
Her gaze returned to me.
It was different from the cold glare in the training ground—warmer now.
"That’s why I sent her to the countryside to recover."
She stood and approached me.
"And yet, you supported her heart and filled in her weaknesses where no one could see."
"...You overestimate me. I merely went along with the young lady’s strange hobby."
As if expecting that answer, Elena smiled and slid a document toward me.
"A recommendation for admission to the Academy in the capital. A special admission to the Knight Department. With my family’s guarantee, your status and gender won’t matter. A talent like yours rotting in the countryside is a loss to the nation."
It finally came.
I bowed without hesitation.
"I refuse."
"...May I ask why?"
"It’s exhausting. My goal is to read quietly, enjoy sunlight, and die as an unknown commoner. Competing with others and becoming a knight doesn’t suit me."
Elena smiled faintly.
"Just as I expected. A true commoner at heart."
She took a sip of tea and continued.
"Then what about the Arts Department? Your sense for handling lines isn’t limited to swordsmanship. Whether painting, sculpture, or music—you have the talent to perceive the essence of the world."
I hesitated.
That was tempting.
Drawing lines of color on a canvas, shaping lines of sound on sheet music.
A peaceful outlet without exposing myself.
"But art requires money. Paint, marble—each costs as much as a year’s living expenses for a commoner. Without the Academy’s resources, do you think you could succeed? Even as a hobby, you need money."
She didn’t miss my wavering eyes.
"I will personally sponsor you."
"...You’re not planning to sneak me into the Knight Department as a minor, are you?"
"Sharp boy. No tricks will work on you. Fine—I won’t force training or swordsmanship. Stay at the Academy and study whatever you wish."
It was an attractive offer.
If I didn’t have to hold a sword—and could live quietly without worrying about money.
"The Arts Department is where noble children build culture. No one will force you to wield a sword there. You can live the quiet life you want, hidden behind art."
Her proposal was precise.
Respecting my choice while ensuring my talent didn’t go to waste.
Which made me wonder—
why go this far?
"Why are you doing this for me?"
Elena set down her teacup and looked outside.
The sunset painted her face red.
"It’s nothing grand. Just listen."
She approached me.
"My husband, Yuki’s father, was a gentle and delicate man. He loved poetry. Others mocked him as weak, but to me, he was more precious than anyone."
Her voice was sincere.
"When he passed away, Yuki lost her way. Her admiration for me turned into obsession… and guilt for not protecting him. You supported that fragile heart."
Her hand gently rested on mine.
She placed an old pendant in my palm.
"This is the Castel family’s emblem. Anyone who carries it is under our protection. No one will bother you."
The cold metal rested in my hand.
"...Thank you, Your Grace."
Her presence, carrying the scent of roses, surrounded me.
"Thank you. For making my daughter smile again."
It was the sincere gratitude of a mother.
After the meeting—
In the hallway outside.
"...Phew."
The tension left my body, and my legs trembled.
The mental exhaustion was worse than the pain in my ribs.
But before I could take a few steps—
"Move! Emily! Ian might be getting threatened by Mother!"
"Please stop, my lady! The Duchess ordered that no one enter!"
Turning the corner, I saw chaos.
Yuki was trying to charge into the office, while several maids blocked her.
"Mother is heartless! She might force Ian into the knights—or even make him her concubine!"
"What are you saying?! The Duchess would never—!"
I sighed and approached.
"My lady. I’m here."
Yuki froze, then rushed to me, grabbing my collar and checking me over.
"Ian! Are you okay? Did she hurt you? Did she force you to sign anything?"
"...No injuries. No contracts. But I will be going to the Academy in the capital."
Silence fell.
The maids’ eyes widened.
Yuki looked as if the world had ended.
"The capital…? The Academy? She’s exiling you to separate you from me! I won’t allow it!"
"It’s not exile. It’s sponsorship. I’ll be in the Arts Department."
"Art? You? Leaving that monstrous swordsmanship behind?"
She looked confused—then suddenly, her eyes lit up.
"...Wait. If it’s the Academy, I’ll be returning there next term too."