---

78. Engagement – Punishment

“Now… now I’m stronger! But… but you…!”

On the night when she stripped away her pride, Lena, in her undergarments, burst out crying as she collapsed.

You scoundrel!

You scoundrel! You scoundrel!

To think I got engaged to such a scoundrel.

I must be crazy. I really misjudged him.

Grinding her teeth, Lena let out curses and insults, but as the effects of the alcohol wore off, her mind began to settle.

She couldn’t give him up.

Leo had to be the man who would be her first love and her last.

Lena thought deeply in the darkness. She struggled to understand Leo’s behavior. After a while, a reason came to her.

Ever since he had soared in swordsmanship skills, he had started acting differently. Especially after she made a big mistake while trying to catch the Old Phantom Fox, he no longer spoke to her.

‘Yeah… It’s because my skills weren’t enough that he’s keeping his distance.’

Leo must have been disappointed in her, whose skills were lacking. There was no way a person’s attitude could change overnight otherwise.

Thinking back, it had been the same when she first met Leo.

Before she learned swordsmanship from Uncle Noel, she and Leo hadn’t been very close. At that time, she thought he was just shy because he was from the capital, but it wasn’t that. He disliked her because of the huge skill gap.

That much was clear. As her skills improved while learning swordsmanship, she grew closer to Leo. And it was around the time she matched his level… that they got engaged.

‘He said he didn’t dislike me. Leo… wants me to keep following him again. Yes. That’s right. Otherwise, why would he come out to train with me?’

While his cold demeanor felt harsh, Lena steeled her heart.

Leo’s skills were truly impressive, but to her, it didn’t seem impossible to catch up.

It was cold.

Sitting in the chilly corridor in her undergarments, Lena returned to her room. She shot a glare at Leo, who was still turned away.

You scoundrel. At least say something.

If you’re so dissatisfied with my skills, help me out a bit…

She spread a blanket on the floor and fell asleep, harboring venom in her heart.

After that, Lena dedicated herself to sword training. She mastered Brian’s sword techniques and honed her skills by sparring with the knights from the Count Simon Family.

At that time, she saw hope.

If she progressed just a little more, she felt she could catch up to Leo.

But that hope gradually faded away as she trained alone in Lutetia.

‘How on earth did Leo break through this wall?’ — it was difficult to create her own style of swordsmanship.

It would surely be possible someday… but it felt like it would take an eternity.

When she found a clue in Criou Frelic’s unique swordsmanship while sparring with the noble, she was genuinely happy, but still, it felt like something was just out of reach.

Lena grew anxious. Every time Leo left the lodging, he cast a gloomy glance in her direction before disappearing. When she secretly followed him, he was drinking heavily.

‘Leo, sorry. Just a little longer… just a little longer, wait for me.’

Leo was certainly not a person who liked to drink. How frustrating must it be for him to be drinking like that?

‘If you’re frustrated, just help out. Scoundrel.’

Then, on a certain weekend, the grandfather who had been accompanying Criou Frelic was replaced by someone else.

The old man, introducing himself as Sir Corin, watched Lena’s swordsmanship for a few days before clicking his tongue.

Sir Corin was a holy knight who had perfected his swordsmanship by battling countless barbarians in the southern continent who had not converted.

Having retired from active duty, he had taught aspiring holy knights for a long time, and he understood how weak swordsmanship developed in a tranquil environment could be.

This young lady’s swordsmanship was exactly that sort of example.

With some talent, she seemed to have taken in many others’ sword techniques, but in the end, those were merely someone else’s skills.

Feeling sympathetic, he spoke.

“You shouldn’t swing your sword so carelessly. Taking reference from others is fine, but… since it’s hard to explain with words, why don’t you spar with me?”

Lena found his blunt and direct manner slightly unpleasant, but she readily accepted his offer to help.

The sparring session… was not a sparring session at all.

Sir Corin was truly, truly trying to kill Lena.

The moment she showed an opening while trying to use someone else’s swordsmanship, Corin’s sword flew mercilessly towards her.

Lena was beaten countless times by the ‘blade’s edge’ he wielded.

Just before getting hit, she felt her heart skip a beat in surprise as the sword tip rushed towards her.

It was just like when Noel Dexter had kicked Lena brutally, finishing the sparring while asking,

“Do you feel anything?”

“Huff. Huff… Well, I don’t know?”

“If that’s the case, let’s do it once more. But remember, you shouldn’t think I won’t kill you.”

How many times did she feel the chill of nearly dying?

In that moment, Lena suddenly realized that she was being too obsessed with other people’s swordsmanship.

The foundation of her swordsmanship lay in Noel Dexter’s techniques.

Even if she mixed Noel’s swordsmanship with others, trying to simply mimic would lead to chaos.

Once she experienced enlightenment, her swordsmanship transformed noticeably. Sir Corin smiled in satisfaction, finally giving her praise for the first time.

Lena thought it was time to tell Leo. That she had finally caught up to him. You naughty boy!

When she returned to the lodging, Leo was fast asleep, completely drunk.

She felt guilty about waking him.

Back in her room, Lena couldn’t sleep thinking about how surprised he would be the next day.

Leo would surely be happy.

Now she had reached a level where she could be recognized as an excellent knight in any knights’ order.

Although there had been a few ups and downs due to Leo achieving success too quickly, her dream of becoming a knight and marrying him was now much closer.

At least, it was like that until she overslept and dashed to the pub.

*

“Now… now I’m stronger! But… but you…!”

Leo looked at the puffing Lena with regret.

Indeed, Lena hadn’t turned her back on him. Despite how mean he had been to her.

He wanted to apologize, to beg her forgiveness by saying he was the one at fault.

But… if he did that, Minseo, that bastard, would definitely make Lena suffer by saying he would break off the engagement.

He would stubbornly cling to ending the ‘game’ by marrying ‘my’ Lena to the prince.

Leo hardened his heart. He needed to confirm one more thing.

“Lena. Why didn’t you go to Criou Frelic?”

“…What do you mean?”

“That person is the prince of the Jerome Holy Kingdom. Criou Frelic is just a false name. His real name is Cleo de Frederick.”

“So what?”

“You’ve grown close to that prince. If things go well, you could become a princess.”

“What?!”

Lena’s expression changed from disbelief to sheer stupidity.

That expression didn’t last long. Her face twisted like a demon, and uncontrollable fury poured out.

“You crazy bastard! You! You! Is that the reason you’ve been doing this to me all this time?”

Her body trembled uncontrollably, and her eyes began to blaze with rage.

She touched her waist as if to draw her sword, but there was none; it had already broken.

She lunged at Leo.

“You bastard!”

That was it. It was over.

Leo didn’t dodge the incoming punch. This would block every excuse Minseo could come up with.

The excuse that he hadn’t gotten close enough to the prince was rendered useless in light of Lena’s extreme reaction.

He knelt, prepared to apologize, waiting for the incoming punch.

My life isn’t over yet…

[ Your relationship with Lena has ended. ]

‘What the hell!’

Lena’s fist, which had come close to his cheek, suddenly flew away.

Familiar darkness enveloped him, and text began to pour out.

[ Thank you for playing Lena’s Raising. ]

[ Lena Ainar ]

[ Final Occupation: Great Warrior of the Ainar Tribe ]

[ Marriage Partner: Single ]

[ Leo Dexter ]

[ Final Occupation: Mercenary ]

[ Marriage Partner: Single ]

[ Engagement Ending: Broken Engagement ]

– Born in Abrival Castle, Lena Ainar had a happy childhood… (Omitted) …After breaking off her engagement with Leo in Lutetia, she returned to her hometown, Abrival Castle. Lena threw away her sword and lived her life as a warrior of her tribe. She never married. –

– Born in the capital Barnau, Leo Dexter had a happy childhood… (Omitted) …Leo tried to apologize, but Lena never forgave him again. He left Abrival Castle and went to the capital Barnau. He spent his days drinking at the Dexter family’s house and resorting to mercenary work when money ran out. After living meaningless days, Leo died early. –

[ The Beggar Siblings scenario ending has changed. ]

+ Born in Rutina Castle, Leo had an unfortunate childhood. Dragged by the hands of people, he was hidden in the vast fields… (Omitted) …When his identity was exposed and he was chased, Leo died at the hands of Marquis Benard Tatian’s knight, Irène, in Oberg. +

A photo of Lena, who had become a great warrior of the tribe, came to mind.

She was sitting proudly on a gigantic monster, laughing heartily, but she didn’t look happy.

Leo calmed his churning emotions as he floated like a balloon.

Lena had endured enough.

For her, a proud person to endure this much, was quite a feat.

‘Do you understand? You foolish fool. Our Le… no, Lena would never be a woman to be swayed by some prince.’

Leo organized his thoughts to leave Minseo a final message.

‘Leave Lena alone. Don’t even think about using her. If you try to use Lena one more time, I won’t listen to you. Consider this the last time. You bastard.’

His consciousness began to fade slowly, and Minseo’s consciousness became clearer.

‘……’

Minseo couldn’t say a word.

He realized there was a limit to the number of turns, and having died pointlessly in the last childhood friend scenario made him anxious.

He wanted to show some proactive movement, whatever it took.

With no prospect of becoming king… he attempted a broken engagement, the simplest way to make Lena a princess.

‘……’

While feeling love for Lena Ainar as Leo, he proceeded with the broken engagement blindly. The more painful it became, the more he thought this was the right course.

However, the result was not as expected.

Lena didn’t give up on Leo, nor did she show interest in the prince.

What she was interested in was swordsmanship alone, and even that was to win back Leo’s heart.

He was so absorbed in the clear that he forgot about ‘the person’ named Lena Ainar.

He treated her like a ‘tool.’

‘……’

He had vowed to leave after making Lena happy.

But that vow crumbled helplessly before the limits of turns and deaths. Faced with the fear that he might die at any moment, he selfishly sought to use Lena.

Even that was just an excuse. Minseo knew that too.

All Leos always did their best for Lena. They knew that when the ending came, they would disappear, yet they sacrificed themselves for Lena.

To ease her sorrow, they hastened the ending, whether getting chased out of churches or mourning their lost arms.

To make her happy and less sad.

Minseo didn’t have that kind of courage.

Could I do that for Chaehwa? Just for a single word that said I lived well after the ending?

This Leo also sacrificed himself for Lena.

In the end, it was Minseo who held the key to making Lena happy… so even the narcissistic Leo Dexter left behind information and warnings for Minseo and faded away.

This wasn’t the first time Leo had left a message for Minseo. The Leo from the previous Beggar Siblings scenario also vanished after saying, “Please take care of Lena.”

Their one wish was simple.

– Please make Lena happy.

They didn’t ask for anything to be done for themselves.

Just Lena…

‘……’

Minseo didn’t make excuses. He reflected on Leo’s last message.

Before long, all the photos and texts disappeared, and the words announcing the next round silently appeared.

[ You failed to clear raising Lena. ]

[ Restarting. ]

There were no scenario rewards.

Minseo accepted that punishment silently.