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~Chapter 19~
“That’s actually a good point. That’s why all the empires and our kingdom are paying close attention to the Emperor’s marriage. Some even say the reason His Majesty keeps his sister at a distance is because he wants to make sure the second in line to the throne never gets a chance, since he has no heir yet.”
Rayn agreed with the princess’s opinion.
Dahlia nodded quietly, as if she expected that.
“Ria, you’re really wise. Even if you don’t look it.”
Annie looked at Dahlia with new respect.
“Annie, as your friend, I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that last part.”
Dahlia joked, and Annie giggled.
Rayn also joined their conversation with a light laugh.
“So you want to get close to the emperor’s people just to get him married?”
“They should know his preferences best.”
“There’s only one place outsiders can approach easily.”
“Where is it?”
Rayn smiled softly and began to explain.
“So this is the training grounds.”
Dahlia looked around the place in awe.
Above the square, black marble training field, clusters of silver stars slowly floated in the air.
“I heard that magic keeps rocks or weapons from flying out during training. The Kzea Empire installed it as a sign of friendship.”
Annie explained quietly.
“As expected from Kzea. They’re famous for magic.”
On one side of the training grounds was a long, raised platform where well-dressed young ladies stood with parasols, looking down at the knights.
“Do young ladies always come watch like this? Is it the same in our kingdom?”
Dahlia walked slowly toward the platform, the perfect place to watch.
“In our kingdom, there’s no platform like this. The young ladies just watch from the bushes, hiding.”
“How do you know that, Annie?”
Dahlia grinned playfully.
“A friend told me.”
“Annie, I’m your only friend.”
“We’ll see better if we get closer.”
Annie ignored the comment and walked faster.
Near the platform, they could hear the young ladies’ secret conversations.
“Oh my, did you see Sir Ian’s skill? He finally mastered it after all that hard work.”
“He’s sure to reach aura soon.”
“Do you think Captain Ethan will be here today?”
“My father says he’s training today.”
“I’m so excited already.”
The noble young ladies, hiding behind their fans, whispered about the knights. They must come here often to know so much about them.
“These girls are amazing.”
“There are girls like that in our kingdom too. Some even go to knights’ homes to see them.”
“That’s even more amazing.”
Dahlia’s eyes widened. She had no idea such a world existed, since she’d always been in the separate palace.
She followed the ladies’ gaze to the training field.
About thirty knights were training hard.
“Aah!”
“Ouch! Go easy!”
Some knights were sparring, some used equipment, and Dahlia couldn’t help looking in a certain direction.
In one corner, some knights had taken off their shirts and were washing up.
Sweat and water drops glistened on their muscular bodies.
“Annie, the view is great here.”
It was like seeing the male leads from a romance novel. Why didn’t I know about this place before?
Dahlia stared at the knights with sparkling eyes, and Annie quickly opened her fan to cover Dahlia’s face.
“Ria, please have some decency.”
“But then I can’t see.”
“You shouldn’t look so openly. Look sideways.”
She turned her head and saw the other girls peeking over their fans at the shirtless knights.
“That’s how you’re supposed to look.”
“Annie, you really know everything, huh?”
Dahlia teased, and Annie calmly fanned herself. But her earlobes were red.
Annie saw them too, Dahlia thought.
But watching the knights wasn’t Dahlia’s main goal. She needed to get close to Captain Ethan so she could introduce a girl the emperor might like.
Just then—
“Under Lady?”
A loud voice made all the girls look one way.
A young lady in a plain brown dress, different from the others, stood there.
“Hello.”
Under Lady, who looked kind, gave a slight bow.
“You disappeared for a while and now you’re back? Captain Ethan never even looks at you.”
The girl who first saw her, Lady Sorina, spoke in a sharp voice.
“…I was busy.”
Under Lady answered stiffly, and Lady Sorina snapped her fan shut.
“I heard you’re struggling lately and looking for work?”
“Yes… So this might be my last time here.”
Under Lady gave a faint smile.
“Poor thing. Did you find a job? My younger sister needs a tutor.”
Sorina’s eyes gleamed slyly.
“Really? Could you introduce me? I’d be a good tutor.”
Under Lady’s eyes lit up.
But another girl beside Sorina smirked.
“Sorina, do you smell something weird?”
“Maybe it’s her old dress? Sorry, Under Lady, my sister is sensitive to smells. I’ll introduce you if you get a new dress.”
Under Lady’s face turned bright red.
The girls hid their faces behind their fans and giggled.
Under Lady lowered her gaze, hiding her hurt feelings.
She was used to being left out since her family lost its fortune, but it still hurt.
She’d come today just to see him one last time, even if she didn’t have the courage to speak to him. She wanted to say goodbye from a distance.
But maybe she shouldn’t have come. She squeezed a handkerchief with initials she wanted to give him.
As her head dropped lower, a strange voice cut through the group.
“Like a dog’s nose.”
The girls turned in surprise.
Two women stood there: a beautiful woman with pink hair and a calm-looking woman with a cool air.
“What did you say?”
“If you can smell so well, that’s amazing. Like a dog’s nose,” the pink-haired beauty said, even clapping her hands.
“Did you just call me a dog?”
Lady Sorina shook in anger.
“It’s a compliment. Right, Annie?”
“Yes. Recognizing dress smells isn’t easy for a human.”
The calm woman smiled.
“Who are you?!”
Annie stepped forward and introduced herself.
“I’m Annie from the Herdan family of the Poeburn Kingdom. This is Ria Herdan.”
