AME 41

CH:41

The plan had been perfect. Kaon was going to spend the entire day freely roaming through Vellium, without a care in the world.

He’d gotten just enough sleep to feel refreshed, and waking up with a clear mind had been great. No—everything had been perfect, even after a refreshing wash and a quick pick of clothes… up until he opened his wardrobe.

Misfortune struck the moment he came face to face with the ceremonial outfits neatly stored inside. Since he would be staying at the palace for two days, D’vora had prepared four different formal suits. After all, clothing reflected the status of each noble house, and they had intentionally prepared an ample selection.

Kaon, intending to grab something casual and comfortable, froze when he saw the lineup of extravagant outfits hanging beside his intended clothes. That’s when the word “banquet” came to mind.

And with it came a major issue. He wasn’t attending the banquet alone anymore, unlike before.

That was the problem. For this court banquet, he had a partner—his fiancée, Alessia Ingellos, with whom he constantly fought and bickered.

I could just attend alone.

Kaon, now fully dressed and even donning his outer coat, tried to convince himself. The main banquet was tomorrow anyway. Today was more of a social gathering, meant for nobles to mingle. The king, eager for the spotlight, would only appear on the final day.

Alessia Ingellos was a noble herself and surely just as familiar with such events. Since the Ingellos family would be attending, maybe it was even better if he stayed away.

Is that really something one can attend alone?

No. Kaon knew better. This was the first time he and Alessia, the betrothed heirs of two rival families—Ferdinand and Ingellos—would appear in public together. Attending alone would no doubt stir up all kinds of rumors at a banquet already expected to draw attention.

But Kaon really didn’t want to attend. Tomorrow was unavoidable, but today just felt like a waste of time. He was never fond of the social scene and had no desire to get used to it.

Ah, seriously…

Nothing ever went smoothly. With a long sigh, Kaon left his room.

“Alessia.”

Knocking politely, Kaon called her name. He had softened his voice, mindful of any eavesdroppers, but the sound still made him cringe.

Clack.

The door swung open, and Alessia didn’t look pleased. Her face said it all: What is wrong with this guy?

“…I came because I have something to say. I’d appreciate a moment of your time.”

“Of course. Come in.”

At least she had enough tact to let him in without complaint, though her gentle tone made his skin crawl.

“Why are you here?”

Click. No sooner had the door shut than her expression shifted. Kaon used to be taken aback by it, but now he barely reacted. He was used to it.

He hesitated. Maybe it really was better to just go back to his room and enjoy a quiet outing alone. That would definitely be simpler and more relaxing.

But something—damned chivalry or maybe guilt—kept him rooted. His father had hammered in the value of always putting ladies first since he was a child, and clearly, the lesson had stuck.

I’ll just ask once and leave.

Resolving himself, Kaon finally spoke.

“I’m not going to the banquet today. I’ll go tomorrow, but not today.”

“Okay.”

She didn’t sound the least bit interested. Her face all but said, And why are you telling me this? He might’ve imagined it, but she also seemed to look at him like a foolish child.

He resisted the sudden urge to storm out. If enduring this helped ease his guilt, he could take it.

“Instead, I’m thinking of walking around the city a bit. If you don’t want to go to the banquet alone, you could come with me.”

“With you?”

“Yeah.”

Kaon replied without even looking at her. He expected her to flatly refuse, or say something like Why on earth would I go with you?

“I…”

It seemed the second option was the winner. Just as Kaon was about to rise, convinced the conversation was over, he froze. What met his eyes was something completely unexpected.

“…Can I really go with you?”

She looked at him hopefully, her tone unusually soft and hesitant. It had been so long since she’d spoken like that, he barely recognized her.

“Is that… not okay?”

Startled, Kaon stayed silent. Alessia tilted her head and asked again, almost impatiently.

“…No, it’s fine.”

The answer had been decided from the start.

And so, the two of them left the palace together. Joseph would probably clutch the back of his neck in shock if he found out, but it was too late—the carriage had already departed.

“We’ll shop for a bit around the city, then stop by a blacksmith.”

“A blacksmith? Not a weapons shop?”

“There’s no comparison. Getting a sword custom-forged at a smithy is on another level from buying one off a rack.”

“Ugh, such a knight thing to say…”

Kaon frowned at the annoying remark but quickly composed himself. Alessia was gazing out the window with a face full of excitement. Her sparkling eyes practically gleamed with joy.

“Everything’s so fancy.”

“Well, we’re right in the capital’s center.”

Kaon replied to her occasional exclamations with equal consistency. She pressed up against the window, unable to tear her eyes away, like a puppy wagging its tail in front of a treat.

Of course, if he ever said that out loud, she’d probably glare at him and say, Are you calling me a dog? So he wisely kept it to himself.

Their carriage eventually entered a more crowded street and dropped them off near the central plaza. It was known as the most commercially active area of Vellium.

“Is there a festival going on in Vellium right now?”

“Not that I’ve heard…”

Kaon trailed off. He hadn’t heard anything, but the sight before them looked exactly like a festival.

Colorful tents surrounded the massive fountain at the heart of the plaza, and countless street vendors were set up in neat rows.

He’d visited Vellium last spring, but hadn’t had time to walk through the city.

Did they add a new festival since then?

As far as he knew, the only spring festival was the flower festival, and that was still a few weeks away.

“Lords and ladies! Come take a look! I’ve got rare goods straight from the eastern continent!”

While Kaon was still puzzling it over, a loud-voiced merchant called out to them. Then it all clicked.

“Word must’ve gotten out about the big court banquet. With all the nobles flooding into Vellium, the merchants are cashing in.”

“Ah… So that’s why there are so many people.”

“Normally it’s crowded, but yeah, this is something else.”

To merchants, nobles with loose wallets were ideal customers. With both local vendors and new ones hoping to make a profit, the place had transformed into a festival-like atmosphere.

“Want to take a look?”

Kaon had noticed Alessia staring at one of the booths—the very one with the loud merchant.

“No thanks. What for?”

“He said it’s an amazing item.”

“It’s probably just— Hey! Where are you going?!”

Despite her protests, she couldn’t look away. Kaon strode confidently toward the booth, and Alessia reluctantly followed.

“Ah, welcome!”

“Show me something worth the time.”

“Of course, of course! May I start with this ivory die? When you roll it, it makes the clearest sound. You won’t find another like it anywhere—pure white and elegantly carved.”

It really was beautiful. The die wasn’t a simple cube—it had hexagonal and square faces, adding to its visual appeal.

“Why don’t you try rolling it? Seeing is believing!”

The savvy merchant had set his sights on Alessia. After a moment’s hesitation, she took the die and gently rolled it on the wooden board. It spun like a top before settling on one face.

“Wow!”

“See? Hear that lovely sound? And the way it reflects light as it rolls? You won’t find craftsmanship like this anywhere else. This is the only one I have!”

Encouraged by her reaction, the merchant kept talking, but Alessia was already entranced by the die. Kaon watched her, then instinctively reached for his coin pouch.

“Why did you buy that?”

Alessia couldn’t hold back anymore. If she showed even the slightest interest, he would open his wallet instantly—it was getting overwhelming.

“I liked it, and I bought it with my own money. Why do you care?”

“You liked that doll?”

“Doll?”

Only then did Kaon glance down at what he’d bought. Alessia was dumbfounded. She thought he might be a bit gullible, but this… he was just a complete pushover.