Esran watched the party venue. Fazel and Louelle were going around together amicably, greeting people.

When the Grand Duke, Prime Minister, and Commander-in-Chief—who were both his wife’s friends and his own friends—said they’d come to this party, he was a bit surprised too.

These people who appointed themselves Louelle’s godfathers were very interested in the boy named Fazel, whom she’d personally chosen.

They would probably ask Fazel all sorts of questions.

“I heard he’s Duke Zieten’s bloodline, but he doesn’t resemble him at all.”

Saila, who’d been elegantly drinking tea while adjusting her glasses beside Esran, stared at Fazel. The imperial crest was embroidered, albeit small, on the clothes she wore.

“His Majesty investigated that too, I see.”

“With all that commotion, there’s no way he wouldn’t know.”

The fact that Louelle chose Fazel instead of Nertian had spread throughout high society.

‘Even without rumors, he would have known.’

The Emperor was very, very interested in Louelle. So this news would have been discovered directly by the Emperor regardless of rumors.

“But he really is a handsome boy.”

She adjusted her glasses and stared at Fazel. Her cool blue eyes swept over Fazel before she laughed quietly.

“Others who see them would think she got engaged based on his face.”

“That’s not entirely absent either.”

Since it was true that Louelle liked Fazel’s appearance.

“That can’t be all though.”

After saying this, Saila approached Louelle and Fazel. It was to greet them at an appropriate time and probe for information worth reporting about Fazel.

“She’s a refined and beautiful person.”

Meanwhile, Suran, who’d been watching the situation from a slight distance, approached Esran.

“Ah, she’s somewhat demanding.”

Suran wasn’t surprised by Esran’s respectful speech. When writing the contract, he’d said he would now treat her as his daughter’s fiancé’s mother. His respectful speech was natural.

“I’m worried about Fazel. What if he makes mistakes in front of people like that?”

“That child wouldn’t do such a thing.”

Hunger dwelled in Fazel’s eyes. Those who desire and crave something are cautious. And he was clever. He didn’t desire excess and knew how to obtain appropriately, so mistakes from him would be rare.

“Still, as a mother I worry.”

Suran sighed.

When she was introduced to the godfathers by Esran, she thought she’d faint. When Esran called her to the castle early to change into fine clothes, she just thought it was because it was an engagement ceremony.

“By the way, the clothes suit you well.”

“Thank you.”

Suran nodded with a smile. She wore them comfortably knowing Esran lent the clothes without ulterior motives.

Suran, you’re beautiful.

Duke Zieten always wanted to sleep with her whenever he did things like this. She shook her head, recalling her young self whose life got twisted by truly the worst man.

Still, she had no complaints since she gained Fazel.

How much had she struggled to get to this point?

Suran stared at Louelle.

‘I wish the two would really get engaged.’

It wasn’t because she coveted Louelle’s background. She liked that her character was upright and she cherished and respected Fazel.

Then Louelle looked at Fazel, who was talking among the godfathers, with a peculiar gaze.

‘Huh?’

Suran couldn’t take her eyes off Louelle’s eyes.

‘No way.’

Seeing Louelle’s eyes looking at Fazel like he was truly beloved, Suran laughed helplessly.

Why hadn’t she noticed?

The fact that Louelle’s gaze was similar to how she herself looked at Trean when young.

“Something felt strange.”

“What do you mean?”

“Lady Louelle is kind, but she’s also clever.”

At Suran’s words, Esran nodded.

“Her skill at claiming what she wants is extraordinary. She’s my daughter, but sometimes I get goosebumps.”

“I agree. Really, how does she take things one by one like that?”

Suran recalled how Fazel’s guard gradually softened and reconsidered Louelle.

If all of this was what Louelle aimed for—if she made a contract engagement to keep Fazel by her side—then this contract wasn’t advantageous to Fazel but absolutely good for Louelle.

“Fazel has no idea at all.”

“Probably not.”

Suran nodded like she understood.

“Isn’t it better he doesn’t know?”

Esran spoke roundabout, seemingly saying not to tell Fazel. Then Suran nodded.

“Of course.”

Suran liked Louelle too.

Rather than struggling physically and mentally meeting strange people, living well meeting a good person like Louelle didn’t seem bad. So she decided not to say anything to her son.

* * *

Fazel was extremely tense.

“I am Commander-in-Chief Garen Sharons.”

When he met these people who were supposedly Louelle’s godfathers, their eyes were saying this:

What kind of guy are you?

“Garen, you can’t speak so stiffly. I am Prime Minister Solestin. My title is Duke.”

“I am Grand Duke Taras Charen.”

The three men examined Fazel thoroughly.

“His appearance is acceptable.”

Grand Duke Taras spoke first. Then Garen shook his head.

“If appearance is too outstanding, the surroundings get noisy.”

Solestin poked Garen’s side with his forearm at his dislike of Fazel’s appearance.

“You can’t state your inner thoughts so blatantly.”

“That’s true.”

Grand Duke Taras also slowly nodded.

“So now it’s Fazel Asnel?”

Taras muttered to himself. Then the other two frowned like they disliked it.

When two people get engaged, they follow the surname of the higher-status person. Therefore, Fazel was scheduled to become Fazel Asnel.

“Why are you looking like that, godfathers?”

Louelle faced their gazes and bragged about Fazel.

“I said before, but Fazel is so good at swordsmanship and smart too. He studies hard.”

“For swordsmanship, that’s me.”

Garen touched the sword at his waist.

“If you give me teachings during your stay, I’ll gratefully receive them.”

Fazel quickly bowed his head to Garen. Then Garen widened his eyes and looked at Fazel.

“I’m an expensive person. I’m doing this specially because you’re Louelle’s fiancé.”

Like that, Fazel came to cross swords with the Commander-in-Chief.

“How about my teachings?”

Solestin was a renowned scholar. He was curious how smart Fazel was. Fazel also spoke nervously.

“It’s an honor.”

“Better than men who can’t say anything, crushed by our glory.”

Taras evaluated Fazel then looked at the two men.

“I don’t particularly have anything to give.”

Then Taras clapped his hands.

“Later when you come to the capital, come with Louelle. I’ll serve you tea.”

“Oh my.”

Louelle looked at Taras and smiled.

“Godfather Taras’s tea is always good.”

Louelle held Fazel’s hand and stared with loving eyes.

Though it was a contract engagement, to Louelle it was no different from a real engagement.

But then a woman walked over making clicking shoe sounds.

“Hello.”

At her stiff greeting, Fazel and Louelle turned their heads.

“I’m Marquis Saila Turecien, who came to the engagement ceremony in place of His Majesty. I’m also His Majesty’s aide.”

She finished her introduction. Fazel greeted her according to etiquette, this typical noblewoman.

If the people called Louelle’s godfathers were more interested in individual ability than etiquette and such, this person was different. She paid attention to Fazel’s attire, standing posture, and behavior. Fazel instinctively realized that gaze and tensed.

‘That’s the gaze I received at the ducal house.’

They ridiculed him for not knowing noble etiquette. He was sick of observing gazes, yet here he received a similar look.

“Congratulations on your engagement with Lady Louelle. But I heard you’re both planning to enter the Academy together.”

“That’s right.”

“Yes.”

Louelle smiled kindly even before Saila. Fazel thought she was impressive for showing such composure. Unlike himself, he envied Louelle a bit for not being conscious of others’ gazes at all.

“To become a good Count, you must graduate from the Academy.”

Louelle gave a common answer, stating the Academy’s purpose. Then Fazel quickly followed Louelle.

“My dream is to be an Imperial Knight, so I’m preparing for Academy admission.”

At Fazel’s words, the godfathers showed interest.

“Imperial Knight?”

Saila’s eyes sparkled at Fazel’s words.

“How unexpected. As Lady Louelle’s fiancé, you could become anything.”

Even at her blatant words suggesting he should use Louelle’s power, she smiled brightly.

“Fazel is a wonderful fiancé who wants to achieve things with his own ability.”

She drew a line saying achieving his dream was purely a matter of ability. At Louelle’s firm words, Saila looked between the two before smiling brightly.

“That’s true too.”

She extended her hand to Fazel.

“Congratulations on your engagement.”

Then Fazel shook hands with still-trembling hands.

“But you know, according to Lady Louelle, your swordsmanship skills are outstanding.”

Saying that, Saila smiled.

“I’d like to see too.”

“I’m still lacking.”

Then Saila’s eyes changed.

“Are you saying Lady Louelle lied? That would be serious.”

She drove the situation like it was Louelle’s fault.

Fazel quickly looked at Louelle.

“If Fazel doesn’t want to show, is there a need to force it? I said that because he’s better than me.”

Louelle was calm, seemingly having expected this. But something boiled up in Fazel’s chest. It bothered him that she touched Louelle.

“I’ll show you.”

He looked straight at Saila.

“I’ll invite many people and prove my ability there.”

Like that, Fazel spoke firmly and prevented Louelle from bowing her head.

Saila was silent for a moment at Fazel’s words. Then soon nodded.

“Then I must come watch. It’s something Lady Louelle’s fiancé is doing.”

Though she said this, Saila didn’t seem to expect much.

“Then I’ll take my leave.”

Saila finished speaking like she’d completed her business and left the party venue. She seemed to be going to the garden.

I looked at Fazel and spoke with a worried voice.

“If I just bowed a bit, it would end. Why did you step forward?”

“Of course I had to step forward.”

Fazel looked at me.

“I can’t tolerate someone touching my fiancée.”

At Fazel’s firm words, Godfather Garen applauded.

“If you hadn’t stepped forward, I would have gotten angry.”

He lightly patted Fazel’s shoulder.

“Well done. I’ll be your opponent.”

“But will it be okay?”

Godfather Solestin asked back with a worried voice instead.

“It’s the first time showing yourself after becoming Louelle’s fiancé, yet your opponent is the empire’s Commander-in-Chief and the empire’s strongest sword.”

“I’ll do my best.”

Godfather Garen also smiled awkwardly, seemingly not having thought this far, and glanced sideways at Fazel.

“Mm. Should I go easy?”

However, Fazel shook his head.

“No. Then there’s no meaning in doing this.”

Fazel’s clear-cut words were cool.

I was proud of him and lightly hit his shoulder with my hand. Then Fazel turned his gaze to look at me.

“I like this about Fazel.”

“Is that so?”

“Of course.”

Fazel straightened his shoulders confidently. I looked at him like that and smiled.

After roughly greeting everyone, Fazel and I went out to the terrace and rested briefly.

“This is exhausting.”

He shook his head.

“It was tiring.”

I was a bit tired too and leaned against the railing. Then Fazel looked at me and asked.

“Does that person called Saila usually act so rudely?”

“Mm, it’s somewhat problematic, but she’s the Emperor’s aide, and above all, the Empress’s closest aide.”

Fazel was a bit surprised.

“Her Majesty the Empress’s aide?”

“Yeah. She became the Emperor’s aide through Her Majesty the Empress’s recommendation.”

I drank my beverage. Fazel also drank his beverage while asking what he was curious about.

“Then is acting like this not His Majesty the Emperor’s will but Her Majesty the Empress’s will?”

At Fazel’s question, I nodded.

“Probably.”

I don’t know what the Empress is thinking, but earlier Saila seemed to be trying to provoke Fazel.

“Hmm.”

She wasn’t so wary about me, but is Fazel different?

I sighed while worrying. There’s nothing I can find out by thinking more. I just hoped the difference wouldn’t be too great in Fazel’s match with Godfather Garen.

“Let’s go to Master Trean and get special training.”

“I will.”

Fazel nodded.

“But will you be okay, Fazel? You’re always nervous in places with many people.”

“Ah, that.”

Fazel pondered briefly.

“That’s right. I forgot for a moment.”

After saying that, Fazel shook his head.