PDHTFV 13

~Chapter 13~

Aydin would bring groceries with both hands every three days, and today was the day he would come.

I finished cleaning the house and got myself ready just in time for Aydin’s arrival.

“Did you come?”

I greeted him happily and served the good tea I had prepared. Then I sat across from him and smiled brightly, but Aydin looked a bit suspicious.

“I want to get a job.”

“That’s a good idea. Where is it? I’ll write a reference for you for that place.”

“Well…”

I hesitated as I tried to say it. I could guess how he would react, and I had planned what to say, but actually saying it made me nervous.

“Don’t worry. Just speak comfortably.”

“I… want to join the Luche Knights!”

“…What?”

Aydin frowned as if he had misheard me.

He looked a bit scary, but I didn’t change my mind. I said the same thing again.

Aydin crossed his arms and looked down, looking very serious.

He stayed silent for a long time. I even yawned out of boredom before he finally looked up like he wanted to say something.

“…How did you know I am a member of Luche?”

Luckily, Aydin didn’t seem to care if I yawned.

His question was a bit odd though.

‘Does he really not know?’

I tilted my head and answered.

“Is there anyone in the empire who doesn’t know the symbol on your sword that you always carry? I have holy power too, so I think I’m qualified to join.”

Aydin lowered his head and looked at his sword. The symbol of Luche was clear on the handle and the sheath.

Honestly, if I hadn’t met Yushen, I wouldn’t have known it either.

Anyway, maybe my answer was good enough, because Aydin went back to thinking on his own.

I knew he was always careful and serious, but waiting for his decision was boring.

In the novel, it would have been over in one line.

I thought it would take a long time again, but this time, Aydin spoke sooner than I expected.

“I want to help you with anything you want, but joining the knights… I think that will be hard.”

I know. It’s not something one person can easily decide.

But Aydin has influence in the knights. If anyone can do it, it’s him! That’s why I approached you!

“What if I have a special ability?”

“A special ability?”

“Yes. Something that could really help Luche.”

Aydin’s eyebrow went up, and his expression changed.

I could tell he didn’t trust me right away.

“I don’t like it when people talk vaguely like that.”

He wanted me to say it clearly.

With someone like Aydin, being unclear would not work, so I spoke directly.

“I have the power of foresight.”

I thought he would be surprised, but Aydin’s green eyes didn’t change at all.

“Foresight, huh…”

He actually looked disappointed.

I got worried that he might think I was lying or joking.

“It’s not a joke. I’m not lying.”

“Can you prove that ability?”

Luckily, Aydin asked the question I expected.

Last night, I had prepared for this. There was an event about to happen that I could use as proof.

If this event didn’t exist, or if I couldn’t remember it, I never would have risked it.

I pretended to hesitate, then nodded and shared what I had prepared.

“Soon, an envoy will be sent to the Kingdom of Terran, right? You decided to personally escort them to the border.”

Aydin’s eyes grew big, as if he wondered how I knew that.

He quickly returned to his usual calm face, but I had already seen his surprise. He wasn’t very good at hiding his feelings.

“Weren’t you going to tell me today that you wouldn’t be able to visit for a few days?”

I added this kindly.

Aydin gave a small, awkward laugh.

Now he realized that what I said was not a joke.

Honestly, this was enough to prove my foresight, since Aydin’s trip was a secret.

But thinking about Korean kindness, I decided to tell him a bit more.

“You’ll be ambushed on the way to the kingdom.”

“…Anyone could guess that.”

“What if I also know who the criminal is?”

That would change things.

Aydin went silent. If I really had foresight, and if it was true, then an ambush would be a big problem.

“I don’t know the exact spot of the ambush, but it’ll be near the border.”

“…Why do you think that?”

“Because the criminal is the First Prince of Terran. The closer you get to the border, the more advantage he’ll have.”

Aydin’s face turned cold and stiff. The person I pointed to was no ordinary man.

The First Prince of Terran was the number one successor to the throne. No one would expect him to attack.

Terran had a complicated relationship with the Lamaha Empire, so it was hard to make trouble with them.

In the original novel, this incident was never solved, even after everyone found out who did it.

Maybe this time, since I gave a warning, things would change. But for now, I had no choice but to use this method.

‘I have to survive in this world.’

I shrugged and added,

“I know it’s hard to believe. But you’ll see when you return.”

“You’ll know then if I was lying or if I really have foresight.”

Aydin didn’t say anything after that. He just stayed for a while and then left quietly.

I didn’t stop him. He needed time to think.

A few days later, the secret envoy returned to the capital in public.

The reason was to honor Aydin, who had saved the envoy’s lives, as a hero.

So, naturally, Aydin was at the center of the parade.

But the hero Aydin did not look happy.

I knew the reason. I went home and waited for Aydin to come.

I wondered what he would say first.

The celebration went on for two days, and the day after, Aydin came to see me, looking tired.

As soon as he saw me, he asked,

“Is your ability real?”

I almost said, “You already know the answer.”

He experienced everything I said, but still asked if my power was real.

Should I tease him?

“It’s a lie.”

“……”

It wasn’t even fun to tease him.

When I said it was a lie, he looked like he really didn’t believe me.

Why even ask if you already know?

“The lie was a lie.”

“……”

“Yes, my ability is real. Didn’t it feel like a lie, even after you saw everything yourself?”

Aydin finally sighed with relief.

I wished there was a word like ‘obvious answer’ in this world.

I shook my head and led Aydin, who was still standing at the entrance, to the sofa.

After another moment of silence, Aydin spoke carefully.

“But why didn’t you use that power before? You could have lived well with it.”

His honest curiosity surprised me.

I had never really thought about it.

Just like he said, if I had used my knowledge of the future, I could have lived well. Maybe even richer than a noble.

It felt like such a waste now. I should have tried it sooner.

But it was too late. And joining Luche wasn’t a bad choice.

If I hadn’t, it might have been much harder to meet the heroine.

I answered calmly, as if I had always thought this way.

“I thought it was a power I shouldn’t show easily.”

“If someone greedy, not someone honest like you, found out about my power…”

I stopped on purpose and shivered, as if I didn’t want to imagine it.

“My life would be worse than the time I was starving. It would be a terrible hell.”

Aydin nodded in agreement, trying to comfort me.

Then, after thinking deeply, Aydin licked his lips and spoke.

“…Miss Montrose, I’m sorry.”

“Huh?”

Aydin apologized with a face full of guilt and bowed his head.

I didn’t expect this at all, so I widened my eyes in surprise.

‘…Why is he apologizing all of a sudden? What is he sorry for?’

I felt uneasy because I really didn’t see this coming.