TLWRO 51

Chapter 51

The Lady Only Deals with the Real Thing

Aylan, not knowing what to do, dragged a hand down his face.

“I’ve shown disgraceful behavior.”

“That happens. The training for the Holy Knights must be extremely tough.”

Unlike Aylan, who was flustered, the pawnshop owner seemed unfazed.

So, she truly hadn’t woken him up simply because he “looked tired”?

For Aylan, that was an utterly foreign notion.

“Sir Captain never once shows fatigue or a careless appearance… It’s truly admirable.”

“You’re a model knight indeed. I expect you to continue striving, as you always have.”

He had lived as the perfect model, the very textbook of knighthood.
That was the value of his existence.

But this pawnshop owner, who kept unintentionally witnessing his shortcomings…

“Sit down.”

As if it didn’t matter, as if it was nothing worth mentioning.

Why was she like that?

Just like with all the other questions he had about the owner before him, Aylan could not reach a conclusion this time either, so he sat opposite her.

“Would you like some cake? It’s full of blueberries.”

“I thank you for your kindness. But I must respectfully decline.”

“Really? Judging by how someone almost finished half the cake earlier, it must be delicious. Do you not like sweets?”

“There is a regulation within the Holy Knights that forbids us from receiving anything from civilians. Hospitality and treats are not permitted.”

The owner smiled brightly.

“I see. Then even giving you a glass of water would be against the rules?”

“Yes, that is correct.”

The owner tilted her head, humming in thought, then leaned closer.

“Anyway, what brings you here? The permit issue was resolved, and the pendant matter was already settled, wasn’t it? …Hmm, or maybe.”

She lowered her voice carefully, glancing at him.

She must mean the hourglass.

Aylan shook his head. There was another matter first.

“The reason for my visit today is because I have a message from your ‘friend.’”

Since Princess Katarina had referred to this owner as her “friend,” it was the only way he could phrase it.

Though he had no idea why.

At the word friend, the owner gave a little cough.

“Ah… that ‘friend,’ is she doing alright?”

“From what I’ve observed, yes. However, there’s a way for you to confirm directly.”

“What do you mean?”

“Your friend has invited you.”

“…What?”

Her violet eyes widened.

Pointing to herself with a bewildered look, the owner asked again.

“Me? Oh—does she want her pendant back?”

“That may be part of it, but she also said she has something to tell you directly. If you let me know your closing time today, I’ll come escort you.”

A private audience personally invited by the Princess—
It was the dream of every noblewoman in the Empire. For the owner of a humble shop in a run-down district, it was an unimaginable opportunity.

Aylan expected the owner to be overjoyed, ecstatic even.

Yet at the same time, his instincts as a knight stirred in caution.

Perhaps this was her aim all along. Could she really not have known the pendant belonged to Her Highness?

And then—

“Uh, today’s not good.”

Aylan almost doubted his ears.

“I’m so sorry. Could you please ask if three days later would be alright instead?”

The owner sheepishly scratched the back of her neck.

Aylan stayed silent for a long while.

Finally, he managed to speak.

“If you mistook her for someone else because of the word ‘friend’…”

“No, no. I know exactly who we’re talking about.”

“And even so, you’re refusing? Even knowing whose invitation this is?”

“It’s not refusal—it’s postponement. I really don’t have time today, I’ve got another appointment.”

It’s not like I’m putting it off because I want to.

She genuinely had something urgent to take care of.

Aylan’s expression grew stranger.

“…It may be an opportunity that will never come again. And yet you’ll stick to your decision?”

“I’m disappointed too. I thought I’d finally get a chance to look around the Imperial Palace.”

I deliberately emphasized the word Palace.
Best to make it clear.

Since Aylan didn’t correct me, then yes—

Rina really is the Princess.

But whoever she was didn’t change the fact: I couldn’t go today.

Drooping my brows, I said,

“Still, there’s no helping it. How about this—Sir Knight, will you come alone in three days? I’ll give you the pendant to pass on.”

As I shrugged, Aylan spoke in a low voice.

“If you have another appointment… What is it?”

Why?

I blinked in confusion, and he continued.

“It would be better to give a reason your ‘friend’ will accept.”

In that polite yet thuggish tone of his, he studied me closely.

Well, it wasn’t like he could go back to the Princess with, ‘She said she’s busy today.’

But his interrogation-like tone made it confusing.

Is he trying to give me a chance, or does he think I’ve got some scheme? Hard to tell.

After some thought, I answered plainly.

“I have to go to the hospital.”

A sharp look froze on Aylan’s face.

“The hospital?”

“Yes.”

Why that reaction?

“I recall during the previous search, you were thrown back quite far. Did you… get injured then?”

Ah—did he think it might be his fault?

I waved my hands quickly.

I wasn’t going to the hospital because I was hurt.

“No, I wasn’t injured. At worst, I just got a bruise on my elbow.”

Besides, Alter caught me too.

I’d meant it as reassurance, but at the word bruise, his ocean-blue eyes flickered violently.

But I was more curious about something else.

“By the way, do all Holy Knights have that kind of power?”

Just a touch, and yet he had blasted me across the room?

No wonder they were different from ordinary knights.

I’d never met a Holy Knight before, so I had vaguely assumed they only had defensive techniques.

And he didn’t use it the first time we met.

When Aylan had first come to the pawnshop, I had touched his arm.

But back then, he hadn’t flung me away—he’d only clutched his head.

As I wondered, Aylan answered slowly.

“I do not understand what you mean by ‘that kind of power.’”

“Why, when I touched your arm, you used something like a shockwave, didn’t you? That’s why I went flying.”

I explained earnestly, but Aylan only furrowed his brow slightly, staring intently at me.

Is it some secret technique?

A forbidden skill that ordinary people weren’t supposed to know?

As I puzzled, Aylan finally spoke.

“It was not intentional.”

“…What?”

“I mean that it is an unknown power. I do not know why, when I made contact with you… such a formless force manifested.”

What? Then…

Could it be related to magic addiction?

Another thought crossed my mind—

If that formless power had exploded inside Aylan’s body instead of outward…

The memory of his supposed “miserable end” flashed across my mind.

Reeling from the thought, I squeezed my eyes shut. Then I asked directly:

“Since we’re on the topic, let me ask—have you examined the hourglass?”

“…Yes.”

“Did you throw it away or destroy it?”

Aylan gave no reply.

But I was starting to get a feel for him.

He won’t lie, even if he stays silent.

Which meant all I had to do was phrase things more precisely.

“So you checked it and found nothing unusual. If there had been, you’d have noticed already. But here’s what puzzles me.”

I recalled the interview article I’d read in the attic.

The reason I could so easily identify the hourglass as the culprit behind his magic addiction was that Aylan’s desk had very few belongings.

So why would Aylan keep something like an hourglass there?

“Strictly speaking, an hourglass isn’t necessary for your work. A clock would make more sense. Yet you kept it on your desk, and even after hearing suspicious things about it, you still haven’t removed, discarded, or destroyed it. That means—”

The conclusion was clear.

“Either it’s a very precious item, or it was a gift, or it was a gift from someone very precious. One of the three.”

“…I cannot tell you.”

Which means I’m right.

It all fit.

It was likely a gift from someone of high rank.

Which was why Aylan hadn’t even considered doubting it.

Crodeal wouldn’t have given it in his own name… It’s obvious, then.

He must have sent it while impersonating royalty.

Using the name of someone high enough that Aylan had no choice but to accept it.

But I can’t exactly say, ‘That hourglass was Crodeal’s doing,’ without proof.

And I couldn’t just let the addiction continue unchecked.

So then?

A sudden idea popped into my head.

“I understand. It’s not easy to trust me right away. Whether you believe me or not is your choice.”

I purposely put on a crestfallen face.

Maybe he thought I was hiding something, and that’s why he wouldn’t listen.

Aylan seemed to falter for a moment, but I focused on persuasion.

“Still… it weighs on your mind, doesn’t it? Since you did check it. That means…”

With a sigh, I lifted my head.

If it couldn’t be discarded, destroyed, or returned to the giver, then—

“Wouldn’t it be fine if it just… went missing for a while?”

After all, losing it wasn’t the worst thing that could happen.