AME 55

Chapter 55

“W-What the hell…!”

Kaon nearly blew his cover, about to storm out while shouting profanities.

“Sir, you said you had an urgent matter to discuss regarding the Forest of Beasts. This seems unrelated.”

Thankfully, Alessia cut in immediately, giving Kaon just enough time to regain his composure. Still, part of him wanted to strangle Georgie for lying just to lure Alessia out.

“My apologies. I thought you wouldn’t agree to meet me if I told you the truth, so I had to use a pretext. I truly want nothing else. Just… please accept the flowers. With that memory, I feel like I could grow so much more.”

What, is he soil now? Saying he’ll use it as nourishment? Kaon felt like dumping an entire cartload of fertilizer—prepared for the upcoming spring—right over his head. Maybe then the stink would knock some sense into him.

“Sir, I’m sorry, but—”

“I swear, I have no other intentions. You’re the first person to ever support me so sincerely… that’s the only reason I’m asking this. I promise it won’t happen again. I’ll devote myself fully to becoming a proper knight.”

Clinging to someone who clearly isn’t interested—what a pitiful display. Kaon decided he’d had enough. It was time to go out there and drag that arrogant little wannabe knight away from Alessia.

Just as he began to step out—

“If you truly mean that’s all there is to it,” Alessia said, “then I’ll think about it.”

“R-Really? I swear, I’m being sincere. I can swear on it a hundred times over!”

What?

Kaon’s jaw dropped.

‘She just said she’ll think about it… right?’

“You’re going too fast!”

‘But what if she actually accepts?’

“Aaargh!”

Cries of pain echoed through the training yard, but they didn’t register in Kaon’s ears. His blade struck relentlessly, terrifying his sparring partner who collapsed under the onslaught.

“I surrender! I surre—!”

“Stop right there!”

Kaon snapped out of it only when his master’s thunderous shout rang out, reminding him that he was in the middle of a training bout.

“Kaon! Where the hell is your head at?!”

The head of the knight order, who addressed Kaon formally when they were alone, treated him no differently from the other trainees when in public.

“My apologies.”

“I wanted to watch you spar for the first time in a while, and this is what I get? Was that kid supposed to take the brunt of your frustration?”

“No, Commander. I’ve had something on my mind and couldn’t focus. I’m truly sorry. And I apologize to you as well,” he added, bowing first to the commander, then helping his sparring partner to his feet.

“How many times have I told you—whenever you draw your sword, you must be completely focused! Especially you, who could take someone’s head off with a single swing!”

“I have no excuse. I’m sorry.”

The commander raised his voice further, reprimanding Kaon for his distracted behavior over the past few days. Kaon accepted the scolding silently. He knew it wasn’t just disappointment—this was also to show the new trainees that even elite knights weren’t above consequences.

“Get out there and run a hundred laps. Sounds like that’ll serve you better than sword work today.”

“Yes, sir.”

Without complaint, Kaon stepped out. Maybe it was for the best—it might help clear his cluttered mind.

Several days had passed since Georgie Flemmang confessed that he wanted to give Alessia flowers. But Kaon couldn’t get her response out of his head.

It was so unexpected. At first, when she refused, he felt a wave of relief. But then—then—she’d said she would think about it.

Georgie had lit up like a torch, while Kaon’s face had gone deathly pale. And even now, days later, he was still stuck in that same damn thought loop.

‘What on earth is she thinking?’

Kaon bit his lip hard as he ran, spiraling deeper into confusion.

Later, Kaon roughly towel-dried his hair. The hot bath had relaxed his aching muscles, but his head was still a mess.

Had he been in a normal state of mind, he would’ve noticed the presence outside the bathroom easily. But today, he couldn’t sense a thing—not footsteps, not a whisper of movement.

“Hey, Kaon Ferd—”

“Ah! What the—!”

Kaon jumped, startled out of his skin. Still mentally stuck on that day, he screamed as soon as he saw the face outside the bathroom door.

Instinctively, he pulled his towel lower, casting a quick glance downward—just in case. Thankfully, the towel had stayed in place.

“Why are you screaming?”

“Why the hell are you barging into my room?”

She was unbelievable. He always knocked, but she? She just walked right in and then acted like he was the problem.

Granted, he’d once snuck into her room too, but that had been for a reason—and just the once. This girl did it like it was nothing, without an ounce of guilt.

“I called you. You didn’t answer.”

“Because I was in the shower!”

“I was going to say I left some cookies, but you popped out so suddenly.”

“This is my room. My bathroom. Of course I’d pop out. Was I supposed to wait for you to leave first?”

“Not a bad idea.”

Alessia chuckled, unfazed, and placed a familiar basket on the desk.

Kaon stared blankly at her for a moment. That smile—when was the last time she smiled at him like that? They’d been so awkward around each other for a while now.

“Madeleine gave me cookies. You should have some too.”

That snapped him out of it. Who cared about a smile when he’d nearly traded his dignity for a few cookies? His heart was still pounding.

‘Why is she so calm?’

She didn’t even flinch. Maybe a bit surprised at first, but now she was chatting away like nothing had happened. That stung. After all, he was the guy. She was the girl. Why was he the only one freaking out?

“Oh, and this part is wrong. Unless you want the instructor to notice, I suggest fixing it.”

Even offering criticism, huh? Good for you.

“Yeah, thanks. You can leave now.”

“Didn’t need to be told. I was going anyway.”

“Then hurry up.”

As he practically shoved her out, Kaon’s eyes caught a glimpse of the floral embroidery on the hem of her dress.

“Wait.”

“I thought you wanted me to leave. What is it now?”

Kaon had just remembered something. Alessia didn’t turn around, but her voice reached him.

“You.”

“What about me?”

Should he just say it? He hesitated, then made up his mind. This might be his only chance.

“I have something to ask.”

Alessia slowly turned around at that. Then, without asking for permission, she walked over to the desk and grabbed a cookie.

While she munched away, Kaon hesitated. He’d already brought it up, but now… how could he say it without revealing he’d been eavesdropping?

“Unbelievable…”

He muttered to himself, annoyed. Alessia’s eyes drifted—unintentionally—downward.

“Unbelievable?”

“Hey! Where are you looking?!”

“Ah, sorry. Didn’t mean to.”

She quickly turned her head. Maybe it was unintentional, since she returned to her cookie like nothing happened. Kaon tried to ignore the weird feeling and focus on Georgie.

“About the flower…”

“What flower?”

“…From that bastard Georgie…”

His voice dropped instinctively. Alessia clearly heard, though—she frowned.

“How do you know about that?”

“I just… happened to find out.”

“Did Sir Flemmang go around telling people?”

“No, nothing like that. Don’t get the wrong idea.”

As much as he disliked Georgie, Kaon wasn’t going to falsely accuse him.

“Then how did you find out?”

“I just happened to overhear…”

“Happened to overhear?”

Unable to make a convincing excuse, Kaon finally admitted:

“It was snowing, so I went out to take a look… then figured I’d take a walk… and I guess I wanted to enjoy nature up close, so—”

“Wow, that’s a long way to say you eavesdropped.”

It was an elaborate lie, but nonsense was still nonsense. Kaon flinched, then gave up pretending.

“So what are you going to do about it?”

“What does it matter to you?”

“Of course it matters! Did you forget I’m your fiancé?”

His voice dropped dangerously. Alessia sighed.

“He just wanted to express his gratitude. Said he’d use it as motivation.”

“And you believed that crap?”

There was no way she couldn’t see through it. Kaon clenched his fists.

“Then if I gave you flowers, would you take them?”

If it didn’t matter who gave them, then fine. He’d just shove a bouquet at her and be done. As her fiancé, that should be enough.

“……”

But Alessia said nothing. She just stared at him with those red, flickering eyes—then shook her head.

“…No. I wouldn’t accept yours.”

Her voice was soft, but firm. Kaon let out a bitter, breathy laugh.

Here we go again. Just when things seemed okay, it always ended like this.

“So you’ll accept his, but not mine.”

Why? He wanted to ask—but didn’t need to. He already knew.

“Because I’ll never understand why you hate me so much?”

“That’s not it.”

Alessia’s calm denial barely reached his ears. The emotions building inside him were ready to explode. He just wanted it all to end.

“Then what is it?”

“Kaon Ferdinand.”

Kaon stepped closer. Alessia tensed and tried to stop him—but he didn’t listen.

“Then tell me—!”

Swish.

Something dropped to the floor with a soft flutter, and a sudden chill ran down his legs.