He seemed to have something he wanted to say but couldn’t bring himself to speak. After a long pause, he finally pointed cautiously at Ca.


    “I understand she’s your ve, but is that true?”


    “Yes.”


    “Would you sell her to me?”


    “…Pardon?”


    She’s not for sale.


    It feels strange to say it now, but Ca is beautiful.


    Actually, she’s more than just beautiful; there’s something about her that stirs a man’s primal instincts.


    She has a fragile, ss-like delicacy, as if she’d break with a single touch. But paradoxically, that makes one want to possess her even more.


    Of course, that was only my impression when I first met her.


    The current Ca, who has recovered significantly emotionally, no longer exudes that same instability.


    But that doesn’t mean her charm has diminished. It’s just changed in nature.


    Nowadays, she has the feel of a loyal, affectionate dog… which is another kind of male fantasy.


    Ca, whether fragile or devoted, has always seemed to have an innate ability to captivate men’s desires.


    That’s likely why the Evil God Foul Prosperity chose her as an Apostle in H&A.


    Because of Ca’s allure, there are sometimes people who try to buy her from me.


    I’ve turned down every offer, but some of them went to extreme lengths, even sneakingnd deeds or family heirlooms from home to trade for her.


    If Ca wanted, she could probably take over a small estate.


    Of course, I have no intention of letting that happen. I wouldn’t let Ca leave me even if she wanted to, so selling her to someone else ispletely out of the question.


    …Though I didn’t expect even a Swordmaster to be captivated by her.


    Let’s start with a proper refusal.


    “I’m very attached to my ve, so I have no intention of selling her.”


    “I heard you bought her for 20,000 gold. How about 40,000, double the amount?”


    “I’m sorry.”


    “Then 60,000… no, I’ll offer 80,000 gold.”


    “It’s not a matter of money. No matter how much you offer, my decision won’t change.”


    At this, Havel’s brow twitched slightly, and he let out a sigh.


    “Hah. I’m aware that you purchased Theodore’s daughter to learn Lindelheit’s magic. But haven’t you already learned everything you needed? If that’s the issue, I can add ess to all magic books in the imperial archives on top of 80,000 gold.” ?


    “As I said, I’m very attached to my ve.”


    “…I see.”


    Finally looking defeated, Havel loosened his rigid posture slightly and turned his gaze forward again.


    What was that about?


    I tilted my head in confusion and nced over to check on Ca.


    Whenever someone expresses an interest in buying her and I refuse, she usually smiles slyly to herself. It’s one of those small, amusing moments.


    I figured that since I’d just turned down a Swordmaster’s offer, she’d be especially smug this time.


    “???”


    But for some reason, Ca looked as though she’d found a half-eaten sandwich with a bug’s lower half in it.


    After confirming that Havel was no longer ncing back at us, she whispered quietly.


    “Ca? Why the face? I turned him down, so there’s no need to worry.”


    “Yes… I know that, Master. Thank you. But it’s hard to stomach knowing that the man who put my father on the execution block wants me.”


    “Oh.”


    Right. When I think about it, Havel was the one who subdued and executed Ca’s father, Theodore Lindelheit.


    While Fiona was the one who falsely used him of being a cultist, Ca likely still had strong feelings about Havel.


    But why did he want Ca?


    Does the Swordmaster have some twisted interest in acquiring the daughter of the man he killed?


    Did he approach me instead of Helena, and nce over here frequently, for that reason…?


    I was staring at Havel’s back in frustration when he, sensing my gaze, spoke in a low voice.


    “…There’s something I’d like to rify, as I think you misunderstand.”


    “What do you mean?”


    “My interest in Theodore’s daughter is not due to her appearance. It’s because of a promise I made to an old friend.”


    “An old friend… Could it be?”


    I asked cautiously, and Havel nodded slightly.


    “Theodore was a friend of mine. Even though I was the one who saw him to his end, I still think of him as a friend. I believe he felt the same. That’s likely why he left me such a request.”


    Havel’s story revealed a side of Theodore’s final moments that we didn’t know.


    I had thought that Theodore, upon confirming Ca’s safety, went on a rampage to exact hisst bit of vengeance.


    That’s how it was portrayed in H&A, and it was a belief shared by everyone present at his trial.


    But Havel’s ount, as the one who directly subdued Theodore, was slightly different.


    “Theodore was strong. Though he couldn’t beat me due to hisck of preparation, proximity, and a body already weakened, he could have taken at least half of the nobles with him. He might have even inflicted some wounds on His Majesty.”


    “But there were no casualties, right? That’s why everyone praised you, Havel.”


    “…Because he made sure to hold back.”


    With those words, Havel finally turned to look at me. The sharp, deadly aura I’d sensed earlier was gone; now he looked like a man exhausted and worn.


    “Unceasing high-level magic poured out of him. Imagine being in a building where several natural disasters are packed together.”


    That would indeed be terrifying. Magic capable of breaking down walls and killing giant monsters in one blow, with no room to evade.


    “But strangely, it felt lukewarm to me. I followed the gaps in his magic, cut through them, and easily broke through… That’s when I realized. He had opened a path for me intentionally.”


    Amidst a storm of mana and aura, free from interference or surveince, even Fafnir’s foresight magic couldn’t detect Theodore’s final message.


    “My father…?”


    Despite the fact that a ve had dared to speak first to the Swordmaster, no one took issue with it.


    Havel had viewed Ca as his friend’s daughter from the beginning, not as a ve, and the rest of our group felt the same.


    Ca’s hardened expression softened slightly, and Havel continued.


    “That’s right. Theodore’s intention wasn’t a final rampage. He wanted to leave… a final request, without anyone overhearing.”@@novelbin@@


    Havel spoke, looking straight at Ca.


    It was as if he were recalling something, or searching for traces of someone in Ca’s face.


    In Havel’s expression, there was tenderness, with not a hint of anything unsavory.


    “He didn’t try to proim his innocence to me or beg for his life. He was just concerned for his daughter, who would be left as a ve, and felt he couldn’t die peacefully. The noble Theodore, bowing his head before me.”


    “Ah…”


    Ca’s ruby-colored eyes wavered, shaken by the news of her father’s final moments.


    I held her hand silently, and she gripped mine tightly in return, as if seeking something to lean on. I responded by holding her hand just as firmly.


    Havel, observing us for a moment, nodded.


    “All the evidence was clear, and since he threatened His Majesty, I had no choice but to kill Theodore… but I couldn’t bring myself to coldly refuse his request.”


    In the end, Havel promised to take care of Ca before drawing his sword.


    “I was confident. Fortunately, the Empire never held back financially when it came to me. I had amassed a pile of gold, more than I’d ever need, so I figured I could buy her without issue, no matter the price.”


    Butplications arose. Just days before Ca’s auction, cultists beganunching simultaneous attacks across Balder, the capital.


    And with a force impossible to ignore.


    “I… I had to protect His Majesty. That’s my duty and the vow I made on my sword.”


    While Havel was upied, the auction for Ca went through.


    Though he could have joined anonymously to keep track of her, he feared he might lose her entirely. Fortunately, as I gained fame, so did Ca.


    “That’s why I tried visiting the Academy multiple times… but something always came up.”


    An assassination attempt on the Emperor, an explosion caused by a failed experiment by an imperial magician, the Crown Prince trapped when a decaying pce wall copsed—one improbable incident after another.


    It was as if fate itself were conspiring to keep Havel from reaching the Academy.


    “To be honest, I grew very suspicious. But I found no evidence, so I couldn’t leave the pce and remained stuck there…”


    It’s likely Fiona had a hand in all of this.


    In the original future, where Ca was trapped and her whereabouts unknown, it would’ve been in Fiona’s favor to keep her from falling into Havel’s hands, preferring her to be controlled by some vulgar nouveau riche instead.


    But now that things have changed, Fiona’s interference works in my favor. I’ve already nted seeds of doubt in Havel’s mind.


    Given that I need to reveal Fiona’s true nature, this can only help me.


    As Havel finished his exnation, his previously firm expression softened into a slight smile.


    “But then, I felt a surge of holy power near the castle gate. And there she was—the daughter of Theodore, whom I had been searching for all this time.”


    Nowpletely stopping in his tracks, Havel looked directly at Ca and spoke, meeting her gaze.


    “You may not remember, but I recall your childhood well. I remember how much Theodore loved his daughter, and I remember thest request he made.”


    “I swear on my sword. If you wish it, I will do whatever it takes to bring you away from here. I will free you from your status as a ve. If necessary, I will adopt you as my own, or send you to a foreignnd if the Empire makes you ufortable.”


    “So please, tell me. Ca Lindelheit. What is it that you want? What would help you, what would you desire? What must I do?”


    “I…”


    After a brief moment of hesitation, Ca linked her arm with mine and smiled at Havel for the first time.


    It was her trademark clear and pure smile.


    “I’m happiest when I’m with my Master! I’ve be someone who can’t live without him anymore!”


    She dropped a bombshell on me.


    What are you saying, Ca…?