A grand mansion with more than five floors.
The beautiful garden visible through the windows, the classical walls, and the main gate are exceedingly magnificent.
The finest dormitory at the Imperial Armian Academy, existing only for the top 10%, where only those who have proven their great qualifications and dignity may enter.
Lavidus Hall.
As if to prove it's the pride of the Imperial Academy, it is incomparably splendid and dignified.
Luina Berchef sat again in exactly the same spot where she had been stood up yesterday.
'Gerhard Goldenheim.'
She ruminated on her anger towards him.
'He's trying to break my spirit.'
It's she who is in need because of the debt. What's more infuriating is that she can't deny it.
The enormous debt that the Berchef family owed to the Goldenheim family.
The once brilliant family collapsed after a single incident, losing all its glory.
They had to sell everything to survive, and even that wasn't enough, so they had to take on debt.
"Sorry I'm late."
At that moment, the door opened. A man entered with a maid.
Black obsidian hair and red eyes. Gerhard Goldenheim, the eldest son of the Goldenheim family.
His neat attire always exudes dignity and nobility. The epitome of a high nobleman, as if drawn in a picture.
"Young Master Gerhard, here's your coffee."
"Thank you."
"Not at all. Please call whenever you need anything."
The maid disappeared. Only the two of them remained in the sealed reception room.
"I'm sorry about yesterday. I was preoccupied and forgot our appointment."
"Someone saw you leaving Lavidus Hall right before our appointment time."
"..."
"It's fine. It's always the one in need who must endure unreasonableness."
"That's not what happened, I'm telling you."
"Yes, I'll consider it as such."
Click, Luina elegantly lifted her teacup.
"I'm not just considering it as such... never mind."
Huff, Gerhard let out a short sigh. The more he tried to explain, the more unsightly it became.
"So, what is your reason for wanting to meet me?"
"Ahem, Magical Survival Skills. Combat, War and Magic. Study of Magical Beasts and Monsters. Do you know what these three subjects have in common?"
"They are lectures focused on practical applications."
"And."
"There are similar subjects in the Knights Department too..."
Luina's aquamarine blue eyes stared directly at Gerhard.
"From the second year, there are frequent joint classes between the Knights Department and the Magic Department. Is that your purpose?"
"There's one more thing."
"What else?"
"The most important part. They're all worth 5 credits."
"..."
"Why that expression? Isn't it more important for you, who barely missed being top of the class and absolutely needs a scholarship?"
"I won't deny it. Then you know what my answer is."
"You don't want to form a partnership with me?"
Once entering the second year, the three subjects emphasized cooperation and experience between knights and wizards.
Therefore, who you partnered with was a very important matter.
"Correct. You're ranked 10th in the Magic Department. And I'm second in the Knights Department. Is there any reason I should partner with you?"
2nd and 10th. There was quite a significant gap.
"I've already received several offers. All better choices than you."
"Of course, as the second-ranked student, you'd have plenty of better options than someone ranked 10th."
But reality wasn't that simple.
"If you consistently partner with me for three years, I'll waive the interest for that duration."
"...!"
The Berchef Marquis family, which had been responsible for the border for generations, was a strong family that protected the northern part of the empire.
The reason for using the past tense is that due to an unexpected large-scale monster wave, their fortress was breached, and their territory became a wasteland. The damage was so massive that it couldn't be fully expressed in words.
Even after receiving support from neighboring nobles and selling the precious rights of the Golden Imperial Decree, they still had to borrow money from the Goldenheim family.
The interest alone generated by that enormous debt was a significant burden on its own.
"...I understand you can't decide such matters alone."
"I am Gerhard Goldenheim."
"But you're not the Duke of Goldenheim."
"Trust me. I never lie. If you want, I'll write you a contract."
"...Really?"
"Yes, but there's one additional condition."
As expected, Luina's expression instantly hardened, as if to say, "I knew it."
"I thought it was too good to be true. What is it?"
"I want to sponsor you."
"...What does that mean?"
"Exactly what I said. I want to personally sponsor you."
"As the second-ranked student at the academy, I receive a full scholarship."
"Everyone except the new students knows that you send most of it to your family, leaving you living more poorly than ordinary commoners, apart from your dormitory."
"..."
Luina closed her mouth. She couldn't understand Gerhard's intention.
Her mouth felt dry. She craved sweet chocolate.
"...What is your intention?"
"There's only one reason a merchant sponsors someone. You can be pleased. You're talented."
"That's not what I'm asking. I am the eldest daughter of the Berchef family."
"Being from a noble family doesn't mean you can't receive sponsorship."
"It's usually not from an equal family."
"Maybe in the past, but aren't our families in the same position now?"
"...Are you trying to insult me?"
Luina's face hardened. The coldness in her pupils was beyond imagination.
Yet Gerhard was confident that Luina Berchef would accept this offer, confident that he could make her accept it.
'I'm sorry, Luina Berchef, but you're not Aint Armian.'
Though her family's honor was high, it couldn't compare to the former imperial family, and unlike the imperial family, she was directly bound by something.
"Originally, I valued Almon Donertz more than you."
Almon Donertz. The top student of the second year in the Knights Department, whom Luina Berchef had never beaten.
"However, recently I happened to see your swordsmanship. It was incomparably beautiful, elegant, dignified, and righteous."
"Flattery won't sway me."
"I'm not a knight, but I'm a merchant with an eye for people. You were a raw gem more valuable than any knight I've seen. More than Almon."
Gerhard closed his eyes.
"I still can't forget your sword dance that unfolded under the moonlight that day."
To be precise, it was Aint who saw it.
And that would be in the future.
"...Under the moonlight? I haven't been out wielding my sword at night recently..."
They haven't met yet? Well, Aint hasn't even enrolled yet. Anyway, that's better.
"I never said it was recent."
"You said 'recently'."
"Even a year ago is recent to me."
"...So you're saying you spied on my sword dance."
"Is that important?"
"You spied on someone's sword dance and you're asking if it's important?"
Faced with Luina's intense reaction as she frowned and burst into anger, Gerhard took a step back.
"...I'm sorry about that, but isn't that beside the point? If you want, I can even keep the fact of my sponsorship a secret."
"...Why go that far? What exactly do you get out of this?"
"A talented individual like you."
For whatever reason, contempt gradually seeped into Luina's eyes.
"Don't tell me..."
"It's strictly about you as a knight."
"...You want me, a person of Berchef, to be loyal to you?"
"I don't even expect that much. Just be my partner during your time at the academy."
The gain was very small compared to the money invested. It seemed excessively foolish, but this was the best approach.
To Gerhard, Luina was an idiot who valued chivalry, justice, and faith as if they were her life—things he found utterly useless.
That's why he needed to bind her with chains of kindness and intimacy rather than coercion.
"Even so..."
Of course.
"The empire's interest rate has risen recently."
He wasn't just offering a carrot. "Fool." There was no word a merchant should be more wary and fearful of.
"...Are you threatening me now?"
"I'm a tender-hearted merchant who gets hurt when my kindness is ignored."
"...Tender-hearted? You?"
"In exchange, even though I'm ranked 10th, I'll prove I won't be a burden to you."
"Prove it?"
"You'll find out soon. Now, make your choice."
In the end, Luina had no choice but to accept.
That's how it is. Outstanding merchants always make offers that the other party cannot refuse.
Whether it's filled with kindness or malice, it's the same.
***
"Welcome back, miss."
"Nanny."
Upon returning to her lodgings, the nanny who had accompanied Luina from her family greeted her.
"How did the conversation go...? What did that money ghost who stood you up say?"
"Watch your language, nanny. He's the eldest son of the Goldenheim family."
"Yes. What did that eldest son rascal say?"
"I want to lie down first."
Luina threw herself onto the bed. Though she hadn't wielded her sword or trained, she felt completely drained as if exhausted.
It meant she had consumed a lot of mental energy.
"He said he saw potential in my sword dance."
The nanny reacted to her soft murmur.
"What did he see in your sword dance?"
"Potential."
"I'm having trouble understanding..."
"He said my swordsmanship was incomparably elegant, beautiful, and dignified. That's why he saw potential."
"So that rascal dared to spy on your practice? And he tried to woo you with that? At least he has an eye for quality! He didn't threaten you with the debt, did he?"
Luina chuckled at the subtle anger.
"Don't worry, nanny. It's not what you're thinking."
"Then what? Don't be so vague and tell me everything at once."
"You know that in the second year at the academy, there are many collaborative classes between the Knights Department and the Magic Department, right?"
"Yes. I'm an academy graduate too. Wait, don't tell me?"
"That's right. He asked me to be his partner."
Seeing her speak so nonchalantly with her eyes closed, the nanny jumped up from her seat.
"I knew it! That rascal has fallen for you and is making dirty moves!"
"It didn't particularly seem that way."
"How can you not see that from such a proposal?"
"He said if we become partners, he won't charge interest during my time at the academy."
Momentarily, the nanny's voice, which had been flaring up angrily, suddenly subsided.
"If it's Gerhard Goldenheim, he might not be a bad match for you... He's rich, handsome..."
"Isn't your attitude changing too quickly?"
"...I couldn't help it."
Ahem, the nanny cleared her throat and avoided Luina's gaze.
"I got sidetracked, but it's still suspicious. Who was it that interfered with the imperial support and made you go into debt in the first place?"
"It would be too far-fetched to say he did all that for this, right?"
"Are you saying he planned this from almost eight years ago for a partnership with you? Absolutely not. It's definitely about the arcane swordsmanship."
Whatever the reason for the sudden change, that much was certain.
"...Anyway, I couldn't refuse."
Waiving three years of interest and sponsorship. Not only the clause that the sponsorship would not be disclosed externally, but also a treaty that the contract would automatically terminate upon graduation.
"The conditions were too good to refuse."
Luina handed over the contract. After carefully checking it, the nanny nodded.
"There are certainly no poison clauses. Everything is too favorable for you. Why would Gerhard Goldenheim make such a contract? Is he really in love with you?"
"I told you. He said he saw potential in me."
"Because of the sword dance he spied on?"
"He said that as a merchant, he's confident in his ability to judge people."
"Considering Gerhard Goldenheim's reputation, it seems not to be a lie, but there are many things that bother me. Especially the idea that Goldenheim suddenly gave up on arcane swordsmanship is hard to believe."
"I think the same, nanny."
Nevertheless.
"But you're going to do it, right?"
The nanny asked with certainty.
"The conditions are too good. I just need to endure being his partner for three years. The three-year interest waiver will be a big help to the family. And I've already signed."
From the moment she wrote the contract, Luina had made up her mind.
"Honestly, I want to dissuade you, but if you've already made your decision, I'll follow it. My immediate concern, though, is your grades. Being ranked 10th isn't insufficient, but compared to you, it's far from enough..."
"He said he would prove that he's not lacking."
"Prove it? How?"
"I don't know."
"What scheme does that money-obsessed ghost have..."
"I'm curious about that too."
What was his reason for giving up massive amounts of money to sponsor her and make her his partner?
'Do I really have that much talent?'
She had never felt lacking in talent, but apart from her parents and family members, no one had praised her to this extent before.
Above all, if he was willing to take such a risk, couldn't he have wooed not just her but also Almon, the top student?
"..."
It would be a lie to say she wasn't pleased to be recognized, regardless of his intentions.
"Nanny."
"Yes."
"I need to write a letter to father."
"He'll be sad. That you're sacrificing yourself for the family."
"This much isn't a sacrifice. It's only natural."
"Still, since we don't know his true intentions, it might be better to omit the sponsorship contract."
"Okay."
"But what do you think the proof will be?"
"I wonder."
Surely he wouldn't want to spar with her, would he?
No, he wouldn't. His skills are nowhere near her level.
Luina shook her head.
***
"Young master, will you be alright?"
It was a question packed with many implications.
The claw extended to Berchef was directly planned by the Duke of Goldenheim. The Goldenheim family, while great, lacked expertise in swordsmanship compared to magic.
They desired excellent arcane swordsmanship, and the arcane swordsmanship of the Berchef Border Marquis, who had long protected the northern empire, looked irresistibly sweet.
The Berchef family collapsed at the right time, and they set up their plan accordingly. And it was about to bear fruit.
'I directly overturned that plan.'
An exceptional arcane swordsmanship and a person almost certain to become a Royal Knight.
If the Goldenheim ducal family lived and died by a single swordsmanship, it might be understandable, but swordsmanship was just one of many things Goldenheim possessed.
There was no need to risk losing the goodwill of a future Royal Knight.
In addition to his impoverishing actions.
The problem was that he was the only one who knew this, and there was no way to explain it.
"I'll write a letter to father soon."
"What will you write?"
"...I'll have to write something."
"Since you've already committed to this course of action, I won't say more, but I wish you luck. May I serve you again alive..."
"...Leave."
"Yes."
The servant disappeared.
"How should I explain this?"
No matter how well he phrased it, he'd be scolded.
He could vividly imagine his father clutching the back of his neck and collapsing, saying he'd taken a creative loss after seeing the contract terms.
If he had a child and that child did something like this, he would have driven them out, saying they were selling out the family because they were obsessed with a woman.
"...I don't know. I should sleep on it and think about it."
Gerhard, holding his throbbing head, lay down on the bed and chose the easy path of avoidance for now.