Chapter 2 – The Swapped Groom (Part 3)

It was Sophia’s golden hair. Seeing the golden strands flutter down to the ground in the wind sent shivers down her spine. Even though it was a small amount, the fact that a blade had touched her body was a great terror.

Sophia’s gaze, which had been following the swaying strands of hair, momentarily met Killian’s. As his smile deepened, she felt as if her breath had been taken away.

Oh my goodness! Did he see me receiving the necklace from the young master of Valkeres just now?

Regardless, how could he cut the necklace without knowing what kind of relationship I have with him?

There were many things she wanted to say, but fearing he might swing his sword again if she said the wrong thing, she couldn’t even properly voice her protest. Sophia struggled to open her mouth and managed to speak.

“P-please put the sword away.”

“I was swinging my sword to catch a bug and accidentally cut your necklace. I apologize. I will compensate for the necklace.”

Only then did Killian withdraw his sword as if nothing had happened.

Swinging a sword at a person’s neck just because there was a bug… there was no one crazier than that.

Does an apology make it all okay?

Even if he apologized, even if he claimed it was unintentional, the unpleasantness remained the same.

“No, it’s not necessary.”

“Are you sure? It could have been a very important necklace.”

There was no need to associate with such a man. So she thought it would be better to avoid him, but Killian looked at her with the determination to replace the necklace.

No matter how identical the necklace may be, I don’t need one from that man!

“It wasn’t important. I was just wearing it temporarily and was going to take it off.”

It was a necklace she had planned to wear only for today and not in the future. So it was better not to accept anything.

Wanting to escape this unpleasant feeling quickly, Sophia spoke again before Killian’s response reached her.

“If you’ve said everything you wanted, may I leave now?”

If she stayed with Killian any longer, her legs would tremble, and she wouldn’t be able to stand properly in front of him. So Sophia didn’t want to talk any longer.

“Not yet…”

Just as Killian seemed to have something more to say, a knight who had been walking from afar spotted him and quickly ran over.

“Captain, here you are. His Majesty is looking for you.”

“Ah, it seems I need to go urgently, so we’ll have to continue this conversation another time.”

“Alright.”

Although she didn’t want to have any further conversations, Sophia forced a smile and answered. What conversation could they possibly have when there was nothing left to say?

Killian politely bowed and began to walk away with the knight who had spoken to him.

“Thank goodness.”

Only after confirming that he was completely gone could Sophia relax. As her strength left her, she collapsed on the spot.

Although the tension was released, her body still trembled. Unable to stand, it took her a long time to get up from the ground.

Clutching the necklace that had fallen to the floor, Sophia made a resolution. Even if she married Clive, she would never get involved with that man.

* * *

“Thanks to you, peace continues in our Kingdom. So let us raise this glass high and wish for the Kingdom’s happiness in the future.”

The King raised his glass, and the knights beside him also raised their glasses in a toast. After the King emptied his glass, the knights followed suit.

After expressing his gratitude, the King left first, and the remaining knights, excited, began to proudly recount their experiences.

While everyone was smiling and a lively atmosphere filled the room, there was only one person whose expression wasn’t good.

“Killian, why don’t you lighten up a bit? Anyone would think we failed our mission.”

Liam Dveshi, the vice-captain of the Imperial Knights, was Killian’s closest friend.

Having joined the Imperial Knights together and maintained a good rivalry, they continued to have a good relationship as captain and vice-captain.

“Why would that be?”

Though he wore a smile on his lips, Killian’s eyes said otherwise.

“Of course not. What’s going on? Is it because of Sophia?”

Liam wasn’t wrong, so Killian had no response. The more he recalled the scene with her and the young master of Valkeres earlier, the angrier he became.

Wasn’t she supposed to marry Brother Clive? Then why was the young master of Valkeres putting a necklace on her?

The situation seemed ridiculous and absurd. No, the situation itself didn’t make sense from the start.

Who would have thought that during the time they were solving the conflict with the Kingdom of Titani on the King’s orders, talks of marriage between the Loden and Dveshi families would occur?

Damn it.

Having only heard the news upon arriving at the banquet hall today, it was no wonder his mood was sour. The smile that had been on his face vanished as Killian’s expression hardened.

“So what are you going to do now?”

Liam looked worried as Killian’s silence dragged on.

“I plan to observe the situation for a while.”

“Ah, I see.”

Disappointment spread across Liam’s face, but Killian said nothing more. Instead, he took a glass from a servant’s hand and emptied it quickly.

It should have been a joyous day, but somehow he needed the strength of alcohol.

* * *

Since attending the banquet, Sophia had avoided going out, using the excuse of being busy preparing for the wedding. She deliberately avoided it, thinking there would be all sorts of talk about her relationship with Clive.

“We’ll soon be husband and wife, so I think we should get to know each other better before then. Let’s increase our dating time.”

“Y-yes.”

Instead, Sophia did not refuse to meet with Clive. Despite the incident at the banquet making her dislike him even more, he was going to be her husband.

So she needed to meet with him to prevent any gossip and show that her relationship with Clive wasn’t that bad.

‘How dare a Loden family’s servant try to enter the mansion?’

Of course, it wasn’t a pleasant matter for Duke Dveshi. Furious at Clive’s attitude of not escorting Sophia at the banquet, he tore up the letters sent from the Loden family on the spot.

He even insisted that no servant from the Loden family should ever set foot inside the mansion.

‘Father, you’re the one who forced this marriage on me. So what’s the point of sulking like this? Isn’t it time to accept it?’

‘I know, but it’s hard to accept a man who doesn’t even show you basic courtesy.’

In the end, Duke Dveshi, who had been highly agitated, backed down at Sophia’s sharp remark.

‘This is why we need to talk and get to know each other better! I’ll go to the gate and have a conversation, so please allow at least that much.’

‘…Alright.’

Having barely persuaded Duke Dveshi, Sophia had to go to the gate to talk with a servant from the Loden family.

Thus, the first date with Clive, initiated by exchanging messages through the servant, was held in a greenhouse provided by the royal family. It was specially arranged in hopes that their relationship would grow closer.

Meeting at the agreed time, Sophia and Clive sat at a table set for afternoon tea and spent tea time together. 

With faint smiles on their faces, they engaged in appropriate conversation, making it seem as though they were having a leisurely and tranquil time, but in reality, it wasn’t so.

Why am I spending time with that man for just a brief date?

Every time she lifted the teacup, Sophia was distracted by the man leaning against a tree at a slight distance, watching them. 

The sharp gaze, as if looking at something insignificant, directed at her made her feel a chill, preventing her from focusing on the date with Clive.

Feeling as if she was being watched, Sophia couldn’t tell if the tea and cookies before her were going into her mouth or her nose. The oppressive aura was so strong that even a brief moment of eye contact was enough to send chills down her spine.

“Um… why is that person with us? Isn’t he supposed to be busy?”

Unable to hold back any longer, Sophia openly pointed at Killian, and Clive turned his gaze in that direction with an apologetic expression.

“I’m sorry. Killian has such deep hostility towards the Loden family… I couldn’t refuse when he insisted on watching over us personally.”

“Isn’t he supposed to be busy?”

Sophia’s eyes held a hint of curiosity as she lowered her hand.

“He said he took a short leave this afternoon.”

Taking leave for such a trivial matter… How much must he dislike me to act this way?

Sophia looked at Killian, who was watching them from afar, with narrowed eyes. 

Annoying man… she thought, but his figure glistening in the sunlight appeared beautiful, even more so than Clive, who sat before her.