Chapter 64
Kaiser's expression hardened coldly. 'It's about time the Empire starts noticing war's approach.'
Noah Ainheart was the knight commander of the Imperial Palace's 1st Division. For him to summon the army's supreme commander, Kaiser, over northern matters—it had to be serious war talk.
"......Sorry. I'd love to stay, but this is grave. I have to go."
"Go ahead."
I smiled at Kaiser's apologetic face to show it was fine. The marquis, who'd been glancing between us, met my eyes.
'Genes are amazing.' From silver-gray hair to golden eyes, he looked like Rainer copy-pasted onto a grown man's frame. I marveled inwardly.
The marquis, who'd been staring intently, now looked intrigued.
"And here is......"
"Ah, hello, Marquis Ainheart. I'm Kashmir Crisis."
"Pleased to meet you, my lady. Noah Ainheart."
After the brief exchange, I figured he'd leave right away, but the marquis kept eyeing me with clear interest.
"My son speaks of you with great respect, my lady."
"......Pardon?"
"Hoho. Ainheart and Crisis houses have guarded the Empire side by side for generations. Perhaps it's time we...... united......"
Crack.
"Marquis Ainheart."
Kaiser recited the name like a warning, pulverizing the empty wine glass in his hand in one go. His chilled expression looked ready to tear a dozen men apart.
"Haha! Just an old man's jest. My apologies, my lady. Duke, shall we relocate?"
No ordinary man could have moved before that aura from Kaiser, but the marquis laughed heartily and strode off casually.
'Of course. He's a Sword Master too.'
Noah Ainheart led the Imperial Palace's 1st Division—one of the Empire's rare Sword Masters. Not quite Kaiser's caliber, but a steadfast man who'd claimed the title in his forties through endless toil.
'But he'll fall in the coming war.'
Just thinking of war soured my mood. Recalling the marquis's faint end made it worse, so I shook my head to banish the thought.
'The Ainheart father-son duo sure are something.'
Father a Sword Master and 1st Division leader; son a Sword Expert and 2nd Division leader. Felt like unfair genes doubled up. Not that the Crisis house—father-daughter both Sword Masters—had room to complain.
"Winner this time: me."
With Aria and Kaiser gone, Kal remained by my side.
"I'll stick with you till the ball ends."
Kal grinned like a sated beast. Plenty seemed eager to approach him, but his eyes—murderous at a mere glance—kept them at bay.
"Of course it'd be fun spending the ball with you, Kal."
I flashed a bright smile at his adorable antics. His ears pinked slightly at my direct gaze.
Aside from the burgundy harness matching Aria's dress code, Kal's and my uniforms were near-identical in black-and-gold design—just slight style differences—giving us a couple-look vibe.
"Heard you've been hitting the magic tower with Aria lately. She's learning magic too? How's it going?"
"......Gotta bring her up when it's just us? Well, yeah. She wanted to protect herself, so I hooked her up with the tower. Turns out she's got real talent for it. Not like mine, of course. After you got hurt sparring Father, something shifted in her—she's focusing on amplifying healing power now. Kinda pathetic, but she's diligent."
Kal's face twisted the instant Aria came up, but he answered my question faithfully anyway. I smiled warmly watching him list her every move despite the sour look—hating it yet knowing it all.
'Was terrified at first they'd send assassins at each other. Guess they've gotten close now.'
They still looked ready to draw blades at any gap, but this felt like enough ill will turned fondness.
"Good evening, Lady Crisis."
A figure approached as I chatted with Kal. I turned and met golden eyes, surprise flickering across my face.
"Knight Ainheart?"
Rosewood scent tickled my nose. My mouth fell slightly open.
Rainer, clad in his crisp white Imperial Palace knight uniform, shone like a lion of light.
'He's really handsome.'
I admired anew. If he'd been born where looks were a crime, jaws would drop nationwide. I'd seen him in casual duty uniform plenty as Mir on days off, but this was my first time in full formal dress.
The white fabric embroidered with gold thread suited his silver-gray hair and golden eyes perfectly, like it was tailored just for him.
"Good evening, Knight. You're positively radiant tonight."
I greeted him briefly, praise sincere. Rainer's ears flushed rapidly. He dodged my gaze and mumbled,
"......Thank you. Do you like this attire?"
"Yes. The colors suit you perfectly."
We'd grown closer from regular meetups, chatting naturally and easily now. My repeated compliments heated his neck too. The white uniform made the reddening skin starkly visible.
'So shy.'
I smiled, finding his inability to meet my eyes adorable. After all our meetings, Rainer was the type to blush at the slightest praise or touch.
"Then...... I'll wear it often."
"Hm, looks a bit uncomfortable for everyday."
He muttered, lightly tousling his perfectly styled hair. I frowned at the uniform's flashy accessories—medals and epaulets dangling everywhere. Dashing, sure, but cumbersome.
"Still, I'll wear it often."
He finally met my eyes, gaze no longer impassive—golden irises sparkling like stars. His usual stern lips curved into a soft smile.
"You said you like it. I want to look good for you, my lady."
And there it was—that occasional heart-piercing line from my usually shy Rainer.
'......Like a big dog craving love.'
I stared blankly at his rare smile, throat suddenly parched, and sipped my wine. The tiger-like Rainer, indifferent to most things, pulled this sometimes.
"......Right. Guess I don't even register in your eyes, huh?"
Our lingering gaze—charged with odd tension—shattered under Kal's icy voice.
Rainer turned to him then, offering a short, awkward bow. "......Good evening, Young Master. Forgive my belated greeting."
"Oh. Not feeling forgiving."
Kal crossed his arms stubbornly, his chilled red eyes slowly raking over Rainer.
Rainer's awkwardness deepened. Greeting higher-status nobles first was basic etiquette. He'd greeted me but skipped Kal—same rank—so yeah, a breach.
"Getting real cozy with my sister, are we, Knight?"
He stressed my, voice dropping low in clear displeasure.
Rainer glanced at me cautiously and nodded. "Thanks to the lady indulging me, we've built a rapport."
"Shushu's sweet like that—gets along with anyone."
His shift from 'lady' to 'Lady Crisis' showed Rainer was on edge. Kal's dismissive tone made Rainer's face stiffen.
"Didn't even notice me, though. How thrilled was Shushu? I'm not that short."
"I apologize for the rudeness. As you say, I was so happy to see the lady that I overlooked you, Young Master."
"Wonder if Shushu was thrilled too, but glad you're close. Quite the 'friends,' huh?"
Stressing friends, Kal watched Rainer's brow twitch hard.
Rainer's lips quirked faintly. "I feel it's insufficient to call it mere friendship. We're role models to each other, learning slowly."
Intense stares flew between Kal and Rainer. I sipped wine, enjoying Kal's aggressive push and Rainer's unflinching parry.
Nothing beat spectating love and fights.
'This is fun.'
Just as I thought it—watching Kal growl like a jaguar set to pounce, Rainer's eyes flash like a tiger measuring a silent kill—
"What......?"
Kal's red eyes, burning fierce enough to consume all, snapped to me.
"Shushu! That true?"
I rolled my eyes at his rough demand. Technically, no lie. Rainer trained me, so a role model? Check. Regular weekend meets and talks? Slowly learning each other? Yeah.
"Um...... yes."
My reluctant nod lit Rainer's faintly flushed cheeks with triumph as he eyed Kal smugly. Face blank, but eyes gleaming proud—like a five-year-old whose mom took his side in a sibling spat.
Kal's face locked rigid. Something manic flickered in his eyes. He bit his lip, then twisted his mouth into a smile without softening.
That eerie expression—straight out of canon Kal—sent chills down my spine.
"......Fun."
Not fun at all.
'Hah.' Kal scoffed, slowly peeling off his black leather glove to bare his pale hand.
"Viscount Rainer Ainheart."
Kal smiled. Chilling.
"Face me. Throwing the glove."
In noble society, tossing a glove at someone's face meant a duel challenge.
Rainer's face turned grave. Duels ignored status once started, but tangling with a young master was no small burden.
'Genius mage Kal versus genius swordsman Rainer—who'd win?'
I knew I had to stop it, but my swordswoman soul kept fantasizing fights.
Still, couldn't let chaos erupt now, so I moved to intervene—
"His Imperial Majesty the Emperor, His Holiness the Pope, and the envoys from Atara Kingdom are entering!"
The herald's booming announcement of the royals, Pope, and delegation dispersed the tension perfectly timed.