Chapter 13
* * *
A few days later, Princess Serena left the Baltstein territory.
I saw her off as she glared at Kaiden with axe-like eyes, let out a “Hmph!” and climbed into the carriage.
But the person who was supposed to leave with her didn’t.
“Isn’t Prince Lucas leaving as well?”
“Do you want me to leave, Archduke?”
“I heard you’re quite busy with official duties.”
“Not really. On the contrary, staying here gives me the chance to learn from a Swordmaster, doesn’t it? I can’t pass up that opportunity. Right, Marion?”
“Haha, yes…”
I gave an awkward laugh.
Lucas said he’d stay at the Archduke’s castle until the Emperor’s birthday banquet in two weeks. He also asked if I could teach him swordsmanship in the meantime.
“Marion, please, I’m counting on you. Okay?”
It was as if there was a sparkling effect around Lucas alone.
“…I’ll teach you for exactly two weeks.”
“Really?”
In the end, I gave in to that face. At that moment, Bled whispered from beside me.
[You’re giving free lessons?]
His words made me realize something. I was broke from paying off debts, so every penny counted.
At my suggestion, Lucas let out a dumbfounded sound.
“Money?”
“Yes. I’ll offer my services at a reasonable price… I mean, I’ll charge a lesson fee. I’ll even give you a receipt.”
“Uh, sure…”
Lucas looked like he was thinking, *This isn’t right*, but I didn’t care.
However, during the lessons, Kaiden started showing up and giving pointers to Lucas.
“Your Highness, your back is open. Look at that. Marion’s going to strike right there. This time, your head’s wide open.”
Lucas, panting heavily, lowered his sword. He glanced at the sky, then closed and opened his eyes with a look of strained patience.
“Isn’t the Archduke busy?”
Lucas gave Kaiden a pretty smile. Kaiden looked back at him calmly and said,
“I need some time to loosen up too.”
“It feels more like you’re loosening your tongue. I didn’t know the Archduke was such a talkative man.”
“Should I stay silent in front of Your Highness? Oh, it looks like the lesson’s over, Marion.”
Kaiden glanced at his pocket watch, then handed me a towel brought by a servant. As I wiped my sweat with it, I said,
“Good work, Lord Lucas. Today was the last lesson.”
“…Thanks for your efforts, Marion. How about dinner tonight…”
“Oh, sorry. I have plans tonight.”
I hadn’t just been teaching Prince Lucas for the past two weeks.
My efforts to revamp my image were ongoing.
To pay off the rest of my debts, I sold a house I owned in the heart of Baltstein’s prime land.
I also went around apologizing to the boyfriends I’d dated in the past.
Today was the day I was meeting a boyfriend I’d dated for a whole six months. He was the most recent one I’d broken up with and the one I’d dated the longest.
“Are you coming back late tonight?”
Kaiden looked at me, slightly frowning. He’d seemed in a bad mood for the past two weeks.
It was clear he wasn’t happy about Prince Lucas staying at the castle.
“Yeah. I’ll probably have dinner and a drink or two.”
“Come back early.”
“We’ll see. I might just have dinner and come back.”
“…As early as possible.”
Kaiden seemed particularly irritable today. I tilted my head, unsure why.
Oh, maybe it’s because we have to go to the palace tomorrow for the Emperor’s birthday banquet?
“I’ll try.”
I nodded casually.
* * *
Tap. Tap.
“Your Grace, is something troubling you?”
Noticing Kaiden uncharacteristically tapping his fingers on the desk, his aide Vito asked. Having served his master for a long time, Vito could tell Kaiden was in low spirits.
Kaiden muttered,
“Why is she so late?”
Vito immediately knew who he was talking about.
“Are you referring to Sir Marion?”
“Yes.”
“…It’s only 8 p.m.”
It wasn’t even that late.
“I’m worried.”
“…About Sir Marion?”
“Yes.”
Vito and the butler Sebastian exchanged glances.
Who in the world would worry about a Swordmaster’s curfew?
They simply couldn’t comprehend this pointless concern.
* * *
“Marion, I want to get back together with you!”
“Pfft!”
My plan to become a good person hit a snag.
I looked at my ex-boyfriend Trash with a flustered expression.
This was supposed to be our last meal together, where I’d thank him for dating me and offer a sincere apology.
But getting back together?
“No, why on earth?”
“Because you’re so amazing, Marion…”
Trash hesitated. Being impatient, I couldn’t wait.
“That’s it?”
“N-No!”
Trash shouted as if he’d made up his mind.
“I want to have a child with you, Marion!”
“Cough!”
I hadn’t expected that at all. Flustered, I looked around.
Since he was an ex I’d dated for a record six months, I’d booked a fancy restaurant.
Around us, the sons and daughters of wealthy families were dining. And Trash had a loud voice.
“Isn’t that the red-haired, delinquent Swordmaster?”
“Did she just shamelessly say she wants to have a child?”
“Is he saying she’s pregnant?”
“Oh my, heavens! I heard her behavior was bad, but…!”
A Swordmaster’s hearing is sharper than most, so I could clearly hear the whispers around me.
I couldn’t just sit there while rumors inflated in real-time.
Bam!
“We’ve never even kissed, and you’re spouting this nonsense?!”
I deliberately slammed the table hard enough to nearly break it, raising my voice as well.
Trash, frightened, started hiccupping.
“Hey, Trash. I was going to let you off nicely, so why are you being so clingy, huh?”
“B-But…”
“And what? A kid? You crazy idiot, who says something like that to an ex they just met? Are you out of your mind?”
[I agree. Not even a confession like ‘I like you’ or ‘I love you,’ but blurting out something like that?]
For once, Bled and I were on the same page. But Trash shouted desperately,
“B-But! It’s not a bad offer for you, Marion! I’m the fourth son of a baronial family, and you’re a commoner! But since you’re a Swordmaster, we’d make a great couple!”
With those words, I lost all reason.
* * *
“You said you were going to say your final goodbyes.”
I didn’t turn around at Kaiden’s voice. He let out a sigh.
“Was that code for beating him to death?”
“I didn’t kill him!”
“You beat him so badly he crawled into jail on all fours.”
“He started spouting nonsense first!”
I turned around angrily and met Kaiden’s eyes.
“…Were you crying?”
At Kaiden’s low voice, I flinched and rubbed my eyes, saying, “No.”
Truthfully, a few tears had come out. Even though he was just an ex, I’d grown attached over six months, and it felt oddly sad.
Of course, with monster-hunting periods, we hadn’t actually spent even three months together.
[Image revamp? Forget it.]
“…Who dares make my girl cry?”
“What?”
“Nothing.”
Kaiden muttered something, but it was drowned out by Bled’s lamenting on my shoulder, so I didn’t catch it.
Kaiden covered his mouth, gave a light cough, and said,
“Assault is assault. You beat him within an inch of his life.”
“Not a drop of blood was spilled.”
“You beat him with impressive skill. The Zirr barony sent a letter of protest.”
“…”
I clamped my mouth shut and said nothing. Kaiden looked at me through the bars and slowly spoke.
“Normally, it’d be a week in solitary confinement.”
“Fine.”
I answered promptly.
“But we can’t have a Swordmaster absent from His Majesty’s birthday banquet tomorrow.”
“Tch.”
“Instead.”
Kaiden’s blue eyes glinted. I swallowed hard with a nervous expression.
“Be my partner for a week.”
“No way!”
☆▪︎▪︎▪︎☆▪︎▪︎▪︎☆▪︎▪︎▪︎☆
By Anna 💓
