Chapter 44
Today was the second day since the rumors of her engagement had spread.
Yesterday, Stern hadn’t come by during lunch. The knights told her it was because he had gone on an outside trip to the provinces.
For the three days Derwin had been away at the secondary palace to guard the princess, Shanelica had continued to have lunch with Stern as usual.
Each time they sat together, she’d wanted so badly to ask why he had bullied Derwin in the past, to tell him never to spout things like “vice-commander” again. But since the engagement hadn’t been publicly announced then, she had kept her mouth shut.
Now, however, their relationship was official. There was nothing strange about her saying it outright. So Shanelica was determined. If Stern came again, she would tell him properly.
And today, just as usual, Stern came to her office to share lunch.
Nothing about his demeanor had changed. He acted exactly as before, as if he hadn’t even heard about her engagement, behaving as though he wanted her attention.
Watching him quietly, Shanelica asked if he hadn’t heard the widespread rumors in the palace about her and Derwin.
Stern’s answer was laughable.
“I don’t care about that. More importantly, can you spare just one day? What about taking a trip outside the capital together this weekend?”
What? Was he truly someone with no sense of propriety? She had a fiancé, and yet he was asking her to go out alone with him?
Shanelica honestly wondered what on earth was inside his head.
“I refuse. Why would I go on an outing with you when I’m engaged? That makes no sense.”
“Really? But you don’t mind your fiancée working in a tavern?”
“That was… because I said I didn’t need help and stormed out of the Cartel estate on my own.”
“And then you came to a total stranger like me, asking to get into the palace. Right?”
“…”
Suddenly, Shanelica felt as though she were the one in the wrong.
“Shanel. So to you, a ‘fiancé’ is just someone you can’t even rely on when you’re in need. Have you ever wondered why I lied for you and helped you without complaint?”
She had always assumed it was simply because of her pretty face… but perhaps it wasn’t.
Surely he wasn’t about to say he’d liked her from the very beginning?
“For that alone, don’t you think you owe me this small favor? Otherwise, you’d still be suffering there, no matter what your fiancé was doing.”
Stern looked amused the entire time he spoke. The only one with a serious expression was Shanelica. She felt as though he had caught her weakness.
“That was then, and now is—”
“Hmm. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to confess that everything I did back then was a lie. That I lied despite not knowing you at all. Then all the work you’ve done until now could vanish into thin air. Ah, though I suppose now it’s fine since you have a fiancé to protect you?”
“…”
“Do you think I’m being petty, Shanel? Am I being cruel?”
His crimson eyes deepened.
“I don’t think engagements matter. It’s just a promise to marry. And how often do promises get broken in this world? Even marriage is the same, isn’t it? People do all sorts of things behind the scenes.”
“…”
“So, Shanel. Don’t say something as disappointing as you can’t spend time with me just because of an engagement.”
From those words, Shanelica felt she finally understood how Stern saw women. The image of the commander she’d occasionally heard about from other knights began to make sense.
Unable to believe what she was hearing, she asked calmly:
“…I’ll ask again. Do you like me?”
“I told you—I do.”
Lies. That wasn’t the look of someone in love.
She could tell after seeing Lydia’s face, after hearing Derwin’s confession. That was why, despite Stern’s exceptional looks, she had never felt drawn to him. His gaze on her was different. Yes, there was interest and fondness, but it wasn’t the same kind of affection Lydia or Derwin had shown. She could feel the difference.
“Just keep meeting me regularly like you have until now. I’m not asking for your heart. I only want to be by your side.”
“Why?”
“Because I like you, I said.”
Then a thought struck Shanelica.
“This isn’t just because you want to take something else away from the Duke, is it?”
The atmosphere grew heavy.
Ah, that wasn’t something she should have said. But Stern’s expression didn’t change in the slightest. His face remained calm, as if it didn’t matter at all.
“Hmm. Did Derwin tell you I stole the commander’s position?”
“He didn’t say it that way. But it’s the truth—you took that seat from him.”
At that, Stern stood and began pacing slowly in a circle, eyes turned up toward the ceiling as though lost in thought. His sudden change unsettled her.
“Shanel.”
Stopping at a distance, Stern spoke slowly.
“Do you really know what kind of man your fiancé is?”
The words gave her an ominous feeling.
“Yes. I do.”
“Do you? I don’t think so.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well…” He seemed to hesitate, then said, “Don’t believe only what you see. Or even your own judgment.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Who knows? I think it’s too soon to tell you.”
He smiled leisurely.
“In time, you’ll find out anyway.”
The way he said it made him seem like someone she didn’t know at all.
“Lady Shanelica?”
“Ah.”
Pulled from her thoughts, Shanelica fidgeted with her fingers and looked at Derwin’s face. Stern’s cryptic words echoed in her mind.
Don’t believe only what you see? Then what am I supposed to believe? And what does he mean I’ll find out in time? By then, I’ll have become the Holy Dragon and left this place anyway.
She grumbled inwardly, her mood suddenly soured. The reminder stung—this sweet, fluttering relationship wouldn’t even last a year. And now Stern’s words had only driven that home again.
“…I don’t think I can refuse the commander’s lunch invitations outright.”
“Why not?”
Derwin’s expression didn’t change much, but Shanelica thought his voice sounded a touch colder.
“Well… he mentioned the identity guarantee he gave me when I entered the palace. He said he could expose it as a lie. That’s why.”
“…”
“But I did refuse when he asked me to go out and play! I just couldn’t quite turn down having lunch once in a while, like before.”
“…”
“Don’t worry! I won’t fall for it. Really!”
Shanelica grabbed his arm tightly, her bright eyes begging him to believe her.
Derwin said nothing, only changing the subject.
“I hear you’ve also been visiting His Majesty every day. Without fail.”
He stressed the last part, but Shanelica seemed not to notice.
“Oh, that’s just to keep him company!”
The cloud on her face from earlier lifted entirely.
“You don’t need to worry about the king. He’s not the type to have other intentions toward me. He just wants someone to talk to. And I’m not the only one—he has other companions too.”
“Those companions are men, unlike you.”
“Well, sure… but the gender of a conversation partner doesn’t matter.”
Shanelica grinned. Eleusis had known from the beginning that she was engaged. And today, he had even made his stance clear.
“Even if Lady Shanelica were a man, or already a married woman, I would still want to talk with you.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re so captivating, not only as a woman, but as a person.”
It was flattering to hear. And true enough, Eleusis always kept the proper boundaries. Their conversations were usually about trivial matters outside the palace. He genuinely enjoyed listening. When she ran out of things to say about her daily life, she began sharing things she’d read in books. Eleusis found those fascinating too, always offering his own thoughts in return.
A good conversational partner. And a good king.
From the very beginning, when he had helped her as temple manager, Shanelica had thought Eleusis was a good man.
“Oh, that reminds me—His Majesty said he wants me to move my office.”
She clapped her hands, recalling it just then.
Currently, she was still working in the Knights’ building under Bain’s watchful eye. It was ridiculous, really—meeting with the king every day, yet still being monitored separately. But that would soon be over.
“Then you’ll be moving to the official archives, with the translators?”
“Nope. He said I’ll be specially appointed! My office will be in the royal archives, right next to His Majesty’s own.”
More complications.
Derwin sighed inwardly.
The royal palace of Campton had two archives. One was the enormous public archive that anyone with palace clearance could enter. The other was the much smaller royal archive, located near the king’s office, filled with books he personally desired or studied, accessible only to royalty and a few select individuals.
“Special appointment means a higher salary too. He said my translation skills are excellent enough to deserve it!”
Shanelica looked truly delighted. So Derwin couldn’t bring himself to dampen her joy.
At least it meant she might see Stern less often… though perhaps not. Stern openly insisted on seeing her, while Eleusis wanted her as his companion. Which was the greater danger?
Hard to say. Either way, the public announcement of their engagement hadn’t deterred either man in the slightest.
“Duke?”
Unaware of his troubled thoughts, Shanelica beamed at him.
Ah, he should congratulate her.
“Congratulations.”
“Thank you. I never realized being recognized for my abilities could feel so wonderful.”
She laughed, her face glowing.
Yes. That was enough.
Derwin decided that if Shanelica was happy, then so was he. Whether the other men acknowledged their engagement or not, officially she was his fiancée. And he was determined to do everything he could to keep her by his side.
“Speaking of which, I get my second pay in a week! Let’s go on a date that day!”
She said it brightly, and Derwin nodded.
“What would you like to do?”
“Anything, as long as it’s with you.”
Those sincere, beautiful words melted away every worry that had lingered in his heart.
“…Very well. Please, step up.”
By then, they had arrived at the carriage. Derwin extended his hand. With a radiant smile, Shanelica placed her small hand in his large one and climbed into the carriage that would take them back to the Cartel estate.
