Tie’s eyes widened.

With a bewildered expression, she looked at Zen.

“What is this?”

Zen’s ears immediately turned red.

Without answering, he hurriedly shoved the item into Tie’s hands and said,

“You do not know amber? It is a gemstone from the mine.”

“A gemsto—one?”

Tie’s face became even more puzzled.

Although he had said “gemstone,” the object in his hand looked like nothing more than a colored pebble.

“But why give Tie a stone?”

Zen pressed his lips together tightly, then let out a heavy sigh.

“Because you saved our village.”

Tie’s eyes grew round.

Blushing all the way to his cheeks, Zen added,

“And you brought medicine so I could treat my face!”

Only then did Tie’s gaze move to Zen’s right cheek.

There was still gauze stuck there, soaked with medicine.

He had been injured on the second day after Agavert’s arrival, when one of Reginald’s knights had grabbed him.

As Tie stared at it silently, Zen hurriedly continued,

“If it were not for you, my mom and dad would still be working in the mine every day. And it hurt me, so I...”

“Hurt?”

“I would have kept doing bad things just to help somehow.”

An image suddenly surfaced in her mind—Zen trying to steal Bale’s necklace.

At the time, she had wondered why a child who looked about her own age was doing such bad things.

“Then the thing you tried to steal from Bale oppa...!”

Zen looked away and muttered in a low voice,

“...I know it was wrong. But if I did not sell something like that, my family would have nothing to eat.”

He nodded toward the stone he had just placed in Tie’s palm.

“My grandpa gave me this stone before he died. He said he found it in the mine. I kept it to sell only when we were on the edge of starving...”

“......”

“The adults say that now that Adeline noona is the lord, we will not starve anymore.”

“I-I see......”

“So take it.”

Tie unconsciously closed her mouth.

After a moment, she nodded hesitantly.

For some reason, her heart slightly moved, she pulled the backpack hanging behind her closer.

Carefully placing the amber Zen had given her deep into an inner pocket, she said,

“Thank you, Zen. Tie’s household is not wealthy, but I will try to use it well...”

And then—

“By the way, um! You do not happen to have a boyfriend, right?”

At the unexpected question, Tie lifted her head.

Zen somehow looked embarrassed and lightly tapped the ground with the tip of his boot.

Tie’s lips parted.

‘This... a confession?’

Her heart went thump thump, thump thump.

Suddenly, a memory from Hanbit Kindergarten surfaced.

‘Is-ho, listen... can I be your boyfriend?’

It had been the day when the Quail class and the Fawns class happened to have outdoor activities at the same time.

That day, Tie and the children from the Quail class had seen it.

By the slide, an oppa from the Fawns class was confessing to a noona he liked!

‘Take this ring too!’

He had even given her a one-carat diamond ring.

That day, the Quail class children had watched in shock.

The noona who received the confession had looked hesitant at first.

But then, noticing the gazes around her—

‘Okay!’

With a shy smile, she accepted the ring.

Even though it was too big and did not fit her finger.

Nevertheless, that day became historic for the Quail class.

Because after lunch, that oppa’s parents suddenly came to the kindergarten!

‘Ah, I am sorry, teacher. Our Hyeonso... No, I just feel awkward, I do not even know what to say....’

‘N-no, it is fine, sir. These things sometimes happen. The important thing is that the children did not lose the ring while playing. Ha ha ha....’

Seeing the serious conversation between the teacher and the parent, the Quail class children began making guesses.

‘Why did Hyeonso’s dad come to kindergarten?’

‘Idiot, you do not even know? Because Hyeonso married ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) Is-ho noona on his own.’

Of course, Tie had been among them.

‘Yeah. They say you have to take marriage very seriously. The director’s mom said that in a drama. With eyes like this—Even if I die, you two must not get married!’

‘But is it not “until I die”?’

‘That and that.’

‘O-okay....’

What exactly were relationships between a boy and a girl?

It had seemed like something only adults could do.

And because of that, it felt strangely forbidden to children.

Which only made it even more curious.

‘And now such a day has come for Tie...!’

Tie swallowed and lifted her head.

Zen still stood there with a flushed face, shifting from foot to foot.

“I just... if you do not have a boyfriend, I am tall and I run fast, so I thought maybe...”

But such an important decision could not be made on feelings alone.

Just as Tie was about to ask him a few questions—

“H-h-hey, what is this little brat saying right now?!”

Bale suddenly appeared from somewhere.

He stood there with his mouth open, stammering.

“How old are you? At your age you are already talking about boyfriends?”

Zen frowned.

A stubborn gleam immediately appeared on the child’s face.

“...Six.”

“Do you even know what a boyfriend is?”

Zen puffed out his lips.

“Uncle. Do you think I would confess without knowing that?”

And looking at the stunned Bale, he added,

“When you become boyfriend and girlfriend, you tie each other’s shoelaces. You always eat dinner together, and the boyfriend holds the door for the girl.”

Tie swallowed.

He knew things Tie did not know.

That meant Zen truly was six.

‘Maturity, acknowledged!’

Having made up her mind, Tie lightly tugged on Bale’s sleeve.

“Bale oppa.”

And said,

“Tie is having a children’s conversation now, so please go over there and wait.”

Bale staggered slightly.

But Tie pushed him aside and stepped forward, putting on a serious face.

“Then what you gave me—was that instead of a one-carat diamond ring?”

“Huh?”

“When people confess, they usually give one carat.”

Zen’s eyes widened, and he nodded.

“Mm. Yes.”

“Good, understood. But Tie is going to the capital today. Can Zen handle a long-distance relationship?”

In truth, that was the most important question.

However, at the words “long-distance relationship,” Zen’s face turned confused.

“Long-distance? What is that?”

Tie raised one finger and began explaining earnestly.

“Teacher Lee Soljae from the Quail class did that. When the boyfriend lives far away, you only see each other sometimes.”

“What? Only sometimes?”

“Yes! If you are busy, you might see each other once every three months!”

Zen’s face darkened. He asked hesitantly,

“Then we cannot eat dinner together every day...?”

“Probably not?”

Shocked, Zen stared at the ground.

Then, clearly flustered, he looked at Tie.

“I-if that is the case, I do not think I can be your boyfriend... What should I do? Sorry.”

Tie blinked.

But soon she smiled as if she had expected it.

“It is okay!”

Zen, who had been frozen in confusion, looked at her.

“You are not upset?”

Tie firmly swung her backpack onto her shoulders and answered,

“Not really. When Tie decided to become a mercenary, she already thought everything through.”

“Thought it through?”

“Yes. Because of the job’s nature, there is almost no time for a boyfriend, right?”

“I-I see...”

A strange admiration flickered in Zen’s eyes.

With regret, he added,

“It is really a pity. If you became my girlfriend, I would open the door for you every day.”

Tie waved her hand like an adult.

“Nothing can be done. It is a pity, but you have to think about reality! Zen will meet someone even better.”

She nodded toward her backpack.

“Thank you for the stone! When I come next time, then we will play!”

“Mm...”

You have to know how to let go of what is not your destiny at the right time.

Leaving regret behind, Tie turned around.

But she immediately froze.

In front of the carriage—

The members of the squad stood like stone statues, staring at her.

Among them were Lucarion and wide-eyed Pupu.