The Useless Extra Knows It All....But Does He?

Chapter 470: Chapter 469 - The You I Know!

The night remained beautifully still around them.

The gardens of the estate stretched endlessly beneath a blanket of shimmering stars while silver moonlight poured across the stone pathways, illuminating every flowerbed and every ancient tree standing silently in the cool breeze. Somewhere in the distance, the gentle murmur of flowing water blended with the quiet chirping of insects, creating a peaceful melody that seemed completely detached from the burdens weighing upon their hearts.

Neither of them moved.

Aurelia stood before Luca, her violet eyes still glistening faintly while his fingers rested gently against her lips, preventing another word of self-blame from escaping.

The silence between them lingered.

Not awkwardly.

Not uncertainly.

It was simply the silence of two hearts trying to understand one another.

After a few moments, Luca slowly lowered his hand.

His crimson eyes never left hers.

There was no trace of teasing within them.

No playful smile.

Only warmth.

Only sincerity.

Only the quiet determination of someone who refused to let the person before him continue believing lies about herself.

He smiled gently.

"Aurelia..."

His voice was calm.

Almost soothing.

"I’ve listened to everything you’ve said."

A faint breeze stirred the strands of crimson hair framing her face.

"You called yourself a terrible sister."

His head shook slowly.

"But the Aurelia I know is the same person who has always watched over Kyle even when the two of you spent more time arguing than agreeing."

A small chuckle escaped him.

"I’ve seen the way you secretly clean up the trouble he leaves behind."

"I’ve seen you covering for him whenever he causes chaos."

"I’ve seen you worrying about him even when you’re pretending to be annoyed."

His smile grew softer.

"You don’t even realize you’re doing it."

Aurelia lowered her eyes slightly.

Luca continued.

"You said you aren’t a good granddaughter."

His expression became thoughtful.

"Yet ever since I’ve known you, you’ve carried the expectations of your family on your shoulders without once trying to run away from them."

"You’ve trained until your hands bled."

"You’ve studied while everyone else rested."

"You’ve pushed yourself harder than anyone because you believed one day you would become someone worthy of leading your family."

He took a slow breath.

"Do you know what I call someone like that?"

Aurelia looked at him quietly.

"I call that someone admirable."

Her lips trembled faintly.

Luca smiled again.

"You also said that perhaps you don’t have what it takes."

This time he laughed softly.

Not mockingly.

Affectionately.

"I honestly don’t know whether to laugh or be impressed by how blind you can be sometimes."

Aurelia blinked.

"Huh...?"

Luca looked directly into her violet eyes.

"The first time I met you, I didn’t think of you as some noble lady."

"I didn’t think about your family."

"I didn’t think about your title."

"I only thought..."

A warm smile appeared on his face.

"...that this girl shines."

Aurelia’s breathing stopped for an instant.

Luca continued before she could react.

"You have this strange way of making people around you feel stronger."

"You encourage them without realizing it."

"You challenge them to improve."

"You make them believe they can accomplish things they thought were impossible."

His voice carried quiet certainty.

"Kyle laughs because you’re there."

"Lilliane gained confidence because you accepted her."

"Sylthara opened her heart because you welcomed her."

"Even I..."

He paused briefly.

"...have become a much better version of myself because I met you."

Aurelia’s eyes widened.

The tears she had been desperately holding back finally began gathering once more.

Luca smiled gently.

"So when you stand here and tell me that you don’t deserve any of this..."

His head shook firmly.

"I can’t accept those words."

His voice grew softer.

"I won’t accept them."

The tears finally escaped.

One.

Then another.

Silently rolling down Aurelia’s cheeks.

She made no effort to wipe them away.

Luca reached out slowly.

His fingertips brushed gently across her cheek, wiping away one of the tears before it could fall any further.

"You know what I see when I look at you?"

His voice became almost a whisper.

"I don’t see someone who’s failing."

"I don’t see someone who isn’t enough."

"I don’t see someone who doesn’t deserve her dream."

His smile became brighter.

"I see a girl who’s trying so hard that she’s forgotten how incredible she already is."

Aurelia bit her lip.

Her shoulders trembled.

The walls she had spent years building around herself finally began crumbling.

Not because she had become weaker.

Because someone had finally looked beyond them.

She had spent years trying to prove herself to the world.

Trying to convince everyone else that she was worthy.

Yet the person standing before her...

Had never once spoken about her achievements.

Or her strength.

Or her noble status.

He had simply spoken about...

Her.

The person she truly was.

More tears slipped down her face.

Not tears of despair.

Not tears of frustration.

They were tears born from finally feeling understood.

Luca smiled helplessly.

Then gently rested his forehead against hers.

The distance between them disappeared completely.

His voice remained quiet enough that only she could hear it.

"So don’t ever stand in front of me again and tell me that you’re not enough."

His crimson eyes reflected hers beneath the moonlight.

"Because if the girl standing before me still thinks she isn’t worthy after everything she’s done..."

A faint chuckle escaped him.

"...then I’m going to spend however long it takes reminding her just how wrong she is."

Aurelia’s vision blurred completely.

The tears would no longer stop.

Yet this time—

She was smiling.

A beautiful.

Gentle.

Heartfelt smile.

The kind of smile that only appeared after someone had reached the deepest corners of her heart and quietly told her...

She was already enough.

***

The first light of dawn stretched across the vast Drayden estate, painting the magnificent grounds in shades of gold and amber as morning slowly awakened the territory. A thin layer of mist drifted lazily over the manicured gardens before gradually dissolving beneath the rising sun, while the distant calls of birds echoed through the quiet air. Servants had already begun their daily routines, knights patrolled the outer walls in disciplined formations, and attendants hurried between the various wings of the mansion carrying documents and trays of breakfast.

Despite the elegance and order surrounding the estate, one particular corner was filled with nothing but the sharp whistle of a spear cutting through the air.

The private training grounds lay behind the main mansion, enclosed by towering stone walls that had witnessed generations of the Drayden family honing their martial skills. Weapon racks lined the perimeter, training dummies stood battered from years of use, and the hardened stone floor bore countless scars left behind by powerful clashes.

At the center of those grounds stood Kyle.

His crimson hair clung to his forehead, soaked with sweat, while his academy training clothes were already damp from hours of relentless practice. His breathing had long since become heavy, yet he showed no intention of slowing down.

Instead, he tightened his grip around the long crimson spear in his hands.

The next instant—

The spear exploded forward.

Its tip tore through the air with terrifying speed before sweeping into a wide arc that generated a violent gust across the entire training ground. Without allowing himself even a moment to recover, Kyle twisted his body and flowed seamlessly into the next stance, every movement carrying astonishing precision despite the raw power behind it.

Again.

And again.

And again.

Each strike landed harder than the last.

Each thrust became more forceful.

Each swing seemed to carry emotions that words could never properly express.

Frustration.

Confusion.

Guilt.

Helplessness.

Everything was poured into the spear.

His mana surged with every attack, wrapping around the crimson weapon like streams of blazing fire as the stone beneath his feet gradually cracked under the accumulating pressure.

The training dummies placed before him barely lasted more than a few exchanges before exploding into splinters.

Kyle didn’t stop.

Another dummy.

Another series of attacks.

Another shattered target.

He continued moving as though the exhaustion no longer mattered.

As though the only thing that existed was the spear in his hands.

Then—

A calm voice drifted across the training grounds.

"Need a sparring partner?"

Kyle’s spear halted mid-swing.

The sudden interruption caught him completely off guard.

He slowly turned toward the entrance.

And immediately froze.

Standing beneath the morning sunlight was a familiar figure.

Dark violet hair shifted gently in the breeze.

Crimson eyes carried their usual calm confidence.

Dressed casually rather than in academy attire, Luca rested one hand upon the hilt of his twin sabers while a faint smile lingered across his face.

For several long moments, Kyle simply stared.

"...You’re kidding."

Luca smiled innocently.

"I usually save that expression for when Eric starts explaining his brilliant ideas."

Kyle blinked several times.

"What are you doing here?"

Luca shrugged casually.

"I happened to be nearby."

Kyle stared at him with the flattest expression imaginable.

"You travelled halfway across the Empire."

"I happened to be nearby halfway across the Empire."

"...That’s not how nearby works."

Luca laughed softly.

Then, without another word, he reached toward his fingers.

The twin sabers slid smoothly into his hands.

Morning sunlight reflected brilliantly across their polished blades as he rolled his shoulders once before taking a relaxed stance.

There was no hostility within his posture.

No killing intent.

Only quiet confidence.

Luca raised one saber slightly before pointing it toward Kyle.

"Come."

Kyle raised an eyebrow.

Luca’s smile widened.

"Come at me with everything you’ve got."

The words echoed calmly across the training grounds.

Silence settled over the training ground.

Kyle looked at Luca.

Then toward the shattered remains of the training dummies scattered around the arena.

Then back toward Luca again.

A slow grin spread across his face.

The familiar mischievous grin.

The one Luca had expected to see.

Kyle rested the butt of his spear against the stone floor before spinning it effortlessly back into his hands.

Mana began gathering around the crimson weapon almost immediately.

His crimson eyes gleamed with renewed spirit.

"Those are some dangerous words."

Luca simply adjusted his grip on the twin sabers.

"I know."

Kyle lowered his stance.

The grin on his face became even wider.

"Don’t blame me if I actually do."

The morning breeze swept across the training grounds.

The two young men smiled at one another.

And as aura began gathering around both of them, the first clash became only a heartbeat away.