Rosana was in a tense state. The training grounds were a space she was visiting for the first time.

Would she be disturbing the knights training hard……

Yuna had told her. The current knight order consisted of talents Jade had personally selected, people who’d forged camaraderie with him through war. They must trust each other deeply.

Those who were the greatest contributors to making Diovaha an empire.

‘They’re called the Raven Knights, wasn’t it……’

Even that night, the knights had searched for Jade. It meant the knights knew Jade transformed.

That’s why she wanted to make a good impression even more. To the people he trusted. Unlike herself, she paid attention to her appearance. Though Yuna said beside her there was no need to worry, she couldn’t help feeling concerned.

Even while walking, she kept checking her fur coat. It was a gift Jade had given for Rosana, who felt cold. Being unfamiliar clothing she was wearing for the first time, it felt somewhat awkward.

“Is it okay? Isn’t it too fancy?”

She’d left the styling entirely in Celine and Yuna’s hands. Thinking this was their chance, Celine and Yuna had shown their true abilities. 

At Rosana’s question, naturally Yuna said it wasn’t like that at all, and Celine said it was basic.

Now Rosana’s tension melted away under Jade’s gaze watching her from afar.

“Jade.”

When Jade extended his hand to escort her, Rosana’s hand gently settled on his.

“This is the empire’s proud knight order.”

Large knight order members were gathered. Reactions varied. 

Some had sparkling eyes, while others rubbed their chests saying they felt nauseous. Seeing them directly, they had to acknowledge it.

Lady Rosana Arcadi had become someone precious to Jade, and whatever kind of person she was, she was someone they had to protect.

“Greet her. She’s the person who will become my wife. Anyone who treats her carelessly had better prepare to die.”

“Yes!”

Several knights answered vigorously.

Among the knights were those who’d seen Rosana before. Knights who’d gone to escort her, and knights who’d seen her when Jade returned from Monster subjugation. They whispered secretly.

“Wasn’t she somewhat indifferent last time? Now she seems gentle?”

“Right? Should I say she’s full of life? Plus she’s beautiful.”

Rosana at that time had looked somewhat haggard with no energy, but Rosana now standing beside Jade let out a small laugh. Her expressions had become varied.

“The coat suits you well. Good thing I ordered it hastily. Is it uncomfortable?”

“No. It’s very warm.”

“But where’s the cardigan? I’m sure I ordered it together.”

“……The clothes alone are very warm. The snow has stopped too.”

Among the clothes he’d sent was a cardigan. It looked warm just looking at it, but also very heavy. The fur cardigan that came down to her ankles was actually heavy. Just wearing it made her shoulders ache.

Then Celine had said.

“Lady Rosana’s shoulders cannot bear it.”

“Ce-Celine!”

“Heavy……?”

Jade caught Celine’s hidden meaning precisely. Rosana tried to brush it off awkwardly.

“Wow…… he’s so caring.”

“I know, right? How nice if he were like that to us too.”

Having experienced a series of surprises, they’d reached a state of enlightenment.

The person who would glare sideways telling them to stop their nonsense when they said they were cold was now gently coaxing with caring eyes and tone. He even touched her hands, saying they were very cold and worrying, telling her to speak up if she was cold.

Then Rosana, whose eyes met with a knight order member, smiled slightly. She remembered she’d come to meet the knight order. She also wanted to escape Jade’s nagging.

“Knight order members, pleased to meet you. I’m Rosana Arcadi. I’ve heard much of the First Imperial Knights’ reputation. It’s impressive that you don’t neglect training even in cold weather. The imperial palace’s safety is all thanks to you.”

The knights who heard Rosana’s words exchanged glances.

“……Somehow it’s very different from what we heard?”

The knight order members felt their hearts warming. No one wouldn’t feel proud when a beautiful lady praised them as impressive.

Excellent. Jade glanced at the knight order members with a displeased expression.

“That’s their job. You just haven’t seen them groveling, it’s nothing impressive.”

Jade spoke bluntly. At his jealous appearance beyond wariness, the knights’ bodies turned cold like they’d plunged into a waterfall in midwinter.

However, seeing him look happy, they felt relieved in a way.

Rosana looked flustered, gauging Jade and the knights’ reactions.

“Why are you so displeased?”

“What did I do?”

At his gestures acting spoiled, Rosana tilted her head. Jade knew he looked ridiculous but couldn’t help it. Once he became aware of his feelings, his heart fluctuated.

If it were up to him, he wanted to be her guard himself. He didn’t want to entrust her to those big, ignorant fools. 

He also hated seeing those fools grinning when Rosana smiled. If the knights had known Jade’s thoughts, they would have thrown a fit.

Fel, who’d been watching for a gap in conversation, politely greeted Rosana.

“Lady Rosana, it’s been a while. I apologize for not visiting often. But did I perhaps do something wrong?”

“What? Why would you suddenly think that?”

“Why did you refuse me as your guard knight?”

Fel, in a lowered posture, looked up at Rosana. Since she’d firmly refused the guard knight matter, he’d suspected he might have somehow gotten on her bad side. However, Rosana answered kindly.

“If you’re the Commander, you must have much to do, so it wouldn’t be good to unnecessarily invest time in me. I hardly move around within the palace.”

“How could that be? Serving you would rather be a great honor.”

Jade, thinking this was his chance, chimed in.

“Fel says so too. Plus Fel is the safest option.”

“No. Then who will protect Your Majesty? I heard Sir Fel is also in charge of Your Majesty’s escort.”

“That’s because that guy forcibly pushed……”

“It won’t do. Sir Fel, please safely protect Jade instead of me.”

How stubborn. Jade shook his head, saying persuasion had gone out the window.

Fel smiled gently and said.

“As Lady Rosana says, I will wholeheartedly escort His Majesty by his side. Let me introduce the knight order.”

When Fel gestured, the unsettled atmosphere disappeared and they stood in strict posture again. Rosana’s eyes sparkled watching all the knights greet without a single lapse. Then she carefully brought up the main point.

“Though I have many shortcomings…… is there anyone who would take on my escort?”

The knights who’d been busy stealing glances at Rosana didn’t answer her words. Rosana stood somewhat embarrassed. The knights’ eyes were full of curiosity and wonder.

“Hey, you raise your hand.”

“You think I’d be good at escorting?”

“Look at His Majesty’s eyes. One wrong move and heads will roll……!”

Meanwhile, the knights were reluctant to volunteer not because they disliked Rosana, but because of their temperaments far from escorting.

However, at the point where not one person raised their hand while gauging Jade’s reaction, it was already over.

Jade swept over the knights with flashing eyes. The knights who felt their lives threatened suddenly raised their hands without exception.

“N-no. Shortcomings…… how could that be!”

“Right. We were just surprised by the sudden matter and couldn’t act!”

Rosana was flustered by the knights’ suddenly enthusiastic attitude. Jade smiled contentedly and said.

“Right, what shortcomings do you have? Rather, those guys are the ones lacking much. They must be honored to serve you.”

“Ah, yes……”

Ignoring the knights’ reluctant reactions, Jade demanded an answer threateningly.

“Isn’t that right?”

“Y-yes! That’s right!”

The knights, sharply disciplined, shouted vigorously. Jade nodded as though it were obvious.

“Saying you have shortcomings. Don’t say such things from now on.”

“Yes……”

Rosana spoke quietly in a shrinking voice. Unlike his reproachful voice, Jade’s eyes were full of affection.

“He’s completely doting on her……”

“Why is it so cold……”

“You too? Me too.”

All the knights raised their hands high. With Jade shooting fierce glares telling them to take the hint, there wasn’t a knight who wouldn’t raise their hand. The only one who couldn’t was Fel.

“Rosana, choose whichever one you like. Though they’re not as good as me, they’re skilled knights so they’ll escort you well.”

In the silence, gazes went back and forth between Rosana and the knights. Rosana was flustered. Rosana, who was ignorant about swords, couldn’t tell which knight was excellent at all.

“……I’ll decide on whoever Jade recommends.”

It was better to leave it to an expert. After pondering briefly, Jade nodded.

“Baron would be better.”

“Me…… sir?”

“Why, do you dislike it?”

“Not at all. Lady Rosana, I look forward to working with you.”

Rosana looked at her guard knight who’d been decided in an instant.

“For reference, Baron is the Vice Commander. I can’t trust other knights.”

“What? But……”

“Didn’t you say you’d decide on whoever I recommend? Fel would put my mind most at ease, but I backed down since you opposed it. I can’t concede any further.”

Jade cut off her words as though he’d known she’d say that. Baron added weight to it.

“All I do is monitor the knights. I’m rather glad to be freed.”

“I-is that so?”

When Rosana extended her hand saying she looked forward to it, Baron naturally knelt and grasped her hand, about to kiss it. It was similar to the traditional greeting knights showed ladies.

However, Baron’s lips lost their destination.

“Where are you rubbing your lips?”

Rosana’s body was pulled sharply and settled into Jade’s embrace. Baron trembled at the killing intent that returned instead of the white hand that had been on his.

“Jade?”

His sudden excessive reaction was strange. Though he felt Rosana looking puzzled, he decided to brazen it out.

“What greeting? That kind of greeting is something only I can do. Who dares try to touch the body of a woman who has an owner?”

The gaze of one blinded by jealousy was piercing. Baron didn’t protest even under Jade’s glaring gaze. The reason was more than sufficiently guessable.

Baron immediately distanced himself from Rosana. Then Jade smiled with satisfaction. The knights glanced with eyes full of curiosity.

“Are you angry?”

“Angry?”

Jade looked down. He saw the anxious Rosana.

“You’ve been acting a little different lately. It feels like you’ve been getting upset more often.”

Rosana fell deep in thought. Jade’s behavior had changed a little. The turning point was, yes, the kissing incident.

The biggest change was increased physical contact. Originally, even walking side by side, they’d maintained a certain distance. But lately he sometimes grumbled that they were too far apart. 

There were also many instances of him roughly tousling her hair or sighing while looking at empty space.

“Is it perhaps because of me?”

Rosana asked purely, feeling anxious. At Rosana’s gaze saying she didn’t understand, Jade broke out in a sweat.

Strictly speaking, it was Rosana’s fault. Sometimes Rosana, who shook him up then showed no particular attitude, seemed cold-hearted. He thought he wished Rosana’s reactions were more definite.

He’d often seen her face redden, but the pattern wasn’t consistent. Sometimes even when very close she’d pass it off as nothing, other times she’d blush.

Was it that obvious…….

Jade firmly held back his inner thoughts.

“……My heart is the problem. It’s not your fault.”

Then he heard a teasing remark. Louis couldn’t resist his itching mouth and blurted out a comment.

“Wow. The day has come when our Majesty feels jealous.”

He even clapped with admiration. That became the signal flare. 

The mouths of knights who’d been forcibly swallowing sighs opened. Once one person spoke, others easily opened their mouths too.