Chapter 3

“…You won’t be able to go out freely.”

“Yes.”

Though the Count had said he would allow Lehan to stay, if he were to kick him out now, Edelis might be in even greater danger. 

“Very well. Then Edelis and Lehan will each be assigned a knight to accompany them at all times. If you both accept that, I will allow it.”

“Got it! Thank you! Thank you so much! You’re the best, Dad!”

Edelis took a step back and bowed to the Count.

“Since you know the knights better than I do, please choose the right ones for us. Thank you again!”

After a formal bow, Edelis turned away, grabbing Lehan by the wrist. Lehan looked back and forth between the Count and Edelis, wondering if he was really allowed to follow her. When the Count reluctantly nodded, Lehan followed her out of the office.

* * *

“Lehan, this is great! Now you can stay at the mansion!”

Edelis beamed at him, but she faltered when she saw how tightly Lehan’s lips were pressed together. It wasn’t something to celebrate lightly. Her father’s words still weighed heavily on her.

“Ah… He didn’t mean it with malice, you know.”

“I understand. It’s not so different from what most people think of gladiators.”

“…I’m sorry. I’ll apologize on his behalf.”

“You don’t need to.”

In the end, Lehan had to endure her father’s threats. If it had been her, she would have been extremely upset.

‘He couldn’t fight back because he had to get Father’s permission…’

“I’ll do better from now on.”

She understood her father’s feelings, but her own situation felt far more urgent. She needed to be even kinder to Lehan so he could quickly forget the unpleasant memories.

“My lady, you’ve already done more than enough.”

“What are you saying? I’ve got so much more I want to do for you!”

Now that Lehan had been allowed to stay—and of his own will, no less—and he had vowed to protect her, everything had fallen into place.

“Truly… My Lady, you are…”

Lehan gave a helpless smile, then knelt down, took Edelis’s hand, and pressed her hand to his forehead. Sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating him. The moment was so solemn it felt like a holy knighting ceremony in the Sacred Empire.

“I will dedicate my everything to protecting you. For as long as I live.”

His sudden vow left her speechless. Lehan had already sworn to protect her in front of her father, but this was different. This wasn’t something he said to be allowed to stay—he meant it. With his whole heart, he pledged to protect her, no matter the cost.

“Forever?”

“As long as you don’t cast me aside.”

“I would never throw you away.”

When Lehan looked up, his eyes gleamed as brightly as the sunlight. Seeing that smile, Edelis felt like she might cry but smiled instead.

* * *

Afterward, Lehan was assigned to the knight order and had to train with them to build his strength. At first, the knights were wary of him, but after a few days of silently doing his part, they began to feel more at ease. Eventually, after a chance sparring match, the knights—eager to learn the unique techniques of a gladiator—began lining up every day to train with him.

“…Fine. As promised, I recognize Lehan as your escort.”

In the end, the Count gave his official approval.

“Thank you, Father!”

Edelis smiled brightly, and even the Count returned a reluctant smile. She wanted to run to Lehan and tell him the news right away, but his training wasn’t over yet.

“His training should be done soon. Maybe I’ll take him to the market and buy him a present!”

Lehan, now used to Edelis visiting him, had started to act differently. He followed her more willingly and his expressions had grown more varied. Seeing that, Edelis felt oddly proud.

‘He’s going to be so happy when he hears he’s officially my escort!’

Before, even when moving within the mansion, Lehan had to be accompanied by a guard. When he was with Edelis, two additional knights were assigned to control him if needed—making it four in total. But now, she could be alone with him! Edelis giggled at the thought.

She changed into lighter clothes for a casual outing and went to the library to wait, intending to read a book while she waited for Lehan. …So far, everything was normal—until she noticed something out of place. One of the book spines was glowing again.

“Why… again…? I thought knowing the future would be the end of it.”

Nothing had happened for a while, so she’d tried to forget about it. But every time she saw Lehan, she was reminded that the book was real. Still, life had been peaceful, so she’d chosen to ignore the dark future. But the glow was back.

Her hands trembled as she reached for the book. No matter how terrible the future might be, she had to see it with her own eyes.

‘Just like before, I’ll come up with a plan after reading it.’

Even if the plan turned out to be no more than a temporary fix.

‘This book hasn’t only brought bad things. It led me to Lehan, after all.’

With that thought, she felt a little braver. She’d saved Lehan from the arena, and he had adapted well to life here. It would be okay.

“It’s okay now. It’s okay. It will be okay.”

She steadied herself and opened the book. Page by page, she read carefully—but there was nothing new in the beginning. She turned quickly past the part where she died, flinching, and soon came to the newly added text. Judging by the placement, it must be after her death.

‘Then there shouldn’t be anything important. I’m already dead by then.’

Just like before, light burst from the page, and once again, the book’s contents appeared like a vision. But what she saw was even more devastating than before.

* * *

『Purge the traitors!』

A deep voice thundered. Rows of knights surrounding the castle echoed the command with a roar and charged forward. Archers atop the castle walls fired, but the sheer number of attackers was overwhelming. A trebuchet launched massive stones that shattered parts of the wall. It looked like a full-scale war against a single stronghold.

When the main gate finally broke open, the knights reformed ranks and stormed inside. Edelis recognized the defenders—knights she had just seen in training. She suddenly understood: the traitors were her own family.

‘T-Traitors? That can’t be! Why would we…?’

People she had just smiled at were being struck down by arrows and swords.

“No… no!”

She shook her head and screamed, but it was no use. She tried to reach out and help someone wearing her family’s crest, but her hands passed through them like smoke. The retainers of House Brill were dying meaningless deaths—a one-sided massacre.

The imperial knights, overwhelming in both number and skill, trampled through everything. Chaos erupted everywhere—through the dining hall where she had shared happy meals, the ballroom where she practiced dancing, even the very library she was sitting in now. In the vision, the library was empty, and a knight simply glanced around before leaving. But in the present, Edelis crouched and trembled as if he could see her.

『Kyaaaa! P-please spare me—』

Screams echoed endlessly, often cut off mid-sentence as knights struck without hesitation.

“Anne! Noel! …Lisa!”

They were all people who cared for her. Edelis could no longer bear to watch. She covered her ears and shut her eyes, but the screams still pierced through. These were people who had been with her since childhood, and people she might have spent her future with. The thought made it unbearable.

When the screams finally faded, Edelis lowered her hands and opened her eyes. Through the wide-open door, the Emperor strode in slowly. His face was obscured, but the ornate insignia on his chest left no doubt—it was the Emperor. With each step, the silence deepened.

Soon, a bloodied man was dragged before him. His shoulders were pinned to the ground, his face forced down. But he grit his teeth and looked up.

“F-Father…”

Edelis recognized him instantly. It was her father, Count Brill.

『If you had stayed quiet, you could’ve kept your life.』

The Emperor’s voice was cold. Her father let out a bitter laugh.

『What meaning is there in surviving after losing the only family I had?』

His tears mixed with blood. Edelis, too, began to cry. Now she understood why her father would risk everything in rebellion—because she had died.

‘I’m so sorry, Father…’

He had always been a bit distant, but he loved her. After her mother died, they were all each other had. Her death had pushed him over the edge.

『What’s the point of a failed rebellion?』

The Emperor mocked him, and the Count roared.

『History will remember you—a mad tyrant who killed his own wife!』

But his fury was drowned out by the Emperor’s next command.

『Dig up Agnes Brill’s grave.』

『N-no…』

『Kill every last member of House Brill. Strip Joerne Brill of his title and throw him in the royal dungeon. In one week, he will be hanged before the nobility. Bury his corpse—and his wife’s—out in the field.』

Her father’s scream of anguish rang in her ears.

* * *

Light flared again, and the vision ended. The library was still. But Edelis was not. She had thought seeing what happened after her death wouldn’t matter. But it was just as painful—if not more so—than her own death.

‘I can’t believe… this is our future…’

She clutched her chest, trying to ease the pressure in her heart, but it wouldn’t go away. The things she’d seen were already etched deep inside her.

“Father… Father…”

As she sat there in silent tears, she felt a warm hand on her face. Lehan, who had entered unnoticed, was gently wiping her tears with his handkerchief. His face was full of worry.

“What’s wrong, my Lady?”

There was something wrong. There would be something wrong. But who would believe her? That she had seen herself stabbed to death? That her father would start a rebellion because of it? She had no proof—anyone would think she was delusional.

So she shook her head. Lehan, still worried, continued wiping her tears. The sight of his kindness overwhelmed her.

“You’re crying like this, even though you say nothing happened?”

He seemed frustrated, unsure how to help. Edelis looked at the book. Maybe—maybe Lehan, being part of this future, could see it too. Maybe if he knew, he could help her stop it.

“Lehan, do you… see that book?”

“The book?”

Lehan touched the book she was staring at—but his words crushed her hope.

“It’s a blank book, isn’t it?”

Just like that, Edelis began sobbing out loud. Out of sorrow for her doomed future. Out of guilt for never understanding her father. Out of hatred for the Emperor and helplessness at her own powerlessness. Out of frustration that no one would believe her.

“My lady, everything will be okay.”

Lehan, flustered by her sudden breakdown, tried to comfort her. Remembering how he used to long for someone’s warmth while trapped in the arena, he gently placed a hand on her shoulder and pulled her into a quiet embrace. As he patted her back, Edelis wrapped her arms around him, holding him tightly.