085. The New Little Duke (4)
"Shall we give you two some space?"
"Yes, please."
"Then I'll show you to a separate room."
At Iliana's suggestion, Terezia nodded slightly and left with Elenoa.
Left alone on the wide terrace, Erin and Eira sat side by side on the bench. Their expressions weren't outright unhappy, but rather complicated and subtle, as if whatever they were pondering in their heads wasn't going smoothly.
"Is something bothering you?"
Erin asked cautiously, and Eira let out a small sigh before speaking.
"It's just... there was a bit of an issue with my father."
"With the marquis?"
"You know I'm graduating from Aiter soon, right?"
"Yes. This is your final year."
Aiter operated on a standard four-year system. The first two years covered basic etiquette, kingdom history, and foundational mana theory and usage. From the third year onward, students chose departments suited to their aptitudes and selected relevant classes—a structured curriculum. Erin knew Eira was set to graduate from the knight department and qualify as an apprentice knight, eligible to become a full knight.
"Originally, I was supposed to join Father's Artia right after graduating."
"B-but...?"
Eira had already passed Artia's entrance exam in secret from Riod and received her acceptance notice, securing her spot in the knight order. That is, until Riod found out.
"Father... forcibly canceled my enlistment."
"What?"
"When he heard the news, he had my name removed from next year's list of new apprentice knights for Artia."
Eira's fists clenched tightly, trembling with frustration. It was an outrageous act unworthy of the kingdom's greatest knight, famous for excluding personal feelings from official duties like leading the order.
Artia's vice-captain, Cain, had secretly visited the Olivion marquis mansion out of worry that Riod's unilateral decision would cause a major uproar. He informed Terezia and Eira that Eira's enlistment had been canceled—that was the start of this mess. For the first time, the obedient girl who always followed her father's word without question began rebelling and voicing her resentment.
"U-um..."
'When I ran into Lord Riod earlier, he seemed totally fine...'
Erin recalled bumping into Riod on her way out of the room where she'd met Abros, feeling at a loss for words.
"Why... did he cancel it?"
"He just said it was 'too dangerous'... Lately, the kingdom's been plagued by all these disturbances, so in this tense situation where we must always prepare for combat, there's no room to train just anyone who applies. He called me... just anyone. He denied all my efforts."
How much effort had she poured into becoming a knight? Having that dismissed felt so unfair. Especially since it was her own father rejecting the fruits of her labor. Eira felt deeply aggrieved.
"Father never even talked to me about swordsmanship from the start. He said I didn't need to do something so dangerous, that I should just grow up pretty like Mother and never touch a sword."
"H-he was probably just worried about you, Lady Eira."
"I know Father's feelings. I know full well how tough the path to knighthood is for a woman's body."
Riod hadn't approved of his daughter learning the sword, but he hadn't outright forbidden it either. He'd hoped she'd recognize her limits and give up on her own, without denying her will. The one miscalculation? He'd underestimated her resolve. She hadn't quit; she'd honed her skills relentlessly, even passing his knight order's entrance exam. But when it came to Eira, Riod couldn't be just the "knight captain"—he had to be her father. So he didn't want her becoming a knight at all. If she gave up the sword now, he'd surely be thrilled inside, thinking it a wise choice.
That's why Eira knew her father's heart yet refused to abandon the blade, leaving her with tangled emotions.
"Honestly, I don't love the idea of you—his daughter—wielding a sword either."
"Ah... L-Lord Eunhyeon..."
"Wh-whoa!"
Erin and Eira both flinched at Eunhyeon's sudden intrusion into their conversation.
"Sorry for eavesdropping."
"N-no, it's fine... But you oppose it too, Lord Eunhyeon? Me becoming a knight?"
"Of course. What father would let his daughter go through all that hardship?"
"......"
"Eira, suppose war breaks out in this country. The knights would have to lead the soldiers to the front lines as vanguards. You're the daughter of a knight captain, so you know that much, right?"
"Yes..."
"Imagine your father risking his life in the most unpredictable, dangerous place on the battlefield. How would you feel?"
"...I'd worry. Would he get hurt? Is he eating properly? ...Would he come back alive?"
"Exactly. And Riod leads those knights as their captain and commander. If you joined Artia and war broke out, he'd be the one signing the orders sending you to the front. Can't you understand a father's heart, having to send his own daughter into that?"
"...Ah."
Eira's shoulders shook at Eunhyeon's words. A father sending his daughter to a battlefield where death lurked at every turn—especially Riod, who knew the inner workings of the order she'd join better than anyone. As commander, he'd have to dispatch her himself. Stubborn as he was, he'd never favoritize family by keeping her back or reassigning her.
"He cherishes you just as much as you cherish him. Keep that in mind."
"...Yes."
Eira's shoulders slumped at Eunhyeon's words. With even him not taking her side, she couldn't help feeling a bit resentful. Erin pitied her.
"H-Hyun, still, maybe some comfort..."
"Even so, the reason Riod and Terezia didn't outright stop you is because they respect all the effort you've put in so far."
"...?"
"He probably hoped you'd realize your limits and quit on your own. But from his perspective, that plan failed spectacularly."
He knew how grueling it was for a woman to train her body and learn the sword, so he'd figured she'd tire out eventually.
"And he has expectations too."
"Expectations...?"
"Yeah. About how far you can grow."
Riod was still torn—not just between granting his daughter's wish and his worries, but also curious about her potential. She'd grown this far through her own efforts, without help from him or anyone. As a knight, regardless of her being his daughter, he wondered what kind of knight this future Eira would become.
"I believe every word and action from a person carries meaning."
"Meaning?"
"Yeah. For example, why do I even exist here?"
"......"
Eira tilted her head, not grasping Eunhyeon's point.
"I just want everyone to be happy. No wars, no conflicts, no strife—just laughing with Riod and the others, eating, drinking, sleeping, playing, growing old peacefully, and meeting our end that way."
"...?"
Eunhyeon started with a joyful, happy smile, as if imagining it vividly. But as he continued, a wistful loneliness crept into his tone, like voicing an unattainable wish. Eira tilted her head again. He shook off the expression and turned to her.
"Eira, what's the meaning behind your actions?"
"The meaning of my... actions?"
"Yeah. Why did you ever want to learn the sword?"
"That’s..."
As a child, clutching her mother Terezia's hand tightly during Artia's grand expedition send-off. Her father, not the usual mansion figure but a true knight, raising his gleaming sword in pristine silver armor, announcing departure with a booming voice. The sunlight reflecting off his armor made him seem to radiate light itself, beautiful mana swirling around him. Eira had stared, entranced. She couldn't recall her exact age, but that memory was etched vividly in her mind.
That was when it began.
Her aspiration to become a knight.
"Father the knight... was just so cool."
"Haha!"
Eunhyeon burst out laughing, clearly amused. He glanced back with a grin, addressing the secret listeners.
"That's what she says."
"Huh?"
Eira turned following his gaze and froze stiff as a tree upon spotting the two figures—and recognizing their faces.
"F-F-Father?! Mother?!"
And not just her parents hearing her childish confession. Iliana and the duke's people were watching her fondly too.
"I just don't get it... How did that guy end up with such a daughter...?"
Iliana muttered in genuine bafflement.
"Aspiring to knighthood out of admiration for her father... A noble motivation."
Alex looked impressed, while Elenoa stifled laughter. Riod avoided Eira's embarrassed eyes, glaring at innocent Eunhyeon instead. Terezia hid a pleased smile behind her fan, eyes crinkling warmly. Eira wore a look of utter despair, as if her lifelong secret shame had been exposed.
"We overheard quite the story. To think you felt that way—your dad was pretty cool back then."
Terezia spoke first, nodding in agreement as if recalling the day too. Eira found her mother's reaction unwelcome; Terezia just smiled, delighted by her flustered daughter's cute side.
"Don't spout nonsense..."
Riod glared at Eunhyeon, hiding his embarrassment, but Eunhyeon shot back nonchalantly.
"You didn't make it clear enough, so your daughter suffered alone. Don't blame me."
"......"
As Riod faltered for a retort, Terezia chuckled softly beside him and thanked Eunhyeon.
"Thank you. This should bring father and daughter even closer."
"No trouble. If a few words can foster family harmony, that's worth more than turning lead to gold."
Terezia laughed and agreed as Eunhyeon shrugged casually.
"Riod."
"What."
"Still, calling her 'just anyone' was too harsh."
Riod's eyebrow twitched—he'd hit the mark. He'd been inwardly bothered by unintentionally hurting his daughter.
"Eira."
"Y-yes, Father."
"I'm sorry. I went too far with my words. It's just... as your father, I can't stand seeing you endure harsh training and risk your life."
"Your mother feels the same."
"Y-yes..."
"But it seems my fault you picked up the sword so young."
The trigger for her childhood dream? Being the daughter of the kingdom's top knight, leader of Artia—natural admiration for her father.
"I apologize for arbitrarily canceling your Artia enlistment. But I won't stop you anymore. Do as you wish."
"R-really?!"
"Yes. But the kingdom is unstable right now, and I won't undo the cancellation. Not until you pass my standards. Then I'll accept you officially."
"Hey, that's classic nepotism. That's cheating."
"No issue. It'll be tougher than the regular exam. She's the captain's daughter, after all. I'll raise the bar, not lower it."
"That's even more biased cheating..."
Loving his daughter was fine, but his methods were too rough.
"Ah!"
As Eunhyeon grimaced, Erin exclaimed as if struck by inspiration. All eyes turned to her, but she ignored them and addressed Eira.
"Lady Eira! I have a great idea!"
"A great idea?"
"Yes! Train with Hyun too!"
"What?"
"Huh?"
Everyone but Erin voiced confusion.
"Hyun's amazing! In less than three months with a sword, he got me strong enough to beat a demon, right? It'll be tough, but if you train with him, Lady Eira, you could get way stronger than now!"
"......"
'I didn't even agree, so why are you deciding for me?' Eunhyeon eyed Erin, but her beaming smile focused only on Eira.
Yet refusal came from an unexpected source.
"Absolutely not."
"Huh?"
"You don't know what that guy's really like."
"Heh. Kid, seems you're seriously misunderstanding something."
Riod and Iliana voiced opposition—for Eira's safety alone.
"The training she's had so far is just the absolute basics. You can say that because you've never seen his true training side."
"...?"
"I-I'll do it!"
Eira suddenly declared her consent. Riod grimaced like he'd bitten a bug and tried persuading her, but she wouldn't listen.
"Please train me, Lord Eunhyeon!"
"......"
Eunhyeon glared at the girl behind this mess, and Erin flinched, averting her eyes.
"Sigh, Riod."
"...What."
"This is partly your fault. You raised the bar and caused this."
"...Damn."
Riod rarely swore. Everyone except him, Iliana, and Eunhyeon looked baffled, unaware of the details. Eunhyeon sighed, realizing he'd need to revise his plans with one more kid in tow.
'Goddess, is this your doing too?'
Hehe, no. But watching you weave new fates on your own like this, even unintentionally... it's truly splendid.