IAMFMFL CH 07

It really wasn’t good. Quite bad, in fact.

At the mention of the northern campaign, Lockhard lowered his arm. It hadn’t been intentional, but his expression seemed to have stiffened.

“It looks like they’re planning to start a war using the disappearance of Baron Ibraham in the border region as a pretext.”

The northern campaign.

To the north of the empire lay numerous small kingdoms, each no larger than a city, clinging together like barnacles. But successive rulers of the Kaval Empire had long regarded those “barnacles” as a thorn in their side. They had steadily strengthened their military power, enduring the wary eyes of other nations, all for the sake of launching a northern campaign.

To be honest, the fact that war might break out wasn’t particularly surprising. Lockhard, along with the Imperial Guard, had already been intensifying tactical and combat training for years.

However, it didn’t seem like a sufficient reason for Nezar to visit the knight order in such a forced manner.

“You… you’re not thinking of going to war yourself, are you?”

The empire’s heir going to the battlefield was unthinkable. Yet bad premonitions had never been wrong, and Nezar’s face, as he looked straight at Lockhard, appeared resolute and detached, as if he had already made up his mind.

Lockhard fell silent. Just then, Louis, who had been away, approached Nezar and handed him a canteen and a towel.

“It looks like training will wrap up soon.”

Nezar nodded, patting his shoulder in thanks.

“I should get going as well. But somehow, I don’t see Sir Pansion Entera today. Or perhaps I just missed him?”

As he wiped his face with the damp towel, Nezar’s gaze swept across the training ground again.

Kate aside, for some reason, many people were looking for Pansion Entera today.

“Ah, Sir Pansion briefly went back to headquarters. If I recall correctly, his younger sister was coming to visit… Judging by the flowers he prepared to decorate the reception room, he’s probably on the second floor. I believe he plans to meet her there.”

While Louis diligently explained the reason for Pansion’s absence, a dark shadow fell across Nezar’s face, which had been flushed from the heat. After taking a mouthful of water and spitting it out, Nezar lifted his head.

Lockhard followed his gaze and turned as well. At some point, a man who looked strikingly neat among the sweaty crowd of men had appeared.

“Did you call for me?”

It was Pansion Entera.

Nezar briefly widened his eyes and looked him up and down before speaking.

“You said you were meeting family, yet you arrived quickly. Did you meet your sister?”

“Yes. She seemed eager to return to the estate, so we exchanged brief greetings and parted.”

A cool floral scent lingered around Pansion, who had just arrived. It suited his calm and gentle demeanor perfectly.

After looking at Louis and Lockhard in turn, Pansion finally met Nezar’s gaze again.

“If you have nothing further to say, I’ll be on my way.”

“Are you busy?”

“There will be a full knight order meeting soon. And Sir Lockhard, you are to attend as well.”

It was an unexpected summons. Lockhard looked up at Pansion, who stood at least a head taller than himself, even though Lockhard was considered tall among the knights.

“Me? As far as I know, meetings are attended starting from the vice-captain level.”

“Commander Brait has just stepped down from his position as commander of the 2nd Imperial Guard Knight Order. He will instead take on the role of overall commander of the northern expedition. As of today, Lockhard, you are the vice-captain of the 2nd Knight Order.”

“…What?”

There was no thunderbolt quite like this one.

No matter how promising Lockhard was, it made no sense for him to become vice-captain over dozens of senior knights. Could that old man Brait be trying to tie him down like this?

Having finished speaking, Pansion immediately turned and headed toward the Imperial Guard headquarters.

Suppressing his agitation, Lockhard rubbed his face dry and turned back toward Louis and Nezar. At the mention of the northern campaign, Louis already looked half out of his mind.

In contrast, Nezar’s expression was as calm as a frozen lake in midwinter. Lockhard found it somewhat irritating that he hadn’t mentioned this beforehand.

“What an absurd situation… Nezar, sorry, but since we’ve run into each other, do me a favor.”

“Denied.”

Despite the curt refusal, Lockhard stubbornly continued. When dealing with him, shamelessness was essential.

“If you can, stop by the 2nd Knight Order headquarters before you leave. Kate is waiting for me in the second-floor reception room.”

At that moment, Nezar’s steady expression collapsed as if melted wax had been poured over it. It lasted only a moment, but Lockhard noticed.

After all, Nezar’s only weakness, despite his pursuit of perfection, was his younger sister.

“Kate? Why is she here?”

“Well…”

He couldn’t exactly say to Nezar’s face that she wanted to see Sir Pansion Entera. That would only invite unnecessary trouble.

Lockhard shrugged as if it were nothing.

“What reason would there be? She was probably curious to see me train. As you can see, I have to attend the meeting, so I can’t look after her. You’re her fiancé, after all. I’m counting on you.”

Without waiting for a reply, he turned and followed after Pansion, resolving to leave Kate a warning to act carefully.

I almost fell in love at first sight.

That single thought dominated my mind as I returned to the reception room. Absentmindedly, I looked down at the vase in my arms, filled with baby’s breath spreading like a peacock’s tail.

He was a tall man. Clearly a knight, yet his presence was as serene and composed as that of a temple priest.

It had been a long time since someone left such a lingering impression on me… not since Nezar. Perhaps recalling my past life had changed how I saw the world. Even so, no one felt as overwhelmingly intimidating as Nezar’s very presence.

I placed the vase on the table and returned to the window. I had only stepped away briefly, yet the training ground was already empty, leaving behind nothing but drifting dust.

…What should I do now? Do I really have to wait until Lockhard’s schedule is completely over? With nothing to do? Just sitting here alone?

I stood up and walked toward the door. I needed to quickly master tea party etiquette if I wanted to charm a young lady. I couldn’t afford to waste time in a place like this.

Since I had missed my chance to meet Sir Pansion, I would have to wait for another opportunity. Preferably when training was open to visitors!

I pushed against the heavy, massive double doors. Using my whole body, I strained to open them, and just as they began to move slowly, they suddenly swung open.

Losing my balance, I nearly toppled forward—

Something warm quickly caught my arm. I ended up falling into someone’s embrace, my face pressed against their clothes. The scent of sun-warmed earth and sweat washed over me.

“Ah… I’m sorry.”

Of all places, to make a fool of myself here, in the knights’ order where Lockhard was. I bowed my head toward the man, who seemed to be a member of the 2nd Knight Order.

No, I tried to.

No matter how much I tried to pull away, a strong grip held me tightly.

“Excuse me, could you please let go?”

What kind of situation was this? Why was I being held by some stranger?

“Excuse me.”

Even if my engagement had been arranged through persistence, I still had a young, capable, and handsome fiancé.

Even if I was in the bizarre situation of trying to find his lover! Even if I planned to use that lover to break off the engagement! Still, for me, there was only Nezar!

“You’re not listening, are you? Even if I look young, I am engaged. You’re not someone who can just lay hands on me.”

“…That’s quite a decent response.”

It was a familiar voice.

I abruptly lifted my head from the man’s chest.