He tilted his head, but still extended his left arm. I took a handkerchief from my bosom and tied it around his wrist.
“I hope you… have a safe trip….”
I couldn’t muster the courage to make eye contact while saying this, so I kept my gaze firmly on the ground. Embarrassment washed over me like waves.
Tying a handkerchief around someone’s arm while wishing for good luck was a superstition, a custom lovers or spouses did before their partner left for the battlefield, hoping for a safe return.
I wasn’t Ludger’s lover…. or spouse.
Because our engagement hasn’t been finalized yet.
He wished for my safety, and as his fiancé-to-be, he gifted me a sword.
Then, as his fiancée-to-be… isn’t it only right for me to sincerely wish for his safety as well?
I heard a small laugh. When I glanced up, Ludger was holding his hand to his mouth, trying to suppress the laughter that was bubbling out.
“W, Why are you laughing?”
“Because Captain, you looked so earnest.”
“… I was serious,”
“I know. But it’s hard not to laugh when you look so adorable.”
“Stop teasing me.”
“I’m not teasing.”
In a playful protest, I lightly slapped his arm. Normally, I wouldn’t be able to act this way toward a Young Duke, but knowing that Ludger wouldn’t mind, I did it anyway. As expected, he just laughed even more.
“Then, Sir Clara.”
“Yes.”
“May I return the favor?”
I froze for a moment. Now that I remember it, the custom of tying a handkerchief also had a return gesture.
A light kiss on the forehead or cheek, as a sign of gratitude to the person for wishing a return of safety.
‘But wait… is that really necessary? Isn’t the handkerchief the important part?’
My thoughts spiraled in confusion, but… I couldn’t just refuse. It was tradition, after all.
Blushing furiously, I nodded, eyes tightly shut.
“Yes! Feel free to come anytime!”
“Anyone who hears that would think I’m about to duel with you.”
“….That was not my intention.”
Even with my eyes closed, I could feel his presence drawing closer. His scent, fresh and earthy, wrapped around me, making my body instinctively tense.
But this wasn’t the time to be nervous about something like that. His hand lightly touched my back. It was just a light gesture, barely supporting my back, yet it felt as if every hair on my body stood on end.
“… Breathe, Sir Clara.”
Ludger’s voice whispered, startling me with how close it sounded.
It was then that I realized I had been so tense that I had even forgotten to breathe. As I parted my lips, exhaling shakily, breaths in a puff of air left on their own.
As if to soothe me, Ludger’s hand gently stroked my back, a comforting motion that only heightened my awareness of him.
I wanted this moment to end quickly. The moment that felt like when you’re waiting for a shot and just wished this would end as soon as possible.
At that moment, something lightly brushed against my cheek. At the same time, my body flinched.
‘Wait, huh…?’
The sensation was different from what I had imagined. Feeling a sense of unease, I opened my eyes.
Ludger was looking down at me with a soft, almost apologetic smile.
When I turned my gaze to the side, I immediately realized that it was his two fingers gently resting on my cheek, not his lips.
As soon as I realized, embarrassment surged within me. The fact that I had been so tense over something so small.
“I’m not rude enough to do something I know you dislike.”
“I, I, it’s not like I really dislike it or anything….”
“I could tell clearly, with how you were rejecting it with your whole body. I went too far with the teasing. I apologize.”
“It’s really fine, though….”
But Ludger had already stepped back, pulling away from the moment.
“Anyway, thank you for the handkerchief, though. I think I can do even better now with your blessing.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Although… I’m a bit worried.”
“Yes?”
“About the engagement ceremony. If you’re this nervous about a kiss on the cheek, I wonder if you might faint when it’s time for the kiss of vows.”
“…..!”
“Well, we’ll worry about that later. I’ll contact you once this matter is settled. Thank you for your hard work.”
He gave a parting word and casually turned around.
The cheek where Ludger’s fingers had touched seemed to be burning with warmth. Unconsciously, I rubbed that spot with my hand, faintly becoming aware of it.
That’s right, during the engagement ceremony, we would have to exchange the kiss of vows in front of the priest…
* * *
Though my thoughts were muddled by the idea of the engagement ceremony, there wasn’t time to dwell on it.
‘Stop being in a daze, the imposter could show up any moment. You need to focus, Clara Weyburn.’
I desperately pushed aside the thoughts of engagement and kiss to the back of my mind. It might have been a form of escapism, but there were more pressing matters at hand.
Back at headquarters, Billy greeted me enthusiastically as I returned.
“Captain! You’re back!”
“Yeah. Anything happen?”
“Yes. There was a minor argument between some passersby, but it was resolved quickly. In fact, compared to previous years, there were no major incidents at all.”
“…That’s true, I guess.”
Still, I had an ominous feeling. It was like the calm before the storm.
“Has there been any word from the Sapphire Knights? No trouble from their side?”
“None, Captain!”
“Good….”
I glanced at the Silver Magnolia Branch in the glass case.
Despite the fact that the imposter wasn’t the real Heilbronner, I had kept in mind the possibility that the time on the warning letter could be a fake. It seemed, however, that they wouldn’t strike during the day after all.
‘Perhaps, they thought it’s too risky to act in broad daylight.’
The true identity of the culprit was still unknown. Whether it was black mage in opposition to Heilbronner, or perhaps just a prankster. Or maybe, it was a third-party force altogether.
As a knight, it was forbidden to hastily assume the enemy’s appearance. The only thing to do was to consider every possible scenario and minimize the damage.
‘Though, I still can’t shake the feeling Ludger might be hiding something.’
But deep down, I trusted him.
As they had declared, 10 PM would be the turning point.
* * *
By the time the festival was winding down, the Sapphire Knights, responsible for the eastern area, were patrolling the surroundings with utmost vigilance.
“Vice Captain, there were no issues with our squad.”
“…I see. Good work. No reports from the west?”
“Yes. I received confirmation that they have reported every hour, no issues so far.”
“I see.”
Gustav nodded, his hand running through his hair.
The knight standing beside him, stared at his face for a moment, and hesitated before speaking up with concern.
“Vice Captain, you’ve been looking exhausted lately. There’s still some time until 10 PM, so how about taking a short break to rest?”
“……”
Gustav stroked his chin and let out a faint smile. However, his gaze was extremely sharp. As soon as the subordinate knight saw that look, he flinched and lowered his head.
“Sorry for being presumptuous!”
“No, it’s fine. I was just about to step out to get some fresh air anyway. Make sure to stay vigilant and keep a close watch around the area in the meantime.”
“Of course, Vice Captain! Have a nice walk!”
Leaving his post at headquarters, Gustav glanced up at the glass box.
Bathed in moonlight and illuminated by a few building lights nearby, the Silver Magnolia Branch faintly glowed.
Frowning, his gaze lingered on it for a moment before turning his steps toward a quiet alleyway.
Afterward, Gustav exited the narrow path. At some point, his figure completely vanished between the shadows of the alleys.
Once he was hidden, Gustav lifted his head slightly and focused his senses. The air around him was unnaturally silent.
In a street still soaked in the aftermath of the festival, it was hard to believe that such silence could exist.
It proved that a ‘barrier’ of black magic had been set.
Gustav twisted his lips up into a smile and pulled out a black coin from his pocket.
Ping!
The coin flipped in the air, breaking the silence before landing back in his palm.
At the same time, thick smoke rose, enveloping the surroundings.
Through the smoke, a vague silhouette of a person flickered. The figure couldn’t be clearly seen within the dense haze.
‘Is this one of the tricks used by the thief Heilbronner?’
He thought to himself, without any particular emotion, and lazily opened his mouth.
“Is everything ready?”
The figure in the smoke chuckled. When Gustav furrowed his brows, the figure quickly suppressed the laughter and spoke.
“Isn’t it you, Sir Gustav, who should be ready?”
“If I weren’t ready, I wouldn’t have been here to summon you.”
“Once you step further, there’s no turning back. If your resolve is weak, you should back out now.”
“…Stop babbling and get on with it. My condition is already terrible because of that damn magical artifact.”
“Haha, did you think you could use this great and powerful black magic without any cost?”
“……”
“Ah, don’t glare at me like that. Your resolve and noble intentions have already been conveyed to ‘them’ as well.”
Through the smoke, a distorted figure took a step forward. As he extended his hand, a massive red sigil flared to life in the air.
At one moment, a blinding cascade of light completely enveloped the two of them, as if giant fireworks were exploding in every direction.
