Chapter 70

Banquets tend to have the same atmosphere wherever you go.

Rodella hadn’t felt nervous at a banquet in quite some time.

It had been years since her debutante ball, after all. Naturally, she was used to it by now.

But today was different.

“Ah, yes… It’s been a while.”

She could feel her own smile straining awkwardly as she tried to lift the corners of her mouth.

Her whole body was so tense, she could barely register how the banquet was progressing.

It felt like the day she first debuted in society all over again.

“What a perfect couple you are.”

“To think there were rumors about a rift between you two… What ridiculous nonsense.”

Back then, it was the banquet itself that had made her nervous.

But today, it was the man beside her—Aivert—who was making her tense.

He’d always made her feel at ease. But today, for some reason, it felt like he was the source of her unease.

His lips were pressed into a thin line, and his voice had a low, unpleasant edge to it.

“I hope those rumors stop spreading.”

“I’ll make sure to go around telling everyone how affectionate you two really are.”

Noblemen nodded as they spoke, and Aivert smiled in response—but to Rodella, it was different.

‘That’s not how you usually smile.’

It was a bit too polished, too businesslike. Too fake.

She couldn’t take her eyes off Aivert’s face.

‘You usually smile so sweetly—like a ripe apple, cheeks flushed red—not like this, not with just your lips tugged up on command.’

As she watched him, those thoughts filled her mind.

He looked at her the same way as always, escorted her as he always did, even matched his long strides to hers as he always did.

Even though she knew he was acting the same… it felt different.

Maybe it was because she was noticing how he treated her differently than others.

His presence was being imprinted into her senses.

“Now that I’ve seen you two up close, I can tell—the gossip was truly absurd.”

Some nobles, who appeared to be from the neutral faction, came to greet them.

Rodella saw Aivert exchange words with them, but even though they were conversing right next to her, the words didn’t register.

She could only see his face.

Then, Aivert gently lifted her hand with his fingertips, and only then did she snap back to reality.

“…!”

Rodella’s gaze shot toward him as her scattered thoughts returned.

“I treasure her so much I wouldn’t dare touch her carelessly.”

His low voice echoed in the quiet banquet hall.

“To think someone started such nonsense…”

The clear timbre of his voice pierced her ears.

‘Was his voice always this heavy?’

He used to speak so lightly to her—playfully, sometimes.

But now…

Did he know how dazed she was?

Aivert asked softly, “Can I hold you?”

‘Huh? You’re asking?’

You can just do it…

Wait—why now?

“Of course.”  She answered, still a bit stunned.

Ordinarily, would an engaged couple who’ve been rumored together for years need to ask such permission?

“How sweet and innocent,”

Rodella heard someone whisper.

But things were different between her and Aivert.

Just as her mind started spinning again—

—Thump.

She froze as she was pulled into his arms.

It was a familiar gesture.

But the difference was—he never initiated it.

Usually, she was the one to reach for him. Cling to him.

He always held back, as if she were made of glass.

Every time she hugged him— He seemed flustered… but also happy.

“You’ll hurt yourself, Rodella.”

He was always afraid he might harm her, unsure if he could trust himself.

But today was different.

The moment she realized that, her heart felt even stranger.

A familiar kind of physical closeness, but tinged with something else.

Was it because he had initiated it this time?

Then she remembered—what had happened just before the banquet.

“……”

A long silence—more than ten seconds. Locked eyes.

His lips glistened. His blue eyes sparkled.

“Can I go further?”

“…Huh?”

Rodella had blurted the dumbest response.

Aivert had leaned closer, whispering into her ear, “Or can I kiss you instead?”

‘What?’

Her thoughts—so tangled just a moment ago—completely stopped.

‘What did you say?’

She should have asked if he was out of his mind. But she couldn’t.

The words wouldn’t come.

That inner voice yelling “But we’re just friends!” should’ve burst forth—

Instead, she hesitated.

“…Here?”

Why ask about the location?!

‘What’s wrong with me?!’

Flustered and fumbling, she stammered.

Aivert stepped closer.

Wait. He’s not actually…!?

Whether she couldn’t back away or didn’t want to—

—Peck.

His lips brushed her nose.

A soft warmth tickled her skin.

“If not here, somewhere else.”

She heard nobles around them chuckle.

“Reminds me of my courting days.”

“Ah, youth.”

In that warm atmosphere, Rodella’s mind spun in dizzy circles.                                                                                        

She could still feel the ghost of his lips on her skin.

Was the heat on her face from that, or had her whole body flushed?

‘Haven’t we done things like this before? Or… have we?’

She thought they had.

Usually, she’d be wondering if people bought their act—but today…

Today was different.

“….”

She kept looking at Aivert’s blue eyes.

She thought she saw joy in them. A flutter. Maybe even excitement.

But she couldn’t tell if that emotion reflected her feelings, or his.

“I, uh, I… yeah.”

Her burning red face both concealed and revealed everything she felt.

Everyone around smiled, saying she must be a shy bride-to-be.

But behind the thin mask of performance, Rodella was completely lost.

“….”

She didn’t know what to do.

So her dazed mind blamed Aivert.

‘…You’re the one making me imagine strange things.’

Just for a moment, it really felt like he was her lover.

‘You’re putting on an act convincing enough to fool even me.’

‘What if I actually fall for it?’

While she struggled with her confusion, Aivert kept smiling and chatting with others like everything was normal.

Rodella shot him a quick glance and bit down hard on the inside of her cheek.

***

The social banquet hosted by Royden on behalf of the Azure Knights ended successfully.

Even the neutral faction nobles offered high praise.

“If only half the other banquets were this welcoming, I might’ve gone.”

“This was one of the warmest, most enjoyable gatherings in recent memory.”

It made sense—they had reason to be wary.

The current social scene was dominated by the aristocrat faction, and the neutral nobles often felt excluded.

If you weren’t part of the noble faction, they’d shun you outright or bombard you with scandalous political chatter.

“We’ll be happy to attend if you host another one.”

They welcomed the rare chance to gather comfortably.

Bran had originally targeted Ortin to make a statement—“Look how the Azure Knights are being isolated and ruined.”

But things were turning out exactly the opposite of what they’d intended.

***

So, on a day when the banquet ended in harmony and the Azure Knights were in good spirits—

Latine’s declaration drove that spirit to its peak.

“This quarter’s accounting is finished, everyone.”

He gathered the knights in the training yard, beaming.

“As promised, it’s time to reward the results of our Azure Knights’ ‘special measures.’”

The knights exchanged glances.

“You mean the reward based on performance?”

“You’re really giving it to us?”