Kedrick naturally responded to Albert’s mutterings.

“Why not? Doesn’t the young lady have feelings for our young master?”

“No, it’s not that. Those two are remarkably socially awkward.”

One had taken a long time to recognize his own feelings, and even after realizing them, didn’t know how to express them.

The other firmly believed that Arsen didn’t see her as a romantic interest.

How could they make progress like this?

“In times like these, intense physical contact works best.”

Maria suddenly interjected between Kedrick and Albert.

“Once they get physically entangled, things progress very smoothly afterward.”

But such a development seemed very unlikely, which Kedrick found truly regrettable.

* * *

In the capital, Lydia and Arsen’s engagement ceremony was the talk of the town.

What had started as a mere rumor became an accepted fact largely thanks to Devon’s efforts. He quickly spread the news of Lydia’s engagement to everyone he met, and the information spread far and wide, even to the depths of the imperial palace.

Richard considered using his imperial authority to prevent their marriage. However, the moment he blocked the marriage, rumors would instantly spread that he still had lingering feelings for Lydia.

Moreover, blocking Lydia’s marriage meant being prepared to make an enemy of Marquis Evansi.

He was someone who should not be made an enemy if not an ally—a meritorious subject who had placed Richard on the throne, and a benefactor who had saved him from the clutches of the previous empress.

Though he had ascended to the throne, his foundation was not yet solid. In this situation, he needed to avoid creating an image of an emperor who didn’t recognize debts of gratitude.

Who would pledge loyalty to an emperor who dismissed his meritorious subjects immediately after ascending the throne?

If he had kept Giselle as a concubine or imperial consort and taken Lydia as his empress from the beginning, this problem wouldn’t have arisen……

‘Even so, to think such thoughts about another woman while Giselle carries my child…… How shameful.’

Richard reproached himself. Though his relationship with Giselle had grown somewhat distant lately, she was undeniably carrying his child.

Richard wanted to get along well with Giselle if possible. For the sake of their unborn child.

He had no intention of raising his child without knowing a father’s love or a mother’s embrace, as he himself had been raised. To give the child a harmonious family, he needed to embrace and understand Giselle even when she acted arrogantly, which Richard found somewhat difficult.

‘Perhaps things will improve after the child is born.’

Richard’s contemplation was interrupted when Marquis Evansi entered the reception room.

Today’s meeting was significant because the marquis had requested it first.

“I behold the sun of the empire.”

“Welcome, Marquis.”

Though he didn’t know the purpose of this audience, the marquis’s personal appearance was a good sign.

“How is your health?”

“Thanks to your concern, I’ve improved greatly.”

After exchanging meaningless pleasantries, Richard broke the brief silence that followed.

“I heard your daughter is engaged.”

“Yes, that’s correct. As you may know, her partner is Sir Arsen Edis.”

Is the tea bitter, or is it just my mouth? The marquis tried hard to hide his bitterness as he answered. Just a few months ago, he had discussed marriage with Richard.

The difference was that then they had been talking about Lydia marrying Richard.

“I hope Your Majesty will congratulate them.”

It would be pointless to express his resentment toward Richard for rejecting his daughter and betraying him. But Richard had become emperor.

With his abilities, he would likely not easily step down from the imperial throne. If so, it was better to mend relations with Richard. For the perpetuation and prosperity of his family.

“I’m thinking of giving the borderland territory of the marquisate as a dowry to Sir Arsen. Lydia will spend the rest of her life there.”

“Are you sure it’s alright to send Lydia to such a remote and harsh place? If the marquis doesn’t mind, I could find a better match.”

“It’s what Lydia wants. Your Majesty, I know my daughter has been disrespectful to you, but don’t her achievements more than make up for it?”

Richard responded with silence to the pointed remark implying he shouldn’t forget how Lydia had saved his life by pleading with the previous empress and elevated him to the imperial throne.

“Sir Arsen is preoccupied with taking care of the borderlands. Before Your Majesty summoned him, he had visited the marquis’s castle only once.”

The marquis knew Richard’s lust for power well. Richard feared that Arsen might become a sword aimed at him rather than his own sword.

So he needed to provide reassurance. That Arsen would not leave the borderlands. That he would not become anyone’s sword.

“Even after marrying Lydia, that won’t change. Lydia would also prefer to live in such a remote place, following me without creating rumors.”

Would the marquis want to send Lydia to that barren land?

But living far from the capital, especially far from Richard and Giselle, would be better for Lydia.

“If you could send a gift for the engagement ceremony, it would put Lydia and Sir Arsen’s minds at ease.”

It was a suggestion disguised as a request. A proposal that if Richard wanted to restore relations with the Evansi family, he should approve of Lydia and Arsen’s relationship.

Richard thought for a moment before nodding.

He would lose Arsen but gain Marquis Evansi. Although the marquis’s family would grow stronger by securing Arsen, it was better than completely falling out with them.

If Richard sent a gift to the engagement ceremony, the scandal between Lydia and himself would also fade away.

“With pleasure, I will do so.”

* * *

On the journey to the capital, Albert witnessed an amusing sight.

Arsen always kept an eye on Lydia. He constantly checked whether she was going somewhere dangerous, skipping meals, or taking her medicine properly. Arsen never failed to verify these things.

Yet all of this was done very subtly. Secretly, so that Lydia wouldn’t notice.

Arsen was always revolving around Lydia, but she seemed unaware of it.

Still, her gaze toward Arsen was warm, suggesting she did have some affection for him.

After having dinner at the inn and before bedtime, when they had a brief moment of free time, Albert casually approached Lydia.

He wanted to have a conversation with her.

“Hoho, it seems the young master doesn’t need to remind the miss to take her medicine today, as she’s taken it well.”

“I took care of it in place of the busy master.”

Maria, who had worked at the Edis mansion and had at some point started calling Arsen ‘master,’ said in a playful voice.

Albert burst into laughter when he saw Arsen perking up his ears at the mention of medicine. Lydia wondered why Albert was laughing but assumed he was simply happy to be outside the borderlands for the first time in a while.

“More importantly, sir, should we still call our priestess ‘miss’… no, wait, should we call her ‘miss’ now?”

Maria scratched her head in confusion. Living in a temple and wearing priestess robes but removed from the priestess registry—was she just a miss now?

“Since I’ve been removed from the priestess registry, I shouldn’t be called a priestess. Just call me miss.”

“Then miss, this old man has something he’s curious about. May I ask?”

“By all means.”

Lydia nodded readily. She expected Albert might ask about her personal background.

Or perhaps how she had rescued Nella and Byron the priest?

“What do you like about our young master?”

“Huh?”

Lydia’s eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected question.

Did Albert know about her engagement to Arsen? They had agreed with Arsen to properly announce the engagement news after assessing the situation upon arriving at the capital. At most, only Kedrick should know about it.

As Lydia’s pupils trembled in surprise, she suddenly remembered that she had been pretending to like Arsen, following him around.

How could she have forgotten that! Lydia wanted to smack herself on the head. She closed her eyes tightly, then opened them and answered.

“Sir Arsen is kind.”

When Lydia spoke shyly, Albert and Maria smiled contentedly. They thought, so Arsen is kind to Lydia; everyone is kind to the person they love.

However, Lydia’s next words made them realize the situation was very serious.

“Though he’s kind to everyone else too.”

“He’s kind to others too?”

“Yes, that’s why everyone trusts and follows Arsen, isn’t it?”

Kedrick, who had been pretending not to be interested while eavesdropping on Albert and Lydia’s conversation from a distance, felt like he’d been hit on the back of his head. He dropped the jerky he was holding.

Kind?

Beside him, David, who had been sipping beer, spat it out and hurriedly wiped it away. His bruised ribs, which had been severely hit by Arsen, seemed to throb.

No. They actually did throb.

“Is the commander kind to us? Is that what you call kindness?”

“Absolutely not. I’ve never felt any kindness from the commander.”

The reason they followed Arsen was because he was a skilled knight who didn’t discriminate based on social status and never put his subordinates at the forefront. Arsen always led from the front in any battle and was the last to retreat.

Even in situations where both might die, Arsen was the one who would rush in to save his subordinates.

But what if that subordinate complained about being scared or in pain? That was out of the question. Comfort and encouragement? None of that either.

“Am I the only one who feels wronged?”

“I feel very wronged, sir.”

Kedrick and David looked at each other and nodded solemnly. Deep in their hearts, a sense of mission began to burn—to let Lydia know the truth.

Arsen was only kind to Lydia. Kedrick desperately wanted to tell Lydia this fact.

A few days before departing for the capital, Kedrick had heard a surprising secret.

One was that Arsen and Lydia might hold an engagement ceremony when they reached the capital.