Editor : Amethyst00



Celia dragged Amira into a random room as if she were kidnapping her, locked the door behind them, and let out a deep breath.

Leo looked at Celia and spoke.

"You know you look like a kid desperately trying to hide that she's made a huge mess? Well. It is a huge mess."

At those words, Celia glared at Leo with wide eyes.

Leo pointed at Amira with his finger.

"But… you're covering her mouth and nose. Is she okay?"

"Huh? Gasp!"

Celia panicked and let go of the trembling Amira.

"Haah… Haah…!"

Amira collapsed onto the floor, shaking and gasping for breath.

Once she finally caught her breath, Amira's legs wobbled as she struggled to stand up.

She fixed the dishevelled state of her clothes caused by Celia and opened her eyes wide and clear.

Her trembling body and ragged breathing had already calmed down.

Now fully embodying the image of a perfect noble lady, Amira looked at Celia.

"I have so many questions, but…"

Setting aside her curiosity, Amira turned to Leo and slightly lifted the hem of her dress, bending her knees in a curtsy.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Leo-oppa. I've heard a lot about you from my father over the past three years. I'm Amira Zerdinger. I've really wanted to meet you."

She smiled shyly as she greeted her cousin, Leo, for the first time.

"Nice to meet you. I've heard a lot about you from Celia too."

Leo also smiled and returned the greeting.

Amira blinked her red eyes and stared at Leo's face.

Then she asked,

"Leo-oppa, do you go around making a lot of girls cry?"

Slap–!

"Don't say rude things when you've just met someone."

"Ow!"

Celia lightly smacked Amira's cheek.

Amira whimpered as she held her face.

Celia and Amira looked like sisters at a glance.

But their atmospheres were completely different.

Celia, in her crisp white uniform radiating confidence, gave off the aura of a true knight.

In contrast, Amira gave off the fragile, delicate aura of a noble young lady—like a timid herbivore.

"You said you often stay home because of poor health, right?"

"Yes. Cough– cough–"

Amira suddenly started coughing.

She covered her mouth with a white handkerchief and coughed for a bit, then pulled it away.

Looking down at the red-stained handkerchief, she gazed wistfully out the window and muttered,

"As you can see, I'm a fragile beauty."

"The handkerchief already had that on it, didn't it?"

"Yes. It's ketchup."

Amira answered and clasped her hands together, then walked to the window and murmured,

"The leaves are falling again this year… so fleeting, like me… Though suddenly I feel hungry."

"…"

Watching this in silence, Leo whispered to Celia,

"Celia, is she…?"

"…Yeah. She's a bit… eccentric."

"She's the same age as Chelsea, right?"

"Yeah."

Celia held her forehead and sighed.

"She's also Chelsea's natural enemy, by the way."

"Natural enemy? Why?"

"If Chelsea is a devil, Amira is pure evil."

"Pure evil?"

"You'll understand when you experience it. But I just got found out by the one person who absolutely shouldn't have known…"

Celia cradled her head.

Meanwhile, Amira walked up to her.

"By the way, Celia. What did you mean when you said you promised to marry Mr. Abad?"

At Amira's question, Celia made a solemn face as if the inevitable had come.

She took a deep breath and smiled.

"You heard wrong."

"Huh?"

"You misheard."

"Oh. I see, I misheard."

Nodding, Amira stroked her chin and muttered,

"Then it's okay if I tell Uncle Selde?"

"Sorry. I'll tell you the truth."

"Huh? So I didn't mishear?"

Amira blinked in surprise.

Watching her act so innocently when she clearly knew everything, Leo finally understood why Celia called her "pure evil."

'Well, she doesn't seem like a bad person.'

While Leo silently assessed Amira…

Celia explained everything about her relationship with Abad.

"So, Mr. Abad fell for you, and… since you also have feelings for him, you agreed to marry him if he wins a one-on-one duel?"

"Yes."

"Celia."

"What?"

"Are you planning to be a spinster forever?"

"What the hell are you saying?!"

"I mean, come on. I know Mr. Abad is amazing, but how's he supposed to beat you in a one-on-one duel?"

"…"

"Or are you planning to let him win?"

"That will never happen."

At that, Amira lightly shook her head.

She also knew her cousin well.

There was no such thing as "half-hearted" in Celia's dictionary.

'Well, Mr. Abad isn't ordinary either. So maybe it's not hopeless.'

Amira thought of Abad.

Though not exactly close, she had known him since childhood, given the ties between the Zerdinger and Lewellin families.

As she thought about the two, her eyes sparkled.

"Anyway, a forbidden love between the heirs of enemy houses… how romantic."

"It's not exactly forbidden love, is it? We're from the same country."

"Celia, you've really changed since entering Lumene. You used to say Lewellins should always be beaten down."

"T-that was when I was a kid."

"That was just three years ago, wasn't it?"

"Ahem! Anyway! Don't tell Father or Uncle."

"Hm? How long are you planning to hide it?"

"…I'll tell them during the Great Families Assembly."

"Really?"

Amira's eyes sparkled.

"That sounds so fun!"

"Sometimes I genuinely think it's a relief you have no talent as a knight."

Celia let out a deep sigh.

"By the way, does Chelsea know about this too?"

"Yeah."

"Knowing Chelsea's personality, I doubt she stayed quiet. Isn't she trying to interfere?"

"She is. Every time I'm with Abad, she butts in."

Amira tilted her head.

'If Chelsea really wanted to sabotage them, she'd make sure they couldn't even meet.'

If she's only interfering lightly, that's practically silent approval of the relationship.

'Could it be they're more emotionally close than I thought? I mean, they even promised marriage without family approval.'

Amira rolled her eyes thoughtfully.

"Anyway. I'll be the one to tell Father, so keep it secret until then."

"Okay."

Amira smiled.

Celia sighed again.

Playful as she was, Amira wouldn't blab after being asked so seriously.

'Though she'll probably use this to blackmail me later.'

Celia pressed her temples.

"Leo."

"What?"

"No, I should say 'my lady,' right?"

Leo chuckled at Celia's smile.

"Why are you calling Celia 'my lady,' Leo-oppa?"

"He's attending the Great Families Assembly pretending to be my attendant, while hiding his identity."

"So that's why you're here."

Amira nodded in understanding and smiled sweetly.

"Then instead of being Celia's attendant, could you be mine?"

"What? Why?!"

"Because I want to talk to Leo-oppa a lot more."

"No."

"Hm. Well, since this is such a serious matter for the family, I suppose I should inform Uncle Selde…"

"Fine! You win!"

Celia looked bitter.

"I was going to use this chance to get back at him…"

At that, Amira turned to Leo and smiled.

"Looking forward to working with you this week, Leo-oppa."

"Likewise, Miss Amira."

bl

Zeiss looked at his niece and daughter in his room with a bitter expression.

"So? You asked Leo to play the attendant?"

"Yes."

"…"

Zeiss silently grabbed his head.

"Leo. Let me apologize in advance."

"It's fine. I think it'll be fun."

"This isn't the time to be saying it's fun. If it gets out that you attended the Great Families Assembly as a attendant, it could be a huge issue. The Arhi Kingdom's reputation might take a hit too."

"It's fine if we don't get caught."

"Yes, as Leo-oppa said, as long as no one finds out, it's fine."

Zeiss sighed deeply as he looked at the two mischievous peas in a pod.

"Rhys and Celia aren't like this… You two really have that troublemaker streak."

"That's unfair. I've never caused trouble. If anything, Rhys is the one who did."

Amira protested lightly.

Leo gave his uncle a sympathetic look.

"…Why are you looking at me like that?"

"I think things are about to get busy for you."

"What does that mean now?"

"You'll find out soon."

Zeiss let out a long sigh.

Then he put on a serious face.

"Amira."

"Yes."

"You've received a marriage proposal."

"That's nothing new."

Amira smiled gently.

She was a direct descendant of the Zerdinger family.

But born frail and without any talent as a knight.

For a noble house built on heroism, it was common for such a descendant to be used in political marriages.

Amira never thought she'd marry for love.

So she wasn't particularly opposed to being used for political purposes.

Unlike Celia, she hadn't staked her life on bearing the Zerdinger name.

That said, Zeiss, who adored his daughter, had always turned down such proposals.

And with the collapse of the Elder Council, the pressure for political marriage had eased.

So it was a bit surprising that Zeiss brought up a proposal now.

'Must be that the match is that good?'

"I wanted you to marry someone you liked, but…"

Zeiss looked apologetic.

'Hmm… So even as a father, he couldn't avoid it this time? With the Elder Council gone, and Dad making a move for the family's sake… Must be a really powerful house.'

Of course, Amira still had no complaints.

Zeiss stood from his seat, seemingly unable to face his daughter who accepted it so calmly.

"Still… I think he's a good man."

Leaving that behind, Zeiss exited the room.

Amira smiled softly.

"Dad really… He didn't have to worry about me. Well then, Leo-oppa, shall we go see my future husband's face?"

"Can I look too?"

"Of course!"

Smiling brightly, Amira opened the photo album for Leo to see.

"…"

"…"

After a moment of silence, Amira spoke.

"Leo-oppa."

"Yeah?"

"Thinking this is funny… that's not good, is it?"

"It's not good. But… it is pretty funny."

Both Leo and Amira smiled.

bl

Abad stared down at the photo album with a stiff expression.

Watching him, the head of the Lewellin family, Chade Lewellin, spoke flatly.

"You already know, right? Amira Zerdinger. She's going to be your wife."