It took nearly two days by carriage from Longfield to Brightnum, the capital of the Wellington Kingdom.

From there, it would take another hour of non-stop travel to reach Chatham.

“Since there’s not much luggage, go alone. I don’t want to attract attention.”

Ansel closed the carriage door without waiting for a response. It was a slightly cloudy day, but the sunlight was still quite brilliant for the season.

Watching the warm golden rays glide over the blue surface of the fountain, his mood somehow improved as if by magic.

Come to think of it, it was truly absurd that he never once felt fatigued when this unbearably tedious journey was in the opposite direction.

No, to be exact…

“Lord Ansel?”

As he quietly moved closer to the majestic main gate of the Wellington Royal Military Academy, a sentry guarding it approached and saluted.

Even though he was merely a cadet, albeit one who had once served as the cadet regiment commander, the sentry’s attitude was extremely deferential.

It was the courtesy shown to an honorable knight of the kingdom and the heir of a great military family.

“I wasn’t sure, but it really is you, Lord Ansel.”

The man couldn’t take his eyes off Ansel, who was dressed in a suit rather than a cadet uniform.

Ansel Blaine was an exceedingly aristocratic man, he realized anew.

His gait, gaze, even his breathing was like that.

Among those who had passed through here were nobles and even royalty, but a man with such noble dignity was truly rare.

Ansel received the greeting as if accustomed to it. His sculptured, delicate face was utterly unperturbed.

“What brings you here? Have you come to watch the match?”

As if. He had no interest in watching sweaty men tangled on the dirt field on a summer day like this.

Moreover, it was clearly not the summer vacation period now.

‘Don’t they ever get tired of it.’

At that moment, Ansel’s brow furrowed slightly at the boisterous shouts that came just in time.

Ansel dryly asked back.

“Is there a match?”

“Yes. There’s a friendly match against the Clifton College cricket team.”

“I see.”

The answer was curt, indicating that the question was not out of curiosity.

A gloved hand swept back his hair in a no-nonsense motion, then rested obliquely on his slender waist, narrow compared to his shoulders.

“Chatham should hope to win then. Farewell.”

With that dispassionate greeting, Ansel turned his body toward the inside of the main gate, his chin twitching.

What came into view was a familiar sight he had been with for two years already.

The grand spires towered as high as ever, as if piercing the sky, and the dormitories, lecture halls, training grounds and other facilities flanking it on both sides surrounded the large circular courtyard.

It was obvious without looking that the source of this noise was the sports field located behind the dormitory.

Ansel, who had only come to retrieve his personal belongings and had no intention whatsoever of going that way, further solidified that thought as he entered the dormitory building.

“Oh! Who do we have here, Ansel?”

To be precise, he tried to enter, but failed due to a cadet with a gregarious face full of sweat rushing over noisily and interrupting his steps.

Oscar Haines. Ansel’s classmate.

“Haines.”

“Weren’t you at the old man’s place? What brings you here? Hm? Did you come to cheer for today’s match?”

Oscar never missed a noisy place, and always strived to drag Ansel Blaine into that noisy place.

He too had completed over two years of life at the military academy and only had graduation at the end of July remaining.

Despite Ansel never once calling him by his name in those two years, his cold-blooded classmate followed him around and acted friendly.

Ansel found him annoying, but when he thought that time seemed to pass quickly thanks to him, he felt somewhat grateful too.

However.

“As noisy as ever.”

“Have you ever considered that you might be too quiet? Despite being a soldier to the bone, it pains me that you have no desire for an officer position! It’s a loss for the nation, I tell you!”

“So why are you here, during the break?”

“Obviously to cheer! We have to flatten Clifton’s nose!”

Oscar raised his uninjured arm with shining eyes. A truly foolish face.

Isn’t it dangerous for Chatham’s honor to graduate a man like this?

Fortunately, he’s not foolish enough to insist on playing as an athlete despite his arm injury.

Shaking his head silently, Ansel stepped inside the building. That much interruption was enough.

“Ah, I heard an amazing story today, you know.”

But Oscar finally stopped Ansel.

And this time, he couldn’t dismiss it as trivial.

“Is it true that you’re holding a wedding next month?”

“……”

He had planned to inform high society after the ceremony.

Even if there was a servant in the family who spoke carelessly, he hoped that the fact of the marriage would not be known throughout the capital until after the wedding.

After completely leaving the capital and hiding in a quiet rose garden.

Whether insult or praise, he hoped that none of the capital’s filth would reach that woman.

“What’s with that expression? Don’t tell me you’re planning to disappear without a word….”

“Where did you hear that?”

Oscar flinched at Ansel’s voice, rarely sounding angry.

“Lady Bianca told me! She stopped by here this morning. She asked if you were supposed to come.”

“She should know I’m at grandfather’s place.”

“Someone from your family must have told her. She probably came to check just in case, because of today’s friendly match. It’s against Clifton of all opponents, you know.”

What a farce.

He had no interest whatsoever in friendly matches, whether the opponent was Clifton or the royal family.

Ansel sighed heavily, his gaze turned to the ceiling.

“She said in the letter with the match schedule that there was no refusal, let alone a reply, so she went back right away? By the way, when did you return? If you’re not planning to go back down, why don’t you come hunting with us next week?”

Bianca Talbot was the daughter of a marquis family and had attended the same private school and university as Ansel.

Naturally, their families also maintained a moderately close relationship, but Bianca had been frequenting the Viscount Monmouth’s residence at every opportunity since coming of age, volunteering as a conversation partner for the Viscountess.

So she would have heard from his stepmother that he was in the capital.

As well as the news of the marriage.

Ansel suddenly felt fatigued.

“Lord Ansel? Can’t you hear me?”

“I can hear you, so be quiet.”

Ansel strode forward, holding his throbbing brow.

He hadn’t intended to stay long anyway, but judged that he should hurry even more.

Oscar’s loud footsteps following behind him echoed through the corridor.

“By the way, she said an interesting thing.”

Ansel was already standing in front of the inventory cabinet at the end of the corridor.

Taking out a key, he opened the door to the innermost compartment, revealing a box containing his belongings.

A well-folded uniform, books, writing tools, and other simple items.

“She said your marriage is all a show? That you’re scheming to escape your family. That as soon as that fake marriage is over, you’ll break off the engagement right away.”

“She said that?”

Ha. Ansel sneered coldly. His family was his world and his origin.

Turning one’s back on family of one’s own accord was something only stupid fools did. Even showing no dislike and being courteous to the stepmother who took his late mother’s place was in that vein.

In any case, it was by the choice of the Viscount Monmouth, the head of the family, that she became his wife and the lady of the Blaine family.

By an unshakable principle.

He knew it was his stepmother who said such things to Bianca, and that it was because she didn’t accept him.

But Ansel picked up the box with an impassive face.

“The other party is apparently the daughter of some insignificant commoner family.”

Those words made his Adam’s apple waver, but there was no answer to give.

“You’ve never even glanced at any marriage proposal so far. You’re the kind of person who doesn’t bat an eye even with the famous Lady Talbot close by, so who would believe such a marriage is real? They’ll think you’ll return to the capital as soon as the play is over, that’s what everyone will think.”

A man who would become a soldier shouldn’t be so talkative. Clicking his tongue softly, Ansel took out his watch to check the time and walked towards the exit.

“Ansel!”

“Haines.”

Ansel abruptly stopped at the loud cry that made his head ring. His voice that followed was low and deep.

“I only came to collect the rest of my belongings, so I’ll be going back down as soon as I’m done. I don’t think I’ll have much reason to return to the capital in the future.”

Unless she desires it.

“…Are you serious about leaving the capital? Because of that marriage? You’re joking, right?”

“I’ll attend the graduation ceremony. If you have anything left to say, finish it then.”

“Ansel!”

The dumbfounded classmate persistently followed him to the front of the carriage. He seemed to have a lot he was curious about.

“Longfield? There’s nothing there! Wasn’t it a hardship for you to go to the old man’s place every summer? What’s the reason you haven’t said a word about the marriage until now? Is it true that the woman has nothing to boast about, being a commoner? If that’s really the case….”

The servant who had been waiting opened the carriage door. Ansel chanted in a low voice without even looking in Oscar’s direction.

“Go back to the sports field.”

“Don’t tell me she’s more beautiful than Lady Bianca? So you fell in love at first sight while going to attend your grandfather?”

“Ha, let’s go.”

Ansel ordered, closing his eyes as if tired and sinking into the seat. Soon the door closed and the carriage wheels slowly began to turn.

Outside was still noisy, but it didn’t matter. It would quiet down soon anyway.

“I’m really curious! What in the world is that woman’s name?”

“Eloise.”

Late at night, a cautious voice reached the ears of Eloise, who was sitting on the bed gazing at the dusky landscape beyond the window.

When she turned her head, Sarah was standing there holding a small candlestick.

‘Is it because the wedding is approaching?’

Sarah was always beautiful, but she looked exceptionally beautiful tonight.

The blue summer night sky was fully contained in her sparkling eyes, and the golden waves created by the candlelight undulating over her angelic, pretty cheeks looked sacred at a glance.

“I’m about to put out the light now….”

At that moment, Eloise sensed that her sister had noticed something.

Perhaps she had noticed long ago, she thought next.

In any case, siblings are connected to each other.

“Don’t you have something to say to me?”