Aiden spoke seriously, a look on his face indicating that he had no idea things would turn out this way.
“Niel isn’t a good man—just as the Prince was taking Lady Elsia with you, he was conspicuously flirting with other young lady. Both Heaven and Earth…”
“Elsia has explained that she saved me in the past because she liked me. But— she no longer likes me.”
“She has changed her mind.”
With a sigh, Aiden said.
He was used to dealing with political drama in the capital, so he could interpret this common occurrence with his eyes closed.
“She feels cold because she is beautiful and hangs out with other guys. It is quite common after all. Because love moves.”
However, he was unable to add, ‘Besides, if the opponent is Niel Evgeny.’
Aiden was taken aback and looked at his master. This is because Ixion only felt life on the battlefield.
“I’m not good enough.”
“…Pardon?”
“She betrayed her motherland.”
“S-she did.”
“Why did that desperate love die down?”
“Huh— That’s—”
“Explain it compellingly. Because I don’t understand anything.”
Aiden grunted and cupped his brow.
It wasn’t a case of him not being good enough. For him, who had observed many people’s love lives, it was a very predictable scene.
“Consider this. Lady Elsia had three meetings with the prince. Three years ago, at the banquet for the Prince’s birthday, and then a visit to the Imperial Palace. It was just a dance at the banquet, and wasn’t your visit to the palace for interrogation?”
“—That’s correct.”
“No way would such a meeting or conversation have been enjoyable.”
“It was a place that couldn’t help but be heavy.”
“Nonetheless, she had to be the only one who was imprisoned. But now that she’s free, she’s having a lot more fun with Niel in the Marquis. It’s Niel. Niel, not anyone else. Would it have been easier to entice the innocent Lady Elsia, who was imprisoned?”
“Having fun—”
Aiden agreed with a nod of his head.
“While the Prince was picking flowers on the battlefield, Niel spent a lot of time with Lady Elsia and grew close to her. I’m not sure, but I’m sure there were more conversations than you. Even if I were a woman, I would be forced to move on. Did you happen to see Niel today? He’ll do it if he’s determined to.”
It wasn’t about getting Niel discharged early. He should have prevented him from visiting Marquis.
Ixion clenched his teeth without even realizing it.
“Did Lady Elsia, by any chance, say anything else?”
Aiden asked carefully.
“I wish you happily ever after. Stay healthy and meet a better woman.”
“Ah, yes, this is.”
Aiden shook his head and said horribly in response to Ixion’s words.
“The Prince— It’s not going to work, in my opinion. The victory appears to have already been won by Niel Evgeny.”
“What are you talking about?”
“That’s a common closing remark. I’ll tell you something good, so pay attention and avoid it.”
He sighed and shook his head.
“I can’t help myself. Let’s go back, Prince. If the Marchioness finds out, she’ll collapse, but there’s nothing we can do. You didn’t propose to her just because you wanted to, did you?”
There was an awkward silence between Aiden and Ixion. Aiden sighed as he observed Ixion’s disapproval.
“I can’t help myself. It is no longer relevant to us. She no longer likes you, so let’s end it like this.”
“…..Aiden,”
Ixion spoke in a low voice.
“I don’t want to force Elsia to like me if she says she doesn’t.”
“That’s correct. I feel bad for Prince.”
“I understand that if she likes another man, I should respect her.”
“Of course that’s natural.”
“But not Niel Evgeny.” His eyes glowed coldly.
Aiden flinched and took a step back.
“She was the person who saved my life. I can’t let her go to ruin like this.”
“—If it’s ruined…”
“Niel Evgeny is Elsia’s step brother, no matter how little blood was mixed and when she grew up, she was a stranger. If there is a scandal, she will be forced to leave the Marquis. And that doesn’t mean Niel is entirely to blame for her.”
“That’s right.”
If rumors spread that Niel and Elsia were like that, they would also have a falling out with Mela, resulting in a collapse.
Then she, who has already been labeled as Artise’s royal daughter, will be kicked out as a result of the scandal.
After that, he touched his brow, thinking she’d have nowhere to go.
“I can’t wait to see my lifesaver make her way down the thorny path. But I’m not that shameless.”
“So, what are you going to do? Are you telling her to avoid Niel Evgeny right away? Prince, the original love, dries up, the more it burns.”
Ixion raised his head and smiled, as if preparing to go to war. Aiden swallowed dry saliva with an eerie smile on the corner of his mouth, no smile in his eyes.
“I’m overwhelmed by my status or reputation. For her part, marrying me is a better option than going on a scandal with a jerk like Niel. I’ll be in charge of Elsia until the end.”
“…Are you sure? But hasn’t Lady Elsia’s heart already gone?”
“Simply put, I didn’t stand a chance. Shouldn’t I be having as much fun with her as Niel Evgeny? So she can fall in love with me again.”
“…..”
“I can do that to a lifesaver. It’s only natural for me to step in and save her from an irresponsible jerk.”
Aiden blinked, as if he had forgotten what he was saying.
Ixion asked, raising his chin.
“Why?”
“I-I was wondering if it was possible.”
“What are you talking about? Is it possible that I’m worse than Niel Evgeny?”
The answer was quick.
“……the ability to have a good time with women.”
Aiden shook his head.
“Aside from having fun, how are you going to spend your time together? I heard she told you to stay healthy. That means she won’t be able to greet you until she’s old.”
Ixion smiled, his arms folded.
“Prepare for the Knights to leave for the Marquis Evgeny. The Marchioness also said that they always welcome monster subjugation. Monster subjugation is carried out as planned in Evgeny.”
*******
I sat blankly in embarrassment as Ixion walked away, then stumbled into the banquet hall.
Of course, it felt great to say, ‘I had no idea Young Lady’s heart had changed. I see what you mean. In the future, be happy.’ I expected him to say the same thing and wish us both happiness.
But I couldn’t figure out why he left like the wind with such a wounded face.
When he found me back at the banquet hall, Niel, who was flirting with women, smiled and approached me.
“Shall we go? I believe the Lord of Wizard Tower has recently returned.”
“Huh? How did you find out?”
“Everyone in the Wizard Tower knows.”
Niel’s face lit up with excitement. The golden eyes twinkled with anticipation.
‘Oh, it’s completely different from Ixion, as expected.’
It’s simple, easy, comfortable, and simple to read on the inside.
Despite the fact that Niel appeared to like women, the wizard’s ego came first and foremost. This banquet, in fact, would have been one of the calculations that would have led me to the Wizard Tower.
Ixion, on the other hand, was unusually nervous and uneasy when he was encountered. I wasn’t expecting him to propose because she saved his life.
‘And why would you look like that if I refused it?’
In any case, my mission was to save him. I didn’t have to pay any more attention. I forced his thoughts from my mind.
I’m going to spend the rest of my life thinking about myself. Worrying about Ixion was like worrying about a gold spoon.
“Well, before we go to the Marquis, let’s go to the Wizard Tower. You’re not exhausted, are you?”
Niel emptied his hands, fearful that I would say no.
“It makes no difference. I can’t wait to get there and learn something.”
A small banquet was far less important to me than the relationship between black magic and Elsia.
First and foremost, I came here to do only the basics of a noblewoman.
‘By the way— did I do the basics today?’
I’m not sure, but I hope it doesn’t bother the Marchioness.
“Oh, Elsia. I heard something great happened earlier. It was so noisy after you went out with the Prince. I didn’t hear much because I was talking to another Young Lady, what’s going on?”
I shrugged my shoulders.
“Well, it’s no big deal. Something happened at the Palace, but there was a misunderstanding.”
“Ah, really?”
Niel didn’t seem very interested.
Well, I’m going to the Wizard Tower with an interesting “topic” now, and I couldn’t get that little thing into my head.
“Did you clear up the misunderstanding?”
He’s asking as a courtesy, but I don’t think he’s particularly interested.
I gave a nod.
“I believe so. Is the mana around me still strange?”
“Unless I look closely, I won’t know. However, when you breathe strangely in that strange position, the flow changes dramatically. But— I can see that your black magic is becoming increasingly powerful.”
He sniffed from head to toe once more.
“I’ve been watching you for a few days now, and there’s clearly more black magic going on. Is it because of your weird posture?”
‘I look like I’m going to a Wizard Tower to do yoga.’
To be honest, I didn’t know much about magic. I was about to ask a simple question when I decided to open my mouth.
“Wizard Niel.”
Someone called Niel back, and the man who was following Ixion had been grinning for a while.
“Isn’t that Sir Aiden? Prince, I couldn’t say hello to you earlier because you were in a hurry. Thank you for your safe return.”
Aiden was a pleasant young man with brown hair and green eyes, but his expression was somehow not friendly.
As he looked at me, he smiled.
“This is the first time I’ve formally greeted you. Aiden Giberth is my name. I’m one of Prince Ixion’s aides.”
With a polite smile, I responded.
“It’s nice to meet you. My name is Elsia Evgeny.”
“Oh, Young Lady, you’ve changed so much since a few months ago. You weren’t always this sweet. That daring step has stayed with me to this day.”
“There has been no change.”
I shrugged my shoulders.
“If I had been sweet back then, no one would have listened to me.”
Aiden was taken aback.
“Excellent understanding of the situation. Young Lady consistently exceeds my expectations.”
“Expectation?”
“Well, it’s my job to be aware of everything that might happen around me.”
“At that point, you can count me out.”
I responded harshly to Aiden’s sly remarks.
“We’re unlikely to see each other again.”
“Well, I’m not sure.”
Aiden cast a glance at Ixion.
Aiden spoke seriously, a look on his face indicating that he had no idea things would turn out this way.
“Niel isn’t a good man—just as the Prince was taking Lady Elsia with you, he was conspicuously flirting with other young lady. Both Heaven and Earth…”
“Elsia has explained that she saved me in the past because she liked me. But— she no longer likes me.”
“She has changed her mind.”
With a sigh, Aiden said.
He was used to dealing with political drama in the capital, so he could interpret this common occurrence with his eyes closed.
“She feels cold because she is beautiful and hangs out with other guys. It is quite common after all. Because love moves.”
However, he was unable to add, ‘Besides, if the opponent is Niel Evgeny.’
Aiden was taken aback and looked at his master. This is because Ixion only felt life on the battlefield.
“I’m not good enough.”
“…Pardon?”
“She betrayed her motherland.”
“S-she did.”
“Why did that desperate love die down?”
“Huh— That’s—”
“Explain it compellingly. Because I don’t understand anything.”
Aiden grunted and cupped his brow.
It wasn’t a case of him not being good enough. For him, who had observed many people’s love lives, it was a very predictable scene.
“Consider this. Lady Elsia had three meetings with the prince. Three years ago, at the banquet for the Prince’s birthday, and then a visit to the Imperial Palace. It was just a dance at the banquet, and wasn’t your visit to the palace for interrogation?”
“—That’s correct.”
“No way would such a meeting or conversation have been enjoyable.”
“It was a place that couldn’t help but be heavy.”
“Nonetheless, she had to be the only one who was imprisoned. But now that she’s free, she’s having a lot more fun with Niel in the Marquis. It’s Niel. Niel, not anyone else. Would it have been easier to entice the innocent Lady Elsia, who was imprisoned?”
“Having fun—”
Aiden agreed with a nod of his head.
“While the Prince was picking flowers on the battlefield, Niel spent a lot of time with Lady Elsia and grew close to her. I’m not sure, but I’m sure there were more conversations than you. Even if I were a woman, I would be forced to move on. Did you happen to see Niel today? He’ll do it if he’s determined to.”
It wasn’t about getting Niel discharged early. He should have prevented him from visiting Marquis.
Ixion clenched his teeth without even realizing it.
“Did Lady Elsia, by any chance, say anything else?”
Aiden asked carefully.
“I wish you happily ever after. Stay healthy and meet a better woman.”
“Ah, yes, this is.”
Aiden shook his head and said horribly in response to Ixion’s words.
“The Prince— It’s not going to work, in my opinion. The victory appears to have already been won by Niel Evgeny.”
“What are you talking about?”
“That’s a common closing remark. I’ll tell you something good, so pay attention and avoid it.”
He sighed and shook his head.
“I can’t help myself. Let’s go back, Prince. If the Marchioness finds out, she’ll collapse, but there’s nothing we can do. You didn’t propose to her just because you wanted to, did you?”
There was an awkward silence between Aiden and Ixion. Aiden sighed as he observed Ixion’s disapproval.
“I can’t help myself. It is no longer relevant to us. She no longer likes you, so let’s end it like this.”
“…..Aiden,”
Ixion spoke in a low voice.
“I don’t want to force Elsia to like me if she says she doesn’t.”
“That’s correct. I feel bad for Prince.”
“I understand that if she likes another man, I should respect her.”
“Of course that’s natural.”
“But not Niel Evgeny.” His eyes glowed coldly.
Aiden flinched and took a step back.
“She was the person who saved my life. I can’t let her go to ruin like this.”
“—If it’s ruined…”
“Niel Evgeny is Elsia’s step brother, no matter how little blood was mixed and when she grew up, she was a stranger. If there is a scandal, she will be forced to leave the Marquis. And that doesn’t mean Niel is entirely to blame for her.”
“That’s right.”
If rumors spread that Niel and Elsia were like that, they would also have a falling out with Mela, resulting in a collapse.
Then she, who has already been labeled as Artise’s royal daughter, will be kicked out as a result of the scandal.
After that, he touched his brow, thinking she’d have nowhere to go.
“I can’t wait to see my lifesaver make her way down the thorny path. But I’m not that shameless.”
“So, what are you going to do? Are you telling her to avoid Niel Evgeny right away? Prince, the original love, dries up, the more it burns.”
Ixion raised his head and smiled, as if preparing to go to war. Aiden swallowed dry saliva with an eerie smile on the corner of his mouth, no smile in his eyes.
“I’m overwhelmed by my status or reputation. For her part, marrying me is a better option than going on a scandal with a jerk like Niel. I’ll be in charge of Elsia until the end.”
“…Are you sure? But hasn’t Lady Elsia’s heart already gone?”
“Simply put, I didn’t stand a chance. Shouldn’t I be having as much fun with her as Niel Evgeny? So she can fall in love with me again.”
“…..”
“I can do that to a lifesaver. It’s only natural for me to step in and save her from an irresponsible jerk.”
Aiden blinked, as if he had forgotten what he was saying.
Ixion asked, raising his chin.
“Why?”
“I-I was wondering if it was possible.”
“What are you talking about? Is it possible that I’m worse than Niel Evgeny?”
The answer was quick.
“……the ability to have a good time with women.”
Aiden shook his head.
“Aside from having fun, how are you going to spend your time together? I heard she told you to stay healthy. That means she won’t be able to greet you until she’s old.”
Ixion smiled, his arms folded.
“Prepare for the Knights to leave for the Marquis Evgeny. The Marchioness also said that they always welcome monster subjugation. Monster subjugation is carried out as planned in Evgeny.”
*******
I sat blankly in embarrassment as Ixion walked away, then stumbled into the banquet hall.
Of course, it felt great to say, ‘I had no idea Young Lady’s heart had changed. I see what you mean. In the future, be happy.’ I expected him to say the same thing and wish us both happiness.
But I couldn’t figure out why he left like the wind with such a wounded face.
When he found me back at the banquet hall, Niel, who was flirting with women, smiled and approached me.
“Shall we go? I believe the Lord of Wizard Tower has recently returned.”
“Huh? How did you find out?”
“Everyone in the Wizard Tower knows.”
Niel’s face lit up with excitement. The golden eyes twinkled with anticipation.
‘Oh, it’s completely different from Ixion, as expected.’
It’s simple, easy, comfortable, and simple to read on the inside.
Despite the fact that Niel appeared to like women, the wizard’s ego came first and foremost. This banquet, in fact, would have been one of the calculations that would have led me to the Wizard Tower.
Ixion, on the other hand, was unusually nervous and uneasy when he was encountered. I wasn’t expecting him to propose because she saved his life.
‘And why would you look like that if I refused it?’
In any case, my mission was to save him. I didn’t have to pay any more attention. I forced his thoughts from my mind.
I’m going to spend the rest of my life thinking about myself. Worrying about Ixion was like worrying about a gold spoon.
“Well, before we go to the Marquis, let’s go to the Wizard Tower. You’re not exhausted, are you?”
Niel emptied his hands, fearful that I would say no.
“It makes no difference. I can’t wait to get there and learn something.”
A small banquet was far less important to me than the relationship between black magic and Elsia.
First and foremost, I came here to do only the basics of a noblewoman.
‘By the way— did I do the basics today?’
I’m not sure, but I hope it doesn’t bother the Marchioness.
“Oh, Elsia. I heard something great happened earlier. It was so noisy after you went out with the Prince. I didn’t hear much because I was talking to another Young Lady, what’s going on?”
I shrugged my shoulders.
“Well, it’s no big deal. Something happened at the Palace, but there was a misunderstanding.”
“Ah, really?”
Niel didn’t seem very interested.
Well, I’m going to the Wizard Tower with an interesting “topic” now, and I couldn’t get that little thing into my head.
“Did you clear up the misunderstanding?”
He’s asking as a courtesy, but I don’t think he’s particularly interested.
I gave a nod.
“I believe so. Is the mana around me still strange?”
“Unless I look closely, I won’t know. However, when you breathe strangely in that strange position, the flow changes dramatically. But— I can see that your black magic is becoming increasingly powerful.”
He sniffed from head to toe once more.
“I’ve been watching you for a few days now, and there’s clearly more black magic going on. Is it because of your weird posture?”
‘I look like I’m going to a Wizard Tower to do yoga.’
To be honest, I didn’t know much about magic. I was about to ask a simple question when I decided to open my mouth.
“Wizard Niel.”
Someone called Niel back, and the man who was following Ixion had been grinning for a while.
“Isn’t that Sir Aiden? Prince, I couldn’t say hello to you earlier because you were in a hurry. Thank you for your safe return.”
Aiden was a pleasant young man with brown hair and green eyes, but his expression was somehow not friendly.
As he looked at me, he smiled.
“This is the first time I’ve formally greeted you. Aiden Giberth is my name. I’m one of Prince Ixion’s aides.”
With a polite smile, I responded.
“It’s nice to meet you. My name is Elsia Evgeny.”
“Oh, Young Lady, you’ve changed so much since a few months ago. You weren’t always this sweet. That daring step has stayed with me to this day.”
“There has been no change.”
I shrugged my shoulders.
“If I had been sweet back then, no one would have listened to me.”
Aiden was taken aback.
“Excellent understanding of the situation. Young Lady consistently exceeds my expectations.”
“Expectation?”
“Well, it’s my job to be aware of everything that might happen around me.”
“At that point, you can count me out.”
I responded harshly to Aiden’s sly remarks.
“We’re unlikely to see each other again.”
“Well, I’m not sure.”
Aiden cast a glance at Ixion.
