32

But before Brandis could say anything, a voice erupted from the other end.

“Yeah man! Do you dare to say such a thing in front of His Majesty the King? I apologize right now…”

“Stop it.”

“your majesty! This is a disrespectful act…”

“That was enough. Shouldn’t we hear more?”

At Brandis’ command, Glonet reluctantly backs down and glares at Shion.

Any human living in the kingdom of Alain had to obey the king’s orders.

Of course, each individual would have their own circumstances, but even that became meaningless in front of the ruler of the Alain Kingdom.

“You are very bold. Did you give me permission just now?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Your Majesty is the greatest and most dignified person, but you are also a human being living in this country. I thought you would understand the position I’m in because you’re a human being just like me.”

“hahahaha! Am I human just like you? You say something funny.”

Again Glonet tried to step out, but Brandis winked.

Glonet was filled with dissatisfaction and had to suppress it with difficulty.

“Your Majesty is living and ruling this country as a human being. Just as Your Majesty has a reason to live, I also have a reason. There are things I need to protect, and isn’t there something your Majesty wants to protect as well?”

“As you said, I also have something to protect. But aren’t the things I have to protect more important than you?”

“This is a wise statement. That’s why I’m asking permission from Your Majesty. Even without me, Your Majesty will be able to protect it as you always have done, but if that one disappears, you will not be able to protect your fiancée. My fiancé is only looking at me, how can I turn my heart away?”

Shion felt the pressure and continued to speak with difficulty.

Even a single misspelled word here would have Brandis poking through the cracks.

He had to thoroughly induce Brandis to sympathize with his words.

“Away from your heart… is it?”

Brandis ruminates on the words and sinks into memories.

She has loved and shared affection with only one man all her life.

I got married to that man before I was 20 years old, but I was able to feel small happiness after giving birth to three children.

However, happiness suddenly turned into longing and regret, and the man left his side forever.

‘… You’ve been ignoring him for a long time.’

After losing her partner, Brandis hadn’t even looked at other men.

Young nobles’ sons sometimes courted her, but even that was considered futile.

However, for a long time, she had been courting herself without giving up on just one man.

‘Is that guy trying to protect what I lost?’

Brandis draws a faint smile and quickly erases it.

Of course, his position and Zion’s position could not be the same.

He was the ruler of this country, and Shion had to be treated well to be the son of a marquis.

Nevertheless, I wondered if my will, which had been firm enough to bring back forgotten emotions, would break a little.

“What you said to me is solemn…but I can’t say it’s wrong. If you swear, it is right to follow.”

The answer Zion wanted to hear was coming out.

I thought that thinking about the content and setting of this world worked pretty well.

But Brandis hadn’t finished speaking yet.

“However, I have no intention of giving up on you.”

“…?”

“Now that things have turned out this way, we need to make a deal. Who is your betrothed?”

“… I am Hannette Adelaira, the eldest daughter of the Duke of Adelaira.”

Brandis finally remembers what he had forgotten.

The eldest daughter of the Duke of Adelaira is called the madwoman, and it was said that she recently had an engagement ceremony with the son of the marquis.

Although he was obviously interested in the composition, he only regarded the engagement ceremony as a means of an arranged marriage.

“Hmm… I see. Commander of the Royal Knights, follow the king’s command.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Bring Hanette Adelaira before me right now. Let me ask permission myself.”

“…”

“What is the Commander of the Royal Knights doing! Are you saying you won’t obey the king’s command?”

“Wow… I’m sorry. I will obey your great king’s command.”

Even Glonet was puzzled by the order, but had no choice but to obey it unconditionally.

Because the king’s name was more important to him than anything else.

“You are to wait in the reception palace. I will have a separate conversation with your fiancé.”

“I will obey your great king’s command.”

Shion reluctantly answers and lowers his head.

I wondered if it was more twisted than I expected.

Although they had obviously been told beforehand, they hadn’t even planned for Hannett to meet the King in person.

‘…things got too big.’

Shion barely managed to clear his complicated mind and left the palace.

From now on, I couldn’t do anything on my own.

Only Harnett could have solved this problem.

‘I have no choice but to trust Hanette.’

* * *

Royal Palace, 2nd floor hallway.

Hanette was called by the king and hurriedly entered the palace.

When I first heard the news, I was taken aback, but it didn’t take long before I realized why.

Because something had happened because of Shion, she must have been involved with her fiancé herself.

‘How did you explain it to this point?’

Harnette was heading towards the office palace following the royal knights.

In the first place, until today, she had never entered the palace, let alone met the king.

I heard some warnings from Yenid, but I couldn’t seem to remember them now.

‘… They said they were using me as a reason. I must have made a mistake while teasing.’

Harnette checked the letter Zion had received and complied with the request.

I will use my existence as a reason for refusing to join the Royal Knights, and I hope you don’t feel bad about it.

In addition, he even said that he would give 100 gold coins as a reward for accepting this request.

He was probably trying to return the 80 gold coins he had received from him through this incident.

‘Since we agreed to cooperate with each other, we should do as much as we can.’

Hannette laughs and shows a bitter look.

I couldn’t figure out why he didn’t want to join the Royal Knights in the first place.

Shion said that he wanted to live freely, but he didn’t really sympathize with him.

It was because she had to live a life of bondage from the time she was already engaged to her.

‘There are so many things I know how to do for a kid.’

Hanette stops in front of the palace, lost in her thoughts.

The royal knights were lined up around them, and they didn’t even look away while guarding the palace.

As I was conscious of the necklace hanging around my neck, I wondered if I was calming down for some reason.

“Is Hanette Adelaira right?”

“Yes.”

“… His Majesty the King is waiting for you.”

Glonet was displeased, but opened the door.

As soon as Hanette entered the palace, she expressed her respect and recited consistent sentences.

“Meet His Majesty the King, who is the pinnacle of the Alain Kingdom, the owner of the palace, and is leaving great achievements.”

“It came pretty quickly. How is the Duke of Adelaira doing?”

Brandis greeted Harnette with her back turned from the window.

Hannette was taken aback by her appearance, but instinctively continued.

“Yes. Thanks to His Majesty’s grace, you are doing well.”

“I’m glad then. Public trust should not be uncomfortable.”

Brandis stepped slowly and stopped in front of Hanette.

Harnett felt a sense of intimidation and cautiously avoided his gaze.

“Do you know why I called you?”

“… I think you called because of my fiancé.”

“It is as you say. Your fiancé is putting me in trouble.”

Brandis looked around at Harnette and murmured softly.

I wondered if she looked quite orphaned for being called a foolish young lady.

More than anything else, just those eyes made me feel like I was facing the Duke of Adelaira.

“How can I help you?”

“I want you to give up your fiancé.”

“Unfortunately, I don’t understand what His Majesty is talking about. Why are you asking me to give you my fiancé?”

“Shion Reggieard said he swore to become your knight. He said he couldn’t be bitten because he risked his life. If you allow it, I will join the Royal Knights.”

“…?”

For a moment, Hannette’s mind went blank.

The content itself was different from what I had said before.

He had simply said that he would come up with plausible excuses about his family or his fiancée’s circumstances, but things like oaths and lives suddenly came out.

Why did he tell such a lie to the king?

“Shion Reggieard has the most excellent qualities among swordsmen I have ever seen. If you receive systematic training from the Royal Knights, you will see results within a few years. Why don’t you make concessions for your fiancé?”

Brandis spoke wholeheartedly, but did not show an overbearing attitude.

This was not a matter that could be persuaded by the king’s name or cause.

In order to break Shion’s oath and resolution, she had no choice but to be considerate of Hanette.

Because of his greed, he had to trample on the promise and feelings of the two.

‘I’m afraid I’m not a real kid…’

Hannett barely manages to hold back a sigh and thinks over and over again.

In this situation, it could not be said that Zion lied.

Because Shion must have had circumstances like that, and we promised to help each other.

If it had been done, it would have been better to have done it more perfectly.

‘But… why should I yield? If it’s my fiancé, can’t I do as I please?’

Harnette sinks into displeasure for no reason and struggles to suppress it.

If Shion joins the Royal Knights, the time in the mansion will decrease.

In the end, he would not be able to be with himself, and would always wander in the palace.

Why should I allow that to happen?

“Your Majesty, unfortunately, I cannot allow it.”

“what? Why?”

“My fiance has sworn to die for me. I have accepted that oath, and my life is in the hands of my betrothed. So the oath will be broken only if one side dies first.”

“… are you asking me to kill you?”

“If Your Majesty tells me to die, I will die. Please keep this a secret so that my fiance will not be sad.”

Harnette was not aware of what she was saying.

I was just expressing the feelings that flowed from my heart.

I don’t know what the consequences will be in the future, but since I’ve already done it, I can’t undo it.

“Are you threatening me with your life?”

“I apologize if I sounded that way. But I also decided to live dedicated to my fiancé. So I have no choice but to risk my life for my fiancé.”