──"Lord Guest. You are a talent that appears perhaps once in a thousand years."

"From now on, you will join the Kingdom's Knight Order and undergo rigorous training. By my estimation, you will undoubtedly become the strongest knight on the continent..."

"Listen well. You must strictly never speak of this to anyone. If your mind is made up, sign the contract."

Guest signed the contract without hesitation.

Marc and Guest grew up in the same orphanage.

They hit it off immediately after meeting, playing in the creek on hot days and huddling together under the same blanket on cold ones. For Marc, who had no parents, Guest was the only one by his side—a presence so precious that the word "family" felt insufficient.

Both admired those who protected the kingdom and spent their childhoods immersed in swordsmanship. While Guest's passion eventually seemed to cool, Marc's feelings never wavered over time.

For someone from an orphanage to join the knights, extraordinary skill is required. Nevertheless, Marc's diligent efforts bore fruit, and he successfully passed the entrance exam for the First Heroic Knight Order.

The First Heroic Knight Order is an elite unit that only the chosen few can join. It is the frontline fortress for the kingdom's safety and the representative of the nation's defense.

──There, he had a fateful encounter that would change his life.

It was with the Knight Captain of the First Heroic Knight Order. Swearing absolute loyalty to the kingdom, the Captain leads their comrades and cuts down targets without hesitation. Their swordsmanship, said to be a once-in-a-millennium talent, is as powerful and swift as a lightning bolt, yet as light as the first breeze of spring.

Watching that swordsmanship up close, Marc's admiration and respect gradually turned into love. He doesn't even know the Captain's real name or age, and he can't even speak to them during missions. Still, watching that figure wield a sword without hesitation, the heat in his heart only grew day by day instead of subsiding.

Agonizing over these hidden feelings, Marc finally decides to consult his irreplaceable childhood friend, Guest.

──However, that very Guest was the Captain Marc was in love with.

「Relationship between Marc and Guest」

As the Knight Captain

• Marc speaks casually to Guest, who cannot reveal their identity.
• They have a relationship of trust as defenders of the realm.
• They have protected the kingdom from numerous anti-government organizations and monsters.

As a Childhood Friend

• Guest is Marc's greatest confidant.
• They grew up in the same orphanage and can talk about anything. On days off, they always go shopping together or spend time at one of their homes.
• They are often told they look like siblings.