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chapter 01
“The sunlight is nice.”
“I opened the windows on purpose this morning, since you were coming today, my lady. You like this kind of view, don’t you?”
The courtyard visible through the window was bright and open. Though it was only early summer, the sunlight poured down intensely onto the gray stone floor.
Sunlight rested gently on the curly hair of the attendant smiling proudly, and through the open window drifted the faint, loose scent of thyme.
As Laurent had said, Kiriel liked this kind of scenery.
“Liked it.”
Laurent looked like he wanted to sharpen her already crisp collar even more.
A ladybug flew in from somewhere and landed on his hair as he fussed over her attire again and again.
“Why are you so fixated on my uniform? It’s just a luncheon.”
“Well, i-it’s been a while since all members of the Empert ducal house are gathering together…”
“First of all, it’s not all. And you’re stuttering.”
“Haha, maybe it’s the heat…?”
Oh dear.
Kiriel gently moved the ladybug onto her index finger and lowered herself slightly to meet his eyes. Laurent was clearly avoiding her gaze.
He was hiding something. But if it was an order from the head of the house—her mother—there wasn’t much she could do about it. Instead of pressing him, Kiriel simply gestured.
That he could stop fixing her collar.
Looking slightly disappointed, Laurent handed her a glass of water.
“Uriel isn’t coming, right? So Ezekiel is?”
“Could you please say Judge, or Bishop, or at least Lady or Young Master? Or at least call them sister or brother?”
“It’s been a while since you’ve tried to correct my way of speaking.”
Laurent flinched and looked dejected. He had grown up with her—there was no hiding anything from his master.
Kiriel glanced at the ladybug still crawling on her fingertip and tilted her head back.
It wasn’t uncommon for other families to join these luncheon gatherings.
And it wasn’t unusual for them to be curious about Kiriel, the youngest daughter.
But just because it was common didn’t make it comfortable.
Crack.
Rolling her shoulders, Kiriel stepped out of the room.
Laurent hurried after her.
“Seems like an important guest is coming. Don’t worry—you won’t embarrass the head of the house.”
“Oh dear, what’s with that ladybug? I should tell them to spray more insect repellent.”
“If it shows up in the food, maybe the luncheon will end faster?”
Laurent stared at his master in horror at such nonsense and shook his head. With a flick of her finger, the ladybug flew out the window.
“Lucky thing. Doesn’t have to sit through uncomfortable meals. Can just fly wherever it wants.”
“Ladybugs can’t become knights, you know.”
“I wish I had wings too. I’d fight much better.”
“You’d be mistaken for a monster and judged.”
“Detachable wings?”
“I truly don’t understand the sense of humor knights have.”
“Not funny? My adjutants laugh a lot when I say stuff like this.”
Laurent watched his master’s back as she chuckled at her own joke.
Her pale blonde hair was neatly tied up, revealing a sharp, well-defined physique.
The third daughter of the Empert family—the bulwark of the battlefield. Commander of the Swan Knights. The lightest blade forged by Veil.
If the world knew that Kiriel Empert, known by so many titles, hated these family luncheons with strangers more than monsters or war itself—what would they say?
Shaking off the absurd thought he’d caught from her, Laurent stopped at the door.
Kiriel brushed off the cloth he offered and stepped into the dining room.
You need to wipe your hands! That’s dirty! Laurent mouthed in horror, but she waved him off.
“Our youngest!”
“Father.”
“Oh my, our stylish commander has arrived?”
“Why is that frivolous bishop on vacation so often?”
“What a fitting thing to say to a brother you haven’t seen in half a year.”
It was a long oval table. The seat of the head of the house—her mother—was empty.
Her father sat beside it, and the second son, Ezekiel, was next to him.
Kiriel moved to sit across from Ezekiel.
That had always been her seat, since across from her father was Uriel’s place.
But her father beamed and pointed to the seat beside Ezekiel.
“There are plenty of seats—why there?”
“Do you not wish to sit next to me, Commander?”
“Stop teasing, you frivolous bishop.”
An odd seating arrangement for the luncheon was completed.
Rather than a warm family meal, it looked more like a negotiation table.
Kiriel leaned in and whispered.
“What is this? A blind date or something?”
“Something like that.”
Kiriel frowned and looked Ezekiel up and down, tapping his bishop’s collar.
“Finally decided to embrace your true nature and walk the secular path?”
“You think I’m the one on a blind date?”
Ezekiel shook his head in disbelief.
“Good. Being Veil’s servant never suited you. Best decision of your 23 years.”
“O Veil, forgive this innocent lamb. Her mind is pure because it lacks prejudice. She’s not a bad child.”
Kiriel pressed her forehead as Ezekiel clasped his hands in prayer.
“No? Then what—hmm. Is Mother remarrying?”
“Kiriel…”
Her father, Galliano Empert, looked deeply wounded.
She grinned mischievously.
“Well, you’d never remarry even if the world split in two. And if it’s not Ezekiel, then it must be Mother.”
“There’s one more person left.”
“…Uriel’s remarrying? That lasted longer than I expected.”
“No, you idiot…”
Ezekiel shook his head as if the mere mention was sacrilegious, then elegantly gestured at her.
“Does it not occur to you it’s you?”
“Me?”
That was something she had never considered.
Me? A blind date? Why?
Blinking, Kiriel looked down at the salmon.
She was hungry, but couldn’t start eating without the head of the house.
Watching Ezekiel eat first anyway, she shrugged.
“You know my type. Extremely picky.”
“Not just know—I’ve memorized it.”
Chewing elegantly, Ezekiel spoke playfully.
“Silver hair like it holds all the light of the moon, deep green eyes. A bright, boyish smile, yet when expressionless, a solemn and noble aura like a legendary swordsman…”
Noise rose from outside.
Kiriel glanced toward the door as Ezekiel continued, counting on his fingers.
“Gentle, attentive, soft—but sometimes indifferent, even dangerous. Quiet, but with a low, kind voice. Mysterious, not revealing everything…”
Their father joined in.
“Doesn’t need to excel at everything, but must at least be the best in the empire at something. Well-groomed, pleasant-smelling, good physique, taller than you by a head…”
The two finished in unison, smiling identically.
Kiriel frowned and took a sip of sparkling water.
“Yeah, that’s about right. But where would you find a man like that?”
Such a man couldn’t exist—not in the empire, not in the world.
She choked when her father replied:
“It wasn’t easy, but we found one.”
“What?”
Galliano leaned forward proudly.
Kiriel looked between him and Ezekiel, her brow tightening.
No way… they actually found one?
Ezekiel pressed her forehead lightly.
“I verified him myself.”
“Why are you so interested in worldly matters? And I don’t want a man chosen by a priest!”
“Why not? Who’s more fair than me?”
“I’ve never seen that fairness in action!”
“O Veil, please watch over this foul-mouthed lamb…”
The chatter outside suddenly stopped.
Kiriel turned.
The door opened.
Laurent entered first, smiling oddly.
Then—
Her mother, Rowena, walked in.
Kiriel straightened instinctively—
Then froze.
Her eyes met the man beside her mother.
Silver hair like woven nightlight. Clear, vivid green eyes. Tall, perfectly built. A large hand adorned with a purple ring.
A vague, languid expression slowly softened into a bright, boyish smile.
“Nice to meet you.”
He matched her ideal perfectly.
Everyone else looked delighted.
Except Kiriel.
This is insane.
To be precise—
…That’s not even my type, Father…
Because—
She had just been describing someone else’s ideal.
