Chapter 4: 4
“In six months, I’ll become a full knight! Finally, I can get closer to the Sword Princess.”
Aylmer’s unusually cheerful voice echoed.
A quasi-knight could become a full knight upon achieving a major accomplishment at that time.
Even without one, enduring six months of training would automatically promote them.
Getting closer to the Sword Princess—perhaps it meant that since he had once been saved by her, now he wanted to be on the saving side.
(He’s truly admirable…)
Though she knew it was wrong, Alice ended up listening to the rest of the conversation near the gazebo.
“What’s a full knight got to do with the Sword Princess?”
A young man, likely one of his friends, asked.
“Full knights are granted the right to view past incident records stored at the Ministry of Justice.”
Hearing Aylmer’s proud words, the color drained from Alice’s face.
Of course, the records he wanted to view were about the thief intrusion incident at the court four years ago.
Besides the captured thieves’ interrogations, documents detailing the incident’s course were stored at the Ministry of Justice. Aylmer was trying to access them legitimately.
(I didn’t know… That full knights had such a right…)
Naturally, they probably couldn’t view highly confidential materials.
But the incident Alice was involved in wasn’t a state secret; it just hadn’t been publicized at her family’s request.
The fact of the thieves’ intrusion was public.
The Sword Princess’s existence wasn’t hidden either, which was why it could be casually discussed like this.
“It was really unexpected… I only noticed this system half a year ago. Even after taking the time to somehow enlist, they told me it was no good as a quasi-knight.”
“Even the clever Aylmer wasn’t good at swordsmanship. I’m impressed by that persistence.”
(Aylmer… so that’s why he asked to postpone the marriage…?)
He said he learned about the system half a year ago.
Nobles who were heads or heirs rarely aimed to become knights.
Usually, it was second or third sons, not in line to inherit, who chose that path.
Families like Alice’s maternal Holden viscount family, where everyone became knights, were exceptional.
In hindsight, Aylmer had suddenly declared he wanted to become a knight.
If it was admiration for the Sword Princess and wanting to be like her, he should have started sword training four years ago.
And taking the enlistment exam just one year after inheriting the house was unnatural no matter how you looked at it.
Now, she finally understood the reason.
This was the real motive behind postponing the marriage this time.
“I see. Aylmer, you’re a genius! But what about your current fiancée?”
A question that cut to the core.
(No… I don’t want to hear this…)
Alice was sure it would be better not to hear what came next.
She tried to cover her ears with trembling hands, but couldn’t bring herself to…
“The Sword Princess should be a lady of marriageable age by now, right? That means she might be engaged or married. If just engaged, piling on money might overturn it, but marriage would be difficult…”
“So, insurance, huh…”
“Alice is cute, reasonably smart, and my mother likes her too… More than anything, she’s obedient to me and devoted… She’s an ideal fiancée.”
“Obedient… that’s harsh.”
Contrary to the word “harsh,” his friends all sounded amused.
Aylmer’s every word was cruel.
“And this is the most important part… Thanks to her father prioritizing the second wife, if I break it off for my own convenience, I predict it won’t become a big deal… She’s really perfect, isn’t she?”
“Hahaha! That’s why guys with brains, looks, and lineage are something else.”
Loud laughter erupted.
They probably wouldn’t feel any pain even if one lady’s life was ruined.
“But will Lady Vermilion’s future be okay? She’s barely holding a place thanks to Aylmer the marquess, right?”
Aylmer seemed to have told his friends quite a lot about his fiancée’s circumstances.
Indeed, Alice had been sent to her maternal home until fourteen, and returned to the count’s house only because of the engagement with the Moonfield marquess house.
A connection to a high-ranking house—if that prospect vanished, Alice would become completely unnecessary to her father.
“I don’t like the idea of Alice becoming another man’s somehow. I plan to recommend a convent for her.”
It felt like an invisible knife stabbed deep into her chest.
(It’s… okay… Because once Aylmer sees the records… in the end, he’ll choose me…)
Aylmer had called Alice an ideal fiancée. He had said he didn’t like her becoming another man’s.
And he was longing for the Sword Princess.
In that case, in six months, Aylmer and Alice should become lovers in mutual love.
(Even now, I might not be first… but he loves me… probably…)
If she convinced herself of that, perhaps she could avoid despair.
Alice wanted to leave this place quickly.
Whether she heard this conversation or not, the outcome wouldn’t change. Staying longer had no meaning.
But her legs shook, and her body wouldn’t move.
“Lady Vermilion…”
Suddenly, someone approached without presence and called her name from very close.
Alice flinched but managed not to scream.
Careful not to be noticed by the young men in the gazebo, she turned around.
There stood the second prince, Harvey, currently the captain of the White Deer Knight Order.