TTPB 18

Chapter 18 – Even Better If You’re Already Smitten

“One, two, three. One, two, three.”

Rose moved her feet in sync with the count. Court dance consisted only of slow, refined movements, and at that moment, she felt like a graceful ballerina.

“Excellent. You’ve improved a lot.”
“Of course. Do you know how much I’ve practiced?”

Now she could carry on a conversation while finishing the entire dance. Feeling proud of herself, she boasted—only for the head maid to immediately scold her.

“You must behave with dignity at all times. Fulfill your duties as a noble.”
“Solemn and cultured, right?”

Ever since her meeting with the Holy Knight Heria, the Countess had been constantly nagging her: “Be wary of strangers,” “Don’t let subordinates look down on you,” “Watch your words and behavior.”

‘I mean, is she my nanny or what?’

“You don’t have to worry so much.”
“You shouldn’t be so familiar with outsiders.”
“Countess, Her Highness is of age now. She can handle herself.”

The maids stepped in to stop the head maid.

“Tch, she has one conversation with a holy knight and now look at her,” muttered the maid dancing with Rose.

“Does Your Highness know the Holy Knight well?”
“Hm, no. We just met not too long ago.”

In truth, it wasn’t even enough to say they knew each other. She only knew his name, affiliation, and that he danced well.

“I say this for your own good, Your Highness. Holy Knights are known to be cold and strict.”

Cold and strict? Those words didn’t fit the playful Heria at all.

“He didn’t seem like that at all to me.”
“There’s a famous story, actually. A few commoners in the outskirts of Tebere refused to pray, and they were ruthlessly beheaded.”
“You mean they were executed for not believing in the divine?”

The head maid lowered her voice and nodded.

“Tebere is practically a nation of fanatics. The offerings and taxes paid by the faithful are astronomical.”

The Holy Nation of Tebere was the sacred land of a religion that had spread across the entire continent over the ages. In the city where the papacy resided, nine out of ten residents were devout believers. The Holy Knights, both high priests and warriors, served the Pope. Lavish tributes and endless praise were given to them. Rose recalled the ornate decorations when they had entered the capital.

“I thought they’d be benevolent since all are equal before the divine.”
“They’re the opposite—rigid and inflexible.”

Just then, a familiar voice from behind interrupted them. Rose turned her head to find Heria, clad in his platinum-trimmed robe, a golden-stitched cross on his chest.

The maids looked horrified. None of them had expected a holy knight to appear in such a secluded hall.

“Eavesdropping, are we? That’s a nasty habit.”

Despite the accusation, Heria wore a playful smile. He bypassed the frozen maids and politely extended a hand to Rose.

“My apologies. I rushed here to see Your Highness and may have overheard something I shouldn’t have. May I offer myself as your dance partner in penance?”

That bold invitation was met with a sharp look from Rose. But his cheerful face was annoyingly attractive. He was one of those people you just couldn’t bring yourself to hate.

‘With a face like that, who could stay mad at him?’

Pretending to be reluctant, Rose placed her hand in his. The head maid’s expression darkened, but perhaps out of guilt for disparaging holy knights so casually, she said nothing and stepped back. Heria gently took Rose’s hand and led her to the center of the hall. She questioned his earlier words.

“Rigid and inflexible, huh? You’re the one who said that, yet you’re nothing like that.”
“Am I?”

The man, still smug, showed no trace of a devout priest.

“Maybe you should take a look in a mirror before you speak.”
“And what’s wrong with my face?”

Heria lifted his chin and looked down at her like a defiant teenager. Rose snorted.

“You’ve improved quite a bit.”
“Why the formal speech all of a sudden? Just talk like you usually do.”

No wonder she felt uncomfortable—he’d been using formal language the whole time, and it didn’t suit him at all. Then he suddenly closed the distance between them. So close their stomachs nearly touched, the maids covered their eyes in embarrassment.

“Should I? Is this more your type?”
“Pfft! Type? Please.”

She had only meant he could speak casually instead of being overly formal, but this fox had to twist her words again. Look at that smug smile.

‘He’s doing this on purpose. He thinks he can charm me?’

Trying not to be swayed by his handsome face, Rose gave him a mock-threatening warning.

“Remember, I’m being generous only because you’re a diplomatic guest.”
“Scary, Your Highness.”

He feigned a shiver.

“But that knight behind you is even scarier.”

Heria gestured with his chin toward someone behind her. Arsen stood there, glaring at him as if he wanted to kill him.

‘Why is he so angry again?’

With a lazy grin, Heria strolled toward Arsen and extended a hand.

“Heria Deon. You must be Sir Arsen Lafayette.”
“I am. What business does a holy knight have here?”

Arsen did not shake his hand. Awkwardly, Heria withdrew it.

“I was simply enchanted by Her Highness’s lovely dance. As a fellow knight, I couldn’t resist asking for a turn.”

Then he gave Arsen a once-over and whistled.

“Wow. Just like they said. You look like you could take down a Leviathan.”
“And you’re not quite what I expected either.”

Heria shrugged.

“Whatever you’ve heard, please don’t lump me in with those rule-obsessed holy knights.”
“…”
“I’m a bit of an odd one.”

His sandy eyes narrowed for a moment, flashing sharply. He patted Arsen’s shoulder and then practically skipped out the door.

“Well then, I’ll be running off now!”

At his flippant words, Rose sighed and looked at the still-stiff Arsen.

“What brings you here?”
“You missed your training time, so I came to get you.”
“Oh, really? Is it that late already?”

Checking the time, she realized she had indeed missed her swordsmanship lesson.

“Do you know that holy knight?”
“Heria? Not really. He just ended up as my dance partner by chance.”

He didn’t respond for a while.

“What? Does it bother you?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, don’t you get jealous that I danced with another man?”

Her eyes sparkled with mischief.

“Come on, say you’re jealous.”
“He’s a priest. Why would I be concerned?”
“You’re not being honest.”

Arsen’s brows furrowed slightly as he recalled the sly man who had dashed off.

“Still, you should be cautious. They are not friendly toward the Empire.”
“I heard that from the Countess too.”
“They may be trying to exploit His Majesty’s weaknesses.”

Rose paused, remembering Heria sneaking around her quarters at night.

“You think it’s the Pope’s orders?”
“It’s certainly possible.”

The current imperial family was fragile, like a candle in the wind. They were growing increasingly frustrated with the papacy’s interference. The expanding faith of the Holy Nation was viewed with disdain by those who worshipped spirits. Some radical noble factions were even using this to question the Emperor’s competency.

“Why does His Majesty allow the Pope to do as he pleases?”
“Compared to before, Tebere’s interference has lessened significantly.”
“Was it worse in the early days of his reign?”
“Yes. When Prince David was still alive, they made over a dozen demands for his coming-of-age ceremony. They practically tried to turn Kalon into a theocracy.”

“That’s basically treating us like a vassal state.”

Their overreach had only started to subside after the death of the first prince.

‘So this is why Emperor Euclid secluded himself for nearly seven years.’

Euclid had neglected governance to prevent the Pope from meddling. While this protected Kalon from outside interference, it allowed internal enemies to fester—ambitious noble factions and Teberean spies.

‘Neglecting the country? Then what was the point of becoming emperor?’

She was pulled from her thoughts by his low voice.

“…About that wish you said you’d grant if I won our bet.”
“Hm? Oh, right. The bet. Your wish.”

Rose narrowed her eyes at him.

‘He’s actually going to use it, huh.’

“Go ahead. After all that thinking, I assume you’ve finally come up with one?”
The man opened and closed his mouth a few times, clearly hesitating. At last, he made his request—more a plea than a demand.

“Please let me escort you at your coming-of-age ceremony.”

＊ ＊ ＊

It was common for knights to escort royalty. Even so, Arsen couldn’t shake his nerves. He’d faced hundreds on the battlefield without flinching, but now his body felt stiff. He kept sweeping back his neatly parted hair, fidgeting. The unfamiliar ceremonial uniform felt tight and uncomfortable. He swallowed dryly and fussed with his cufflinks.

Arsen felt like a foolish boy, anxious about a wish he himself had requested. When he had asked her, a faint surprise lit up her fresh, lovely face. He hadn’t planned to say it so hastily. He’d wanted to ask properly, with calm composure.

But then he had seen that sly fox of a holy knight hovering around the princess—and before he knew it, the words had spilled out.

“Arsen.”

Startled, he looked up the stairs. The princess—now a grown woman—was descending slowly. Her petite frame was wrapped in flowing white silk that swept across the floor. No jewelry was allowed for the sacred blessing ceremony, not even the bracelet he had gifted her. Dressed head-to-toe in white, she was dazzling.

When their eyes met, she smiled softly. Though it was midsummer, she reminded him of a spring blossom.

“Nervous?”
“Nervous? Not at all. If anything, I’m looking forward to it.”

As always, she spoke with confidence. Though really, I’m the one who’s nervous, Arsen thought, offering her his arm.

She linked hers through his naturally, and her warmth brushed against his skin. A sweet scent wafted from her.

“According to legend, royalty only becomes truly beautiful when they awaken their noble power.”

On the cusp of adulthood, she whispered gently.

“Watch closely. This is my fairy’s blessing.”
“I will.”
“And once I awaken my true beauty, you have to fall for me.”

“…”

He couldn’t understand why she kept saying such things to him. Even more baffling was his own reaction—how he couldn’t stop thinking about them. Normally, he would brush off such nonsense, but now he didn’t even realize his hands were clenched as he stared straight ahead.

Suddenly, she reached out and turned his face toward her.

“It’d be perfect if you’ve already fallen for me.”