Chapter 19
It happened when Rail temporarily left his duty as Lilien’s escort and visited the northernmost forest.
At the time, the forest was classified as a dangerous area due to magical beasts and was surrounded by a magical barrier. However, due to a malfunction in a magical device, a princess from the Western Kingdom, who was touring nearby, accidentally entered the forest.
The knights, startled by the emergency call in the middle of the night, rushed over and blushed at the sight of a woman dressed in attire that seemed almost naked.
Just as a magical beast attacked and was about to devour the princess, Edmund appeared and saved her.
The Western princess was captivated by the sight of a silver-haired wolf drenched in blood, staring back at her.
It was enough to make her fall in love.
“I… I want to marry you. Come back to my homeland with me.”
“You must be out of your mind.”
Edmund sneered, as if he were looking at a madwoman.
For the princess, who had been raised in luxury, experiencing rejection for the first time only ignited her desire to conquer him.
She refused to leave the forest and stayed by Edmund’s side for half a month.
She entertained the knights by bringing a theater troupe from her homeland, drew attention by riding a lion with a magnificent mane, and even provided abundant Western cuisine.
But Edmund never even batted an eye. He shut himself inside his barracks and didn’t even show his face.
When all her temptations failed, she finally resorted to seduction techniques, mustering up the courage to sneak into Edmund’s tent.
Edmund, seeing the woman straddling him, remained motionless and spoke.
“Who are you?”
“What…?”
He grabbed the stunned princess by the scruff of her neck, dragged her outside, and threw her to the knights.
“She’s an assassin. Get rid of her before I throw her to the beasts as their meal. She’s a nuisance.”
After such humiliation, the Western princess left in tears, cursing in her native tongue with words unfit to be spoken aloud.
“Hah… How could he not even remember the face of a woman who hovered around him for half a month trying to seduce him?”
Finishing his recollection, Rail squinted at his master.
The city had been abuzz the day before with a special edition newspaper detailing Edmund’s recent sighting.
Rumors spread that the Empire’s hero was a stunningly handsome man with silver hair like spun silk and deep, mesmerizing eyes.
Marriageable women rushed to tailors, causing their doors to nearly fall off their hinges.
All of this just to catch Edmund’s eye. Not that he would care.
“I wonder if Miss Lilien will end up resenting you.”
Rail sighed heavily as his head throbbed.
“Stop wasting your thoughts and deliver the letter.”
Edmund handed him an imperial decree from beneath a stack of documents.
Rail gave a small nod, took the letter, and vanished into the darkness.
Edmund, scanning the spot where Rail had stood, returned to reviewing the documents without emotion but soon found himself recalling the events of the day.
“Please take care of that delicate child.”
“Just thinking about the innocent and kind Lady Etricia pains my heart…”
“She’s pitiful, given the betrayal of her sworn sister. Please be a little more considerate—”
Edmund let out a dry chuckle and ran his elegant fingers through his hair.
“Unbelievable.”
Delicate? Innocent and kind? Who in the world?
Even if Rail’s words were meant to convince him, the rest didn’t make sense at all.
Sure, betrayal from a sworn sister was theoretically painful. But describing Etricia as delicate, innocent, and kind was just wrong.
She had decisively chosen divorce and even cunningly refrained from hiring a lawyer.
She acted friendly toward Lilien, whom she had once tried to kill, as if nothing had happened, and she was quick-witted enough to get what she wanted. If it benefited her, she wouldn’t hesitate to harm someone else.
And yet, she was supposed to be delicate and kind?
Fine, maybe on the surface. Just like his uncle and the vassals who claimed to trust him.
With gentle smiles and kind words, they whispered reassurances.
And then, they drove a knife into his back the moment he let his guard down.
With a savage grin, Edmund narrowed his eyes and made up his mind—he would never lower his guard, no matter what.
In the dimly lit office, his sharp gaze flashed like that of a predator.
Lilien, seated on the sofa of a private fitting room, suddenly covered her mouth and stood up.
“Lady Etricia, you look amazing!”
I gave a faint smile in response, and Lilien tugged at Edmund’s sleeve.
“Isn’t that right, Edmund?”
Edmund, lounging on the couch with his legs crossed indifferently, lifted his gaze to look at me standing on the platform.
I quickly flashed a harmless smile, but he simply returned a sharp gaze as cold as the northern wind.
“…It suits you.”
The forced compliment made me smile awkwardly.
“…Thank you.”
But your expression says otherwise. I’ll let it slide since you’re making an effort.
Edmund studied me for a moment before shifting his gaze away indifferently.
Hah, I sighed quietly.
I expected a chaperone for my outing with Lilien, but I didn’t expect Edmund to accompany us himself.
And today, his gaze was even sharper than usual, making me flinch involuntarily.
‘What did I even do?’
Was it because I made plans with his sister without consulting him? Or was it because of Verita?
As I pondered, a commotion passed by beyond the curtain.
Lilien tilted her head in confusion.
“It seems really crowded today.”
Well, of course—your brother has returned.
I swallowed my words and smiled.
The Empire was abuzz with stories of the elite knights’ return from the monster subjugation campaign.
Before the imperial banquet, it was the perfect topic for gossip.
Songs praising Edmund’s beauty had already begun circulating, filling the hearts of many women with anticipation.
Today, Edmund had tied his shoulder-length hair neatly, wearing a crisp white shirt and vest that highlighted his sculpted muscles. The sharp, mercenary-like aura had faded, making him look more like a refined noble.
Even now, female employees stole glances at him when they thought he wasn’t looking.
“How long do you intend to stare?”
“…Pardon?”
I blinked at the sudden voice.
Edmund frowned slightly, turning his disapproving gaze toward me.
“Do you have something to say?”
I wasn’t the only one looking, you know.
Smiling sweetly, I replied.
“…If I offended you, I apologize. I was momentarily mesmerized by your stunning looks.”
