MWAMHR|CHAPTER 57

Chapter 57

***

As promised, Elisa headed down to the hotel restaurant thirty minutes before dinner was to be served. She’d been wondering how to sneak out, but since Ethan and Noah had both fallen asleep, it turned out to be surprisingly easy.

Her heart fluttered with excitement at the thought of finally hearing Ethan’s story. A faint smile lingered on her lips as she walked with a light step.

“Sir Brander!”

For once, she called him by his surname instead of ‘Advisor.’ That alone betrayed her excitement. Conrad Brander blinked, startled by the unexpected form of address.

“Oh—sorry!”

Realizing how giddy she sounded, Elisa blushed in embarrassment. Conrad simply smiled, shaking his head softly.

“It’s all right. Though, I’d prefer if you called me Sir Conrad instead of Sir Brander. My family hasn’t officially disowned me yet, but… in truth, I’ve already cut ties with them.”

Elisa’s eyes widened slightly. For a noble to sever ties with their family was tantamount to social death—disgraceful and ruinous. Yet Conrad spoke of it as though it were nothing, leaving her momentarily at a loss for words.

“They said they’d let us know when dinner’s ready,” he added lightly. “Shall we talk out on the terrace until then?”

“Yes, I’d like that.”

She followed Conrad to the restaurant’s terrace. As soon as he opened the door, a gust of fragrant air washed over them. Flowers in full bloom swayed gently with the evening breeze, their petals dancing like bits of silk.

“Where should I begin…”

Leaning against the white marble railing, where a single, nameless petal had come to rest, Conrad spoke quietly.

“I was a spy,” he said, “sent by Prince Alex to keep an eye on Prince Howard during the war with the Empire.”

The Fourth Division—Prince Howard’s unit, and the same one Ethan had served in—had been key to winning that war.

“The prince ordered me to report every detail of Prince Howard’s actions. But approaching him was nearly impossible.”

His gaze drifted off into the distance, as though he could still see that battlefield.

“With pressure mounting from above, I grew desperate for a way in. That’s when I noticed Baron Esteban—back then, merely a laborer tending Prince Howard’s tent.”

Conrad smiled faintly, as if amused by the memory.

“For a common worker, he stood out. I offered him money in exchange for information about the prince. He accepted without hesitation.”

Elisa’s eyes widened. Even if he hadn’t said the words, it was obvious that Conrad had been asking him to commit espionage. That Ethan would agree so easily—it didn’t sound like him at all.

“I thought my problems were solved,” Conrad went on, “but I soon discovered Baron Estevan was a double agent.”

“A… double agent?”

“Yes. Prince Howard already knew I was a spy for Prince Alex. He assigned Estevan to watch me.”

“But you chose Ethan yourself, didn’t you?” Elisa asked in confusion.

“That was part of Prince Howard’s plan. He was an incredibly calculating man.”

Elisa blinked. She recalled how Ethan used to bicker endlessly with the prince.

“He didn’t seem that type at all…”

“That, too, was by design.”

Elisa could hardly believe it—Prince Howard, the easygoing man she remembered, scheming everything so meticulously?

“One day,” Conrad continued, “Prince Howard caught me sending a letter meant for Prince Alex. I thought I’d be executed on the spot.”

He frowned slightly, as if the memory itself stung.

“But instead, he made me an offer. He said he’d overlook my crimes—if I taught Baron Estevan swordsmanship.”

Elisa blinked. “You, a spy for Prince Alex… teaching swordsmanship?”

Conrad chuckled softly. “I know it sounds strange. Let’s just say the reason wasn’t all that different from why I’m serving as Prince Howard’s aide now.”

“That… doesn’t make it any clearer.”

“Haha, then I suppose you’ll have to ask the prince himself.”

“Would he even tell me?”

“Probably not.”

Elisa sighed. Then why even suggest it?

“But it was after he trained under me that Baron Estevan began making a name for himself as the infamous ‘K’ from the rumors.”

Her eyes sparkled with interest.

“Unfortunately, the baron wasn’t talented with a sword,” Conrad admitted. “He was strong, but too old to learn true swordsmanship.”

“Yet they say K was an exceptional swordsman.”

“Prince Howard spread those rumors himself. Heroes, after all, must be good at everything to be adored.”

Another one of the prince’s schemes. Elisa could only shake her head in disbelief.

“The truth is, Baron Estevan survived not because of skill, but because of sheer willpower. The will to live—and return to the person he loved.”

Elisa’s throat tightened. She knew instantly that she was that person. Her eyes glistened as tears threatened to fall.

“Of course,” Conrad added gently, “willpower can’t stop bullets. He was gravely injured once—shot in the chest.”

“Shot?!” Elisa gasped.

“You didn’t know?”

She covered her mouth with trembling hands, tears spilling down her cheeks.

“Ethan never talks about the war…”

Conrad blinked, realization dawning on his face.

“Ah. I see. Then I’ve said too much. Forgive me.”

“No—it’s fine. Thank you, really.”

Four years. Ethan had survived four long years on the battlefield. To think she had felt relief simply because he’d come home alive—how foolish she’d been.

She recalled how he’d refused to show her his body when she treated his injured leg. She’d assumed it was embarrassment. Now she knew—he was hiding the scars.

He didn’t want me to see them. He didn’t want me to hurt for him.

He’d never spoken of the war because he knew there was nothing beautiful in those memories. Only pain.

As her tears fell, Conrad silently offered her a handkerchief. Elisa nodded gratefully and wiped her face.

“Sorry,” she murmured, forcing a small laugh. “You must think I’m ridiculous.”

“Not at all,” Conrad replied gently. “But… could we keep this between us? If Baron Estevan finds out, he’ll probably try to kill me.”

His lighthearted tone drew a faint smile from her lips.

Just then, the terrace door swung open—and a tall figure appeared against the red glow of sunset.

“E–Ethan?”

Baron Ethan Estevan stood there, his expression darkening as his eyes fell on the two of them.

“…Were you crying?”

The cold edge in his voice made Elisa stiffen.

“I didn’t make her cry!” Conrad blurted defensively. But Ethan’s glare—sharp as a drawn blade—cut straight through him.

“Sir Conrad did nothing wrong, Ethan,” Elisa hurried to say.

“Sir Conrad?” Ethan’s eyes narrowed. “Since when are you two on a first-name basis?”

“Ah—well, that’s…”

Oh, Lord above, save this poor soul, Conrad prayed silently, though he hadn’t prayed in years.

Elisa’s mind raced for an escape. She couldn’t reveal what they’d talked about—it was supposed to stay secret. But staying silent would only make it worse.

Then, inspiration struck.

“Noah! Where’s Noah?” she exclaimed.

Ethan blinked. “What—?”

“Don’t tell me you left our Noah alone! Come on, we need to go check on him!”

Grabbing his arm, she tugged him away from the terrace. Ethan shot her a suspicious look, but in the end, he let himself be pulled along.