Chapter 66: Different in Every Way

Though she noticed the growing murmurs around them, she was too busy watching the registration process to look elsewhere. Then Caelan’s hand slipped from hers, and he grabbed her shoulder to pull her close. Not understanding his sudden action, Bliss looked up at him, but he was looking elsewhere.

“I never expected to see you in a place like this. What a surprise?”

When someone addressed them, Bliss turned her head while Caelan frowned.

“Count Karhen Nebula.”

Sensing Caelan’s obvious displeasure, Bliss stared at the man. He seemed accustomed to smiling, with laugh lines around his eyes.

“Hey, when eyes meet, you should greet first, what’s with that? And why are you pulling your wife close?”

Karhen clicked his tongue. Though he muttered that people would think they were on bad terms, his expression remained friendly. Looking at this, he seemed like a friend…

“Bliss, what are you thinking? We’re not friends.”

Bliss’s eyes widened in surprise. She had only thought it, but Caelan had read her exactly.

“Marchioness, the way you kept looking between Caelan and me, how could I not notice?”

“Did I do that?”

“You did. Well, since you’re interested in me, let me properly introduce myself. I’m Count Karhen Nebula, a very old friend of Marquis Adrian here. We’ve known each other since we were crawling, so it’s been quite a while.”

Karhen fell silent for a moment, as if recalling his childhood. This gave Bliss ample time to observe him.

Unlike Caelan, who was rather taciturn, he seemed to enjoy talking, and while Caelan wore neat, dark clothing, Karhen dressed flamboyantly.

“What do you think?”

When Bliss raised her gaze back to his face after looking him up and down, Karhen caught her eye and asked abruptly.

“About what?”

“You were examining me. You must have noticed how different I am from Caelan?”

“Yes. That’s why I thought you’d make good friends.”

“Good friends? When we’re so different?”

Karhen spun around once in place. Caelan watched with exasperated eyes that seemed to say ‘why does he keep spinning every time we meet,’ while Bliss merely commented on his elaborate clothing. Finding no one admiring his flashy appearance, Karhen cleared his throat awkwardly.

“I think you match well because you’re different. If you both talked a lot and wore flashy clothes, you’d be rivals rather than friends. When you keep comparing, there’s no room for good feelings to grow.”

Just like Princess Jasmin and Princess Jenesha. They could be close by sharing and recommending things to each other, but if they compared and envied, their relationship couldn’t improve.

“Friends… yes, that’s right.”

When Karhen responded dazedly, Bliss nodded as if she’d known all along. And Caelan, seemingly displeased that Karhen had acknowledged their friendship, chose to ignore him completely.

Just as Bliss was smiling, noticing only a few people remained before the registration desk, Karhen, who had been mulling over her words, tapped Caelan’s shoulder to get his attention and whispered.

“You know how you said before that your wife catches your eye? Now I understand why.”

Caelan’s eyebrow rose slightly.

“She shows unexpected sides, making you want to keep watching.”

“Don’t you watch her.”

Caelan covered Bliss’s face with his hand. Just as she was preparing to register with only one person left ahead, Bliss was startled.

“Caelan? Why suddenly…”

“Let’s stay like this for a moment. I’ll lower it after Karhen leaves.”

“But…”

Bliss looked up at Caelan in frustration. While everything else was blocked from view, she could see Caelan quite clearly.

“Oh my, you’re making her uncomfortable. Besides, I’m not leaving.”

Karhen pointed to the person in front of Caelan with an amused smile.

“My representative.”

“…If you sent a representative, why are you here?”

“Just checking if they’re doing well, and then I saw you.”

Karhen shrugged towards Caelan as his representative stated their house and name, as if to say ‘see?’

“Leave.”

“That’s cold. What if we end up facing each other? Though I can’t beat you, I could break an arm?”

“You’d have to bet your life.”

“That’s true. It would be my loss. Right? Many people would be sad if I died.”

“There might be more who’d rejoice.”

“What are you saying, I’m so popular with women…”

“Men hate you.”

Caelan covered Karhen’s mouth.

“That’s why you’re my only friend.”

“Haven’t you considered that I might hate you too?”

“…It’s your turn.”

Cornered, Karhen changed the subject. Caelan gave him a disapproving look before heading to the registration desk.

‘So this is how they usually get along.’

Finding their conversation secretly amusing, Bliss glanced at Karhen. He was making gestures of wanting to hit Caelan, apparently annoyed, when he noticed Bliss’s gaze and looked at her. Then he winked.

“I heard you became Princess Jasmin’s lady-in-waiting. It’s the talk of the palace.”

“Her Highness has been very kind to me.”

This wasn’t just empty words – it was true. Looking at the noble ladies Princess Jenesha had taken in as her ladies-in-waiting, there was definitely a difference. She wasn’t always ready to serve Princess Jenesha’s needs. Instead, she conducted experiments and conversed with Princess Jasmin, making their relationship closer to friendship. And Princess Jasmin didn’t mind this at all.

“P-please state your name and house. And, ah, where you currently serve…”

The administrative officer, apparently recognizing Caelan, stammered while sweating. Though his questions were formal, he was already busily filling out the registration certificate before hearing the name.

“Caelan Adrian. Imperial Guard Knights.”

“Shall I add Commander as well?”

“As you wish.”

“Th-then let me explain the precautions.”

While the administrator wiped the sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief and stammered through the explanation, Karhen spoke to Bliss again.

“The Princess is quite an interesting person, isn’t she?”

Bliss, who had been watching Caelan register, tilted her head at Karhen’s words.

“I’m not sure if she’s interesting. Why don’t you go and see for yourself?”

“She’s not one to easily let others close. If I went, she’d treat me quite coldly, thinking I’m after her collections.”

“That must mean everyone has coveted Her Highness’s possessions. She must have grown quite tired of it.”

“Hmm… you’re right. I only thought about feeling hurt, but I didn’t consider the Princess’s perspective.”

As Karhen muttered to himself wondering why he hadn’t thought of that, Bliss took Caelan’s hand again.

“All done with registration?”

“Yes. Though it seems pointless that I wanted to show you, since I ended up doing it alone.”

“I still saw it.”

Bliss moved to the side with Caelan, giving Karhen a farewell glance. They were ending this brief encounter and preparing to leave. As Caelan turned without even looking at Karhen, the latter, feeling suddenly abandoned, spoke with a face that seemed to ask ‘you’re leaving just like that?’

“I wanted to ask more about the Princess…”

However, they didn’t seem to hear his words at all and didn’t look back. Watching the couple who seemed so different yet similar, Karhen clicked his tongue in disappointment.

***

The next day, people gathered one by one for the meeting again, taking out their embroidery materials. With even the Princess properly settled in now, the seats were full.

“Do you know how many people applied just yesterday?”

Countess Azel fanned herself as she shared her gathered information.

“They say it was over 200 people. It’s only been one day, but considering the remaining time, this knight tournament is already exciting. With so many knights participating, anything could happen. An unknown knight could become famous overnight, or hidden relationships might be revealed.”

As Bliss looked on, not quite understanding the latter part, Princess Jasmin explained in a soft voice.

“She’s talking about love between knights and noble ladies. When they’ve been hiding their relationship, if the knight ranks well in the tournament, they can openly propose…”

“Ah…”

As Bliss nodded in understanding, Countess Azel spoke with excited eyes.

“Isn’t it exciting? I think with so many applicants this time, they could increase the number of award recipients. If it’s about twice as many as last year, wouldn’t that be possible? Looking back to when it first started, it’s not impossible. Back then, they only awarded the champion.”

She went on to explain that initially, due to few participants, only the winner was recognized, but after the tournament became established, they began honoring eight people.

Happy with the attention she was receiving, Countess Azel gladly shared her knowledge. It became clear how she had joined this gathering despite not being associated with the Duchess Blast or Princess Jenesha’s ladies-in-waiting. She was the type of person who was skilled with information, the kind you might find anywhere.

“But… Marchioness Bliss, aren’t you nervous?”

When the question suddenly turned to her after discussing the knight tournament, Bliss looked at Azel.

“With so many participants, the chances of winning decrease, don’t they? There might be hidden talents emerging.”

Her curiosity, disguised as concern, demanded to know Bliss’s thoughts.