AME 06

CH:06

Not long after that, the engagement between Kaon and Alessia was officially announced.

Since it had been decided long ago and the announcement had only been delayed out of concern for public opinion, Kaon remained indifferent—but others did not.

“That Ingelos girl? Oh my goodness!”

“Those wicked people came to Ferdinand—what are they plotting!”

The moment the news broke, the entire domain was thrown into an uproar.

“Ah! Is there any greater shame than this? Our young lord fell in love at first sight and proposed? And to someone from Ingelos, Ingelos of all places…!”

Internally, the chaos was no less severe. Baroness Robert, whose love for Ferdinand ran deep, began weeping uncontrollably early in the morning.

What reignited the fury in the Baroness—who had already known about Kaon’s engagement—was a rumor that had flown in from the capital.

It was said that the young lord of Ferdinand had fallen madly for a noblewoman from Ingelos, became lovesick, and that his sister, unable to watch him suffer, raised the white flag and negotiated the engagement with Ingelos.

The rumor was so biased it made it seem like Kaon had desperately clung to Alessia, and it deeply offended the Baroness.

The rumor, in fact, had been fabricated by Leonidas to mislead the king, but of course, no one knew that—hence the current uproar.

Naturally, no one in Ferdinand believed a word of it.

Rather, they were furious. “Our young lord, who has such a bright future, would never fall for some Ingelos woman!”

Baroness Robert, leading the outcry and grabbing every passerby to lament, clutched Kaon’s hands with a tearful voice.

“Young master, we will never forget your noble sacrifice.”

“Well, I mean… I wouldn’t call it a sacrifice…”

Kaon, who had once considered himself a sacrificial lamb without hesitation, felt a bit awkward and trailed off.

He was currently enduring heavy burdens for the sake of the family, having justified the engagement as a matter of duty—but it wasn’t something that truly warranted reverent admiration.

Agreeing to the engagement was simply the easiest choice among limited options—and Kaon had taken it.

Was it necessary to stop the loyal retainers from actively opposing the engagement by defending Alessia? Maybe not—but still.

“So please, don’t worry. We will handle everything from here.”

But Baroness Robert clearly had something else in mind. Determination sparkled in her eyes like she was ready for battle.

“We will show her what Ferdinand is made of.”

“…Show her? What do you mean by that?”

Her needlessly dramatic tone made Kaon very uneasy.

“We need to show her the unique way of life in Ferdinand!”

The head maid Madeleine, who had been nodding vigorously from behind, suddenly jumped in.

It was unfortunately obvious that her referred to the noblewoman from Ingelos.

“She will learn the hard way how different Ferdinand is.”

“We’ll make sure that Ingelos blood never dares to look down on Ferdinand again.”

“Exactly, Madeleine. You understand me perfectly.”

“Of course, madam.”

The two women exchanged glances—there was a kind of comradery in their eyes.

Baroness Robert turned to the servants who had been pretending not to listen and declared in a commanding voice:

“Do you all understand?”

“Yes, madam!” “Of course!”

Responses exploded as if they had been waiting for the cue.

“Let’s show her—”

“—who we are!”

Madeleine even shouted it like a toast. Kaon, startled by their synchronized enthusiasm, pressed a hand to his forehead. He was starting to feel a kind of dizziness he’d never experienced before.

Ten days later, on a summer day, a carriage bearing the crest of the Ingelos dukedom entered Ferdinand Castle.

The Ingelos crest was a staff embedded with a red jewel. A guard watching the gates from a distance spotted it and quickly reported it.

The servants of Ferdinand, who had been lined up in two neat rows at the front door, straightened their postures upon hearing of the noblewoman’s arrival.

The distance between the main gate and the front door was considerable, so it took some time before the carriage came into view.

Kaon silently watched the carriage roll down the tree-lined path.

‘Was that road always this long? Or this short?’

Spring’s cold first encounter had given way to the sweltering heat of summer.

Kaon, who had found himself counting the days until Alessia’s arrival for reasons he couldn’t fully explain, felt strangely unsettled now that the day had come.

The path looked longer than usual one moment, then too short the next.

These pointless thoughts were clearly a symptom of the excessive overthinking he’d done lately.

Would Alessia adjust to Ferdinand’s blazing sun, so different from Ingelos’s cooler climate? Would living in such a foreign land be too difficult for her?

These needless worries, about something Alessia would surely manage herself, had nearly driven him mad.

‘Still, as a fellow sacrificial pawn, I’m allowed to worry. Even in war, comrades come first.’

Whenever Kaon felt strange for caring, he consoled himself with such logic.

As a knight, as someone now in the same boat, and as a fiancé—wasn’t it natural to care, at least this much?

“Kaon.”

Leonidas, standing at the front, quietly called out to him. It was time to prepare to greet the noblewoman.

Though Leonidas was acting lord of Ferdinand, it was proper for Kaon, her fiancé, to greet Alessia—who arrived not as a guest but as a bride-to-be.

“I know.”

Trying to stay composed, Kaon clenched and unclenched his fists a few times.

Why was he so nervous over something as simple as an escort? Any decent man would do it.

Meanwhile, the oblivious coachman dutifully pulled aside the curtain and opened the door.

A moment that felt like an eternity to Kaon passed—then Alessia stepped out.

“It’s been a while, Lord Kaon.”

Kaon instinctively held his breath.

Her long-sleeved navy dress was plain, but Alessia shone brightly nonetheless.

Whether it was the silver hair gleaming under the golden sunlight, the delicate curve of her smiling eyes, or something else altogether—she had an undeniable presence.

“…Welcome to Ferdinand.”

He belatedly offered his hand, and Alessia naturally placed hers atop it.

Kaon glanced at her hand. It was small and cool, like that day’s memory. So light he couldn’t even feel it. He exaggerated, but it seemed unlikely she could even hold a knife.

He still found it unbelievable that someone’s hand could be so delicate—but now wasn’t the time for daydreaming.

Guiding her toward Leonidas, Alessia gave a graceful curtsy.

“Thank you for the warm welcome, future lord of Ferdinand.”

Her voice was like pearls rolling on a silver tray—clear and composed.

The heavy tension of silent suspicion around them shifted into stunned stillness. Her behavior was flawless—so much so, it unsettled everyone.

Everyone had expected the Ingelos noblewoman to be haughty.

Every other magician who’d come to Ferdinand had been, so of course they assumed someone of Ingelos blood would be worse.

Even with an engagement sealing the alliance, no one believed that arrogance would be set aside.

“You must be tired from your long journey, Lady Alessia.”

“It is an honor to set foot in such a beautiful land.”

Yet, Alessia was nothing but respectful toward Ferdinand from start to finish.

Those who’d been on alert in case she insulted their master now began exchanging glances.

‘What’s her game?’

‘She’s just not showing her true colors yet.’

Suspicion thickened the air. Kaon, sensing it, let out a bitter smile. He could already imagine Alessia’s difficult future.

Could someone so gentle survive this kind of hostile environment? His months-long worry resurfaced.

Because Alessia looked so small and fragile. If she had come with arrogance and cold indifference, perhaps it would’ve been better—but she didn’t seem like that at all.

That’s why it bothered him. Nothing more. Just that.

He pitied the trials she was sure to face.

“You must be tired. Let us continue our conversation at tonight’s banquet.”

“Thank you for your kind consideration.”

Kaon tried to brush aside his complicated feelings.

Baroness Robert walked stiffly ahead, guiding Alessia into the main castle.

She was always one to emphasize aristocratic grace and posture, but today she looked like a soldier heading into battle.

Kaon sighed and followed. Alessia’s room was across the hall from his anyway.

Walking beside her, Kaon occasionally sneaked glances. It was strange to be engaged to someone from Ingelos. Strange that Ingelos blood now stepped on Ferdinand’s soil.

But most of all, Alessia herself was strange.

Though many people in Ferdinand were shorter than Kaon, few were as thin and petite as her. He wondered if they were even the same species.

So he kept sneaking side glances. Her light lashes, similar in tone to her hair, fluttered like butterfly wings.

As they crossed the lobby and climbed the stairs, Kaon’s eyes were busy observing—until…

“……!”

Their eyes met.

Her jewel-like red eyes suddenly looked up and locked onto his.

Because of their height difference, Alessia had to lift her gaze significantly, and Kaon couldn’t even pretend he hadn’t been staring. Caught in an awkward middle ground, he didn’t know how to respond.

“The light comes in beautifully through the windows here.”

She smiled softly and spoke like nothing had happened. She must’ve known he’d been watching, but didn’t seem to mind.

“…Aren’t the castles in Ingelos like this?”

“Ingelos has poor weather. The windows are small and often covered with thick curtains. Magicians don’t welcome light, so it’s even stricter.”

Ferdinand Castle was, as she said, full of sunlight. It had been built that way on purpose.

A sudden thought made Kaon pause.

‘If magicians don’t like light…’

That meant Alessia might not like it either.

Her room had been renovated for months. As it was a lady’s room, he hadn’t looked inside, but most rooms in the castle had large windows.

‘Should I have them change the curtains to thicker ones?’

As he considered how to make her stay more comfortable, Alessia turned her head and added,

“But I like light.”

It was as if she had read his mind. Kaon was slightly startled but also relieved.

Of course not all magicians would have the same taste. That would be ridiculous.

“This is the room where you’ll be staying, Lady Alessia.”

The silence that followed was broken by Baroness Robert’s cold voice.

Kaon offered a short farewell, considering her fatigue.

“Please rest well.”

Or at least, he tried to.

“Since you’ll be staying with Lord Kaon, we’ve prepared the largest room for you. We hope you’ll be comfortable.”

Until he heard something completely absurd.