Chapter 138

...Who was that again?

Truthfully, he didn't remember. But showing that openly would only invite—

"To think the Princess's consort has such a poor memory."

"He trained with the Crimson Knights and can't even recall his fellow swordsmen?"

"The Princess has married herself a fool. How unfortunate."

Friedrich worried that any slip might embarrass Her Highness. On top of that, Joachim had spent these past months subjecting him to relentless drills in Stade's social customs — and somehow, that had left him strangely diminished in confidence at the worst moments.

His instinct was to fake recognition and move past it — but before he could decide—

"Ah, there he is now. Dressel!"

The man spoke up first, and the moment was gone.

Joachim turned to Friedrich with an expression of barely concealed alarm.

'Do you know him?'

His eyes asked the question. Friedrich gave him an honest shake of his…