In the end, the cause of all this trouble was Cedar’s strange behavior of trying to keep the lady’s recovery private!

Hail was determined. Even if he got beaten up by Cedar a bit, he wanted to persuade Cedar to reveal Nelly’s existence to the world.

But contrary to his expectations, Cedar didn’t beat him up at all, instead replying in a light tone as if he didn’t care much.

“It’s not like that.”

What do you mean it’s not. Hail looked at Cedar again with rotten mackerel eyes and answered half-heartedly.

“Yes, yes, from the objective view of a third party, you are definitely doing that.”

“This is really…”

Cedar couldn’t have not known that Hail was getting on his nerves.

Just as Hail understood Cedar well, Cedar knew Hail well too. He just wasn’t used to telling his story honestly.

‘But Hail should know what the situation is to help keep the secret in the future, right?’

As for Nelly’s family circumstances, it was Nelly’s personal matter so Nelly should tell it herself. So Cedar only brought up his own story.

“…You know too. How complicated our household is.”

Even though he made up his mind, it still didn’t flow out easily.

As Cedar mumbled and trailed off, Hail tilted his head and replied.

“Wouldn’t the Duchess be happy? Even now, she’s making a fuss saying the current wife who loses her mind when bored doesn’t count, and to bring in a proper wife.”

“That’s why. That’s exactly why.”

“Pardon?”

Hail, who had been blinking his eyes, continued with an awkward smile.

“Surely you’re not worried that the lady who woke up will run away due to mother-in-law conflict…”

“You’re talking nonsense about mother-in-law conflict.”

If it were just concern about a picky mother-in-law, his heart wouldn’t be this heavy.

He was confident he could cut things off cleanly if his mother mistreated his wife.

But the situation he was facing now was a bit more complicated. Cedar cut to the chase and said the main point.

“Soon my younger brother will return from the academy. That child is a mage. I heard his specialty is directly interfering with a person’s internal mana circuits?”

Cedar said it casually, but in fact, the second son of Duke Granite’s family was also a famous talent in the capital.

Hail knew who he was too. In fact, he was one of the people waiting for his return more than anyone else.

“I’ve heard about that too. It’s still theoretical, but they say if there’s a talented person with innate mana, they could forcibly awaken them as a Sword Master.”

Even directly interfering with internal mana circuits.

It’s a magic that doesn’t mean much to ordinary people, but for Aura Sword swordsmen who imbue their internal mana into swordsmanship, it’s no ordinary talent.

Aura Sword, which thinly coats the blade with mana to make it stronger than steel.

Humans who reach that level are so rare that there might be barely one out of hundreds. But even reaching that level is not the end.

Sword User, Sword Expert, Sword Intermediate.

After going through all those stages and surpassing everything that can be done with a sword, when one reaches the level of being able to create an Aura Sword even without a sword, they can receive that title.

That is, Sword Master.

There are four levels, and it seems like you could rise to the next level with just a little more effort, but the actual gap is not like that.

How many have realized their limits at the edge of the sword and shattered their own swords?

Becoming a Sword User is already in the realm of talent, but it’s no exaggeration to say that the stages after that are determined solely by talent, to the extent that talent governs much of it.

And that talent ultimately comes down to how much mana one can store in their heart, and how long and strongly they can maintain an Aura Sword.

‘It’s not a stage that can be learned just because someone teaches you. Even among Sword Users, everyone feels the flow of mana differently.’

But what if one could directly interfere with internal mana circuits? It changes the paradigm of mana utilization that relied on individual talent.

‘I might be able to rise just one more level from the Sword User stage.’

Feeling that hope, his heart beat wildly.

‘Tsk, I shouldn’t have said anything unnecessary.’

Seeing Hail’s excited face, Cedar clicked his tongue. Then he said in a blunt tone.

“It’s still just in the realm of theory. That child hasn’t even directly experimented on a Sword User.”

“Still, it’s amazing. It’s a great hope for swordsmen who are stagnating at their current stage.”

“Yeah. I guess so. I’m not looking at it as positively as you are though. Don’t you think there will be side effects to gaining tremendous power through something other than effort?”

The bigger the expectation, the bigger the disappointment. That’s what Cedar was worried about, but Hail’s response went in a direction he didn’t expect.

“You’ve been speaking quite negatively from earlier. It’s your younger brother. Are you not on good terms with him?”

‘Younger brother.’

Cedar pressed his lips tightly. He couldn’t remember his brother’s face well since it had been so long since he’d seen him.

‘He had a face so pretty it wouldn’t be strange to mistake him for a younger sister. He didn’t resemble me at all.’

Perhaps the only thing that made them look like brothers was their black hair? But even that felt clearly different.

Cedar had short, stiff-looking black hair, but Grisha’s hair flowed smoothly. It was literally only the color that was the same.

‘Still, when we first met, we got along fairly well.’

But even that all shattered. The day Grisha left for the academy as if fleeing.

[Did you make our mother pass away too, brother?]

Those bright blue eyes full of betrayal.

Facing those eyes, Cedar couldn’t answer that it wasn’t him.

The one who killed his brother’s mother was none other than Cedar’s mother, Lady Briar.

[It was for you, Cedar.]

Only for him.

His mother had poisoned that child’s mother for his sake.

So how could he say it wasn’t his doing?

‘How bitter.’

Cedar gave an appropriate answer with a wry smile.

“What relationship is there to speak of? That child entered the academy when young to become a mage, and I haven’t seen him even once until now.”

How strange that he can’t even remember the face, yet their last conversation is so clear.

‘If only I had known nothing, my heart wouldn’t ache like this. I shouldn’t have spoken to that child.’

His half-brother, unlike Cedar, born from the official Duchess’s womb. The legitimate heir.

Grisha Granite.

“When Grisha returns, discussions will begin in earnest about who to designate as the successor of the Granite duchy.”

“I see.”

Hail, who had already risen to the ranks of Sword User and received a baronet title, nodded halfheartedly.

The succession of titles in an old-fashioned house like the Granite duchy was not something he could easily relate to.

‘Isn’t it obviously Cedar? Cedar is a Sword Master. While his brother was just studying, he led the Azure Dragon Knights and achieved great merits.’

Hail looked at Cedar’s profile with a grin as he prepared the meal with a serious expression.

‘Now I understand why you’re keeping it a secret. You’re going to keep it secret until you’re officially appointed as the young duke, right?’

The successor to the title was almost decided, but it seems he’s trying to maintain the rumor of her being in a coma to protect his wife in case of any unexpected changes.

‘Despite all his words, in the end it means he’s worried because he likes his wife too much.’

Not knowing Cedar’s true feelings, Hail watched him with flushed cheeks, being severely shaken by the belated spring breeze.

‘As expected, Cedar truly loves the lady! This is truly the love of the century!’

Now the misunderstanding was deepening.

[This is the timeline separator]

A tall youth with a slender willow branch-like figure passed through the corridor, his robe fluttering.

Following behind him, an elderly mage raised his voice to call out his name.

“Grisha! Grisha Granite!”

At those words, the youth stopped his steps and turned around.

His loosely tied long black hair drew a curve as it rose and fell again.

The eyes that turned to look back were the color of icy cold sapphires.

“What is the matter?”

His voice was equally hard and cold. The mage who had hurriedly followed him panted heavily.

“Huff! Huff! No… why are your steps so fast… huff.”

“If you have no business, I’ll be on my way.”

“Wait a moment!”

Afraid Grisha might run away, the mage firmly grasped the hem of Grisha’s robe.

“Do you really have no intention of staying at the academy? If it’s you, becoming a grand mage like Nelly Periway is not just a dream!”

So that’s what this is about. Grisha coldheartedly pulled his robe, removing the hem from the mage’s grasp.

“There’s someone waiting for me.”

“Grisha!”

The mage’s face contorted with extreme disappointment at Grisha’s attitude.

“How can you turn your back so coldheartedly when the achievement of becoming a grand mage is right before you! Was this the extent of your sincerity towards magic? Were you always half-hearted?”

“It’s not because I’m half-hearted. It’s just that there’s someone more precious to me than magic.”

“Grisha Granite!”

“Since it seems you have nothing more to say, I’ll be going.”

Grisha twisted his lips. Not sincere about magic?

‘If she hadn’t said I must become a mage, I would have left without even doing this much.’

Grisha knew his own heart well. What he wanted to do, and what he wanted to prioritize.

‘My plan has been delayed more than the mage certification. It’s about time for sister to wake up.’

He wanted to be recognized as the person Grisha, solely by Nelly’s side, abandoning his family and everything else, which is why he didn’t tell Nelly about his family.

But now that the situation had come to this, he regretted not telling her.

‘She’s probably confused, not knowing where to contact.’

So he must go to her side as quickly as possible. Grisha hastened his steps.

Teleportation was one of the strictly managed magics, so even a mage could only use it in designated teleport zones.

He intended to go straight to the imperial capital.

Thinking of the capital always made his heart heavy, but this time was different.

The fluttering, excited feeling in his heart felt unfamiliar, as if it wasn’t his own.

‘Now I can meet her.’

Grisha, who was about to call her ‘sister’ out of habit, shook his head and corrected the title.

There was no longer any need to call her sister.

“Nelly.”

It was time to stand proudly by her side.