Special Story 20

“Maria?”

“Dad, please—can we all go visit the Reid estate tomorrow?”

Even when her parents asked why, Maria couldn’t bring herself to tell the truth. To explain how she met Adrian, she’d have to confess she got lost in the maze.

So instead, she clung to her father and begged. It was the one tactic that always worked on her normally cool and logical father—unlike with Uncle Sasha or anyone else.

And sure enough, it worked this time too. With Armin eventually sighing in surrender, Maria kept pestering him until he gave a firm promise.

Only then did she finally fall asleep, a look of relief softening her face.

***

The next day, Vivian sent a letter accepting the Reid family’s invitation. Less than an hour later,  Duchess Reid sent back a reply—she invited them to join her for lunch.

Before getting into the carriage, Maria began rifling furiously through the luggage. After flipping open and rummaging through several trunks, she finally found what she was looking for. Her face lit up with triumphant satisfaction.

Tucking the book under her arm, Maria climbed into the carriage. Armin glanced at the pink-bound book and asked,

“Maria, didn’t you say you didn’t like that one?”

“I want to give it to someone as a gift.”

“A gift?”

Maria beamed as she explained that she wanted to give the book to someone, forgetting her promise to keep Adrian a secret. She told her parents about the boy with pink hair—how kind, gentle, and sweet he was.

At the part where Maria said she really liked him, Armin’s eyes darkened. To him, Maria was a precious little girl—half Vivian, half himself, and more beloved than anything in the world. Even Crown Prince of Zeta’s hovering around her annoyed him endlessly.

If only she were more like her mother, content to stay at home. But she was social and outgoing—something that always worried him. The only consolation was that her standards for boys, even at her age, were unusually high.

And now this—Maria saying she instantly liked a boy?

Of course Armin was tense.

Vivian, on the other hand, found the whole thing utterly amusing. Their tiny daughter had taken a liking to a boy, and she couldn’t stop laughing.

“Oh really? Now I want to meet this Adrian boy too.”

“You’ll like him, Mom. He’s really sweet and gentle… and most of all, he’s really handsome.”

“Maria, there are so many more important things about a man than a handsome face.”

“Armin, don’t be like that. I fell for you because you were handsome, remember?”

“Dad, Adrian’s just as handsome as you. And his hair is pink!”

“Oh my! Pink? That’s your favorite color, isn’t it, Mari?”

As mother and daughter chattered away, Armin closed his eyes with a groan. He wasn’t ready—not even close—to accept that his six-year-old daughter might be developing her first crush.

***

The Reid manor was located not far from the royal palace. At a glance, it was as grand and imposing as the Grey manor.

The reception for guests was very lavish. The Duke of Reid, the Duchess, and their four sons were all there to greet the visitors.

Armin immediately recognized who Adrian was. Unlike the other three, this youngest boy was clearly the one who kept glancing most at Maria.

“Adrian!”

“Maria.”

Though their friendship barely spanned a single day, the two greeted each other with a bittersweet energy, as if reuniting after a year apart.

Maria firmly held the book she had treasured all the way here and handed it to Adrian. His face brightened upon seeing the pink hardcover.

“Are you giving this to me?”

“Yes, it’s mine. But I’m giving it to you.”

“Oh my! How adorable.”

Duchess Reid, watching the two, was delighted and didn’t know what to do with herself. Vivian spoke to her.

“Maria isn’t usually someone who so easily lets others get close.”

“Adrian is the same. He usually finds playing with kids his age bothersome, but this is a first.”

The adults watching the children were filled with warmth—except for one person.

After lunch, Armin took the four Reid sons to the training grounds. The rare sight attracted many onlookers. The four brothers, never imagining Armin would personally teach them swordsmanship, were visibly thrilled.

Armin’s eyes instantly changed when he met the youngest, Adrian.

There was quite an age gap between him and the eldest. Adrian was only eight years old.

Armin reminded himself not to crush the boy’s dreams and to maintain proper decorum as an adult.

Then he heard Maria’s voice.

“Adrian! You can do it! You have to win!”

Just moments ago, Maria had cheered, “Dad, win!” when Armin sparred with the three older brothers.

Armin watched with disbelief as Adrian’s expression shifted upon hearing Maria’s encouragement. The boy’s face showed a clear determination to win.

‘Look at this kid.’

The mature attitude of going easy on the boy vanished somewhere. Armin didn’t want to stomp on the boy’s budding spirit, but he couldn’t ignore his daughter’s cheering.

***

Naturally, the sparring match ended with Armin’s victory. Yet even Armin himself was quietly surprised. Considering his age, Adrian’s swordsmanship was the most promising among the brothers. Plus, his fierce determination not to lose was quite remarkable.

Maria ran over, shouting, “Dad, I hate you!” before rushing to check on Adrian’s condition. Vivian, approaching the shocked Armin, gently patted his shoulder.

“This is the future that will come someday, Armin. You should accept it quickly.”

Amused by his wife’s reaction, Armin quietly sighed.

In the end, the three from the Grey household spent the rest of the day mingling with the Reid family until dinner. Throughout the afternoon, Armin engaged in conversation with Duke Reid, while Vivian caught up on the gossip she hadn’t finished the day before with the Duchess.

When it was time to leave, Maria shed tears of parting sadness. Vivian hugged her and quickly helped her onto the carriage.

Just as Armin was about to board, Adrian suddenly spoke up.

“Duke Grey.”

“…Yes?”

“How can I become as cool as you?”

It was an unexpected question. Seeing Armin’s puzzled look, Adrian repeated his question.

“Maria says she likes someone as cool as her dad. How do I become someone as cool as you, Duke?”

The child’s voice was earnest and desperate. His seriousness made Armin pause before answering.

“In the Empire, anyone over twenty can enter the swordsmanship tournament. And the medal given to the winner has a special effect.”

“Effect…?”

Swallowing nervously, Adrian looked at Armin intently as he spoke seriously.

“They say if you give that medal as a gift to a woman who you like, the two will be bound together.”

“Then you…”

“Yes. I gave that gift too.”

After a moment’s thought, Armin continued.

“If you ever have time, come visit the Empire. I think you and Maria would become good friends.”

“Really?”

The boy’s face lit up brightly. Armin nodded. Watching the child bow politely and run off, Armin felt a heavy feeling in his heart.

When they got on the carriage, Maria was crying heavily. Vivian comforted her.

“Maria, you can come visit again, okay?”

“But… when we go back home, I won’t be able to see Adrian anymore.”

“Then write letters. We can come visit Gellang often with Auntie.”

“But… but…!”

Armin sighed deeply. It seemed like a day full of sighs.

Once back in the Empire, he thought he should discuss the talks he had with Duke Reid with Sasha. It was about increasing exchange programs for nurturing talent between the two countries.

***

Fifteen years later.

The imperial swordsmanship tournament finals were taking place at the capital’s arena. The gathered crowd was bursting with excitement. It was no wonder — whoever won the final would inevitably become the talk of the empire.

The young man with broad shoulders, a sturdy build, and pink hair was already a well-known figure here.

This foreigner, who stayed several weeks each year at the Grey dukedom, was famous in social circles for his handsome looks. Moreover, this year he had advanced all the way to the finals of the swordsmanship tournament. Numerous love letters had been delivered to him already.

Yet the young man’s gaze had remained fixed on only one spot since stepping into the arena.

“Hey, arrogant foreigner. Why don’t you focus on the match?”

His opponent in the final was also a pink-haired man. Adrian’s eyes, watching the more flamboyantly dressed opponent, were remarkably calm.

“Your Royal Highness the 

Crown Prince.”

“For a foreigner, you handle the sword quite well. I’ve heard some say you might even win, but that’s absurd.”

A haughty sneer. Yet Adrian seemed completely unfazed. He paid no attention to the Crown Prince’s provocation meant to rile him up.

“So you came all this way to become the swordsmanship champion? How arrogant.”

“I do not wish to become the champion.”

“What?”

“More precisely, I want the medal.”

Adrian smiled slightly as he spoke.

“If I can just receive the medal, it doesn’t matter if Your Royal Highness wins.”

“Arrogant!”

Facing the raging Crown Prince, Adrian closed his eyes gently. This was the moment he had dreamed of since childhood, ever since he first heard about the medal. The letters exchanged with Maria and their brief annual meetings had never been enough to quench his thirst.

With his eyes closed, the image of Maria waving and smiling at him became even clearer. His smile deepened.

“I’m sorry, but I really need that medal. Today, I must win.”

The tip of Adrian’s sword pointed toward the Crown Prince. Amid the roar of the crowd, their duel began.