Farewell, My Knight
I'd always wondered why Lucia was so hypersensitive about that spear. And today, that curiosity was finally satisfied—in the worst possible way.
"Rion-kyung. I know what plans you have."
"..."
"You intend to make me emperor. Because that was my wish. Isn't that right?"
Watching Lucia declare that she already knew everything, I said nothing. Whenever I tried to speak, she cut me off.
"In our last life, your plan succeeded. You made me emperor, and you were my greatest contributor right up to the end."
The grip of her hand, which had been clasped around mine, tightened. It felt like she was desperately trying to force something impossible into reality.
"I no longer need your help on the path to becoming emperor. You've served me well... up until now, Rion-kyung."
I felt like a dog abandoned by its master. She wasn't my lord yet, and I wasn't her knight—but that inexplicable sense of desolation was impossible to shake.
"So I'm not needed anymore."
I realized how arrogant I'd become. Was it because everyone around me had been fawning over me lately, or because I'd helped Erin recover psychologically? I'd started thinking I was some important figure. That I could help people, change them. Embarrassingly so.
"But that doesn't mean I shouldn't become a knight."
"Rion-kyung?"
"If you truly didn't want me to become a knight, why were you carrying that spear?"
People don't keep things they hate close by. Unless... they can't bring themselves to throw them away.
"Do you still have lingering regrets?"
"...Yes."
I could feel the faint tremor in Lucia's hand. What could make her shake like this?
"You're right. I can't forget Rion, my knight from back then. You wouldn't understand... but there were so many who idolized you at the time."
"Me?"
"Yes. Who wouldn't admire the empire's greatest, strongest knight?"
I couldn't believe I'd been the empire's strongest knight, but there was no reason for Lucia to lie now. That only made it harder to understand.
"What about that knight didn't please Your Highness?"
"...You're too good. So pure that anyone looking at you feels filthy by comparison."
"And that... was the problem?"
"You wouldn't know. The misery of being the master of a knight everyone envies and reveres."
Lucia could no longer meet my eyes. The trembling in the hand holding mine only grew stronger.
"So please, after the entrance ceremony, just pretend you don't know me. There won't be any harm to you, so don't worry... Yes, it'll be fine."
Lucia stood, draping the coat I'd given her back over me.
"The coat was warm. Thank you."
Lucia entered the building, pouring warm tea into my cup before leaving me behind.
Clink—
The teacup was warm. Warm enough to ward off the chilly wind a little.
"...Nice aroma."
In the last playthrough, had I said this was my favorite tea? I could see why now. There was no astringent aftertaste, just the pure essence of the tea. It was really good.
"'It'll be fine'... huh."
What Lucia said about it being fine was meant for me. Even if we suddenly started ignoring each other, as Princess Lucia, she wouldn't bring any harm, pressure, or backlash down on me.
But why did those words feel like she was telling herself that? Maybe they were for both of us.
"...I'll wait for now."
Once I'm ready, I'll come find you to hear your real answer.
For the first time since transmigrating, I felt like I had a proper goal.
※
Lucia stared at the massive doors before her. Crafted stitch by stitch by a famed artisan and presented to the emperor, they were seen as one of the symbols of imperial authority.
'I already want to go back.'
That morning, Rion and the other two had left her dormitory. Rion and Alessia to the commoner dorms, Erin to the noble dorms as the Tower Lord's disciple.
No point going back now—nothing remained there.
'It brings back old memories.'
In the last playthrough, after becoming emperor, the only one by Lucia's side had been her knight, Rion. Even he died, leaving her utterly alone.
Rumble—
The heavy doors opened, and the gazes inside fixed on Lucia.
To the left sat her older brothers, with the crown prince—closest to the throne—at the innermost seat.
To the right, her older sisters, with her sister—next in line after the crown prince—at the end.
In the center, her father the emperor and mother the empress watched her.
Nearly ten people stared, but not a single warm gaze among them.
"Now that everyone's here, shall we begin?"
At the emperor's word, the crown prince spoke first.
"I've recently returned from the north. I found it suspicious that requests for supplies there have risen over 1.5 times compared to last year."
"And your conclusion?"
"The north is dealing with a sudden surge in monsters, so we should collaborate with alchemists for more potions, request priests from the Holy Kingdom, and increase iron weapon supplies."
The emperor nodded and turned to the First Princess on the opposite side.
"The south is suffering famine. Last year's poor harvest hasn't recovered, and the ongoing drought makes this year's uncertain. I recommend releasing the imperial reserves."
The emperor nodded again, shifting to the Second Prince.
A time to confirm and judge what each must do for the empire. After hearing all, the emperor would decide most efficiently.
'Pointless.'
The emperor, listening to his sons and daughters, already knew everything. This was just to test their qualities.
If it were truly to judge the next emperor, Lucia wouldn't think that.
'He's already decided.'
Having sat on the throne once, Lucia knew. Her father was putting on this act to deceive his other children.
Finally, the emperor's gaze turned to her.
"We must prepare for war."
"...The reason?"
"Because war will happen."
Lucia knew her words sounded mad to the others. She could have given better answers than those before her—even ones the emperor didn't know, discrepancies only she perceived.
But the reason she answered like this was simple.
'Such a hassle.'
Pure laziness. She saw no point in sincerely engaging in this meaningless charade.
The emperor's gaze toward her held no disappointment or anger—just indifference. He'd never expected anything from her anyway.
Squeeze—
Pain shot through her right foot. Looking down, her sister beside her was grinding her heel into Lucia's instep.
Asha Edel Valterion. The empire's Second Princess, deeply entangled with Lucia—especially in enmity.
Asha had bullied Lucia since childhood, for no reason other than dislike.
Even now, displeased by Lucia's answer, she tormented her secretly.
"Why was I ever so afraid of someone like this..."
"...What did you just say?"
Someone who'd once loomed large now seemed no bigger than a chick. A pampered flower grown in a greenhouse, ignorant of true pain, fear, or sorrow.
Lucia recalled the last playthrough. Rion, newly her knight, confronting Asha as she came to harass her as usual. That scene etched in her mind.
'He reached out like this.'
Lucia extended her hand and grabbed Asha's nape.
Thud—!
She slammed Asha's face into the table.
The emperor, about to end the meeting, showed shock for the first time. The empress beside him covered her mouth in horror.
Lucia's siblings froze.
No one had anticipated her outburst—not even Lucia herself.
"Yes... that's how it happened."
Blood spread from Asha's unseen face. She lay unconscious from the shock, blood flowing from her broken nose.
"...Ah."
Only then did Lucia realize all eyes were on her.
Since things had come to this, she spoke.
"I intend to become emperor."
No one there could condemn her words. With blood on her face and one hand gripping Asha's hair, everyone was paralyzed by fear.
"So... come at me all at once."
Having said her piece, Lucia turned and opened the door.
But no one stopped her. The knights outside couldn't block Lucia emerging with bloodied hands—not because she was imperial blood.
Everyone who saw her now hurriedly bowed and averted their eyes. The pressure from one person was unbelievable; even trained knights struggled to withstand it.
Lucia walked on. Back to her dormitory.
"I already miss him."
Exhausted from the mental strain, she thought of her knight, always comforting her in hard times.
But he no longer existed. She'd pushed him away first.
Because if he stayed by her side, his life would eventually be in danger.
Lucia vowed inwardly.
If in the last life she'd sought the throne for herself,
This life, she'd become emperor for him.
※
By the time Lucia returned to her dormitory, the sun had vanished behind the mountains.
"...What about what I ordered?"
"Left as is."
Even with magic for long-distance travel, round trips from the capital to the academy took time.
Lucia headed straight to the room Rion had used. She'd ordered the servants not to clean it, to leave it untouched.
From her subspatial pouch, she drew a massive spear.
A replica modeled after the one Rion had wielded in the last playthrough.
Swish—
Lucia stripped off all her clothes, down to her undergarments, and slipped under the blankets.
"...Yes, this scent."
Even if time rewound, a person's unique smell didn't change.
Lucia rolled around in the bed for a moment, savoring Rion's lingering scent.
'How long I've waited for this.'
Truth be told, Lucia wanted to sneak into Rion's bedroom every night like Alessia. To fall asleep in his arms, breathing his scent.
But she had to keep her distance from Rion. If they got too close, she might never let him go. She'd endured with all her might.
Lucia hugged the spear she'd set aside. It was chillingly cold against her skin.
Yet she wedged it between her breasts, wrapped her arms around it, and clamped it with her legs.
Cold energy crawled over her skin, but Lucia smiled happily.
It was fake, but holding the spear like this made her feel Rion was beside her. And with his scent now, it felt even more like he was in her embrace.
"Back then... it was dangerous."
The last time she'd met Rion alone. Suppressing the lust surging from deep within had been nearly impossible. Toward the end, she could barely hold back and fled.
She'd wanted to grab his hand and bind it. Keep him from the battlefield forever. Not let him look at anyone else.
Only at her—his master, only her.
She'd nearly thrown him into the dormitory basement prison right then.
"Not yet..."
If her siblings learned of someone precious to her, they wouldn't leave him alone.
Lucia didn't want Rion swept into the imperial succession struggle.
She'd meet Rion again after becoming emperor.
Until then, she'd postpone her happiness.
"Erin... you're too pure."
Erin thought caging free-spirited Rion would make him unhappy, so she'd given up.
To Lucia, it was foolish. The girl knew only magic, after all. Her love was innocently pure.
By contrast, Alessia and Lucia's love was filthy, sticky.
They were willing to accept his unhappiness to some degree for their own love.
Because they blamed Rion for making them this way.
Lucia slowly closed her eyes.
Hoping that in her dreams, she could meet Rion—not haunted by the memories of the last playthrough that tormented her every night.