Enemies Meet in an Arranged Marriage

“Ah, that’s right. I’m…this. Anyway, I like it.”

“Well, that’s…”

Seeing him make such a claim was amusing, especially when he was embarrassed even to say it was a doll. Still, Alessia decided not to mock him openly.

Actually, Alessia thoroughly enjoyed this moment. Despite knowing they shouldn’t be getting along so comfortably, she couldn’t help but smile.

‘This is fun.’

Bellum Square seemed like another world to Alessia. It was the first time she had ever seen such a sight. She had never even been to a festival, and the only shop she had visited with Kaon was Deborah’s boutique, so everything she saw was fascinating as if she had entered a completely different world.

At first, she felt awkward and shy, but Alessia roamed around without hesitation as she got used to the atmosphere. She started with the most miniature stalls and visited tents and shops indiscriminately, enjoying the performances of singing minstrels and wandering jesters.

Among them, a jester specifically picked out a flower that resembled her and presented it to her, tying a white ribbon around a red rose. Kaon seemed slightly displeased, but Alessia happily accepted it.

‘So many talented people around.’

Inhaling the beautiful scent of the rose, Alessia felt overwhelmed. She had always thought that being anything other than a mage was useless.

Yet here, the people she saw, none of whom used magic, each lived confidently and impressively in their own way.

‘Maybe I could, too…’

Alessia envisioned herself living like that one day. Though she had no special skills yet, she was confident that she could learn and devote herself to anything, thus gaining at least one skill to make a living. Hope swelled in her heart.

“Look who’s having fun now, after all.”

“Well, I just accepted it because it was given to me. What, should I have refused?”

“You’re smiling ear to ear, you know?”

Startled by that comment, Alessia quickly turned her head to check her reflection in anything that might show her face. Was she really smiling that much?

However, she soon realised it was a tease, as Kaon was chuckling quietly.

“It’s just a joke, don’t be scared.”

Usually, she might have snapped back asking if he thought that was funny, but no such words came out. Eventually, Alessia found herself laughing a little with him. She stopped soon after, however, when Kaon began staring at her intently, causing her to feel uneasy.

“…Um, hey. Wanna eat something?”

Looking somewhat embarrassed, Kaon glanced away and pointed towards a vendor in the distance. There was a merchant busily rolling out what seemed to be dough with a rolling pin. They had been so busy walking around that Alessia felt a bit hungry.

“I’d like that.”

“Wait here.”

Kaon still avoided her gaze as he quickly set off. She already knew he liked her; she couldn’t understand why he acted this way.

‘Always so silly.’

Alessia chuckled to herself, tapping her head with the bouquet as if scolding herself. Being with Kaon Ferdinand always made her heart soften, which was problematic. She was bound to leave someday, so what was the point in getting attached?

“Ah!”

Just then, Alessia’s body tilted backward. The streets were crowded, and it seemed someone had accidentally tripped her.

She wasn’t particularly strong or heavy, so as she staggered, about to fall, someone wrapped an arm around her shoulder, steadying her.

“Kaon?”

Alessia, expecting it to be Kaon, turned her head in surprise. Instead of Kaon, a man she had never seen before was staring intently at her.

The man was slender and was the epitome of a handsome youth. Underneath his golden hair, his skin was pale, almost white, and his delicate features boasted an androgynous beauty.

“…Ah, thank you.”

“……”

“I would appreciate it if you could let go now…”

While she was extremely grateful for being saved, she did not want to continue being almost held in his arms. However, the man seemed to have no intention of letting go, and even when she pushed with force, it was to no avail.

Frowning, Alessia tilted her head as she noticed his light gray-blue eyes. It was a familiar color.

“Your eyes.”

“……?”

“They are really beautiful.”

“What are you doing!”

Just then, a familiar voice accompanied by a rough hand pulled the man away from Alessia. The man who wouldn’t budge when Alessia tried to push him away now flew off like a piece of paper.

“Are you okay?”

Kaon, who had effortlessly pulled her towards him, asked worriedly. Alessia suddenly realized that Kaon was both a knight and a man.

She had always treated him casually and hadn’t really noticed, but now standing close, his large physique and solid body were immediately perceptible. She couldn’t even imagine what he would be like when he was fully grown, given his size even now.

“…Yes, I’m fine.”

As she answered slowly, finding Kaon strangely unfamiliar, his gaze turned fierce, probably thinking she was shocked by the incident.

“You jerk, what were you trying to do?”

As Kaon glared at the man with a hardened expression, distinctly different from when he looked at her, he spoke roughly, his anger evident in his eyes.

“I didn’t do anything. I just helped her when she was about to fall.”

Alessia tugged at Kaon’s coat. She was startled, yes, but not for the reasons Kaon might think. It was actually Kaon’s unusual behavior that shocked her more. His unfamiliar demeanor was quite disconcerting.

The man might have caused some unease, but he had prevented her from falling, and ultimately nothing bad had happened, so she didn’t want to escalate the situation.

She especially didn’t want their names to become the subject of gossip in Ingelos, not knowing how it might turn out. That was the last thing she wanted.

“It’s alright.”

“Yeah, I’m really okay.”

Kaon seemed to be still angry, but fortunately, he refocused on her when she reassured him.

Meanwhile, the man, who had been watching Alessia with an inscrutable gaze, finally turned away. Kaon, who had kept a vigilant watch over the man, finally released his protective grip on Alessia’s shoulder.

“It’s all gone.”

“Can’t help it.”

Alessia looked at the food that had fallen to the ground. It seemed Kaon had dropped it in his haste.

“We can just buy some more. Let’s go together this time.”

Seeing her staring regretfully at the lost food, Kaon pointed towards a vendor. Alessia obediently followed him.

After wandering around the city for a while longer, the two did not return to the palace until after sunset. They had explored the square to the extent that nothing was left unseen, leaving no room for regret.

‘Amithien… was that the name?’

Alessia repeatedly recalled the name she didn’t want to forget as she strolled the streets with Kaon, sampling various snacks. Among the fruit skewers and beverages, a dessert named Amithien was particularly outstanding. It was made from thinly spread dough, crisply baked, generously coated with honey, and then sprinkled with almonds. Although it looked modest compared to the desserts she had tried in Ferdinand, its taste was superior.

‘Is this what happiness feels like?’

Submerged in a hot bath, Alessia closed her eyes. She couldn’t believe happiness was so near.

Even after the man had left, Kaon seemed still unsettled, not leaving her side as if guarding her. Amidst this, he occasionally threw some jokes her way, perhaps to lighten the mood, which she found irksome.

She was grateful for that. She hoped he would stop liking her, and though she treated him poorly in hopes of detaching, she was profoundly thankful.

Kaon Ferdinand was an exceedingly good person, and she couldn’t recall another day in her life as delightful as this one.

‘So many unforgettable things.’

Alessia muttered with a bitter-sweet tone. She had left only painful memories for Kaon Ferdinand, but he had given her nothing but unforgettable ones.

‘I didn’t realize he was like that.’

Suddenly, she remembered Kaon pushing the man away to protect her. She realized anew that he did care about her. Despite her deception and even blackmailing her family, he never raised his voice against her.

‘Ah, those eyes.’

Lost in thought, Alessia suddenly remembered where she had seen those eyes before. They were Kaon’s. A peculiar blend of light sky blue with a touch of gray, not identical but memorable due to their rarity.

Alessia then thought of the man again. He was an odd figure. Undoubtedly beautiful, but something about him was eerie. His cool yet intense gaze was fixed solely on her, which felt unsettling.

‘It didn’t seem malicious, though.’

Having suffered from malice since childhood, she quickly detected ill intent. However, the man didn’t exhibit such traits. He seemed relatively pure, albeit mysterious.

‘I didn’t even stop by the forge.’

The fool had just followed her around without speaking up, likely forgetting his own needs and buying pointless things instead. This thought provoked an indescribable feeling in her.

Eager to shake off these emotions, Alessia hurriedly finished her bath and stepped out of the bathroom, drying her hair with a soft towel when someone knocked on the door.

Who could it be at this hour? While she wondered, a hesitant voice came from the other side of the door.

“…It’s me.”

 

 

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