KTD Chapter 2 (Part 3)

“I’m sorry.”

Berner avoided eye contact. Once again, he had failed to succeed in magic today.

Whether he couldn’t sense magical energy or simply couldn’t control it, Berner didn’t explain.

The mage teaching him, Lorant, shared his observation: “It’s almost as if he’s afraid of magic.”

While Berner was diligent in his attitude toward lessons, he seemed hesitant to truly engage with magic. Lorant noted that this behavior was common among those who feared magic.

“Pardon me, but could it be that Lord Berner has a magical energy allergy? People with such a condition are often highly sensitive to others’ magical energy but are unable to use magic themselves.”

“That’s not it.”

“Well, the parents of a former student of mine reacted the same way when told their child had no talent….”

“It’s not that.”

“I see….”

Jaynie couldn’t understand it.

In his previous life, Berner burned down the annex of the estate and injured the duke using magic he had never been taught. The mages of the domain scrambled to extinguish the flames, but the fire would not die down.

It was a spell of immense power, far beyond their abilities. The mages were gripped by terror, convinced the entire estate would be reduced to ashes. Yet, the fire consumed only the annex before vanishing as if it had never existed.

A spell born from a clear and desperate wish, resonating with magical energy.

Even a mediocre mage like Jaynie could recognize what it was. It was a talent so rare it might appear once in a century.

The mages of the estate couldn’t hold their tongues. They proclaimed Berner a prodigy, a genius of his time, and argued that such talent should never be punished.

The knights, however, demanded Berner be held accountable as a criminal, in accordance with the law.

Before the standoff could escalate, the mages from the Tower came and took Berner away. With his new status, Berner became untouchable under the continent’s laws.

Reflecting on the destruction he caused later, Jaynie found it impossible to imagine Berner fearing magic.

“Is your teacher the problem?” Jaynie asked.

Berner’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Could it be that he’s not providing you with the right guidance? He seems to think there’s something wrong with you. Perhaps he’s failing to help you fully sense your magical energy.”

“No, that’s not true. Mage Lorant is giving me all the education I need,” Berner quickly defended. His voice was rushed, as if in fear. The wariness in his gaze didn’t fade with time.

Jaynie didn’t press further. Instead, he held out his hand.

“Your homework?”

Berner handed over a bundle of papers bound with thread.

“Go ahead,” Jaynie said, keeping his eyes on the homework as he granted permission.

Berner gave a slight bow, glanced briefly at Enzo, and left the room.

The library door closed, and Jaynie explained, “That was Berner just now.”

“Why does that name sound familiar?”

“He’s the reason you’re here. The illegitimate child of the Grand Princess.”

Enzo, startled, removed his arm from the backrest.

“You’re saying he’s your brother?”

Jaynie almost corrected him, wanting to say, ‘He’s the illegitimate child of the Grand Princess,’ but stopped himself.

His father had taken Berner and the Grand Princess into the duchy, granting him the Blurwin name. While no one called him that, Berner had the right to claim the name as his own.

“In return, acknowledge me as a Blurwin,” Berner had said.

Jaynie had promised him he would.

He was Jaynie’s half-brother.

“Yeah,” Jaynie replied reluctantly, though Enzo seemed pleased. Smiling, Enzo asked, “What’s that?”

“Magic circle calculations.”

“Beginner-level application problems. So you’re making him stay at the estate and forcing him to do something he doesn’t like?”

“Don’t,” Jaynie warned, swatting away Enzo’s hand as he ruffled his hair. Enzo didn’t stop laughing.

“He doesn’t seem to enjoy studying magic. Isota was the same. She couldn’t bring herself to find any fun in studying. If I didn’t stick by her and teach her myself, she wouldn’t even open a single book.”

“It’s not like that,” Jaynie frowned. What was he trying to do, turn everyone into some happy sibling duo? Enzo, as usual, ignored him.

“Then why magic? If he doesn’t like it, there’s always swordsmanship.”

“Berner has talent in magic,” Jaynie replied firmly.

“But he can’t sense magical energy, right?”

“That’s a problem to solve. Making him a knight would be harder anyway. Who would take the illegitimate child of the Grand Princess as their squire?”

“True, that’d be difficult,” Enzo agreed.

However, if Jaynie decided to force the matter, it wasn’t something he couldn’t accomplish. He didn’t even need to ask anyone for help. If he told Enzo right now, “Introduce me to a knight who could be Berner’s teacher,” the problem would be solved instantly.

Enzo didn’t point that out. Jaynie had changed somehow.

He wanted to know how and why Jaynie had changed. What had happened to him?

Jaynie spoke.
“The elders of the family won’t ignore Berner for long. Once he comes of age, they’ll be desperate to send him away. He carries the Blurwin name, after all. Isn’t it better for him to learn how to use magic and be treated like a noble rather than be cast aside?”

“As the second son of a noble, it’s only natural to think about his future,” Enzo agreed. He had no idea when Jaynie had started caring about the Grand Princess’s son, but it was a good change. It was good that Jaynie was paying attention to those around him.

“Three years is a long time, I suppose. Jaynie, you’ve changed a bit.”

“Have I?”

“Yeah. It’s a good look for you.”

Jaynie stayed silent.

It wasn’t because time had passed. When the Grand Princess died, and Jaynie went down to the duchy, he was still the same person when he returned to the capital at twenty. Foolish and immature, he hadn’t been able to avoid problems even when he saw them coming.

He had fallen in love with a slave.

But Enzo had died. Jaynie, who had become enemies with Isota and was eventually killed by Leandro, could no longer be the same person he once was.

Enzo pulled an invitation from his coat and placed it on the desk.

“I can’t stay long. I came to give you this today.”

“Where’s your messenger? Why deliver it yourself?”

“Two birds, one stone. You’re not coming to the capital, so I had to move myself. But this time, make sure you come.”

Enzo pressed the invitation with his hand.

“Vibil Neade will be attending this party.”

Jaynie felt a shiver crawl across his chest like an insect skittering over his skin.

Vibil Neade was a collateral member of the Blurwin family.

He was known for his sharp tongue, and though he was already married, he remained highly popular in social circles. People praised him as a man who could bring joy through conversation alone, even without romantic entanglements. Insulting Jaynie was his favorite form of dialogue. Since the collateral members of Blurwin were all eager to tear Jaynie down, Vibil enjoyed their collective admiration.

Jaynie realized the reason for Enzo’s visit: the invitation to the imperial ball. It was a gathering attended by all nobles, and Enzo didn’t want Jaynie to leave himself vulnerable by being absent, giving Vibil free rein to humiliate him in public.

“Your younger brother… It’s good that you’re worried about Berner. It’s a good change,” Enzo said.

“I’ve never worried about him,” Jaynie replied curtly.

“Of course not. What I mean is, you should care just as much about yourself. People are misunderstanding you. Don’t let them.”

Misunderstanding?

Jaynie was used to the whispers. As a Beta, he was never a welcome presence in social circles. He couldn’t fulfill the duty of producing heirs, and in truth, there had never been a moment when his reputation was good.

The only reason he had attended social gatherings was to avoid the worst-case scenario. Vibil was the kind of person who could inflate the smallest flaw into a mountain. Jaynie had no desire to become the “woefully inadequate Beta son forbidden by his family from attending social events.”

That had happened before.

Jaynie shook his head.

“The capital’s opinion of me doesn’t matter.”

“Jaynie.”

“It doesn’t matter. It’s not important.”

“Then what is important?” Enzo asked gently, as if resigned.

You.

Jaynie answered silently, staring at Enzo.

Now, there was only one thing left in the capital that Jaynie needed to protect. But he couldn’t say it out loud.

When Jaynie fell silent again, Enzo ruffled his hair and propped his foot on the windowsill. There was nothing to be done when Jaynie was stubborn—this had been the case since they were young.

“I’ll go. Let me know if you change your mind. Anytime is fine,” Enzo said.

When Enzo moved to climb out the window again, Jaynie turned to look at him.

“Use the front door, for goodness’ sake.”

“If I leave through the front door, how awkward would it be for the guards waiting in the garden?”

Ignoring how inconvenient he was making things for the estate’s staff, Enzo climbed over the windowsill. His figure leapt into the sunlit garden below.

He waved with a grin, and Jaynie watched him as he grew smaller in the distance. His hands parted the leaves as he walked, his face turning back to smile. He was vibrant and alive.

Jaynie’s eyes grew hot. He lowered his head and covered his face with his hands.

He would protect Enzo.

Leandro could not die now.

Don’t misunderstand.

This wasn’t for Jaynie’s sake. It was because he needed a knight to replace Enzo.

His purpose and direction were clear. Jaynie knew what he had to do from here.

He had to become the heir.

Though he had told Enzo that he didn’t need anything, it wasn’t because the position was unnecessary—it was because gaining the title of heir didn’t require the capital’s approval.

Let Vibil say whatever he wanted about him, as long as it wasn’t in Jaynie’s presence.

The Jaynie of the past felt so distant now. There was a time when his pride and anger defined everything about him.

But hadn’t he already thrown all of that away for Leandro?

Where his pride had shattered, emotions had leaked out, leaving Jaynie hollow. The only thing that remained to fill the void was his sense of betrayal toward Leandro.

Though he wasn’t happy as the heir,

That position was something Jaynie needed.

It was the only way to mobilize the duchy’s knights for the hunt against the Mad Dragon—and to place Leandro as their commander.