episode_0043

“Then let’s go back.”

Aaron bowed his head politely. As expected, it must be said that he was a prince’s bodyguard, and his simple movements felt excellent no matter how many times I saw him.

Eventually, he raised his head and his eyes turned to me.

“Prince Albert, this was very helpful. Thank you so much.”

“You have helped me so much that I cannot thank you enough.”

“Well, I look forward to the next time we meet.”

“Yes, please go back carefully.”

He got into the carriage after that conversation for the last time. Suddenly, the wheels of the carriage began to roll and soon the carriage passed through the castle gate.

Was this sparring really helpful to Aaron?

I thought about that for a moment, but it wasn’t something I really needed to worry about, so I immediately put it out of my mind.

First of all, it was helpful enough to me, so I guess that’s enough.

‘It was heavy.’

I slowly lowered my gaze and looked at my hands.

The feeling of when sword and sword met seemed to still remain in my hand. The sensation of tingling not only in my hands but also in my entire body due to the tremendous force.

Aaron’s sword was truly straight. It was a swordsmanship that was faithful to the basics rather than irregular movements.

However, that doesn’t mean it’s weak at all. Rather, it was faster than any other sword and had more power.

Maybe that’s why I liked him even though he was a thorn in my side as the first prince.

Because the sword is straight.

According to his father’s words about putting imagery into a sword, there was no way he was bad at wielding a straight sword.

Anyway, Aaron, who caused a storm from their first meeting, returned.

However, the aftermath still remained.

letter.

A letter was left in our hands, inviting us to a meal.

Eventually, after dinner was over, Luna and I started reading the letter together.

[The shining children of two dukes who work hard for the empire… .]

* * * * *

Tok-, tok-, tok-.

Asili’s fingers tapped the table in a steady beat. It seemed like he was acting quite anxious.

‘When will you come?’

She was waiting for her exclusive escort, Aaron, the man she loved, to return.

For some reason, even though half a day has passed, there is still no news. He may have just gone to deliver a letter, but it was truly ironic.

‘This is why I didn’t want to send it away.’

To be honest, it wasn’t something for someone who was the prince’s bodyguard to step forward in person.

Delivering a letter inviting you to a meal is a very simple and easy task that anyone can do.

However, Aaron’s thoughts seem to have been a little different.

━ It is best to limit as much as possible to things that might get you stepped on.

As for whether there was anything in the letter that would make others suspicious, there wasn’t.

After all, wasn’t it a letter with the royal family’s seal? I wonder if there really is a big guy in the empire who steals it.

However, there was no harm in being careful. I was very grateful that he thought of me.

So I just let it go.

Although I regret it very slightly now.

‘Maybe I can scold you for this.’

It must have leaked somewhere else.

… Maybe he had met a woman.

thud-!

Asili imagined that and slammed her fist on the table.

The idea of him being with a woman other than himself was completely unacceptable.

Of course, it’s just a delusion, and I know better than anyone else that Aaron is not that kind of man, but… .

Rather, the small feeling of inferiority that it would be better for Aaron made me angry.

It would be a hundred times better to be with a woman than with a cross-dressing woman. I don’t want to believe it, but it was reality.

So, Asili was sighing.

smart-.

The long-awaited knock on the door was heard.

Asili calmed down her excitement and spoke in a calm tone.

“Come in.”

After permission was given, the door opened and Aaron entered the office.

His expression was quite bright. As if something good had happened.

Is it possible for someone to be stuck in his office looking at the dense text, and for the escort driver who left to come back brightly?

‘It’s definitely a woman.’

At the thought that the delusion had become reality, Asili opened her eyes and glared at Aaron.

“What were you doing to be so late?”

“That’s it… .”

Aaron couldn’t get the words out easily.

The prince’s instructions were limited to delivering the letter.

Wanting to spar with the swordsman was an arbitrary action.

Of course, the prince is not the type to blame someone for something like this… .

‘No, let’s be honest.’

No matter what, it shouldn’t have been hidden. It was because she was the host, and because his feelings toward her were unusual.

It would be better to confess your sins than to be unnecessarily misunderstood by the woman you like.

“Actually, Duke David… .”

“What kind of bitch… ?”

The words were spoken almost simultaneously.

Aaron tilted his head, doubting his ears.

“What are you talking about… .”

“You have a lot of guts to seduce my escort, right? I need to see if I’m qualified for it.”

Asili’s voice was sharper than ever.

Of course, she knew too. That Aaron didn’t do anything like that.

‘I said it was Duke David…’ ?’

Although he is now retired, he was once called the Sword Saint. Even his retirement was done on his own for love, so it can be considered as still active duty.

Having met him like that, of course I would have wanted to get something.

Aaron is surprisingly serious about swordsmanship.

‘I wish you could pour a little bit of that sincerity into this.’

Anyway, that was also the reason that pushed him.

A complaint that comes from being upset that one has been neglected for a long time.

“Uh, that’s… .”

Aaron was momentarily embarrassed, but soon regained his composure and slowly explained. He spoke honestly about what happened in David’s family and the reason why he was late.

“It looks like it was quite fun?”

“Fun… Did you mean it?”

“What if you ask me that?”

“Sorry… .”

Asili, who was talking to him while resting her chin, burst into laughter.

Doesn’t Aaron, who was always holding the weight, talk excitedly as if he were a child? Just watching it brought a smile to my face.

by the way.

‘That’s surprising… .’

It is no exaggeration to say that all nobles know that Duke David is a bastard. Of course in a bad way.

However, not only did he come to his senses, he was strong enough to be recognized by Aaron.

I was a little suspicious from the moment I met him at a social club, but now I feel like I can be sure.

‘I’ve changed.’

What is its true meaning?

What if you’ve been acting like a bastard for something?

What if Duke David is trying to start a civil war?

‘That’s terrible.’

Even though David Confucius lost to Aaron this time, there is no guarantee that it will be the same over time.

No, there is a high probability that he will become something close to a sword saint. At least as long as there is a swordsman as a teacher, the future is certain.

In other words, the Sword Saint and beings of a similar level could cause a civil war, and that would be enough to worry about the survival of the empire.

Even if we somehow succeed in gathering the strong and suppressing them, we will not be able to avoid subsequent attacks from neighboring countries.

One way or another, there is no doubt that the empire is in danger.

Princess Iris, who knows her secret, and Prince David, who cannot know his true feelings.

Asili sighed and touched her forehead at the fact that two people suddenly became her concern.

“What’s going on?”

“No, it’s not a big deal.”

The two even got engaged.

Should I welcome this or not… .

‘I’ll have to compete at this meal.’

Will he become a friend who is closer than anyone else, or will he become an enemy who will point his sword at you?

Asili hoped it would be the former.

* * * * *

Time passed by, and before I knew it, the promised day had arrived.

Although it is said to be a promise, it is in fact no different from a unilateral notification, but in any case, we prepared to respond to the prince’s invitation.

As I climbed into the carriage, dressed with more energy than usual, the coachman started the carriage with a slight vibration.

After looking out the window at the duke’s residence moving away for a moment, I shifted my gaze straight ahead.

Luna was there.

“Are there any inconvenient places?”

Nod-.

Luna nodded.

She was also in such a beautiful state that it could be said that she was shining because she put more effort into decorating than usual.

How much time had passed since the carriage departed?

“Well, welcome!”

Ascal, the capital of the empire.

The imperial castle is the largest and most splendid building within it.

The prince was with the guard he had seen earlier. He looked quite embarrassed.