MFTR 96

Chapter 96

Her red hair, which made her white, translucent skin stand out all the more, blended with the green dress so that Annette looked exactly like a blooming rose.

Only then did Jeon realize, somewhat absurdly, that back in Heyworth Annette had always been in terribly shabby clothes.

And yet, despite wearing attire so ill-matched to her status as a princess and her position as the captain of the knights, she had always carried herself with dignity and confidence, so much so that her poverty never showed.

Jeon’s Adam’s apple moved slowly.

Perhaps it was because he had never once imagined he would see her dressed up like this.

It was undeniably the same face, but the woman before him felt like someone entirely different from the Annette Heyworth he had known until now.

That woman who used to exude such a chilling, bleak air—who weighed heavily on everyone who looked at her—was nowhere to be found here.

The moment he realized this, his chest tightened.

As though he was disappointed, like some unspoken expectation had just crumbled.

And then Jeon froze.

‘What on earth am I…’

“Wow, I’m completely shocked! I didn’t recognize you, Captain! Sir Millard, don’t you agree?”

“……”

“You’re so stunned you can’t even speak, huh?”

Luke’s excited voice snapped Jeon back to his senses, and he frowned slightly as he looked again at Annette.

She still stood by the doorway, smiling awkwardly at Luke, who had hurried up to her, unable to hide his delight at seeing her.

‘……She’s smiling?’

Realizing this a beat late, Jeon’s fingertips gave a slight tremor.

Just then, Annette, who had forced up a small smile, scratched her cheek.

“Um… is it really that surprising?”

She had only entrusted herself to Larisa’s hands because she wanted to look pretty for Cardin, and to make a good impression on the ducal household’s retainers.

Since they had never seen her dressed this way before, it was only natural for Luke to be surprised. But confronted with such an over-the-top reaction, she suddenly felt strangely embarrassed.

“Does it look weird, after all…”

She muttered this under her breath, the clothes that hadn’t felt uncomfortable now suddenly stifling. But Luke shook his head furiously.

“No, not at all! Not weird in the slightest!”

Then, sneaking a glance behind Annette with a nervous look, he whispered cautiously.

“It’s not because that maid looks like she’ll kill me if I say otherwise. Really, you’re beautiful, Captain.”

Annette blinked at the words, then quickly turned her head.

There she saw Larisa, who had been wearing an aghast expression at Luke’s remark. When their eyes met, Larisa quickly averted her gaze and fumbled to look busy.

Annette couldn’t help it—she let out a small laugh.

It was different from the awkward smile from moments earlier; this was a clearer, more genuine expression of feeling.

Seeing it right in front of him, Luke gasped in shock.

“C-Captain, you just laughed?”

Startled, Annette quickly suppressed her smile, smoothing her lips.

But Luke, still in disbelief, cried out:

“Maid, you saw it too, right? Our Captain smiled!”

“Hmph! Of course I did. My lady smiles all the time. What’s so shocking about that?”

“Really? She smiles often? This is my first time seeing it!”

“Really? I’ve seen her smile every single day since the very first! Oh, and by the way, she’s not your Captain anymore—she’s our lady, got it?”

Jeon did not take his eyes off Annette as she laughed again at the two bickering.

The look she gave her maid was so warm.

The Annette Heyworth he knew had always strained herself to seem indifferent to others’ gazes, and in doing so tried to be equally detached from those around her.

And yet, she had already opened herself up to this maid—given her a place by her side, even in her heart.

Jeon’s gaze drifted from Annette to the young maid, who spoke up fiercely in Annette’s defense. He now realized that what Hubert, the duke’s chief steward, had said earlier was true.

Everyone in this household had accepted her wholeheartedly.

The sliver of hope he had stubbornly clung to, denying it until he could see with his own eyes, vanished.

In that moment, Jeon finally understood what it was he had been expecting.

‘I… wanted to be her savior.’

He had expected Annette to still be isolated, unable to connect with anyone, silently swallowing her pain while pretending not to notice the ridicule and contempt aimed at her.

And then he would appear, like a single ray of light in the darkness, extending a hand she could never refuse.

Now he realized: for a very long time, he had assumed that if he stretched out his hand, Annette would have no choice but to take it.

He had thought time would always be on his side.

How laughable. How pathetic.

As he ran a hand across his mouth to hide the complicated sigh that threatened to escape, Luke and Larisa’s squabble continued.

“You’re saying our Captain smiled every day?”

“Of course! And are you ignoring me again? She’s not your Captain anymore—she’s our lady!”

Snorting, Larisa shot back, and Luke smacked himself on the head as though realizing his blunder.

“Sorry, I messed up!”

“Hmph, as long as you know—”

“I’ll be more careful from now on. I should start calling her Lady too, right? I’d better get used to it early.”

“What… what are you talking about?”

Larisa, who had been keeping wary guard in case they had come to take Annette away, gaped at his absurd words.

Annette too was dumbfounded.

“Luke, why would you call me ‘lady’?”

“Well, uh…”

“Come to think of it, I heard you quit the royal knights. Is that true?”

Luke scratched his head at her sharp question—he had been quietly planning to settle down in the ducal household. After a deep breath, he dropped to his knees with a thud.

“Captain! Up until now, my dream was to protect people from monsters. That’s why I joined the royal knights. But now it’s changed. From now on, my dream and goal is to protect you, Captain!”

“What?”

Annette stared at him in disbelief, but he pressed on.

“It was only after meeting you that I learned who had truly been protecting Heyworth from monsters all this time. You, Captain, were the real savior. And yet, because of me…”

Thinking of how she had been forced to give up her captaincy so unfairly, Luke felt something choke in his chest, threatening to spill out.

Seeing him falter with emotion, Annette rubbed her forehead.

“Luke, protecting you was my duty, and getting hurt was not your fault. So you don’t need to quit the knights. And you certainly don’t need to follow me—”

“But I owe my life to you, Captain! So I’ll repay that debt until the day I die!”

Annette flinched slightly at the determination in his unwavering eyes.

She was surprised at how firm his resolve was—and more than that, at how stunned she felt by his declaration that his dream now was to guard her out of gratitude.

Even though she had grown accustomed lately to people standing up for her, a pang still welled in her chest.

‘I really am weak to people who look me straight in the eye and crash into me with all their heart.’

For some reason, Luke—kneeling there, swallowing nervously—and Larisa—clicking her tongue in exasperation—felt oddly similar to her.

But she bit her lip to stifle a smile, knowing that if she said so out loud, Larisa would be furious.

Taking her silence as a rejection, Luke pleaded even more desperately.

“Please, Captain. Please ask His Grace to let me serve here by your side!”

“Luke.”

At that moment, Jeon, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke.

“That’s enough. Step outside for now. I have words for the Princess.”

Blinking, Luke jumped to his feet with an “Ah!”

Of course, even if he had left the royal knights, his personal pleas were less important than the words of Jeon, who had come to the empire bearing the king’s orders as Heyworth’s representative.

“I’ll be here anyway, so please, Sir, go ahead and speak comfortably first!”

“Why does this guy keep trying to sneak his way in? My lady, please put him in his place. There isn’t a single vacancy in this ducal estate!”

“…Larisa.”

“Yes, my lady!”

“Would you take Luke outside?”

“Yes, of course… Wait, me too?”

Larisa, about to drag Luke out, stopped short.

Annette gave her an awkward smile and nodded.

The truth—that Heyworth had requested knights from the duke—would soon come to light.

But Annette didn’t want to discuss the kingdom’s unreasonable, inconsiderate demands in front of Larisa.

Nor did she want to trample on Jeon’s pride, knowing he, as the current captain of the royal knights, must be feeling the same bitterness she once had.

“Larisa, please.”

“Ugh… alright, my lady!”

Though she felt uneasy about leaving Annette behind, she couldn’t refuse her request. After some hesitation, she finally dragged Luke out.

When the door to the reception room closed, silence fell.

Clack, clack. The sound of shoes with distinct heels—not the kind made for children—echoed as Annette slowly crossed the room and sat on the sofa opposite Jeon.

Already naturally poised and composed, she now carried herself with the elegance that came from earnest etiquette lessons. Every movement was flawless and refined.

Watching her, Jeon found himself thinking that she looked like a noble young lady who had never known hardship, raised among beauty and grace.

And he couldn’t help the pang of deprivation that followed.

Because the one who had given her this chance to shine… wasn’t him.