“Why is the Vice Commander acting like that today?”
“He’s always like that.”
“He’s often like that, yes. But today, he’s an even bigger block of ice than usual.”
As the guard Will complained, Pili carefully observed the face of Vice Commander Kishin Hiard.
Indeed. Upon closer inspection, it was slightly apparent that Kishin had a colder expression than usual. Because he was always in such a state, the stoic Pili hadn’t noticed it immediately.
Will lifted the hand he was using to grip his sword to show it off.
“Look at my hand shaking. I’m dying because I’m swinging my sword 700 times today, whereas I’d usually stop after 500. If my arm falls off tomorrow, you have to report that it was because of Sir Kishin.”
“You’re only swinging it 700 times because you slacked off during training earlier.”
Pili retorted coldly and returned his focus to his own training.
Conversations like this were breaking out everywhere the 1st Platoon guards were gathered.
Kishin Hiard’s mood today was poor enough that only the sharpest individuals could tell. It was all Claisey Kalasi’s fault.
*To think she would try to two-time me.*
While supervising his men with even more strictness than usual, Kishin couldn’t take it anymore and headed back to his room to drink some cold water.
It was because Claisey’s letter kept floating through his mind.
How absurd he had felt when he received her invitation to meet on December 7th.
If Claisey hadn’t personally told her own niece, “I am interested in Dernic,” he would have accepted Claisey’s invitation to go on a date.
Because of this, Kishin was even angrier at both himself and her. He felt pathetic for almost falling for it despite hating the unpleasant schemes of the noble social circles, and he was disappointed in Claisey, who had planned to two-time him while maintaining such a candid and bold appearance.
*My training is lacking.*
Reprimanding himself for losing his composure over mere people, Kishin took off his coat and hung it up. He intended to head to the practice field himself rather than strictly disciplining his men here.
However, just as he was taking off his shirt to change, the door opened without a knock, and Dernic drifted in.
When Kishin looked up, Dernic put on a look of surprise before knocking on the door from the inside.
“Sorry. I forgot to knock before coming in. Now that I’ve done it, it’s fine, right?”
Seeing such rude behavior made Kishin feel even more irritated. What on earth did Claisey Kalasi see in this man, whom she called a weapons merchant and treated so recklessly?
Dernic smiled sheepishly and approached like a drifting storm cloud, asking, “Why are you taking your clothes off?”
Kishin finished removing his shirt and changed into a comfortable training shirt as he replied, “I plan to do some running.”
Dernic sat on the edge of Kishin’s desk, tapped the feather stuck in the ink bottle, and grinned. “Why are you angry?”
“…….”
“You’re not angry because the weapons merchant lady said she liked me better, are you?”
Dernic’s voice was full of boasting. Kishin thought once again that Claisey’s judgment was terrible. At the same time, a suspicious doubt arose.
Seeing Dernic reminded him of what happened before. Just a few days ago, Kishin had misunderstood Claisey because Dernic had phrased things strangely.
Could there have been such a misunderstanding this time as well?
*Though, this time, it was something I heard with my own ears…….*
That thought, which had briefly emerged, vanished instantly at Dernic’s follow-up words.
“That’s right, I was invited to Lady Claisey’s house on December 7th. At eleven in the morning. By any chance, are you free then? Do you want to go together?”
December 7th, 11:00 AM. It was the same time Claisey had asked to meet Kishin. Kishin’s complexion turned cold.
*It’s definitely two-timing.*
“No. I’m busy that day. You go and have fun yourself.”
“Really? That’s a shame.”
“And from now on, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t talk to me about Lady Kalasi. I’m not interested.”
* * *
December 6th. Claisey spent 30 minutes being sad as usual before recovering. Perhaps because this was the second time she had been rejected by Kishin, no tears came out this time.
The sense of emptiness was greater, but it didn’t hurt, and by around four in the afternoon, she became curious.
*Why? Why was I rejected again?*
Claisey took out a piece of paper and wrote down how her second date with Kishin had gone. She even analyzed it diligently.
However, she couldn’t understand at all where the problem had arisen. She had spoken more with Dernic, but wasn’t that the same for Kishin?
Kishin had also spoken more with Dernic. It couldn’t be helped. Dernic talked so much!
*Romance is difficult.*
After pondering for a long time without finding an answer, Claisey crumpled the paper and tossed it into the trash can.
*That’s fine. There are plenty of men. Somewhere out there, there must be a man I’ll marry! Besides, Sir Kishin is handsome, but he’s too prickly.*
Having fully recovered, Claisey became curious about Merran’s situation. Had Dernic accepted the invitation?
During dinner, Claisey asked Merran. Perhaps because Merran had already confessed her feelings to Claisey, she answered readily.
“Of course he said he’d come. Sir Dernic is kind and affectionate.”
“He seemed a bit of a weirdo.”
“That’s just his personality. It’s enough that he’s affectionate to me.”
“I see…… if you’re happy, then that’s good.”
Merran was certainly in high spirits. As she had claimed, it seemed she was interested in Dernic himself, regardless of Claisey this time.
Merran was finally about to start her first love.
Watching her cute niece with cheeks redder than usual, Claisey thought of her eldest sister and her heart ached.
Her eldest sister, Marie, had been like that before marrying Marquess Omal. But the Marquess was a man who had hidden a lower-born lover.
There were no noble parents who allowed marrying down in status. To inherit property and a title, Marquess Omal had followed his parents’ wishes and married the eldest daughter of the Count’s family, Marie Kalasi.
And after Marie Kalasi died, he married Alice, the woman he truly loved. That woman was now the proud Marchioness Omal, living happily.
Claisey hesitated, then said, “If Sir Dernic seems like a truly good person, make sure to ask which family he’s from.”
Merran looked at Claisey with a strange gaze for a moment, then laughed.
“I know. I will. Aunt, help me pick out my clothes later.”
* * *
December 7th.
Merran woke up early in the morning and finished her breakfast with just a few pieces of salad before starting to get ready.
This was also unusual behavior. Merran usually dressed carelessly even when going to parties. She was overflowing with confidence in her appearance, which shone even when wearing rags, and she knew full well that she was the brightest even when dressed plainly.
As Merran, who usually dressed only neatly, set her mind to dressing up, she was truly as dazzling as a flower in full bloom.
Her eldest sister had been like this too. Whenever her sister appeared at a party or gathering, the young nobles would all hover around her, unable to keep their composure.
“You’re beautiful.”
Claisey muttered with a choked throat as she smoothed out Merran’s hair, which was styled fuller than usual.
“Aunt, really. It’s not like today is a wedding or anything, why are you like this?”
Merran pinched Claisey’s waist, feeling shy. Anna’s eyes reddened at the memory of when Claisey was young and Marie was still a maiden.
The pleasant atmosphere became somewhat bleak at 10:00 AM.
“Where are you going today, Aunt?”
Merran, having finished preparing, asked in a tone that emphasized, ‘You’re not staying home, right?’
“I told you, I’m going out with a friend.”
Claisey answered gloomily, the memory of being rejected by Kishin resurfacing.
“With Florence?”
“Yes.”
Florence disliked Merran, and Merran disliked Florence. In other words, even if she used her name, Merran couldn’t verify it with Florence.
Merran pouted and went back to her room.
Claisey changed into her outing clothes in her room and boarded her carriage around 10:30.
However, the place Claisey went was not Florence’s house. Claisey went to the grand theater next to Driblu Square.
It was said that there was a play trending among young noblemen these days. She intended to watch the young men who came to see the play.
*It would be nice if I met someone decent, and even if not, I can at least watch the play.*
Perhaps because it was a popular play, the tickets were almost sold out, but fortunately, she was able to secure one of the worst seats among the special sections.
Claisey bought a ticket and a drink, then headed up the stairs. The third floor was even more crowded than the lower floors with nobles who had come to watch and the attendants they had brought along.
However, once inside the seating area, it was spacious enough, which was fine. Even if only half the stage was visible.
It was 11:30 AM.
*Merran must be meeting with Sir Dernic by now.*
Claisey thought as she sipped her drink.
It was a good thing she had bought a drink. Once the play began, she realized that the half of the stage she could actually see was the side where the actors rarely went.
Claisey listened to the play solely through sound, merely savoring the taste of her drink.
When the intermission finally arrived, Claisey stood up to go buy a fresh drink. Others around her were also ordering their servants to fetch snacks or rising from their seats themselves.
Just then, as Claisey was heading toward the exit, someone called out to her.
“Excuse me.”
When Claisey turned around, it was a rather cute-looking young man. The young man asked, his face turning red.
“Did you come alone?”
Claisey quickly scanned the young man’s hands. He wasn’t wearing a wedding ring. Judging by his attire, he looked like a noble. In other words, he was an eligible bachelor.
Claisey smiled charmingly and asked in return.
“Why are you curious about that?”
The young man’s face flushed beet red, and he scratched his cheek.
“I happened to pass by you earlier. Even though it was just a fleeting moment, you’ve completely captured my mind. I wonder if this is what love at first sight feels like.”
Claisey covered half of her mouth with her hand and gave a coy, shy smile.
“You have a way with words.”
“O-oh, no. I had to summon great courage to speak to you.”
Claisey feigned hesitation before speaking.
“I came alone. I haven’t moved here long, so I don’t have many friends to go out with.”
As she turned her body, speaking as sweetly as possible, Claisey froze mid-motion.
Kishin, dressed in the uniform of the Palace Guards, was standing among his fellow guards, staring in her direction with narrowed eyes.