Chapter 19

“Thanks to you, I’ve learned a lot. Thank you.”

“It’s nothing. If you’re curious about anything else, just ask me anytime!”

Anasha laughed while scratching the back of her head. Having received praise and suddenly feeling good, she rambled on about various things before belatedly realizing how much time had passed and climbed up to the ceiling.

While closing the tile and grinning in the darkness, she suddenly realized something she had forgotten. She had completely forgotten to ask about yesterday’s events. Anasha removed the tile again and looked down at the office scene tinted with morning sunlight.

He appeared completely absorbed in his work, sitting with perfect posture.

‘…I’ll have to ask him again when he’s taking a break.’

Unable to bring herself to disturb him, she properly replaced the ceiling tile.

But the “later” she had in mind never came. Not after three hours, not after six hours, not even when he was leaving work. This was because whenever she tried to bring up the subject, he would change the topic.

At first, she answered without much suspicion, but after failing to find the right timing to bring it up for three consecutive days, she became suspicious.

‘Could it be that our commander is doing this intentionally?’

No matter how she looked at it, he had such a noble face that seemed incapable of such slippery behavior. He was a commander with a calm character who always treated her honestly.

Anasha couldn’t understand why he would need to dodge the topic by constantly changing the subject. And Rihirt, who was receiving her penetrating gaze right in front of him, put down his documents.

“Do you have some business?”

“No. Well, actually, yes! About… the other day.”

“Sir Asha. Speaking of the other day, I just remembered, how were the cookies I gave you last time?”

“So you are changing the subject?!”

Anasha pointed at him, saying she was now certain. Despite his subordinate’s rude behavior, Rihirt didn’t get angry at all, maintaining an attitude as calm as a lake without a breeze.

“Commander, I’m disappointed in you. To think you would use such a slippery tactic! I thought so highly of you, but you’re not completely upright after all?”

“…You’re right.”

Rihirt lowered his blue eyes and readily admitted it.

And at this sight, Anasha felt an inexplicable sense of guilt. Though he was a larger man than herself, perhaps due to his beautiful appearance, he exuded a pitiful atmosphere. It felt as if she had cruelly bullied him, giving her a sense of guilt.

“Ah, no. Of course, Commander, you are upright and better than anyone else.”

“No. I’m just an inadequate superior who makes you uncomfortable.”

“That can’t be true! You’re not inadequate at all. I’m not uncomfortable. It’s my fault for doubting you.”

Anasha shook her head as she spoke. She did so because it seemed like he might disappear from the commander position at any moment, though of course that wouldn’t happen.

“I really like you as our current commander. And the cookies you gave me last time were really delicious.”

At those words, Rihirt raised his head to look at her. His eyes were slightly curved gently.

“I’m glad you found them delicious.”

“Actually, anything you give me is delicious.”

Anasha spoke as if it wasn’t a big deal, but she was somewhat flustered by his smiling eyes. He knows how to smile…… With such a rude thought in her mind, Anasha awkwardly smiled back at him.

But Anasha didn’t know how rare this sight was. She was the first person to see his face like this. It was a face that even Rihirt himself had never seen in a mirror.

Perhaps he made the expression without being aware of it, as he soon returned to his usual expressionless face, but Anasha thought that with the commander’s bright smiling face, even an enemy might lay down their sword.

⁕⁕⁕

The day of the ball was now just around the corner.

During this time, Rihirt had been avoiding talking about the ball with Anasha as much as possible.

It couldn’t be helped if she refused. He had never thought about wanting to go to that place, which was just one of the official events, with her.

He had only mentioned it because he somehow felt uncomfortable and uneasy about attending with someone else. Of course, the thought that opening up would make him feel better only made him more anxious afterward.

Was he afraid of being rejected? Even he couldn’t understand. Not understanding made him more afraid. Though he had been avoiding hearing her answer until now, he was in a position where he could no longer postpone it.

Rihirt looked at Anasha, who was sitting across from him sipping tea. She had been taking short sips as if tasting it, and soon looked at him with round, wide eyes.

“What is this tea? It’s really delicious.”

“I only asked for a sweet tea to be prepared, so I don’t know the name either. I’ll ask next time.”

“Yes!”

“By the way, Sir Asha.”

He parted his lips, which had been closed for a moment. However, it felt as if the back of his throat was blocked, making it difficult to continue speaking. After several attempts, he was finally able to bring up the topic.

“…About the ball accompaniment I mentioned before.”

“Ah. Right. The ball is tomorrow, isn’t it?”

Her attitude suggested she had completely forgotten about it. At this, his tightly clenched fist naturally loosened. An inexplicable feeling of emptiness washed over him.

“If you’re willing to accompany me tomorrow, please come.”

Rihirt lowered his head.

“Of course, it’s fine if you don’t come.”

He couldn’t even say he would wait for her. Afraid of burdening her, he couldn’t continue with any more words. Now even he didn’t know what he wanted.

⁕⁕⁕

The day of the ball had arrived. Rihirt was already out about two hours before the ballroom doors were scheduled to open.

Dressed in a tailcoat, he sat alone in a spacious carriage. With a stiff face tinged with slight expectation and tension, he carefully observed the building visible through the window. It was none other than the knight order building where he went to work every day.

It was customary for a man to personally pick up his female partner for the ball. Normally, one would visit the partner’s mansion, but since Anasha lived in the knight order dormitory, he had come here.

Afraid that waiting directly in front of the dormitory might make her uncomfortable, he had the carriage wait a little distance from the knight order’s main gate.

He had only asked her to come if she was willing to accompany him, so this seemed appropriate. Having not yet received a definite answer from her, he could only wait.

Rihirt stared at the building, barely blinking. He had been sitting motionless for an hour to avoid wrinkling his tailcoat.

It was impossible to know how much more time had passed. When he checked the watch on his wrist, it had already been over 30 minutes. Since it was a holiday, no one was coming out of the building. If she were to come out, she would have to use this door, so there was no way he could have missed her.

The silver minute hand, which had been moving quietly without sound, had already turned another half circle. It was long past the time they should have departed. Feeling anxious, he needlessly touched below his wrist before lowering his hand.

He thought he would wait just another half hour and remained sitting in place endlessly.

After waiting for more than two hours, she still didn’t appear.

⁕⁕⁕

The belated arrival of Duke Weilgresle drew many people’s attention. It was partly because this was officially his first appearance in the capital’s social circles, but more attention was focused on the fact that he had attended alone, without a partner.

Of course, it wasn’t unheard of for nobles to attend alone. Women sometimes did so if they had no fiancé. For men, it was almost unheard of.

But who was he? Since his arrival in the capital, he had already been marked as a potential husband by all unmarried young ladies. The capital’s daughters, who preferred glamorous lives, would hardly be pleased to spend their entire lives in the provinces. Despite his high status, he had not been mentioned as a marriage prospect until now.

After he settled in the capital, he proudly took first place as a husband candidate, surpassing all prominent noble men. Without the person himself knowing.

Not only because of his status, but his renowned appearance also attracted the attention of many women. And the women who saw him in person from afar today could hardly take their eyes off him.

Though his face was expressionless, as if he couldn’t feel emotions, to them it came across as an even more distinctive beauty.

His platinum blonde hair, as white as snow covering the northern mountains, gleamed with luster, and his blue eyes beneath long lowered eyelashes looked colder and deeper than a winter lake. His sharp jawline, prominent in profile, was cold but all the more attractive for it.

“…To think such a charming person existed, why haven’t I known until now?”

“Me too. I never even looked at men from outside the capital……”

“I heard his swordsmanship is also excellent, how ecstatic would it be to see him handling a sword.”

The young ladies gathered in groups were busy letting out ecstatic sighs. Even seeing him from afar made their hearts race, but they didn’t have the courage to approach him.

Though those intense gazes should have been noticeable, Rihirt didn’t notice them at all. After paying his respects to the Emperor sitting in the place of honor, he headed toward where the Crown Prince was.

Crown Prince Erdion welcomed him warmly. Then he introduced his sister, Princess Elisia, who was beside him.

“I am honored to meet Your Highness.”

“It’s nice to meet you.”

The princess, who was sitting with her long, gently waving silver hair, smiled kindly at the man before her.

“By the way, where is the Duke’s partner? Did you not come together?”

To Erdion’s question, Rihirt only gave a short answer: “No.” Not noticing how his emotionless face suddenly stiffened, Erdion let out a disappointed sigh, “Oh my.”

“If you don’t have a partner, how about becoming my sister’s partner?”