1.1

Wake up at 5 a.m.  

Wash up lightly and head straight to the Knights’ Order for morning training.  

Wash off the sweat again, handle paperwork, engage in personal training, and eat.  

Then return to work, train, spar…  

And when the stars and moon rise, inspect the posts of the knights and guards stationed at the royal palace and the capital’s defensive walls before heading home.  

After handling his duties as a Duke, he would do some light exercise to wrap up his day, wash up, and go to bed around midnight.  

This was the daily routine of Pavel Ainsley, one that hardly ever changed. Even if other tasks, such as an audience with His Majesty the King, escort missions, or being dispatched to the borders to resolve minor disputes, interrupted his schedule, it didn’t deviate much.  

It was a life of repetition, where similar tasks were performed at nearly the same time every day, leaving no room for even a hint of indulgence or entertainment. Those who knew Pavel’s life often referred to him as:  

‘The Knight Commander Monk.”  

Perhaps it was because from his youth until now, at the age of twenty-five, his life had been nothing short of virtuous. Despite living in a kingdom where romantic relationships were freely pursued, and despite the fact that young ladies who admired him could form a line of carriages, Pavel had never once dated a woman.  

The nickname “monk” wasn’t given for nothing. His abstinent lifestyle, resembling that of a monk serving the divine, had earned him the title, though it was often used mockingly.  

Yet, Pavel remained steadfast and unbothered. Balls and banquets? He didn’t even spare them a glance. No matter how many invitations poured in, he didn’t bother to respond.  

Even so, invitations continued to flood into the Ainsley Ducal House daily. After all, he was not only the head of the Ainsley family, one of the pillars supporting the kingdom, but also an undeniably attractive man.  

And recently, this man shocked everyone by publicly announcing his first romantic relationship in a most unconventional way.  

At a banquet he attended unexpectedly, he kissed Larisa Lochrain, the Black Lily of Lochrain.  

The man who seemed like he’d never even held a woman’s hand boldly kissed her in front of everyone. People were stunned, and many young ladies were so shocked and heartbroken that they fell ill.  

At the same time, everyone couldn’t help but think: even the “monk” Knight Commander is still a man in the end. And to think he chose her, Larisa Lochrain.  

But who exactly was Larisa Lochrain? She was the most prominent woman in high society, a figure who dominated the social scene. The Lochrain Marquisate was also one of the most significant families in the kingdom.  

As the only child and cherished daughter of the family, Larisa had been the center of attention for her beauty since childhood. People often remarked that if fairies from tales existed, they would look like Larisa. Everyone nodded in agreement at such statements.  

Her posture, whether sitting, standing, or walking, was always elegant and graceful. She never faltered in any aspect of etiquette. Her voice was clear and melodious, like jade beads rolling on a silver tray. When she smiled, men clutched their chests, and when she burst into laughter, many would swoon.  

Larisa was well aware of the power of her beauty. She would select men who were captivated by her, date them, and then part ways. She changed partners as often as the seasons.  

Despite dating numerous men, no one dared to mock or envy her. Being chosen by Larisa was considered an honor, and even after breaking up—though it was always the men who were dumped—they kept their lips sealed about their time with her.  

Larisa was now twenty-three, an age where marriage proposals were being seriously discussed. With everyone’s eyes on her next choice, this incident occurred.  

“Commander, are you truly dating Lady Lochrain?”  

“How did you end up meeting her?”  

“You never seemed interested in anyone before!”  

“We’re hurt, Commander!”  

The day after that banquet, when Pavel arrived at the Knights’ Order, the knights surrounded him and began chattering incessantly. Despite being grown men, they kept pestering him like children. Pavel frowned slightly as he glanced around at them and said,  

“Don’t you all have work to do?”  

“Commander, you must not realize how big of a deal this is.”  

“That’s right. There were even bets on who you might end up dating—oops.”  

Someone let slip a little too much during their chatter. Pavel’s gaze turned sharply toward the speaker. Although he didn’t say anything, the others flinched as if they were about to step back.  

The atmosphere was tense, as if something might explode at any moment, but Pavel merely sighed deeply.  

“People really are overly interested in others’ affairs.”  

“Haha… ha…”  

“There’s no need to make a fuss. Lady Lochrain and I are just two ordinary people meeting, nothing more.” 

“What? Did you just call her ‘Lady Lochrain’?”  

There was still someone oblivious to the mood. The one who spoke up this time was Pavel’s closest aide, Elio Cullinan. While Pavel already knew Elio had a tendency to act this way, he still gave him a look of exasperation before walking away. As Pavel passed, the knights parted to either side like the receding tide.  

Elio, undeterred, quickly followed behind him.  

Standing close to Pavel’s back, Elio’s eyes sparkled as he pressed further.  

“No, seriously. You’re dating her, right? Then why are you addressing her so formally?”  

“Lady Lochrain isn’t dating you guys, so why are you all making such a fuss?”  

“When it’s just the two of you, you must call each other by name, right?”  

“…Ha.” 

Pavel let out a long sigh, as if even answering wasn’t worth his time, and quickened his pace.  

Oh, Commander!

Elio whined, but Pavel no longer responded to him.  

Calling her by name? He already did. Larisa herself had asked him, hadn’t she? Why did he keep addressing her so formally, as if there was a distance between them, when they were so ‘close’?  

Pavel had known Larisa for over fifteen years. They first met when Pavel was fourteen and Larisa was twelve. Even back then, she had been sweet, charming, and beautiful. Pavel could still vividly recall the young Larisa from those days.  

‘Young Master Ainsley, what are you doing here?’ 

Her gentle face, as she reached out to him first when he was hiding and crying, worn down by his strict father and grueling training. Her kind, sparkling blue eyes. At that moment, Pavel had thought he’d met a fairy—or perhaps an angel.  

From that moment on, Larisa completely captivated Pavel’s heart. Ever since that day, she had been in his thoughts. Always.  

As Pavel reminisced about the Larisa of the past, Elio continued to chatter at his side.  

“Are you really not going to answer me?”  

“Elio Cullinan, don’t you have anything better to do?”  

“My job is to assist you, Commander. So by staying by your side, I’m doing my job.”  

“…Forget it.”  

Pavel shook his head, clearly tired of the conversation. Then, as if something had come to mind, he turned to Elio and asked,  

“Is there anything urgent on my schedule this afternoon?”  

“No, aside from a few documents to review, there’s nothing pressing.”  

“Good. Then note that I’ll be leaving the palace after lunch.”  

“Where are you going?!”  

Someone like Pavel, who lived his life as regularly as the ticking of clock hands, suddenly changing his schedule? Elio Cullinan, who had served as Pavel’s aide for three years, widened his eyes in surprise. But soon, a sly smile spread across Elio’s face.  

“Aha.”  

“Why are you looking at me like that?”  

“You’re going to see Lady Lochrain, aren’t you?”  

“…She requested a visit…”  

“That’s not called a request, Commander!”  

It’s a date invitation, a date!

Elio’s eyes sparkled with excitement. 

A date invitation?

Pavel suddenly felt his mind go blank.  

After the banquet, when he escorted Larisa back to the townhouse where she lived alone, she had told him to come by the next day. She had said that sometime after lunch would be ideal. At the time, Pavel had nodded without much thought…  

A date?  

In an instant, Pavel’s face turned as red as a roasted sweet potato. He stopped in his tracks, covering his mouth with his hand.  

“…I hadn’t thought of it that way.”  

“Don’t tell me—you were planning to go to Lady Lochrain’s house dressed like this?”  

“Uh…”  

“Oh, Commander! It’s your first date with her, and you’re wearing your Knights’ Order uniform? Go back to the mansion right now, clean yourself up, put on something nice, and bring a bouquet of flowers!”  

“Would that be better?”  

“Of course it would!”  

Elio gave Pavel a quick once-over. Well, even in his Knights’ Order uniform, Pavel looked strikingly handsome. It was almost irritating. But still, going to meet one’s romantic partner in work attire was simply unacceptable. At least, that’s what Elio thought.  

He gave Pavel a firm push on the back.  

“Just leave the palace now!”  

“But I still have work to—”  

“You’ll train at night anyway, won’t you? And there’s no urgent paperwork! Go back home now!”  

And so, Pavel found himself leaving the Knights’ Order shortly after arriving, feeling as though he had been chased out.