That’s right. It was like that back then.

After the last day of the victory banquet, when Olivia fell ill, he did send Winster to her. He just wanted to attach more affection to the Grand Duchy and hoped she would never leave his side.

Time alone with Olivia like this was decreasing.

…Maybe I should just let go of everything and live comfortably.

Edwin looked at Olivia with deeply sunken eyes and sighed in disappointment.

It was an unattainable desire. To tell Olivia, who was doing what she wanted with such a bright smile, to just stay quiet.

I tried to overcome Olivia but ended up being overtaken instead.

To be stumbled like this just by her smiling face alone.

Howard, looking at the sweetly melted Grand Duke’s face, regained his composure. Then he looked at the decreasing line of knights. Soon, the time for the oath was approaching.

Five, four, three, two, and one. Each knight turned around with proper etiquette, and at that moment, Dian’s loud voice resounded.

“Um…!”

Bang, bang, bang.

“Wow.”

With a louder sound than Dian’s voice, colorful fireworks burst high above the lofty ceiling. Olivia, as well as everyone in the banquet hall, widened their eyes, looking up at the ceiling.

“Berni?”
Upon seeing the heavy doors of the banquet hall open, Olivia murmured unconsciously. Standing at the open door were indeed Berni and, unexpectedly, one more person whom she hadn’t thought of.

“Your Grace, I present myself before the lady. It’s been a while, so if you could forgive my tardiness to the banquet, I would be grateful.”

“Knight Kalter!”

Olivia greeted him warmly. The one who entered playfully with a mischievous voice was Winster Kalter.

Winster, who appeared grandly, was dressed in formal attire, complete with a ceremonial sword. Stepping nervously with a tense face, Winster approached the front of the stage.

“I have a lot to report, but…”

In principle, the report should come first. However, Edwin chuckled, raising his eyebrows. With a smile that suggested he would let it slide, Winster drew his ceremonial sword and spoke.

Quiet son-in-law, ceremonial sword, and a splendid outfit. Olivia felt an eerie atmosphere and unknowingly stood up from her seat. Then, she went to the front of the stage.

“But before that,”

Dian and Howard, who had their order usurped in a futile manner, glared daggers. Following the Grand Duke and expecting to be the second to swear the oath, they were suddenly overtaken by the unexpected arrival of Winster.

Ignoring their gaze, Winster knelt in front of Olivia and raised the hilt of his sword as if presenting it. Olivia tightly bit her lips.

In the high-ceilinged banquet hall, Winster’s voice echoed loudly.

“Knight Winster Kalter. As a knight loyal to the Grand Duchy, I wish to be granted the honor of becoming your sword, my lady.”

It felt like a dream. The scene of Winster, with a highly tense face, looking at him above the face of Edwin, who was swearing the oath, flashed by.

And then.

“I asked for loyalty. Not a sincere oath.”

The conversation she had with Sobel came to mind. When people from the Grand Duchy asked her if she thought the people of the Grand Duchy would pledge loyalty to her, she couldn’t answer.

She thought it was natural. She would love everyone in the Grand Duchy, but she thought it would take much longer to understand their hearts.

It felt like all of this would disappear like an illusion. Suddenly frightened, Olivia looked reflexively at Edwin.

Fear, joy, unbelievable doubt, and tension mingled over her emerald-green eyes. Edwin nodded with a raised corner of his mouth, offering his support.

With just that nod, as Olivia’s face brightened, Edwin suppressed the surging possessiveness.

Though a burning jealousy rose like a stubbornly hot ember, Edwin thought that a single smile from her made everything okay.