TDSFE 38

chapter 38

June 12, 2021

At Tesia’s words, Emperor Helios’ eyes snapped wide open.

“I will not listen to that story.”

“Brother!”

“Tesia. I said I won’t hear it.”

Tesia puffed out her cheeks in protest, but Helios firmly blocked her from speaking further.
Something to take responsibility for? — He knew exactly what she was about to bring up: that ticking time bomb of a topic Prince Lowenhart had mentioned during the first meeting with the fiancé candidates.

Even the bold Emperor Helios didn’t want to hear his beloved younger sister talk about doing this and that with a man. If he did, he might just twist that man’s neck on the spot. It might have been childish denial, but he simply didn’t want to hear it. That was the twisted possessiveness of a brother who loved his sister too much.

Tesia, seeing his attitude, grew frustrated. Judging from his reaction, it didn’t seem like he would even seriously consider her request to make Lowenhart her official fiancé.

After a moment of thought, she tried a different approach.

“I like Lowenhart the most. Of all the fiancé candidates you brought, he’s the one I liked best. But if you won’t approve…”

“If I won’t?”

“Then I’ll go on a journey to find a man worthy of being my fiancé myself.”

“Absolutely not!”

Helios burst out in anger. Out there again?!

He had gone through so much trouble to bring her back to the Empire — if she left again, who knew when she’d return?

Seeing his reaction, Tesia secretly smiled.

Just as I thought.

Every time she had tried to leave the capital before, Helios had clung to her like a child, coming up with 108 different reasons why she didn’t need to go to the battlefield. So she figured threatening him with a “trip” would get a rise out of him.

Feigning innocence, she tilted her head.

“Why not? I heard there are some talented men in Tiranavan. Lowenhart too, and that knight from Tiranavan was quite skilled with a sword. Maybe I should start there first?”

“You don’t mean to leave and never come back, do you?”

“If I find a good man, I’ll return quickly. But if not, it might take a while. After all, I’m searching for the man I’ll spend my whole life with. Like you said, I should meet people, think it over, and maybe even date a bit.”

“I forbid it, Tesia. And you will choose your fiancé from the candidates already selected.”

“Then make it Lowenhart.”

“Tesia…”

Helios glared at her as if deeply resentful, while Tesia smiled innocently as though she had no idea why. For a moment, he saw his own reflection in her — that same disarming smile he used to pressure his ministers.

With a long sigh, Helios finally gave in a little.

“I’ll think about it.”

“Don’t just think about it — decide, please.”

“Tesia, it’s the Spring Festival right now. I can’t very well tell all the candidates who’ve come to return home in the middle of it, can I?”

“Hmm…”

Tesia appeared to concede slightly. Seizing that chance, Helios continued:

“Once the festival ends and I finish my duties, I’ll officially announce your engagement.”

“Really?”

“Yes. But Tesia — don’t narrow your heart to just Prince Lowenhart. Meet others too, alright?”

At her brother’s earnest gaze, Tesia reluctantly nodded.
For the moment, they had reached a truce.

After securing her brother’s promise to announce her engagement, Tesia made her way to the knights’ training grounds, light-footed.

Even though Helios hadn’t explicitly chosen Lowenhart as her official fiancé, realistically there was no one else. She had already said she liked Lowenhart best, and there wasn’t anyone else who fit the role anyway.

“Hmm-hmm~”

She hummed a cheerful tune. She couldn’t wait to tell Lowenhart the news.

He’ll be so happy, she thought.

He had wanted to stay in the Estonian Empire, after all.

Then, out of nowhere, Lowenhart’s words echoed in her head — the ones he’d said before kissing her.

“I just couldn’t help it. You looked so beautiful, I kissed you.”

The memory made her cheeks warm. The gentle way he’d confessed his feelings had seemed sincere. Unconsciously, Tesia touched her lips.

What does Heart really think of me?

That kiss was too much to be just a friendly gesture, but… calling it love might also be a stretch.

Eldora — the self-proclaimed expert in romance — had once told her:

“Men are creatures who can kiss and even spend the night with someone without being in love.”

Eldora was an expert in such matters, so Tesia had no reason to doubt her.

Looking back, Lowenhart hadn’t said, “I like you,” when she asked why he kissed her — he’d said, “Because you looked pretty.”

If Lowenhart’s actions had just been driven by a fleeting impulse…

Tesia suddenly felt her spirits sink. She didn’t know why, but a gloomy mood came over her.

She had been so happy a moment ago, thinking she’d finally gotten her brother’s approval.

“Ugh.”

Kicking a pebble down the path, she decided to change plans. Instead of rushing to find Lowenhart, she’d go train first. Maybe sweating it out in a sparring match would clear her head. She’d meet him after that.

When she arrived at the training grounds, she saw Viktor — the new recruit training with the knights. Tesia’s eyes gleamed like a hunter spotting prey.

But before she could approach, the knights, who had been waiting eagerly for her arrival, swarmed around her.

“Captain! You’re finally here!”
“Have you set a wedding date yet? What did His Majesty say?”
“I thought the mage was your type — are you really getting married?”

“Uh…?”

Bombarded from every direction, Tesia’s head spun. The knights’ eyes sparkled with curiosity.

A young female captain, leading the elite Valkyrie Knights and now caught up in romance — it was all too exciting for them. Their stoic lives suddenly had a thrilling bit of gossip.

Alex had warned them not to poke the captain unless they wanted a beating, but of course, no one listened.

In the midst of the commotion, Viktor quietly stepped back, observing Tesia with narrowed eyes.

Tesia stammered:

“I… I am getting engaged, but—”

“Ooooh!”

“Finally!”

“It’s not decided yet!”

She tried to calm them down, but it was no use.

“Where’s the honeymoon going to be?”
“You’ll still stay on as our captain, right?”
“Three kids minimum! For the good of the Empire!”

Overwhelmed by their barrage, Tesia finally exploded.

“I said it’s not like I’m getting married right away!”

“Sure, sure.”
“But dating leads to engagement, and engagement leads to marriage~.”
“Hehehe, I saw it all! That fiery display of affection during the fireworks, Captain!”

The knights snickered. Tesia sighed, pressing a hand to her forehead. Words weren’t working.

Fine. They understand one language — discipline.

Just as she was about to draw her sword and order a brutal training session—

“Enough.”

A fresh breeze swept past, casting a shadow in front of her. Tesia looked up.

“I’ll answer all your questions, so let’s stop here, shall we?”

“Ooooh!”
“The leading man appears!”

Lowenhart had appeared out of nowhere, stepping between her and the knights like a shield. Tesia looked up at him — though she couldn’t see his face from behind.

What’s Heart thinking right now…?

People in love usually couldn’t stop thinking about the one they liked — but Tesia didn’t think she was at that level.

So no, she didn’t “like” Lowenhart. That was the logical conclusion.

Then why does my chest feel so tight?

If Lowenhart was just like the idle aristocrats of high society, chasing fleeting passions, she would be so disappointed. Because Lowenhart was supposed to be… different.

With both main characters now standing together, the knights’ excitement reached its peak.

“So, will the wedding be in Tiranavan? Or here in the capital?”
“What nonsense! She’s the captain — obviously it’ll be in the capital!”

Lowenhart hadn’t yet heard from Tesia about the Emperor’s tentative approval, so he tried to hush them.

He didn’t want their big mouths to say something that might make Tesia reconsider the engagement.

But Tesia stepped forward before he could.

“It’s alright, Heart.”

“But—”

“This is my job.”

Reading the resolve on her face, Lowenhart stepped back. Tesia faced the knights squarely, her voice suddenly sharp.

“Attention!”

“Hup!”

The sudden shift in her tone made the knights snap to attention. A deadly aura radiated from her. Those who had been smart enough to slip away earlier clicked their tongues sympathetically.

Poor guys — they’re doomed.

Sure enough, Tesia announced coldly:

“All of you — extra drills.”

“Huh?”

“One hundred laps around the training field. Now!”

“Captain!”

“Heart, come with me. We need to talk.”

“Yes, Tesia.”

Leaving Alex to oversee the knights’ punishment, Tesia led Lowenhart out of the training grounds.

No one knew that, after they left, the field would soon be soaked with the knights’ sweat and tears.

Meanwhile, as chaos stirred within the knights, something else quietly unfolded in the capital’s streets.

In a residential district near the lower reaches of the Twensi River, a fruit seller named Aaron was fuming.

“That good-for-nothing son of mine! Where the hell is he?!”

His boy had ditched the shop in the middle of the festival, saying he’d be right back — and hadn’t returned for over a day.

Sure, maybe he’d fallen head over heels for some new girlfriend, but still — he had a home to return to and chores to do!

“I’m already swamped because of the festival…”

The shoemaker next door added his two cents.

“Still not home yet?”

“No! That brat’s too busy fooling around!”

“Strange… He’s usually so responsible and hard-working.”

“He’s blinded by some woman, that’s what! That’s the only explanation.”

“Haha, well, it is the Spring Festival — love is in the air. Give him a little time.”

“Tsk.”

Everyone assumed the lovestruck young man had simply been swept away by passion and lost track of time.

It was April — warm breezes, joyful festivals, and the season when new couples were born.

But they would soon realize how wrong they were.

Because when the festival ended… dozens of those “missing lovers” still hadn’t come home.

And only then did they begin to understand — something was very wrong.