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chapter 74
Looking back, helping Fernando must have been the most useless thing she’d ever done. Lynette gave a rotten smile.
“What? What did you just say? So all of Kanna’s story was a lie?”
There were a few ways to become a knight on this continent: graduate from one of the knight academies, formally defeat a knight in battle, or earn merit in conflict zones and be granted the title.
So, it wasn’t as if every knight knew everything about Lynette—meaning Kanna had room to lie like she did now.
“If you really want to know, go find our classmates and ask. Ask how Kanna’s grades were. Meanwhile, I only paid the entry fee once—then I was a full scholarship student the entire time.”
Lynette gave Kanna a thin smile, amused that Kanna dared to spread baseless rumors behind her back.
“So what! You didn’t become a knight anyway!”
Suddenly, Kanna screamed.
Angela, startled, blinked wide-eyed at Lynette and Kanna. Even lazy Cheese, the cat, jumped up from his box and stared daggers at Kanna.
“And you?” Lynette said sharply. “When your friend was in danger and calling for help, you ignored it and walked right into the academy.”
“I—I didn’t hear.”
“Oh please. Our eyes met. What, do you have face blindness so bad you can’t recognize your own roommate?”
“I really didn’t know it was you.”
Lynette let out a breathless laugh, dumbfounded by Kanna’s excuses to the bitter end.
“Seven years in a knight academy, and when a brawl breaks out between strangers, you just walk away? You still call that chivalry? Why don’t you throw away that knightly pride right now?”
“Wh-why are you trying to blame me for you getting hurt and dropping out!”
“If you had brought someone—anyone—I wouldn’t have broken my wrist. After you left, I fought alone for an hour. You bi—hmph! Whoops, almost swore.”
At least there were no other customers besides Kanna’s group, which reassured Lynette. Honestly, if Kanna had helped even a little, the current Lynette who runs Attraction might not exist.
“That fight wasn’t my fault, it was yours!”
“That’s wrong too. It wasn’t my fault either. Look, I don’t care if you become a knight or not. Just don’t drag my name through the dirt. Otherwise, I’ll make sure your knight life ends for good.”
Lynette grasped her wrist—still aching whenever it rained—and stared at Kanna. The other knights suddenly went silent. No matter how they looked, Kanna’s story sounded like a lie—and now they realized how petty she really was.
If Kanna knew she couldn’t fight, she could have asked for help. She could’ve called the guards. If she had done even that, Lynette would probably be a successful knight by now.
“Lynette, I—I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have repeated what I heard. It was careless of me.”
The man who spread the rumor immediately apologized. He felt as though something terrifying was breathing down his neck.
When he instinctively sneaked a look behind him, Casper was standing there in the uniform of the Imperial Black Knights—staring with a blazing, murderous expression.
“How dare you spread rumors about our Lynette? Do you want to die by my hands?”
At first, they hadn’t recognized him. But after he received his knighthood, everyone learned he was the legitimate son of Count Florence. The one who once competed neck-and-neck with Edgar was now staring at them like he might kill them on the spot.
“Angela, we’re out of cookies. Go buy some. Slowly.”
Lynette shoved money into Angela’s hands. Angela, dazed, stepped outside—turning back again and again until the door closed—then headed toward Anderson’s bakery.
Once Angela was gone, Lynette finally turned to Casper.
“Cassie, why are you here wearing your uniform? Want some coffee?”
She tried to lighten the mood, but Casper’s face didn’t soften.
“What’s wrong with your mouths? Glued shut? Should I cut them open?”
The rumors died instantly because Casper was an active knight. No one dared talk carelessly. And since Lynette called him by a pet name, it was obvious they were close.
“S-sorry…”
At times like this, apologizing was the only answer. So two of Kanna’s companions bowed and apologized. But the real culprit, Kanna, kept her mouth clamped shut like a clam.
“So that’s why Lynette went through that alone. Now I finally understand, Sir Kanna.”
“…Y-yes?”
Only then did Kanna force her lips apart.
“Even if you lack chivalry, when a classmate is being attacked, you could at least call someone. Or was your brain so broken you couldn’t even do that?”
“I—I…”
“And right now you’re trying to come up with excuses again, aren’t you? Just say it. You’re sorry.”
Casper’s firm voice made Kanna lower her head. She’d tried desperately for years, but could never beat Lynette. Once, she studied only one subject obsessively just to win in something. But Lynette still beat her.
Then one day, she saw Lynette in danger. Kanna hesitated. If Lynette got hurt—if she disappeared—then Kanna could finally have the glory of being the top female knight. So she acted like she saw nothing and walked into the academy.
The next day, when she learned things had turned out just as she wished, Kanna smiled. Finally, the spotlight would be hers.
She never imagined it would be exposed like this. Her lips trembled.
Her fellow knights could say nothing. Casper’s aura was terrifying. And the fact that Lynette was the daughter of Count Fruina—a very wealthy noble, even if her reputation had fallen—made things even worse.
“Lynette, why didn’t you tell me? I would’ve made sure she never became a knight.”
Casper glared at Kanna like she wasn’t even worthy of the title.
“Telling you wouldn’t make me a knight again. And I wanted to watch. I wanted to see how far she’d rise—so I could pull her down at her peak.”
Yes—Lynette could easily do that. With Kenneth’s money, she could ruin Kanna’s employment prospects in a heartbeat.
“But I never planned to use my father’s money. If I wanted to, I would’ve done it already.”
Casper shivered. His own cousin gave him chills.
“What power do you have to bring me down?” Kanna snapped.
“Don’t underestimate a coffee master. My customers aren’t just commoners—there are nobles, knights. One word from me, and you could be socially erased.”
“That’s ridiculous—”
“Or we can duel. Even if I put my sword down at fifteen, I think I can still beat you. I remember how you used to roll on the ground when we sparred.”
She normally never gossiped to her customers. But if she dropped just a hint, the rumor mill would explode. Kanna could end up fired—and blacklisted.
If Kanna were formidable, the rumors wouldn’t destroy her. But Lynette knew very well—Kanna never once beat her in a duel.
Even after seven years off the sword, Kanna would be easy.
The knights gulped.
Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.
Learning that Lynette had been silently waiting for the perfect moment to strike, Casper shook his head. Kanna’s companions repeatedly apologized, terrified of Lynette’s terrifying patience.
“So where are you employed right now?” Lynette asked.
“Uh… I’m part of the Lilyan Trading Company…”
Lynette and Casper both let out a soft laugh.
“Cassie, I’ll leave this to you. You’ll handle it cleaner than I will. If I touch it, her life will get… messy.”
Money could easily ruin someone like Kanna. But now, Lynette didn’t even need money—one sentence could end Kanna’s career.
“Alright. I’ll handle it. In exchange, make me a good cup of coffee?”
“Of course. Cassie is always welcome here.”
“But last time you told me to leave early—and asked why I kept coming.”
“Oh? Did I say that? Suddenly I don’t remember.”
As Lynette brewed coffee, Casper glanced at the three knights.
“Why are you still here? Lilyan must be very relaxed—giving all three knights a day off at the same time.”
The three fled in an instant. Lynette snickered. So that’s how they talked about her behind her back. She handed Casper his coffee.
“See? Your coffee is the best. Maybe I should come every day.”
“That’s… a bit much. Come moderately.”
“But you just said I’m always welcome.”
“Did I? I must’ve forgotten. You have time to come every day? Don’t you need time to date?”
Casper shrugged. He used to spend all his free time with women, but lately he didn’t have a second to spare. Even outside work, he was constantly training.
But he never complained around Lynette. He knew she missed that life.
“And look—you’re wearing a ring I’ve never seen.”
He eyed the ring on her left hand. Lynette smiled faintly.
“So it was that guy I saw last time?”
“Forget him—how’s my mom?”
It was the first time she’d asked since Marsha was taken to the Florence estate. Casper gently held her hand.
“She’s doing well. Eating properly… Your uncle visited recently. You heard?”
Lynette nodded, and Casper ruffled her hair. After finishing his coffee, he stood.
“Don’t worry. If anything happens, I’ll tell you.”
He hugged his little cousin, looked around to be sure no one was watching, then left. As soon as he got home, he wrote a letter and sent it somewhere.
❅
The next day, Kanna was summoned by the trading company owner. She entered the office looking exhausted—she hadn’t slept after the previous day.
“Lord Chairman, why did you call me?”
Lillian Trading Company’s owner, Lilliana, gave her a short answer.
“Starting today, you’re dismissed.”
“What? Why so suddenly—?”
Kanna had failed to get hired anywhere else. This company only hired female knights, so she barely got in. She planned to stay here for life. The sudden firing made her eyes widen.
Lilliana smirked.
“Your skills aren’t outstanding, but I kept you anyway. Unfortunately, your past is… ugly.”
“What? What do you mean?”
Kanna panicked, not understanding. Lilliana read from a letter.
“You know Lynette, don’t you?”
“L-Lynette? She’s my classmate.”
“Yes. That classmate was once my niece by marriage. I supported her from behind because she was going to be a knight. When she quit due to injury, I was very saddened.”
Kanna collapsed to her knees.
“Even if the marriage ended, she’s still my son’s cousin. Hurting adorable Lynette isn’t a crime without consequence. Leave now. And don’t expect other companies to hire you.”
