Chapter 15
“If you don’t mind me asking, why did you bring that up?”
“Well… Lisa said something like this. She said the people who apply for the Disciplinary Committee are either trying to use their connection with her or have fallen for her. Since Gideon doesn’t seem like the first type, I thought it might be the second…”
“Haha… Thank you for thinking of me that way. But if we’re being precise, I’d say I’m the former.”
“So… you’re saying you want to use your connection with Lisa?”
“‘Use’ is a bit of a strong word. But I won’t deny that I want to borrow her influence to climb the ladder of success.”
“Ooh, so Gideon wants to rise up and… hmm, what is it you want to do exactly?”
“My immediate goal is to become a knight.”
After putting down the dumbbell, I walked over next to Layla.
The atmosphere hinted that the conversation would get a bit long.
“And once I become a knight, I want to restore my family’s name.”
“I see. So, when you say ‘restore,’ does that mean your family’s situation isn’t so great right now?”
“It’s not good. To be exact, the family only exists in name now. I’m the only one left.”
“No way, Gideon… you’re alone?”
“Alone… yes, that’s right. I have no family, and there’s no one else in my household but me.”
“…Sorry. I shouldn’t have asked that.”
“It’s fine. Really.”
From the beginning, I was someone who had transmigrated from another world.
So, I had no memories of this body’s family, nor any attachment to its relatives.
“Anyway, my goal is to become a knight and rebuild my family.”
“I get it now. But is there a particular reason why you want to rely on Lisa’s help for that?”
“The Balmuth Ducal Family oversees the Empire’s entire military force. And naturally, that includes the training of knights.”
“Oh, right. That makes sense.”
Layla nodded at my explanation.
“So that’s why you want to borrow Lisa’s influence, since she’s from the Balmuth family.”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Ooh.”
Layla looked at me with impressed eyes.
“You’ve got such a clear goal—it’s, I don’t know… really admirable.”
“Thank you for the compliment.”
“It’s not a compliment, I’m just saying the truth, hehe. But if becoming a knight is your goal…”
Layla’s expression suddenly changed as if she had an idea.
“Wanna be my personal knight?”
“…A personal knight?”
“Yeah. When I graduate from the Academy and enter politics, I’ll need someone to protect me. Sara does that for now, but once she gets busier with her family duties, it’ll be hard for her to stay by my side.”
“I can’t deny that’s a tempting offer.”
And it really was—not just as a figure of speech. Becoming Layla’s personal knight would actually be a solid choice.
To serve not just anyone, but a member of the royal family. It was, in many ways, one of the best options possible.
Being close to royalty wouldn’t just help my career; it might also grant me easier access to information about my family’s hidden secrets.
“Right? Sounds good, doesn’t it? If you want, you could start getting used to the role while still at the Academy and officially begin after graduation.”
“That’s also a very generous proposal. But… I don’t wish to take an easy path.”
“Huh? An easy path?”
“Becoming a royal’s personal knight just because we know each other from the Academy—it doesn’t feel right. If I do it, I want to do it after I’ve become a full-fledged knight and proven my ability.”
Simply put, I didn’t want to enter through connections.
And that was the right call.
The political scene in the Arium Empire was already vicious enough; entering it by favoritism would only end badly for me.
It was better to rise through merit and keep myself safe.
“I see. But didn’t you just say you wanted to use your connection with Lisa?”
“That’s… slightly different. What you just offered would put me in a high position before I’ve proven myself. What I want from my connection with Lady Lisa is merely the opportunity to rise.”
Becoming a knight in the Empire was not an easy feat.
And for an ordinary Academy student, even getting a chance at it was rare.
That was why I wanted to stay close to Lisa.
By doing so, at the very least, I could secure the opportunity to become a knight.
‘Of course, it’s only a chance. I’d still have to prove my own worth once I get it.’
Anyway, whatever it was, it wasn’t an easy road.
“I don’t really get all of that, but what I do know is—you’re amazing, Gideon. And… you’re a good person.”
“Thank you for always seeing me kindly.”
“Oh, come on. And, you know… I keep getting this feeling that I want to be close friends with you.”
“Ah… is that so?”
“How should I put it… most people tend to keep their distance from me. It’s not obvious, but I can feel that emotional gap they try to maintain.”
I understood exactly what she meant.
People might act friendly, but Layla was a Princess. No one could truly befriend her without distance.
Even her closest companions—Sara, Jason, and Lisa—maintained a subtle barrier in their hearts.
“But you’re different, Gideon. You don’t seem to keep that kind of distance, and you don’t really care about my status either… it feels like you see me as a person, not just a Princess.”
“Ah, is that so?”
I thought I was keeping my distance, but I guess I wasn’t.
Maybe my attitude had been a small light to Layla, who had probably been lonely for a long time.
‘Come to think of it, I feel like I’ve seen this conversation before…’
It was probably one that took place during the affection-building event with Layla.
But still—had I already started raising her affection level after just one day of transmigration?
Who knew?
Layla was unpredictable in more ways than one.
“Then, I’ll continue doing my best for you, Lady Layla.”
“No need to do your best. Just stay the way you are now—hang out with me like this. Like talking early in the morning, for example?”
“I suppose that wouldn’t be too difficult.”
But wait.
Didn’t I just say I should avoid getting too close to Layla?
Still, if I suddenly started avoiding her now, she’d probably get upset and hurt…
‘If Layla gets hurt and vents to her father…’
From her perspective, it’d be a harmless complaint to her dad.
But from mine, it’d mean I’d drawn the Emperor’s ire.
In short, I was stuck in a lose-lose situation.
I shouldn’t get close to Layla—but I had to.
‘…Still, if I had to choose, it’s better to stay close.’
Getting on the Emperor’s bad side would be far worse.
Sure, the nobles would keep an eye on me for being close to her, but I’d just have to endure that.
As I was thinking all this beside Layla—
“Lady Layla, we’re here. I saw through the message sphere that you were supposed to be at the training grounds, but why are you here instead…?”
Jason entered the training grounds.
No—he wasn’t alone.
Sara also entered the training grounds.
“Oh? Gideon, you were here too?”
“Yes, good day, Jason. And Lady Sara.”
I stood up and bowed to the two of them.
Jason motioned for me to sit back down, then sat beside me.
“Hey, perfect timing. Why didn’t you come to the Swordsmanship Club? I thought for sure you would, but you didn’t show up.”
“I applied for another club.”
“Really? Which one?”
“I…”
“Wait. Before that, let me ask something first.”
Sara interrupted me and joined the conversation.
“Gideon Kyrgram. What exactly were you doing here alone with Lady Layla?”
“We were talking.”
“Talking about what—”
“It’s nothing serious, Sara.”
This time, Layla spoke up.
Her usual innocent smile—no, it wasn’t exactly innocent, more like mischievous—appeared on her face.
“We were talking about clubs… and oh, I also mentioned how it might be nice if Gideon became my personal knight.”
“What? A personal knight… for this man?”
Sara looked shocked—and a little hurt—at Layla’s words.
“But, Your Highness, you have me. There’s no reason for anyone else to protect you…”
“Well, you’ll eventually have to leave my side someday, right? I need to prepare someone new in advance.”
“That’s not true. I’ll always—”
Sara’s tone was full of frustration.
Jason, watching the scene, gave a dry laugh and gestured for me to go.
I nodded and quietly got up, leaving the training grounds.
As I stepped out, I glanced back.
Sara still sounded upset, while Layla looked a bit flustered like she hadn’t expected her little tease to actually hurt Sara that much.
“Hey, Sara. I said I’m sorry. Are you still mad?”
“I–I’m not mad.”
“Ahh, come on. I said I’m sorry.”
Time passed, and before long, it was dinner.
Layla, Jason, and Sara were eating together in the Academy dining hall.
Layla had her arm wrapped around Sara’s waist, still apologizing.
“Come on, cheer up, okay?”
“I’m really fine. More importantly, please let go of me. You should maintain the dignity of a Princess…”
“If the Princess herself wants to cling to you, just let her,” Jason said with a chuckle.
“But you know, Sara, Layla has a point. Once you graduate, you won’t be able to keep guarding her. You’ll probably be super busy with your family affairs by then.”
“I know that. I know… and I understand that she’ll have to entrust her protection to someone else eventually. But still…”
Sara frowned, clearly not satisfied.
“Your Highness—no, Layla. Why would you choose him for that role? There are plenty of skilled knights, so why him of all people?”
“Well… because he’s good at defense?”
“Hahaha, yeah, Lady Layla’s right about that,” Jason said, laughing as he looked at Sara.
“To be honest, if we’re talking about who’s more suited to guard someone, Gideon’s actually a better fit than you, Sara. Compared to most knights, he’s the best there is when it comes to defense—and protecting others.”
“I–I can’t accept that. That guy probably only knows how to protect himself. If it’s about guarding Lady Layla, I’m the better choice—”
“Hah, this is something. Sara’s actually getting heated about this.”
“Huh?”
“Oh? Lisa!”
Layla stood up from her seat, her face lighting up.
“It’s been so long! Why are you only showing up now?”
“It’s an honor to see you, Your Highness.”
“Come on, Lisa. I told you, just call me Layla.”
“Understood, Lady Layla. If it’s not rude, may I join you?”
“You don’t need permission for that! Sit, sit. How have you been?”
“I’ve been quite busy with Disciplinary Committee work.”
Lisa sat down and replied without a hint of expression.
“Today’s the first time in a while I’ve had time for dinner.”
“Didn’t you say you were especially busy last year?”
“Last year… I was cleaning up a complete mess. That’s why.”
Lisa nodded in response to Jason’s question.
Then she turned her gaze toward Sara.
“But Sara, why do you look so upset? That’s not like you.”
“…Don’t mind it, Lisa.”
“Should I take a guess? It’s about losing to Gideon, isn’t it?”
“I–It’s not like that!”
“Oh, you’re not far off, though,” Jason chimed in. “It is related to Gideon.”
“Shut it, Jason.”
Sara threw a punch at Jason, but he dodged it effortlessly without even looking.
Sara looked even more irritated, but Jason seemed used to it.
“Anyway, Lisa. Since we’re talking about Gideon—he applied for the Disciplinary Committee, right?”
“Yes. Did you hear that from Gideon himself?”
“Not exactly. He told Lady Layla, and then we heard it from her.”
“I see.”
Lisa replied flatly, sounding completely indifferent.
To outsiders, her tone might seem cold, but the three of them were used to it.
“So, Lisa, are you going to let Gideon join the Committee?”
“There are a few more applicants, so we’ll hold the entrance test together. But I believe… the only one who’ll pass it is Gideon.”
“What’s in the entrance test?”
“I’ll explain that after it’s over.”
“Hmm, alright. Then let me ask something else—what do you think of Gideon? Is he a good person?”
“Yes. At least to my eyes, he was quite likable.”
Lisa nodded calmly.
“His honesty stood out to me the most. Honest people are the easiest to deal with.”
“Well, you do hate flattery and all that,” Layla said.
“That’s correct. So when he said openly that he wanted to use his connection with me, I found it… refreshing.”
A faint, barely noticeable smile formed on Lisa’s lips.
“It’s been a long time since I met someone that honest. At some point, everyone started lying to me, so it felt different.”
“And besides,” Lisa added casually,
“I couldn’t help but feel a romantic attraction toward him.”
Lisa spoke with her usual calm expression, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
But the three others who heard her—
“Huh?”
“Eh?”
“What?”
—all froze with shocked faces.
Meanwhile, Lisa remained utterly composed.