Chapter 1: 1-Forgotten First Love
Countess Alice Vermilion was visiting her fiancé’s mansion.
Today, they were supposed to discuss the arrangements for their wedding, scheduled in three months…
“I just can’t forget my first love, the ‘Sword Princess.’ So, couldn’t we postpone the marriage for another six months? Once I’ve sorted out my feelings, I promise I’ll cherish only Alice.”
This was the second time the young marquess, Aylmer Moonfield, had postponed his marriage to Alice.
Alice quietly set down her teacup and took a deep breath.
(Again… he’s prioritizing his first love, the Sword Princess…?)
To be honest, it hurt, but she couldn’t let it show on her face.
“Yes… I understand. I’ll tell Father myself.”
A lower-ranked count’s family couldn’t oppose a marquess’s house.
And even if she reported the facts as they were, Alice’s father would likely approve the postponement.
Her father was indifferent toward Alice; as long as she didn’t cause problems, he didn’t care.
The reason her father was cold to his daughter was simple.
Alice’s real mother had died of illness, and the stepmother who came later despised Alice.
In the Vermilion count’s family, only her father, stepmother, and ten-year-old younger brother were considered family; Alice had become invisible.
She wasn’t exactly abused, so it wasn’t an issue, and such stories were hardly rare among noble houses.
“Thank you… Alice, you’re truly my understanding partner. I think this will be a good preparation period for us to have the best wedding. Once six months pass, we’ll start moving forward, and around nine months from now, let’s have a grand ceremony!”
Saying that, Aylmer softened his gaze.
The young man with light brown hair and hazel eyes had an intellectual and beautiful appearance.
Alice loved his refined manners and the smiles he directed at her.
Except for his obsession with searching for the Sword Princess—who was both his lifesaver and first love—he was sincere toward Alice. He was truly a wonderful young man.
Back when she was isolated in her family, he had been kind to her, so Alice held him especially dear.
That was why she wanted to respect his feelings.
Even so, there was one thing that slightly bothered her.
“Hey, Aylmer… If you find the Sword Princess, what do you plan to do about our marriage? Call it off?”
“I’m not that heartless a man… I just want to meet the Sword Princess and put my first love to rest. Once married, even if there were no guilty feelings, searching for a woman other than my wife could be seen as infidelity. I want to be faithful to the woman who will become my wife more than anyone.”
Indeed, once married, even talking about a first love might feel dishonest.
Aylmer’s words made perfect sense.
“…I love how serious you are, Aylmer…”
Alice said that, but in truth, she wanted to get married as soon as possible.
She wanted to support him by his side as he shouldered the heavy responsibilities of a marquess at a young age.
More than anything, Alice herself yearned for a warm family.
But those were just her selfish feelings.
Because things weren’t going well with her family, she simply wanted an escape.
Many noble ladies married at eighteen, so she was on the earlier side.
It wasn’t right to impose her circumstances on him and rush the marriage.
(There’s no need to hurry… And I’m sorry to say this, but Aylmer will never reunite with the Sword Princess anyway.)
Aylmer’s first love was from four years ago. The girl was a brave peer who wielded a sword and protected him with her life from thieves.
In reality, that girl would never appear before Aylmer again.
(Because the Sword Princess is me… Even though he didn’t believe me when I told him.)
Alice unconsciously touched the old scar near her side over her clothes.
It had faded completely now, but that was the wound she received while protecting Aylmer.
When her real mother was still alive, Alice had trained in swordsmanship.
But after her mother’s death, her father and stepmother called it unladylike and shameful, so Alice began hiding her skill.
She had met Aylmer during that period, so he didn’t know about her talent.
And due to the injuries and mental shock Aylmer suffered in the incident, he had forgotten parts of what happened that day.
He said he only remembered the back of his lifesaver.
Various coincidences and misunderstandings piled up, and even when Alice told the truth, he hadn’t believed her at all.
But now, she thought that might have been for the best.
Because he had come to like her purely as a person, not because she was his lifesaver.
“I’m sorry for bringing up such a topic… Next week’s court ball, I’ll escort you as your fiancé to the fullest.”
“That sounds fun. Can I look forward to it?”
“Of course.”
Aylmer was currently nineteen years old.
His father, the previous marquess, had passed away, so he had become marquess at a young age a year ago.
He might be looked down upon for his age, yet he fulfilled his role as head of the house admirably.
Furthermore, with his high aspirations, he had recently enlisted in the Vermilion Ibis Knight Order that protected the capital’s security and become a quasi-knight.
The rush for their marriage had partly been at the wish of Aylmer’s mother, the previous marchioness.
It wasn’t good for the heir to remain unmarried forever, and with his quasi-knight duties as well, they needed a wife who could assist the head and share Aylmer’s burdens.
But that probably wasn’t Aylmer’s personal wish.
In that case, a six-month postponement was no big deal.
His sincerity, and the fact that his first love was ultimately herself—these gave Alice peace of mind.