Snow quietly fell from the sky.
Evangeline exhaled white breath and slowly murmured.
"So that's how it happened..."
Lucas nodded slowly.
"That's how it happened."
Today, Lucas and Evangeline shared what had happened to each of them.
Having both achieved the unprecedented record of zero confessions and one rejection on the same day, they were sharing the same feelings.
It felt unfair...
"Well, it's somewhat a relief," Lucas chuckled.
"If Hecate had continued to struggle, I was thinking of helping her as a supporter... after all, we're friends."
"As a friend?"
"As a friend. I've never thought of Hecate as anything more than that."
"You're really good at building walls..."
"But it seems like she's decided to pull herself together and stand up... we should cheer her on."
Evangeline sighed lightly and clasped her hands behind her head, leaning her head back.
"I'm also relieved. That waiter decided to give up."
"Was it that hard to turn him down?"
"Well, he's also a resident of the city I'll be governing... and to be honest, it was the first confession I'd ever received."
"Ha ha ha!"
Lucas suddenly burst into laughter.
Evangeline glared at him with narrowed eyes.
"Why are you laughing now?"
"No, it's just..."
Lucas looked up at the sky with his blue eyes and murmured.
"It's funny how we're reporting this to each other."
"..."
Evangeline puffed out her cheeks slightly and looked at Lucas's side profile. She suddenly stood up with a noise.
"We can't just let this end with us being unfairly rejected, can we?"
Evangeline raised her small fists and showed her determination.
Lucas tilted his head.
"Zero confessions and one rejection is certainly unfair, but... so? How do we overturn this score?"
Then Evangeline gave a mischievous smile.
"Let's go reject someone too! Spread the score of zero confessions and one rejection to increase the number of innocent victims!"
"Hoo..."
It was quite a crazy idea, but for Lucas, who had been dumped without doing anything, he found the proposal oddly appealing.
"But, who?"
Who would be the unfortunate victim?
Evangeline's mischievous smile deepened.
As if she had someone in mind from the beginning, she whispered quietly.
"How about the person who seems to have never been rejected on this front?"
***
It's the first day of the new year, but I always have a lot of work.
"Horrible~ so horrible~"
Humming a song I made up on the spot, I was handling various documents in the lord's office when there was a knock on the door. My two knights walked in side by side.
I waved at them.
"Did you both have fun? How's the atmosphere in the streets? I took a brief look around earlier, but I was busy, so I only stopped by the temple and came right back."
"..."
"..."
But Lucas and Evangeline didn't respond.
They were nudging each other, signaling 'You go first,' 'No, you go first,' until Evangeline finally stepped forward.
"Hmm?"
I blinked, not knowing what was going on. What are they up to?
"Is something wrong?"
"Um, Senior. Well."
Clearing her throat and adjusting her voice, Evangeline stood in front of my desk. After glancing around and organizing her thoughts, she began to speak.
"Actually, at first, I think I liked you a bit, Senior."
I was surprised but listened quietly. Evangeline scratched her cheek and continued.
"You came to rescue me when I was isolated in front of the golem army, taught me and led me in place of my father, defeated any enemy without hesitation, and knew everything... Honestly, to my young self, you were like a prince on a white horse."
"..."
"So... yes. Honestly, I liked you."
I looked at the grown-up figure of my shield knight standing before me.
The sixteen-year-old kid I first met was no longer there.
Three years had passed, and Evangeline Cross, now an adult, was speaking her mind shyly but calmly.
"But as time passed, I realized. That feeling wasn't love, but admiration."
"..."
"You had many things I didn't have. Maturity, wisdom, a strong heart... I wanted to be like you. A commander like you, a lord like you, a leader like you."
Evangeline no longer avoided my gaze, her emerald eyes shining as she looked straight at me.
"But now, I also know. You and I are different people. I can learn from you, but I can't be a leader just like you. I'll govern Crossroad in my way, making my own path..."
"..."
"Well, of course! That's still a few months away."
Although I hadn't taught or passed down anything, the rightful heir of this land had grown up so much on her own and was smiling brightly.
"Forever, you'll be my object of admiration, Senior. But Evangeline Cross will live in her way."
"..."
"Thank you, Senior. Truly. For all you've taught, all you've given, and... most importantly, for making me love this city again."
Hearing Evangeline's sudden but firm declaration of independence made me realize.
That my three years as the lord of Crossroad were almost up.
And that I had to reach the ending and return this land to her.
Because I also wanted to see Evangeline become a great lord, ruling this city in her unique way.
"Um... how should I finish this...?"
Stumbling over her words, Evangeline finally exclaimed and stepped back, hitting Lucas on the shoulder.
"Okay, I'm done! Baton touch! It's your turn, old man!"
Lucas, rubbing his shoulder, squinted his blue eyes and stepped forward to stand before me.
I smiled, finding the situation amusing, and focused on Lucas. What would he say?
"...There was a time when my life had no purpose other than serving my lord."
Lucas slowly began to speak.
"A time when protecting my lord was my sole purpose in life. It might have been due to guilt from my youth, or it might have been my duty as a knight... anyway, my life's purpose was solely to follow my lord's orders."
Lucas, who had been looking down at the floor, slowly raised his head.
"But staying in this city with my lord, seeing and feeling many things... I've gained many precious things."
Suddenly, I recalled a memory.
When was it?
We had each taken a spot on the garden sunbed, lying down and basking in the sun, overlooking all of Crossroad.
- It has become precious to me. ...So, I want to protect it.
Lucas had told me then that he treasured his other companions too.
And now, Lucas had grown even more since then.
"Those I fight alongside have become precious to me, and the entire city has become precious. Furthermore... I believe this whole world is worth protecting."
"..."
"At first, it was enough to be the sword you wielded, Lord. It was enough to be the blade following your orders without any awareness or thought. But now, arrogantly, I want to follow your banner with my heart."
I looked into the eyes of Lucas, who had undergone many changes over the past three years.
The blue eyes of a knight that were once unbelievably cold, blazing like a beast, and as dead as metal devoid of emotion, were now deep like a well.
A well containing many emotions, calm and serene.
"I now want to fight for your banner not as your hunting dog, but with my own will... Will you allow me, my lord?"
I gave a faint smile.
"Of course."
Then I looked alternately at the two knights standing before me.
My knights, who had grown a head taller both in body and spirit...
And I decided to accept their declaration of independence with joy.
I didn't say anything more but stood up and lightly embraced both knights, patting their shoulders.
"You've grown well, all of you..."
They've grown up.
In an instant, they grew so much, so quickly.
As I let go of the embrace, Evangeline and Lucas, who had been looking awkwardly at each other, opened the office door and ran outside.
"Then this, let's say we did it to you, Senior!"
"Thank you, my lord!"
"Wait, what do you mean by that?"
I was about to ask, not fully understanding the context of this declaration of independence, but they didn't answer and quickly fled.
"Zero confessions, two rejections! Congratulations!"
"Congratulations on breaking the record, my lord!"
"Wait, what do you mean by that-!"
I scratched my head, watching the two knights run down the stairs and out of the lord's mansion.
'Well, whatever works.'
I chuckled, watching the backs of my two knights running side by side.
The new year had begun.
Whether it would be cut short in a few months or continue, I didn't know yet...
But watching people grow every year is a joyous and delightful thing.
***
"Huff, huff..."
"Huff, huff, huff."
The two knights, who had fled desperately, caught their breath in a nearby clearing. Evangeline wiped her chin and grumbled.
"Weren't we supposed to go reject someone? Why did it turn into us confessing our past feelings?"
"You set the mood like that..."
Lucas, stretching his back, laughed heartily.
"Well, still... it made me feel a bit less unfair."
"..."
Evangeline, glaring at Lucas, bit her lip.
And, since she had already made an embarrassing confession...
She decided to ask an equally embarrassing question.
"By the way, old man. You said earlier that those you fight alongside have become precious to you."
"Yes."
"Then am I... precious to you too?"
It was a big question for her, but Lucas answered immediately.
"No."
"..."
Just as Evangeline's face was about to turn red with anger, Lucas added.
"You're very precious."
"..."
This time, her face turned red for a different reason.
Wait, what does that mean? Very precious? Why did he answer like that? What is the speaker's intention with those words?
Is it that? Precious as a comrade? Precious as a capable shield knight in close combat? Is that the build-up he intends to follow?
Then Lucas, still with a mysterious and shameless expression, glanced at Evangeline.
"Evangeline, it's your birthday soon, right?"
"Oh, what? You remember?"
"After this birthday, you'll be an adult."
"Yes. I will finally meet the conditions to inherit the title of Margrave."
"Yes..."
Lucas exhaled deeply.
"When this war is over, and you become an adult..."
"...And then?"
Evangeline swallowed hard.
When she becomes an adult, what?
Lucas cleared his throat and began walking ahead.
"...I'll tell you then."
"What, what?"
"Well, you'll hear then."
"Can't you just tell me now?! Why delay it, making me curious! Tell me right now!"
"No."
Lucas added bluntly.
"...I've waited a long time too. You can wait a little longer."
Saying that, Lucas's earlobes turned red as he walked away.
"Huh?"
Evangeline, her face turning bright red, covered her mouth and made a strange noise.
"Wait, what? What...?!"
White snow continued to fall.
It was the first day of the new year.