3 – The Last Chance

Human nature does not change. And if it should change, even for a moment, it inevitably reverts.

The escort knight, Lorein, gazed at Damian, recalling a thought she’d often had during her encounters with countless people.

His entire body was drenched in blood, flailing about as if this were truly his last stand.

His appearance was similar to that of a knight who had spent too long wallowing in the hell of the battlefield, becoming a fiend.

But in truth, there was not a drop of anyone else’s blood on him, only his own that had created this situation, so even if the appearance was similar, the substance held within was vastly different.

‘Why, though?’

No matter how much she considered it, she simply could not grasp the reason.

If it were an actual battle with lives at stake, or even a duel with social standing on the line, she could perhaps understand.

But for that small young master, so decadent, lazy, and sensitive, to act so desperately in what was, at the end of it all, merely training… she could not fathom the motivation.

‘No, he did tell me the reason.’

The Grand Duchess Elisia.

She had suddenly declared that she would pour everything into his training, all for the sake of his fiancée, with whom he had hardly exchanged a word.

‘They weren’t even remotely affectionate, showing no interest in one another… what on earth has brought about this change of heart?’

Could it be that he had, by some chance, fallen for the Grand Duchess?

Love, as everyone knew, could strike at any moment, so the possibility existed.

‘So, he decided to become a different person and was putting on this charade of solicitude.’

At first, she had been bewildered, his attitude had suddenly changed so drastically, it was almost as if someone else had entered the small master’s body.

But thinking about it this way, it was, more or less, comprehensible.

Still, what remains incomprehensible is his sudden bizarre behavior – flinging bread to the wild beasts, creating a ‘tea’ so wondrous it could only inspire awe…

I wrestled with the enigma, unable to grasp even a sliver of its cause.

Then, a line from the romance novel I’d been reading last night surfaced in my mind.

[He must turn back time for her.]

It was the scene where the protagonist regressed, traveling to the past for the heroine’s sake.

Of course, the very idea of regression was absurd, so there was absolutely no chance the Young Master had done something like that.

Still, if I *did* assume he’d regressed, all his actions suddenly made a kind of twisted sense.

‘Ugh, you crazy woman, what is it with you and the Young Master being a regressor?’

I decided I needed to lay off the romance novels, shaking my head as I watched the Young Master.

He assailed me, desperate, wielding a wooden sword and mallet.

No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t understand him.

‘Nevermind that, I just wish he’d hurry up and give me the tea.’

The kind that sent shivers of elation down your spine. Drinking it felt like stepping into a new realm.

Drinking it, I felt like something was about to change.

So I resolved to steal the tea whenever I had the chance, lightly deflecting the Young Master’s attacks.

* * * * *

The next morning, I woke up feeling like I was being stabbed all over with knives.

‘I’m actually going to die…’

Potions only healed the body, not the pain. So all the pain I’d accumulated yesterday was still with me, throbbing, stabbing at my nerves.

I wanted to writhe on the floor, but there was too much to do. I forced myself to endure, running a hand through my hair.

‘Should I go greet Elysia, then?’

There was nothing more joyful than going to see the one person who had kept me going when I lost everything and fell into the abyss of despair.

I smiled brightly, quickly changed, and headed for Elysia’s office.

As I reached Elysia’s office, her icy glare slammed into my face.

She didn’t even bother to speak, clearly telling me, ‘You aren’t welcome, get out now,’ in her own way.

I’d only seen her a few times, but the look was already familiar. I cleanly ignored it and greeted her.

“Good morning.”

“……”

Either she didn’t think I was worth acknowledging, or else she simply turned her gaze to her work.

I looked at Elysia, wondering if I should brew her some tea, but decided it would be better to wait until we were a little closer. So, I decided to leave it for today.

‘There’s nothing as burdensome as someone you’re not even close to constantly trying to feed you something, you know?’

Already worn out from work, I didn’t want to burden her further, so I waved goodbye again and headed outside.

I was just about to tell Lorraine how considerate I was being towards Alicia as I made my way to the training grounds when…

Lorraine, with a somewhat uneasy expression, said to me, “Well, it just seems like she finds it burdensome every time you come to see her, Master…”

I lightly ignored Lorraine’s words, stretching, and preparing to throw myself back into training.

‘If I keep at it, I’ll get there.’

When I first started sparring, I didn’t even have a clue what I was doing, but toward the end, the best choice would occur to me as if it was the most natural thing in the world; I definitely felt the talent.

I thought about how the one-handed hammer felt especially right in my grip, and wondered if I should use it again for sparring today.

Just then, my personal maid cautiously approached and handed me a letter sent from the family.

“Ah, thank you.”

“Yes, Master.”

The personal maid looked incredibly flustered at my thanks, bowed her head deeply, and then disappeared somewhere.

I always found the surprised reactions from those around me quite amusing, but then I turned my attention to the letter’s contents.

‘So, to summarize, they’re going to send me some of the family’s elixirs.’

And if the phrases scattered throughout – *Seeing as you’re willing to drink those bitter elixirs, you’ve grown up so much, are things hard in the North? Your sister is waiting for your return* – are anything to go by…

It occurred to me that perhaps Damian, despite his hooligan-like behavior, treated his family well.

‘In any case, I’ve secured the promise of elixirs.’

Now, all that remains is to grow through training and form a contract with the Spirit of the Sun.

And so, from morning until evening, I would train.

And when the moon rose, I would go to meet the Spirit of the Sun, diligently massaging my shoulders.

*

About a month had passed since that day.

A time that could be called long, or a time that could be called short, but enough time for countless things to change.

“…Wow, truly, Master’s talent is simply insane.”

I listened to Lorraine’s praise while swinging a wooden hammer at her.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t even graze her, let alone touch her body.

Lorraine greatly praised me and was awestruck.

“I’ve seen all sorts of monsters while working with the Knights Order, but Master, you are uniquely outstanding amongst them.”

That isn’t particularly important.

Talent only holds meaning when it blossoms, and untended talent inevitably withers.

Because of Damian’s indolent nature, he started training considerably later than others, barely planting his seeds now.

No matter how exceptional the talent, if it hasn’t even sprouted, praise of its greatness is just empty flattery.

‘Still, there’s potential, then.’

Thinking hope had bloomed, he swung the hammer down, simultaneously releasing it mid-strike and attacking with the sword he held in his left hand, attempting a volatile maneuver.

“Introducing that kind of variable puts considerable pressure on the opponent, so it’s not a bad choice, but,”

Lorraine lightly deflected his attack, speaking as she did.

“The hammer flying away makes it a less advantageous attack. Difficult to call it a good choice. Still, is it possible that you’re this good after a month? It’s truly unfair.”

Lately, if he listens to Lorraine or makes her happy, she rewards him with tea, which seems to have unleashed every sycophantic tendency within her.

I eyed Lorraine, wondering if there might be some addiction-inducing ingredient in that tea.

Lorraine gave a sheepish laugh, scratching her head, before saying to me,

“I might be exaggerating a bit… but it’s sincere.”

“Thank you.”

“Could I have another cup of tea, then? It’s just that I seem to have a headache…”

I don’t believe the tea I make has any headache-relieving effects, though.

I was utterly baffled, but regardless, she was my teacher, so I shook the water from my wrists, preparing to brew her tea.

“Thank you… thank you…”

Should I get the tea’s ingredients tested later? I don’t feel anything special when I drink it, so why is she so desperate for it?

With that thought, I decided to visit Alicia briefly and decided to go wash up first.

*

In the morning, several issues erupted simultaneously, forcing Alicia to leave to resolve them, so I regrettably missed saying good morning.

Disappointed, I decided to at least say good evening, and as I reached her office, Alicia came into view, looking remarkably unwell.

The dark circles that she usually has appeared deeper and longer, coupled with a complexion so pale you could call her sickly.

Seeing her in a state that seemed bound for complete exhaustion tore at my heart, and I inquired about her well-being, but,

“You never tire, do you.”

Only a frigid response returned.

I knew opening her heart wouldn’t be easy, but it was more difficult than I had imagined.

Suddenly, I noticed Alicia staring intently at my hand.

Normally, I wouldn’t have been able to decipher its meaning but, perhaps because Lorraine kept begging for tea,

I had a rough idea of what that look might mean, and I said, with a glimmer of hope,

“Shall we share a cup of tea?”

At that query, Elysia regarded me with an expression tangled with conflict.

Then, turning her head away, she opened her mouth with a voice utterly devoid of emotion.

“… Damian. To be blunt, I may be your betrothed, but I have no intention of being with you. In other words, I have no intention of accepting any efforts you might make, and furthermore, I will not acknowledge you.”

I knew it in my heart, yet hearing it spoken so directly, my breath caught in my throat for a moment.

I gazed at Elysia, who was staring at me with impassive eyes, and calmly began to speak.

“Finally, you meet my gaze. Did what happened earlier trouble you that much? I’ll brew some tea for you right away.”

“… Are you even listening to me?”

I am listening intently. Though I didn’t show it, those words wounded me deeply.

Logically, I felt that giving up at this point would be best for both of us.

Yet, I couldn’t easily relinquish the savior who had rescued me from a life of utter despair, the feelings that had accumulated over five years of blind, unrequited love.

‘Besides, it isn’t that she dislikes me and is pushing me away, but rather that she is pushing me away for the sake of the North.’

Foolishly clinging to this thought, a hollow laugh escaped me.

I shook my head inwardly, resolving to finally cease my greedy desires.

‘All of this is nothing more than my one-sided infatuation.’

So, I decided to extend my hand just one last time, and if Elysia rejected even this, I would let go cleanly.

“… I know a way to make the North warm.”

At my words, Elysia looked at me with an expression that, for the first time, held a mixture of emotions.

How wonderful it would be if she looked at me like that all the time, I mused before calmly continuing.

“I’ll make the North warm, so won’t you look at me properly, even if it’s just for once?”

Resolving to give up everything and return to the Damian family estate if she rejected even this, I offered an awkward smile.

Elysia reluctantly nodded and spoke.

“Very well. If you truly succeed in making the North warm… I will face you properly from now on.”

At those words, I thought of the Solar Spirit, the ‘only’ way to warm the North, and decided to seize this last opportunity.