Because You're a Little More Precious Than Me

People who had been at the training grounds gradually returned to the mansion one by one.

I had planned to spend some time alone in my room as well.

But an unexpected guest prevented that.

"Drinking in broad daylight—truly a friend of my master, I see."

"I'm a bit more discerning about time and place than that fool."

"I couldn't agree more. At least Duke Craig doesn't seem the type to fill his canteen with liquor instead of water and swagger through the streets swigging it."

"That friend of mine? He'd do it and then some."

Oden let out a hearty laugh and silently tilted his whiskey glass, bobbing with round ice cubes.

His expression said he had plenty more to say.

"Abel, was it? That young pup."

"Yes."

"From what I saw, he's been giving your niece quite the hard time."

Your niece.

He knew full well that Abel was my nephew too, yet he phrased it that way—meaning he'd seen right through the fact that I didn't treat Abel as family.

"You've noticed, then."

"Anyone who saw that scene and didn't would have to have eyes in a knot hole."

"It's been going on for quite a while. To be precise, it's not just Abel—his mother and my sister-in-law, Kasdia, is his accomplice."

"I see. So that's why you avoided mentioning the child when we first met."

As if pieces of a puzzle were clicking into place in his mind, Oden nodded calmly.

"A pity."

"It is."

"And you knew all this and just stood by?"

"No. I didn't know back then."

"I'd call that hard to believe, but with you, it might just be possible."

As if by prior agreement, we both gave wry smiles at the same time.

He was right. At least "Baal Argent" hadn't known.

Back when I lived at the main house, before Yoo Shin-woo's memories resurfaced.

Back then, I was truly obsessed with magic alone.

I'd eat my meals in the underground workshop, and there were times I didn't see sunlight for a whole month.

And as soon as I came of age, I ran away from home to study under my current master.

If my past-life memories hadn't returned...

I'd probably still be living in ignorance even now.

I wouldn't have gotten involved with the Argent family at all.

Especially, I wouldn't have been able to—no, I wouldn't have even noticed—a certain girl's tragic life slipping by.

"So now I'm trying to set things right."

"You can do it. The child seems to have taken quite a liking to you now."

"Music to my ears. Ah, speaking of which, the other day Duke Craig..."

"Oden will do."

"Ah, yes. Duke Oden."

This man permitting me to use his name? That was something.

He was famous for never allowing it lightly, except to those he truly acknowledged.

Did that mean I had earned his approval?

I didn't know the reason, but it was welcome news all the same.

There was no downside to getting closer to Oden.

Even though he'd refused once, I could keep pressing him to take Liriet as a disciple.

"So, what were you going to say?"

"Yes. I've recently come to understand what you said the other day, Duke Oden. I'm sorry for showing such a poor display back then."

"Already? I thought it'd take you much longer."

Oden's mouth fell open slightly, as if genuinely surprised.

Well, of course. I didn't have eyes like his.

In the original story, only three people could pierce through Star's Grace.

My master, Godwin Lowell.

The Sword Saint, Oden Craig.

And the original heroine, Tiana Delphin.

Anyone else might vaguely sense its existence at best, but they couldn't discern exactly what it was.

Naturally, I fell into the latter category.

But thanks to my knowledge of the original story, I didn't even need to peer into it to know what Liriet's grace was. That was my advantage.

"That explains why you refused to take her as a disciple. It must feel strange to realize your pupil admires someone else, not you."

"...Hm? Admires?"

"What's wrong? Some misunderstanding...?"

"No, no. Admiration, eh? Hm! Depending on how you look at it, maybe. The reason for refusal is a bit different, but there's truth to it."

If you're going to mutter to yourself with someone sitting right there, at least speak up.

It was frustrating hearing him mumble alone.

Ah, I should have cast a hearing enhancement spell beforehand.

Or at least recorded it.

"In any case, for that reason if nothing else, I plan to stay by her side for the time being."

"For the time being. An odd phrasing. You mean you'll send her off someday?"

"Haha, what kind of talk is that? Even you must have sent a lovely daughter into another man's arms at some point."

I teased lightly, and Oden gave me a strange look.

Was I being insensitive to an old man with a doting father streak?

Fortunately, he soon returned to his usual calm demeanor.

"Well, that's for you to decide in time. Whether it's your decision to make, I'm not sure."

"Pardon?"

"Nothing. Just don't say that kind of thing carelessly in front of the child. Right now, it's not about peering into the future—it's about you being by her side that's important."

True enough.

Whether Liriet ended up liking Leon as in the original story in the future.

Or matched eyes with some entirely different man, that had nothing to do with me.

I just wanted her to be happy.

And for that, I'd stay by her side until her happiness was assured.

That much was unchanging.

As I reaffirmed my resolve,

"Oh, looks like it's time for the carriage. I hate keeping people waiting, so I'll head out first."

Oden pulled a pocket watch from his breast pocket, checked the time, and stood.

Right. Today was his departure day.

I'd been so focused on Liriet that I'd completely forgotten.

No wonder his attire seemed thicker than before—he'd prepared to leave.

"Take the rest of the liquor with you. The road can feel lonely; you'll need a drinking companion."

"Is 'drinking companion' the term for this? Heh, nice ring to it. I'll accept the favor and take one good drinking buddy along. No need to see me out."

"Yes, thank you so much, Duke Oden. I'll visit again soon."

I bowed deeply in thanks, and Oden chuckled softly as he turned away.

"You'll see me before you get the chance to visit. Just watching how fast that child grows will keep me from sleeping. Oh, and pass on my regards for me."

"I will. And next time we meet, please call her Liriet by name. It'll make her happier."

"Consider it done."

With that, he waved casually without looking back and left the room.

Alright, time for me to go see our princess.

As expected, Liriet was sitting alone in her room.

I'd swiped—er, fetched—some snacks from the kitchen, and she lit up like the child she was.

"Is it good?"

"Yes. Aren't you having any, Uncle?"

"I'm not big on sweets."

"Oh..."

In my past life, I hadn't minded sweets that much.

But after so long as Baal Argent, my tastes had changed quite a bit.

As I politely declined, Liriet pouted disappointingly.

She must have wanted to share the cookies she enjoyed.

No helping it.

"Well, maybe just one."

"Ah, here! You can have as many as you want!"

"No, one will do."

"Hng... Okay."

How badly did she want me to eat them?

I barely held back a laugh and chewed the cookie.

Not bad at all.

Sweeter than I expected, but not overly so.

"Your aunt stopped by, didn't she?"

"Pardon? H-how did you...?"

"Obvious, isn't it? What did she say?"

"...Nothing much. Her expression was really peculiar, though."

Just as I thought.

Even Kasdia couldn't very well scold her in that situation.

Nor praise her, for that matter—that would have been even more uncomfortable.

"Um, Uncle."

"Hm?"

"There's something I want to ask."

"Go ahead."

Here it comes.

From the moment we parted at the training grounds, I'd half-expected this look on Liriet's face.

"You knew about my brother's plan but didn't tell me, right?"

"That's right."

"And at the same time, you exposed it to everyone and found a way to rebuke him."

"Exactly. Smart girl."

Liriet always melted at my praise.

But this time, she just looked up at me steadily.

"What if I hadn't noticed something was wrong with the wooden sword then? What was your plan?"

"I could have handled that much myself, right before the match."

"So you never planned to tell me, even then."

"Right. Are you upset?"

Liriet shook her head firmly.

Her pursed lips looked like she was holding something back.

"No. You did it because if it ended quietly, you couldn't expose my brother's misdeeds to everyone. I'm grateful, actually."

"Thank you."

"But..."

The hands on my lap balled into fists.

They trembled faintly, as if she was a little angry.

"...I overheard the servants whispering earlier."

"That I shamed Abel too openly without any sense of propriety?"

"Ah, you knew?"

"Of course."

I'd expected it from the start.

Sure, Abel was a total scumbag.

But his reputation in the mansion was surprisingly good.

No, better than good.

Thanks to his exceptional image management.

Cheerful personality, sociable, excellent swordsmanship.

Decent looks, polite manners.

No one would dare think the Argent heir apparent lacking.

It wasn't for nothing that fans' most common "what if" was "if only Abel had reformed."

Even with his own misdeeds.

Exposing them in front of servants and guests? Positive reactions were unlikely.

If I'd been the older brother, maybe.

Even my own reputation in the family wasn't great.

Back at the main house, I'd been magic-mad, indifferent to others, and far from polite.

The black sheep who shamed the Argent name by returning late, versus the twelve-year-old already pegged as next head.

People would naturally favor the latter.

"But ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠why go that far? If I'd just beaten him normally, at least you..."

"Would have gotten off with barely a word. But listen, Liriet."

I looked down at her with the warmest smile I could muster.

For the child who must be even more anxious than I was.

"It would just repeat. Does Abel strike you as someone whose spirit would break after losing to you once?"

"...No."

"Right. He'd bully you even worse. Even if he never dueled you with swords again, he'd spread rumors behind your back—witchcraft this, that."

"It's okay. Things like that..."

"No."

I cut off Liriet as she tried to play it cool.

"I'm not okay with it."

"You, Uncle?"

"Yes. How could I bear hearing gossip about my beloved niece behind her back?"

"......"

I gently stroked the now-silent Liriet's head.

It felt like warm affection soaked into my heart.

"Besides, even Abel would feel something after being rebuked in front of all those people."

"Did you want to reform him, Uncle?"

"Who knows."

I hadn't gone that far.

Hard to say it was even possible.

But it was the surest way to solve Liriet's core problem.

Otherwise, it would just repeat.

"Anyway, as you said, only a tiny few would dare gossip about me. That's why I raised a fuss. I take a bit of flak, but our little niece escapes that beast entirely."

"Is honor unimportant to you, Uncle?"

"No, it's important. There are people without greed for money, but very few without greed for honor."

I'd devoted my life to magic, true.

But I wasn't some puppet without other desires.

I had pride, and material wants too.

Just,

"But if you ask whether that honor matters more than our niece? No, it doesn't."

"Someone like me being more precious than your honor? That's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠impossible."

"Why?"

"I-I'm a failed product of the Argent family... Eek!?"

I silently scooped her up into a hug, and a chick-like ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠squeak escaped her.

Barely holding back laughter, I met her eyes.

Her face flushed apple-red with embarrassment, gaze darting away.

"Then prove it instead."

"Prove it?"

"Yes. Prove you're worth me discarding my honor to protect. Not for your sake, but for mine—become someone even greater."

"Ah..."

Liriet understood what I meant.

She was still weak.

Even with my help, it wasn't enough to wash away all her trauma and turn her into a confident heroine overnight.

Human nature doesn't change that easily.

That's why I'd stepped in temporarily.

As the target she should have admired—the goal to awaken her duty and drive for self-improvement, dormant within her.

If Liriet's inner "Sword Aspiration" truly pointed to me, wouldn't she find a bit more courage to walk forward, for my sake rather ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠than hers?

"Is that really enough?"

"Of course."

"Someone like me might never achieve it in my lifetime."

"Then I'll cheer you on forever. Promised, didn't we?"

I playfully hooked my pinky, and Liriet's lips finally curved into a smile.

"...You're right. We did promise."

Thump!

At that moment, a heartbeat seemed to echo loudly from somewhere.

It wasn't mine.

As I turned to find the source,

"I'll prove it. For you, Uncle."

I lost my words gazing into Liriet's eyes.

For my reflection within them had grown clearer, larger.