Chapter 69
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Excited by the plan to assassinate Kailian, Diego recalled Himena once again.
Not long after his marriage proposal was rejected, he suddenly heard the news of her engagement.
He had intended to take things slowly, being as polite as possible and not rushing to win her heart, but when the plan fell apart all at once, anger welled up inside him.
“To lose to a swordsman who’s neither noble-born nor known where he’s from, who his parents are, or what his roots are!”
There had only been one thing in his life that he had ever failed to obtain—his place as the heir to the throne, the Crown Prince.
Yet suddenly, a strange woman who had the audacity to reject his proposal, talking about “true love” and whatnot, had barged into his mind and stirred strange desires.
He had been confident that since he hadn’t tried too hard yet, he could easily toy with her feelings—but to have her slip from his grasp in an instant?
On the day of the banquet, Diego tried to maintain a cool and indifferent expression, but his rising anger made him drink, and no matter how much he drank, the intoxication didn’t come. His emptied cup grew full again and again, to the point where he couldn’t even tell how much he had drunk.
Clinging to his composure, he entered the banquet hall following the Emperor. Seeing Himena standing side by side with Kailian at the center of the hall, even his last remaining reason was paralyzed.
She was beautiful.
More beautiful than she had ever looked at any banquet—her cheeks slightly flushed and her smile full of youthful freshness.
Moreover, when she linked arms with Kailian and glanced at him softly and kindly, unlike the times she had glared at Diego, it ignited fierce jealousy in him.
Was this the true love she had spoken of?
True love without a shred of pretense or falsehood?
Just like that?
“No way.”
If she truly loved him, then why hadn’t she used that excuse when he proposed?
Why hadn’t she said she couldn’t accept because she truly loved another man?
What better reason for refusal could there be?
So Diego kept glaring at her. When Kailian followed Emperor Xenos out of the banquet hall, Diego quickly approached her, who was trying to escape his sight.
To probe her real feelings.
But seeing her eyes falter and fail to answer his sharp questions, he was convinced.
“See? There’s something there.”
But that was where he should have stopped.
He hadn’t meant to humiliate her so deeply in front of everyone.
What was driving him to push her so hard?
“Damn it…”
Diego’s mind was haunted by the tearful face of Himena as she left the palace cradled in Kailian’s arms.
But that fiancé would disappear…
“What will happen to her if the Marquis of Termos dies? If Felix is ousted from the Crown Prince position and I ascend it to inherit the throne, what will become of her? Will she still push me away, talking about love? She could become the Empress of the Kedem Empire, you know? Ha, no way.”
He threw the book he was holding with a flick.
The words didn’t register.
He slowly ran his fingers over the marks left by shuriken on the walls of the sitting room—where Himena had thrown them at him.
As if touching her face.
“Just wait, Himena. When the time comes, I’m curious to see how you’ll show yourself. Your expression will be quite… something.”
“Although our commander’s beautiful fiancée isn’t here, I’m truly moved to celebrate his engagement this way!”
That evening when Kailian returned to the capital, the Red Moon Knights all gathered to celebrate his engagement with a banquet.
“To be honest, I secretly worried our commander would grow old alone, a lifelong bachelor. But to see a day like this… everyone! I have no regrets even if I die now!”
“Hahaha! Me too!”
“That’s right! Hahaha!”
“Well then, let us all raise a toast to our commander’s engagement! Congratulations, commander!”
“Congratulations!”
The sergeant raised his glass on behalf of the group, adding jokes while congratulating Kailian, and everyone loudly cheered in unison.
“Hmph, thanks. I didn’t know you all worried about me that much.”
Kailian smiled as he received the congratulations but kept stealing glances at Himena.
Lois, who had adapted to Lorex by then, chatted and clinked glasses with senior knights next to him, but Himena, sitting at the end of the table, looked uncomfortable like sitting on pins and needles whenever the fiancée topic came up.
She forced a smile and played along but didn’t even glance at Kailian.
“Commander! The liquor sent from Caraphedon is amazing! We won’t blame you if it runs out today, right?”
“Oh, you shouldn’t blame me! Since you didn’t bring your curious fiancée, you have to comfort us with this! Isn’t that right?”
“Right! I’ve been waiting eagerly to see Acticos’s hostess, so I have to drink to cover my disappointment!”
“Hehe. Alright, alright. I won’t say a word, so drink your fill tonight.”
“Did you hear that, guys? Anyone who doesn’t get drunk tonight isn’t fit to be a Red Moon Knight! Let’s drink until the moon wanes! Hahaha!”
“Sounds good!”
“Let’s drink!”
“Wahaha!”
The long-awaited banquet turned lively with everyone boisterous and drinking nonstop.
“Hey, Hermes, drink too! Your parents are all healthy, right? I was worried but glad to hear it. Come on, today’s your proper initiation!”
“Ah, yes… thank you. Haha.”
When senior knights sitting beside her draped their arms around Himena’s shoulders and clinked glasses, she reluctantly accepted and drank.
“Ahem…”
Watching her from afar, Kailian’s grip on his cup tightened as more men’s arms alternately rested on her shoulders.
“Hermes! You’ve been back for a while, and you haven’t even properly greeted the commander?”
As if reading his thoughts, Whale suddenly called Himena.
“Ah, yes… Marquis, I’ve returned safely. Thank you for the leave.”
Himena quickly stood and bowed, greeting Kailian, but it was painfully awkward to look him straight in the face.
“Ugh, this is driving me crazy. Why can’t I meet his eyes naturally anymore? Like a thief caught red-handed…”
Also, maybe it was her imagination, but Kailian’s gaze felt more intense and persistent than before.
“Good, I’m glad you returned safely.”
“Hermes, come here and offer the commander a drink. Take some of my drink too.”
As she tried to sit back down, Whale called her closer.
“What’s with that tactless vice-commander? I was planning to hang around for a bit and then slip away.”
“Haha, yes…”
Himena reluctantly sat beside Kailian, poured him a drink, and accepted the one Whale offered.
“Commander! By the way, what does your fiancée look like? I’m dying to know! Why didn’t you even bring a portrait?”
The subordinates teased, and Kailian glanced at Himena and answered with a smile.
“Hmph, she’s too pretty to capture in a picture. Bright personality, lively, smart, and very… cute.”
“Wow! Did you hear that?”
“Our commander is totally smitten with his fiancée!”
“Wow! This is something to live for! Hahaha!”
The subordinates laughed, surprised to hear him praise a woman like that for the first time. Himena covered her bright red face with one hand.
“No… why such high praise? What excuse will I use if we break off the engagement later…”
“Commander! I’m so jealous I can’t stand it! Don’t refuse the drinks we offer you today!”
Led by the sergeant, everyone suddenly crowded around Kailian, pouring drinks.
While he clumsily received the drinks, Whale quietly called Himena aside.
“I have something to talk to you about, come with me for a moment.”
“…Yes.”
Leaving the banquet hall, Whale led Himena across the palace corridor toward Kailian’s office.
“Vice-commander, where are you going?”
Between Kailian’s large bedroom and a smaller bedroom was his office. Whale stopped in front of the smaller bedroom door and looked back at Himena.
“From today, you’ll stay here. This room connects directly to the commander’s office.”
“Eh? Isn’t this the vice-commander’s room?”
“That’s right. I had the maids prepare a new room. I’ve already moved my things elsewhere, so this is your room now.”
“Why?”
“I asked the commander to hire you as my secretary. With the upcoming expedition and increasing work, you’ll help me and attend to the commander. You’ve done this once before, so you know it’s not too hard.”
“Yes… I’m glad, but… well…”
Himena, who was expected to be pleased, responded awkwardly, and Whale grew concerned.
“What’s wrong? Is there a problem?”
“To be honest… I’m worried strange rumors will spread because of me and cause trouble for the Marquis. Now that we’re engaged…”
“Ahem. Don’t worry about that. If anyone talks nonsense, I’ll harshly scold them. Don’t pay attention to rumors and stay close to the commander… take good care of him… ahem! I’m counting on you.”
“…Yes, I understand.”
“Also… the commander sometimes has nightmares on rainy nights. When that happens, he struggles to wake up even if you try. If you hear strange noises at night, even if you’re tired, watch over him carefully.”
“Ah… yes… I will…”
“Then look around the room, move your things. I’ll go back to the banquet.”
“Yes, vice-commander.”
Himena went straight to the servant quarters, gathered her few belongings, and arranged them in the new bedroom.
Opening another door inside the bedroom revealed Kailian’s office, with another door leading to his bedroom.
She had been in and out of the office before but never entered his bedroom.
“Nightmares? Could it be because of what he experienced as a child? That must be it. When he was only ten, his parents were brutally slaughtered right before his eyes…”
As she fiddled with the wooden door’s patterns in front of his bedroom, suddenly a large hand covered hers.
“What are you doing in front of my bedroom, Hermes?”
“Ah! Ma-Marquis!”
