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Bitterness washed over him each time, but he tried not to be swayed by such trivial matters.
What mattered to him now wasn't people's reactions, but proving his own worth.
And fortunately, there was someone nearby who cheered him on and watched him grow.
Felix recalled his recent meeting with Ayla.
"Duke Argenta was quite impressed with your sparring, wasn't he?"
Ayla asked, a joyful smile on her face as she bit into a sandwich.
They often had lunch together like this to flaunt their close relationship.
Felix blushed at her words, averting his gaze slightly.
"Well, I'm not quite up to Ayla's expectations yet."
"Oh? What are my expectations?"
"You said... I would become a Sword Master. I'm still far from that."
With those words, Felix mumbled something about 'needing to improve further' and wore an awkward expression.
Ayla, who had been listening quietly, said with a twinkle in her eyes.
'That's Felix for you. So diligent, as befits a future Sword Master.'
Looking at her bright smile as she said that, Felix would strangely feel a warmth in his chest.
It was a sensation completely different from the intense sparring he did with his sword, unfamiliar and inexplicable.
Reflecting on his emotions, Felix suddenly realized one day.
He had never heard such warm encouragement or kind words in his life.
To him, who had lived his entire life amidst ridicule and neglect, a sincere word and a smile felt more significant than anything else.
It was as if Ayla fully acknowledged the sweat he had shed.
'...I should probably get her something.'
He owed everything to Ayla for becoming Duke Argenta's disciple.
So he wanted to repay her somehow.
'I've received so much from her.'
Thinking that, Felix leisurely looked around the street.
Becoming Duke Argenta's disciple also granted him financial freedom.
Duke Argenta's aide, Yetien, had promised him an allowance that was incomparable to the scholarship he had been receiving.
'From now on, you'll receive an allowance and gifts from the Argenta Noble house every month.'
And the amount of support offered by the Argenta Noble house was far greater than Felix had ever imagined.
'It's a small amount now, but once you officially join the Kistar Knights... well, you'll gain more as you go through the process.'
Becoming Duke Argenta's disciple didn't just mean financial security.
Honor and power would also be within Felix's grasp in the distant future.
Of course, all of this didn't immediately feel real to Felix.
It was more important to him to pick out a good gift for Ayla with his newfound allowance.
But Felix overlooked something foolishly: he had never bought a gift for a woman before.
'What... should I buy?'
Felix wandered around the city for a long time.
But no matter how much he looked, he couldn't think of a good gift for Ayla.
In front of a store with dazzling jewels, he shook his head, thinking it was too extravagant.
Passing by a small trinket shop, he hesitated, thinking it was too ordinary.
No matter how much he pondered, choosing a gift felt increasingly difficult.
Eventually, he stopped and sighed in the middle of the street.
'I need something... special.'
Since she was once Princess Consort of the Blanche Noble house, she must have a discerning eye for things.
If he picked something clumsy and received a disappointed look...
The moment he bit his lip, the face of her former fiancé, Kadin, flashed through his mind.
Unknowingly, his fist clenched.
'I need to give her something better than what that guy gave her, at least.'
Even if it took some time, he wanted to find a gift that suited her. Something more valuable than what Kadin had given her.
Then, a store selling various weapons caught his eye.
In particular, the sign on the display stand that read 'Protective Gear Available!' caught his attention.
'Protective gear.'
Felix frowned.
Come to think of it, Ayla had a strong tendency to seek out danger.
She would suggest going into the forest where Monsters lived on the night of the full moon, or secretly summon the Princess to negotiate.
'I sometimes wonder why she does it, but it wouldn't hurt to give her something that would help her stay safe.'
After pondering, he stepped into the store.
The interior was filled with various weapons and protective gear.
Small, sharp daggers, small Magic tools that spewed flames, and even rings that could instantly create a barrier,
All sorts of unique items caught his eye.
Felix picked them up one by one, examining them with a serious expression.
'This is too big... this isn't very portable. I need to pick something that Ayla can use well.'
He was so engrossed in choosing items that he forgot how much time he was spending in the store.
The middle-aged merchant, the owner of the store, watched him with interest and approached him.
"Sir, are you looking for something in particular?"
"Ah, some protective gear that a delicate woman could use..."
At Felix's words, the owner immediately presented a sleek protective dagger.
"This is a popular protective item among young female students these days."
Felix held the dagger in his hand, felt its weight, and nodded.
"It's good. I'll take this. And... could I have that barrier ring over there too?"
"Oh, you have a good eye! Barrier rings are easy for beginners to use, so they're very popular these days."
In addition to the dagger and ring, Felix picked out a few more small protective items.
The store owner, with a satisfied smile on his face as he watched him buy everything, began to pack up the items.
It was then.
The owner, as if suddenly remembering something, pointed to a small jewelry box displayed next to the weapon rack.
"Oh, sir. How about this? It's a bracelet that's especially popular among young women these days. It's made of turquoise and is said to have the effect of warding off misfortune and bad luck."
Felix turned his gaze at the owner's words.
The small bracelet was made of turquoise beads with a deep turquoise color.
Its simple yet beautiful color was impressive.
'It wards off misfortune and bad luck?'
Those words particularly resonated with him.
Ayla's life, like his own, rarely seemed to have peaceful moments.
He thought that this bracelet might offer her some comfort, even if only a little, as she sometimes seemed to invite trouble.
Above all, the bracelet seemed to suit her beautiful arm.
"I'll take that bracelet too."
Felix nodded readily.
The owner picked up the bracelet with a satisfied look and said.
"That's a very good choice. Is it a gift?"
Felix hesitated for a moment before nodding.
"Yes, for someone I'm grateful to."
Leaving the store, he carefully slung the bag of items over his shoulder.
'I feel like I've finally prepared something decent.'
Felix smiled faintly, imagining what kind of expression Ayla would make when she received this gift.
Several days had passed since Ayla had given Peony the Antidote.
Although it was a short period, the emotional turmoil Peony had experienced during that time was indescribable.
The fact that the person closest to her had been poisoning her without her knowledge was very shocking.
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