AME 49

Chapter 49

It was undoubtedly a dark night. The sky beyond the window was scattered with stars like crumbs, so it wasn’t as if she had mistaken the time.

“What are you doing right now?”

“There was some dust, so I thought I’d shake it off.”

Kaon looked at Alessia with a face that seemed to say, Is there a problem?, then resumed shaking out the large blanket. Each time the blanket flapped in the air, the familiar “thump thump” sound rang out. He was doing, all on his own, a task that usually took two maids working together. He seemed to have energy to spare.

“You’re dusting at this hour of the night?”

The maids who managed the bedding were quite diligent. They had already replaced the bedding while the castle was vacant—they always did their work thoroughly. The blanket was practically new. Why would he be shaking it out at this hour?

Whether he was oblivious to her incredulous stare or deliberately ignoring it, Kaon shook the blanket a few more times before placing it back in its place. His satisfied expression made Alessia even more dumbfounded.

“Maybe it’s because I’ve been away for a while, but the dust really stood out to me. You know I see things others don’t, right?”

“…”

Kaon shrugged, clearly enjoying himself. He even looked amused. But Alessia could only stare at him in confusion. Kaon Ferdinand had never mentioned his secret so casually before.

“What did you just say?”

“What? My eyes? What about them? It’s just us here, anyway. Come to think of it, you’re the only one I could ever talk to about this.”

He raised an eyebrow as if it were obvious.

“You said it yourself—we’re the kind of people who hold each other’s weaknesses over one another. But I’m the only one who got shaken.”

Yes, she had said that. But that was meant to keep a proper distance between them—not to live like this.

Alessia wasn’t even sure how much longer she could stay in Ferdinand. If she returned to Ingelos and couldn’t come back, she might not even have a full year left.

Time was short, and there was so much to do. She realized with a sharp clarity that she didn’t have the luxury to waste time indulging in meaningless emotions with Kaon Ferdinand.

“So why are you here? Did you have something to say?”

“It was too noisy. Do I have to remind you of the basic courtesy of staying quiet at night?”

“Oh, you could hear me?”

Kaon asked as if he were completely unaware of something that should have been obvious. Her head, already aching from lack of sleep, throbbed even more. Alessia furrowed her brow slightly and let out a sigh as she responded.

“Of course I could. It’s dead quiet, and you’re making all that racket…”

“I didn’t think you could hear me. You’ve been ignoring me.”

The hand that had been pressing against her temple paused. Alessia slowly lifted her head to look at Kaon. His eyes, gazing down at her silently, were filled with countless emotions.

If she had taken the time to examine them, she could have identified a few—but instead, Alessia averted her gaze toward the window, as if fleeing.

“If I’d known it’d be that easy to get your attention, I’d have done this much sooner.”

“…Just ignore me. That’ll make things easier for both of us.”

Maybe the problem started when they spent time together in Bellium. Or perhaps the real issue was that she had never been as cold as she meant to be from the start.

It was Alessia who failed to ignore Kaon Ferdinand when he hovered around her. No matter how harshly she spoke to drive him away, Kaon would forget it all in a matter of time and come back to her. And Alessia knew that.

She knew, instinctively, that ignoring him was the only right answer. But she couldn’t. Because, as he said, Kaon was the only one she could be honest with. In Ingelos. In Ferdinand. In this entire world—just one person.

“Easier for who? You? It’s not easy for me at all.”

Kaon took a step toward the window, following her gaze. His tall frame blocked the view, forcing Alessia to look at him again.

“You’re engaged to me, Alessia Ingelos. We live in the same castle, share the same room—and you expect us to just ignore each other? I can’t live like that.”

Kaon’s words were slow and deliberate, as if each syllable carried weight. He looked angry. And maybe she understood that anger—or maybe she never would.

Kaon had once loved her. But that feeling had long since shattered, leaving nothing behind. To him, she was clearly a troublesome existence—someone he could neither push away nor accept.

Still, he acted this way because he was, by nature, someone who couldn’t ignore others. And because—even though she was a fake—she was still a mage who brought value to his territory. That must have tugged at him.

But even that had its limits. The day would come when the magic in the ring ran out, and he’d see for himself that she was nothing without it. When that happened, the only thing left would be the memory that she had deceived his family.

On that day, Kaon would feel nothing for her. They’d act as if the other didn’t exist, simply waiting for the moment they could finally vanish from each other’s lives.

“I’m not going to let you ignore me.”

But Kaon Ferdinand didn’t seem willing to wait for that day.

“So go on—try, if you think you can.”

No matter how much she pushed him away, he came back. Alessia suddenly feared the moment when she’d have nowhere left to retreat to.

At first, it was definitely a one-sided declaration—something like Let’s see how long you can keep ignoring me or Try ignoring me, I dare you.

Kaon thought Alessia would eventually snap—either lash out in anger or give him a cold warning. After all, hadn’t she come to his room the very night she returned from Bellium?

“You’re mispronouncing that on purpose.”

“Am I? Maybe I’m just too dumb to know any better. Someone said that, didn’t they?”

Since that night, Kaon had used every trick he could think of to get Alessia’s attention. Misreading ancient texts out loud in absurd ways, having meals served with dishes she clearly disliked—even if he didn’t say so outright, she’d know.

Everything he did was petty and childish, but impossible to ignore.

And it worked. Alessia slowly found herself unable to keep ignoring him. It was as if she finally realized that no matter how much she did, he wouldn’t stop.

She can’t pretend not to notice now, Kaon thought, a little smug, smiling to himself. He couldn’t wait for the moment she came looking for him again.

But Alessia Ingelos wasn’t going down so easily. She responded in a way he never expected.

She started getting revenge.

The gentle breeze of spring gradually turned warmer, and soon the sun began to scorch.

After finishing his morning sword training, Kaon was removing his armor piece by piece when a shadow fell over him. He didn’t bother looking up. He could tell who it was by the light footsteps alone.

“Kaon! Wow, being named a knight at twelve—it really is something only prodigies can pull off. While others are busy running errands, you’re already being honored. You’re something else!”

Just as expected—it was Morris. He’d already ditched his armor, wearing a tunic soaked in sweat. Why he was striking up a conversation instead of going to wash was a mystery. And on top of that, with exaggerated compliments?

“What did you do?”

“Me? What do you take me for…”

Morris muttered as if he were wrongfully accused. While he was known to slack off now and then, he hadn’t really caused any major trouble before.

“Then what is it?”

“I’m just admiring your dedication, Sir Kaon! Volunteering for extra outdoor training in this heat! That kind of passion is something a mere mortal like me could never dream of. Even Commander Alain said you must’ve come to your senses!”

Kaon scowled as he neatly organized the last piece of his armor. His glare made Morris flinch.

“You signed up for extra outdoor training, didn’t you? Pierre and Yvon always do, but Commander seemed especially pleased this time.”

Kaon’s face twisted darkly. Realizing something was wrong, Morris cautiously asked:

“You did sign the list, right?”

Without answering, Kaon strode off. He reached the corridor and stood in front of the wooden bulletin board where the training announcements were posted.

It was an optional training session led personally by Commander Alain—for knights who wanted extra lessons. It was useful, given Alain’s decades of swordsmanship, but attendance was usually low.

Kaon lowered his gaze and sure enough—his name was written there. In his own handwriting.

“See? It’s right there.”

“Sure is.”

“‘Sure is’? Wait—didn’t you write it yourself? Who in their right mind would forge your name without permission?”

There was such a person. In his room.

Kaon stared daggers at the forged handwriting.

So this is how far she’s taking it now.

Let’s see who wins this time.

With renewed determination burning in his eyes, Kaon stormed off.