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Chapter : 14
Because We’re in Love
“I thought you were going to say you wouldn’t come.”
A few days later, inside a carriage heading for the Heinstein ducal family’s winter villa. When a sign marking the estate’s location flashed past outside the window, Lowell—who had kept his mouth shut the entire time—finally couldn’t hold it in any longer.
“It would be rude to receive an invitation and not attend.”
Leon brushed off Lowell’s gaze lightly and looked out the window. His face, calmly taking in the passing scenery, looked as relaxed as if he were visiting his own family’s villa.
“……”
Seeing that, Lowell couldn’t help but recall what had happened at Heinstein a few days earlier.
“Please come visit the villa.”
When Aria made that suggestion to Leon, Lowell had actually been about to refuse right away. Given that he hadn’t sorted out his feelings yet, it was hard for him to face Aria comfortably.
“Then I’ll gratefully accept the invitation.”
But before Lowell could voice his refusal, Leon had already politely extended his hand.
Startled, Lowell turned his head—and found Leon wearing an uncharacteristically gentle smile. It was such a soft, amiable smile that Lowell could practically read what Leon was thinking.
“You’re trying to build connections with our young lady, aren’t you?”
Snapping out of his thoughts, Lowell shot the question at Leon.
“Exactly. There’s nothing to lose in building ties with the Heinstein young lady. In fact, it’s an enormous advantage. It could even lead to a relationship with the ducal house.”
Though Lowell’s question had been meant as a reproach, Leon answered without missing a beat.
“Wow.”
As a result, Lowell didn’t get any closer to his goal of scolding Leon and could only let out a sound that was somewhere between admiration and a sigh.
During the short ride until the carriage reached the estate, Lowell kept thinking things like, How can he be so shameless? But all he did was glare at Leon without saying a word.
“……”
Leon, sitting across from him, could feel exactly what Lowell was swallowing back under that sharp gaze. Still, until the carriage stopped, Lowell didn’t openly criticize him.
“Lowell! You came early!”
Soon after, the two were guided into the reception room by the servants, where they were greeted by Aria, smiling brightly as she approached.
“It’s been a while, Lady Heinstein.”
Leon placed a hand over his chest and bowed slightly.
“Ah, yes. Thank you for coming all this way.”
Aria shifted her gaze from Lowell and gave a small bow in return.
“Lowell, have you eaten?”
“No, not yet…”
“Then let’s eat first. I asked them to make trout stew—you like that, right?”
Her eyes sparkling, Aria grabbed Lowell’s hand and pulled him along.
The Heinstein family’s winter villa was a place personally bestowed upon them by the fourth emperor of the Khan Empire, in recognition of the Heinstein magic knights’ achievements in pushing back the demon race and greatly expanding the empire’s territory.
Antique decorations bearing the weight of time adorned the halls, and the round columns supporting the ceiling—wrapped in gold filigree—were grand enough to rival villas owned by the imperial family itself.
“You must have had a hard time getting here, so please eat plenty.”
In the lavish dining hall of the equally lavish estate, Lowell, Leon, and Aria—the mistress of the house—were just beginning their meal.
Seated across from Lowell and Leon, Aria maintained the composed demeanor befitting a ducal lady, a gentle smile curving her lips.
Hmm.
Watching her, Leon thought she truly seemed like someone born to a ducal house.
In the Khan Empire, it was long-standing custom to speak formally to knights of the order or holy knights of the temple, so it wasn’t wrong for Aria to speak formally to him. Still, he had already been expelled from the knight order.
And yet she continues to speak formally, considering the other person’s position…
Leon felt a bit of admiration as he looked at Aria’s meticulously maintained golden hair.
“Sir Knight?”
When Leon drifted into thought, Aria—who had been watching Lowell—turned her gaze to him and lifted her eyebrows, her well-trained manners evident in her expression.
“Ah. Then I’ll eat gratefully.”
Only then did Leon smile faintly and pick up his utensils.
“Have you treated your injuries well?”
Afterward, when Aria finished eating and wiped her hands, she asked Leon, breaking the near silence where only the occasional clink of cutlery had been heard.
“Yes. I treated them as soon as I returned.”
“That’s a relief.”
Aria smiled softly, lifting her glass.
“Did you report that man to the garrison?”
Leon watched her for a moment, then recalled the battered state Andy had been in when he’d seen him leaving the estate, and asked.
“Oh, I just left him there. The person who dragged him into it probably didn’t want to make things bigger anyway, so they would’ve taken care of it. And besides, knights aren’t exactly trustworthy.”
She finished casually and gave Leon a bright smile. Something about it felt artificial, and one of Leon’s eyebrows tilted upward.
“Um… how long will you be staying at the villa, my lady?”
Sensing the awkwardness, Lowell—who had been stiff the entire time—forced a cheerful tone and changed the subject. His lips, unnaturally tight throughout the meal, finally parted then.
“Well, I was only planning to stay briefly, but I think I’ll need to remain longer. I received word from the knight order that the war preparations are taking longer than expected. It was rather sudden.”
Setting down her glass, Aria dabbed at her lips with a handkerchief, frowning slightly as if displeased by the abrupt news.
“They’re probably still deciding on the timing of the deployment. If the order has already declared the opening of hostilities but says preparations are needed.”
“What?”
“Oh—I thought you might not know much about the knight order, since you’re not a knight.”
At that moment, Leon set down the knife he’d been using to cut his steak and interjected, his tone oddly firm.
“…Come to think of it, you were with the Third Knight Order until recently. You really do know a lot about war. While you’re staying here, could you tell me more about the knight order? As you said, I don’t really know much.”
Aria looked straight at Leon and spoke slowly. The polite smile of a ducal lady was still on her lips, but it didn’t reach her eyes.
“……”
A tense silence settled over the dining hall. Now, even the sound of utensils was gone.
“Ah, haha. Then that works out nicely. Let’s all get along.”
Drying up in real time, Lowell clasped his hands together and laughed exaggeratedly after a long moment.
“……”
Despite his effort, Aria only smiled lightly at Lowell, and Leon merely cast a dry glance his way. The silence didn’t lift.
“Ha… haha…”
Lowell felt like he might actually shrivel up and die.
“What on earth are you doing?!”
As soon as they returned to the rooms Aria had prepared for them, Lowell shoved Leon back against the wall and snapped.
“What?”
Despite the rough movement, Leon simply looked past Lowell’s shoulder and replied indifferently.
“Are you trying to pick a fight with the young lady?”
Now Lowell was right up under Leon’s chin, practically shouting. He stomped his feet, clearly trying to meet Leon’s eyes, but the height difference made it impossible.
“Well…”
Seeing Lowell still fuming, Leon felt he ought to make eye contact and say something. But for some reason he couldn’t bring himself to meet Lowell’s gaze, so he kept his eyes averted, recalling what had happened earlier.
Leon had never intended to create that kind of atmosphere. He had no intention of engaging in a battle of wills with someone he needed to stay on good terms with.
“Knights aren’t exactly trustworthy.”
But when he heard that, as someone who had once been part of the knight order, he couldn’t just let it slide. His mouth had opened before his thoughts had fully formed.
Still, Lowell was right—an unnecessary argument almost broke out. Leon even regretted it briefly after finishing the meal.
As Leon was reflecting on his mistake, Lowell spoke first, his voice low.
“The young lady didn’t say that on purpose. Over seven repeated regressions, the knight order never once protected her. Of course she can’t trust them.”
Lowell’s eyes fell weakly to the floor.
“And she already seems to be suspicious of us…”
Lowell had noticed that Aria sensed the unnatural air between himself and Leon. There had been a faint hint of doubt in the way she looked between them.
I can’t let her find out our relationship is based on a contract.
Lowell pressed his lips tightly together, staring at the floor. He didn’t want to burden the already struggling Aria with disappointment in him as well.
“……”
Meanwhile, Leon silently watched Lowell’s body tremble slightly. As he observed that anxiety, Leon felt an unfamiliar prickling sensation spread across his skin.
“I….”
It seemed I was in the wrong. As the prickling intensified, Leon was about to say as much.
“That won’t do.”
“……?”
But as always, Lowell was one step faster. He grabbed Leon by the collar, pulling him close in an instant.
“We have to make it impossible for her to doubt us at all.”
“W-what?”
“That we fell in love and got married!”
Before Leon could fully process the meaning of those words, Lowell brought his lips close to Leon’s neck—so close that they’d touch with the slightest movement.
Leon inhaled sharply at the same moment his hand, which had been behind Lowell’s back, lost its direction entirely.
Bang.
“Lowell, how about you go out for a walk or—”
At that exact moment, Aria opened the door.
“……”
Because Lowell and Leon were leaning against the wall opposite the door, it was inevitable that Aria would witness the scene the moment she entered.
“My lady.”
Lowell pulled his lips away and turned around, perfectly acting out a mix of surprise and embarrassment.
“…Oh. I-I’ll just go by myself.”
Aria froze like a broken machine. Her eyes darted around before landing on the doorway, and after murmuring, “Sorry,” she quickly left the room.
“Phew.”
Once the door closed, Lowell straightened up and let out a sigh of relief. Fortunately, their newlywed-in-love act seemed to have worked.
“……”
Behind the satisfied Lowell, Leon was practically frozen solid. It felt to him like even his brain had stopped functioning—he couldn’t even register his racing pulse.
“She won’t think it’s strange anymore, right?”
Lowell turned to Leon while straightening his rumpled clothes.
“Y-you really…”
Leon stared at Lowell, trailing off mid-sentence. He briefly wondered if his eyes were shaking pathetically, but he wasn’t in any state to care.
“I heard footsteps in the hallway and thought it was the perfect chance. Even so, it was pretty sudden, right? Sorr—”
Regardless of Leon’s state, Lowell lowered his eyebrows and looked genuinely apologetic—making sure to deeply meet Leon’s blue eyes, now finally locking gazes.
Bang!
But it seemed to have the opposite effect. Before Lowell could finish speaking, Leon slammed the door and stormed out.
Left alone, Lowell could only blink and finish his sentence to the empty room.
“I’m sorry.”
