Chapter 19 - Coming of age

Chapter 19

3. Coming of age

“Sir Verdo, that’s not it.”

“But I think it’s right. Isn’t it, Your Eminence?”

“Yeah, it really isn’t.”

I shook my head firmly and denied it at once. Verdo eventually agreed with me, his face still uniquely indifferent.

“If the saint says so, then it isn’t.”

No, actually it’s right.

I clicked my tongue as I watched Verdo relent.

Verdo was one of the students I met when I entered the ministry academy.

To be exact, he’s two years older than me.

He had been aiming to be a paladin, but because of his outstanding skills, he became my personal escort knight.

Usually, it’s a position that’s held by an official paladin who’s been inducted into the order already, but the commander of the holy chivalric order, Maru, actually recommended Verdo so he became my escort knight.

Of course, he was now an official paladin. I could feel that he’d succeed Maru as the next commander later because of his excellent skills, and Maru told me that it was something he had no doubts about.

Anyway, we’ve known each other for a long time now, but unlike his calm expression, he’s actually very much a dummy.

Enough that he’d side with me when I insist I’m right, even though I’m not.

He believed me to the extent that he could be called blind.

I guess it’s because he’s got probably twice as much respect and devotion for the saint compared to others.

“No matter how I look at you, Sir Verdo, you’re just not an assertive person. It’s obviously the opposite.”

“If Your Eminence said it, then it’s correct.”

“Then you’re gonna go out dressed like that?”

I asked him exasperatedly as I looked at him wearing his robe inside out.

“Yes.”

“Please wear it the way you originally did. I was only joking.”

“No, I think this is right.”

Gosh…

Seeing him be so stubborn about something like this, I threw out a joke.

“Sir Verdo, do you like me?”

“No.”

“Oh, you answered so fast.”

I laughed at his automatic answer without him needing to even think about it.

Confused, Verdo began to shake his head in a hurry, apologizing.

“N-No, that’s not… I-I apolo—!”

“Noonim!”

“You’re here!”

Pretending not to hear Sir Verdo, I jumped up from my seat and ran to Lisandro.

“…Damn it.”

I heard him mutter behind me, so I looked back for a moment and saw him wearing the robe the proper way again.

If you’re going to change anyway, why be so stubborn about it.

I turned back again and looked at Lisandro.

As I had predicted, Lisandro and Frey had graduated early with flying colors.

Lisandro attended a five-year course and graduated in only four years’ time, so he graduated the same year as me. But the thing is, I was still at the temple.

I didn’t decide to stay longer, but there’s still some work I had to do before I left.

After I finish this, I can go back home. I had already finished informing the temple that I intend to do that.

The high priests also respected my wishes.

I didn’t mean to leave the temple for good, it’s just that I’d go back to living at my family’s home.

Right now, I was still the temple’s first priority, so the temple was still seen as an institution that protects the saint, not the people.

All the arrangements I need to go through will be done in fifteen days, but because it’s something that I’m anticipating, it seems as if time has slowed down.

I looked around Lisandro, but as expected, Frey wasn’t anywhere here.

Frey graduated even one year earlier than Lisandro. But as soon as he did, he disappeared and left only a letter behind.

He said that he needed to train and needed to find something as well, and he wouldn’t return until he did. I haven’t seen him for more than a year.

“That punk.”

“Why are you talking about someone else all of a sudden?”

Lisandro’s eyebrows shot up as he complained. Right now, just to look at Lisandro, I had to look up because he’d gotten taller.

Perhaps because of his rigorous sword training under the scorching sun, his slightly tan body, face and large physique were somehow more imposing than other knights.

With muscles that were neither too excessive nor too slim, he grew up well along with those crazy handsome features. I heard that he received endless marriage proposals these days.

This was only, of course, when Lisandro was seen from a distance. His nasty temper remained the same.

Lisandro being a level-headed handsome man was enough for this Noonim. Looking at Lisandro, who grew up so well, I was also curious about Frey.

The last time I saw him, he was already a mysterious beauty. But after growing up, I’m sure he’s somehow gotten more of a sensual allure.

So I was really curious about how Frey had grown until now.

I was disappointed that our gift and letter exchange had become more sparse these days, but this disappointment all melted away in the face of anticipation for his appearance.

Patience is a virtue.

If I wait for Frey to finish his business, I’ll be able to see Frey who’s grown up like a flower in full bloom.

—The beauty that had driven Lisandro in the novel crazy!

“Noonim, you’re drooling… Is it so hard to wait fifteen days?”

Lisandro seemed to have misunderstood my thoughts.

I wiped my drool and pretended to be fine as I grabbed his arm.

“Let’s go inside now.”

“Why?”

“Just come already.”

“Fine.”

When I urged him strongly, he followed me without any more resistance.

While I met my brother, Verdo calmly stood behind me and watched steadily. Every time I saw him like that, he reminded me of a big guard dog.

When Lisandro and I passed through the halls, the eyes of those who’ve come to pray were firmly directed at us.

Their gazes were always the same, as if they never tired of staring at us every time Lisandro came.

“Annoying as usual.”

Lisandro muttered with a low voice. Perhaps he was nearing his tolerance limit.

“You can’t kill people here.”

“I don’t even want to do that in front of you. You’re scared of blood.”

“Bullsh*t.”

“Ugh, Noonim!”

“Sorry. I didn’t mean that.”

After I spewed out a harsh swear word and apologized without any sincerity, he didn’t say anything else.

I whispered quietly, so only Lisandro heard me.

As we entered my room in the temple, Lisandro followed me and slammed the door shut before Verdo could come in after us.

“Close it gently.”

“It’ll be over in fifteen days, right?”

“Are you talking about the escort?”

I clicked my tongue at Lisandro’s disapproval. Of course, after fifteen days, Verdo wouldn’t be my escort knight anymore.

I was a saint, but I wouldn’t live in the temple anymore, so Verdo wouldn’t be able to follow me.

Of course, the first priority of the paladins was to protect the saint and he could follow if I wanted them to, but I don’t intend to ask for that.

Knights from our family would be enough, and Verdo still had a lot to learn here.

I didn’t want to force a person. And above all, I won’t be able to stand Lisandro’s whining if Verdo followed.

“Sir Verdo’s going to stay here, but he’ll come to me if I ask for him.”

That’s what paladins were for.

To protect the saint, not even the emperor.

Meanwhile, Lisandro made some tea and set down a cup in front of me.

Actually, whenever Lisandro came, I usually went out of the temple to eat or to take a walk with him. That’s why when I suddenly brought him to my room, he hadn’t taken his eyes off me, filled with suspicion.

“…Noonim, no way.”

“Huh?”

“Are you trying to tell me that you’ll stay here longer? You’re not, right?”

Only his body grew. His wit, not so much. I didn’t miss this opportunity.

Now was the perfect time to tease Lisandro. I purposefully smiled broadly and praised him.

“My baby brother, you’ve improved your sense of humor, huh? You’ve become more handsome, too. Makes me think it’s worth the trouble raising you.”

“Did you go crazy?”

“Me? What are you saying.”

Believing my joke right away, Lisandro jumped up suddenly and clutched his hair as though to tear it out.

After screaming silently, he came back and approached me.

I was sitting on the sofa and Lisandro was standing, so I had to look up really high just to see him.

“You’re going to stay longer? In this place with nothing but trash and low lives?”

“…Trash?”

“Those paladins who ogle Noonim a lot!”

Ah, this guy’s the only one who’ll call paladins trash and low lives.

Seeing Lisandro like this, it’s rather like him to think that way. It’s kind of consistent with his characterization in the novel, since he only looked ahead and never minded his periphery.

It’s been a long time since I thought about the novel’s contents though.

However this time, Lisandro wasn’t obsessed with Frey, and Frey was completely healed of his illness and had gone off on a trip all by himself.

This is why I believe early education was important. I smiled happily.

“The paladins are there to protect me. I’m a saint.”

“If they’re only there to protect you, why do they have to look at you like that, huh? And why should people weaker than me protect you? I’ll protect you, so just come back with me in fifteen days!”

Lisandro was a whole lot more reliable, even more than paladins.

When I saw his report cards over the years, it was a series of surprises to see how he steadily improved.

And apart from that, when he graduated, he was definitely at the top of his class.

There was no one who could follow after him because he had the unrivaled combination of prodigious talent and painstaking effort.

Frey was also a force to be reckoned with after he entered a contract with the spirit king of fire.

It wasn’t just a spirit, but a spirit king—the best of the fire spirits.

After hearing about the excellent knight and fire elementalist, everyone came to praise them.

I didn’t even answer Lisandro and just smiled brightly.

“Ugh, Noonim! Why! Why are you gonna stay?!”

If I tease him any further than this, those sky blue eyes would definitely shed tears, so I decided to stop now.

Everyone else was scared of this grown-up Lisandro, but even when he’s bigger and taller than me, all I can see is a baby making a fuss.

“Be quiet and sit down will you.”

“…You’re so mean, Noonim.”

“Then do you want to be kicked out?”

“Nope.”

He hurriedly sat down on the sofa opposite me in case I really did kick him out.

“I was only teasing. I don’t want to stay here longer.”

He continued to doubt me.

“Then why did you bring me here?”