Forgiveness

Not long after, the heavy doors were pushed open, casting bright light onto Charles's face, which had turned pale from excessive blood loss. Several sets of footsteps approached from outside.

"My Lord, he has passed."

Master said indifferently to the young, majestic nobleman beside him.

"Master, isn't this going a bit too far?"

Aurelian's eyes were filled with doubt. When Master had first proposed modifying the knight trials to him, he had been somewhat surprised, though he had ultimately agreed.

Flowers of slaughter could not be cultivated in a greenhouse, and he, Aurelian, was in dire need of true flowers of slaughter.

"Carry him back to recover from his injuries."

Aurelian called out; the youth before him was truly in a sorry state.

"Understood."

Master nodded, a flicker of light in his eyes as he looked at Charles as if he were a precious, unpolished jade.

Charles was carried off to the infirmary by several knights for treatment. Aurelian stood outside the door, observing the Knight Commander, who was vastly different from before.

"I intend to recruit more men. Do you have any opinions, my Knight Commander?" he asked with a gentle smile on his face.

"It is this humble one's honor to cultivate knights for you, my Lord. We shall surely become the sharpest sword in your hand."

"Master, you really have changed. I can no longer see your ambition; I truly suspect you might have been replaced by some otherworldly demon."

Aurelian said with a laugh, observing Master closely, wondering if he was perhaps a fellow countryman.

There was no helping it; the change was too drastic, and he couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't the same person.

"Ever since the battle with Miss Jeanne, I have realized how ridiculous and absurd my previous pursuits were. It was she who guided me to my path."

Master's gaze was firm as he clenched his fists.

Aurelian's expression, however, turned cold. Her again? Why was it always her?

A series of questions occupied his mind. Having no heart to continue the conversation with Master, he shook his head and said, "I leave this to you. Notify me once Charles wakes up."

"As you wish, my Lord." Master nodded in agreement.

Aurelian left the training grounds, mounted George, and rode slowly back to the main castle.

Old Will was leading the servants in tidying up the castle. Seeing his master approach, he took the lead in bowing.

Aurelian nodded in response, his gaze sweeping the area, yet he still found no trace of the maid.

He went upstairs and returned to his room.

A flash of white collided with Aurelian's chest, soft and fluffy.

"Roundball, you're acting spoiled again."

Aurelian grabbed the spherical object in his hands and rubbed it; it felt very comfortable.

"Wu-ya, wu-ya."

"No, I don't want to go."

He shook his head, the barrier in his heart difficult to erase.

It had been like that in the Spruce Forest, and it was the same during their sparring match. Was her own life not a life? Aurelian was sick of that feeling of being out of control, especially when it was a woman constantly risking her life to protect him and sacrificing herself for him.

With his inherently proud nature, he could not accept it.

"Wu-ya, wu-ya."

Roundball opened its watery, soulful eyes and pleaded.

"Acting cute is shameful!"

Aurelian was on the verge of losing his mind.

"Wu-ya, wu-ya, wu-wu..."

Roundball rubbed its head against him, continuing to look at Aurelian pitifully.

"Fine, fine, I'll go, alright? But let's get this straight: I'm only going to apologize."

Aurelian surrendered under Roundball's relentless offensive.

Placing Roundball on top of his head, he stood before the maid's door. For some reason, Aurelian suddenly felt a bit apprehensive.

Was it guilt for injuring her? Or was it something else?

Or perhaps, was he afraid of something?

He raised his hesitant right hand, knocked on the door a few times, and immediately pulled it back.

Click—

A pair of fair, clean hands opened the door, and a slender figure appeared from within.

The maid was leaning against the doorframe wearing a white nightgown, looking at him with a strange expression.

"Hi, long time no see. I came to check on you for Roundball."

Aurelian suddenly felt a bit awkward, not knowing what to say.

"It's only been one night, after all."

The maid looked at him with a bewildered expression.

"Ah, right, my mistake. Sorry about that."

Aurelian wore a silly grin, trying to mask his embarrassment.

"Wuya, wuya."

Roundball leaped straight from the top of Aurelian's head and dove into the maid's arms.

"Are you alright?"

Jeanne held Roundball up before her, examining it closely, her sky-blue eyes unable to hide her concern.

Aurelian's mouth twitched, for he saw that Roundball had already shifted into countless shapes while in Jeanne's hands.

Heh, women. They lose all composure the moment they see something cute.

"Are you alright?" he asked suddenly.

"I am fine."

For some reason, the maid's face flushed slightly, and she looked away, not daring to meet his gaze.

"As long as you're fine."

Aurelian let out a sigh of relief, the stone in his heart finally settling.

But after asking that, he felt utterly mortified, a sense of awkwardness washing over his entire body.

To be honest, he was no expert at flirting.

"If there is nothing else, I am going to close the door."

The maid felt her face burning and wanted to escape this feeling as quickly as possible.

Just as she was about to close the door, Aurelian caught it.

Aurelian's expression suddenly turned resolute for some unknown reason; he looked straight into her evasive eyes and said calmly.

"Would you continue to be my maid?"

After asking, he felt like he was going insane.

Why, why did I say it out loud? I had clearly decided not to let her get involved in my affairs.

"I will."

The response was as brief and clear as ever, the tone as cold as always.

Clack—

The door closed, and Aurelian stood alone outside.

Sighing, he walked toward his room.

Inside, Jeanne was leaning against the door panel, staring up at the ceiling in a daze until the footsteps outside faded away, at which point she finally moved.

Time passed quickly, and night fell once more.

Aurelian sat alone at the dining table, looking at the delicious steak, tasty buttered bread, and the platter of fresh fruit; it was such a lavish spread.

Yet, he found himself unable to take a bite.

The cushion opposite him was empty, and Roundball was nowhere to be seen.

A familiar fragrance caught his attention, and as he turned his head, an irrepressible surprise surged in his eyes.

"Master, it has been a long time."