Special Story 7

Clang!

Evan’s sword clashed with Piote’s under the watchful eyes of their classmates. Although Piote had never once defeated Evan, he could feel that today was different—Evan was struggling. If he kept pressing his advantage now, a victory was finally within reach.

“Let’s stop here. You’re clearly not in good shape, so why even bother with a duel?”

“Are you sure? This might be your only chance to beat me.”

Blue veins pulsed on Piote’s forehead. He was annoyed by Evan’s implication that he could only win if Evan was sick, and he was even more furious because he couldn’t find the words to refute it.

“Winning against you in this state wouldn’t make me happy at all!”

Evan gave a thin smirk and lowered his sword. Piote stole a glance at him; Evan’s face was deathly pale, looking far worse than usual.

“Tsk. Shouldn’t you be recuperating at the mansion instead?”

Piote hadn’t expected Evan to actually attend the Academy. Since Evan usually carried on without showing any signs of pain, everyone seemed to forget he was suffering from poison—but his true condition always revealed itself during swordsmanship practice.

“I can’t do that. This is the first semester I’m attending with Lep. There are so many things I want to do.”

“You’ll only come to your senses once you’ve stared death in the face.”

“Lep told me she wants to have lunch with me, look at the gardens together, and study together. I can’t exactly refuse such a sweet proposal just because of a little physical discomfort, can I?”

“Ha, don’t make me laugh. Why would Lep hang around you? She should be with me, her brother!”

Piote snapped irritably. Despite his concern for Evan, he still hated how much attention Lepina paid to him. Even during the break, she had been so focused on Evan that Piote barely got any time with her. His lovely sister was always so busy, running back and forth to the Weiss mansion every day until her feet must have ached.

It was no different after entering the Academy. Despite her busy classes, the time she spent on Evan didn’t decrease at all. Even Elena was worried. In the swordsmanship department, Piote was there too, yet Evan always received the first greeting while Piote was treated as an afterthought!

“Lep isn’t exactly in peak health either, you know. Stop calling for her. Do you think I don’t know you act all frail only when you’re in front of her, even though you’re fine otherwise?”

Lepina’s health was average for a normal person, but Piote, remembering how sickly she had been as a child, felt Evan was making a fragile person move around too much. What if she caught a cold wandering outside in this chilly weather! Wait… no. Evan would probably enjoy that because it would give him an excuse to ‘take responsibility.’

“I can’t stop Lep from coming to see me because she’s worried. But if something were to happen, don’t worry—I’ll give her every medicine in the Empire with the highest efficacy.”

Evan shrugged non-chalantly.

“……”

Piote was speechless. With the Weiss family’s wealth, that was entirely possible. Previously, upon hearing Lep had a cold, the Weiss butler had personally delivered a Thousand-Year Herb. When Piote suggested Evan should take it instead, he was told Evan was already taking it regularly.

Suddenly, a trickle of blood seeped from the corner of Evan’s mouth. Evan hurriedly covered his face. Piote stared at him, shocked. Lepina always said Evan was unwell, but since he looked fine on the surface, Piote had been complacent. Evan seemed to realize his limit as well, muttering as he collapsed.

“I guess… it was still too much.”

Evan fell, and chaos erupted. Piote found himself forced to carry the boy on his back and sprint to the infirmary. Seeing Evan lying on the white bed, Piote felt a brief pang of pity.

“Hey, Lep is going to kill me because of you. Don’t you dare tell her you collapsed while dueling me.”

“My apologies for that.”

Evan’s face didn’t look sorry at all.

“I’ve made Lep come here for nothing.”

“Hey, nobody’s coming. The swordsmanship building is ages away from her department. Besides, class should have started by now. She can’t come.”

“That is merely your wishful thinking.”

Piote tried to keep his temper in check as he looked at Evan, who was pale as a ghost yet still talking back. Getting angry at a sick person was beneath him. Just then, the door slammed open.

“Evan!”

It was Lepina, running in with a face full of worry. Having heard Evan collapsed, she had abandoned her class and raced there in a single breath. Ignoring Piote sitting right there, she bolted straight for Evan.

She grabbed Evan’s hand. Immediately, the same Evan who had been trading playful barbs seconds ago started acting as if he were in pain. His eyelashes fluttered, and he looked at her as if he were about to breathe his last.

“Lep…”

Piote snorted in pure disbelief.

“Evan, are you okay? How did this happen! Who did this to you?”

No one had “done” anything; he had simply suffered a reflux of blood while insisting on practicing.

“Who told you to train when you should be resting? Or were there people picking on you? Just tell me! I’ll—!”

Almost no one dared to touch Evan, but Lepina, convinced someone had bullied him, started swinging her fists in the air.

“Lep, it’s not like that. I just… I moved too clumsily and ended up like this.”

His voice sounded so pitiful that goosebumps broke out on Piote’s arms. It was obviously an act, but Lepina fell for it hook, line, and sinker, her eyes welling with tears. She whipped her head around toward Piote.

“Brother! You should have protected him! You know Evan is sick!”

Piote couldn’t even control his facial expression anymore. Ignoring his distorted face, Lepina urged Evan to lie down comfortably and tucked the blanket around him. Evan, his cheeks flushing pink, replied in a dying whisper.

“Lep, thank you…”

Piote barely suppressed a curse.

“What about medicine?”

“It’s fine. I’ll be better soon—”

Evan grabbed Lepina’s hand as if begging her to stay, but she spoke firmly.

“No! You have to take your medicine! Wait here!”

Lepina kicked the infirmary door open and stormed out. On her way, she collided with the school doctor who had been rushing over after hearing the news.

“My Lady! You shouldn’t run—!”

“I’m sorry! I’m busy right now!”

Overwhelmed by her momentum, the doctor couldn’t even protest and just stood there with his mouth agape. Watching her retreating figure, Piote smirked and mocked Evan.

“Serves you right. She left.”

“She’ll be back soon.”

“…Shameless bastard.”

Piote knit his brows. For some reason, he couldn’t win a single argument against him. As the two exchanged words, the doctor approached.

“Young Lord, may I check your pulse?”

“There seems to be nothing unusual.”

Piote shook his head, wanting to tell the doctor to explain the reality to Lepina as well. But the doctor’s following words cut him off.

“Why did Lady Lepina come all the way here? Shouldn’t she be in class? Instead of wandering around recklessly, it would be better if she learned the proper conduct of a noble lady.”

“Huh?”

Those were not words to be said in front of the two men who cherished Lepina most. However, unaware of the shifting atmosphere, the doctor sighed deeply. Behind him, Piote’s face twisted into a terrifying scowl as he rolled up his sleeves, veins bulging in his forearms.

That was when Evan spoke.

“I see. However, I would prefer she spends the time she would use learning such ‘conduct’ on looking at me just a little bit more.”

“Pardon?”

“Besides, what does conduct matter? She will be at the center of every noble circle; she has no need to worry about what others think.”

It was an arrogant statement befitting the future head of the Weiss Duchy. The doctor looked flustered, struggling to find a response.

“I understand your concern, teacher. However, Lep’s etiquette is so excellent that even my mother praises it. Right now, she simply has no room to think about such things because I have collapsed.”

“I-I see. My apologies. I suppose the Weiss family wouldn’t have skipped such basic scrutiny.”

‘If you’d just kept your mouth shut, you would have been fine,’ Piote thought, not bothering to pray for the man’s safety. It wasn’t long before the inevitable happened.

“Hey, did you hear? The school doctor was suddenly fired.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know. Something about trouble with his family.”

“Good. That old crank was annoying with his constant nagging. He always acted like he was right just because he was older. Apparently, he was especially harsh toward students from higher-ranking families. Some kind of inferiority complex?”

Piote walked past the gossiping students. There were times like this when he appreciated Evan—the way Evan would preemptively cut off any hostility directed at Lepina before it could even reach her. Unlike Evan, Piote only knew how to solve things with a sword.

Those events had already become memories of the past. Piote stared intently at Evan, who had suddenly come to him with a proposal. Just as Piote had sensed Evan’s feelings for Lepina were extraordinary, Evan had sensed the same from him.

Piote was the one who had crossed swords with Evan the most, and vice versa.

“It’s not a bad deal for you, is it? Why don’t you leave Lep to me now?”

Piote wanted to tell Evan to get lost, but knowing how much effort Evan put in, his lips remained sealed. He had never expected to keep her tucked away forever. Though he hadn’t expected it to happen this soon, either.

“I know you like Elena. You don’t plan on giving up easily, do you?”

And in that regard, Piote was the same as Evan. The only reason Piote hadn’t been able to express his feelings to her was because of the many barriers in his way.

“If she enters as the adopted daughter of Baron Perio, it’s a good condition for you too. You can maintain your prestige, and Elena will face less contempt from other nobles. And… you can officially declare her as your woman. Right?”

Evan wore a bright smile as he laid out a proposal that was impossible to refuse.

“…I could have done it without your help.”

“Of course, I know that.”

Piote had already reached a conclusion. That only made it more irritating.

“I wonder why Lep said she would take responsibility for you…”

Evan’s eyes curved into crescent moons as he laughed.

“I really do hate you.”

“Thanks for the compliment.”