Chapter 8

What followed was a stretch of idle chatter and something close to rest.  

The only pauses came when servers brought in dessert—brief interruptions before the conversation resumed again in full swing.

While the two women turned their attention toward the servers, Aivert simply pushed his hair back with a rough hand and quietly cooled the tea that had been set in front of him.

— Drip.

Instead of drinking it himself, however, he mysteriously performed a small miracle each time Rodella’s cup was nearly empty—ensuring it was always refilled without fail.

There was no such magic for Cecilia. She had to pour her own tea, and as she did, she spoke.

“You know, there’s been a whole uproar about you two working together.”

Rodella just shrugged.

“Let them talk. The rumors were bound to spread anyway.”

It was a rare bit of honesty—something she could only say openly in front of Cecilia, who knew about their contract engagement.

But Cecilia shook her head.

“It’s not something to take lightly. It’s spreading like wildfire, like someone’s deliberately fueling the gossip.”

She frowned.

“It’s even spreading among merchant circles.”

At that, Aivert finally sipped his now-lukewarm tea.

Rodella tilted her head.

“Well, it is news about Aivert. Of course people would listen.”

To them, he was a friend. But to everyone else, Aivert Royden was one of the empire’s two dukes.  

Naturally, talk of his engagement would ripple across every tier of society.

Even so, Cecilia shook her head.

“If it were just your average gossip, I wouldn’t have brought it up. But even that old merchant who usually blocks out noble affairs is talking about it.”

Aivert’s teacup was now empty.  

But he made no move to refill it.

“That is… a little strange,” Rodella murmured, glancing over at him.

“Don’t tell me—you’ve been bragging?”

Aivert simply shrugged.

“No.”

The absurdity of the exchange made Cecilia chuckle.

“Aivert’s not exactly the chatty type.”

“Is he not?” Rodella blinked, puzzled.

He always answered her clearly and thoroughly. He never seemed particularly reserved.  

But then again, he didn’t seem the sort to go around spreading stories, either.

“This isn’t something to take lightly,” Cecilia warned, her tone turning serious again. “If you’re serious about your dream, you need to be careful with rumors. There are a lot of people waiting to tear you down.”

“…You’re right.”

Rodella’s expression sharpened. Work was one thing she never approached lightly.

“I’ll look into the source of the rumor.”

Then Aivert spoke.

“I’ll handle it.”

Rodella turned to him.

“Just don’t make it too obvious.”

You hate that kind of attention.

As if he’d read her mind, her words made Aivert smile.

Cecilia, meanwhile, watched the two and laughed inwardly.

‘Aivert, chatty?’  

The man only spoke when Rodella was involved. Even now, he only chimed in once she joined the topic.

Rodella really had no idea.

But of course she didn’t—how could she?  

She never saw how Aivert acted when she wasn’t around. She didn’t know that he practically disappeared in her absence.

“Anyway, I need to get going,” Cecilia said, glancing at the time. “I have to report to my mother.”

“Since it’s company business, I’ll need her approval. She’ll probably say yes—it’s not like it’ll cost us in the long run.”

“Got it. Thanks,” Rodella said as she rose to see her off.

Aivert stood as well. Cecilia gave him a narrow-eyed look.

“Well then—good luck, Rodella. And… Aivert.”

She cast a glance his way as she turned, her tone implying he’d need the luck more than anyone.

Rodella interpreted it differently.

“Well, the Azure Knights have been struggling lately.”

Cecilia really was thoughtful.

Rodella turned to Aivert with a smile.

“Feels like we got the first step right, don’t you think?”

“Probably.”

He replied calmly. Rodella reached up and smoothed his tousled hair.

“All you’ve done is drink tea—how does your hair always end up like this?”

Meanwhile, a restaurant employee entered to check if more dessert needed to be served in the room—only to tilt their head in confusion.

Why did Duke Royden always look like he’d been through a windstorm every time he came here?

* * *

On the way back to the Azure Knights’ headquarters, the two carried a sense of satisfaction from a successful outcome.

“Oh my, the latest sacrificial lamb of the admin office turns out to be quite the noble figure.”

A mocking voice rang out.

They turned around to see knights wearing uniforms similar to the Azure Knights—except in a completely different color.  

It was the Red Knights.

“…!”

Rodella barely managed to suppress the grimace threatening to cross her face.  

There were several familiar faces among them.

These were the very men who had once rushed to propose to her—only to be rejected with record speed.  

Since then, they’d joined the Red Knights, a unit known for its elite snobbery and obsession with hierarchy, and had apparently spent a good deal of time badmouthing her.

“Even if you two are engaged, I didn’t think you’d bring her here.”

The Red Knights recognized Rodella and made no effort to hide their sneering amusement—though they were clearly surprised.

The Azure Knights’ administration office was infamously known as a “career sinkhole,” or a “comprehensive hospital-level difficulty course.”  

It was not the kind of place one expected a Duke’s fiancée to be dragged into.

With a connection like that, shouldn’t she be placed somewhere better?

So… was it true? The rumor that Duke Royden wanted his fiancée out of the admin office and into official house duties?

The Red Knights exchanged curious looks.

“Or maybe… she was just clinging to the Chancellor and finally got thrown out?”

They had begun to snicker when Rodella took a step forward, ready to speak—

— Step. Step.

Aivert gently released her hand and walked toward them.

“Even if the Azure and Red Knights serve different superiors, we all ultimately serve His Majesty. You’re awfully undisciplined for fellow imperial knights.”

His voice was low, but it sent a jolt down the Red Knights’ spines.

The closer he came, the heavier the air around them grew—strangely suffocating.

And before they could react, his hand was already gripping the hilt of their sword.

— Tap.

As if he were about to draw it.

“W-what do you think you’re—!”

One of the Red Knights froze, panic starting to set in.

But Aivert didn’t draw the blade.

Slowly, a smug ease returned to their faces.

Right. No matter how reckless Aivert Royden was, even he couldn’t attack fellow imperial knights without just cause.

“Ha-ha! Are you seriously going to draw my sword here?”

Besides, the Vice-Commander of the Azure Knights was infamous: once his sword was drawn, buildings tended to disappear.  

If he did use force here, the Azure Knights would be camping outside for months—because the headquarters would be in ruins.

“Haha—”

Their laughter was just starting to swell when—

— Crunch.

A sharp, brutal sound rang out from one Red Knight’s hip—something important had just been crushed.

The knight’s face went pale.

“Ugh.”