A Heart-to-Heart
I hadn’t expected things to take this turn.
If the Jenkins family was trying to use the marriage for social climbing, I’d assumed Wesley was involved. But now, it didn’t seem so clear-cut.
Watching him train, it looked more like he was fighting himself.
A sword doesn’t lie.
No matter how much someone hides their feelings, their swordwork always reveals their true nature. That’s what my dojo master used to say, and I could see it clearly in Wesley’s strikes.
“Hey, Wesley.”
“Se-Senior G-Gary!?”
Gary greeted him casually, and Wesley tried to smile, but it was forced—painfully obvious he was struggling.
When he noticed I was there too, his smile vanished completely.
Word had probably reached his family that I’d been digging around. Everyone knew the Tryon family, which I served, had grown close to the Glaberson lately.
It was no surprise he’d guess we were here about Lillian.
“You’re Justin Foyle, right?”
“You know my name?”
“Of course. You’re a Holy Knight. So… what can I do for you?”
“… I’m sure you’ve already figured it out.”
At my words, he fell silent.
He was struggling—should he come clean or keep pretending?
“Wesley Jenkins… I want to know how you truly feel about Lady Lillian.”
“… Huh?”
“If you’re worried about this marriage, we’re willing to listen. I’m single, so I can’t exactly give relationship advice, and I’m hopeless with women… but I’m always happy to lend an ear.”
“Count me in. I don’t mind hearing my juniors complain,” Gary added.
Wesley’s eyes widened in surprise, probably not expecting us to offer support.
But the walls around his heart were clearly crumbling. His tense expression finally began to soften.
“… Alright. I’ll talk. Please hear me out.”
His determined gaze pierced through us.
Looked like he was finally ready to open up.
What do you think about this chapter?
