He wasnât sure whether Charlize knew. The day she comes back from her fifteen-day vacation. That day was Charlizeâs birthday.
Dylan was preparing in advance to celebrate Charlizeâs birthday. The people of the Crown Princeâs Palace were all happy and eager.
âIs everything ready?â
âYes, Your Highness. For one day the release of the magic defense is approved, and weâve put a lot of magic for the sake of the Grandmaster.â
âYes. As soon as the Grandmaster arrives, we have also prepared food made from fresh ingredients for her to enjoy!â
The chef said with rare excitement. The servants, maids and knights all missed Charlize.
Charlize was someone precious and dear to many people.
âBy the way, Your Highness the Crown Prince.â
The maid, who seemed to be hesitating for a moment, approached Dylan.
âThe head of the Ronan family continues to ask Your Highness. To withhold the Grandmasterâs application for expulsionâŚâ
The maid studied his movement. The employees gave their attention to Dylan.
The Crown Prince was intelligent.
He knew what Ronanâs purpose was. Regretting the past and trying to win Charlizeâs heart.
âBut then what do you do?â
âYou gave her a Blackshaw as a gift.â
While Charlize was away from the Imperial Palace, the Grand Dukeâs intention to try to sweet-talk the Crown Prince was clearly read.
If there had been a sincere apology, Master would have said something. Ronan was firmly mistaken.
Dylan only did what Charlize wanted and had never disobeyed her.
âTell him that itâs my Masterâs right. It wonât change anything if he persuades me, so tell him to give up.â
âYes, Your Highness.â
At Dylanâs clear words, the maid finally bowed her head at ease.
As much as the employees admired the noble Grandmaster. They treated Charlize dearly and preciously.
Itâs the past. It was the same that they didnât like Ronan for being mean to the Grandmaster.
Dylanâs gaze turned to the table. At that place.
There was a gift that Dylan had prepared for Charlize. It looked like a necklace on the outside. In fact. It was a sword.
A dagger embellished with fine jewels.
Usually, it would be worn like a necklace, but if there was an urgent situation, it would become a dagger when pulled out.
âI hope you like it.â
Dylan missed Charlize.
How far off was she? It was like he hadnât seen her in years.
He felt like he was going crazy because he wanted to see her.
It was a time when he tried to forget by concentrating on his work or training. Dylan looked out the window, feeling a deep thirst.
The employees withdrew politely.
***
âIs the family heirloom precious?â
Charlize was treated with the utmost care. The Dukeâs attitude had changed drastically.
At first, as if he couldnât believe what he was seeing, the Duke of Keninâs hands trembled.
âI canât believe it!â
He didnât say it in words, but it was written on his face. The tactician standing next to him was also the same.
He opened his mouth wide as if his jaw had fallen out and couldnât speak for a long time.
[The bet.]
Did she win now? When Charlize wanted to ask, Kenin, embarrassed, bowed his head.
Something shiny and dripping in the sun. At first, she didnât even know it was a tear. The man, known as an iron-blooded Duke, was crying?
But it was real.
[I lost.]
The Dukeâs way of speaking became courteous. Beyond the clean defeat by Charlize, complete recognition and respect.
[Thank you so much, Grandmaster. No, GrandmasterâŚ]
Was it something related to memories of his childhood? Did it have anything to do with his parents who died early?
It was a bewilderingly quick change of attitude. His sentiment was sincere.
The Duke of Kenin soon realized that the knights and the tactician were watching him. Belatedly, he cut back on his words.
[âŚThank you.]
Because that was the etiquette. However, even if there were no eyes watching him, the Duke would have continued to respect her.
The Duke of Keninâs eyes were clear, as if the shiny tear earlier was an illusion. But facing each other, Charlize saw it.
His eyes were a little red.
What on earth was the family heirloom that filled him with joy so desperately? She couldâve asked him a question.
[Then the condition of the bet.]
Charles smiled. The Duke of Kenin replied.
[I will fulfill it.]
It was a stone-hard affirmation.
The tactician looked at the Duke with surprised eyes, and he continued.
[A promise is a duty to keep it.]
[Good.]
The Duke seemed to have realized something then. Charlize was a being that couldnât be described by words.
She was close to the Absolute that went beyond questions and transcended all common sense and rules.
Even if it was unbelievable, there was a reality that unfolded before him.
Charlize came with their family heirloom. Even faster than the deadline he set of fifteen days.
The knights watching were more surprised by the change in their Lord.
âNot bad.â
Charlize was happy. Although she was welcomed from the beginning, the atmosphere of the Duchy had changed significantly since then.
The Duke looked to openly bow before Charlize. It was natural for his subordinates to know it for his safety.
âGrandmaster, the ceremony of the Duke giving a knightâs oath will be held soon.â
Three maids brought together from the Crown Princeâs Palace helped Charlize.
Charlize raised her head.
The condition of winning the bet was to have the âDukeâ. His right, all his influence.
What Charlize asked of the Duke was. The Dukeâs knee that has never been knelt for anyone. It had knelt for Dylan.
âItâs really amazing. The Duke suddenly offered to serve His Highness as his Lord.â
The maid whispered. A look of envy and admiration reached Charlize.
Charlize was expected to receive the Dukeâs oath of loyalty as the deputy duly entrusted by Dylan.
âBecause His Highness is excellent, so he just requests him to be his subordinate.â
âHowever, the Grandmaster is amazingâŚâ
When the maid spoke with courage, the other two nodded enthusiastically.
âWill you follow me?â
âCan we dare to come observe?â
âYes, of course.â
Like asking why not. Charlize smiled convincingly at the maids.
Theyâre the same woman. But because the beauty they faced up close was so striking, the cheeks of the maids turned red.
The area of ââthe knights was also called the area ââforbidden for women. Since female knights were rare, and they rejected the opposite sex. The maids hesitated a little.
But Charlize didnât care.
âLetâs go together.â
What was gender?
It has no meaning to the transcendent.
âYes, Grandmaster!â
The maids shouted brightly.
Charlizeâs long hair hung softly in the moonlight. Instead of wearing any accessories, there were mixed clear iridescent threads between her hair.
Thus, her dreamlike beauty was revealed as her hair fluttered while she walked.
âSo. the Grandmaster went into the Lion Mountains alone and brought this heirloom?â
âExactly!â
âWe couldnât do it even though hundreds of our knights rushed in, could we?â
âI heard it myself. The hotel receptionists where the Grandmaster stayed told me that after defeating the monster, she came back to sleep at night.â
âActually, there was a report from the scout that the number of monsters had decreased sharply.â
The Dukeâs knights gossiped.
Like the knights of the Duke who claimed control of the military power, they were elites with no less pride than the Imperial Knights.
âIf only I could watch her swing a sword at least once.â
âIf I want her to train me, Is that too much of a dream?â
Knights respected martial arts, so they did not judge by looking at oneâs appearance. If you had the ability, you deserved to be treated with respect.
Soon the knights shut their mouths.
Because the entrance opened.
Charlize, who appeared, was still only 20 years old. She wasnât truly young, but looked young on the outside.
She had already reached the position of the Grandmaster of the Crown Prince. Everyone stared seriously. At the vanguard of that gaze.
There was the Duke of Kenin.
When the Duke noticed, the tactician began to tremble and talk.
âBecause His Highness The Crown Prince, who will receive the oath as the Lord, is inevitably absent, I would like to proceed with the procedure informally with the Grandmaster of the Crown Prince as his deputy. Therefore, the witnesses please stand solemnly.â
Everyone stood up quietly. The maids who followed were also present.
âThe Grandmaster, the deputy of His Highness, please take the top seat.â
Charlize rose to the top seat. Sighs flowed out secretly.
It was a night with torches. Even though it wasnât a bright day, Charlize stood out as if they couldnât see anything else.
The tactician noticed and eventually continued.
âThe Duke, the knight to be sworn in, come forward and kneel.â
Charlize saw the Duke slowly walking out. If she had a child, he would have grown up to his age.
The Duke knelt in front of Charlize. There was no hesitation.
âGrandmaster, please have the courtesy of the Lord.â
The Duke of Kenin pulled out the sword and offered it to Charlize. She accepted the sword in a polite posture with her head down.
And.
She put a real sword on the Dukeâs left shoulder and said.
âAs your Lord, I never take your loyalty lightly. I will take the lead in creating a world that will uphold your principles.â
âAs a knight of the Lord, I will serve only one Lord for the rest of my life, so I will be by your side with loyalty until the day His Highness dies.â
The Duke breathed for a moment. He raised his head. Charlize realized that the subject of his oath was not Dylan but herself.
âI will live as a faithful servant so that I can achieve what you want.â
This time Charlize swept the sword on the Dukeâs right shoulder, saying.
âAs your Lord, I will never betray the loyalty of my servant. I will repay your trust and be the complete Lord alone.â
The Duke answered.
âAs a knight of the Lord, I will defend the Lordâs chivalry with all my fidelity, defend the Lord with my life, and risk my whole life to make the Lordâs name shine brightly.â
ââŚâ
The atmosphere was as serious as the formal oath ceremony.
Making an oath had formality, but you could make a word yourself freely, adapting to the circumstances.
So the implication was to show sincerity.
The tactician, who was watching, said belatedly after a moment of a daze.
âThis is the end of the informal oath ceremony. The holy Ehyrit are also watching you, so this will be the promise of the soul that will never be broken.â
***
Charlize returned to the island with the letter of oath. The Duke of Kenin begged her to stay a little longer, but Charlize refused.
The work to be done was done. There was no reason to stay any longer.
âThe Grandmaster is so cool.â
âThatâs right. Sheâs a woman, but I think Iâm falling for her.â
Charlize just smiled at what the maids were saying with their faces blushing.
âI canât wait to see Dylan.â
Charlize headed straight to the Crown Princeâs Palace. And when Charlize arrived.
She couldnât help but be surprised for a moment.
A bustling atmosphere and a gorgeously decorated palace.