“…I’m Leonard Elpheus. Thank you very much for inviting me.”
“No need to thank me. I can’t express enough how grateful I am that you agreed to come, even on short notice. But we’re in a hurry—could I ask you to escort me?”
She was worried he might back out now, but thankfully, Leonard quickly took her outstretched hand.
“If you’re okay with me, I’d be happy to.”
People who judged Leonard just for being a mercenary would never understand how honorable he truly was.
‘And I’m a terrible woman for taking advantage of that.’
What kind of man agrees to escort someone just for giving directions?
And this was only the beginning—she wasn’t going to stop at just an escort.
“The Marquess Blair and Count Elpheus are entering!”
They entered the banquet hall.
Standing on the second-floor balcony, Irenea linked her arm even more tightly with Leonard’s as the guests below all turned to look.
She could feel Leonard stiffen at the sudden closeness. Though truthfully, he’d been tense since before they arrived.
“…Marquess Blair?”
He’s just now realizing? Honestly, so slow.
Irenea smiled gently and spoke in a clear, strong voice.
“Thank you all for coming. Before we begin the banquet, I’d like to introduce someone.”
‘Smile nicely, please. That’s part of what I’m asking.’
Even without saying it aloud, her kind and well-mannered man wouldn’t let her be humiliated in front of this many people.
Trying not to burst out laughing, Irenea shouted loudly:
“This is the man I’m engaged to!”
Even though she had warned him to smile, she could feel shocked stares all around her.
‘Well, can’t be helped.’
Of course people would be shocked if a woman they didn’t know suddenly announced she was engaged to them.
But they couldn’t act awkward in front of so many people.
Before her uncle could criticize anything, Irenea quickly wrapped her hands around Leonard’s neck and kissed him.
Or rather—she pretended to kiss him, brushing her lips just barely near the corner of his mouth.
“Oh my!”
“Heavens!”
Some noblewomen gasped and covered their mouths in surprise at the public display of affection.
But when someone started clapping and whistling, laughter broke out and the guests began congratulating them.
“Congratulations on your engagement, Marquess!”
“Wishing you happiness!”
Irenea lowered herself from tiptoes and unwrapped her arms from Leonard’s neck.
Leonard, completely dazed, touched his cheek as if trying to understand what just happened.
Thankfully, he had his back to the crowd—otherwise they’d see how stunned he looked. Irenea felt a little guilty.
‘The real kiss should come with mutual consent.’
As if nothing happened, Irenea waved brightly to the guests cheering for her.
“Thank you, everyone! We’ll be very happy!”
Leonard finally spoke in a drained voice.
“Can you… explain what just happened, Marquess…?”
He still had his back to the crowd, too stunned to even be angry, fiddling with the corner of his mouth.
He was the kind of man who’d stayed pure until meeting her, so even a light kiss like this clearly overwhelmed him.
Irenea looked at him with a sorry expression.
“I’m really sorry for springing this on you. But I’m in a tight spot. If I’m not careful, I might end up marrying a man who’s trying to kill me.”
At her words, Leonard’s eyes changed in an instant.
“What do you mean?”
“I’ll explain everything later. I’m so, so sorry—but could you please keep playing along? Just for a little longer?”
Irenea knew this about him: Leonard couldn’t say no to someone who looked desperate.
“It doesn’t sound like something that’ll be over soon…”
Even though he muttered that, Leonard nodded in the end.
‘He really is my knight.’
He couldn’t ignore someone in trouble. That’s why she liked him—and still did.
Smiling, Irenea placed her hand on Leonard’s arm and walked down the stairs with him, already thinking of how best to reel in this innocent man who didn’t realize he was being played.
‘What am I even doing here?’
Leonard kept wanting to touch the corner of his lips, still feeling the warmth.
He could usually predict someone’s movements easily, so how hadn’t he dodged that kiss?
“Oh my, I never imagined Marquess Blair’s fiancé would be Count Elpheus!”
“Me neither. Just two years ago, he was… pretty well-known, wasn’t he?”
Only after speaking did the noblewoman realize what she had implied.
Pretending not to notice, Leonard sipped his wine.
She let out a quiet sigh of relief—and other guests quickly jumped in.
“You disappeared into your territory so suddenly—no one heard from you. I didn’t expect to see you again like this.”
“Neither did I.”
That, at least, was the honest truth.
He had come to the capital but had no intention of attending society events. He knew he’d be mocked.
Half the people here would’ve smirked at him in a different setting.
But here, no one dared bring up his background—and he knew why.
“When did you come to the capital? Was it for the engagement announcement?”
“Where did you two meet?”
“When’s the wedding? You’re not going to keep that quiet too, are you?”
“Oh come on, give him time to answer!”
Irenea laughed and leaned her head on Leonard’s shoulder, tightening her grip so he wouldn’t flinch.
She avoided startling him, but there was no way to fix how awkward his smile looked.
“We met when I traveled to the Skellum Kingdom. I got lost and into danger, and he rescued me.”
“Oh, how romantic!”
“But if you’re engaged, shouldn’t you be calling him something more personal? Like a nickname?”
Someone’s teasing question made Leonard touch his lips again.
Did they notice? he wondered nervously.
But Irenea smoothly replied, as if she’d expected this.
“He’s my knight, after all. I plan to call him that until we’re married. You don’t mind, right, Sir Leonard?”
“…No, not at all.”
Before anyone could take his awkwardness the wrong way, Irenea laughed brightly.
“Once we’re married, he’ll hear ‘darling’ whether he likes it or not, so no need to sulk.”
“I’m not sulking.”
“Really? You look like you are.”
Looking up at her playful expression, Leonard turned away, feeling his neck itch.
‘How is she acting so well?’
Lying with words is easy—but with eyes, it’s hard. Yet Irenea looked at him like she truly loved him.
‘They say great merchants make great liars…’
Was she one of them?
Feeling unsettled, Leonard didn’t realize how believable his reactions looked to others.
“Oh my, you two are such a sweet couple. You remind me of my younger days.”
“Such a lovely time. My husband and I were like that too once.”
Irenea led Leonard to greet many people, and though there were a few teasing comments, most of it was lighthearted.
She had carefully chosen guests who wouldn’t openly object to her or her “fiancé.”
Even the emperor’s head lady-in-waiting, attending on behalf of the emperor, offered only the kindest congratulations.
No one would dare ruin the mood—even if they looked a bit awkward.
Except for one man—Viscount Calleo.
“So this is the man you chose, after rejecting every other suitor I introduced?”
Calleo arrived late and immediately scowled as he looked Leonard up and down.
That judgmental glare was one Leonard had seen many times during his time in high society.
So instead of being offended, he looked at the man standing behind Calleo.
‘Who’s this now?’
A complete stranger—yet when their eyes met, the man smirked mockingly.
He looked young, newly trained, full of pride but clueless about his own limits.
Leonard had met countless men like him in both noble society and among mercenaries.
And he knew one thing: guys like this needed to be put in their place early, or they’d keep picking fights.
‘If no one were watching, I’d have punched him already.’
Could he suggest stepping outside for a moment?
Leonard glanced at Irenea’s tightly linked arm—she wasn’t letting go.
He looked up at the arrogant young man.
He couldn’t use force here… but maybe he could scare him a little.
