“I, Grand Duke Sion Belfast of the North, as the master of the North, banish the sinner who was the child of my loyal servant from the North.”

Arcadia, who was kneeling, raised his head. His face trembled with unexpected embarrassment and surprise.

Julia was the same.

I could see thousands of emotions passing over her face.

But the verdict was not over.

All the vassals looked at the Grand Duke.

“The sinner is no longer a member of the Nugent family and cannot use the surname Nugent until death. I strip the sinner of their title and order one hundred lashes. The execution of the flogging will be entrusted to apprentice knight Hergel, the closest friend and only family of the unjustly killed knight Hans Edel.”

At those words, Hergel, who was standing far away, burst into tears.

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

“If the sinner survives after the flogging… send them to the northernmost border area with Sanctus. The sinner will cook for the knights and soldiers, wash their clothes, sharpen their swords and clean their arrows until death.”

Infidel Nugent crawled on his knees and prostrated himself before the Grand Duke.

“Thank you, Your Highness! Thank you for sparing my younger sibling’s life…”

Thick tears fell from Arcadia’s eyes.

Looking at that sight, the Grand Duke continued speaking.

“And I strip the Nugent family of their title for three years. Arcadia Nugent will be demoted to a regular knight, and Infidel Nugent will be demoted to a member of the administration.”

“Thank you… Your Highness.”

Arcadia said.

Silence fell.

Julia Nugent slowly rose from her seat.

She trembled miserably all over and then prostrated herself before the Grand Duke as if bowing. Then for the first time, she shed tears.

They were sincere tears flowing from deep in her heart.

“Your Highness… I was wrong! I truly… was wrong. Please kill me.”

“I did not say I would kill you. Now living on is your responsibility.”

The Grand Duke’s voice was calm.

– Thud

Julia slammed her forehead on the cold stone floor.

Everyone was surprised and looked at that sight.

Blood flowed from her forehead when she raised her head.

She said, shedding tears.

“Your Highness, I was wrong. I was wrong! Please kill me.”

Julia Nugent wept loudly.

“To whom, and what did you do wrong?”

“I wronged Hans Edel. I’m sorry… To Your Highness… I truly did wrong! Thank you, Your Highness.”

The Grand Duke said, looking at Arcadia.

“Give your thanks to your elder brother.”

“Hic. Huu…”

In the end, Julia broke down sobbing.

Even if she denied and turned away, perhaps the deepest part of Julia’s heart had always known. Her foolishness, her sin.

And that her elder brother loved her.

I slowly approached Arcadia.

And I held out a small handkerchief to him.

“Your eyes will swell, Vice Commander.”

“…”

He took the handkerchief I offered.

“Thank you… my best disciple.”

The day we first sparred on the plains, when you didn’t trust me. When you realized it was me who saved you from the black bugs, you said to me.

Best disciple.

The first words accepting me.

Why do those times already feel so long ago? Do happy times sink deeper into memory?

“Yes, Vice Commander.”

“Esther.”

He called my name softly. Holding the handkerchief I gave him, unable to even wipe his tears.

At that moment, the Grand Duke on the platform came down to Arcadia.

Seeing the approaching Grand Duke, Arcadia drew his sword and stood it upright in front of him.

It was a knight’s oath.

“Your Highness! I pledge my loyalty!”

The Grand Duke silently embraced Arcadia.

“I have already received it, fully and for a very long time.”

“Hic… I’m sorry.”

The two men silently embraced each other. Arcadia wept for a long time, sadly, like a broken dam.

[This is the timeline separator]

After the assembly.

The Grand Duke was surrounded by numerous vassals.

They sincerely praised the incarnation of the holy sword and the Grand Duke’s achievements, and worried about his health. Like real family worrying about each other.

‘Your Highness. You have finally become the true master of the North.’

At that time, two elderly vassals approached me.

The oldest, Count Barkun, who said victory was more important than revenge. And the head of the Antuan family, the younger brother of Her Majesty the Empress.

In front of me, Count Barkun straightened his bent back. Standing straight, he was a large warrior with quite a tall stature.

He bowed deeply again, for me.

“Respect to the Sword Master.”

It was a polite greeting.

I tried to raise him.

“Count, how could you.”

Then the head of the Antuan family said with a smile.

“It is respect shown to the Sword Master. To think I would directly do this which I had only seen in history books. He only bowed his waist because he knelt so many times earlier that he might not be able to get up if he knelt once more.”

“Unnecessary words.”

The old count laughs. The head of the Antuan family said.

“Knight Esther. I heard you’re still an apprentice knight, but you’ve done an amazing thing.”

“I awakened during the battle with monsters. It’s all thanks to His Highness the Grand Duke’s grace.”

I lied.

“Oh Sword Master. Please take good care of our Grand Duke.”

The old vassal and the old family head both bowed their heads.

Such an overwhelming honor.

I also bowed to the two of them.

“I have received a debt of gratitude to His Highness that I cannot repay even in death. I will devote my loyalty.”

At those words, Count Barkun held out his large wrinkled hand.

I took his hand.

“It is a contract that will continue forever, even after this old man dies.”

“…I promise.”

The count smiled.

The head of the Antuan family said.

“We’ve decided to keep the existence of the Sword Master a secret from the empire and the imperial family. His Highness wanted that and we all agreed. If your existence becomes known, His Majesty would surely try to take you away.”

“Thank you.”

It’s what I wanted.

I looked at my lord, the Grand Duke, who foresaw everything one step ahead. He looked a bit tired, surrounded by people.

“We won’t tell Her Majesty the Empress either, don’t worry.”

The head of the Antuan family added.

“Head of the family. No, Count. I’ll see you at the upcoming reinstatement ceremony.”

At my words, the head of the Antuan family smiled gently.

His smiling face resembled Her Majesty the Empress.

[This is the timeline separator]

The flogging was carried out immediately that day in the front yard of the Grand Duke’s palace.

Julia did not scream or resist even once until her brother’s execution was over. She gritted her teeth and accepted the lashes even as her white skin was torn and burst. And as soon as the 100th lash ended, she fainted covered in blood.

I covered her fallen body with a white cloth to hide it.

Bran said.

“Thank you, Esther. No, I should call you Sword Master now.”

“Don’t, Bran.”

“I really owe you a huge debt. I wanted to learn your swordsmanship.”

“?”

At that time, Arcadia, who had temporarily left to avoid watching his sister’s execution, returned.

Bran said.

“Vice Commander.”

“You shouldn’t call me that anymore.”

“Then… I’ll call you respected senior knight.”

“Just omit the title.”

Arcadia replied with a tired face.

‘Thank goodness.’

Just the fact that Julia is alive has saved these two.

Bran hesitated for a moment and then knelt before Arcadia.

“What is it?”

“Respected senior knight and this woman’s… elder brother, can I just call you Vice Commander?”

Arcadia sighed.

“As you wish.”

“Please send me to the border defense force in the northernmost border.”

“What!?”

‘Bran.’

“I can’t let Lady Julia Nugent go there alone.”

Bran had only said one thing. That he couldn’t let her go alone.

But everyone here understood the feelings contained in that one sentence.

Arcadia said.

“It’s a place where large and small battles occur several times a day. Not only the Sanctus bastards, but there are also monsters near the border.”

“I know. That’s why I can’t, no, I won’t let her go alone.”

Bran’s intelligent black eyes already contained firm resolve.

From that look, I sensed that the moment had come for me to part with him.

It was a look I knew. The eyes of Bran Ophilit from my previous life, who was intelligent, righteous, and upright.

‘Bran.’

Arcadia seemed to hesitate.

At that moment, the head maid standing next to me said.

“I will report Sir Bran’s matter to His Highness the Grand Duke. He will probably allow it.”

“Lewine.”

“His Highness said to let them go if there are those who wish to leave together.”

At those words, Arcadia’s eyes reddened again.

He bowed his head to Bran Ophilit.

“Please… take care of my younger sister, Bran.”

“I will survive as a northerner you can be proud of, and definitely return.”

I called Bran’s name.

“Bran.”

“Esther, I’ll return after becoming much stronger.”

“Don’t die. Promise me.”

“I promise.”

Bran showed a bright smile.

[This is the timeline separator]

Just before the escort carriage departed.

When we were alone, Bran knelt before me and paid homage to my mother’s holy sword tied to my leg.

“You know? This is homage to the holy sword.”

“I know. It’s a secret that I have this, Bran.”

“Of course. I’ll keep the secret. Oh, and… you keep a secret for me too.”

“What is it?”

“That I like the young lady.”

“Everyone probably figured that out just now?”

“What?!”

“Only a fool wouldn’t know.”

I couldn’t help but laugh.

[This is the timeline separator]

The two people who remained painful thorns in my previous life left for the northernmost border.

One riding a horse, one loaded into a wooden prison transport.

“Survive, Julia. And atone for your sins.”

Arcadia regretfully held Julia’s small hand, who was still unconscious, and let it go.

I quietly held Arcadia’s arm. The maximum comfort I could offer.

Then I noticed that Julia Nugent was already awake.

Tears were spreading beneath her closed thin eyelids.

Finally, the escort carriage holding the sinner departed.

The sunset was settling in the distance.

When it had gone quite far, Julia’s voice was heard.

“Elder brother! You must stay healthy!”

In the end, Arcadia sat down and sobbed.

Julia, a woman tough to the end.

‘May you find happiness there with Bran. I hope we can meet again someday with smiles.’

[This is the timeline separator]

Even a stormy day came to an end.

After watching the darkness settle over the horizon from inside the castle, I looked for the Grand Duke. I wanted to see him.

‘Where could he be?’

The Grand Duke had not been seen since his sister’s execution.

‘Perhaps.’

I recalled the Grand Duke’s haggard face when he was surrounded by vassals.

Suddenly I was worried. He might have pushed himself too hard when his body wasn’t fully recovered yet.

But he was neither in his bedroom nor his office. Thinking he might be taking a walk, I looked but he wasn’t in the garden either.

After searching for a long time, I finally gave up and returned to the infirmary.

I was very tired. I too was a patient who had a hole in my stomach. Only two days had passed since I woke up.

‘Didn’t the doctor say he’d bring medicine?’

I opened the door to the infirmary.

But.

Next to the bed where I had been lying yesterday, in the space where the partition had been removed, was the Grand Duke.

Lying facing my bed, he was sleeping deeply like a child.

‘Your Highness.’

The window was left open. The white, transparent curtains scattered soft shadows over his body, following the incoming wind.