TYHL 03

~Chapter 3~

“It’s because of the victory festival. Bear with it.”

“Ughhh… It’s too much!”

Honestly, even in my past life, I couldn’t stand noisy places.

And the Arcadia Magic Kingdom where I grew up was home to fewer than three thousand people—a place about as lively as a monastery…

So the chaos of the imperial capital was way too overwhelming for me!

I felt more drained than when I’d run into those dark beasts.

“You should work on building up your stamina first.”

Gasp! I quickly looked up at Leviathan.

“Does that mean… you’ll train me?”

“…Not even worth answering.”

“Hing.”

Not taking the bait, huh.

“So, what do we do first?”

Preferably wash up!

Instead of answering, he suddenly tugged the reins and turned sharply. Before long, the horse came to a stop.

“….”

We were in front of a building with a flashy sign that immediately caught my eye.

<Imperial Rieta Orphanage>

“…Huh?”

He’s dumping me off already?

While I was still stammering, Uncle Leviathan plopped me down in front of it. After relaying a message through the gatekeeper—

He gave me a dazzling smile and waved his hand.

“It’s been fun, little grub.”

“Haa.”

I let out a long sigh.

In front of me sat a bowl of vegetable soup and a chunk of brown bread speckled with sesame seeds.

“Haa!”

Unbelievable.

How could he do that?

Didn’t we get at least a little closer back in that forest?

And yet, the moment we reached the capital, he tossed me away like old baggage…

I put down the tiny spoon meant for children. I had no appetite at all.

“Haaaah.”

“Um…”

A careful voice broke in.

I turned, and sitting beside me was a boy with shining golden hair.

Looked like he’d been here at the orphanage longer than me.

“Sounds like your third time.”

“Huh? Third what?”

“Um, that grandpa-like sigh of yours?”

“….”

I shut my mouth.

You’ll learn, kid. When the weight of life crushes you, those sighs come out naturally.

“You seem worried about something. Want to tell me about it?”

When I didn’t respond, his curiosity only grew. He scooted his chair closer and started chatting away.

I quietly studied him.

‘This imperial orphanage must be… really something.’

How does a war refugee look so well-kept?

His clothes were shabby, sure, but his milk-white skin was smooth as porcelain.

Eyes like teal gemstones under puppy-like lashes, and hair like fluffy sunlit clouds.

‘How can a boy be this pretty?’

I almost pitied myself for being the girl observing him.

“Yeah, I’ve got worries. Plenty of them.”

“What kind? Tell me.”

His big eyes sparkled with curiosity.

“Well, first of all…”

I have to stop the downfall.

Make sure the second act of the original story never begins.

“To do that…”

I have to save the male lead, who’s scheduled to die.

His name is Leviathan Jebert. The continent’s hero.

“So…”

I’d planned to stick by his side no matter what, hiding my identity as a runaway mage, so he wouldn’t suddenly keel over!

“But then…”

That uncle dumped me. Completely heartlessly.

“So now…”

I have to find him again…

“But I have no way…”

Sniff. I pushed away the torn bread and flopped down on the table.

“Hmmm.”

Beside me, the boy chuckled softly.

“So, if I’m following you: first of all, then, but then, so now, and therefore… you’ve got no solution.”

“….”

“What kind of worry is that, huh?”

I turned my head and looked at him.

His doll-like face tilted in innocent curiosity.

“Ahh, you poor kid.”

Before I knew it, I was ruffling his golden hair like he was a doll.

So clueless about the weight of the world. I was jealous—truly jealous.

“…You’re really forward, huh.”

He smoothed down his tousled hair and grinned. That radiant smile seemed to light up the whole room.

Leviathan sat across from the emperor, a familiar cigarette in his hand.

But somehow, he didn’t feel like smoking. Come to think of it, he hadn’t touched one even once back in the forest. Maybe it was time to quit.

“You’ve done well, Duke,” the emperor said, flipping through a stack of papers.

“Welcome back.”

Graceful features. Long golden hair tied to one side. Clear teal eyes under long lashes.

Truly, the young emperor reputed to be the most beautiful in Babylon.

“Let’s skip the pleasantries. Speak plainly.”

“Always so prickly… Fine. The Magic Kingdom requested our cooperation in tracking down a runaway mage.”

The emperor, Dietrian Babylon, spoke calmly.

Leviathan’s brows shot up. The ice clinked sharply in his glass as he set the cigarette down.

“A runaway mage?”

“A mage unit crossing the Canalan Gorge was ambushed. Wiped out completely.”

“I heard.”

“Apparently one body is missing.”

“….”

Leviathan’s lips curled upward.

Not a trace of warmth remained in those violet eyes. The air itself grew heavy.

Only this man could crush people with sheer presence.

“Most likely crushed under some boulder. Or fell down a cliff. It was a gorge, after all.”

“….”

“You really want us cleaning up their mess?”

“Ease up a little. Or are you planning to scare all my maids unconscious?”

The emperor laughed softly, closing the file.

“You know as well as I do the Magic Kingdom is always scrambling to keep their mages in line. Why so on edge?”

“Isn’t it laughable? Those almighty mages, panicking over one runaway soldier.”

“Still holding onto that mage hatred, I see.”

“The dark sorcerer was a mage, too.”

A grinding sound filled the air.

Leviathan despised magic above all else. It was closer to hatred of the entire breed.

“How’s the duchess’s health?”

The emperor shifted topics smoothly.

A deep crease furrowed Leviathan’s brow.

“The runaway mage’s attack on Rosetta’s carriage must never happen again. Losing the child she carried…”

CRACK! The glass in Leviathan’s hand shattered.

Red blood dripped onto the ornate carpet.

“M-My lord!”

The attendant moved instinctively, horrified—only for the emperor to sharply raise a hand, halting him.

Touching Jebert in this state was suicide.

‘I’ve blundered.’

Forcing a calm smile, the emperor said, “Well, someone’s angry. Our great hero.”

Like a dragon with its reverse scale struck.

“All right, all right. I’ll handle the runaway mage myself. I won’t order you to.”

“…I’d appreciate that.”

“Now go get some rest. You look exhausted.”

Leviathan plucked the shards from his hand and dropped them carelessly to the floor.

As he rose to leave, the emperor asked, despite knowing better than to prod further—

“They say Marquis Averych saw you on your way to the palace.”

“…Is that so.”

“With a child in tow, apparently.”

Leviathan froze.

“You’re not planning to adopt again, are you?”

The emperor leaned back.

“Don’t, unless you plan to run a nursery. Boyd and Liam were exceptions—strong boys who thrived in that harsh north. You know most kids wouldn’t.”

“I know.”

It was well-known his wife Rosetta had been left barren by that carriage accident.

They’d adopted two boys from a branch family instead. He didn’t see them often—war kept him away—but they’d grown into fine, strong sons.

‘That kid…’

A scruffy little figure came to mind.

‘Wonder if they’re all right.’

They’d hated the idea of the orphanage.

That tiny frame and those clear blue eyes stuck with him.

Leviathan shook his head, scattering the thought.

The emperor was right.

If he wasn’t opening a nursery, he had to forget.

For the child’s sake.

“Will you at least attend the banquet?”

“No. I plan to return immediately.”

“A victory banquet without its hero? That’s practically treason, Duke.”

“So be it.”

As Leviathan left, a chill wind following in his wake, the emperor clicked his tongue.

“Such a stiff man.”

Leviathan left the palace and walked the bustling streets.

The capital was alive.

Vibrant. Joyous.

He hadn’t seen it like this in nearly ten years.

People poured out to celebrate the end of the war. Scars remained, yes—but time would heal them.

‘Come to think of it, they hated this.’

Leviathan chuckled faintly.

The child had clapped their hands over their ears the moment they entered the noisy city. Looking more terrified than when they’d faced dark beasts.

And yet those bright eyes had darted around eagerly, trying to take everything in…

‘I nearly ended up showing them the whole capital.’

The memory of fine silver strands bouncing, of that tiny crown of hair, came back to him.

‘They had a maturity to them.’

Even back in the forest.

“It must’ve been hard. Thanks to you, it’s peaceful.”

When they’d said that, it had felt like his heart squeezed tight.

He’d been raised as a knight since birth. War was as natural to him as breathing.

He never thought of it as special.

So being praised—especially by such a young child—felt strange.

‘But maybe, deep down… I wanted to hear it.’

That it was hard.

That it was thanks to him.

“….”

Leviathan raked a hand through his hair.

“Maybe I’ll at least say goodbye.”

Come to think of it, they hadn’t even had a proper farewell.

His steps quickened without him realizing.

By the time he turned down the road to the orphanage, a light drizzle had started.

And there, he saw a crowd whispering anxiously.

“Why so many guards all of a sudden?”

“You didn’t hear?”

“Hear what?”

“The Imperial Orphanage was robbed!”

“No way!”

“I heard some kids were hurt.”

“Oh no… Oh my!”

A sudden gust tore past.

Leviathan shoved through the crowd, his face paler than ever.