People who had been whispering behind their backs smiled at the party’s main characters as if nothing had happened.

The woman who had been chattering about how it made more sense for Noah Beselion to fall in love with swords wiped her teary eyes with a handkerchief, shedding tears of emotion.

This was the social world, where one could shed tears while hiding dirty intentions and greed under beautiful cloth, and easily dance with someone they had been cursing just moments ago.

That’s why Amber despised all the pretty dresses and beautifully cut jewels.

What good was being beautiful when one would surely go to parties adorned with these, receive an escort from someone who might have been gossiping about them, and engage in prearranged marriage talks?

If extremely unlucky, one might even be sold off to a man whose face they didn’t even know.

That’s why Amber wanted to choose her own husband if possible. That was the reason she desperately tried to arrange a marriage with Noah and dance with him, even knowing it was hopeless.

But Amber never received even a moment of the sweet and sorrowful gaze Noah gave Nigel.

Does Nigel Ars know that Noah Beselion, smiling brightly beside her, was famous for his cold impression in high society?

“…How lucky. Don’t you think?”

To be able to get engaged to a man who loves her so visibly to others’ eyes – and on top of that, a man perfect in appearance, status, and reputation. Did Nigel Ars save an emperor in her past life?

She even looked at Noah Beselion with more displeasure than a passing ant on the street, not knowing how blessed she was.

“…Yeah. She’s lucky.”

Ashton replied, still staring at Nigel Ars.

She was quite a looker originally, but it seems you really like the face made by people clinging to her?

“Men, honestly.”

Amber frowned once and turned away coldly from her foolish brother.

Looking around, quite a few people were unable to hide their expressions.

A few girls her age who had also proposed marriage to the Beselion family, members of the Dien ducal family who were glaring coldly at the two, perhaps due to bad relations with Beselion.

These were people whose reasons were at least understandable.

Lifne Wellider, who was said to be so busy he could hardly see sunlight, and Zeronin Silvas, who had many rumors following him after cutting ties with the Galloway family, were glaring at Noah Beselion with sharp eyes.

When did these two, rarely seen even at social events or official royal functions, have any connection to that couple? Amber chuckled behind her fan, briefly imagining something ridiculous.

Lastly, an unexpected person was in a panic.

Charlotte Primrose.

The beautiful eldest daughter born late to Count Primrose, who left no impression on Amber other than being pretty.

Rather than Nigel Ars, who at least irritated her enough to keep thinking about, Charlotte had no presence, like a rose without fragrance.

After being so quiet, was Charlotte Primrose also aiming for the position of Viscountess Beselion?

When Charlotte suddenly met Nigel’s eyes, her face turned pale, almost blue as if she might collapse at any moment.

Well, everyone has their own circumstances.

Amber silently watched the engagement ceremony, fanning herself.

Noah Beselion put a large, sparkling diamond ring on Nigel’s ring finger, visible even from afar. Seeing this made her stomach churn as if acid was rising, but her mood lifted upon seeing Nigel shrinking back, unable to even look at the Viscount and Viscountess Beselion.

That’s right, even you can’t use your power in front of Viscount Beselion.

Unable to control her emotions due to the satisfaction, deflated laughter kept escaping her lips. Because of this, Amber was scolded by her mother.

Anyway, the engagement ceremony, to which they were invited just two days prior, ended successfully with a covenant kiss, though it seemed hastily arranged.

On the surface, they appeared to be a well-matched pair.

Ah, it might have seemed quite romantic if Nigel Ars’s brow hadn’t furrowed during the kiss.

“Ash, let’s go now.”

Her foolish brother still couldn’t take his eyes off Nigel Ars, who was waving with a stiff face. Stubbornly, continuously.

From that sight, Amber formed an absurd hypothesis.

“…Were you perhaps rejected?”

“Shut up.”

Bingo.

This time, Amber couldn’t hide her laughter and burst into loud guffaws.

The bitterness of losing a perfect marriage candidate was nothing compared to her brother’s rejection, who always pretended to be refined in front of her.

“Amber Sinclair!”

Only when her mother, unable to bear it any longer, threw off her elegant mask and shouted did Amber manage to stop laughing.

Yes, choosing Noah Beselion over her brother was indeed a wise choice.

Amber Sinclair boarded the carriage with a bright smile, having let go of all her resentment towards Nigel Ars.

After the engagement ceremony ended safely, Nigel left Noah alone in the room, saying she needed to remove her hairpins and heavy clothes immediately.

As soon as Nigel left the room, the smile disappeared from Noah’s face.

With the soft curves gone, his expression instantly turned cold. The coolness of his sharp-ended eyes and thin but sharp facial lines stood out under his pale skin and ash-gray hair.

Noah gazed down at the ring on his left ring finger, smiling softly, but his face quickly became indifferent when his pocket began to buzz.

“What.”

His voice was full of annoyance, without any consideration or gentleness for the other person.

-…What? How can you say ‘what’ now?

The other person laughed in disbelief.

“Oh, Meriel. What, what’s the matter?”

-I knew you were ill-mannered from the start, but I didn’t know you were this inconsiderate. My goodness, who announces an engagement just two days in advance? And with Father and Cal… No, never mind.

A deep sigh could be heard from Meriel through the communication stone.

“You were sick of being involved with me anyway. It’s ultimately good for you too.”

-Yes, that’s right! But it’s different when it comes to Nigel. That child…

“Is someone too good for me.”

-…

“Don’t worry, I understand all your concerns, but there will absolutely be no gossip about Nigel due to social differences, nor anything that could harm Nigel in the slightest.”

A faint sigh could be heard from Meriel through the communication stone. It was a habit she had when forcibly suppressing her own wishes against Noah’s strong stubbornness since childhood.

-If Nigel says she dislikes you, you must break off the engagement immediately. It’s just an engagement, not a marriage. And the moment tears come to Nigel’s eyes, you and I are cutting ties.

“Of course.”

Both of them laughed simultaneously.

-By the way, the Viscount and Viscountess were all smiles throughout the engagement ceremony. You’ve been causing them so much trouble, saying you’d never get engaged unless it was to that girl Angel you met as a child. Do they know that Nigel is that child?

“No. There’s no need for them to know when even Nigel doesn’t know that fact yet.”

The communication stone was silent for about a minute.

-…You’re really stubborn too. You gave up on the Imperial Knights and enrolled at Siena without even being sure if you’d meet Nigel again. You still haven’t told Nigel that fact?

“Nope.”

-You crazy bastard.

“Well, I don’t want to burden her any more than this.”

His mind was simple, so the answer was clear.

-You’re really foolish. Is this your love, waiting and waiting by her side until she accepts you?

“Yes. Even if I have to walk a thorny path, isn’t it a knight’s duty to wait quietly for his lady?”

Loud retching could be heard through the communication stone.

“…My classmates should know your true nature.”

-Shut up. Oh, have you heard the news already? As you know, I’m not going to be a saint. So a bunch of priests will be coming to the academy soon.

“I know…”

Noah’s blue eyes deepened further.

Just then, Nigel’s presence could be sensed from far away.

-So…

Whether Meriel was saying something or not, Noah abruptly cut off the communication stone’s connection.

Just waiting for her made him smile involuntarily.

Creeak, soon after, the door opened and Nigel entered, awkwardly ruffling her black hair that fell to her waist, wearing a casual dress.

On her shoulder was a slime, and on her left ring finger, a diamond ring sat atop the existing silver ring.

It was proof that she was his fiancée, albeit temporarily.

A sense of fulfillment washed over him, having fully possessed Nigel without fear of losing her to someone else.

There was no need to be hasty anymore.

Compared to when he didn’t know if Nigel was alive or dead, now she was standing before him wearing the ring he had given her.

“…Let’s go to the academy now. We need to study for the final exams.”

“Yes.”

Noah clenched his fist tightly behind his gentle smile.

He couldn’t lose her again to anyone, be it the temple or the goddess Kirelia.

When they were young, he couldn’t do anything and lost her because he was young and weak, but now he had the strength to save her.

Even if she were to walk into a pit of fire, Noah was confident he would follow without hesitation and walk with her.

“…Why are you smiling like that?”

“Just because I’m happy.”

-…Human, get away from this big human quickly. His gaze and energy are very dirty.

Nigel chuckled as she heard the slime’s serious voice squirming on her shoulder.