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chapter 73
Lynette, her face full of a mocking smile, recalled that day seven years ago.
Kanna and Lynette had been roommates. However, they were never particularly close. Even when Lynette tried to get closer, Kanna would build a wall first, maintaining only the bare minimum of politeness.
Because of Kanna’s nature, Lynette never stepped inside the boundaries Kanna set. Their friendship was limited to passing greetings whenever they crossed paths.
Kanna went home every week, but Lynette never did. She focused solely on her studies, earning scholarships. Because of this, her classmates assumed Lynette came from a poor family—they thought only someone desperate enough to study to the point of exhaustion could attend the academy.
At the academy, one of the rules was to never reveal one’s family background. Everyone hid their lineage and focused solely on their studies. If someone’s family were revealed, it could give undue advantage to certain people, so the rule was enforced strictly.
Because of this, no one knew that Lynette was the daughter of Count Pruina, one of the wealthiest families in the empire.
“Hey, Lynette, what are you doing? Are you just going to study again today? We’re going out.”
“You might strain your eyes doing that. Come with us when we go out instead.”
Two boys entered Lynette’s room, where she was buried in her books, each offering a comment. Though male and female dorms were separate, on days when outings were allowed, such visits were permissible. If anything improper happened, the involved parties had to handle it themselves.
“I have someone I’m going to meet today.”
To meet someone, they had to leave the academy grounds. Outsiders were never allowed in unless absolutely necessary, even during academy festivals, relatives were not invited.
“Oh! Really?”
“Who are you meeting? Family? Friends?”
“My boyfriend.”
At Lynette’s answer, the room fell silent. After a moment, her classmates’ frozen expressions melted into shock.
“What? L-Lynette has a boyfriend? No way. Whoever he is, I feel like I want to wish him luck.”
“Heh, Lynette having a boyfriend? That’s something you have to see to believe.”
Though they were her classmates, the two in front of her were a year or two older. Max and Million had told her to go meet her boyfriend and share the story afterward. Kanna, who was in the same room, overheard but said nothing.
“By the way, Max, you’re lucky. You already have a family lined up for you, right?”
“Huh? Oh, guess I got lucky. I’m thinking about whether to go straight there after graduating in three years or take the exam to join the royal knight corps.”
Lynette just nodded as Max ran his fingers through his dark brown hair, pondering. She didn’t intervene—whatever happened in Max’s future was his business.
“But Lynette, didn’t anyone approach you at all?”
“I thought there would be families lining up for someone like you,” Max and Million said, and Lynette shrugged.
“I guess it’s because I’m a girl.”
Many families were reluctant to accept female knights. Even if they returned after marriage and childbirth, they often couldn’t fully utilize their skills. Additionally, the close-contact nature of the work made male knights generally reluctant to work with female knights.
“It’s fine. They just don’t realize your worth yet. In a year or two, a family will surely choose you, so don’t worry.”
Million patted Lynette’s shoulder reassuringly. High scores at the academy caught the attention of noble families, who secretly tracked top students for recruitment. That’s why Million and Max told her not to worry—they would find better placements.
Indeed, Lynette consistently ranked at the top of her class. She excelled in both practical and written tests. Even male students bowed their heads when dueling her with wooden swords. Everyone secretly hoped they wouldn’t be paired against her in duels.
Lynette’s skills were overwhelming. While talent played a role, her abilities were primarily the result of relentless study and sword training.
“Hmph!”
Just then, a scoffing sound came from somewhere. Looking around, Lynette saw only Kanna, still reading her book, aside from Max and Million.
Wondering if she had imagined it, Lynette tilted her head and met Kanna’s eyes. Kanna quickly returned her gaze to her book. She had maintained her wall even up to this moment.
Shaking her head, Max squinted and asked,
“By the way, isn’t Edgar, who graduated last year, from your family?”
“That’s right. I always thought he looked remarkably like you whenever I saw him.”
“Are you crazy? They only paired people because they had no one else to assign.”
Lynette frowned at their remarks. Before graduation, Edgar had used her as an example while teaching juniors, forcing her to endure a grueling day on the field. It was more embarrassing than painful, and she had hidden her face for a while afterward.
Just thinking about it still made her grind her teeth. She had hoped he would go easy on her as a younger sibling but ended up pushing her harder than others.
Seeing her gnash her teeth, Max and Million wisely avoided mentioning Edgar again. One more mention, and they feared she would actually lash out.
“But you’re going to meet your boyfriend like that? Shouldn’t you dress up? Maybe even wear a dress.”
“I’m just going as I am.”
Hearing this, Million shook his head.
“You should dress up a bit. Your boyfriend will dress nicely too. Won’t it be awkward if you go like that?”
“Yeah, basic courtesy counts. You should at least do that much.”
Lynette realized they had a point—she always met Fernando in trousers and a shirt, while he wore a neat uniform. She nodded.
After sending the two off, she opened her wardrobe. As expected, there were no dresses. She had only taken money when leaving home. Lynette closed the wardrobe with a shake of her head.
“Kanna, aren’t you going out today?”
“I’ll go later.”
“I see. Then I’ll go first.”
As roommates, Lynette shared her plans and stepped outside, letting out a small laugh.
“Does she feel some kind of inferiority toward me?”
Compared to Lynette, the top student of the year, Kanna barely scraped by, narrowly passing to advance. Lynette thought briefly about Kanna and then hurried home. She pulled out every piece of clothing from her wardrobe to try them on.
“Miss, who are you meeting today?”
Catherine asked, seeing Lynette try on dresses after a long time.
“I’m going to see Fernando. My classmates suggested I at least wear a dress.”
“Good idea. I’ll pick one for you, oh ho ho ho!”
Catherine, excited to dress Lynette, transformed the tomboyish girl into a proper young lady of a noble family.
In her dress, Lynette met Fernando, who looked stunning to her eyes alone.
“How have you been? Not too hard, right?”
Smiling at Fernando’s concern, Lynette linked arms with him.
“I’ve been holding back, thinking of you. I got a scholarship again this time.”
“Really? Congratulations! It would be wonderful if you became a knight in our house. The romance of a nobleman and his female knight, perhaps.”
“Really? Then save a spot for me in the Count Phillis household. I’ll join right after graduation.”
Just being with Fernando made Lynette smile broadly. She felt like she was flying, forgiving all hardships at the academy.
Holding her handsome, wonderful man, Lynette grinned. But the smile vanished as dusk approached.
“Fernando, who are these people?”
Just as she prepared to leave, unfamiliar men surrounded them.
“I-I don’t know,” Fernando stammered.
Their gazes clung to them unpleasantly.
“Ah, the nobleman who borrowed money from us is too busy playing with a girl.”
“Right? He has money to flirt but none to pay us back.”
Lynette realized Fernando’s father had borrowed money from these men. Since he hadn’t paid, they targeted Fernando.
“Please talk to my father. I don’t know anything about this.”
“Don’t know? How can a son not know what his father is up to?”
“Exactly. Hiding indoors all day and not knowing such things makes you a good-for-nothing. Ha ha ha.”
They laughed at the trembling Fernando.
Lynette bit her lip. In her dress, she had no weapon. She regretted not coming in trousers with even a practice sword.
As they tried to take Fernando, Lynette blocked them.
“What do you think you’re doing? Take this up with Count Phillis.”
How much money had they borrowed to attempt this? Lynette, irritated, shouted sharply. But they smiled slyly.
“You’re not an adult yet, right? Kids don’t count. If you don’t step aside, we’ll have to show you some charm.”
Frowning, Lynette grabbed a sturdy branch.
“You think you can threaten us with that? Cute.”
She resisted saying her father was Count Pruina. She didn’t want his name used by these men.
“I’ll ‘charm’ you, so let go of Fernando and scram.”
“You must be poorly educated to speak to adults like that. Come here, little girl, this will sting a bit.”
Lynette glared at them. The man raised his hand, but she sidestepped his clumsy attack. The branch struck him on the back of his head instead.
Thunk—
“Ugh…”
Seeing him knocked out, the others drew their weapons, recognizing her skill. That day, Lynette fought desperately to protect Fernando. Kanna happened to pass by.
“Kanna! Help me!”
She called, but Kanna didn’t come—she walked away briskly. Perhaps to fetch help, but an hour passed, and she never returned.
Believing Kanna would bring reinforcements, Lynette waited anxiously. In the fight, she suffered a severe injury—her right wrist was broken.
The wrist could be set, but she wouldn’t be able to wield a sword for a long time—a death sentence for a knight. Lynette then withdrew from the Knight Academy.
