TMHLBQC2_ARCHIVE_CHAPTER 62:A Knight’s Resolve

62. A Knight’s Resolve

“…Knew I’d find you here.”

Arthur let out a sigh as he returned to his room after speaking with his father—the Knight Commander—and the Vice Commander. Sitting comfortably inside was a boy who looked like he owned the place.

“You’re back to your original age, huh, Stayle.”

“Yeah. Right after everything ended.”

Leaning back in a chair as if he belonged there was none other than the first prince of the kingdom. Stayle often used his teleportation ability—without even Pryde’s knowledge—to pop into Arthur’s room like this.

“I told you not to make yourself comfortable before the owner gets back.”

“Then don’t be late.”

Arthur shot back, “I was talking to my father,” as he set down his things.

“You told the Knight Commander… about your ability?”

“Yeah. And Clark too.”

Since Stayle had taken the chair, Arthur settled on the edge of the bed.

“Were they surprised?”

Arthur gave a snort. “Of course they were.” It would’ve been a lie to say he hadn’t expected it. And in truth, their reaction had far exceeded what he’d imagined.

‘Father, Clark… My special ability isn’t just making crops grow stronger. It’s the power to heal all illnesses.’

Arthur had been incredibly nervous. He’d only just learned the true nature of his ability himself. Part of him had wanted to wait until he’d fully accepted it before saying anything. But another part… wanted to tell his father and Clark right away. He wanted to tell his mother too, once Father agreed. After all, they were the ones who stood by him when he was most tormented by his power.

When he told them, both Father and Clark were dumbstruck. Father froze with his mouth open, and even Clark, always composed, looked visibly shaken. Seeing their reactions was oddly amusing.

Saying his power wasn’t just for crops had, for some reason, filled him with Pryde.

‘Arthur, your ability isn’t limited to plants.’

Those words came to mind then. Maybe that’s why he felt proud. But as Clark continued to ask questions, Arthur noticed his father deep in thought, holding his head in his hands. That made him anxious. What if… they didn’t accept his ability?

Clark's expression grew more serious as he pointed out things Arthur had never considered—like how no one had fallen ill during his training as a new recruit, or how he’d never even caught a cold himself.

When Arthur mentioned Pryde’s prophecy, his father had reacted by slamming his head into the wall. That had scared the hell out of him. And then he’d said, “What a thing to happen,” making Arthur worry that maybe his ability was something to be feared after all.

‘Of course not.’

With those words, the tension vanished. Just like when Arthur had first shown his power as a child, his father ruffled his hair and smiled.

‘This is a wonderful ability. A blessing for plants and crops. Be proud.’

Arthur had always been ashamed of his power simply because it wasn’t suited to a knight’s path. But now he wondered—what had his father really felt watching him struggle all that time?

‘It’s a magnificent ability… Even for a knight. Be proud.’

That had made him unbelievably happy.

To hear his father say those words again. To see that warm smile.

He was truly grateful that both his father and Clark had agreed to keep his ability a secret. Even someone like Chancellor Gilbert, who was usually so composed, had been shaken when he learned the truth. If others found out, their reactions might be even worse, and Arthur didn’t know how he’d handle that.

As he left the room that day, he felt relief. He’d managed to tell them.

He still didn’t know how best to use this power. But if someday it could help the Knight Order, or those two… that alone was enough.

…Even if it had been incredibly embarrassing.

When Arthur let out a long sigh at the memory, Stayle commented, “You’re starting to sound like the Knight Commander.”

“Shut up,” Arthur snapped, glaring at him.

Then Stayle said something unexpected.

“You really want to stay a knight, huh.”

He was watching Arthur closely.

“Your ability is truly extraordinary. With the right use, you could amass a fortune, join the royal family… even become a revered hero across the world. You wouldn’t need any military achievements to get there. If you chose the path of a doctor, you could save far more people than as a knight.”

It sounded like an exaggeration, but hearing it helped Arthur finally understand why his father and Clark had been so shocked.

He didn’t care about money or status. He just wanted to be a knight. Still… like Stayle said, this ability could save people like Marianne—those suffering from incurable illnesses.

Some say special abilities are gifts from the gods.

Arthur had always hated his, thinking it was useless for a knight.

But then he met Pryde, and he still chose the path of a knight.

Not because of divine will. Because of his own.

And even now that he knew the truth about his ability, he didn’t want to change course.

If this was his power, then he wanted to use it his way—to protect and save others.

I want to remain as Pryde’s knight. Always.

“…It’s not that I’ll settle for staying a knight. I want to be a knight.”

When Arthur said that, Stayle smiled—relieved.

Maybe he really had been worried about Arthur in his own way.

Arthur glanced at his own hands again.

With these hands, he had saved a life today.

Honestly… he’d never imagined his ability would be useful like this.

During Knight Order drills, he’d been stunned to hear his father shout so suddenly. It wasn’t unusual for the Commander to bark orders, but this was different. It had startled even the other knights.

And then he saw her—Pryde.

Not in a gown, but in that crimson uniform. Grabbing his hand.

…He thought he was going to die from sheer shock.

Pryde, in that dazzling red, with her slender fingers, gripping his hand—it had thrown him back two years to that memory. His face burned. If she hadn’t let go quickly, his heart might’ve exploded.

‘Arthur, I have a favor to ask.’ (Pryde)

He could still picture her pained expression. She let go of his hand and clenched her fists alone.

‘There’s someone I want to save. But to do that, I’ll have to change your life—maybe for the better, maybe not. I don’t know what will happen…’

She looked so conflicted. He had no idea who she wanted to save, but he understood it wasn’t about her. It was for someone else—maybe even him.

‘Even so… Arthur Beresford, please lend me your strength!’

What was she saying?

She had already changed his pathetic, broken life.

Right and wrong didn’t matter.

‘My life—you already changed it long ago.’

He would gladly give his life for the one who saved him from hell.

Kneeling before her, the pride and joy he felt in that moment… he would never forget it.

‘I am your knight. Command me. I’ll give you my life if you ask for it.’

He’d lived for this moment.

The look in her eyes. The warmth of her hands.

It made him feel truly blessed.

When she said “Thank you,” it was enough.

He had finally become the knight he dreamed of being.

Two years ago, all he could do was watch in despair.

Now, he was by her side—her strength.

And that filled him with joy.

Pryde had tried to say something more, but the grown-up Stayle had arrived, cutting her off.

Arthur saw the urgency in Stayle’s eyes—and Pryde’s desperation to explain something quickly.

His decision came instantly.

He gripped her hand tighter and reached for Stayle.

‘Take me with you‼︎’

And that was all it took.

But what he saw next… defied imagination.

Chancellor Gilbert—always so composed—was crying. Ugly sobs wracked his face.

He clutched the hand of a woman who looked on the brink of death, clinging desperately to reality.

Arthur didn’t dare touch her—she looked like she’d break with a breeze.

Then Stayle explained—she was Gilbert’s fiancée.

That alone was shocking, but Arthur still didn’t understand why he had been brought there.

When Pryde told him to touch her, he froze. He didn’t know if he even could.

Then she spoke again.

‘Arthur, your ability isn’t just for plants. Your true power is…’

He didn’t understand. Why now? Why here?

But her words—Pryde’s words—meant everything.

‘It’s the power to heal all illness‼︎’

And in that moment, he believed it.

Anyone else, he wouldn’t have. But from her—it reached him.

He didn’t remember starting to run, only that he had.

Seconds later, he was holding Marianne’s hand.

As he did, Pryde’s words from two years ago echoed again and again:

‘If you know you can save someone—you must!’

If he had the power… he wanted to save her.

To save Gilbert—who looked just like he had, once.

Gripping her hand tighter, he felt something strange. Not pain—just a sensation.

The same “discomfort” he’d felt when touching nearly-dead crops.

And then he understood.

This is what healing feels like.

Gilbert’s screams, the room’s chaos—it all blurred together.

Marianne’s lips moved. Gilbert embraced her. And Arthur… just stood frozen.

He’d actually done it. Saved someone.

When she looked at him and asked:

‘Was it… you?’

He nodded.

Yes. He had done it.

And when she grasped his hand tightly—

‘…Thank you‼︎’

Her sobbing voice shook him to the core.

‘You saved me—and Gil—thank you…‼︎’

She said it again and again.

Even Gilbert bowed his head.

Arthur remembered a voice from two years ago.

‘…To see my friends, my comrades, my family again… I’m so glad‼︎’

His father’s voice.

And in that instant, Arthur felt—maybe arrogantly—that he’d finally caught up to Pryde.

I saved someone.

With my power.

He’d been ashamed of it for so long.

But today, he’d used it to help someone. To help Pryde.

That made him happier than anything else.

His ability had meaning. It wasn’t shameful.

Tears rolled down his face.

He thanked Pryde once again.

For giving his power meaning.

And for letting him save them before it was too late.

‘There’s someone I want to save. But to do that, I’ll have to change your life—maybe for the better, maybe not…!’

None of that mattered.

Even if his life changed… if he couldn’t be a knight anymore…

Today, he had changed their lives for the better.

He had upheld Pryde’s ideals—and he could be proud of that.

I want to take pride in saving someone with my ability.

“…You’re not fair, Pryde…”

 

Thinking back on the day, the words slipped from his lips.

He thought he was finally helping her—but once again, he was the one being saved.

He flopped onto the bed, arms spread wide.

“Give it up. That’s just how she’s always been,” Stayle said bluntly.

Arthur groaned.

“…I know.”

Yeah. He already knew. That’s exactly why he’d sworn to give her everything.

“…Anyway, what about you? Are you alright?”

He didn’t care about himself. What mattered was Stayle.

Turning just his head toward him, Arthur narrowed his eyes.

Stayle tried to play dumb, but Arthur only sighed.

“You… never really liked Chancellor Gilbert, did you?”

Arthur had found Gilbert shady at first. Stayle had clearly disliked him even more—almost hated being compared to him.

And after that confession about spreading bad rumors about Pryde?

Arthur had wanted to punch Gilbert.

But Stayle—his rage had to be even deeper.

Arthur knew how much Stayle had done for Pryde over the years.

What Gilbert had done was a betrayal of all that effort—and of the entire royal family.

There’s no way Stayle could’ve just forgiven that.

“…Yeah, you’re right.”

Eun: WHO'S CHOPPING ONIONS!??? WHO!!!! Arthur's story...the way he despaired over his special ability when it awakened and now we're here. AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!! DANG ONIONS1!!!!! 😭

After this chapter there'll be two unnumbered chapters (they're not really Intermission Chapter...but I just labeled it as such) 

This is chapter 62--75/2115 chapters in the wn

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