Let’s Make Saving a Habit - Chapter 51

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 51
The day after Aiden took his abbreviated knight examination.
I woke early in the morning and made my way to the Training Grounds where the knights gathered.
The knights were engaged in their morning drills, but Aiden was nowhere to be found.
Given how diligent he was, it was unlikely he hadn’t risen from sleep yet.
“Perhaps he’s at the dining hall…?”
I imagined him taking breakfast at the Papiope Estate Dining Hall alongside the other knights.
Though knowing him, he probably hadn’t bothered with breakfast at all.
…Come to think of it, if only knights occupied the dining hall, could it even be called a knights’ dining hall?
Lost in such idle musings as always, I chuckled softly to myself before turning to Lena with a question.
“Lena, didn’t the Duchess say yesterday that she’d hold Aiden’s knighthood ceremony today?”
She laughed as if I were incorrigible and gently chided me.
“Miss, it’s only seven in the morning. There’s no way she’d hold the ceremony this early.”
“Then when will Aiden’s ceremony take place?”
“It may have already concluded last night.”
“…What? How could it happen so quickly?”
“Since Aiden joined the knight order alone, it’s quite likely the Duchess simply handed him his commission last night and called it done.”
“Is that so? I was hoping to witness Aiden becoming a knight of Papiope myself. What a shame.”
As I gazed disappointedly at the Training Grounds, Lena suddenly remembered something and opened her mouth.
“Miss, I meant to tell you when you arrived in such a hurry this morning, but there’s something I forgot to mention.”
“What is it?”
“The Duchess asked me to tell you—would you care to take a stroll together in the Garden before lunch?”
A stroll, no less. It seemed the busy Duchess was taking considerable interest in me.
I nodded readily.
“A stroll sounds lovely. I had nothing planned anyway.”
“It’s the perfect season for the flowers the Duchess adores. Yellow blooms are clustered together in such profusion. They’re absolutely beautiful.”
“It feels like an outing, which is nice. Lena, would you mind doing my hair the same way as yesterday while we’re at it? I’d like to brighten my mood.”
“You mean the bun braided on both sides?”
“Yes, that’s the one.”
Lena’s lips curved upward with enthusiasm.
“Of course. Since we’re brightening your mood anyway, wouldn’t you like to wear a prettier dress as well?”
“That one with the red ribbon from before was lovely.”
“Perfect. I’ll have it ready for you to put on right away.”

✦ ✦ ✦
I slipped into a vibrant red ribbon dress that reminded me of wild raspberries, then stepped into the Garden alongside Duchess Papiope.
“Oh…”
Just as Lena had described, the Garden in full bloom with yellow flowers was breathtakingly beautiful.
The Garden, overflowing with golden hues, felt as though warm sunlight had descended and settled upon the earth itself.
The weather was perfect too—a gentle breeze drifted pleasantly, making it an ideal day for a stroll.
“Thank you for inviting me to take a walk through the Garden with you, Duchess Papiope.”
“I’m glad I could show you before the flowers fade.”
Duchess Papiope smiled warmly and extended her hand to me.
“Shall we walk together, hand in hand, my dear?”
I smiled brightly and took her hand in mine.
“By the way, Duchess Papiope, what happened with the Old Gentleman’s knighthood ceremony?”
“We held a simple ceremony this morning. Speaking of which, Tania, I heard you visited the Training Grounds early this morning?”
“Oh, word travels that far?”
I laughed sheepishly and scratched my head as if embarrassed.
“I was hoping I might catch a glimpse of the ceremony.”
“You really do care for Aiden quite a lot.”
“He was the one who extended his hand when I needed warmth and support the most.”
“And here I was, about to feel a little jealous as the one who’s taken your mother’s place.”
“I love you too, Duchess Papiope!”
“Only in words?”
“Hehe, but I’m holding your hand right now, aren’t I?”
As I laughed and clung to her, Duchess Papiope smiled back as if to say she’d let it slide this time.
We walked through the Garden hand in hand like that for quite some time, chatting softly.
Suddenly, Duchess Papiope stopped in her tracks, her expression turning mischievous.
“Tania, I actually prepared a gift for you. I had it sent here, and it seems to have just arrived.”
“A gift?”
I opened my eyes wide and looked at her.
A gift, out of nowhere during a Garden stroll?
There wasn’t anything I particularly wanted, but I was moved by Duchess Papiope’s thoughtfulness toward me.
A dress or jewelry? Or perhaps a doll befitting my age?
While my inner thoughts remained cynical, I made my eyes sparkle with genuine anticipation, putting all my heart into it.
“Wow! What’s the gift?”
I clasped my hands together and stomped my feet eagerly, urging her to tell me, and Duchess Papiope pointed behind me.
“I’ve chosen someone to be your escort knight from today onward. I’m sure you’ll love them.”
“What? But I…”
I had wanted Aiden to be my escort knight.
Bewildered, I turned my gaze toward where she was pointing.
Standing before the flower beds was someone draped in a black cloak.
“Huh…?”
He stood with his back to me, so I couldn’t see his face, but the silhouette was somehow familiar.
Long, stretched legs and broad shoulders. Black hair and sun-darkened skin.
He bent at the waist and knees, as if to catch the scent of the flowers.
The moment I recognized him, my face lit up and I broke into a run.
I dashed straight at Old Gentleman and clung to his shoulders.
“Wack!”
I’d meant to surprise him.
But he showed no great alarm, simply hoisting me onto his shoulders and rising to his feet.
I dangled from Old Gentleman’s shoulders like a sack of grain, chattering away.
“What! Old Gentleman, you weren’t even startled?”
“I can distinguish your footsteps from a hundred meters away.”
“Pfft, how is that even possible? Ah, I should’ve crept up more quietly! But the moment I spotted you, I was so delighted I forgot all about trying to surprise you.”
“…Actually, I was startled.”
“Hmph, I know perfectly well you weren’t startled at all.”
I answered cheekily, scrunching my nose and giggling.
“By the way, is that cloak you’re wearing a Black Knights cloak?”
“Yes. The Duchess said I’d joined the Black Knights.”
So Old Gentleman had joined the Black Knights!
Though honestly, it would’ve been a waste of his talent to join the Blue Knights.
“Hehe, the cloak is so fluffy and nice.”
The black cloak Old Gentleman wore was embroidered with golden thread as an accent.
Moreover, the inner lining was a deep crimson, giving it an even more luxurious appearance.
Wait a moment.
A deep crimson inner lining on the cloak—that only appears on a commander’s cloak, doesn’t it?
Looking more closely, the golden embroidery on the cloak also seemed more intricate than that of ordinary knights…
“Old Gentleman, don’t tell me you became the Black Knight Commander?”
“Yes. Since the order had no members, they gave me the commander’s position.”
I never would have expected him to receive the commander’s rank.
Well, good is good.
I grinned widely and patted Aiden’s shoulders.
“It suits you perfectly! But why are you only wearing the cloak? I saw yesterday that there’s a separate uniform.”
“…The uniform is uncomfortable and feels awkward, so I can’t wear it.”
“Wow, a new knight can dress so sloppily?”
“Fortunately, it doesn’t seem like everyone is strict about formality.”
“But more than that, there’s probably no one in the order who could even point out your dress code, is there?”
The Blue Knight Commander is on medical leave.
The Red Knight Commander is away on assignment.
In the entire order, there was no one who could point out Old Gentleman’s attire now that he’d become the Black Knight Commander.
“Well, as long as the Duchess doesn’t say anything, it should be fine.”
Aiden casually carried me on his shoulders as he began to stroll through the Garden.
“Tania, is your posture uncomfortable?”
“You’re asking already? But it’s actually quite fun.”
I could stay pressed against the Old Gentleman, strengthen my core power—it’s all good.
As I chatted away with him, someone I’d forgotten suddenly came to mind.
Oh, that’s right.
I was taking a stroll through the Garden with Duchess Papiope, wasn’t I?
Startled, I turned to look back at the path I’d come from.
Duchess Papiope stood motionless where I’d left her, like a stone monument.
She was watching us as if time itself had stopped, and her gaze was as if….
she were entranced by something.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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