Chapter 30

“Kina?”

Bersha was still focused on her sewing.

“What about her?”

“What do you mean?”

Chris recalled the scene he had seen. The way she had lingered there, unable to leave, and those eyes that had been especially irritating, full of expectation.

“I’m wondering whether she really is someone we can trust. What do you think?”

Only then did Bersha lift her head and fall into thought for a moment.

“She’s a friend who has watched us from the closest place.”

Kina was one of the people who knew how Raon and Bersha had dated, and even how many times they had fought. It meant she was that close to them. A friend who had known everything and still understood.

“Is there absolutely no chance her feelings might change? For example…… that she might come to have feelings for Raon?”

“Kina? For Raon?”

At Chris’s cautious guess, Bersha hesitated for a moment. A fact she had forgotten suddenly rose in her mind, but she erased it at once.

“There’s no way Raon would do that.”

She took hold of the clothes again and focused on her sewing. But after that, there was no further mention of Kina.

In Chris’s mind rose Raon’s face, which had looked full of thoughts. Along with it, Kina’s face as well.

“……Right. There’s no way. She’s only the daughter of a mere Viscount, after all.”

It sounded less like certainty and more like a hope that it would indeed be so. Bersha kept focusing on her sewing, with an expression that made it impossible to tell whether she had not heard him, or had heard and agreed, thus saying nothing.

‘Still, it would be better to make her aware of her place, wouldn’t it?’

Just then, there happened to be the perfect day for it.

His gaze landed on Raon’s uniform.

* * *

“The Duke and Duchess of Graize have arrived.”

At the announcement of their arrival, the great doors opened.

Everyone in the banquet hall looked toward Raon and Kina as they entered. To Kina, their gazes looked like hyenas staring at prey. Linking arms with Raon, Kina held her neck stiffly and smiled as though nothing were wrong.

The victory banquet drew intense attention in many ways as a celebration of the Estin Empire’s victory. At the center of that interest was the Duke and Duchess of Graize’s first official outing together. Were the rumors true or not? That was why the nobles had especially looked forward to this banquet.

That was also why Kina was tense. Things she had thought she could endure when she was alone made her nervous now simply because Raon was beside her.

As the two crossed the long banquet hall toward the Emperor, unlike the other noblewomen, Kina did not turn her gaze even once, but walked straight ahead.

“So at last I meet the hero of the Empire.”

“I greet the sun of the Empire.”

At the greeting of the Duke and Duchess of Graize, the Emperor spread both arms and gave a pleased smile. Beside him stood Chris and Bersha. Since they were next to the Emperor, both Raon and Kina simply greeted them briefly with their eyes.

“You may have become a hero to the Empire, but it must have been a lonely thing for your Duchess. I feel apologetic.”

The Emperor apologized to Kina.

“It was for the Empire.”

“Is that so? Hahaha. As expected of a Duchess, your understanding is broad. That must be what made Raon fall for you.”

Pleased by her answer, which came without hesitation, the Emperor’s laughter rang loudly through the banquet hall. After it came the awkward laughter of the other nobles. The only one not laughing was Raon. His gaze was directed at Kina, who was wearing only a smile.

‘At the very least, I know that the sun’s life is more precious than a noble young lady’s.’

He remembered the voice that had said exactly that on the day of the attack.

“This is the first time I’ve seen the two of you together. You suit each other well.”

At the Emperor’s words, this time Kina looked up at Raon. Whether he had not heard or simply did not want to hear, he did not seem to have any intention of answering. He merely looked at her. Chris and Bersha also looked at him, waiting for Raon’s reply, but it was the same.

“……You flatter us.”

In the end, it was Kina who answered in his place.

‘Just as I thought.’

Seeing how clearly different Raon’s behavior was from the way he behaved with Bersha, Chris inwardly felt relieved.

“Today is a banquet for the heroes who protected the Empire and their families, so I hope the you enjoy yourself to the fullest as well, Duchess.”

“Thank you.”

The very moment Kina’s reply ended, Chris raised his glass high and announced the start of the banquet.

“Glory to the Estin Empire!”

The Emperor too raised his glass, bolstering the morale of the Knights. Everyone in the hall raised their glasses together and celebrated the peace of the Estin Empire.

* * *

“Commander. It has been a long time.”

The Knights who had returned after war and leave approached Raon and Kina. The happiest to see him was Seorin. He gave Raon, who only nodded stiffly, a look asking him to introduce Kina.

“He is Seorin, Deputy Commander of the Imperial Knight Order.”

“It is my first time meeting you. I am Seorin, Deputy Commander of the Imperial Knight Order.”

The moment Raon’s introduction ended, Seorin gave his own introduction at once, as though he had been waiting for it.

“I’m Kina Graize.”

“You are far more beautiful in person.”

“Thank you.”

“No, thank you more. It can’t be easy adjusting to the Commander’s personality.”

“Seorin.”

Seorin, who had naturally been about to speak ill of him in a playful tone, shut his mouth at once.

“It seems you’ve grown too comfortable from not training.”

“My missions with the Commander were no different from training for me.”

Unexpectedly, Raon was indulging Seorin’s joking. The mischief in his eyes made that clear. Until now, the only sides of him she had seen were at formal public occasions, so all she had ever witnessed was his neat, rigid manner. Today’s Raon felt unfamiliar to Kina, and yet strangely fascinating.

“Please take good care of the Commander.”

The emotions plainly visible on his face, his awkward-looking etiquette, and even his blunt way of speaking. Yet despite all that, he was a man whose playful behavior loosened the atmosphere and naturally won people over. Contrasted with Raon, who was always aristocratic, it was a strange combination that somehow still suited him, and Kina let out a small laugh.

“Oh? It seems Madame already likes me. What shall we do, Commander?”

Leaving Seorin scratching his head awkwardly, Raon’s gaze turned toward Kina. Her face was the brightest he had seen it lately.

“Seorin. It’s been a while.”

At that moment, a delighted greeting came toward Seorin.

“Your Highness the Crown Princess, Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

The three of them quickly greeted them. Tension returned to Kina’s face, which had just been beginning to relax. Chris could also be seen following behind Bersha, who approached looking pleased.

“Now that you’re all dressed up like this, you look like a different person.”

“I’ve always had a handsome face.”

At Seorin’s bold reply, Bersha burst into laughter.

“I like that your personality is still the same.”

The conversation they shared, with her lightly poking his side with her elbow, felt natural, like people who had known each other for a long time.

“You’ve worked hard, Deputy Commander Seorin.”

Chris handed Seorin a glass of champagne.

“I’m reluctant to take it, Your Highness. It feels like it means I should work even harder.”

“I like that you’re quick to catch on.”

“That’s how I’ve made my living.”

Unexpectedly, even Chris accepted his joke with ease.

“Perhaps we need to test you again. None of my subordinates make a living by being quick-witted.”

“It’s all skill,” Raon added. Though he spoke as if serious, the slightly raised corner of his mouth was playful.

“You heard him, didn’t you? I can’t even joke in front of the Commander. Please spare me, Your Highness.”

Watching Seorin groan with even larger gestures, as though launching a counterattack, the others laughed. Even Raon let out a small laugh. Only Kina did not know this newly revealed side of him. Of course, that was only natural. She alone, unable to join in their conversation and left orbiting the outside of it, smiled awkwardly.