The royal horseback tournament was entertainment that could be enjoyed by all the kingdom’s people.

Even before the match began, the huge circular arena was filled with excited people. It was obvious who they were most anticipating now.

Cahirun de Hilic, the protagonist of the most controversial scandal in the Hilic Kingdom and a Sword Master. There were rumors that you could actually see him, whom no one had properly seen before, and black market tickets had been circulating early on.

Those who wanted to confirm whether he was really as great as his reputation or just a pushover bewitched by a seductress bought black market tickets even at a premium.

Amidst the doubtful people, voices firmly supporting him were already cheering for Cahirun.

The royal family occupied the best shaded seats. The King and Queen, the two princes, and Floria were all present. The Queen could be seen clicking her tongue, seemingly displeased with the voices calling out for Cahirun.

I sat on the side of where they were seated. Though the sun shone directly, the autumn sun wasn’t harsh, and being in the front row, I was satisfied with the vivid view of the arena.

As the King opened with a ceremonial greeting, fanfare sounded and fireworks exploded. The announcer waved a flag and shouted.

“Let the royal horseback tournament begin!”

Randolph’s opponent fell off his horse while dodging his outstretched spear.

As the flag signaling Randolph’s victory was raised, he stretched his arms forcefully towards the sky. The excited crowd’s cheers continued until Randolph left the arena.

Then suddenly, the venue became surprisingly quiet. It was because Cahirun had appeared.

“Black flag, His Highness Prince Cahirun de Hilic!”

Cahirun, riding a black horse, headed towards the center of the arena. Since Cahirun always wore a mask, rumors about his appearance were rampant.

Some said he had hideous scars, others that he was an unbearably ugly man. But standing under the sun, he was more splendid than anyone. The audience, who had been gaping in surprise, burst into cheers all at once.

The voices of women were particularly prominent.

Suddenly, my eyes met Cahirun’s. As a smile spread across his previously expressionless face, the crowd’s cheers grew even louder.

Coincidentally, Cahirun’s opponent was one of the knights who had been running his mouth carelessly in the waiting room.

Though he was larger than Cahirun, he already seemed intimidated and cowed. As Cahirun put on his familiar black mask, the knight reluctantly donned his own mask.

The announcer lowered both flags simultaneously, and the match began.

The match was overwhelming.

The opponent couldn’t even properly swing his sword. He seemed to be struggling just to block Cahirun’s onslaught of attacks.

Although Cahirun could have subdued him in an instant, he attacked like a lion playing with a rabbit, controlling his strength and not giving a chance to surrender.

Cahirun easily claimed victory. The battered knight couldn’t even look at Cahirun, who was coldly looking down at him.

After that, Cahirun’s victories continued. Strangely, all his opponents were those who had been slandering me in the waiting room, and they all endured his attacks until they were in shambles like the first knight.

Though he was a Sword Master, I had been worried because many were larger than him, but it was completely unfounded. He demonstrated an overwhelming skill difference even without using aura.

More agile and elegant than anyone, yet mercilessly exploiting his opponents’ weaknesses.

The opponents could only be helplessly beaten, and after the matches, they sent looks of respect towards Cahirun.

‘Just watch me. I’m the best.’

Even without saying so, I would have been following Cahirun’s figure throughout the match anyway. That’s how impossible it was to take my eyes off him.

As Cahirun’s victories continued, the arena’s cheers grew louder and louder.

Those who came to watch horseback tournaments tended to admire martial prowess, so it was natural for them to be captivated by Cahirun, who demonstrated such overwhelming skill.

Finally, Cahirun’s planting of the last opponent’s sword into the ground determined the winner of the horseback tournament.

“I present this golden rose to Cahirun de Hilic, this year’s champion.”

The King, with a very proud face, handed Cahirun an ornate box.

As he rose from his half-kneeling position, a great cheer erupted in the circular arena. It seemed everyone had completely shed their doubts about Cahirun after today’s match.

Then, Cahirun, who had descended from the platform, mounted his horse again. He slowly rode towards me. My heart pounded as he approached. I felt inexplicably elated.

Finally, when he was close enough to touch, he looked up at me.

“See, I’m the best, aren’t I?”

Cahirun smiled playfully, stretching his left cheek where blood had slightly beaded from a graze by an opponent’s sword.

As Cahirun handed me the golden rose he was holding, cheers erupted from the stands. At this moment, everyone seemed to have forgotten all the malicious rumors about me and was blessing us.

As I slowly grasped the rose, Cahirun grabbed my wrist and wrapped his other hand around the nape of my neck, pulling me in. I was drawn in and met Cahirun’s gaze.

In a very brief moment, an unspoken exchange passed between our eyes. As I closed my eyes, our lips met. After that, I only remember being completely swept away by Cahirun.

“Ah!”

As Cahirun frowned, I also furrowed my brow.

“Stop pretending it hurts when I know it doesn’t at all.”

“You speak so easily when you’re not the one injured.”

Hey, even a paper cut would be deeper than this. I glared at Cahirun.

Of course, when the sword flew past his face, I thought my heart had dropped. I also breathed a sigh of relief when I saw him skillfully dodge it right away.

But the man who had been flying around so nimbly in the horseback arena was now exaggerating so much that I barely resisted the urge to slap his cheek with my palm instead of the ointment.

“I still like it though.”

Cahirun seemed to be in a very good mood. It was obvious through his whole body that it wasn’t because he won the horseback tournament, making it torture to pretend not to notice.

“Although you might be regretting it.”

I flinched as Cahirun hit the mark. In truth, as he said, I was regretting accepting the kiss after getting caught up in the atmosphere.

Of course, at the time, I did think I wanted to kiss him. But it was incredibly embarrassing to suddenly kiss right after saying I didn’t like him not too long ago.

“Ah, that… can I keep the golden rose…?”

As I tried to forcibly change the subject, I tilted my head at the grinning Cahirun. When did this man start smiling so well?

Suddenly, I recalled when I first met Cahirun. Back then, he was a man who threw me to the ground, saying I was heavier than I looked. Wait, thinking about it again makes me a bit upset.

As I shot him a sour look, Cahirun tilted his head.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“I’m remembering when we first met. You threw me down saying, ‘You’re heavier than you look.'”

“Ah, that’s right.”

“Your personality has changed a lot.”

“I suppose so.”

Cahirun nodded readily.

“Isn’t it natural for one’s attitude to change when their feelings towards the other person have changed?”

I was speechless at his nonchalant answer. Cahirun met my gaze steadily. I jumped up from my seat at the strangely flowing atmosphere.

“Well then, you must be tired, so sleep early.”

As I turned to leave, my body was suddenly pulled back. In an instant, I was face to face with deep purple eyes. Over them, the look he gave me when looking up at me in the arena overlapped.

My lips went dry at his languid gaze. When I unconsciously licked them, Cahirun’s Adam’s apple bobbed prominently.

“How about we do it again?”

“W-What?”

“If you’re going to regret it anyway, isn’t it the same whether you do it once or twice?”

Cahirun slowly reached out towards me. Heat swirled in his deeply sunken eyes. He embraced my nape and slowly raised his body. His gaze was fixed on my lips.

Unable to take my eyes off Cahirun’s face as it gradually drew closer, I came to my senses belatedly.

Once might be a mistake, but twice wasn’t. If we kissed one more time here, there would be no going back. I pushed him away.

“You’re not falling for it.”

Cahirun, who had stepped back without resistance, smiled regretfully.

“Sleep well!”

I left Cahirun behind as if throwing him aside and escaped from that place. Only after entering my room could I calm my pounding heart.

“Damn, I can’t let my guard down.”

Cahirun’s face was too tempting, and his gaze towards me was blatant. Moreover, he was actively trying to seduce me as if to show off, so if I relaxed my mind even a little, I would likely fall for it right away.

‘No, at this point, have I already fallen?’

In fact, it had been like this for a while. When he took me to the training grounds for his dawn hobby, I cursed inwardly but found myself staring blankly at Cahirun swinging his sword, and sometimes when our eyes met while reading documents, I couldn’t look away from his smiling face.

However, I couldn’t tell if this was just a fondness or if I had come to like him. Because even for me, these feelings were a first.

‘It hasn’t been long since I firmly said I had no feelings, isn’t this too fickle?’

Just as I sighed, suddenly the bell cord shook. Startled, I clutched my chest.

“What is he calling for now?”

Grumbling at my pounding heart, I went to Cahirun’s room to find him lying in bed, covered with a blanket, grinning at me. As my fingertips tingled at that face,

“Turn off the light, please.”

…This bastard.