Chapter 23
Thinking about that time makes me angry again.
At that time, Laszlo had only one path he could take.
He had to demonstrate a remarkable difference in skill that the goalkeepers couldn't ignore. And those who wanted to learn, he had to teach them willingly, setting aside personal feelings.
In addition, showing his “tough” side on every battlefield where guards were needed was like magic, but he did not hate knights who had a desire to improve.
“It’s admirable that you want to get stronger and are considering extra training to achieve that… but why would you want to do it in my place?”
At this point, the three men exchanged glances before one of them spoke hesitantly.
“Well, that’s because… we don’t want our bosses to notice us at the Imperial training grounds…”
“Oh, well, of course, they will appreciate our training with the Guards Commander. But we are not sure how our colleagues will see it…”
Their excuse was reasonable enough that Laszlo accepted it without much doubt.
“That makes sense.”
"then…"
“I can’t work during weekdays, but if weekends are okay, how about next Saturday at 3 pm?”
“Next Saturday at 3 PM? We’ll be there! No matter what happens, we’ll be there!”
With Laszlo's approval, the three men's eyes sparkled with joy.
Laszlo, who interpreted their enthusiasm as the ambition of young knights eager to improve, nodded in approval.
"Then, take care of yourself on your way."
“Thank you, Lord Crisis!”
"Thank you!"
They left after a boisterous display of gratitude, chatter, and celebration until they exited the corridor of Laszlo's office.
“It would be great if everyone focused on improving their skills…”
There were many who tried to engage in petty politics instead of focusing on the art of fencing, so straightforward men like them made him feel comfortable.
The unfortunate thing is that they probably won't achieve much. Laszlo can tell just by looking at them.
'They've just come to their senses; their bodies are all broken, their posture is terrible… even if I spent three hours with them, I wonder how much they would take from them.'
Perhaps simply teaching them the basics is best for them. If they start real training, there won't be a spot on their bodies without bruises.
* * *
[Remember this: You must be one of the “Big Four” families. Be careful and don’t get involved with the wrong people.]
The moment she heard that sound, Idil realized she had been dreaming.
Her vision was dark at first, then gradually became brighter, and as she looked around, she recognized Count Canin's property just as she remembered.
'How old was I when I first heard that? Was it when I started school at eight? No, it seems like I heard it even before that…'
The constant reminders from her father about the four great families of the empire were ingrained in her from a very young age.
The Bespera Empire had many nobles, but the “Four Great Families” – the Lancasters, the Berringtons, the Tullens, and the Winblers – wielded so much power that even the Imperial family could not easily touch them.
Her father was determined to marry her off to one of these families to use her as a springboard for his advancement.
'Despite the family's wealth, we didn't have much influence.'
The origins of Count Canin's family were not particularly well-known.
Her great-grandfather, a gambling addict, had won a foreign territory as a bet, and after years of collecting modest taxes from it, a huge ruby mine was discovered there.
Her grandfather, who had suddenly become wealthy, presented a large quantity of rubies and gold to the then struggling emperor, who in return granted him the title of Count.
This story, told without any embellishment, spread through the community, and the Kanin family was seen as having nothing important except money.
"Couldn't he be content with being a rich count?"
Despite being a count, he was never able to exert much influence and was often dismissed as merely arrogant, which infuriated him. He believed the only way to escape this perception was to marry his daughter into one of the Four Great Families. He was deeply complex.
[Do you think the four major families would consider you a daughter-in-law if that's all you can do? You have to be perfect. Perfect beyond anyone's reach!]
Edel sighed as she watched her father, his face contorted with anger, scolding her.
Even when her teachers praised Idyll or she received accolades in social circles, Count Canin always found fault with her and criticized her.
"Why did I have to be the one to sacrifice myself for my father's complex?"
At that time, she was so afraid of his anger that she did nothing but beg him to make more of an effort, but she always had doubts and resentment.
If he truly wanted to be a nobleman of high standing and honor, shouldn't he be a role model?
Had he donated to orphanages or public hospitals, or supported struggling artists, he might not have been labeled as vain, but Count Canin hated spending money on such things.
“He always said that spending money on unnecessary things is foolish, but what did he gain from pumping money into other places?”
As she was contemplating, the scene before her changed once again.
She saw her entire family sitting around a table laden with feasts at the Kanin estate.
However, even upon seeing her family after so long, Idil didn't feel particularly happy. And there were no fond memories to long for in her dreams.
[If you can't marry into a good family, what good are you? If you're going to become a leech, spending money without doing anything, then get out of this house immediately!]
Count Canin's words during meals always kill Idel's appetite.
No matter how delicious or rare the food was, only her siblings could enjoy it freely. Idle and Lynn had to eat sparingly to avoid becoming "leeches."
'And others envied the thin women in our family, not knowing the truth.'
A bitter smile formed on her lips.
She did not realize it while she was there, but looking back after her family abandoned her, she saw that the Kanin family deserved to be treated as worthless.
Any family that is envied for having money to feed and clothe them does not even deserve to be called “vanity”.
Her father did not stop there.
*slap!*
An unforgettable echo in her dream.
Idil was holding her cheek, and she was on the ground in front of her tall father.
[You always do stupid things like this, don't you? Are you trying to show that you're a woman? Do you have any idea how much damage you've caused the family by embarrassing the Marquis of Tulin?]
This memory was indelible.
The summer when she was eighteen years old. During that season of thin clothes and exposed skin, she was invited to a picnic where the second son of the Marquis of Tolin proposed to her.
Believing in his honor as a nobleman from one of the four great families her father always mentioned, Idl suppressed her instinctive disgust and walked with him.
Was it a mistake to trust that he would preserve his noble honor?
When they reached a secluded spot, he suddenly approached and began touching her. Startled, she fought back.
What did he say then?
“No one is watching, so why don’t we play along, young lady? Everyone knows that the Kanin family aims to marry into the four great families.”
Humiliation!
Edel pushed him away with all her might and ran back into the crowded area.
Although she did not explain what happened, people seemed to get an idea from the disheveled appearance of the boy, Tulin, when he left in haste.
When Count Canin heard the story, he became very angry and slapped Idel.
'He was more concerned about offending Tulin's family than the fact that I had been assaulted.'
Perhaps Idil gave up all expectations of her father at that moment.
Count Canin continued to treat his daughter as merely a tool until he eventually abandoned her.
'I feel relieved that my father rejected me… Yes, this is better.'
Not wanting to go back to the past, Idil closed her eyes tightly.
* * *
“Mmm…”
When she slowly opened her eyes, she saw the window through which the dawn light was filtering.
When she realized that she had woken up, Idil sighed with relief.
Perhaps because the last scene in her dream was the slap, she clenched her teeth while sleeping.
“My jaw hurts…”
Edel rolled over, rubbing her stiff jaw. Only then did she realize that her whole body ached and that she had a fever.
I may have had this dream because I am sick.
Her father used to hurt her, even in her dreams.
Believing she no longer had to deal with him, Idil tried to calm her racing heart.
However, her feverish body could not be calmed by mere consolation.