Chapter Thirty-seven: Almost a Reunion (Lyos’s POV)
As Lyos stepped into the Ehlertt estate, Sieg Ehlertt stood at the entrance with his mother, greeting the arriving guests. Though Lyos wanted to create an opportunity to speak with them, he entered as part of the Royal Knights group and was processed as such, unable to even call out to them.
He could only pass by them, and Lyos internally sighed.
Karen, who had once seemed to mock his rock-bottom existence by flaunting her healthy body and the life she could enjoy with it every day. Now it was Lyos’s turn to mock Karen. He had intended to mock her while showing mercy and lifting her from rock bottom, but then Julius Ehlertt appeared. He left behind words that suggested he was interested in Karen, leaving Lyos and everyone present in confusion.
When Lyos investigated what was going on, rumors emerged that Karen had committed a despicable fraud. It seemed that an F-rank had finally fallen as low as expected of an F-rank. They say the Ehlertt family, unable to publicly admit they were deceived by an F-rank alchemist, had no choice but to reward her.
However, rumor had it that they avoided giving Karen what she wanted most—Julius Ehlertt himself—and settled the matter with other compensation. But if that was the case, what was Julius’s attitude all about…?
Suddenly, Lyos noticed the dark expression on Marian’s face, whom he was escorting, and interrupted his thoughts to look at her.
“Marian, I plan to explain to the Ehlertt family today when the opportunity arises that I have absolutely nothing to do with Karen. So don’t worry.”
“Yes…”
When Lyos heard that Karen might have promoted herself to the Ehlertt family by claiming she had experience in curing the Bloodline Blessing, even he felt a sense of dread.
There was a possibility that his current fiancée was being considered an accomplice to fraud. No wonder Marian was feeling down.
When Lyos heard about this, Karen’s cry of "You got better because of me!" echoed like a nightmare in his ears. She acted like she had done something without being asked and tried to hold it over him. Her brazenness made him sick.
The Ehlertt family owed the Royal Knights a favor, and Lyos was fortunate to obtain an invitation to this party. Whatever happens here, Lyos would have a chance to explain himself.
“Hey Lyos, there are rumors that Karen will appear as an honored guest of the Ehlertt family today. What do you think?”
“They wouldn’t formally present a fraudster as their benefactor.”
If they were to announce something publicly, it would become an established fact.
According to credible rumors Lyos had heard, even if Karen were to appear, she would be introduced as someone who happened to be present when Sieg recovered. The most likely possibility was that Karen wouldn’t be introduced at all.
That would be the most peaceful outcome, but how would things actually turn out? Lyos surveyed the spacious ballroom of the Ehlertt mansion.
“Don’t look so glum, Marian. We get to dance here, you know? You’ve dressed up beautifully, so you should enjoy yourself.”
“Yes… you’re right.”
The knight’s training was harsh, and his body had felt heavy ever since he became a knight. But experiencing privileges like this made it all feel worthwhile. In the tailcoat that Marian had arranged through the Merchants’ Guild, he looked almost like a nobleman.
Among his fellow Royal Knights who eagerly attended to make connections were many second and third sons of impoverished noble families, but Lyos smirked thinking that he and Marian looked more noble than they did. At times like this, he really felt how different their world had become from that of ordinary commoners.
“I heard the Ehlertt’s heir was given a terminal prognosis. Can someone really recover from something like that on their own?”
“That’s what happened to me, Marian.”
“Really…?”
“Yes. My health deteriorated rapidly when I was around eleven, but I overcame it.”
“…What was Karen doing at that time?”
“Every day after commoner school, she would come to see me and flaunt how she could attend school. As if trying to make me jealous. I lost count of how many times I yelled at her to never show her face again…”
Yet Karen kept coming, taking care of Lyos without being asked.
Being cared for by a girl of the same age—his fiancée, no less—he didn’t want such humiliation. But after his mother Frieda collapsed from taking care of him, there was no one left to look after Lyos except Karen. Some adults approached with kind faces, but they were after his mother’s money and might have ended up killing Lyos instead. Lyos fell into despair when he had no choice but to accept Karen’s care.
“They say some people die because of the Bloodline Blessing…”
“The Blessing that the Ehlertt son and I inherited probably wasn’t that significant.”
Lyos snorted.
This was something he first learned after joining the Royal Knights.
The fact that he could overcome it on his own meant that the inherited magical power wasn’t that substantial, to begin with, they said. When noble members of the Royal Knights first told him this, Lyos felt insulted, but nobles were experts on the Bloodline Blessing.
The more he heard from multiple nobles and learned about the Bloodline Blessing, the more he understood their words were true. He had thought he was a chosen one who survived hardship. But as it turned out, they said Lyos only survived because his Blessing was insignificant.
Though he had come to accept that it was better than dying, it wasn’t a pleasant story.
At that moment, the music swelled dramatically.
“Presenting the Ehlertt family!”
Karen’s name wasn’t mentioned. Lyos breathed a sigh of relief for now.
“Here they come—ah…”
Marian let out a disappointed sigh.
Among the family emerging onto the balcony from the second-floor room, Lyos’s eyes widened at the sight of Karen being escorted by tonight’s guest of honor at the very back of the central group.
Her hair was polished like gleaming jewels, and she wore a luxurious light blue dress clearly better tailored than Marian’s. With every slight movement, her dress, the heavy golden jewels adorning her delicate neck and ears reflected the ballroom’s lamplight, casting rainbow-colored light.
Reflexively, Lyos almost cried out.
“Everyone, thank you for gathering here today to celebrate my recovery.”
The boy in a tailcoat who had escorted Karen began to speak.
Applause filled the ballroom, and Lyos kept his mouth shut. He broke out in cold sweat, relieved that he had stayed silent.
“Due to the extraordinary magical power I inherited from my ancestors, I was standing at death’s door. First, please give warm applause to my father and mother, who never gave up on my life and worked tirelessly.”
A noble couple stepped forward and waved.
Living the good life had kept them looking remarkably young. Lyos grimaced, reminded of his own mother who had aged ungracefully.
“Next, please give your loving applause to Uncle Julius, who won the swordsmanship tournament, conquered the regional dungeon, and even fought to conquer the royal capital’s dungeon, all to draw attention to help me.”
As soon as the man stepped forward and became visible from the balcony, sighs of admiration erupted from all around.
Lyos clicked his tongue. He had thought this since the swordsmanship tournament, but the man was as insufferable as ever.
He glanced at Marian, hoping she wasn’t making the same face as those other women, only to find her staring intently at the balcony with a rigid expression.
Relieved by Marian’s reaction, Lyos turned back to look at the balcony.
“And finally, please give a big round of applause to the young and talented alchemist who, encouraged by Uncle Julius’s achievements, accepted our request and successfully granted me the power to overcome the Bloodline Blessing—Sister Karen!”
Karen gave an awkward bow.
Her hastily learned etiquette appeared ridiculous.
Yet thunderous applause erupted.
Lyos stared intently at Karen, wondering what was happening, why she was being called "sister," and if this could be someone else with the same name.
Despite Lyos watching, Karen’s gaze never turned toward him.
It was as if they now lived in different worlds.
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