“Neigh!”

An unexpected horse’s cry jolted her out of her thoughts. Satin turned her gaze.

A black horse, galloping swiftly, stopped in front of the Sel Wio mansion. Startled by its speed and vigor, Satin instinctively took a step back.

It was a magnificent black horse, larger than usual, with a flowing mane and a flawless black coat. Such a perfect breed wasn’t given to just anyone. Even Satin’s family, one of the five guardian families, didn’t have such a fine horse.

Especially, among the black horses, only one person in this country was bestowed with such a horse.

A man holding the reins lightly jumped down.

“It’s been a while, kid.”

For a moment, she was stunned. She was speechless. Satin froze in place. It wasn’t because she didn’t know who he was. She knew him very well. Very well indeed.

How long had it been?

She never expected to meet this man here.

A flood of emotions crossed her mind. It had been a long time, and he was a familiar person. She met an unexpected person at an unexpected time in an unexpected place.

“…Ah.”

Satin frowned. She felt more surprise than joy. More bewilderment than familiarity. It would have been nice to have time to prepare, but this was too sudden. However, it was too late to slip away unnoticed. She had already been seen.

Still, her family’s long etiquette training shone through. One, two, three. Counting to three inwardly, Satin looked up at the man with a perfectly calm, impeccable noblewoman’s face.

“It’s been a while, Sir Ka Dillon.”

She replied with a cool tone, emphasizing ‘Sir Ka Dillon.’

Rublier Ka Dillon. Once, Rublier was under the name Ka Dillon, but now, Rublier was above the name Ka Dillon.

The head of the Holy Knights who guard the Pope. Hence, he was given the title of the Holy Paladin.

His deep black hair, without a hint of light color, was slightly tousled by the wind. His features had become more pronounced compared to the face she remembered. The passage of time had refined his demeanor and added shadows. Familiarity and unfamiliarity coexisted strangely. Maybe it was because she hadn’t seen him in a long time. Her eyes stung.

No. It was because he was so tall that her neck hurt from looking up for too long.

Satin quickly lowered her head. This man was very tall, both then and now. Too tall. She had always found his presence overwhelming, and now, encountering him without warning, it felt like she was suddenly being blocked by a wall.

“I was curious what you’ve been up to, but here we are. Are you well?”

“Yes.”

Satin responded curtly and asked back.

“What brings you to Sel Wio?”

Rublier’s gaze followed her profile at an angle. Satin let that gaze flow past her like water.

“A visit. A friend got hurt, so I had to come.”

His voice rumbled low.

The news must have spread quickly. It was no wonder, considering the son of a guardian family had thrown himself to save the prima donna in front of the opera house, with dozens of witnesses.

Satin stepped slightly aside from the door.

“Go on in. Gjorn is in his bedroom.”

However, instead of passing by her and entering, Rublier stood firm and added another word.

“Gjorn is Gjorn, but I’m Sir Ka Dillon?”

“Gjorn is my fiancé, and Sir Ka Dillon is Sir Ka Dillon.”

“We weren’t like this at the academy.”

“We were young then.”

Rublier chuckled.

“I heard you’re getting married soon. The preparations must be going well?”

“Yes.”

Just then, a carriage bearing the Del Mare family crest arrived. Satin smiled gracefully and greeted him.

“Sir Ka Dillon. Invitations have been sent to the guardian families, so I’ll see you again on my wedding day if you come. Goodbye.”

* * *

Rublier climbed the stairs of the Sel Wio mansion with long strides. Although he hadn’t sent word in advance, the servants of Sel Wio respectfully welcomed the unexpected guest. Such was the power of Rublier’s name.

There was no place in this world that could refuse the Holy Paladin of the Holy Knights. Moreover, Rublier had been friends with Gjorn for five years at the academy.

“Well, look who it is, Rublier?”

Gjorn, who was resting in bed, widened his eyes upon seeing Rublier. Rublier gestured shortly, indicating there was no need to get up. Gjorn exclaimed.

“My goodness. I heard you were appointed as a Paladin, but this is beyond imagination. I would have been extremely surprised if we met outside. The uniform looks amazing. It suits you well.”

The emblem signifying the leader of the Holy Knights was proudly displayed on his chest. The effort and perseverance Rublier had endured within the Knights were encapsulated in that single emblem.

Rublier accepted the compliment.

“Thank you for the congratulatory card you sent, Gjorn. I wish we could have met under healthier circumstances, but it’s a pity we meet for a sick visit.”

“That’s true. Still, it’s good to see an old friend. Even after years, it doesn’t feel awkward, and it brings back many old memories… It feels like we just met yesterday. But how did you hear about my injury?”

“There are ways to hear everything.”

“This is embarrassing. The rumors have spread so widely.”

Gjorn looked sheepish.

But Gjorn wasn’t alone. A woman bent over him was gently wiping his face with a wet cloth. They were at an unnecessarily close distance.

A few strands of her red hair fell onto Gjorn’s cheek. Despite the tickling sensation, Gjorn didn’t brush away the hair touching him.

She was an extremely gorgeous and beautiful woman.

Rublier glanced at the scene. The woman looked at Rublier a bit late. From curiosity to surprise, and from surprise to delight, the changes in her eyes and the corners of her mouth were dramatically expressive.

“Sir Ka Dillon, the leader of the Holy Knights.”

Rublier had experienced countless greetings like this.

“I’m honored to meet such distinguished individuals here today. It’s a great honor to meet the renowned new Paladin who protects His Holiness.”

Rublier dismissed her greeting with an indifferent nod. Instead, he asked Gjorn.

“Satin just left.”

“Oh, you met Satin?”

“She was outside the mansion.”

A momentary ambiguous light flashed across Delilah’s face as she was ignored. Gjorn, conscious of Delilah, hesitated for a moment, unsure whether to introduce them or not.

“As expected of a Paladin, you must be taciturn.”

Delilah broke the silence. Only then did Rublier glance at Delilah.

“I’m not as friendly to everyone as my friend is.”

“I didn’t mean to interrupt your conversation. Please continue.”

With a faint smile, as if nothing had happened, Delilah adjusted the pillow under Gjorn’s head. Gjorn changed the subject.

“…Oh, you met Satin. Yes, she came to visit and just left.”

“The wedding is in about a month, right?”

“Yes, that’s right. Can you come to our wedding?”

“Of course, I’ll be there.”

Rublier briefly smiled.

“Satin has changed a lot since I last saw her. She seems to have gained a lot of patience. I guess I shouldn’t call her a kid anymore.”

She had changed a lot, yet subtly remained the same.

He could vividly remember. The young Satin he met at the academy.

The academy admitted twelve-year-old children from prestigious families. The year Rublier entered the academy was particularly notable.

It was because Rublier, Satin, and Gjorn all entered together. It was rare for three of the five guardian families to gather in one year.

Even though Rublier, who had played with swords instead of toys since childhood, was a promising figure, Satin and Gjorn were also talked about before their entrance. It was due to the rumor that they had been betrothed since their parents’ generation.

Rublier first saw Satin Del Mare on the day he entered the academy. At that time, Satin was much smaller than her peers. To Rublier, who had been tall since childhood, the particularly small Satin felt like a white persian cat.

She was pale from head to toe. The white girl with a cold and haughty impression seemed like she would scatter in the intense sunlight.

Rublier thought.

A fairy-like girl has entered the academy.

And the once-young girl had grown into a beautiful and elegant lady, about to get married.

Rublier walked closer to Gjorn.

He leaned slightly forward and left a meaningful remark.

“Gjorn. It’s well known that you’re a kind person, but from now on, Satin’s honor comes before the honor of the lady you must protect as a gentleman. Be careful. You never know what might happen before you walk down the aisle.”