Chapter – 07
4. Theon Phil Voltman
The place I pointed to was a corner of the training ground.
As the knights stepped back little by little, the view opened up and a boy came into sight.
Who would ever imagine it?
‘The emperor’s son sitting on the floor of the Travel Count family’s training ground, polishing armor with a cloth!’
Neither he himself nor Baron Voltman and his wife—who were raising him in place of their deceased daughter—knew.
He was the son born during the time when the current emperor wandered the empire in disguise, enjoying himself.
At this point in time, even the current emperor probably didn’t know Theon existed.
‘He’s ten years old now, right? They said the Voltman barony was extremely poor. Looks like it was true.’
His clothes clearly didn’t fit his body, as if handed down from someone else. The sleeves and pant legs were rolled up. Even though they were nobles, Baron Voltman was too poor to even afford properly tailored clothes for his beloved grandson.
‘But what does that matter? Theon is a rough diamond that only I know about!’
I couldn’t help but smile.
Theon was so absorbed in what he was doing that even though he was the center of attention, he kept focusing on polishing the armor.
“For someone so young, his concentration is impressive. I like him very much.”
Gasp. I hear someone eyeing my diamond.
Uncle Rex smiled warmly while looking at Theon, then tilted his head.
“But who is he?”
“Did you forget again? I introduced him on the first day.”
“What?”
“Thank you for giving me another chance to explain, Vice Commander. He’s a new trainee who joined five days ago. He came with a recommendation letter from an acquaintance of the family head… anyway, he’s Baron Voltman’s grandson.”
Recognizing the name, Rex immediately narrowed his eyes.
“Baron Voltman… wasn’t he a knight who distinguished himself during the late emperor’s reign? Did that family have a son to continue the line?”
At Rex’s question, the knight glanced at me and lowered his voice.
“It seems the baron’s daughter had a child out of wedlock when she was young. Since no one knew the father, the boy was registered in the Voltman family. She passed away two years ago, and Theon has been raised by the baron and his wife since then.”
“…How old is he?”
“Ten.”
“Hmph.”
After hearing his story, Rex sniffed slightly. I could hear him mutter that the kid must have had a hard life.
After clearing his throat, Rex spoke to me.
“Ahem. Young lady, would you like to go to the commander’s office with Theon?”
“His name is Theon? Yes! I want to go with him!”
“Understood. Theon!”
When Rex called loudly, Theon finally looked up.
Unlike his worn clothes, his black hair was neat and his face clean. It seemed like the result of proper upbringing from Baron Voltman’s wife.
Double-lidded black eyes, thick eyelashes, a straight nose, and strong eyebrows.
“Come here!”
He’ll grow into a handsome crown prince.
At his superior’s call, Theon quickly stood and ran over.
“You called me?”
“Pay your respects. This is Lady Berry.”
“Hi!”
“H-hello…”
Unlike me, who waved cheerfully, Theon spoke awkwardly in formal speech.
‘I must look younger than him at first glance.’
There were cousins my age in the Travel family, but since Theon had only recently joined as a trainee, I was probably the first direct family member he’d met.
‘Besides, the Voltman family is still a noble house. Of course it must feel strange for him to speak formally to a child!’
After greeting me, Theon looked back at Rex, waiting for instructions.
That gaze was surprisingly composed for a child.
‘Ah. So this is why my other self chose Crown Prince Theon…’
I smiled meaningfully to myself.
Seen up close, Theon’s black eyes looked indifferent, but they strongly reminded me of someone I knew.
I could almost feel a gentle breeze. Like my father’s eyes.
“Theon, you know who Young Master Raytan is, right? The Grand Master who returned to Travel the day before yesterday.”
“Vice Commander, he’s former—ugh.”
The knight who tried to correct him shut up after Rex stepped on his foot. Rex spoke loudly as if nothing had happened.
“He’s on childcare leave. Why do you think Windis hasn’t chosen a new master?”
“Is he returning?”
“This kid is sharper than he looks. I like that.”
Rex patted Theon on the shoulder.
“He hasn’t given a definite answer, but I believe he will. Do you also know that Lady Berry here is Raytan’s daughter?”
“His… daughter?”
Theon’s black eyes sparkled as he looked back at me.
‘Oh? This might be easier than I thought.’
If he was learning swordsmanship, there was a high chance he admired my father. After all, my father had reached the very peak of swordsmen—the Grand Master!
You like my dad, right? Then want to help me save him? Hmm?
“Yes! My dad is Raytan Quartz Travel!”
I smiled brightly and held out my hand to Theon.
Nice to meet you!
My future guy best friend!
***
“Sir Raytan, it’s in ten days.”
“I know.”
As Raytan exited the temple, his steps were halted by someone calling him. Priests followed behind him like chicks chasing a mother hen.
The lead “chick” spoke anxiously.
“Windis is scheduled to go berserk in ten days. You must come to the Grand Temple before then…”
“Priest Pin.”
“Yes, yes.”
“I said I know.”
Raytan frowned. His already fierce expression grew colder.
The priests who had been right behind him instantly stepped back.
“Of course. I assumed you already knew.”
Priest Pin spoke nervously. It felt excessive, but Raytan was currently the only ray of hope for the Aubaut Order.
The dark circles under the priests’ eyes grew day by day. No matter how many medicines or energy-boosting foods they consumed, they couldn’t replenish the divine power drained by the holy sword’s rampage.
Windis.
That troublesome holy sword.
“And Windis has been waiting very eagerly for you, Sir Raytan…”
Just how remarkable was the “troublemaker of the Travel family” for the sword to be so obsessed?
If Raytan didn’t return as Grand Master, the Grand Temple might soon be torn apart by the resulting chaos.
So what choice did they have? After resolving this crisis, they would have to somehow put the holy sword back at Raytan’s waist.
Even if they had to kneel. Even if they had to persuade him with the word temporary.
They were the desperate ones.
“Please travel safely. Sleep well until we meet again, take care of your health…”
Even as Raytan boarded his carriage, Priest Pin kept talking.
“I understand. I’ll come to the Grand Temple, so don’t worry. Now please stop following me.”
Raytan quickly shut the carriage door. The silence in his ears felt like a blessing.
But once it became quiet, his worries about his daughter returned.
‘She’s probably behaving…’
Raytan quickly corrected himself.
The word behaving didn’t apply to Berry.
She was a child who always attracted trouble. Back in Bonwell village, she never lost even to bigger kids. And only one year after learning to read, she had finished every book in the village library.
‘That maid is also a concern. Even if she tries to hide it, she’ll eventually notice how clever Berry is.’
The maid planted by Marianne.
According to Sherry, she had a younger brother to raise and needed money, which is why she worked for Marianne.
‘I should find something that could be used as leverage…’
Raytan stopped tapping the seat as he remembered his conversation with Count Travel the previous night.
The count had said Berry’s eyes resembled Raytan’s mother, Julia Quartz. She had been the count’s second wife.
After the first wife gave birth to the eldest son Hebant and then Marianne…
The second wife entered the family the following year.
“They said Julia wouldn’t survive even one year in Travel after giving birth to you. The greatest physician in the Hayshal Empire said so. Because of the incurable illness she had since childhood.”
My mother had an incurable illness?
Raytan’s pupils trembled slightly. The count continued.
His golden eyes darkened as he spoke of the past, though no one noticed in the darkness.
“She suffered from periodic high fevers of unknown cause. But as you know, she lived twenty more years. On Travel land.”
“…Why are you telling me this now?”
Raytan’s throat went dry. He didn’t have enough information to play his hand. Too many questions got stuck in his throat.
The count looked at his son silently, then asked a question that pierced straight through him.
“How many more years do you think your daughter will live?”
***
Rex gave Theon a mission.
A very important one: escort Lady Berry to the commander’s office and play with her!
‘Uncle is the best! He’s on my side!’
I had secretly worried other knights might follow us, but Rex held them back, saying training wasn’t finished.
They looked like disappointed puppies who couldn’t go for a walk.
But right now, I needed to get close to Theon.
“By the way, Theon!”
“Yes?”
“Want me to tell you something interesting?”
Holding his hand, I pointed to a wooden flowerpot in the hallway.
“I’ve already seen this tree three times!”
Flinch!
Theon’s shoulders jerked.
