episode_0041

There’s a saying that starting anything is difficult. Our reconciliation was no different.

It was hard to offer an apology, but once I gathered the courage and apologized, it seemed as if our fight had been a misunderstanding, and things returned to normal.

No, it even felt like we had progressed a little more than before.

Like how the ground hardens after rain. Our relationship seemed slightly stickier, and although it didn’t feel great, it wasn’t unpleasant.

However, I didn’t want to go through the same thing again.

I used to think that as long as Luna was happy, everything else would be fine, but I realized that wasn’t true.

I hope she loves me and stays by my side forever.

I understand very well that I’m not in a position to wish for those things, but denying my feelings wasn’t something I could do.

Because the emotion called love cannot be denied, it was better to accept it honestly rather than suffer in denial.

Anyway, our relationship improved, and on a sunny afternoon, we went to the garden together.

I do wonder if our relationship is really good, but whatever. I decided to be grateful for being able to have a short date with her in the garden.

After Melina and Ann set out a simple tea and snacks and stepped back.

Finally, Luna and I were alone.

After Luna carefully placed the teacup down after sipping her tea, she picked up a pen.

“Are you okay where I hit you?”

“If you’re talking about sword training… then yes, it’s okay. I’m used to it.”

Come to think of it, my plan included reconciling with Luna and focusing on sword training.

Ultimately, it was to get hit less by my father.

Strangely enough, I got hit twice as much as usual.

Only Father knows the exact reason, but it felt like he wanted Luna and me to reconcile, so I couldn’t help feeling a bit unjustified.

Even though we had already reconciled.

When you hold a sword, the only person who told you to think only about the sword is none other than your father.

However, it felt truly unfair as if he had struck me with personal animosity.

Anyway, being hit was so familiar that it could be considered part of daily life, so it wasn’t a big issue.

“If you get hit, doesn’t it hurt?”

“Of course, it hurts.”

“Why then…?”

Luna’s hand, which had been writing, slowly fell down.

A wavy blue line was drawn in the air.

“What’s wrong?”

Luna slowly shook her head from side to side.

Then she glanced at the garden while humming.

‘Why is she suddenly acting like this?’

I thought that and looked at Luna surreptitiously.

Luna still had no expression.

However, for some reason, I felt that she had become slightly softer than before.

A soft expressionless face? It couldn’t possibly exist in the world; it must have been just my imagination.

At that moment, Luna suddenly turned her head and met my eyes.

There was a lively glint in her sparkling blue eyes.

“Thank you.”

“I don’t know what you’re thanking me for…”

“Anyway, thank you.”

“I can’t return the thanks if I don’t know what you’re thankful for.”

Did she say that just to elicit that reaction from me?

Understanding a woman’s heart was truly an enigma, even when you thought you knew it.

After that, Luna and I continued our peculiar conversation against the backdrop of the garden.

It was not a conversation of any particular importance.

In fact, if others were to hear it, they would find it childish and laughable.

However, perhaps the moment of awkwardness with her lingered in my memory. This time felt truly precious.

As time passed and we finished our tea, Melina and Anne returned after leaving us alone.

“Young master, milady, a guest has arrived.”

“A guest?”

The only people who came to mind when hearing “guest” were Iris Duke and Rachel.

The four from the entertainment district, including Gaius, exchanged greetings with Luna, but unless a major problem arose, there was no reason for them to visit.

However, I didn’t recall hearing about anything in particular. It was just a customary greeting, but still.

Could something have happened with Iris Duke?

It was at that moment when such concerns arose.

Unexpectedly, a response sprang from Melina’s lips.

“I heard you are the personal bodyguard of the Crown Prince.”

At the mention of the Crown Prince, my forehead tightened.

However, aware of my disrespectful behavior, I quickly composed myself.

“We can’t keep such a person waiting.”

Although it was regrettable that our happy time alone with Luna was coming to an end, ignoring the guest who had come to see me was not an option.

So, I immediately got up.

And started walking with Luna.

Guided by Melina, we arrived at the study.

As soon as we knocked, permission was granted, and we entered.

“You’ve come.”

“Yes, I heard a guest has arrived…”

I turned my gaze towards him, sitting across from my father.

Dressed in splendid armor bearing the royal emblem befitting a prince’s guard, he also carried a sword at his waist, which somehow stirred a sense of combativeness within me.

“Welcome, Sir Albert, Lady Luna. I am Aaron, the Crown Prince’s bodyguard.”

Upon noticing Luna and me, he promptly rose and bowed. Indeed, being part of the royal court, his conduct left nothing to be desired.

I was somewhat biased against the idea of being the Crown Prince’s bodyguard, but his first impression wasn’t bad.

In any case, it was only right to return the greeting once it had been given.

So, I also nodded lightly.

“Yes, nice to meet you. I’m Albert David. And this is Luna Iris.”

Introducing Luna in place of her silence, she inclined her head accordingly.

After exchanging greetings, we found suitable places to sit.

Naturally, Luna and I sat close together.

There was a bit of a purposeful display involved, I must admit.

The Crown Prince needn’t be unnecessarily displeased, after all.

“We heard you came to find us. What brings you here?”

“It’s not a long story, but…”

Aaron answered my question and pulled something out of his pocket.

It was a small letter with a golden seal.

Handing it to us, he continued speaking.

“His Highness the Crown Prince has invited us to dine.”

Perhaps because he was a knight, his tone was reserved.

However, the meaning behind it was not so.

Could it be that the Crown Prince himself extended the invitation?

We are nothing more than the offspring of a duke, not even the duke himself.

Of course, to say “nothing more” is an understatement, as the offspring of a duke holds a considerably high position. However, it was indeed far from sufficient to receive an invitation to dine with the Crown Prince.

Hence, I was doubtful.

“May I know the reason?”

“Although it may seem presumptuous, I do not think a mere escort knight like myself can fathom His Highness the Crown Prince’s intentions.”

In short, he did not know.

It would have been fine to just say so plainly, but why did he have to put it that way? If the Crown Prince also feels this way, conversing with him would be quite tiresome.

“Understood. Since His Highness has graciously extended the invitation, should we not accept?”

The Crown Prince, and furthermore, the future Emperor, extended the invitation.

In the empire, the only one who could refuse this would be the Emperor himself.

It’s merely a suggestion in words, but one could consider it almost compulsory.

Luna seemed to share the same thought, nodding slowly beside me.

“Then I will convey that.”

“Yes, please do.”

I had no choice but to accept for now, but I was puzzled by the Crown Prince’s intentions in making such a gesture.

If there were other princes competing for the Emperor’s seat, I could understand. It would be to expand their faction.

However, there is only one prince in the empire, Alessil Alexander. Simply breathing quietly makes him the future Emperor.

“No matter how much I think about it, I can’t figure it out.”

Even dealing with internal affairs alone was enough to make my head explode, let alone getting involved with the royal family. I wished I had two bodies.

In any case, that’s how it was.

They say there is a hidden meaning behind every noble’s action. If it’s the future Emperor, it will be more, not less.

So, let’s not let our guard down.

Apart from my family and Luna, no one else should be trusted.

As I made that resolution…

Aaron spoke.

“Duke David, if it’s not too much trouble, may I ask for one thing?”

“Let’s hear it first, and then decide. I don’t have the habit of making promises I can’t keep.”

“I hope you would compete with me, even just once.”

Silence filled the study at that moment.

Laughter vanished from my father’s expression.

It was the return of the Black Star.

“Please tell me the reason.”

“Because there is someone I want to protect.”

The ‘someone’ he mentioned referred to the First Prince.

He couldn’t be anything but a truly loyal bodyguard.

After closing his eyes for a moment in contemplation, my father slowly opened his eyes and said,

“How about competing with my son? As a father, saying this might seem biased, but he’s quite skilled with a sword. I will decide based on the result.”

A duel with a royal guard.

It seemed like my father wanted to push me off a cliff in his desire to toughen me up.