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chapter 27
Restless Heart
Serena had a light dinner and then sat on the sofa in the parlor. Anna brought tea, and Peter had come in with today’s report, but the atmosphere was far from usual.
“Peter, you said you spoke with Sir Cedric today?”
“Yes.”
Peter had initially gone to gather information at Serena’s request, attempting to talk to Cedric. However, once he started recalling tales from his knightly days, he became completely engrossed.
“Don’t just stand there stiffly. Sit down and have some tea first.”
“No, thank you.”
Peter’s demeanor had fully reverted to his knightly self. Seeing his determined expression and perfectly straight posture, Serena felt a little taken aback.
“Milady, Sir Cedric is a truly remarkable knight,” Peter began, his usual measured tone replaced by excitement.
“To be a knight of such caliber at the young age of twenty… I could only feel awe and admiration.”
Serena had sent him for information.
“Oh! And the youth of Sir Cedric… the glorious battlefields he has seen, and the secret landscapes of courage only the brave could witness…”
But now, the information-gatherer had become utterly captivated by his subject.
“Serving as a knight in your younger years, traveling the world with your lord, training yourself—that is a blessing. I, too, reminisced about the days I served the Duke, and my heart swelled.”
Peter’s display of passion was unprecedented. That such a meticulous and careful steward could hold this much fervor was surprising.
“Even His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince, endured hardships despite his noble status, facing countless perils alongside Sir Cedric.”
And now, he was even praising Lucas.
“Usually, a knight serving royalty or high nobility must suppress his dreams and passion. But I had the honor of experiencing everything alongside the Duke in my youth.”
This was going too far. Peter was beyond reason.
“The Duke disregarded his noble rank, embarking on the path of manhood and knighthood with me,” Peter continued, his eyes full of equal parts longing and admiration.
“Hearing Sir Cedric’s story, I realized His Royal Highness endured six years of true adventures and a long journey. Not the false claims of courtly service, but genuine manly endeavors!”
“I know that already,” Serena replied dryly.
“You didn’t achieve your current status without effort,” she added.
“You are correct, Milady! What moved me most was that despite His Royal Highness’s noble rank, he tirelessly trained and endured hardships for self-discipline.”
Serena hadn’t sent Peter to hear this, but she couldn’t stop him now. She was also secretly curious whether Lucas truly renounced his status to train as a knight.
“But still, given his status, it couldn’t have been exactly like the others…”
“No, Milady. Even against Sir Cedric’s advice, the Crown Prince fought on the front lines of battle to protect the people. Every single time,” Peter said.
A sigh escaped Serena. Even Peter’s passion couldn’t last forever without someone intervening.
“Peter. Peter!” she clapped her hands to finally interrupt him.
“Yes?”
Peter looked confused.
“I understand the tales of adventure and knighthood. But what’s the conclusion?”
“Yes, the conclusion is that both His Royal Highness and Sir Cedric are… extraordinary knights for their age…”
“Not that! I said the conclusion!” Serena raised her voice, frustrated. Peter had forgotten the original purpose.
“You were supposed to gather information after bonding over knighthood—about the Edict of Betrothal or His Highness’s intentions and plans regarding the resumption of the engagement.”
Peter, however, had become absorbed in tales of chivalry.
“Ah…”
He had completely forgotten the actual mission after bonding with Sir Cedric.
“Have you really only spent the day talking about that?” Serena asked incredulously.
“Yes, but the story was so magnificent… And besides, I probably couldn’t have extracted any real information. Sir Cedric is a knight who knows loyalty too well.”
Although Peter was on Serena’s side, he looked proud instead of frustrated. He had no regret for failing to gather intel, only pride in their excellence.
“So, I’m troubled by my old engagement, and all you did was bond with Sir Cedric?”
“Um… well,” Peter cleared his throat, embarrassed.
“Milady, at least you gained some new information.”
“What new information?”
“That His Royal Highness did not just train in words. He is the true model of a knight and a remarkable young man of this empire.”
Peter now openly took Lucas’s side. Serena frowned in disbelief, but he was lost in admiration for the glories of the past.
“There is no other man like him, regardless of status. Above all, he endured all that training to stand proudly before you, Milady.”
Serena couldn’t help but laugh.
“Peter, whose side are you on?”
“I am always on your side, Milady.”
“That doesn’t look like it. Are you thinking of inviting His Highness to the annex right now?”
Seeing Serena’s displeased expression, Peter finally came to his senses.
“No. I am only reporting the facts. You commanded me to, Milady.”
“That doesn’t mean you should take sides!”
“I’m not on anyone’s side, Milady. I’m just telling the truth.”
Peter was sincere. Anna, too, had already been swayed by the Crown Prince.
“I also felt His Royal Highness is admirable when I met him. You should see him fairly too, Milady,” Anna added.
“Even Anna?” Serena exclaimed in disbelief, leaning back in the sofa.
“Both of them—I will guard you forever, even if alone!” Serena cried, frustrated.
They remained serious despite her protests.
“Of course, Milady. But you don’t need to be alone,” Anna said.
“Yes, it would be better for you not to be alone,” Peter agreed.
They had vowed to protect Serena since she arrived at Astel, hoping she could live a normal, happy life.
“Especially with such a remarkable fiancé…”
“Yes,” they nodded in agreement.
Serena’s headache worsened. Holding her temples, she stomped her foot and retreated to her bedroom.
“What is going on with everyone?”
She flopped onto the bed and squeezed her eyes shut.
“No one is on my side? Seriously…”
The visit of Grand Duke Pharel had gone as planned. He had said farewell quietly today, but even Peter and Anna had sided with the Crown Prince.
“Okay, he’s a prince. And he endured hardships to grow strong… all just to stand proudly before me, his fiancée… a perfect groom?”
She had said it in frustration, yet almost found herself convinced.
“Hmph. Enough,” she muttered.
The humiliation from the engagement six years ago still lingered sharply. Bad memories, as they say, fade slowly.
“Six years have passed.”
She had acted calm, but the wound from that day was still a deep scar in her heart.
The reason for that wound was the same as it had been in her previous life, and she didn’t want to repeat that regret.
“All his training… it’s selfish.”
Serena remembered the mockery aimed at her back then. If she hadn’t broken off the engagement first, she could never have lived properly.
“I can live well on my own. Just like I cultivated Astel, I can handle the rest of my life too.”
She bit her lip in determination.
“Why… did you return now…”
If he had never returned, she wouldn’t have had these worries. But Lucas had returned, shaking her heart.
“Why… have you changed so much?”
Had she not seen the proof in his eyes that all his training these past six years was for her alone, her heart wouldn’t be so restless.
“Truly selfish.”
She didn’t want to admit it, but Lucas’s presence was stirring her feelings.
She had vowed never to give her heart to anyone again, never to be hurt—but this man, appearing suddenly, unsettled everything too easily.
-Marry me.
Lucas’s dark eyes were earnest.
-Let’s become husband and wife.
His straightforward, honest confession left no doubt.
Her heart was in turmoil. It was so restless that she could barely sleep, her emotions in constant uproar.
