It was a dark, quiet night.

Ian sat still at his desk, unable to sleep.

Looking at a piece of paper that he had been staring at silently for hours.

Staring at those three letters didn't mean there was an answer, but he didn't know why he couldn't leave it alone.

In his 22 years of life, Ian had never had such an unproductive time.

This resignation letter was issued by his lieutenant, Annabelle Rainfield, this afternoon.

"What's this?"

"It's exactly what you see."

"...All of a sudden?"

"The people below you live with a letter of resignation in their hearts. It's a world you don't know because you're a superior."

Ian took her resignation letter and looked around in amazement.

'Does everyone really live with a resignation letter in their hearts all the time?'

Surprisingly, no one responded to Annabelle's words saying it wasn't true.

Everyone was avoiding Ian's eyes and pretending to concentrate on training with much more exaggerated energy than usual.

But it was clear that their ears were turning more fervently than ever to Ian and Annabelle.

"Do you want a raise? So what level..."

"I'm sorry, but my parents are too rich for it to be anything about money."

In fact, Annabelle's salary was almost the highest for a knightly lieutenant in a high-ranking noble family in the Empire.

He was going to raise it several times more than that, but Annabelle simply refused.

In addition, the Rainfield restaurant and dressing room run by Annabelle's parents have been the best in the industry for several years.

It was a familiar rumor to anyone that the couple were swiping the capital's money.

"It's not about conditions or money or anything like that."

Therefore, her life was more prosperous than most aristocratic young girls.

The nobles could go and eat anything at any time at Rainfield Restaurant, where it takes months to book as well as wearing Marilyn's clothes every day.

"Is it because the facilities are old and the interior is like a beggar? Then if I do a lot of construction on the uncomfortable parts..."

"I'm sorry, but I was the one who ordered the interior a few years ago."

"..."

"I'm sorry my taste is like a beggar. You've held it in for a long time."

Ian, who was babbling to catch her, had no choice but to stand blankly with her resignation letter.

It was just time to get off work, so Annabelle grinned and greeted with courtesy.

"Do not worry. Until a new lieutenant is decided, I will still take over the post."

Annabelle looked like the usual.

The high-tied light purple hair, shiny dark blue eyes, and the Knights' uniform of Wade, which was always worn, were all the same, making the situation seem even more distant.

"Then I'll see you tomorrow."

Annabelle left the office with her brother Aaron casually.

Ian just nodded like a fool.

In the meantime, Ian had never caught a knight quitting.

The Knights of Wade, who boasted the best skills and treatment, were always overflowing with applicants.

So there was no reason to catch her. But he didn't know why he was so embarrassed.

If a person was too panicked, there wouldn't be questions to ask.

He spent the evening dazed, and it occurred to him that he should have asked why only later.

'I'll have to ask tomorrow. She said she'll be at work until the work handover...'

It didn't occur to him that Annabelle would quit.

He had never imagined a lieutenant other than her.

Of course, she was his great rival, especially at the swordsmanship contest.

In the meantime, Annabelle and Ian had participated twice in swordsmanship competitions and had a record of 1 win and 1 loss to each other side by side.

Soon after, the last sword competition in their lives would determine their final victory.

"But that's it."

The swordsmanship competition would only happen three times in their lives, with the age limit of up to 24.

Of course, people liked to talk a lot about predicting the outcome.

But Ian wasn't particularly interested.

Aside from such a win-loss relationship, wasn't the relationship between the lord and the lieutenant lasting for life? That was the nature of their relationship.

At least, that was what he had been thinking so far.

He even felt a strange sense of betrayal when he thought that far.

'What the hell... Why in the world...'

It was back in place again. Ian sighed and held his forehead.

'I'll just ask you why tomorrow.'

The only good thing was that he could see Annabelle in the mist as usual tomorrow.

"Whatever the reason is, I'll solve it'

If it was not a matter of money or work environment, what was it?

Ian tossed and turned for a long time because he couldn't fall asleep even though he forced himself to lie on the bed.

As he lay down and thought about this and that, he remembered the moment he first met Annabelle.

It was when they were nine years old.

***

Ian had been famous as a swordsmanship prodigy since he was young.

Braden taught his son himself and began giving him the best teachers when he was nine years old.

Among them was a man named Sionad Kerilion, who made his name as the capital's famous swordsmanship teacher.

He was in charge of many classes because he was famous for word of mouth, and the tuition was high.

After giving Ian a demonstration lesson from Sionad, Braden was greatly satisfied with the teaching method and signed a three-time weekly teaching contract.

"Well, what do you think of Ian's performance objectively?"

"He deserves to be called a prodigy. Perhaps because of the Duke's instruction, he has a very good foundation and a very good application."

In fact, Ian has heard similar words from other teachers.

It was the same in all fields, including etiquette, history, culture, and foreign languages, as well as swordsmanship.

Good, excellent, exemplary.

The same repertoire was so repeated that Leslie almost didn't come to the demonstration class, saying, "I'm going to hear the same thing again anyway, so it's not fun."

"Huh, I see."

But Braden was not a man to be fed up with such repeated praise for his child.

He asked proudly again.

"I think he's too young for next year to try to compete in the next swordsmanship competition, so can he try to win then? It's five years from now, so isn't there enough potential for growth?"

In fact, Braden was expecting an answer.

Braden Wade himself won his first championship around that time.

It couldn't have been difficult for Ian.

But Sionad said something else instead of saying "Of course".

"Well, there's two kids in one of my classes, Rainfield's brother and sister."

"...Rainfield?"

"Yes, The...the Duke may not know, but they're the children of the Rainfield restaurant on 33rd Street in Aradis."

Sionad quickly added as he looked at Braden, who was frowning as if he was groping his memory.

"Oh, then do you happen to know Marilyn Rainfield? She's the chief designer at the Fella Costume Room, and it's very backed up on reservations. They say she'll soon be independent, but any noble woman knows her name."

Of course, it would be strange for Braden to know a commoner, but he remembered the name "Oscar Rainfield" in his dim memory.

Perhaps it was a few years ago that Leslie asked for him to be hired as the duchy's chef.

He wanted to listen to Leslie because she usually asked for very little...

"I'm sorry. It's important to spend time with my family. I don't want to overdo anything other than my own business."

As the restaurant that had just opened had not yet settled down, Oscar refused immediately.

Being a chef for Wade would rather help him establish himself, but he seemed to have a very domestic personality.

So Leslie seemed to have swallowed her disappointment and still said that she would go to the Rainfield restaurant regularly and eat course meals.

While Braden recalled the situation, Sionad's words continued.

"Anyways, I'm pointing out that the siblings are also both very good."

Although he was a commoner who became famous, Sionad's tuition would be great, but he seemed to spare no waste on the children's education.

Rainfield said family was more important than anything else...

"Especially Annabelle Rainfield, who is the sister. She is really better than her peers. Even though she's nine years old, she really likes swords and trains a lot."

Sionad continued seriously.

"Maybe she'll be a very good match for Ian."

Braden quickly caught on to Sionad's intentions.

In his position, proving his eyes with cool analysis rather than reckless flattery was the way to raise the ransom.

Sionad didn't say it outright, but he was saying, "Ian's victory cannot be guaranteed."

In more detail, it meant, "He could lose to a kid named Annabelle Rainfield."

"Well, I see. Thank you."

It was time for Braden, who became rather serious with the unexpected answer, to slowly wrap up the conversation.

"Then, Master..."

Ian, who stood still and listened to them, said politely.

"Since you said that, I want to compete with the kid named Annabelle. Can you make a place for me?"