AME 47

CH:47

“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that. I already have a fiancée.”

The princess, who had been looking at him with supreme confidence, instantly scowled.

“Why? It’s not like you get along with Ingelos anyway.”

She followed up immediately, clearly unable to comprehend.

“Don’t tell me it’s one of those sappy lines like you fell for her at first sight? What is this, a children’s fairy tale?”

Kaon barely kept his expression from twisting. Didn’t he himself just say earlier that he had fallen for her at first sight? For a man who looked like he was either burning alive or being consumed by flames.

It was ridiculous, the contradiction of allowing herself to feel that way but assuming he couldn’t. Not that he had fallen for Alessia at first sight—he was just caught off guard by how different she was from what he’d expected.

Even so, he had no intention of using that as an excuse. The princess’s attitude was simply amusing.

But the situation wasn’t amusing enough for him to laugh freely. Kaon quickly composed his expression and spoke.

“Ferdinand does not break its word. The First Duke lived with honor, and as his descendant, I am bound to do the same.”

“Wow, Sir. Who knew you were such a stick-in-the-mud?”

The princess made no effort to hide how dull she found him, shaking her head and muttering loud enough to be heard, “No wonder Gaius always says you’re boring.”

Kaon didn’t care either way. The offer was attractive—there likely wouldn’t be another chance in his life to gain the favor of a mage so easily.

But he was a knight. And a knight was meant to protect—whether it be their lord, their people, or their own words. Without the resolve to protect anything, one was merely a swordsman, not a knight. And those two were completely different.

Even if Ingelos had sent a fake mage first, that “fake” mage—Alessia—was now moving earnestly for Ferdinand. To the point of damaging herself in the process. Therefore, as a knight of Ferdinand, Kaon had the duty to protect her.

“I understand. You must have been startled by my sudden proposal,” the princess said, stepping back slightly as if realizing it was futile to push further.

“Still, I hope you’ll think it over. We still have time, right? I’ll come find you in Ferdinand next summer. Until then, I’d like you to consider it seriously. Don’t just dismiss it outright.”

“There’s no real need…”

“Please. I’m serious about this.”

She didn’t fully retract her proposal—she left the door open. Kaon didn’t respond. He had no intention of accepting, but rejecting her too harshly would have been an insult to royalty.

“You really are a romantic underneath it all, huh? The young lady is out on the balcony with another man, you know.”

“…What did you say?”

“You didn’t know? That’s why I was sure your relationship was purely formal. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have called you out like this. Well, I probably would’ve anyway.”

She really didn’t know, the princess added with a tinge of awkward guilt.

Kaon left the balcony, his face stiff.

Alessia had returned to her seat. She smiled gently, quietly enjoying the music, when a boy approached her. Tall, but clearly under twenty, he looked nervous yet determined not to turn back.

“It’s an honor to meet you, my lady. I’m Jorge, second son of Count Flemang.”

The boy with ash-brown hair and a neat, polite demeanor introduced himself with a shy voice. He had watched Alessia dancing from afar, entranced, and after much hesitation had finally approached her.

“Pleasure to meet you, Sir Jorge Flemang.”

Jorge looked ecstatic. Her voice was so clear and pure, it felt as if someone had ground moonlight into sound.

“You may not know, but the Flemang territory is quite close to the Duchy of Ferdinand. By carriage, it’s less than three days away—so it’s really not far at all.”

“Of course, I know.”

“Truly? I’m honored… I’m currently training to become a knight. If I’m knighted by my family, I’ll serve right away, but if I join another order, it may take a little longer.”

He fumbled slightly. He hadn’t meant to bring that up so soon, but in front of Alessia, his thoughts scattered. He feared he was coming across as too immature.

“I see. You seem so kind; I’m sure you’ll be a wonderful knight.”

Alessia replied with such warmth that Jorge’s heart pounded with dizzy excitement.

“Thank you! That truly gives me strength. Actually, when summer comes this year…”

“Alessia.”

Just as he was about to continue, a low voice cut between them. Jorge turned to see a man in black standing nearby. Even though his attire wasn’t flashy, his face was so striking it outshone everything else.

Jorge immediately recognized him. The Heir of Ferdinand.

“Do you have business with my fiancée?”

“…I-I’ll visit another time.”

The young heir, Kaon, had been rumored to have joined the elite knights of Ferdinand at a young age—some said through schemes. Standing before him now, Jorge felt the overwhelming pressure. His features didn’t seem human—they were far too perfect.

“If you’re going to come back later, why not speak now?”

“Kaon.”

Alessia intervened as Kaon’s voice turned sharp. Jorge gave her a hopeful look at her parting words and withdrew.

“Why did you scare him off?”

“When did I scare him? He scared himself.”

“Try acting as nice as you look.”

When did I act mean? he wanted to argue. And you? You look sweet, but you’re never sweet to me.

Kaon had a million things to say, but he swallowed them. He was just doing what a fiancé ought to. Maybe he’d come off a bit aggressive, but only to prevent more fools from approaching her.

It definitely wasn’t because he got angry seeing someone else near her. At least, that’s what he told himself.

He felt wronged in several ways, but for now, Kaon bit his tongue. This wasn’t the time to fight because of some clueless boy.

“Where were you just now?”

“…Just out for some fresh air.”

Fresh air? Really?

His reply was too casual. Kaon raised an eyebrow. Was she talking about the wind outside? Or the kind that blew between people when it shouldn’t?

If the former, maybe it cooled her down. If the latter, it lent weight to the princess’s words. Right now, Alessia’s demeanor leaned suspiciously toward the latter.

“How long does it take to get some air? It’s like you met someone out there.”

Kaon spoke with barely concealed irritation. At least he lowered his voice—his last shred of reason.

“Kaon.”

Alessia looked at him, cupped her hand near her mouth, and tapped his arm, signaling him to lean in.

Despite his annoyance, Kaon leaned closer. To outsiders, the gesture looked intimate—nearby onlookers even sighed at the sweet scene.

But the words that slid coldly into his ear were anything but sweet.

“Even if I did meet someone, what’s it to you? We’re not the kind to care about that, are we?”

Her voice was icy.

“You and I—we hold each other’s weaknesses. Don’t forget what we really are.”

With that, Alessia stepped away without a second glance. Her clear blue-gray eyes shimmered like a stormed-over sea.

“Has the lady already left?”

A voice asked softly, a golden-haired man stepping into the shadowed balcony. He looked wistfully at the space Alessia had occupied.

“She has.”

“A shame. A long-overdue reunion between siblings, and she didn’t even stay to reminisce. Cold of her.”

“Is this your business?”

Crimson eyes glared at him sharply. The man raised his hands in mock surrender, his smile still irritatingly serene.

“You seem awfully anxious. But why worry? Everything is bound to go your way.”

“How dare you…”

The red-eyed man—Rishar Ingelos—rarely lost composure, but the taunt struck a nerve. Still, he grit his teeth and steadied himself.

“Don’t presume to judge me.”

“Of course not. Who am I to presume?”

The golden-haired man responded meekly but watched Rishar with secret interest. The man known for being ruthless and cold—without a shred of warmth—was shaken.

They said the girl had no value. No magic. A useless burden even in the mighty Ingelos bloodline. Such a harsh judgment for a younger sister, but fitting for an heir of that house.

So why was he so unsettled?

The man grew even more intrigued with Alessia Ingelos.

“When all this is over, do as you like. Take her life, or whatever else suits you.”

“Her life? That’s harsh. I’m not into that sort of thing.”

The man feigned shock. Rishar frowned at the dramatic display.

“Then why are you interested in her?”

“She had beautiful eyes.”

His voice was distant, like recalling a vivid dream. He brought his hands together as if in prayer and said with longing,

“I want those eyes.”

Rishar looked at him with utter disgust. It was ironic, coming from someone who had done far worse.

But the man merely smiled.

Just remembering those ruby-like eyes growing wide with surprise lifted his spirits.