Matian took Rukna Golden to a small cloth store.

Elderly women doing sewing work greeted Matian as if they knew him.

‘Has he been here before?’

Rukna Golden tilted her head, wondering what business the Empire’s hero could have at a cloth store. An elderly lady brought out a linen dress.

The design was plain but neat, looking perfect for wandering around the market.

“Let me know if it doesn’t fit. I’ll alter it right away.”

The elderly lady with thick glasses treated him casually, possibly unaware of Matian’s identity.

“It should roughly fit.”

Matian eyed the dress size, then handed it to Rukna Golden.

“What’s this?”

“A change of clothes. Wearing a priest’s robe will stand out.”

“True, but… When did you order this? And how did you know my size?”

“Should I say it here?”

Matian asked in a meaningful tone. The eyes of the sewing ladies sparkled as they alternated glances between the two.

Ugh. Rukna Golden took the dress and entered the changing room.

Though calling it a changing room was a stretch – it was just a screen with the top part wide open.

Taking off the priest’s robe was fine, but putting on the dress was cumbersome.

There was a waist string on the back that served a similar role to an undergarment corset, but tying that hardly visible string was quite difficult.

“Shall we help you?”

Youth is good. When you’re young. The giggling voices of the ladies could be heard. Rukna Golden waved her hand, saying it was fine, her face flushed.

They seemed like people without prejudice. In broad daylight, a female priest had been holding hands with a man as they walked, yet instead of nagging, they were quick to cheer them on.

As she grunted and struggled, Matian suddenly entered.

Fortunately, she had the dress on properly, so her skin wasn’t exposed. Only her back was revealed where the dress gaped open.

“If it’s hard, ask for help.”

Matian pulled the strings from the bottom, as if tying military boots.

Seeing the white back the High Priest’s hands touched, he felt an urge rise in him, and wondered what pattern sacred energy would create. How it would feel to touch, too.

Damn. More unnecessary thoughts. Matian shook his head to rid himself of idle thoughts. Then he applied too much force.

“Ugh, too tight!”

“Sorry. Is this okay?”

He repeated loosening and tightening the string. Snap. In the end, he broke the string he was holding.

“Puhaha.”

Rukna Golden burst into laughter, leaning against the wall. Matian had stiffened like a stone pillar, looking down at the twisted cloth string with resentment.

“There are things even you can’t do.”

She laughed so hard tears gathered in her eyes. Matian’s cheeks flushed red.

The man, who had tried to act calm but failed, muttered a curse.

“It’s okay. Strings can break. Don’t cry, Matian.”

Rukna Golden, feeling it was the right moment, started teasing Matian. Seeing him feel wronged, asking who was crying, was so amusing.

“Oh my, did the string offend you?”

“The new groom’s strength must be overflowing, haha!”

“Move aside. I’ll fix it for you.”

The ladies laughed even louder, seeming to enjoy this, and brought a new string.

It would be nice if they helped. But they said, ‘The new groom should do this,’ and only attached the string before leaving the changing room.

‘Why do they keep calling Matian the new groom?’

Rukna Golden felt embarrassed as she entrusted her back to Matian.

She told him to do it roughly, but he sweated profusely, tying the dress perfectly.

Then he grinned proudly like a hero victorious in war. Just for doing this.

Fastening the hook below the neck and finishing the remaining decorations required the ladies’ help.

The lady with thick glasses whispered in Rukna Golden’s ear as she tied the last ribbon.

“You’re lucky, Miss Priest.”

“Pardon?”

“That little groom has been steadily visiting here, asking what clothes are comfortable to walk around in, which house bakes good bread, nagging incessantly. Seems he’s working hard to take you as his bride.”

The lady gave Rukna Golden a thumbs up, advised, “A man should be handsome. Don’t let him go,” then left.

Rukna Golden exited the screen and examined Matian standing near the entrance.

Having finished paying, he was looking out the window, gauging the distance to their next destination.

Rukna Golden quietly extended her hand to him. She was wearing not a flashy or elegant dress, but a very plain one.

Yet seeing her, Matian wore a dazed expression and belatedly offered his arm to escort her, a beat late.

The two became an ordinary village man and woman, walking the streets without a word.

Though there was nothing special, a touching emotion rose like cotton candy.

Matian stopped by a bakery to purchase scones and jam, placing them on a makeshift table at the edge of the market.

He didn’t forget to lay his handkerchief on the old chair Rukna Golden would sit on.

“Since when did you plan all this in advance?”

Rukna Golden opened her mouth like a baby bird. Matian neatly inserted a piece of scone spread with jam into that mouth, feigning ignorance.

“Who knows. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I mean today. It’s like a thoroughly planned date.”

Date. As she said that word, Rukna Golden felt shy. Matian also slightly raised the corners of his lips.

“I didn’t really plan anything. I just imagined how you would react if I opened up to you.”

“When the top graduate of the military academy says that, it sounds like you prepared perfectly?”

“Think that way if you want.”

Matian answered nonchalantly, but he had indeed prepared that way, so he had no reason to feel wronged.

He ceaselessly fed Rukna Golden pieces of scone and warm milk tea whenever her mouth was empty.

Only when Rukna Golden waved her hand, indicating she really couldn’t eat anymore, did he put down the fork.

“I’m happy because I’m full.”

Rukna Golden patted her protruding lower belly, laughing contentedly. Watching her, the corners of Matian’s mouth also twitched.

A thought suddenly occurred to Rukna Golden, and she looked at him.

“I like that you’re not using that weird way of speaking. It reminds me of our military academy days. Keep talking comfortably like today. Don’t use those pointless honorifics.”

“Well. I’m not a fan of acting like our school days.”

“Why on earth?”

“Because back then, we were just schoolmates. If I keep acting like that, I feel like you’ll only think of me as a friend.”

Matian confessed that he wanted Rukna Golden to feel uncomfortable looking at him.

He said he hoped she would forget how to breathe or feel her heart pounding so loudly that surrounding sounds would grow distant, just once. Like he was feeling now.

“…What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I’m asking you to think of me as a man. Don’t pretend you don’t know when you do.”

Rukna Golden couldn’t say anything, deeply lowering her head at Matian’s confession.

Though he felt disappointed, Matian wasn’t greatly so, as he had already guessed Rukna Golden’s feelings.

He moved to sit next to Rukna Golden. Then, gazing at the thicket on the opposite side, he placed his hand on top of hers resting on the table.

“There’s a banquet at the imperial palace in a few days. I need a partner, can you do it?”

His long fingers intertwined with Rukna Golden’s, locking their hands together.

Rukna Golden readily accepted that hand, but rejected his proposal.

“No. As a priest, I have to watch over the imperial palace’s barrier that day.”

“I thought so. Then I’ll have to prepare another partner.”

“Okay.”

“Won’t you ask who it is?”

“Well. Isn’t it Princess Talia?”

“Wrong. It’s Bolton.”

“…What?”

Only then did Rukna Golden, who had her head lowered, raise it to stare at Matian.

His side profile with a prominent, tall nose bridge was so perfect it could appear in any famous painting.

“Bolton accepted that?”

“He said gender doesn’t matter as long as the partner is beautiful. He spouted nonsense about how gender is irrelevant in love, so I’m actually grossed out. I should’ve found someone else.”

Who made Bolton into someone capable of loving men too? Even without hearing the answer, Matian seemed to know, so he let out a long sigh.

“You have committed many sins, Rukna Closet.”

It was a jab at how she captivated other men even in male form, but Rukna Golden misunderstood it as a rebuke for the lies she had told thus far and replied, “I feel sorry too.”

“But why did you choose a same-gender partner?”

“I have a woman I like, so I can’t escort another woman.”

Matian turned his head back towards Rukna Golden to continue.

“So praise me after the banquet ends. I won’t let my eyes wander till the end.”

The next day.

The emperor held a grand banquet for the nobles who had come of age. Not only the nobles in splendid attire, but priests also attended.

The nobles came to enjoy the banquet, but the priests had to guard the imperial barrier against the possible appearance of dark mages.

A priest was stationed near each of the barrier’s magic stones installed in a ring around the imperial palace.

Next to Rukna Golden was Jodro.

He sat on the floor with a thud, looking towards the luxurious banquet hall.

“Ah, I’m drained. Over there it’s dazzlingly bright, but here it’s depressingly gloomy.”

“Stop complaining and guard your post, Jodro.”

Rukna Golden, diligently examining the barrier, scolded him.

Jodro silently mouthed curses and rose from his spot. Then he let out a ‘wow’ in admiration.

“Hey, look over there. It’s Lord Matian Wiegratz. He’s so handsome it’s annoying.”

At those words, Rukna Golden also looked in the direction Jodro was watching.

Two men in formal attire were walking along the main road leading from the garden to the banquet hall.

The path was wide enough for a carriage to pass through, but with the two burly men walking side by side, even that path looked full.

Bolton was wearing an eye patch on one eye.

It seemed he felt more comfortable with the patch, even though he had an artificial eye his mentor had made.

“Matian, at times like this, who should hold whose arm? Since I’m taller, should you hold my arm?”

Bolton boasted his nearly 2-meter height and offered his arm to Matian.

“Get that arm out of my face. Before I cut it off.”

Matian spoke brutal words with a bright smile.

“Then why did you ask me to be your partner?”

“I didn’t want to escort other ladies.”

“Could that be… a confession to me?”

“Seems like drinking muscle enhancement elixirs so diligently has turned your brain to muscle too.”

“Phew, good thing it’s not. I seriously agonized all night over how to reject you if you confessed.”