CHAPTER 241: CHAPTER 240: THE PRICE OF TRUST

Jen’s eyes widened, her voice rising with excitement. "They’re amazing! I want to learn magic too!"

Lumberling chuckled softly, shaking his head. "One step at a time, Jen. Focus on your Knight path first. Once you reach the Knight Apprentice stage, I’ll teach you some magic."

Her face puffed up in a pout, but her eyes still shone with determination. "Fine. But you’d better keep that promise, brother."

Lumberling only smiled in reply.

Off to the side, Liraeth had gone quiet. Her hands tightened behind her back as she listened.

Surrounded by so many talented figures, even the girl before her, nearly ten years younger, had already reached the Knight Page stage. She, however, was trapped, her talent denied her the way of the Knight, and she had no other means to catch up.

A faint, bitter smile tugged at her lips. ’Maybe... I don’t belong here after all.’

Lost in thought, she nearly jumped when a voice cut into her silence.

"Hey."

She looked up quickly, startled to find Lumberling so close that she could see the sharp focus in his eyes. Heat rose in her cheeks.

"Wha-what is it?" she stammered, trying to pull herself together.

"Want to learn magic too?" He leaned in just slightly, his grin disarming.

Her breath caught. She blinked at him in surprise, caught between embarrassment and disbelief.

He had seen through her, again.

Lumberling knew her better than she realized. From the first time she confided in him about being unable to walk the Knight’s path, he had understood the shadow that clung to her heart. He had seen the way her gaze lingered on the others when they grew stronger.

And now, with just a few words, he had struck straight at the insecurity she had tried so hard to hide.

Liraeth was stunned, her lips parting but no words coming out at first. Finally, she managed a shaky whisper. "Magic? You’re... willing to teach me magic?"

Lumberling tilted his head, feigning a wounded expression. "What, you don’t want me to?"

"I-I... wh-what?" she stammered, completely thrown off. Her usually composed self had vanished, leaving her flustered and lost for words.

Lumberling couldn’t help but laugh at her reaction, and Jen quickly joined in, covering her mouth as she giggled. "Sister Liraeth, I’ve never seen you like this before! You’re always so serious, and now you look cute."

Liraeth’s cheeks turned pink. She shut her eyes and drew in a slow breath, steadying herself. When she opened them again, her green eyes had regained that sharp, businesslike glint.

"What do you want in return?" she asked firmly.

"Hm? Return for what?" Lumberling asked, brow arched.

"For teaching me magic. What do you want in return?"

"Oh." He waved it off lightly. "If it’s from you, then nothing."

"You’re willing to teach me something so valuable... for free?" Her frown deepened.

Lumberling chuckled, shaking his head. "Why are you acting like we’re strangers?"

"There’s no such thing as free in this world, Lord Lumberling," she said, her tone crisp.

He met her gaze steadily, his smile softening. "If a friend offers you help, do you really think there has to be a price?"

That simple question left her silent, her lips pressing together as her heart skipped. She wasn’t used to people speaking to her like that, not when she had grown up in a world where everything, alliances, favors, knowledge, had a cost.

"Yes." She didn’t hesitate this time.

The firmness in her voice made Lumberling pause. He could tell she wasn’t joking, she truly believed in the weight of what she was offering. He sighed softly, understanding it must be the noble blood and merchant upbringing in her.

"I’m not asking for something in return," he said, shaking his head.

Her brows knit tighter, clearly displeased with his answer.

"I don’t know how you nobles see the world," Lumberling continued, his tone gentler, "but I’m not helping you because I expect payment. I’m helping you because I want to. Whether you think that means you owe me or not, that’s up to you."

Liraeth studied him quietly, her green eyes searching his face. "That’s not how it works, Lord Lumberling. Something as rare and precious as this... there has to be an exchange."

He cut her off with a smirk, eyes glinting with mischief. "Fine then. If you really want to give me something back... how about a kiss?"

Her cheeks instantly flushed. "Wh-what are you saying? That’s not an equal value at all!"

"It is," Lumberling replied without missing a beat, his tone suddenly serious but his grin betraying him. "How could your first kiss, your lips, be anything less? To me, it’s worth more than anything, it’s priceless."

"You... shut up!" Liraeth sputtered, her blush spreading all the way to her ears. She turned her face away, knowing full well he was teasing her, yet unable to stop her heart from racing.

"Ehem... Brother, Sister Liraeth, I’m still here, you know."

Jen’s little cough cut through the moment like a blade, her wide eyes flicking between the two of them.

Liraeth froze, her blush instantly deepening when she realized Jen had seen everything. "J-Jen!" she stammered, her usual composure slipping further.

Lumberling, however, only smirked as if nothing had happened. He turned to Jen and waved her off casually. "Go play with Lunira. Liraeth and I still have something important to finish."

Jen narrowed her eyes suspiciously, but she couldn’t hold back a small grin. "Hmph, fine. But I’ll remember this." She hopped onto Lunira’s back, the wolf wagging her tail as the pair bounded away.

The camp grew quieter once they were gone. Lumberling’s expression softened as he closed the distance between himself and Liraeth. "Liraeth."

At the sound of her name, she looked up despite herself, her heart thumping faster.

"Everything doesn’t need to be balanced like numbers on a ledger," he said gently. "I help because I choose to... and only for those who truly matter to me."

The firmness in his voice left no space for her usual arguments. Her lips parted slightly, but the words to challenge him simply refused to come. All she could do was nod, slowly, almost uncertainly.

For someone who had shouldered everything alone for so long, the idea of leaning on someone else felt foreign, yet oddly comforting.

"Good." Lumberling’s smile widened. "We’ll begin tomorrow. Meet me beneath the old tree at sunrise."

She nodded again, her hands tightening around her sleeves to steady herself. But before he could turn away, she stepped forward, tiptoed lightly, and pressed a quick kiss against his cheek.

Lumberling blinked, caught completely off guard.

"T-thank you," she whispered quickly, then spun around and hurried away, her long black hair swaying behind her as if to hide the redness burning across her face.

For a moment, Lumberling just stood there, a stunned chuckle slipping past his lips. Then, watching her retreating figure, he smiled, a little amused before finally heading back toward his room to rest.