03. Thoughts of betraying the country

The knight order that Rudbeckia and Caleb belonged to was the ‘Blue Whale Knight Order’ responsible for the security of the capital’s outskirts.

But while it was called a knight order, in reality, as Rudbeckia said, it was more like the Blue Whale errand group serving a Pergosian noble commander.

As if a noble commander would care about the outskirt districts where commoners lived.

“Since they ordered all officials to attend the banquet, there will likely be many changes along with the Crown Prince’s investiture.”

“Changes…… any predictions?”

“The easiest guess would be changes in titles.”

Having finished stretching, Rudbeckia picked up a spear from the weapon rack and sliced through the air as she spoke. Pergos was the first in the continent to establish a class system. Though created to practice love from above, it had now degenerated into a system of harassment from above.

Caleb also asked while swinging his sword.

“Then brother Greg, the Minister of Military, has a high chance of receiving a title. Maybe he’ll even reclaim the position of Grand Duke Sanders.”

“Cal, aren’t you too naive? That won’t happen……”

Rudbeckia answered while taking a ready stance and moving sideways as if examining Caleb.

— Clang! Clang clang!

“Is that so? We’ll know for sure at the banquet whether my brother’s actions were deception for a bigger picture or just betrayal for survival.”

“I’ll bet my wrist on the latter.”

Since they were just exercising lightly to prevent their bodies from stiffening, the two continued their conversation while exchanging blows.

“By the way, do you have a dress to wear to the banquet?”

“A dress……? I think wearing the uniform would be fine.”

Though a knight’s salary was quite good, a dress, especially one suitable for a banquet, cost so much that even spending two months’ salary would barely buy a modest one.

“Shall I buy you one?”

The two stopped their exchange and turned their heads toward the voice. Elfleda Argen, dressed unmistakably like a noble house’s lady, stood at the training ground entrance.

“Elda!”

“What brings you here? Haven’t you returned to the Red Moon Knight Order?”

“Well, there aren’t any duties for the knight order until the banquet anyway. I was bored at the marquis’s residence, so I came to see some familiar faces.”

Elfleda belonged to the Red Moon Knight Order responsible for central security adjacent to the imperial palace.

“And it feels too cold to just part ways with comrades who rolled around together for months, right?”

Elfleda Argen approached with a bright smile, wearing a dress instead of a military uniform, and holding an ornate fan instead of a sword in her hand. It suddenly felt real that she was a noble.

“Caleb, do you have a suit to wear to the banquet too?”

“I’ll wear the new uniform we received.”

Elfleda shook her head as if she’d expected this and snapped her fan shut. She approached with confident steps, her heels clicking, and stood before Rudbeckia.

“Rud! When people ask your name, what will you answer?”

“Um…… I’m Rud Primrose……?”

“No, no. You should say: I’m Vice Commander Rud Primrose who led this war to victory.”

The two only blinked their eyes at her words.

Elfleda crossed her arms, then tapped Rudbeckia’s brow with the tip of her fan.

“A banquet is a battlefield—just as fierce as Fabio—where one wrong move could cost your life. Remember what happened during the war? When we entered wearing new uniforms, the cheers were far louder than when we departed. At a banquet, the battle dress is a perfectly tailored suit or an elegant gown!”

“That’s…… going too far……”

“You have to go that far. The war is over now. You shouldn’t grow old and die just as a knight!”

“But isn’t that your goal — to grow old and die as a knight?”

“……That’s because of my betrothal from the womb. But Rud, you don’t have such shackles. You need to show that female knights can marry wonderful men from good families too.”

Rudbeckia thought for a moment before nodding vigorously.

The Grand Duchess had taught her the same. That in a honey trap battle, a dress is the battle uniform.

‘Well, looking pretty won’t hurt. It would be even better if I caught the Emperor’s eye.’

Adam’s s*xual preferences weren’t widely known. In fact, this was only the second time she’d seen his face.

“I should get a dress even if it’s a strain. Could you help me pick one that suits me?”

“Of course. See, you’re still a woman after all, Rud. Good thinking.”

Unlike the determined Rudbeckia, Caleb became dazed. Since the word ‘dress’ was mentioned, he had been imagining Rudbeckia in a dress.

When the word ‘woman’ entered that imagination, his heart started pounding without him realizing it.

She is a woman after all. Rudbeckia is a woman too.

She was a woman. Rudbeckia was a woman.

“How nice. The war’s over, you’ve earned clear merit. Won’t you get tons of marriage proposals at this banquet?”

“Commander, that’s impossible. Noble ladies of Dame Rud’s age already have fiancés.”

He recalled what Elfleda had said before.

‘Woman’ Rudbeckia would be the most brilliant jewel at the banquet.

Was that vigorous nodding meant she wanted the most beautiful dress to find her match, for marriage proposals?!

The victory banquet was also called a marriage market. It was enough for Caleb to misunderstand.

When his imagination reached marriage, Caleb was startled. His blood felt like it was turning cold.

“What dress, it costs no small amount. A knight should wear their uniform.”

“What does it matter, Rud? I’ll help you choose and buy it, so save your salary.”

Caleb had first brought up the word ‘dress’ but then shut his mouth as if nothing had happened and suddenly shouted about uniforms.

The House of Marquis Argen was a family that boasted not only honor but tremendous wealth through generations of ‘marriage business’. If she set her mind to choosing a dress for the marriage market…… moreover, if she offered to buy it…?! She would surely choose a dazzling dress that perfectly fit Rudbeckia.

“Even so, receiving a dress as a gift seems improper. We’ll gratefully accept just your intention.”

Manners, manners, manners…… She had learned proper etiquette at the Grand Duke’s residence. Caleb firmly stated that receiving expensive items as gifts was improper behavior. Desperately hoping she would understand.

“Then Dame Elda, I’ll ask for just one dress.”

Rudbeckia, not catching even a speck of his feelings, asked Elfleda for a dress with sparkling eyes.

“Rud! Where did you learn to act so shamelessly? It’s a victory banquet. Victory — don’t you think wearing conquest or uniform attire is a knight’s duty?”

Perfect nose bridge, delicate features, and dazzlingly brilliant golden hair with golden eyes to match.

This noble beauty would obviously become the target of lecherous men’s concentrated fire the moment she entered the banquet hall.

What if among the dozens, hundreds of men, there was her ideal type?

“Caleb, what are you saying? Female knights have always worn dresses at banquets. Didn’t you hear Rud earlier? She said she wants to buy one even if it’s a strain.”

“I want to wear the most suitable outfit for this battlefield called a banquet.”

Her strong response pierced into Caleb’s ears.

“Men would line up asking to marry her even if she wore rags with that appearance. But I’m not stepping up to show such a sight. I’ll pick the finest thing suitable for this beautiful lady.”

Elfleda traced Rudbeckia’s features one by one with the tip of her fan.

Rudbeckia and Caleb focused their tense gazes on the fan’s tip.

“Let’s see, long limbs, not an ounce of belly fat…… even if we buy a ready-made one, it’ll need alterations. At my regular dress shop, it should be possible even with just two days. Do you have any accessories?”

“I have one hair ornament.”

“……That’s an accessory too, but hmm…… let’s not count that as an accessory.”

Though the hairpin was undoubtedly an accessory that made Rudbeckia’s beauty even more elegant, Elfleda shook her head since it wasn’t a pure ornamental accessory.

“But really, just receiving it like this is…… weighing on my mind.”

With her eyes sparkling like that…… Caleb spoke with a resigned sigh. After hearing Elfleda’s words, he was also curious about how Rudbeckia would look in a dress.

He hadn’t seen her in a dress since she became an adult, and he could just chase away the buzzing flies on the day of the banquet.