Chapter 6 – Changes in Relationship (Part 1)

On the day they promised to go on a date, the mansion was bustling from the morning.

“It’s finally your first date today. I’ll make sure you look beautiful.”

The maids, who were helping her dress up, didn’t seem too happy. It seemed they weren’t too fond of Killian either, so they didn’t seem to welcome Sophia’s date.

Sophia didn’t have high expectations for the date. Just as their marriage was arranged, the date also seemed like it would be a formality, so it wasn’t likely to be enjoyable.

However, she was happy about wearing the dress her parents had sent. So, Sophia decided to focus more on wearing the new dress than on the date itself. That way, the date might feel a bit more enjoyable.

Sophia chose a blue silk dress and wore long gloves that reached up to her elbows. Then, she put on a wide-brimmed white hat, wrapped a silk shawl around her, and went down to the first floor.

There, she saw Killian, who was already prepared and waiting for her.

“You look beautiful.”

“You look handsome too.”

Upon hearing his compliment, Sophia returned the formal praise to Killian, who was dressed in a light black tailcoat. Then, with Killian’s help, she got into the carriage, and he sat across from her.

“Where are we going?”

“You’ll find out when we get there.”

A faint smile appeared on Killian’s lips but quickly vanished. After that, an awkward atmosphere filled the carriage, making it feel suffocating.

Feeling as if she were sitting on pins and needles, Sophia turned her gaze to the scenery outside the window. Watching the ever-changing landscape allowed her to catch her breath.

The carriage, which had been moving swiftly, gradually slowed down, and when they reached their destination, it came to a complete stop.

“Oh?”

The moment she stepped out of the carriage, Sophia’s eyes widened in surprise.

The market stretched out before them and was bustling with people, leaving no room to step. She hadn’t realized it because she’d been so busy, but it seemed the village was in the midst of a summer festival.

Each shop, adorned with small lanterns, was lively and crowded with people. Excited, Sophia looked around with the innocent eyes of a child. Watching her with a content smile, Killian asked.

“Have you been to a festival before?”

“I’ve been, but I haven’t really enjoyed it. Do you come often?”

“I haven’t enjoyed it personally, but I’ve patrolled a few times while on duty.”

She had followed Raymond, who liked attending festivals, a few times, but each time Marcus Loden showed up, leading to arguments with Raymond.

After that, Sophia gradually stopped attending festivals, so it had been a long time since she participated in a village festival like this.

“Then this must be your first time sightseeing?”

Sophia’s voice was filled with excitement as she asked. Except for the fact that her companion was Killian, she was thrilled. Everything seemed new and fun, and she was eager to explore.

“Yes. Shall we start by looking at the shops?”

Reading her mind, Killian stopped talking and gestured in the direction of the shops.

“Yes!”

Excited, Sophia walked a step ahead of him. As she visited each stall, Killian followed behind her.

Most of the shops sold food and handicrafts. She bought the most popular fruit candies at the festival and shared them with Killian.

“Do you like sweets?”

“I’m not particularly fond of them.”

“Then what should we do with this?”

“Since you gave it to me, I’ll eat it.”

“It’ll be sweet.”

Before Sophia could finish her sentence, Killian tasted the fruit candy, and his face subtly twisted, as if it didn’t suit his taste.

Seeing the usually composed man grimace at the sweetness was fascinating and made him feel more approachable.

The next place Sophia headed to was a lamb skewer shop. Again, she bought two and came out.

Killian was nowhere to be seen, and with so many people bustling around, Sophia had to look around to find him. Fortunately, she spotted him quickly.

Even among the crowd, Killian stood out the most. While his handsome face contributed, it was more because he was a head taller and more robust than the average man, making him easy to spot.

Knowing that he would stand out anywhere, Sophia felt reassured that she would never lose him.

However, she still tried to keep a reasonable distance from Killian. After all, their relationship was still awkward.

Of course, there were times when she couldn’t help but bump into him due to the crowd, but other than that, Sophia deliberately maintained some distance.

“Oh, Captain? I heard you took a day off today, planning to have a cozy date with your wife?”

While enjoying the festival, they unexpectedly ran into patrolling Imperial Knights, who approached Killian with a friendly demeanor.

“Are you on patrol?”

“Yes.”

The knights maintained a straight posture as they answered.

“There will be a lot of people gathering in the village today, so it’s best to stay alert.”

“Well, today is the day of the fireworks festival, right? Watching fireworks together on a small boat makes a man and woman’s love last for…”

“Stop spouting nonsense and focus on your duty.”

“Understood.”

Since it was a festival enjoyed more by commoners than nobles, it was a story Sophia was hearing for the first time, but because Killian interrupted the knight, she didn’t hear the end of it.

Killian seemed slightly flustered, so a look of curiosity appeared in Sophia’s eyes as she watched him.

Does he not believe in superstitions like me?

Even though the knights’ words were cut off, Sophia could guess the rest. They were saying that love would last forever.

Will love really last forever?

It was hard to believe, but it was a romantic notion fitting for enjoying a festival. So, recalling the rumor the knights mentioned earlier, Sophia began to feel excited.

“You don’t need to pay attention to what my subordinates say.”

However, Killian’s voice poured cold water on her emotions.

When the knights bowed and left to carry out their duties, Killian acted as if there was no need to listen to what they had said earlier.

“Alright.”

Sophia answered Killian, but she felt a bit disappointed.

Was it really necessary to break the festival’s unique sentiment? He’s such a blunt and rigid man.

At that moment, Sophia’s lips pouted in dissatisfaction, but it was only for a moment. Since there was still a lot to see, the two of them continued to enjoy the festival as if nothing had happened.

Before they knew it, the sky was tinged with the colors of sunset, and darkness quickly fell. As the lanterns on the tents and those hanging along the street lit up, the festival street became even more splendid than during the day.

As the knights had mentioned, the grand finale of the festival was the fireworks and boat rides.

The colorful lanterns around the riverbank shone brilliantly, reflecting beautifully on the night river. A gentle breeze from the river softly brushed against their cheeks.

Walking side by side with Killian, they soon saw the dock and couples boarding small boats.

The excitement of the couples eager to enjoy the fireworks finale made Sophia’s heart flutter, but she also felt a bit disappointed. It seemed impossible to get on a boat without a reservation.

“With so many people, can we get on a boat too?”

“I made a reservation, so we should be able to board right away.”

“You made a reservation?”

At the word “reservation,” Sophia recalled the knights’ earlier words. They had said that if a man and woman rode this boat together, their love would last forever.

Did he make the reservation after hearing that superstition? Or did he just want to watch the fireworks from a prime spot?

Surely not…

Sophia’s eyes narrowed as she looked at Killian, but she quickly shook her head.

She didn’t believe in superstitions, and Killian didn’t seem like someone who would believe in them either. So she quickly dismissed the knights’ words from her mind.

After that, with Killian’s help, Sophia carefully boarded the small boat.

As he started to row, the gentle sound of splashing water echoed clearly and quietly. Since the other couples’ boats had already drifted away, it felt as if they were alone on the water.

In the tense atmosphere, Sophia lowered her head and swallowed dryly, trying to calm herself.

“Have you ever been on a boat before?”

The first to speak was Killian.

“This is my first time.”

“Then try lifting your head.”

“Pardon?”

At his words, Sophia automatically lifted her head, and her eyes widened like a rabbit’s.

“Oh my goodness!”

The night river, filled with dazzling lights, offered a different feeling than when seen from land.

Sophia found herself mesmerized by the colorful lanterns stretching from the beginning to the end of the river and the reflections casting shadows on the tranquil water.

Soon, with a pop, the fireworks began. Watching the round fireworks burst and spread in all directions before her eyes, she couldn’t keep her mouth closed.

“It’s so beautiful!”

While all the time spent with Killian today was enjoyable, this moment was particularly joyful and exciting.

It felt almost like a dream. In her heightened state, Sophia chattered excitedly about her impressions of the fireworks.

It was the first time she had spoken so much to Killian, but she was too excited to be conscious of it. As a result, the conversation that started with the fireworks naturally flowed into stories of their childhoods.

“I was fearless as a child. I was a girl burning with a sense of justice, not knowing the dangers of the world. Looking back, I wonder why I was so fearless. What was your childhood like? Did you train to become a knight from a young age?”

“When I was young, I only liked reading books. I didn’t know how to handle a sword at all.”

“You’re different from Liam. So you started late but still reached the position of Knight Captain with just your skills? That’s truly amazing!”

Liam had been wielding a small wooden sword since he was five, declaring he would become a knight. So Sophia assumed that anyone aspiring to be a knight would naturally have held a sword from a young age, which is why she found it surprising that Killian learned swordsmanship later.

“You flatter me. I just put in more effort than others since I started late.”

As they conversed, Sophia was learning things about Killian that she hadn’t known before. And the more they got to know each other, the more she felt that his sharp gaze seemed to soften, or perhaps it was just her imagination. The man she had thought was intimidating now felt a bit more approachable.

Killian’s faintly curved lips, his deeply shadowed eyes, and the long eyelashes casting shadows, all enhanced by the soft moonlight, created a tense and alluring atmosphere.

His red eyes, as they looked at Sophia, began to deepen, and it was hard to look away from his intense gaze. Swept up by the mood, Sophia did not push him away when he drew closer.

Then, when her lips met Killian’s, it felt as if all the sounds of the world had disappeared.