Chapter 7

Yule el el Loomis is a beautiful young man.

Gorgeous golden curly hair tied safely with maroon ribbon, his hair flowed on his back as the sun cast a shadow on his face socketed a pair of blue eyes like the spring time sky. He may look beautiful but he seems to have a dandy atmosphere which on the contrary attracts many ladies. He has slender arms, and lean chests unlike most knights, with his height comparably the same as Felix. He was wearing the white uniform worn only by the 1st Unit which were embroidered by golden threads. Aside from the fact that he was of the same Marquis status as the House of Clavis—from top to bottom, he was the perfect prince from a love story that every ladies dreamt of.

The Golden Prince and the Silver Knight—those were the popular monikers most ladies calls the two and although Felix is more popular among the knights in the Imperial Guards, Aurora thinks that the other young man was more popular to ladies. It’s easy to understand because he’s so beautiful.

However.

For a little while that Aurora was charmed, her brows suddenly creased.

She stared down the training ground where the boisterous cheers turned deadly silent. Only the intense parrying of swords, the terrifying clash of auras with only the thunderous sounds of the swords were heard in the silence of the two knights. As if filling in the silence, there were some birds all over the place chirping, enjoying a refreshing and pleasant afternoon.

In an unnatural silence followed by the sound of tearing skin, Aurora gasp. Felix’s sleeves were torn with streaks of red marks on his skin but this didn’t stop Felix. He rushed forward with his sword and his body turned vigorously as if he didn’t notice his right arm, he swings his sword and cuts the wind.

—GAKIIN!

In contrast with the deadly sounds of their blades, the two looked as if they’re dancing with swords. The moment Felix regains the feel in his right arm, Yule attacks him before he could parry and struck him in the body, causing a wound in Felix’s white cheeks. Neither of them is backing down but a line of red blood forms on Felix’s cheeks.

—Why is he receiving a wound from a practice sword?

Aurora squinted her eyes. Even though a fake sword could tear the skin just by the strength but how could Yule cut Felix’s skin like a knife?

But it seems Aurora was too late to notice this as she then realize the silence among the knights at the background, the sounds of the swords clashing completely froze them—that’s the reason by their painful silence.

Everyone is aware that the sword in Felix’s opponents’ hand isn’t a practice sword.

Aurora gasped and stood up from her seat in surprise. Platoon Commander Ingels stared at her figure which is about to descend from the stairs. The clanging sounds of her heels were almost like the thunders growing louder each step.

A drifting cloud of shadow envelops Aurora’s sight. Then Platoon Commander Ingels’ huge palm grasped her arm.

“Don’t go, Lady Porta.”

“But—”

“It’s fine, he’s strong,”

“How sure can you be?”

“This sort of thing usually happens, not just on Felix.”

“Such a thing—”

“I’m afraid his enemy will keep on breaking the rules.”

Platoon Commander Ingels told her not to go there because she can’t stop them herself, his words stopped Aurora who’s had one of her foot down on the stairs.

“Yule knew that he would certainly lose if he used a practice sword, so he used his own sword.”

“Is this fight that really worth winning?”

“I don’t know.”

“Does Ingels-sama allow that?”

“I’ll punish him later. Well, dirty tricks are part of the training.”

Aurora’s forehead furrows at the Platoon Commander Ingel’s reply. Ingels eyes squinted at Felix’s figure which is deeply covered with wounds.

“I can’t accept that.”

“Well…”

“I won’t accept that, Ingels-sama.”

Aurora sunk in silence although she isn’t fully satisfied of what Platoon Commander Ingels told her. Felix in front of her was certainly wounded by real sword and his subordinate is looking over him with a dark expression. Is it really fine to overlook such a flout because it’s customarily done?

Aurora was silent as she can’t voice out anything. Felix wouldn’t speak up and he wouldn’t say anything for sure even if he loses but if it were the his opponent, that man would surely make a fuss about it.

(For how long will he stay put and do nothing? It would be too late if Felix were to receive a grave injury.)

She began to ponder—what if Felix someday falls into the hands of a political enemy? What if someone assassinates him? It’s easy to imagine his future where he’s going to be hated due to his silence or his lack of words or be falsely accused by not having a better excuse.

(Is this really fine for a son of a Marquis?)

Not even a month have passed since the two got to know each other but Aurora has deemed Felix as a young man who’s not good with socializing. But in those few conversations they shared, she can say how straightforward and undistorted his mind was—especially as a knight. And as the heir and future Marquis of the House of Clavis, he cannot throw away his social disposition.

(—But, there’s a lot of things I can’t say now at this place.)

Aurora let out a deep sigh.

She doesn’t know much about the Order of Knight since her fiancee himself doesn’t speak much about his work. It’s rare for people like Felix to be both a noble and a knight and there might be a friction or feud among them. A degree of this harassment—should she try to mix in—would be quite a rare occurrence.

Every work has it’s own social etiquette and ignoring the tacit understanding can entail immeasurable dangers to outsiders. Shady business are happening everywhere, but trying to correct it is not always right. Just like that time when Aurora’s brother, who started helping their father manage their fief when he was just 18 years old, was told by their father that he shouldn’t interfere in other people’s business unless he was prepared to carry the consequences of his actions.

Aurora knows nothing about the Order of Knights and as a Felix’s fiancee, she was nothing but a fake fiancee with no plan in future to bear her a child.

(But there’s only one thing I can do—)

Aurora raised her face and was about to do something but at that moment—

—GYUIN!

A rustling sound of metal was heard, a silver blade whirled in the air.

“Eh?”

Aurora couldn’t help but perked up vacantly as the silver blade falls in her direction.