Chapter 14
“Why is he apologizing to Makaron? Did he do something wrong?”
Makaron glanced at Duke Shupen for a moment before slowly opening his mouth.
“…That was in the past.”
“There’s definitely something between those two… but what could it be?”
A heavy silence fell between them for a moment. Yet… somehow, Duke Shupen’s blue gaze felt strangely familiar. His silver hair flowing was definitely new to me, but I kept having a sense of déjà vu — like I had seen him somewhere before.
“Am I just being too sensitive?”
The moment I locked eyes with those deep blue eyes that almost pulled me in, I snapped back to reality.
“I’m Calypso, the one who sent the letter.”
Shupen’s expression, unreadable until then, shifted as he rubbed his hand once over his uniform and extended it for a handshake. When our hands met, his long, pale hand lightly clasped mine. At the same time, his eyes softened slightly and the corner of his lips curled up faintly.
“I am Shupen Knight.”
He repeated what I already knew, but with a meaningful expression, as if sharing a secret between us.
“He’s probably aware I’m conscious of the letter exchange.”
Trying to brush it off lightly, I raised my head—and our eyes met again. This time, he gave me a flirtatious smile.
“You’re more beautiful than I imagined.”
Hmm… was that just his way of greeting?
“No matter what, I don’t think he’d say that in front of Makaron…”
Ignoring Makaron’s sharp gaze, Duke Shupen quietly went on his way. It was amusing to see Makaron’s crumpled expression and to watch Shupen tease him like that. Smiling, I tossed my hair back and responded.
“I usually get comments like that.”
Saying that, I glanced at Makaron, thinking it sounded like narcissism had rubbed off on him. Makaron let out a surprisingly loud sigh but didn’t say much. Meanwhile, Duke Shupen was pinching his thigh to stifle a laugh.
“Usually, people would think that’s annoying. Is he just easy-going or genuinely nice?”
“You really are as handsome as the rumors say, Your Highness.”
Though said jokingly, it wasn’t untrue. He was definitely a unique kind of handsome, quite different from Makaron. I wasn’t exaggerating but simply stating the facts… Suddenly, Shupen’s expression stiffened. The playful look disappeared, replaced by seriousness that made me uneasy.
“Did I make some mistake?”
After a moment, he spoke calmly.
“It takes a lot of time to learn swordsmanship. So…”
Was he about to state conditions? He glanced sideways at Makaron as if to see his reaction. Makaron, indifferent as always, showed no interest. I took it upon myself to properly greet the guest.
“Please feel free to speak.”
No sooner had I said that than Shupen put on a meaningful look, as if waiting for the right moment.
“I believe I will need to stay in this house for a while.”
Was Duke Shupen really that passionate about training his juniors? Did he spend all this time in hiding training disciples? But if so, he would surely have many students by now…
“Then why not a single disciple?”
Anyway, I thought he would make bigger demands, but this was good news.
“If that’s all, I’d be grateful.”
However, Makaron’s face was full of displeasure—as if he’d just been asked to share a bed with the enemy.
“What did Duke Shupen do to Makaron… that he apologizes after 10 years?”
As far as I knew, the two had been close friends at the academy in their youth.
“What happened back then? Or after?”
I thought Shupen coming here was because of his relationship with Makaron, but now it seemed unlikely. Makaron rested his chin on his hand, looking elsewhere, speaking casually.
“Suit yourself.”
His posture flawless, every day and every moment sharp and working hard, with a fierce gaze like a trapped beast roaring inside… Just being in the same space as Makaron was intimidating. Yet Duke Shupen calmly observed him with a relaxed expression.
“How many people can meet Makaron’s eyes like that?”
Between the two, like a lion and a wolf checking each other’s territory, it was Shupen who first broke the silence.
“Kai started learning swordsmanship late. I’ll teach him, so he can make up for it, but it will take a lot of time.”
The topic turned back to sword training, and Shupen’s expression was serious. But…
“How did he know the one learning swordsmanship is Kai?”
He’d never mentioned it, yet spoke like it was obvious. Suspicious, but only Kai would be expected to get sword training in the household. Shupen emphasized one thing as especially important.
“For the time being, I plan to stay with Kai except when he’s sleeping.”
Sounds like an intense, Spartan-style regimen was ahead. Makaron looked skeptical.
“Is it really necessary…?”
Shupen had no intention of compromising.
“That’s how the Knight family trains.”
The Knight family, to which Shupen belonged, was a prestigious clan known for producing many swordmasters. Their training was notoriously harsh, and to be recognized by them was very difficult. Shupen was the first swordmaster acknowledged by the empire, having survived all that. So he intended to maintain that method. True to his lineage, Shupen seemed very proud of his swordsmanship. But Makaron’s eyes seemed to silently ask if it had to be that way. Supporting Makaron might boost his morale, but it could also offend Shupen and make him leave.
“After all, we invited him all the way here…”
Ignoring Makaron’s fierce gaze, I extended my hand to Shupen.
“Thank you in advance.”
Before I finished, Shupen quickly bowed and left.
“Let’s get your things. I’ll visit tomorrow.”
Since arriving at the east annex, many thoughts crowded my mind. Shupen’s somewhat unusual behavior, Makaron’s twisted expression, their subtle relationship… I felt suffocated. The next morning, I sat across from Makaron with pungent tea between us.
“How should we arrange Duke Shupen’s quarters?”
“…”
He seemed displeased just hearing Shupen’s name so early.
“Then how about the east annex?”
But his expression darkened even further, as if I’d said something absurd.
“Put him in the west annex.”
Was he planning to keep Shupen under his watch by having him so close? He quietly added:
“The Sirin Room would be good.”
The Sirin Room was a tiny, draft-free room secretly called the “prison” of the Crade territory. Seira, the steward, often used it when dealing with disobedient servants before I arrived. It seemed the gulf between these two was wider than I expected.
“Even though he’s Kai’s instructor, isn’t that a bit…?”
Makaron nodded lightly, as if understanding.
“Then handle it however you see fit.”
Just then, Lord Momont entered.
“Duke Shupen has arrived.”
“…But?”
Makaron leaned forward as if to ask for more, and Momont hesitated, glancing between me and Makaron before speaking.
“He’s waiting for you in the hall.”
Suddenly, wrinkles formed on Makaron’s usually smooth forehead.
“Why is he looking for you?”
“He didn’t say.”
At the mention of me, Makaron’s expression sharpened.
“Is there any particular reason Shupen would want to see me alone?”
Ah, it must be about the Changer.
“I’ll go out.”
Last week, after confirming the Changer I made overnight, I left the annex and headed to the Grand Hall. Duke Shupen was waiting in a pristine white uniform, different from yesterday. If yesterday he was like a prince on a white horse, today he looked more like the white horse itself. After shaking off the thought, I approached him quickly.
“What’s the matter?”
Shupen glanced sideways, saying:
“You speak as if we’re strangers. It’s disappointing.”
Actually, it was only the second time we met. The previous time, I was with Makaron, so we hardly spoke. Though his words were somewhat misleading, his playful expression made up for it. I thought he seemed like someone who could get along well anywhere. Seeing his hesitation as if embarrassed to speak first, I pulled out the Changer I prepared.
“This one’s for three days.”
Shupen laughed heartily and hit me with a sharp comment.
“You don’t seem to trust me.”
Actually, I hadn’t fully trusted him and gave them one by one until he accepted. But I maintained a calm expression.
“This isn’t a usual matter.”
Whether because I lied or because it was just the two of us, the atmosphere felt awkward, so I immediately showed him to his room.
“I’m thinking of a room near the training ground. Would that be alright?”
Shupen pondered briefly, then spoke slowly.
“A room near Kai would be best.”
I heard knights usually preferred rooms near the training grounds… but specifically near Kai? Though he tried to hide it, his expression betrayed him. Maybe he sensed the strangeness in the silence and added:
“Being in the same space as my disciple seems more efficient for training.”
“I’ll prepare that then.”
A sideways glance at Shupen showed a sinister look. But when our eyes met, he smiled.
“Did I just imagine that?”
Choosing a room near Kai’s and that last expression… There were quite a few things about Shupen bothering me. It was certain he’d be by Kai’s side eventually, but at that moment, he wasn’t. So to have let it slide so easily… maybe there was another reason. Makaron seemed worried about Shupen too. A week passed watching Shupen carefully; thankfully nothing happened except his harsh, Spartan training. Kai sometimes rubbed his palms as if they hurt. Looking closer, his palms were chafed from harsh practice.
“Will Kai’s hands be alright?”
Despite the pain, Kai didn’t complain and followed Shupen well. Today, carrying a tray full of desserts, I headed toward the training ground where the two were busy training. Coral, carrying a plate the size of her face, followed me. As soon as we arrived, I deliberately sent Kai a loud message he could hear.*
“Kai oppa looks cooler holding a sword than Netro oppa, right?”
Coral seemed to catch my meaning and answered loudly.
“Yes! Then will oppa enter the swordsmanship competition too?”
Coral, do you really know what you’re doing with that megaphone style? Surprised but impressed by my clever daughter, I patted her head.
“Of course.”
“Do you think Kai oppa can beat Netro oppa?”
At the mention of Netro, I noticed Kai trying not to show how nervous he was.
“Of course. He’s learning from Teacher Shupen, so Netro is nothing.”
Kai smiled gently, then, when our eyes met, he turned his head the other way.
