My Childhood Friend Told Me to Go Marry the Most Beautiful Woman in the Kingdom, So I Seriously Started Improving Myself—and Somehow Ended Up Making Women Fall Hard - Chapter 03: Learning Who I Used to Be

Chapter 03: Learning Who I Used to Be

The sword my sister gave me fit perfectly in my hand.

From now on, I would belong to the knight order as a knight-in-training and undergo proper training.

If I had a specific knight to serve under like Dias did, I could have become a squire—but I didn’t have anyone like that.

After finishing my morning training and heading back into the mansion, gentle sunlight streamed into the living room.

The scent of tea filled the air, and baked sweets were laid out on the table.

My sister was relaxing there.

“Well then, Hort. Finished your morning training?”

“Yeah. The sword you gave me is amazing.”

“I’m glad to hear that. My husband picked it out, so I’ll make sure to thank him.”

So it seemed her husband had chosen the sword for me.

My sister took a sip of tea, then slowly set her cup down.

“Alright then. Let’s talk about women.”

“…Please do.”

Up until now, I had barely spoken to any woman other than Rina.

And so, my sister decided to give me a proper lecture about women.

I got nervous and instinctively slipped into polite speech.

My sister nodded, looking satisfied.

“First, I’ll tell you the most important thing.”

She raised her index finger.

“Don’t give too much.”

I blinked.

“…Don’t give too much?”

“That’s right.”

My sister continued, folding her fingers one by one.

“Paying for every meal even though you’re not even dating yet.”

“Giving presents all the time.”

“Putting her schedule above everything else and sacrificing your own.”

“Doing lots of small favors just to hear ‘thank you.’”

My chest gave a small sting.

I had done… all of that for Rina.

“That kind of thing makes her happy at first. But eventually, it becomes normal. People stop valuing things that are free. Free feels nice—but people get used to it. Kindness itself isn’t bad. It’s how you give it.”

My sister paused and took a sip of her tea.

“So next.”

She set the cup down with a soft clink.

“Instead of giving, make her choose.”

“Make her choose…?”

“It means you don’t prepare everything.”

My sister stood up and raised a finger.

“For example—meals.”

“‘Anywhere is fine’ is the worst.”

“‘How about here?’ isn’t great either.”

“The right answer is—”

She pointed at me.

“Limit it to two choices.”

“‘A or B, which do you want?’”

“‘Sweet or light today?’”

“Then she’ll think: ‘Hmm, maybe something sweet,’ and choose.”

She said it with a hint of amusement.

“That way, she feels like she decided for herself.”

I nodded slightly.

I see. I had always cooked Rina’s meals.

And whenever we went out, she’d say, “Anything is fine,” so I was the one who decided everything.

“People get more attached to things they choose themselves. Love works the same way.” 

Was pushing Rina away really my fault?

“Third.”

My sister’s expression turned a little serious as she tapped the table.

“Don’t end as just a ‘nice guy.’”

“…Nice guy.”

My chest gave another sharp ache.

Just kind.

Just convenient.

That was probably all I was to Rina.

“Always calm. Never causing trouble. Always adjusting to the other person. That makes people feel safe—but there’s no excitement.”

It hurt. Deeply.

“It’s fine at first. But eventually, they start thinking this.”

My sister mimicked Rina’s tone.

“‘This guy is just adjusting to me. He’s boring.’”

Pain stabbed into my chest again and again.

“A man who doesn’t move your emotions doesn’t stay in your memory.”

She snapped her fingers.

“Next. Fourth.”

“People are strongly drawn to those who move their emotions—even negative ones.”

“You mean, make them angry?”

“No.”

My sister shook her head.

“Anxiety. Impatience. Frustration. A line that makes their heart skip. All of that counts as emotion.”

After a short pause, she said,

“Kindness 7, spice 3.”

Easy to remember.

“If it’s all kindness, there’s no flavor.”

My sister popped a baked sweet into her mouth.

It was sweet—but after that came the sourness of fruit and a faint, toasted bitterness.

It was delicious.

“Fifth.”

This time, my sister lowered her voice slightly.

“Don’t be too considerate.”

“Don’t be considerate…?”

She looked straight at me.

“In romance, it’s important to put some burden on the other person.”

“Huh? Put a burden on them?”

That was unexpected.

I had always thought the opposite.

Rina worked hard at her studies.

Becoming a court mage wasn’t easy… so I wanted to support her.

That was why I took everything on myself.

“Not burdening someone looks kind at first. But it makes them think this instead: ‘Even if I’m not here, this person will be fine.’”

“…Ah.”

I was someone who didn’t matter whether I was there or not.

“People get attached to those they invest in—time, money, and effort.”

“Time, money, effort?”

“Yes. The more you pour in, the more you want something in return. But if you’re only receiving and never investing, there’s nothing to cling to.”

I had given everything to Rina.

My time.

My money.

My effort.

But what had she given to me?

Time? Effort?

I couldn’t really remember.

We were just together. That was all.

“So you have to let the other person decide too. Make them wait sometimes. Rely on them. Put a little burden on them. Show them that you need them—that’s important.”

I had never wanted Rina to do anything for me.

I had only ever thought about doing things for her.

“And make sure you say ‘thank you’ properly.”

“I did say it.”

“No. I mean, let the other person do something for you—then say thank you. Gratitude isn’t just manners. It’s a connection.”

Something warm slowly spread through my chest.

I hadn’t had that kind of connection with Rina.

“Sixth.”

My sister raised her index finger.

“Don’t let your feelings spill everywhere. Don’t be the only one constantly saying ‘I like you.’”

“…Yeah. I did that a lot.”

“I thought so. People are drawn to uncertainty. ‘Does this person really like me?’ That anxiety—being unable to be sure.”

She traced a small circle with her finger.

“That time is what grows their feelings for you. The moment people feel love the strongest is when they’re apart.”

My sister gave a slightly mischievous smile.

“When they’re not sure if you like them, they start thinking about you—and their feelings grow.”

I was always thinking about Rina.

But maybe… she wasn’t thinking about me the same way.

“But hiding it too much is bad too. You do show affection—but not every time, not excessively. Balance is everything.”

She paused for a moment.

“A man who’s only nice has no value. Sometimes, be a little mean.”

“Jokes.”

“Light pushback.”

“Teasing.”

“Just that is enough to move emotions.”

I let out a deep breath.

…The me from before had been: Kindness: 10 | Spice: 0

No wonder she got bored.

“Remember this, Hort.”

My sister said it with a serious look.

“You don’t need to become a bad man. Just don’t sell yourself cheap.”

Those words stayed with me.

“You’ll be fine.”

She smiled softly.

“You’ve already taken your first step. Now all that’s left is to choose—what you want to become. You’re not perfect. But you’re not stupid either.”

Who to choose.

And how.

I nodded quietly.

It seemed that searching for the most beautiful woman in the kingdom was going to be far harder than sword training.