THJDM 64

chapter 64

“What were you doing?”

“Father has ordered me to attend the monthly noble council starting next month. So I was looking through previous meeting records to prepare.”

“Oh my, His Majesty gave such an order?”

A deeper glow spread across Miranda’s face.

The emperor — who always used to shake his head, saying Phyllis still needed more experience and wasn’t ready yet — had finally changed his mind.

“He actually told him to attend the meeting? Does this mean he’s finally going to give our Phyllis a chance?”

It was about time anyway.
In fact, it was already a little late.

Emperor Christopher himself had attended noble councils since the age of fifteen.

“I was surprised by the unexpected order, but I want to do my best.”

“I see.”

“I’ll work hard so that Father can finally see me in a different light.”

The hand Miranda had been using to wipe pie crumbs from the corner of Phyllis’s lips froze for a moment.

“What do you mean by that— see you differently?”

“I know it too. Father doesn’t have much faith in me.”

“That’s not true. How could that be?”

Miranda quickly denied it, her voice rising, but Phyllis quietly shook his head.

“The way Father looks at me and the way he looks at Uncle Elion are completely different. And it’s understandable— Uncle is excellent in every way. Compared to him, I’m just… painfully ordinary.”

“Phyllis…”

Miranda’s throat tightened as she softly called her son’s name.

So even this young child could feel it.

How much had he suffered?
How lonely must that have felt?

“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t hurt. But what can I do? For every one exceptional person, there are a hundred who aren’t.”

“…”

“But just because I’m not that one exceptional person doesn’t mean I should sit down and cry. So from now on, I just want to do what I can, as best as I can.”

“That’s admirable. You’re thinking the right way.”

“Right?”

Phyllis laughed innocently, his expression bright and harmless— and Miranda’s eyes wavered.

“If you handle this task well, His Majesty will come to fully trust you, my son!”

Watching Phyllis happily eat, saying nothing beats Mother’s homemade pie, Miranda clenched her resolve once more.

“Even if this body breaks apart, I’ll pave your road to the throne as smooth as glass. That solitary duke won’t dare stand in your way!”

Miranda’s jaw tightened as she bit down firmly.

*

Today was Rubiana’s induction ceremony.

For the first time in a long while, all members of the Imperial Knights’ Spirit Division were gathered together.

Standing before roughly twenty people, Rubiana took a deep breath and shouted clearly:

“Hello, I’m Rubiana Fayson! I look forward to working with you all!”

Cheers and applause erupted at her polite bow.

As the fiancée of Elion, the Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Knights, and the younger sister of Stephanie, captain of the Spirit Division, Rubiana was already famous on her very first day.

Stephanie pinned a badge shaped like a wing — the symbol of the Spirit Division — onto Rubiana’s collar.

“Welcome, Rubiana Fayson. I look forward to your future achievements.”

“Yes, Captain!”

As the sisters shook hands — captain and subordinate — another round of applause swept through the room.

Rubiana ran her fingers over the badge.

Bathed in sunlight, it gleamed gold.

“I’ve finally become a Spirit Knight! Now I’m truly the heroine!”

It was the moment she had longed for.

Now that she was a true heroine, she would move beyond simple friendship with the male lead— and share love.

She would grow little by little amid the affection and support of her comrades and the people.

And in the end, she would reach her happy ending, blessed by everyone.

She had thought that becoming the true heroine would make her feel like she had the whole world.

“I am happy, but…”

It wasn’t quite what she expected.

Strangely, her heart felt heavy.

“Maybe I’m just tired.”

Rubiana forced her lips into a bright smile.

Afterward, she went around shaking hands and introducing herself to each member of the unit.

And with that, her induction ceremony concluded.

Unlike the large-scale induction ceremonies for the Imperial Knights held twice a year, the Spirit Division’s ceremonies were brief, taking place only when a new Spirit Knight joined.

“Do your best, rookie.”

Chad emphasized rookie as he patted her shoulder kindly.

“I’ll be counting on your guidance, senior!”

Rubiana grinned back, stressing senior in return.

Just then, a bold voice rang out — Stephanie’s.

“All right, everyone! We’ll be celebrating Rubiana’s induction at the restaurant Fonda! Nobody’s allowed to skip out!”

“Yes, Captain!”
“Understood, Captain!”

Since it was a party celebrating a well-known figure’s induction, everyone headed there without exception.

Surveying the full house, Stephanie beamed.

“Wow, I don’t think we’ve ever had 100% attendance before! That’s our Rubi for you!”

“Huh? Did I do something good?”

“Of course!”

Clap! Stephanie and Rubiana high-fived.

At home they spoke casually as sisters, but within the knights, they had agreed to use formal speech — captain and subordinate.

“Your fiancé’s coming too, right?”

“Ah…”

Caught off guard by the question — since Stephanie didn’t yet know about their broken engagement — Rubiana hesitated.

“Probably… not. He’s really busy—”

“Oh? There he is!”

Following Stephanie’s gaze, Rubiana saw Elion entering the restaurant, accompanied by his aide, Fred.

“What? Why is he here?”

Rubiana’s eyes widened in shock.

Her heart thudded rapidly in surprise.

“Commander-in-Chief! You came after all! Thank you for gracing us with your presence!”

Stephanie called out, waving him over.

At that, the other knights erupted with cheers.

“No way! The Commander-in-Chief himself came to our division!”
“Well, it’s his fiancée’s induction— of course he couldn’t miss it.”
“Ahh, that’s love for you! So romantic!”

The teasing whispers reached Rubiana’s ears loud and clear.

Elion was naturally seated right beside her.

“You came?”

“…Yeah.”

An awkward silence hovered between them, while across the table, Stephanie beamed with satisfaction.

She handed Elion a mug filled to the brim with beer.

“Commander! Since you’re here, could you give a toast?”

“Very well.”

“Knew it!”

Elion stood, mug in hand.

“All right, everyone quiet down! The Commander’s going to speak!” Stephanie shouted.

The noisy tavern quickly fell silent.

All eyes turned to Elion.

He glanced around the room once, then fixed his gaze on Rubiana and spoke formally:

“I look forward to the performance of our newest member of the Spirit Division, Rubiana Fayson. I have no doubt that one day she will become the first Spirit Knight to join the Elite Corps. To our new Spirit Knight, Rubiana!”

“To Rubiana!”
“Cheers!”
“Cheers!”

A joyful roar filled the restaurant.

“He… remembered.”

Rubiana had once told him her dream — to be the first Spirit Knight to join the Elite Corps.
She stared at him quietly, realizing he still remembered.

Stephanie raised her voice, laughing.

“I thought you didn’t like alcohol, Commander— but you’re drinking well today!”

“It’s a special occasion.”

“Of course it is!”

While attention was elsewhere, Elion leaned closer to Rubiana’s ear and whispered:

“Have you submitted the annulment papers yet?”

“Ah…”

Her heart, startled by his closeness, quickly froze at the mention of those words.

Unaware of her turmoil, Elion lowered his voice even further, his breath brushing her ear.

“I’d appreciate it if you could hurry. If the annulment had already been submitted to the palace, I wouldn’t have attended today.”

“…”

“And I’ll need to inform His Majesty in advance about my plans to return north.”

“…Understood.”

Rubiana managed to nod faintly.

Then, suddenly, a hot surge of anger flared up inside her.

“Why bring up the annulment now— on such a special, happy day?! I knew he was cold, but this is too much!”

To cool the heat rising within her, Rubiana gulped down her beer in one go.