LMTM 18

Chapter 18

Dating behind Rochester’s back was basically like running a 007 mission. He was so sharp and so quick to notice things. Swallowing hard, I asked him while he was eating breakfast.

“Oppa, are you coming home early again tonight?”

First, I needed to check his evening schedule. Rochester smiled foolishly and answered.

“Yeah. Of course.”

“Why?”

“What do you mean, why?”

“No, it’s just…”

At this rate, today’s date would get ruined again. And I really didn’t want that. Hayson Relize had seemed genuinely nice. Just once — I wanted to have a proper date. Come on, Rochester. For just today, it’s okay if you don’t come home early.

Smiling sweetly, I said,

“I asked Selena, and she said the young lord of Highlebord comes home really late. Apparently, he hardly ever shows up. She hasn’t seen him in weeks. I just wondered if maybe you’re forcing yourself to come home because of me, even though your schedule is busy.”

My heart pounded. Fortunately, my excuse must have sounded reasonable, because Rochester replied,

“That guy is crazy about swords— ah, I mean he just really loves training. After finishing his assigned duties, he stays behind for more practice. That’s why he can’t come home.”

“You’re not pushing yourself too hard, right?”

I didn’t care who was crazy about what. What mattered was that my brother needed to come home late tonight.

“Not at all, Reina. Just thinking of you eating dinner alone tears my heart apart. I’m fine, as long as it’s for you.”

Our parents try to have dinner with us, but more often than not, they eat outside. Father, as head of the gun corps, frequently eats in the capital. Mother is preparing to inherit the business from her family. My maternal grandfather, Count Vernas, has no children other than my mother. The title would go to an adopted relative, but the business would be passed to her.

So his worry was that I would eat alone.

But listen, Rochester.

I’m the one who’s not okay.

Please, just understand my heart a little.

“Still, don’t push yourself today, Oppa. I have plans tonight.”

In the end, I decided to at least say I’d be going out.

“You have plans?”

“Yeah. I’m having dinner with a friend.”

“With Lady Highlebord?”

I didn’t answer — just smiled. It wasn’t really lying, but saying Selena specifically would be. Even if he misunderstood, there was no way the truth would ever reach him anyway. Selena didn’t seem close to her brother, and they had no real reason to talk. Someone might see me with Relize and mention it later, but by then, the date would already be over — and I’d already judged whether he was worth seeing again.

Rochester interpreted my silence however he pleased.

“If that’s the case, then I should step aside. But Reina — you really must be careful. The world is dangerous. Be back before eight.”

You’re the first one to give me a curfew at my age. Who on earth still has an 8 p.m. curfew as an adult? This isn’t some mountain village.

But I swallowed all my complaints and smiled.

“Okay, Oppa.”

“Have fun with Lady Selena. Do you need some allowance?”

“I’ve got plenty.”

I sent him off to work, even though he kept glancing back, reluctant to leave. Wow. I make a friend and the first thing I do is use her as a shield. Selena, thanks. I’ll definitely repay this favor someday.

＊ ＊ ＊

Rochester frowned. Even on his way to work, his mind stayed behind at home. Leaving Reina alone always made him reluctant — but today, even more so.

Something’s definitely going on.

She’d been strange earlier. Normally, she would’ve snapped at him to stop bothering her and just go to work, but today she’d been unusually gentle. Not that he disliked it — but his knight’s intuition was sounding alarms.

Something’s different.

But he had no way of knowing what. And even if he turned around and asked, there was no way she’d answer. She might actually throw him out this time. He would have to find out another way.

Rochester turned toward a knight who was practicing his sword — Matthias Highlebord, Selena’s older brother, the young lord.

“…Matthias.”

“What is it?”

They said the man was possessed by the sword, and if someone asked him to train all day, he’d gladly do it. His voice was as cold as his blade. Rochester rolled his eyes, then reluctantly began.

“I have something serious to ask.”

“Go ahead.”

“Did your sister say she was going out for dinner tonight?”

Matthias frowned. Had he heard that correctly?

“My sister?”

“Yeah — your sister.”

“How would I know that?”

“What do you mean — how don’t you know?”

Rochester stared at him as if it were unthinkable.

“You have two younger sisters! You should at least know what they’re doing — whether they have plans — whether there are men around! The world is dangerous!”

“…You’re insane. Do you really have nothing better to do?”

“So this isn’t important to you, huh?”

The two men stared at each other like they were from different universes. Rochester clicked his tongue and looked away. Clearly, Matthias was useless.

What does that guy even live for?

Rochester sighed.

“If you’ve got time to worry about that, train more.”

Matthias turned back to his sword. As his body resumed moving, Rochester clicked his tongue again. Matthias wanted to reach a higher realm. But as someone who had already reached the level of Sword Master, Rochester could see it clearly —

That obsession of his was actually blocking the path forward.

He considered saying something, but then shook his head. Matthias wouldn’t listen anyway.

Instead, he briefly wondered if he should rush home and secretly tail Reina. But if he overdid it, she would really get angry — maybe even run away from home.

“If you keep being annoying, I’ll really run away.”

R–run away?! The world is too dangerous!

He jittered with anxiety. Then he noticed Hayson — all dressed up, unusually polished, happily getting ready to leave.

Hayson Relize. A guy more interested in other things than his work or training.

Annoying — but not Rochester’s subordinate, so he ignored it.

Wait. Why does he look so slick today?

Ever since Reina had declared she wanted to date, every good-looking man looked like a potential thief — someone trying to steal his sister.

Rochester glared at Hayson’s back.

He had a bad feeling.

If only the world had no men — raising Reina would have been so much easier.

Who knew being an older brother to such a pretty, lovable sister would be this hard?

This was all their parents’ fault.

For giving birth to someone that beautiful and lovable.

Rochester sighed so deeply it felt like it might crack the training grounds.