IAYA 47

chapter 47

Teansis had changed.

Fabian, who had watched him closely for a long time, could be certain of that.

Teansis, how should one put it… he had always been extraordinary since childhood.

Watching him, one could not help but believe that there were beings truly blessed by the gods. He was that perfect a man.

From a young age, he endured intense swordsmanship training without ever complaining.

People cheered at the fact that Teansis was such an exceptional knight that he could even generate an aura, but the process of becoming that skilled was far more grueling than words could convey.

And that wasn’t all. Politics? Social gatherings? He excelled in everything without a single flaw.

Though young, Teansis was perfectly suited to lead the North, and indeed, under his rule, the North thrived.

If one were to point out a single flaw, it might be his cold personality and inscrutable inner thoughts—but Fabian considered even that a mark of a true ruler.

For someone who knew Teansis’ childhood, even those “flaws” seemed almost trivial. Honestly, just having Teansis grow up normally was something to be thankful for.

Yet now, Teansis had undeniably changed.

The man who had once handled everything with perfect precision now left questions lingering whenever it came to matters concerning the woman named Velia.

Fabian could clearly sense this change when he relayed recent rumors circulating in high society to Teansis.

“So, the lady publicly declared she has a crush on me in front of others?”

Teansis asked in disbelief, yet his eyes seemed to shine with happiness.

Fabian felt nothing but confusion over how to process this transformation.

“Yes… that’s correct.”

“Ha… what am I supposed to do now? Can someone confess love so boldly like that?”

To Fabian’s eyes, Teansis seemed to be indulging in a pleasurable dilemma.

Many women had chased Teansis over the years, and some had even spread absurd rumors about him to tarnish his image, just like Lady Reizeni.

The latest rumor—that he was impotent—was laughable. There had also been outrageous claims that he was homosexual, pedophilic, or masochistic.

The ones who spread these rumors sought only one thing: for Teansis to appear before them and talk once again.

Lady Reizeni’s motives were likely the same. Humiliated after a unilateral broken engagement, she wanted to speak to Teansis directly but couldn’t appear desperate—so this was her chosen method.

Fabian thought of it as either the tantrum of a noble lady or a final desperate act.

Thus, he did nothing. Both he and Teansis knew the rumors would quickly die down.

This was the first time someone had intervened in the middle of such affairs.

Fabian was somewhat surprised that Velia went so far as to damage her own honor to suppress negative rumors about Teansis. But what worried him more was the smile on Teansis’ lips.

Velia was no ordinary woman. It didn’t matter whether she was Lady Fredov or a commoner.

Velia possessed the powers of the Queen Monster.

Fabian’s concern grew. Giving his heart to her, while uncertain how she might influence Teansis or affect the North, was dangerous.

Surely Teansis already knew this, but Fabian couldn’t help but warn him.

“Duke, might I suggest keeping some distance from Lady Fredov? I understand being close for the sake of the Queen Monster’s powers, but I worry you might give her too much of your heart.”

Teansis’ violet eyes turned on Fabian. The earlier smile was gone, replaced with an intense gaze.

“You worry unnecessarily.”

“…My apologies.”

Fabian bowed his head. He was not someone who acted or thought for himself; he followed Teansis’ lead. Yet even knowing his place, he spoke out of concern.

Teansis only averted his gaze after hearing Fabian’s apology. But Fabian could tell that he would not tolerate such words again.

Teansis spoke in a low voice:

“When I was young, my grandfather once asked me a question: if you could only save one side—more people or fewer people—which would you choose?”

Fabian didn’t respond aloud, but he naturally assumed the side with more people. It was more beneficial to save the greater number.

But what came next from Teansis was unexpected:

“He said to me, who was hesitating: ‘In the time you spend worrying, save both. That’s why the Acruze family exists, and why you learn swordsmanship.’”

“Ah…”

As expected of him. Teansis’ grandfather had been a war hero who saved the Balkanus Empire from the monsters of the Taran Forest.

“Even without your worry, I haven’t forgotten my duty. But that doesn’t mean I’ll give up on the lady either.”

Fabian finally understood. Teansis intended to catch both rabbits. The possibility of removing Velia entirely was completely off the table.

“Duke…”

Fabian’s eyes widened involuntarily. Teansis chuckled softly in response:

“So I expect your cooperation as well.”

It was a dangerous path.

For now, they could only speculate about Velia’s influence in Taran Forest. How things would unfold in reality was unknown.

Yet Velia was still human. To classify her as a monster and preemptively eliminate her would be tantamount to sacrificing a cow for the sake of the lineage.

Teansis’ choice was ideal—but difficult. Catching both rabbits meant risking losing both.

Yet Fabian no longer worried. This was Teansis’ decision, and he could follow it with unwavering trust.

“I am here to follow your orders, Duke. The choice is yours; I am here only to obey.”

Even in Fabian’s mind, Velia naturally shifted from a dangerous figure to someone to protect.

Teansis gave a faint smile, as if to confirm:

“I knew you’d say that.”

My uniform from Kamar Academy had arrived at my dormitory.

I wore it for the first time, constantly glancing at myself in the mirror. If I could go back in time, this was one of the things I’d most wanted to do:

Enroll in Kamar Academy and study.

I had often envied the young ladies walking around in their uniforms.

What had once seemed impossible was finally happening.

Seeing my excitement, Marlen, who was beside me, asked:

“You’re really happy, aren’t you, Lady?”

“Yes.”

Yes, so happy.

The unfinished words lingered in my mind, but I couldn’t help smiling as I looked at myself in the mirror.

Time had passed faster than I realized.

I didn’t want to be late for the first class, so I hurried outside.

“I’ll go to class now.”

“Oh, Lady, be careful not to trip!”

Marlen’s worried voice followed me as I ran. But I didn’t slow down.

Even if I fell, even if my knees got scraped, I felt I would still smile.

Like other young ladies, I tucked my books under my arm and made my way lightly to the classroom.

Some students were already there. I walked to a seat by the window and sat down, my heart racing with excitement.

To be sitting here, studying as a student—if I closed my eyes, memories of my past flashed through my mind.

The professor entered, and I realized it was class time.

Unlike Jer, the professor had white hair, showing how young he had been when he became a teacher.

“Let’s begin today’s class.”

The classroom quieted. Soon, the sound of a door sliding open echoed:

Whirr—

The students murmured, but I didn’t look. I wanted to focus on class.

“Ahem, everyone, settle down.”

Silence returned, and I immersed myself fully in the lesson.

For some, this might have been nothing special, but for me, simply being here and studying was the realization of a long-held dream.

Time passed as I diligently took notes. Eventually, the professor checked the clock:

“That’s all for today’s class.”

As the professor left, students began gathering their belongings. I did the same, organizing my notes.

“You enjoyed this class, didn’t you? You were really absorbed.”

A low, husky voice startled me. I turned to see Teansis sitting directly behind me, the sunlight from the window highlighting him in his uniform.

“Duke?”

“Finally noticed, have you?”

“Since when… Ah!”

It seemed he had entered late, and students were glancing at him. Understandably so—Teansis looked like a living statue in that uniform.

“You’re attending this class?”

“No. I have no interest in medicine.”

“Then why…”

“Still, I’m knowledgeable. You never know when someone might try to poison you, so I had to understand it.”

“Ah…”

Poison? I couldn’t help but be startled.

He propped his chin on one arm and asked:

“Shall I teach you?”

“…Teach me what?”

“This part.”

He gestured toward the area I had been taking notes on.

I had some knowledge of medicine, having worked as an assistant apothecary and studied steadily to earn a pharmacist’s license.

Teansis smiled faintly at my skeptical look:

“I told you. I may not know simple illnesses, but I’m well-versed in poisons that can threaten a life.”

He leaned over, took my notebook, and added notes and explanations.

I could only stare in amazement. He knew more about dangerous substances than I did.

Jer or Teansis showing expertise outside their main fields always left me genuinely impressed.

Teansis had once said:
“There aren’t many professors who can teach me. I’m not just a genius in swordsmanship.”

Having observed him for so long, I knew he excelled in many areas, but seeing it firsthand was remarkable.

“Wow, Duke, this is amazing.”

At my words, he smiled even more warmly:

“Hearing that makes me want to show you even more.”

I wondered why he, knowing so much already, attended class at all.

“Shouldn’t you not need this lecture?”

He grinned slyly:

“I forgot… that the lady is more oblivious than expected.”

“Me? Oblivious?”

I had never thought of myself that way. I considered myself perceptive.

But I didn’t dwell on it long. He rose from his seat, placed his hand on the desk, leaned closer, and whispered:

“I came to attend class with you, Lady.”

A scream of delight echoed from nearby students.

My heart pounded.

I looked at him, confused, as his violet eyes glowed with an intense heat.

“Just in case you don’t understand indirect words… I already know this class, and I don’t plan to attend further. I came solely to be with you.”

“Ah…”

“By the way, I was a little late figuring out which classroom you were going to.”

Nothing else existed. I couldn’t see other students, hear their voices, only Teansis.

In a voice so tempting, I couldn’t possibly refuse, he whispered:

“Shall we have lunch together?”

He smiled slyly, and I couldn’t believe how fitting such a brazen smile was on him.

“Just so you know… this is a proper date invitation.”