Chapter 29
“What are you staring at like that? You’re making it awkward.”
Ian Hart’s indifferent voice snapped Kion out of his daze.
“I mean… it seems like you two came back from the same place…”
Kion mumbled awkwardly.
Ian Hart had left earlier with a bird made from magic, saying he was stepping out briefly, and didn’t show up again. And now, he appeared together with the princess. Plus, in her arms was none other than the divine beast, Leon.
Kion narrowed his eyes slightly.
“Don’t tell me… you were together the whole time…?”
“…Um, His Majesty said he wanted to see the capital.”
It was Liana who slowly answered Kion’s oddly loaded question.
Though the blue-haired knight was introduced as the emperor’s escort, his noble air made her words trail off a bit uncertainly.
“…A little late, but let me introduce myself. I’m Kion Laviel. The timing wasn’t right earlier, so I’m only greeting you now. Haha.”
As soon as she heard the name Kion Laviel, Liana realized her guess had been correct.
The Laviel Marquis family was a high-ranking noble family in the Erkal Empire and part of the central aristocracy. But more than that, they were well-known for producing outstanding warriors for generations.
As the Commander-in-Chief responsible for the borders, Liana was well aware of important figures in other nations.
“…So you’re the captain of the Bellum Knights.”
“Haha, I’m not much, but yes, I’ve been given a big responsibility. It’s a bit embarrassing to hear that Your Highness already knows of me.”
Kion chuckled awkwardly and scratched his head.
But Liana shook her head firmly.
“With your skills, there’s no need to downplay yourself. I’ve heard a lot about you. I’m Liana Lovellin.”
She confidently praised him and extended her hand.
Before she knew who he was, she’d just thought of him as an overly enthusiastic escort — especially since he had been eavesdropping with the guard squad. But now that she knew he was the captain of the Bellum Knights, she revised her opinion.
The Bellum Knights were the emperor’s direct elite order.
Naturally, they were made up of the most skilled knights in the royal service, loyal and powerful.
‘Maybe I should ask him for a sparring match next time.’
And Liana loved testing her skills against strong opponents. The captain of the Bellum Knights was famous even in Rown.
With his gentle smile and polite tone, he seemed to have a nice personality too.
In short, the words Ian Hart once said to Liana — “I hope you two get along” — were now words Liana was considering saying to Kion.
“Your Highness…”
A spark of emotion lit up in Kion’s eyes as he looked at her.
He had already thought her personality matched his taste from what his lord had told him. But hearing her kind and unbothered praise in person hit different.
That’s when—
“Kion.”
Ian Hart suddenly interrupted, watching the warm atmosphere between the two with a strangely displeased gaze.
“Are you wandering around because you’ve finished everything I told you to do?”
Kion flinched. His awkward laugh and fake cough made it obvious that he hadn’t.
But then he quickly turned his round eyes sharply toward Ian Hart, like he was blaming him.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Well, if you were going to sneak off, couldn’t you at least give me a heads-up…? The Duke of Delkaron has been looking for you.”
Before coming out, Kion had received a communication from Vernian. When Vernian realized Ian Hart wasn’t nearby, he unleashed a storm of nagging on Kion.
Even when Kion muttered that there was nothing he could do if the emperor secretly snuck off, Vernian didn’t give him a break.
“I said I was going out.”
“…Your Majesty, just in case you forgot — I am officially your bodyguard.”
“Who said I forgot?”
Ian Hart replied flatly, and Kion looked completely defeated, like he couldn’t even argue anymore. He let out a long sigh like someone who had given up.
“Yes, yes… Since Your Majesty is so strong, there’s no need for a weak bodyguard like me…”
“I didn’t mean for you to twist my words like that.”
“I wish I were twisting them… but a weakling like me has no right to guard someone like you…”
“Kion… shut that mouth.”
Ian Hart grumbled in annoyance at Kion’s sulking complaint.
“…Pfft.”
A small laugh escaped.
‘Ah, crap.’
Liana, who couldn’t hold back her laugh, quickly cleared her throat when she felt both a pair of red and blue eyes shoot toward her.
She suddenly felt the urge to leave.
“…Ahem, I’ll be going now.”
“You’re leaving?”
“Yes, well… Oh—would you like to take Le… Leon with you?”
As she casually nodded, she remembered to ask about Kkamang’s situation.
Though Ian Hart had said she could call the divine beast whatever she liked, saying “Kkamang” in front of the royal guard felt too casual, so she used the more formal name.
Kyaaaung!
But just then, Kkamang, who had been comfortably lying in her arms, suddenly jolted up, shaking his head frantically.
He even grabbed her sleeve tightly with his claws — something he had never done before.
It was as if he was begging not to be taken away.
“…If you don’t mind, could you keep him with you?”
Ian Hart, seeing Kkamang’s clear refusal to leave Liana, looked a bit baffled and then asked her calmly.
“Sure. You can come get him later if you want.”
“Alright. Thanks.”
With that, Liana shifted Kkamang in her arms, gave Kion a small wave, and turned to leave.
“Kkamang, want to go have a snack? Or take a walk?”
Her gentle and soft voice faded into the distance.
“…Your Majesty, let’s return to the palace. I think we need to talk.”
Ian Hart was still staring in the direction Liana had gone when Kion spoke.
“What do you need to talk about?”
Ian tilted his head, genuinely sounding like he had no idea, and Kion looked like he was about to explode.
“I mean! Not showing up since dawn is one thing, but not coming back all morning? And then Leon disappeared without a word! And Duke Vernian scolded only me! Do you know how miserable and stressed I’ve been?!”
“Leon left on his own.”
“That’s not the point! I have a lot to talk about. And if you don’t explain everything, I’m not going to stop talking.”
At Kion’s stubborn threat, Ian Hart’s expression darkened.
It might not seem like a serious threat to others, but to Ian — who hated noise and being bothered — it was a highly effective tactic.
“…Forget it. Let’s just go call Vernian.”
He decided to unleash Vernian Delkaron on Kion — the one person even Kion couldn’t argue with.
But he’d soon realize that plan was even more annoying and chaotic than he expected.
*
“If you need anything, please call for me.”
The head maid bowed politely and left.
Liana’s eyes narrowed slightly as she watched her disappear.
‘…She really feels like one of the queen’s spies.’
Ever since childhood, any staff assigned to her palace were always influenced by the queen.
Naturally, this current head maid — whatever her name was, Dolkin or Tolkin — had also been sent under the queen’s orders.
Dana had already investigated and confirmed it.
Still, something felt off.
‘Every time I see her, something just feels weird…’
Liana had always trusted her instincts.
After seven years of survival on the battlefield, her senses had become even sharper.
And now, every time she saw the head maid, those instincts kept warning her to be careful.
“So weird…”
Kyaung?
Kkamang tilted his head while chewing on a cookie, sensing her mumbling.
That’s when it happened.
Liana and Kkamang suddenly turned their attention toward the back.
“…No one’s supposed to visit at this hour.”
Her guards should be training after lunch, and it wasn’t Ian Hart’s presence either.
According to the blue-haired knight, Kion Laviel, he had some tasks to take care of.
Kkiang—
Sensing the same thing, Kkamang’s golden eyes sharpened from their usual soft roundness as he bristled with caution.
Step, step…
Soon, the sound of footsteps across the grass came, and a man with reddish-brown hair entered the garden.
Liana’s brow twitched.
“…Raindel, brother?”
“It’s been a while, Liana.”
The low voice belonged to Raindel Lovellin, her half-brother.
“You can sit there if you want.”
After blinking a few times, Liana casually gestured toward the chair across from her.
Raindel Lovellin — the first prince, born of the late queen, and the crown prince.
He was the only person in their crazy family who maintained even a remotely peaceful relationship with Liana.
