“What is it?”

“It’s an enjoyable mealtime. I didn’t have much time today, so I wanted to at least face elder brother like this!”

El Sion’s breakfast was very simple, but as it was the king’s table, it was quite luxurious. As the king waved his fork in the air as if telling him to hurry and eat, Axel eventually picked up his cutlery with a sigh.

“That smile of yours feels unpleasant.”

“You look to be in a good mood!”

The two spoke contradictory words at the same time.

“Are you saying that I look to be in a good mood? How so?”

“What’s wrong with my smile? Can ‘my’ knight say such a thing?”

The chief attendant who was listening to their conversation clicked his tongue inwardly.

Liner and Axel. Not many people knew of the relationship between the two.

In the first place, the majority of the nobles who tried to place Axelion on the throne without his consent had their heads fly off by Liner’s hands, and almost all records of the first prince were erased, and his portraits were all burned. Talking about him was almost taboo, so it couldn’t even be passed down through word of mouth.

However, if one were to see them like this, anyone would feel suspicious of something. To be so familiar with each other!

At the same time, it was good to see the king’s diverse expressions. As the chief attendant, he solely wished for the king’s happiness.

The king’s other close aides seemed anxious about Axel’s possible change of heart, but it didn’t seem likely. So he just smiled with his head bowed.

Separate from the old chief attendant’s warm heart, Axel’s voice was very cold.

“Your Majesty’s knight? I believe the contract period is almost over.”

At those words, the king, who was sullenly poking at his vegetables, lifted his head with a start.

“What? Contract period?”

“You speak as if you’re hearing it for the first time. I’m certain you mentioned one subjugation, and then a little extra time for the unexpected. Should I bring the paper?”

Liner jumped up and shouted at the coldness of him bringing up the contract period.

“No, of course I forgot about that nonsense long ago! Elder brother−”

“Please call me Sir Leon.”

“Who would think about that kind of contract when Sir Leon is holding onto Jade Broen and acting so passionately? It’s been said that he can’t even let her out of his embrace! He can’t take his hands off her for a moment.”

Yes, I knew it would be like this, but it was annoying. Axel slammed down his cutlery as if throwing it and growled.

“Who is it?”

“What’s the point of knowing who it is? Of course you would know. The people I utilize are even in the most lowly back alleys of the kingdom. Information naturally comes back to me!”

“Stupid fools.”

“Yes, that’s what I’m saying! Why are you saying such stupid things? Are you going to leave Jade Broen and return to the Athanase Forest? No way! It will be the last time in my life that elder brother has such eyes. So the contract can’t possibly end!”

Even though he hadn’t lived a very long life, Liner could be certain. The only person elder brother would have such emotions for in his entire life would be Jade Broen alone.

It wasn’t a surprising conviction. Even in his childhood memories, it was vivid how indifferent Axel was to the majority of things.

Liner sometimes wondered if Axel was somehow lacking emotionally.

From the moment it was revealed that Axelion had tremendous qualities as a knight, many people in the castle struggled to find a mage who could become his pair.

Mages with a personality kind enough to embrace that troublesomeness and lack of sincerity, and with looks that wouldn’t kneel even before his tremendous outer shell.

Among them, the duke’s daughter of Shiro and the princess of the Delmore Kingdom weren’t bad even in Liner’s eyes. Their skills weren’t that great, but anyhow, they looked quite good when standing together.

However, Axel only gave them gazes more indifferent than when looking at a passing cat.

He even frequently committed the huge blunder of mixing up their names. It wasn’t on purpose, but because he truly had no interest and couldn’t remember.

The young princess and duke’s daughter, who had lived their whole lives only hearing praise, eventually pouted their lips and burst into tears. The sight of his father, King Darian, holding his forehead with a face saying ‘even though it’s my son, that fellow is hopeless’ was still vivid.

But isn’t it clearly different with Jade Broen?

In the first place, he thought it was tremendous just to come out of the Athanase Forest with the resolve to see her face even once, but now he sticks close to her without minding people’s gazes? He can’t take his hands off her and keeps caressing her? Smiling at her and playing around with her seems natural to him?

The king then spread the wings of his imagination with hope.

Forget knighthood, with the single record left behind, he would revive Axelion’s status and give him a tremendous title.

And he had to secure the right to ask for this and that while sneakily checking her reaction. Where are knights who can use sword energy common?

What’s the big deal about fighting against the nobles who oppose elder brother? Our elder brother deserves that kind of treatment and more!

In reality, Liner was consulting with all sorts of scholars and organizing the things he would give Axelion within legal bounds.

However, now, that imagination and plan were mercilessly cut off and thrown into a corner. Because of that incomparably indifferent face!

“Are you playing with Jade Broen? Even though the mage of flames has bold actions, her heart is rather delicate! And she’s been through so many hardships!”

As the king shouted in anger – the majority of his anger came from his own plans being thwarted – Axel also made a dumbfounded face.

“Who’s playing with whom? The one who hasn’t given a clear answer is her.”

“What? Jade Broen is playing with elder brother!”

Somehow, the king’s actions seemed to resemble Jade’s.

Axel sighed again as he watched the king begin to circle around the table.

“No one is playing with anyone.”

“Enough. It doesn’t matter. Anyhow, if Jade Broen gives a clear answer, you’ll stay here. Then of course, you’ll have to recover your original name and receive a new position−”

“Even if I receive a clear answer, there’s no need to recover my original name. She doesn’t know me anyway.”

The entire space turned chilly. Myer, the chief attendant, who was calmly handing a cloth to the king, was startled and lifted his head, and Liner, the king, also opened his mouth as if his jaw had dropped.

“What? What did you just say? She doesn’t know? Doesn’t know?”

“The successor of Broen doesn’t know Sir Leon’s identity?”

“She doesn’t know.”

Liner lamented.

“Oh my god, then Jade Broen is placed in the dilemma of having to choose Sir Leon without knowing anything? That must be a tremendous burden!”

Axel also thought the same. As the successor of a large territory, she must be bearing the expectations and burdens from her family, but she fell in love with a humble knight whose identity is unclear? The opposition and distrust towards her would only deepen.

Before being certain of her heart, there was no need to reveal the bloodline he was born with. If he couldn’t obtain her heart, Axel would have returned to the Athanase Forest.

But Jade said she liked him even in a state of not knowing anything. So she had affection for Axel himself. How much that filled him couldn’t be expressed in words.

So after being certain, he was going to let her know.

Of course, she would ask again someday. Then he would readily let her know. Suddenly revealing his original identity without even being asked was also a bit absurd.

But Jade didn’t ask. She was rather curious about why he wasn’t asking.

“She didn’t ask.”

Even if he had taken off his splendid outer shell and had nothing, Jade liked him. She wanted to spend her life with him.

Then, without needing to tie his neck to the king’s gold string, he just had to wait for her decision and fill the space beside her when the verdict was handed down. So that he could wake her up if a possible nightmare visited again.

The turmoil that the name Axelion might create would never be directed at Jade. Because he would live with the name Leon Binz.

They could live a life where they could focus solely on each other.

Axel smiled faintly. Seeing that, Liner narrowed his eyes.

“I somehow dislike that smile. I can guess what you’re thinking. I understand it sufficiently.”

“Thank you.”

“But, elder brother.”

Liner pulled the chair that had been pushed back with quick steps and sat on it again.

Liner, who had been acting busily like a child, now had the face of a king ruling a country.

“If it were me, I would receive my original name, and receive a new position and wealth to solidify elder brother’s name on this land.”

“That would be a burden for Your Majesty as well. Don’t think that I’m only pursuing my own happiness. Of course, I worry about Your Majesty.”

“That would be the case. But it’s a price to keep the only knight in our kingdom who can use sword energy by my side, so it’s bearable. Think carefully. Right now, you just need to hold my hand. A little sense of responsibility and a small burden is enough to obtain splendid things.”

The king waved his hand in the air.

“However, contract conditions always change. If elder brother comes to want it himself, you’ll have to pay a higher price.”

“That doesn’t seem likely.”

“Is that so? Won’t you regret it?”

Axel lightly nodded his head. Liner smiled brightly like a child.

“Then let’s eat. Anyhow, I’m a brother who loves elder brother, so to be honest, this situation is even touching. For the mage of flames to choose a knight who doesn’t have any conditions. Ah, I hope elder brother obtains a splendid pair he can trust from the depths of his heart!”

“Thank you.”

The two brothers calmly resumed their meal and parted ways peacefully after polite farewells.

However, after that, Liner never brought up the topic of the contract to Axel first again.

The boy-like king simply said this to Myer, the chief attendant.

“Our elder brother has really forgotten a lot about the outside.”

The blade towards monsters is still sharp, but it has dulled towards the people outside.

“I hope nothing happens.”

Liner said that and leaned his head against the throne. Myer deeply bowed his head.