AME 43

CH:43

The corridor was silent, not a soul in sight. It was the perfect time to avoid prying eyes. At that very moment, Kaon found himself in front of Alesia’s door.

Right until the doorknob turned, Kaon hesitated. He couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that he was doing something completely unnecessary.

Tomorrow morning would bring chaos in preparation for the evening banquet. If he was going to do this, now was his only chance. It was either give it now—or not at all. And still, he hadn’t made up his mind.

Click.
The door opened, and Alesia’s voice followed.

“What’s going on?”

Kaon froze as he instinctively looked up. She must’ve just stepped out of the bath—her hair was wrapped in a towel, still damp. She wore a thin muslin nightgown he’d seen before, but somehow, the way it clung to her wet skin made it feel like he wasn’t supposed to look.

“I—I’ll come back later…”

“Just come in. It’s not like I’m naked. We share a room, remember?”

Kaon had already turned away in panic, but Alesia casually grabbed his arm, clearly unfazed. Unlike Kaon, who looked utterly flustered.

“…What kind of girl is that careless about these things?”

“And you must be very careful—coming to see me at this hour.”

He had no retort for that. It was true they’d returned late from their outing, and he’d waited for a time when no one would see him. But still—she wasn’t wrong.

“Since I’m the careless one, I’ll give you permission. So stop being such a shy little Kaon Ferdinand and come in.”

“I’m not shy! You’re the one always talking like—”

“Shutting the door now?”

“…I’m coming in.”

With a quiet sigh, Kaon stepped inside. There was no winning a war of words with her—and it’s not like he could wrestle her either. Not that he’d ever want to.

If I can’t beat her in words or strength… am I just going to lose to her forever?

The disturbing thought flashed through his mind, and Kaon gave his head a firm shake. That future felt all too possible.

“You here to admire the floor or something?”

Still lost in thought and staring at the ground, Kaon finally let out a sigh and pulled a pouch from his pocket.

“Just… take this.”

“…What is it?”

Alesia squinted and peeked inside. Her lips pressed into a thin line.

“I couldn’t just get one for myself, so I bought yours too.”

“…Liar. You clearly only bought mine.”

“I didn’t. I got two of them.”

“Show me, then.”

“…Whatever. I did get two.”

She was quick on the uptake—too quick. If only she could pretend not to notice, just once.

“So you take them both.”

Kaon folded his arms like he was making it impossible to give them back. Alesia gave a short, disbelieving laugh, but thankfully, didn’t try to return the pouch. She simply stared down at it in silence.

That should’ve been the end of it—but it wasn’t. Kaon quietly unfolded his arms and reached for an inner pocket in his jacket. His fingers closed around something hard.

Give it? Don’t give it?

He’d already prepared it. But still—was this too much? His mind was caught in a fierce internal debate, each side evenly matched.

He glanced at Alesia. She was still focused on the pouch. He bit his lower lip, made up his mind.

“Uh…”

He barely got the word out when Alesia looked up. Before their eyes could meet, Kaon pulled a small box from inside his jacket and held it out.

“Take this, too… if you want.”

That box—that was the reason Kaon had come to see her this late at night. He’d been debating it ever since their journey from Ferdinand to Bellium began.

“What is it? Why so dramatic?”

“It’s nothing,” Kaon muttered, flustered.

There was a soft click as the box opened. Alesia’s eyes widened as she looked inside.

“Wait… this is—”

“I figured everyone would be wearing something like that.”

Inside, on a bed of black satin, lay a necklace. A delicate gold chain held a slim almond-shaped diamond, and beneath it hung a slightly larger teardrop ruby—glowing vividly, just like Alesia’s eyes.

“You can wear it if you want.”

Kaon looked away, coughing awkwardly.

The day he summoned Baroness Robert to talk, he’d done a lot of thinking. Her words hadn’t been wrong—Kaon and Alesia were only engaged. Her business was still the concern of House Ingelos, not Ferdinand.

But the image of that empty jewelry box lingered in his mind.

Even the one accessory Alesia did have—a ring—hardly counted. That thing was more of a mysterious weapon than jewelry.

So he’d called Debora before she left the castle and ordered the piece to be crafted, instructing her not to let word of it slip. Something that would suit Alesia—just for her. He’d hesitated until now, wondering if it was too much, but finally, he’d given it.

“If you don’t like it, you don’t have to wear it.”

He added the words softly. Whether she wore it or threw it away—that was her decision now. Debora had helped with the design, so it would match her dress. But if it wasn’t to Alesia’s taste, there was nothing he could do.

Either way, now that the gift was out of his hands, he felt strangely relieved.

“Well, I’m going now.”

“…This is the last one.”

Kaon had just stood up, feeling a weight lifted, when Alesia’s voice quietly stopped him. She hadn’t even touched the necklace yet, just stared at it, her tone strained.

“What?”

“I’m not accepting anything more from you.”

Her next words were clearer—but there was a faint tremble at the end.

“What are you talking about? Who said I was giving you anything else?”

Kaon retorted, flustered. He was just as embarrassed. Born into a knight’s household and raised among men, this sort of sentimental gesture was utterly foreign to him. Even asking Debora had taken every ounce of courage he had.

So, he missed the way Alesia was holding the box carefully in both hands, and instead hurried out of the room.

“She left first?”

“Yes, my lord. She entered with Lord Leonidas.”

Kaon frowned at the maid’s polite report. He had assumed they would go in together—yet Alesia had gone ahead without him.

There she goes again.

Alesia did this often. Just when they seemed to grow a little closer, it was as if she had a reset switch—distancing herself all over again.

Just like now. She’d been laughing, smiling just yesterday, and today she was suddenly cold and distant again.

Maybe she didn’t like the necklace.

The design? Or the fact it was a gift? Maybe both?

He couldn’t believe that Alesia Ingelos would run away out of embarrassment after receiving a present. That just didn’t sound like her.

Was it too much for her?

That seemed the most likely answer.

Still, it wasn’t a gift loaded with meaning or some hidden intention. Kaon simply hoped it would change how people looked at her—remove at least one of the judgmental glances.

Alesia cared deeply about others’ opinions. Showing up in a gown with no accessories would only add fuel to the gossip. And she’d pretend not to care, while secretly stewing over it.

He just didn’t want that. That strange, unpredictable girl was too quick to notice things—and too affected by what she noticed. It couldn’t be easy for her.

He remembered the ridiculous hat she once wore to hide her face, and the silent tears she cried while curled up in his arms.

Kaon just wanted that tiny girl to feel a little less burdened. Even if she was a liar, even if she was deceiving him.

At the royal banquet, not even one’s entrance could be done freely. Outside the grand hall, guests waited in order. When a name was called, a pair of ornate doors would swing open, announcing the guest to the crowd inside.

It was a ridiculous tradition, one created by King Mahav II—solely to ensure his own dramatic, final entrance would stand out.

So, on nights like tonight—when the king was attending—the introductions proceeded in full.

“It’s your turn to enter, my lord.”

Kaon was not so lucky.

The steward raised his voice and formally announced Kaon’s full name and house. The massive doors swung open, and all eyes turned to him.

Kaon schooled his features into something neutral and stepped forward. He’d always hated this from the very first banquet he’d attended with his parents. It just didn’t suit him.

Perhaps because Princess Odely had returned to the kingdom, tonight’s event was far more crowded than usual. Nearly every noble house was present.

Without hesitation, Kaon walked straight toward a designated area. The banquet hall was massive, and they had prearranged a place to meet. His long strides drew some attention—but he didn’t look at anyone.

“Kaon!”

A familiar voice rang out behind him. Familiar—and yet somehow, unfamiliar.