The Emperor’s Sword Beselion.

This epithet was not easily given. Their ancestors had protected their emperor with a single sword through raids, wars, and rebellions for generations.

A family that began with the sword and lived by someone’s sword, their loyalty was without calculation and blind.

And they were equally closed off from the outside.

Whenever a Beselion child was born, jokes followed like shadows about how the head of the family, who guarded the emperor’s side at all times, found time to produce children.

Especially this generation’s heir rarely showed his face.

Noah Beselion only participated in official events hosted by the imperial family, and even then, he would leave immediately after the emperor’s speech ended.

The social circles, enamored with his angelic appearance, licked the few sightings clean to the bottom and secretly sent marriage proposals, but only a single letter with the usual words of rejection would return.

When Amber, the only daughter of Marquis Sinclair, received the letter handed by the butler, her face was glum.

As always, her eyes listlessly read the opening “To Dear Miss Amber Sinclair,” when suddenly her pupils dilated greatly.

Unable to contain her shock, she let out a loud scream.

At the same time, Nigel was also screaming.

However, Nigel’s scream was filled with bewilderment rather than shock.

“Allen Evans, are you really crazy? What on earth are you doing?”

“An engagement ceremony. Why can’t you use your brain when you’re supposed to be smart?”

“That’s not the issue here.”

Nigel held her throbbing head as she looked at Allen shrugging nonchalantly.

The clause stating that they must do their best for the engagement shone brightly in the morning sunlight, conspicuously placed on the contract on the table.

Indeed, one shouldn’t make contracts carelessly. It was a mistake to let her guard down because of these two people saying they were doing it for her sake.

“No… I thought we’d just sign the engagement pledge with you as a witness, Allen, and quietly cancel the engagement when the situation improved.”

“Why, the more the merrier, right?”

“If it’s so great, why don’t you get engaged instead of me?”

“While the immunity rights of the Beselion family are very tempting, unfortunately, same-sex engagements are forbidden in the Arenium Empire.”

Nigel barely suppressed the urge to hit Allen hard on the head for his snide remarks.

The immunity rights, those damned immunity rights were the cause of the engagement.

The direct line and heir of Beselion who protects the emperor, and their fiancée, are granted immunity rights that bind them to neither the temple nor the imperial family.

Therefore, if Nigel becomes engaged to Noah, the only son and heir of Beselion, she too will be granted immunity rights.

Yes, that much is correct.

‘The problem is that these bastards are trying to make the engagement ceremony grander than the Crown Prince’s.’

The engagement-related documents, obtained by blackmailing Allen, showed an absurd budget meticulously spent for weeks, and the guest list endlessly included various prominent figures of the empire.

Nigel’s hand trembled as she crumpled the paper upon discovering a member of the Duke Dien family on that list.

The communication stone, alternating between Zeronin’s navy and the Wellider family’s green while buzzing, had long been shoved into a corner for being too noisy.

“Ah, the entire Duke Dien family has expressed their intention to attend.”

As Allen spoke cheerfully, Nigel slammed the list onto the table. The sound was so fierce it seemed like it would shatter the elegant glass table.

The bewilderment instantly transformed into anger, and that anger was directed at the absent person.

“Where the hell did Noah go?”

“Nigel, calling your fiancé a bastard…”

“If you don’t want to get beaten to death, you’d better shut that mouth, Allen.”

“Nigel, I kindly request that you spare the face, at least.”

Sebastian, who had been silently processing the mountain of documents at lightning speed, turned his head and gave Nigel an eye-smile.

With Sebastian’s permission granted, Allen’s mouth, which had been twitching arbitrarily, slowly turned downward.

“Noah went to his family home on business.”

“Won’t Marquis Beselion oppose this engagement ceremony? He’s famous for his frugal nature, isn’t he?”

“No way. When Noah and I brought up the engagement ceremony, the Marquis and his wife smiled brightly and signed right away.”

“You’re lying.”

“What reason would I have to lie using my friend’s parents’ names?”

With this, all of Nigel’s expectations were shattered. Now, it would be impossible to break off this outrageous engagement ceremony without the emperor’s intervention.

“Oh, by the way, we also got the emperor’s permission for the engagement.”

…No, it would be impossible unless a dragon wreaked havoc.

Maybe if she threw a few jewels at the dragon that always mumbled about making a nest as wonderful as this place next time whenever she checked if it was alive or dead, would it ruin the engagement ceremony?

“Haa.”

Nigel sighed, abandoning her futile thoughts, and slumped to the floor.

That’s when Allen’s hand overlapped Nigel’s. And the clasped hands raised Nigel up.

“Nigel.”

Her head turned automatically at the gentle voice calling her.

“…You could have just trusted me once and told me quietly, and none of this would have happened. I don’t want to be angry with you either.”

“Right, if I had told you beforehand, you would have just made me a witness to the engagement and ended it there. But no one will know you’re Noah’s fiancée until you reveal your identity.”

“So what does it matter if I publicly announce that I’m Noah’s fiancée?”

“Well, because that’s the most important part of our plan.”

Startled by Allen’s calm voice, Nigel stared at him directly.

“I don’t want to bring this up, but in the eyes of the temple, you’re a powerless commoner. No matter how much the temple preaches that all humans are equal, your treatment will be completely different as Beselion’s commoner fiancée.”

“So what you’re saying is…”

“Yeah, our plan is not just to protect you from the temple, but also to protect you in Sienia.”

Nigel’s eyes blinked slowly.

“For your information, I was against keeping it a secret from you and having a grand engagement ceremony, but Noah insisted we had to do it somehow. So, complain to your fiancé.”

Allen chuckled and pushed Nigel backward. And at the same time, she felt a solid wall.

No, not a wall. A wall wouldn’t drain her magic.

As she turned her head, Noah Beselion was looking down at her. His face, smiling kindly, revealed undisguised shyness.

All of this started when I met you by the academy lake. My plans going awry, my heart breaking down, even brazenly stealing my elder sister’s man and getting engaged.

The moment their blue eyes met, Nigel’s heart pounded loudly, making its presence known.

I hope this sound isn’t audible to your keen ears.

Nigel turned to face Noah directly.

“The engagement is temporary. You know that, right?”

“Yes.”

Noah’s smile deepened and sweetened as he looked down at Nigel.

“So… I meant don’t smile like that.”

“If it’s your wish, gladly.”

Noah, wiping the smile from his face, bent his knee without taking his eyes off Nigel’s. Then he lightly kissed the back of his fiancée’s hand.

Magic flowed over like rippling waves through their touching skin.

On the day of the engagement ceremony, people dressed neatly and beautifully formed long processions in carriages around the Beselion Marquis’s residence.

People who still couldn’t completely shake off their doubts about the sudden engagement ceremony presented their invitations and entered the banquet hall one by one.

Small cheers erupted here and there at the sight of the interior decorated with elegant flowers, various precious fabrics, and jewels.

“So there really is an engagement ceremony.”

“Nigel Ars, my goodness. Do you know which family the other party is from?”

“I’ve heard vaguely that it’s my son’s academy classmate…”

At that moment, Duke Dien and Meriel Dien set foot in the banquet hall.

It was the social circle’s established theory that the heir of Duke Dien and Marquis Beselion would marry to further solidify the current emperor’s power.

Especially after seeing Meriel Dien, who doesn’t easily approach others, dancing comfortably and conversing intimately with Noah Beselion, everyone was convinced that the two would get engaged.

As Meriel Dien, the flower of the social circle whose every outfit becomes a trend, appeared with dissatisfaction on her beautiful face, people’s whispers grew louder.

“It seems the emperor’s marriage arrangement to solidify the imperial power in the absence of a saint has failed.”

“Perhaps Duke Dien, who hasn’t taken a second wife until now, made a woman and incurred the emperor’s wrath…”

“Surely, would the blood ties between the imperial family and the duke’s family be broken over just one woman? There have been persistent rumors that the emperor strongly protected Lady Meriel in the confrontation with the temple over the oracle.”

“…Then perhaps young Beselion has fallen in love.”

At someone’s whisper, a few nearby couldn’t help but burst into small laughter.

“The Emperor’s Sword in love? It would be more credible if he fell in love with his sword and remained celibate for life.”

“Indeed. It must be a princess from a neighboring country, or a lady from a fallen family that the emperor has been secretly nurturing.”

Amber Sinclair, who had been quietly listening to the adults’ conversation, frowned.

She knew Nigel Ars, and she knew how Noah Beselion looked at her.

A face that seemed anguished for not being able to hold her fingertips, though enduring and bearing it.

“Isn’t it ridiculous to say that’s not love, Ashton?”

Just as she was about to speak to her brother beside her, Ashton stared fixedly at one spot, pretending not to hear her words.

At the end of his gaze were today’s protagonists, entering to the accompaniment of fresh instrumental melodies.