Chapter 20
“…Hmm.”
‘Is there? Or isn’t there?’
Elizia tilted her head as she thought of Demian.
In truth, everyone expected the two of them to marry someday, but since they weren’t even officially engaged yet, it was a bit ambiguous.
As Elizia hesitated to answer, Lakan’s expression gradually stiffened.
After a brief moment of consideration, Elizia decided to say there wasn’t.
After all, it was the truth. She and Demian weren’t anything yet.
The future might already be decided, but at least for now, that was how things stood.
“I don’t have one.”
Elizia answered simply. The book that had been twisted in Lakan’s grip returned neatly to its original shape.
Lakan, now looking unconcerned, flipped through the book casually. It seemed he found the unfamiliar romance novel quite interesting.
Elizia watched him with curiosity.
A small question suddenly came to mind. Had this self-absorbed man in front of her ever been in a relationship?
With that face, being single would be a waste.
She didn’t know if he had ever had a serious relationship, but he must have at least dated quite a few women casually.
And perhaps he even had a fiancée already.
“Do you have a fiancée, senior?”
“No.”
Lakan replied curtly.
Elizia leaned slightly forward, her eyes gleaming with mischief.
She was sure he wouldn’t answer if she asked why, but she was still curious about his romantic life.
“Then you’ve dated before, right?”
“…”
“How many? Ten? Twenty?”
She had asked the question based on the assumption that he must have met many women.
Lakan slowly lifted his head. His golden hair fell over his smooth forehead.
“I haven’t. …Should I have?”
A faint trace of confusion appeared on his face—a rare expression for him.
Elizia tilted her head slightly.
“You haven’t? You? Not even one? Why?”
“…Who knows.”
Even if he didn’t put up walls against the noble ladies approaching him, he would’ve had more than enough chances to date.
Elizia found herself genuinely curious.
At the same time, hearing that he had never had a lover made her feel oddly pleased. It was a rather hopeless thought.
Lakan closed the book with a snap and crossed his arms, leaning back confidently in his chair.
As if he had never been flustered, his face now carried a relaxed smile.
“You didn’t forget that I entered as the top student, did you? And my swordsmanship is excellent as well.”
“So?”
“Think about it, Elizia. A perfect man who studies, trains, and attends social activities—when would he have time to date?”
“…That’s true. Impressive.”
She regretted asking. It felt like she had gained nothing from the question.
Elizia nodded awkwardly.
To boast so naturally like that—if that was a skill, then it was indeed a skill.
“I excel at everything. I’m the best husband material on the continent.”
Lakan’s face was full of confidence as he said that.
‘What’s the point of boasting that to me?’
Elizia thought, smiling faintly.
“Still, it’s surprising you’ve never dated even once. They say people even cut down on sleep to date.”
“There are circumstances for that—”
Though Lakan had intended to say more, he cut himself off, perhaps thinking it would sound like an excuse, and shook his head.
In the end, Elizia let out a soft laugh.
When she had first gotten into this carriage with him, she had been quite tense.
Being alone together in such a confined space made her conscious of the closeness.
She had started reading partly to hide those feelings.
But now, she simply found the situation enjoyable.
Feeling both excitement and comfort at the same time—this man named Lakan was truly peculiar.
Some time passed. The forest grew deeper.
Perhaps it wasn’t a road frequently traveled by carriages; branches and leaves continuously brushed against the carriage windows with soft tapping sounds.
Elizia pressed her face against the window to see the red flowers beyond the trees.
That was when it happened.
Ping— Thud!
A loud, unfamiliar noise echoed from the roof of the carriage.
At the same time, Lakan moved and pulled Elizia into his arms, as if to protect her—an instinctive reaction.
From within his embrace, she could hear both his heartbeat and the harsh sound of arrows striking the carriage.
‘What? What’s happening?’
Clenching her trembling hands, she tried to lift her head, but Lakan gently pressed it back against his chest.
“Stay still.”
His voice was chillingly calm.
If he told her to stay still, she had to stay still. Elizia nodded faintly and curled up.
Her heart pounded rapidly with fear.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Multiple arrows embedded themselves into the carriage walls. The loud noise made her shoulders flinch.
It was her first time being attacked.
Her first time facing arrows that threatened her life.
Perhaps sensing her tension, Lakan, who was watching outside the window, gently patted her back.
Like comforting a younger sister, his touch was gentle.
“It’s okay.”
He whispered softly by her ear.
A strange mix of chills and reassurance washed over her.
Thanks to him, some of the tension in her back eased.
Still watching outside, Lakan called out:
“What’s happening?”
“It’s an ambush! Judging by their appearance, they seem to be bandits!”
A guard knight shouted urgently from outside.
‘…Bandits?’
Elizia bit her lip. It didn’t feel real.
Lakan tightened his grip on his sword.
He glanced at the small shoulders trembling in his arms, then looked back outside.
He seemed to be deciding—whether it was safer to stay and protect her, or to go out and fight.
But the decision didn’t take long.
The carriage, though plain in appearance for academy use, belonged to Lakan.
A carriage meant for royalty wouldn’t be easily pierced by arrows—it had been reinforced with magic.
Leaving her in a safe place and eliminating the enemies himself was the best option.
Lakan gently placed his hand on her shoulder.
He could clearly feel her tension beneath his palm.
“Wait here for a moment. I’ll be back soon, Elizia.”
His voice above her head was calm and kind.
It felt unfamiliar coming from him.
But it reassured her.
Without hesitation, Lakan stood, checked outside, and stepped out of the carriage.
Elizia curled into herself, biting her trembling lips.
She could use a sword too. She had trained hard for situations like this.
If she could help, perhaps she should go out.
But training and real combat were entirely different.
Her hands trembled.
This wasn’t practice—it was a fight against death.
At this rate, she wouldn’t even be able to properly hold her sword.
It would be more helpful not to get hurt.
‘How foolish, Elizia. I didn’t learn swordsmanship just to hide like this.’
Outside, the sounds of clashing metal, running footsteps, screams, and arrows striking the carriage continued.
She covered her ears tightly.
After some time, five bandit corpses lay scattered across the battlefield.
Lakan twisted aside an opponent’s sword and forced it away. The sharp scraping of metal rang out.
Outmatched in both skill and strength, the bandit began swinging wildly in desperation.
Lakan deflected the attacks effortlessly, then stepped in and thrust his sword into the man’s chest without hesitation.
Clang.
The bandit’s sword fell to the ground as he collapsed with a choking cry.
Lakan pulled his blade free. Drops of hot blood splattered.
He straightened, glancing around as he casually wiped the blood off, his brow slightly furrowed in irritation.
Whoosh!
An arrow flew toward a guard knight engaged in combat.
Lakan deflected it and turned toward the direction it came from.
He needed to eliminate the long-range attackers first.
Blocking another strike, he tracked the arrows’ origin and swung his sword with a simple motion.
Clang!
The bandit staggered back.
A mocking smile curved Lakan’s lips as he pressed forward and drove his sword across.
With a scream, the bandit fell.
Without pause, Lakan turned toward his next target—a man in a tree firing arrows.
