《The Marquis Is Only Kind to Her》 Chapter 1 Chapter 1 The Young Lady¡¯s First Kiss Arhin looked around the party hall. At the end of her gaze, a splendid chandelier is visible, with a man seemingly shining even more splendidly under it. ¡®¡­¡­unbelievable.¡¯ Arhin sighed and let out a light sigh. He is so incredibly handsome. ¡®I think it would be nice to kiss that man today.¡¯ So, the reason she came up with these unladylike thoughts started with a series of events. *** A month ago, in a small house in the imperial capital. Arhin and her father, Baron Karl Avand, were confronting each other. ¡°Father, what do you mean marriage? That too with Count Amu!¡± Count Amu, whom her father just said was her marriage partner was a terrible person. He was the one who cut off the little finger of a maid for spilling hot tea. He was also a savage who poured out promiscuous words at young and innocent ladies. ¡®One day he looked at me greedily and said something quite embarrassing, like bouncy and fresh.¡¯ If Deborah hadn¡¯t stopped me from jumping up, I might have even punched him. If you try to find his merits, he is a count and has a lot of riches. He might be a pretty ecstatic marriage partner to someone, but he just wasn¡¯t for me. Father, will you marry me off to someone like that? Really? Twenty-three-year-old Arhin Avand. Her father, Baron Avand, could not bear to face Arhin¡¯s anxious eyes. The business in which all the property was invested was in ruins due to the shipwreck. The prestige of the family had deteriorated to the point where they could barely lift their heads, and the baroness suffered from a chronic illness, so the doctor had to be called in once a week. In this situation, the count¡¯s marriage proposal was a poison that she had no choice but to drink. The baron smiled bitterly. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Arhin.¡± ¡°Gosh¡­¡­ miss¡­¡­. I didn¡¯t raise you to marry such a man¡­¡­.¡± Nanny Dea wiped away her tears. It was sad that her lovely lady had grown up and was getting married, but of all people, her marriage partner was that Count. ¡°I can¡¯t help it. It¡¯s what my father wants¡­¡­. There must be a reason why I have to get married.¡± Arhin said self-deprecatingly and swallowed a sigh that spewed out spontaneously. She was born into a noble family and grew up without shortage. Under the love of her parents, she learned swordsmanship despite being a woman and never went hungry. Yeah. I¡¯ve only been receiving it, so it¡¯s time to give it back. Arhin nodded. How many marriages in noble families were based on love? Moreover, the fact that the daughter of a low-ranking noble like her married into a powerful Count was rather close to a situation where she had to lower her head in gratitude. It¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve been crying and whining, saying I don¡¯t want to get married. If I can¡¯t run away, I¡¯ll have to endure it. Arhin stared at her reflection in the mirror. A fair-skinned girl with shiny brown hair was looking at her. *** ¡°I have to kiss someone cool and handsome. Help me, Deborah!¡± A few days before going to the party, Arhin declared a bombshell to Deborah. Yes, it was good to decide to get married. However, if you are going to get married like you are being sold in the first place, wouldn¡¯t it be a bit fair to have your first kiss with the coolest person? It was Arhin who had purposely not told Deborah earlier about the news of her marriage to Count Amu, because that would most likely shock Deborah¡¯s gentle soul. But now she¡¯s burning with the obsession of the first kiss. Deborah, the daughter of a merchant and an old friend of Arhin, was speechless at her sudden remark. ¡°¡­¡­kiss. Yes, kissing is good¡­¡­. I wanted to ask about your situation, but it seems complicated, so I held back.¡± ¡°Yes. It¡¯s complicated, Deborah.¡± ¡°¡­¡­Arhin anyway. If you want to meet nice people, go to this party.¡± ¡°Party?¡± Deborah held a party invitation made of silvery, luxurious material. ¡°All the shining people of the empire will gather here. Cheer up, Arhin.¡± ¡°Deborah¡­¡­!¡± Arhin, thrilled by her, hugged Deborah tightly and kissed her soft cheek a couple of times. ¡®Thank you, my friend. I will definitely kiss a wonderful person and happily marry the Count!¡¯ She kept repeating her grand ambition in her mind. That¡¯s how she came to the party. Although she didn¡¯t even know who the organizer of the party was or what the party was for. Arhin laughed briskly while drunk and raised her glass into the air. ¡®Cheers for my first kiss!¡¯ Several pairs of eyes caught on her as she was holding a glass alone. Shining chestnut hair as if soaked in sunlight, and healthy-looking skin. The lines at the nape of her neck, where a few strands of her hair flowed down, were quite smooth. However, the men who approached her as if enchanted by her appearance hesitated when they faced her fierce green eyes slightly raised, and haughty expressions. Her eyes were clearly saying ¡®You dare to talk to me?¡¯. However, Arhin was only full of doubts about their retreat. ¡®Why the hell are you just saying hello and leaving?¡¯ Is the theme of this party saying goodbye and leaving? Arhin sighed and quickly took a glass of wine. Her stomach is burning. Now no one approached me. She had another drink. There were ten glasses of alcohol in total. When she poured alcohol into an empty stomach, a flame rose in her stomach. Chandelier lights flicker and people laugh like ripples. Arhin looked around the party with her hands resting on the table so as not to stumble. ¡®That person¡­¡­ nope. That person¡­¡­ no, no. That one¡­¡­ no¡­¡­ he¡¯s handsome, but he¡¯s a grandfather¡­¡­.¡¯ Although she was drunk, she did not forget the solemn mission of kissing a handsome man. When she leaned against a pillar in the corner and looked around, she made eye contact with someone again. It was already the third. ¡­¡­I think our eyes had met before. Arhin searched for her vague memories. By the time that man showed up at this party, she was already drunk. She only remembers that many people applauded him and they gathered around him like moths of fire. Under the splendid chandelier, the man shone even more splendidly. He was a fantastic man whose behavior and demeanor were extremely elegant, and even the slightly raised corners of his mouth were terribly aristocratic. With golden hair like honey and an enchanting smile. However, for some reason, the indifferent-looking eyes had a strange atmosphere that gave off a feeling of coolness rather than softness even though he was smiling. ¡®¡­¡­unbelievable.¡¯ Arhin sighed lightly and looked at him closely. Contrary to the appearance of a man who just sits at the table and grows precious, he has hands that look a bit rough. Is he a knight? Especially his left hand, looked quite solid even from a distance, so it seemed like he was holding a sword with it. ¡®It would be really nice if that man is my first kiss.¡¯ However, Arhin smiled and shook her head. He was a man at the center of the crowd, and she was just a drunken woman drinking wine leaning against a pillar outside the party hall. ¡®Kissing someone like that is something I couldn¡¯t even dream of.¡¯ Arhin laughed to herself and then met his eyes again. ¡®Well, I should stop watching him. We keep making eye contact.¡¯ Pretending that she never looked at him, she quietly looked away. She popped an unknown number of tarts into her mouth. Salty and savory walnuts coated in sugar, crispy and chewy, with a heavy and deep butter scent. It tasted heavenly. While munching on the tart, Arhin suddenly remembered Count Amu. ¡®Eventually, I will have my first kiss with him¡­¡­. Let¡¯s get some fresh air.¡¯ When she imagined what would happen next with Count Amu¨Csuch as kissing or hugging¨Cshe became surprisingly lost her appetite. Arhin left her seat without regret and walked toward the terrace. For some reason, she glanced back and saw that ¡®that dazzling man¡¯ was shining brightly in the crowd. Arhin laughed. It was only pathetic for having a desire for such a person for a while. ¡®It¡¯s better not to covet gems you can¡¯t have.¡¯ The steps towards the terrace became a little faster. Chapter 2 ¡°Cold.¡± She took a seat on the empty terrace and stretched once. The air that passed through her nose was filled with the scent of fresh water from the fountain. Although ¡®Arhin¡¯s First Kiss Operation¡¯ failed¡­¡­. Look at that large garden. How cool. I saw good things, ate only delicious food, and saw beautiful men, so that was enough. A low hum came out of her mouth. The bushes over there sway slightly. Is it a person or an animal? Or are they people? As she was looking at the large garden with her chin resting, she felt someone approaching from behind. ¡®Who¡­¡­?¡¯ Maybe I forgot to close the curtains? It seemed that someone had entered, mistaking it for an empty terrace. Arhin hastily turned around. The person entering the room stopped walking as if it was an unexpected situation. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect there to be anyone else.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± A low voice echoed in the quiet and dim space. Arhin gave no answer. No, it would be more accurate to say that she couldn¡¯t. She couldn¡¯t help but blink her eyes in surprise. The person who looked like a ¡®gem that she could not have¡¯ and who she had only been looked at from afar was smiling with a face shining flawlessly in the moonlight. ¡°Can I stay here for a minute?¡± ¡°Yes, no problem¡­¡­.¡± Please stay here as you please¡­¡­. The man smiled at Arhin¡¯s permission. He came and leaned comfortably over the railing, and the scent of fragrant grass wafted from him. It was refreshing. ¡®Oh my gosh. How could this person be next to me?¡¯ Arhin held on to the terrace railing. Perhaps because of the alcohol, a fire flared up in her chest. To the point where she doesn¡¯t know if it¡¯s a dream or real life. She turned her head and looked at the man. He gazed silently at Arhin as if he also felt her gaze. Gray eyes that looked like silver shimmered softly in the moonlight. Arhin thought of several greetings in her mind, trying to come up with something. Since we met like this, let¡¯s do a trick to kiss each other. How about enjoying it openly? But it was him, not Arhin, who spoke first. ¡°Young lady, have we met before?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Arhin¡¯s head tilted over. ¡®¡­¡­is it a trick?¡¯ ¡°In the garden of the imperial palace¡­¡­.¡± She couldn¡¯t hear what he was saying. There were just incomprehensible questions running through her head. Is this man playing tricks on me right now? I was going to go first. If so, does he want to kiss me? I really hope so. There are a lot of thoughts that are close to delusions beyond imagination. Arhin, who tried to put on a calm expression on her face, carefully opened her mouth. ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­¡­. I think I¡¯ve never met you¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± The man smiled graciously with a regretful expression. Arhin swallowed her saliva without her realizing it. ¡®What should I do? Even his voice is my type.¡¯ Arhin¡¯s gaze carefully scanned him. From the delicately shaped face to the broad shoulders and the straight, solid body. Within Arhin¡¯s mind, which had been hazy due to drunkenness, an unknown desire arose. Handsome. I want you. I want to kiss you. Her body staggered a little as she tried to swallow the secret she couldn¡¯t resist revealing. So right now, Arhin had drunk ten glasses of alcohol, and she was in a state of being quite drunk, beyond moderation. The man carefully grabbed Arhin¡¯s shoulders and stood her up. It was a kind, but simple touch. ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡®No, I am not okay. I¡¯m so drunk.¡¯ Arhin closed her eyes as she listened to his voice. The urge to release the boiling desire kept overflowing. If not now, there will never be an opportunity. ¡®I will kiss you. I see nothing but you. I will definitely kiss this handsome guy!¡¯ Arhin, who was muttering in her heart, bit her lip as if she had made up her mind. ¡°Excuse me¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Yes, please tell me.¡± ¡®¡­¡­now!¡¯ Arhin opened her eyes with a determined expression. Soon a very desperate shout rang out loud on the terrace. ¡°Would you like to kiss me once?¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡­?¡± It was a sudden request that was completely unexpected for the man. He was silent for a while as if he didn¡¯t understand the meaning of Arhin¡¯s words. It was a look full of bewilderment. ¡®Did he allow it? I got his permission!¡¯ Arhin was delighted. She thought when the man said ¡®Yes¡­¡­?¡¯ just now, she got his permission. Again, she¡¯s pretty drunk now. Arhin bit her lip to release the longing that was stirring inside her. With a reverent expression on her face, she quickly tiptoed and approached the man¡¯s face. ¡®I¡¯m kissing you! Right now!¡¯ But Arhin had never kissed. Therefore, she had no way of knowing that she needed to adjust her strength in order to meet his lips in a pleasant way. In conclusion, she failed miserably on her first kiss. Damn. The man was very defenseless and received a kiss close to attack. As Arhin¡¯s front teeth pressed against his lips, there was a strange sound; not a sipping but a cracking sound. ¡®What? I don¡¯t think it¡¯s like this. Then one more time!¡¯ Arhin grabbed the man¡¯s face with both hands and pulled him in. He seemed very surprised, his eyes wide open. She pressed her lips against his without hesitation. It was a gentler approach than before. Soon, the lips of the two of them softly overlapped. ¡®¡­¡­it¡¯s warm.¡¯ His lips touching were warm and soft. The two stayed still for a moment, holding their breath. Arhin¡¯s heart, which had been beating non-stop, began to thump violently. The lips that had been touching so quickly fell with a clicking sound. The sound of grasshoppers rushed wildly in her ears. She couldn¡¯t hear anything because of the tension, and she felt as if she had suddenly escaped from an ecstatic dream. Arhin bent down with her hands on her pounding heart. ¡°Thank you so much for this grace!¡± It was a greeting of gratitude that rang out like being thrown. After that short thank you, Arhin ran out of the terrace with excessively agile movements. She kept her head down as if she couldn¡¯t bear to look at the man¡¯s face. ¡®Finally! I finally got my first kiss! With an extremely handsome man!¡¯ Arhin thanked Deborah. ¡®Deborah, thank you. I¡¯ll never forget what happened today!¡¯ She licked the corner of her mouth slightly, recalling his face. ¡®Wonderful man! Please be happy!¡¯ Meanwhile, the man left behind was standing on the terrace. He doesn¡¯t know what the hell is going on. He closed his eyes for a while and then opened them again. The cold night breeze passed behind his back. Soon, he came to his senses in the cool air and hurriedly walked away from the terrace. He searched for her in the party hall with sharp eyes, but she had already disappeared without a trace. Her tiny shoes, not even a strand of her hair to be seen anywhere. On the empty staircase with no one but him there, the noise of his own birthday celebration party could be heard from behind him. The sound of music and the sound of people laughing flowed like waves. He stood blankly for a long time there. ¡°Haa¡­¡­.¡± He sighed. He gently rubbed his tingling lips with his thumb. Blood dripped from his lips, probably because that unknown woman did it too much. I never thought I would see blood like this at a party instead of a battlefield. The man stared at the blood on his fingertip. Today, the last night of February in the year 718 of the Imperial calendar, is the coming-of-age ceremony and birthday party of the 20-year-old Marquis Ludwig Berth. *** Chapter 3 The soft sheets rustled gently, Arhan got up from the bed with her head throbbing. ¡®Mmm.¡¯ Looking around, there was a familiar high-quality vase. White roses in full bloom in the vase. It was Deborah¡¯s favorite flower. ¡®Is it Deborah¡¯s room¡­¡­? How did I get here? Ah, my head. I will never drink like that again.¡¯ Arhin gulped down the water. Her stomach is burning. As she came to her senses little by little, the fragmented memories of last night came to mind. It seems that he ran through the Villium intersection with excitement¡­¡­. A woman running barefoot in the middle of the night in a dress. She must have looked crazy. ¡®But why was I excited?¡¯ Arhin recalled last night¡¯s events. ¡®Instead of Deborah, I took an invitation and went to the party. It was a very splendid and magnificent place. Had a delicious drink and a perfect walnut tart. And I think I met a man as bright as an angel¡­¡­. I think I met him on the terrace after my eyes met him¡­¡­. Then¡­¡­?¡¯ Deborah was sitting by the window, looking through business papers. She saw Arhin looking around with a confused expression as soon as she woke up. Deborah¡¯s face beamed with a serene smile. What other interesting things did her cute friend bring? Arhin took a sip of water, frowning. She then blinked her eyes with a blank face as if recalling yesterday¡¯s events. And after a while, she suddenly grabbed her head and started screaming. ¡°Aaaah!¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Deborah quietly put the papers down. Her friend must have caused some kind of accident. Now it looks like something much more interesting is about to happen than boring papers. ¡°Deborah! I stole someone¡¯s lips!¡± ¡°¡­¡­oh my.¡± Arhin walked back and forth in Deborah¡¯s room with nervous steps. She kept grabbing her hair and screaming under his breath, ¡°Ugh.¡± Deborah patted Arhin on the shoulder and led her to the couch. Arhin, sitting on the couch, was still grabbing her hair and started muttering again. ¡°Crazy. When I heard he asked that..¡­.¡± Deborah put together Arhin¡¯s jumbled words. Anyway, it seemed like she could roughly picture last night¡¯s events. ¡®For example, on the terrace at the party, someone asked, ¡®Have we met before?¡¯ and Arhin, excited by that, pushed her lips.¡¯ Arhin was weeping now with her face buried in Deborah¡¯s arms. ¡°I didn¡¯t want to use a coercive method. I just wanted to create a good memory like having a conversation, eye contact, watching fireworks, and lips touching naturally¡­¡± ¡°I see.¡± ¡°I am shameless and unscrupulous. I don¡¯t even deserve to breathe anymore!¡± ¡°You are good at expressing yourself.¡± Arhin was blaming herself very hard. Deborah¡¯s gaze landed affectionately on Arhin¡¯s face. The corners of her eyes were wet with tears. Emerald eyes shone brilliantly between the beautifully stretched eyelashes. Deborah grinned as she saw her hair glistening smoothly in the sunlight entering the window. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t the other person have been rather happy, saying that he was lucky?¡¯ However, she did not express those thoughts. Because Arhin, who does a one-man show similar to self-blame, looked very cute. Instead of comforting her, Deborah asked a simple question that had been hovering in her mind for a while. ¡°Who was that person?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°¡­¡­you don¡¯t even know his name?¡± ¡°No. But, he was a handsome guy with bright blond hair and silver eyes that looked a bit blue or gray.¡± ¡°Blonde hair¡­ silvery gray eyes¡­¡± A man¡¯s face flashed through Deborah¡¯s mind. But she immediately shook her head as if it was nonsense. Marquis Ludwig Berth. He was not a man who would follow a woman and say childish things like, ¡®Have we met before?¡¯ He is kind to everyone and has a mysterious smile, making it hard to tell what he¡¯s thinking inside. Although he was a famous playboy in society, he never approached the opposite sex first. ¡°And his hands looked sturdy, like someone wielding a sword¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Pfft!¡± But at Arhin¡¯s last words, Deborah had no choice but to spit out the lukewarm tea. She cleared her thoughts, wiping the water off her mouth with her trembling hand. There may be men with a similar appearance. However, if he is a swordsman trained to the point of getting calluses on his hands, the story changes. There is only one swordsman with blonde hair and silver eyes in this empire. Marquis Ludwig Berth. He was the main character of yesterday¡¯s party and the one who celebrated his 20th birthday. Deborah took a deep breath. ¡®It¡¯s going to be more complicated than I thought.¡¯ It¡¯s too big an opponent to pull off childish tricks. ¡°Arhin. Did you ever threaten him?¡± A nobleman does not lack manners enough to subdue a woman who threatens him by force. It is clear that he, too, would not have dared to attack if Arhin had grabbed him by the collar and pushed her lips. In addition, according to Arhin¡¯s swordsmanship teacher, Sir De Panzi, her swordsmanship and physical skill are very excellent. Deborah expected something interesting, but Arhin brought something very frightening. ¡°That¡¯s not it, but I don¡¯t remember if he allowed me to kiss him¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡­haa¡­¡­¡± It wasn¡¯t perfect, but it was fortunate. Deborah looked at Arhin with warm eyes. She is very rich, but she comes from a commoner background. Even though Arhin comes from a lower class, she is an outright noble. This is an era where the difference between status and class is still clear. But Arhin didn¡¯t care about that and treated her sincerely. Even when her family wasn¡¯t as rich as they are now. Looking at her precious friend, Deborah made a resolution. You have to keep that cutie¡¯s first kiss secret for the rest of your life. Marquis Berth was known for having very good manners, but from Deborah¡¯s point of view¡ªwho came from a merchant family and had met many people¡ªshe believed he was not as friendly or as kind as the rumors were. His true intentions were often revealed in the glances in his eyes and facial expressions. Judging from the fact that he rose to the rank of marquis at a very young age and established that position, he must have been cold-hearted and sharp as a knife. She has to hide last night¡¯s event and keep it a secret that her friend did such a thing. That was the job of Deborah, who had this noble lady as her close friend. ¡®Arhin, don¡¯t worry. For the rest of your life, just remember your first kiss as a happy memory.¡¯ Deborah nodded her head and smiled. Arhin walked towards the house without even getting into the carriage, quietly thinking about what was to come. Such things as Count Amu, married to Count Amu, and her own family, Baron Avand. The baron¡¯s situation was worse than expected. ¡°He robbed the baron¡¯s fortune and loaded precious treasures onto a ship going east, but it was all submerged in the storm, my lady.¡± ¡°¡­¡­all?¡± ¡°Yes. A sea is a place that is difficult to predict. However, to push such a marriage because the family situation has become difficult, the baron is too much.¡± It was clear that she would never have known if it hadn¡¯t been for the conversation she had with Nanny Dea a few days ago. If she had known, she wouldn¡¯t have done anything to break her father¡¯s heart by saying she didn¡¯t want to get married. ¡®You must be sad, father.¡¯ Arhin bit her lip slightly as she recalled Baron Avand talking about marriage. He is her precious family. She wants her family to be happy. Arhin entered the living room with a happy face. She smiled brightly as he saw the baron couple waiting for her with a worried expressions. ¡®Okay. If everyone is happy with my marriage, that¡¯s fine.¡¯ ¡°I¡¯m home!¡± Arhin smiled brightly. *** Chapter 4 ¡°¡­so that¡¯s why we decided to refuse it.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± Arhin¡¯s eyes, which lost focus, shook in despair. She didn¡¯t quite understand what she just heard from her parents. ¡°If I don¡¯t get married, what about our family, father¡­?¡± ¡°It¡¯s my problem, not yours. Don¡¯t worry and don¡¯t do anything.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Arhin was silent. It was the moment when her sublime first kiss plunged headlong into a crazy woman¡¯s deviation. Her parents¡¯ words were simple. After much thought, they decided to refuse Count Amu¡¯s request for marriage. ¡°Actually, the reason I considered Count Amu¡¯s marriage proposal was not only because of our family¡¯s financial problems, but also for your happiness.¡± I am 23. I¡¯m old enough to get married. Therefore, Count Amu¡¯s request for marriage was quite timely. Furthermore, he was a powerful man, rich, and a high-ranking count. Although there was no word for love in marriage, it was common among nobles in the first place. She might feel reluctant now, but if she were to marry the Count, she would surely share her affections, have children, and live happily ever after. The baron and his wife did not doubt that idea. At least, that was until last night when they got word that Arhin was staying at Deborah¡¯s house. ¡°Lady Arhin is said to be sleeping in Lady Deborah¡¯s room.¡± Very late at night, the servant of Deborah¡¯s family delivered a message. The baron and his wife were pacing around the parlor, waiting for their daughter. The servant added hesitantly to the baron and his wife asking how their daughter was doing. ¡°Actually¡­ Lady Arhin came very drunk, her eyes were red as if she were crying, and she kept muttering something she couldn¡¯t believe, and seemed to be screaming in pain.¡± It was a mix of truth and lies. The baron and his wife were shocked, thinking that their lovely and precious daughter was having such a hard time and suffering. They thought she could be happy, but it was obvious that she would be unhappy if it started like this. Throughout the night, the baron and his wife reconsidered their decision. ¡°If it¡¯s just the three of us, we¡¯ll be happy even if we don¡¯t have any money.¡± ¡°If I sell this house and move to a small house on the outskirts, I should be able to pay for your medicine.¡± Suddenly, the rosy dawn broke and the rooster crowed. After deep consideration, the baron and baroness decided to make Arhin happy. In the morning, they sat down in the parlor after sending the Count a letter rejecting the marriage, waiting for their daughter to return soon. ¡°It¡¯s a good choice.¡± That¡¯s what each other¡¯s eyes were saying. And soon Arhin arrived. Their precious daughter, who had been so sad last night, just smiled as if nothing was wrong. She must have acted so in order not to worry them. The baron and his wife brought tears to their eyes. Now it was their turn to deliver the happy news to Arhin. ¡°Arhin, we have decided to refuse the Count¡¯s request for marriage.¡± Now it was Arhin¡¯s turn to be happy. ¡°Ahhh!¡± Arhin slammed her fist down on the bed sheet. Before getting married, I kissed a handsome man to create memories, but suddenly the marriage was called off. No, what¡¯s wrong with me?! It was obviously a good thing, but a part of my heart felt uneasy. ¡®¡­¡­I am very embarrassed.¡¯ It seems that the grip of her hands holding his cheeks was quite strong. She wanted to go into the mouse hole to hide. What she did last night was just the deviance of a crazy woman. ¡°Phew¡­¡­.¡± Arhin soon relaxed her body and lay back on the bed. She could see the ceiling built much higher than average height. Small gems embedded there glistened in the midday sunlight. The expensive gems embedded in the shape of the constellation Sagittarius were her parents¡¯ idea, it was to commemorate Arhin¡¯s birth month. She watched the sparkle and closed her eyes. Her parents, who loved her so much, blew a good opportunity. How will I live now? My mother is weak and my father is old. ¡°I have to repay them.¡± Arhin raised her body from lying down and sat upright. What is needed now is money. So how can she make money herself? ¡°¡­¡­sword.¡± Arhin muttered quietly. It was a skill her teacher said she was good at. She was really confident in wielding a sword. The joy she felt when she raised the sword. The joy she felt when she cut through the wind. Arhin recalled what she had seen and heard before arriving home. What she saw was an announcement from a famous knight order that they were recruiting members. And what she heard was that they were offering above-average wages. There were rumors that the selection was only through practical skills, and they even offered living allowances. ¡®This is an opportunity for me.¡¯ Being a knight is an honorable job in itself, and the wages are very high. But what if they paid more than this average wage, plus a living allowance? It must be a reasonable amount for a baron family to live on. Even if it¡¯s not as affluent as before, it¡¯s enough to live on. Arhin got up and grabbed the sword by the window. She drew her sword and quickly cut through the air. Thanks to that, the wind picked up and made her hair rustle. She is confident in her skills. Obviously, she has talent. Although the biggest stumbling block is that women cannot become knights. ¡®¡­¡­I just need to dress up as a man.¡¯ There was nothing to shy away from now. She had even almost become Count Amu¡¯s wife, it was no big deal to dress like a man. Arhin tucked back her flowing hair and smiled. Now it¡¯s her turn to make money for her family with a sword. *** A piece of paper was placed in front of Arhin. This is Vrindel, the estate of the Berth family. Arhin was looking closely at her application to join the Berth Knights. [Knights applicants will not disclose the contents of the test, and will not hold the organizer responsible for any unpleasant incidents or physical injuries that occur during the test period.] ¡®It feels a bit irresponsible.¡¯ Even as she thought so, she wrote an unfamiliar name without hesitation on the signature line at the bottom. ¡®Aaron.¡¯ She wanted to use her real name, but she couldn¡¯t. After signing, she handed it over to the reception desk, and a short man accepted it without sincerity. He skimmed through the paper with a bored expression and stamped it twice. ¡°You are accepted.¡± It was a blandly simple reception. No. 209. As she walked out of the building, she gently touched the wooden sign with numbers on it. The unique rough and rugged feeling of wood was conveyed as it was. I¡¯m nervous. ¡®Okay. It¡¯s just the beginning.¡¯ Arhin looked at the sign on the corner. ¡®It¡¯s Area 17¡­¡­.¡¯ She looked around for a moment and then turned to the left. The destination is the Montreur market near the 21st arrondissement station at the western end of Vrindel. The Berth Knights entrance test is notoriously unconventional. You only need to write down your name as information. There¡¯s no need to write where you live, how old you are, or where you¡¯re from. In other words, applicants are eligible to take the test regardless of their status, and whether they are 10 or 40. Because of this, Arhin was also able to borrow the name of Aaron, the son of a blacksmith who lived near her mansion. His name is quite similar to hers, ¡®Arhin¡¯. It was a decision she made because she didn¡¯t want to do stupid things like saying her name incorrectly. ¡®Aaron, sorry. I¡¯ll make sure to repay you when I succeed.¡¯ However, even if the test qualifications are generous, it does not mean that women and criminals are also eligible. That¡¯s why Arhin disguised herself as a man. As she walked towards the setting of the sun, she soon arrived at the Montleur market. To put it nicely, it is a lively market with an old-fashioned feeling, or to put it a little realistically, it is a place with an old and chaotic atmosphere. Arhin never shopped herself, but she liked to tour the market. People laughing and chatting, dogs wagging their tails as they pass by, and dishes from the flea market that you encounter around the alley. For some reason, whenever she went to the market on a sunny day, she would always find something she liked. It¡¯s just like now. Arhin was walking around looking for a famous restaurant and stopped when she saw a stall. [XX Stall!] Staring at the stall, she gently touched her soft chin. ¡®This is going to be pretty useful, right?¡¯ As she picked up the item on the stall and looked it up and down, the thing in the glass bottle swayed and shook. ¡°With this, even a woman can become a real man! Just two silver coins!¡± The seller held out two of his fingers at her. ¡°Give me ten of this!¡± Arhin grinned and nodded. Chapter 5 Chapter 2 Reunion I felt very good for some reason today. I bought good things, and thanks to the seller¡¯s directions, I was able to find a restaurant hidden in a backwater at once. Arhin picked up the salad with a fork. Although it was simple with only olive oil and vinegar, it tasted very good. Vrindel, the city of culture. This is a rich land filled with art galleries and museums, and even an opera is held every day. The fresh ingredients produced from the large farm nearby are no less famous, which is why Arhin can now eat really a good salad. ¡°Isn¡¯t the size of Vrindel more like a Duchy than a March? The marquis was also a contributor to the founding of the nation. But why is he a marquis?¡± ¡°They say it¡¯s because he returned the duke status he was given.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°I heard that he will remain as a weapon to protect the imperial family. That¡¯s why Berth is called the ¡®Sword of the Emperor¡¯. It is for that reason that the marquis resides here in Vrindel and guards the periphery.¡± ¡°If it were me, I would accept the title of duke.¡± ¡°¡­¡­me too.¡± Arhin recalled the conversation between the two men at the tavern yesterday. The Berth is a family known as the sword of the emperor and a contributor to the founding of the empire. Knights of the Berth is a name that those who have wanted to become knights at least once dreamed of; build honor in the Knights of Berth and be loyal to their master. The number of members of the Bert Knights is smaller than that of other famous knights, but they are strong nonetheless. ¡®Well, I¡¯m far from being loyal.¡¯ Arhin beautifully sliced ??the thick meat in front of her. The Berth Knights give a lot of money. That¡¯s her only motivation. But if she only wanted money, she would have married the Count. Arhin nodded her head slightly as she chewed on the meat. Peppercorns burst in her mouth. She suddenly thought of Deborah, who hates pepper so much. She couldn¡¯t even tell her precious friend that she was leaving. If she had said that she would dress up as a man and become a knight, would she have finally gone mad? Deborah has always been calm, but she can sometimes turn frighteningly ferocious. ¡®I wrote a letter explaining my marriage and financial situation, so she¡¯ll understand me.¡¯ She will probably take good care of my parents as well. Arhin told her parents, saying it was Deborah¡¯s suggestion. She said to them, ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be nice if I ran a nut bakery outside the empire?¡± Even if it was a lie, if it put her parents at ease, it was fine. I will join the knights! Maybe I could die, but wouldn¡¯t it be fine if the living allowance offered was good? ¡­¡­I couldn¡¯t tell the truth. A few days later, on a leisurely noon. Deborah opened the letter on the table bathed in the warm sunlight. It was a letter from Arhin. [Dear Deborah.] Deborah smiled softly as she read the first paragraph. Soon after, she stiffened her expression in the middle and opened her mouth in surprise near the end. ¡°What? You¡¯re going to join the Berth Knights?!¡± The letter was crumpled. All of them were shocking, but the most important was that Arhin would join the Berth Knights. The Berth Knights are an order of knights captained by Marquis Ludwig Berth. At the party, Arhin kissed him and ran away. And now she said she would join the knights while disguising herself as a man. Deborah shook the bell on the table nervously and shouted in a shrill voice to the maid. ¡°Train to Vrindel! Make a reservation for the earliest ticket, right now!¡± Just as Deborah was frantically packing her things, Arhin took her steps to take the first entrance exam. ¡°Has she received the letter by now?¡± She imagined Deborah supporting and cheering her as she finished reading her letter. This is the real beginning. Arhin stepped in with a faint smile on her face. Not knowing that Deborah shouted at the top of her lungs in the capital, ¡®Arhin stop!¡¯. *** The boy looked at the girl who is much taller than him. The girl with her dark chestnut hair held the boy¡¯s hand and ran through the palace. She said, ¡°I saw a very nice place earlier.¡± They arrived at the imperial palace garden. The girl sat the boy on the chair on the swing and stamped her feet. Wet and moist air passed over the boy¡¯s cheeks. The boy looked at the girl¡¯s hands holding his, then stared into her eyes. There are pale golden pupils nestled within the transparent emerald eyes. She has a mysterious eye color. The girl who noticed his gaze smiled broadly. ¡°Aren¡¯t the colors amazing? This is because I resemble my grandmother.¡± The boy looked up at the misty sky and quietly closed his eyes. In the thick air, only the sound of water splashing from the fountain rang quietly. I feel like I¡¯m dreaming. After a while, the girl took the boy¡¯s hand and walked around the garden. Then she found something on the ground and put it in the boy¡¯s hand. ¡°Look at this. It¡¯s like your eyes.¡± It was the petals of a silver flower called the moonflower. The two of them played for a long time, picking up petals that had fallen on the ground and finding pebbles with pretty colors. As she dipped her hand in the fountain and played around, the girl¡¯s fingertips got cold. Holding her hand, the boy thought again. I feel like I¡¯m dreaming. After a little more time passed, a voice was heard from somewhere looking for the girl. ¡°Ar¡­¡­ where¡­¡­¡± The girl smiled broadly and said it was time for them to part. Then she kissed the boy on the cheek, saying it was a greeting from the northern country that her friend had taught her about. As soon as the girl¡¯s lips touched his cheek, it felt like an electric shock. At the end of the surprised boy¡¯s gaze, white dust flew up. The girl said goodbye to him and walked away. She suddenly left just like the first time she came here holding his hand. Left alone, the boy fingered his reddened ear lobe. ¡°Love is when you make eye contact and just touch her hand you feel an electric shock.¡± Those were the words sister Louise had once spoken. It was still difficult to understand the meaning of those words, but the boy seemed to understand now. The feeling he felt when the girl kissed his cheek. ¡°I was electrocuted. I think I fell in love. I will ask her to marry me if we meet again.¡± Every time the boy came to the palace, he sat on the garden swing and waited for the girl. But he never saw her again after that day. Could the girl who disappeared into the mist be a fairy? The boy smiled lightly. When he turned ten, the boy was no longer waiting for the girl. Her first love passed just like that. A boy waiting for a girl in the garden. No, a young man, now an adult, was sitting nonchalantly with his chin propped up. In the distance, applicants were running through the mud and jumping over obstacles. Ludwig Berth, called Ruby for short[1], recalled his dream with a bored expression. [1] ???? ??? (Ludwig Berth). If you take the first letter of each word it becomes ?? similar to ?? (Ruby). A girl he met in the garden of the imperial palace one day. He was reunited with the girl in his dream last night. It was a precious, sparkling memory that has now faded. He had inherited the title of marquis at a young age after his father¡¯s death a few years earlier. How hard had he tried to keep his title while enduring the glares at the young marquis amidst the stormy times after the succession to the title? It was a vaguely forgotten memory in a difficult reality. But why did the girl appear in his dream again? Ruby remembered a girl he met at his birthday party. She was a woman with mysterious eyes that look like a mixture of emerald and gold. Seeing her resemblance to the girl he had seen as a child, he approached her with delight, but suddenly she kissed him and ran away. He checked all the partygoers, but she was nowhere to be found. It was like she hid it because she didn¡¯t want anyone to know. It was a magnificent and grandiose party after his position was firmly established. There were many familiars and even more strangers. Is that why? Not even the slightest trace could be found. Ruby tapped the table with the tip of his finger. Then, when he saw an applicant leaping over a log in the distance, he sat up straight. The applicant lightly knocked out another opponent who lunged at him, stepped on the end of the last log, took off, and landed like a feather. Throwing away someone grabbing his waist, he passed the person in front and jumped over a high wall. The cloak that covered him from head to toe shimmered in the air. Soon he arrived in front of a tall tower. The applicant climbed the tower without hesitation. After quickly reaching the top with light movements, he landed confidently with the spoils in hand. It was a surprisingly clean and smooth movement. He wears the number 209 sign. Ruby rummaged through the papers in front of him. Not long after, the application paper with the number 209 was in his hand. ¡°Aaron.¡± The name is circled. It was a name worth paying attention to. *** Chapter 6 ¡°Ten applicants of the 200th unit please enter.¡± ¡®Finally, it¡¯s my turn.¡¯ Arhin placed her hand on her pounding chest and rose quietly from her seat. After passing the first test, she moved on to take the second test. Her body trembled with tension. My mother¡¯s embroidery, Deborah¡¯s teacup, and my father¡¯s mustache. Arhin recalled the calming things around her and then took a deep breath. Now, let¡¯s think calmly. If you are nervous, you will make mistakes even in the things you do well. As she followed the person in front of her into the test room, a large space with a wide ceiling caught her eye. There are three people who seem to be examiners. Sunlight streamed in from the window behind them. As Arhin blinked and adjusted to the light, she heard someone¡¯s kind voice. ¡°Do anything with a sword. You can do a sword dance, or just stab with it.¡± Sitting next to Ruby is Samuel, the secretary general of the Berth Knights. Arhin put a confident smile on her face. Her teacher always emphasized the importance of the fundamentals. How many months did she do the same stabbing and same cutting? Solid fundamentals do not betray. I think my teacher once said something like that. He started to draw a longsword. It was a longsword that was difficult for women to hold. Arhin is taller than the average woman. She is slightly shorter than the average man, but the men who would become knights are much taller than the average man. That means Arhin is the shortest among the applicants. There are many tall and handsome men around Arhin now. The appearance of her drawing a longsword made her look weak and fragile. However, the tip of the sword that was aiming at the floor lifted and stood in front of Arhin, and the feeling was completely different. It doesn¡¯t seem to match at all, but there¡¯s no sense of incongruity. Arhin carefully swung the sword into the air. The longsword, which had been moving slowly, quickly began cutting through the wind. Following her movement, her cloak fluttered. The sword that had cut through the air changed position and swiftly stabbed forward. Watching her honest and disciplined movements, Ruby crossed his arms with a look of interest. The movement of number 209 was extremely simple, but not just honest. It was as elegant as a sword dance but clean and sharp without any unnecessary substance. It looked like a swordsmanship specimen itself. Samuel whispered quietly, ¡°Captain. Number 209 is pretty good.¡± Ruby nodded his head too. Making the final move, Arhin raised her sword high and slammed it swiftly onto the floor. With that momentum, the cloak covering her face fluttered in the wind, revealing her vivid green eyes that had been hidden. In an instant, Ruby¡¯s chair moved with a rattling sound. ¡°The candidates who passed are No. 209, 250, and 252. We would like to thank all the applicants who applied for the Berth Knights, and we have prepared a small gift for those who failed, so please stop by the desk before you leave.¡± The manager at the entrance of the exam hall guided the passed candidates to their seats. ¡®I passed!¡¯ Arhin felt half anxious and half excited. ¡®If I pass the 3rd test, I can become a knight. My dream will come true.¡¯ Without her noticing, four or five candidates were already sitting next to him. Is it because of tension? Nobody said anything. Immediately, she could feel a presence at the entrance of the test site. Everyone turned their heads at the same time. ¡°All the candidates who pass the second test have been decided. There will be a 3rd test soon, so please take a seat and wait. Leaving your seat is prohibited.¡± The air in the room quickly became heavy with tension thanks to the hardened faces of the men. A little later, the third test begins. ¡°Please enter now.¡± The curtains at the entrance began to open with a heavy sound. Arhin clenched her fists. All went through the entrance without making a sound, as if they were nervous. Soon, the candidates lined up and looked straight ahead after adjusting their posture. Three men were sitting in front of the window looking at the applicants. They were Ruby in the center, and Secretary-General Samuel on both sides, and Rodri Military Administrator. Soon, the candidates in a row adjusted their posture and looked straight ahead. Three men were sitting by the window, looking at the candidates. Ruby is in the center, and on either side are General Secretary Samuel and Military Administrator Rodri. In contrast to Ruby who had sharp eyes, Samuel and Rodri looked at the candidates with relaxed smiles. Before long, Ruby rose from his seat. Starting with that, Samuel and Rodri also stood up and looked around at the candidates. ¡°I am Ludwig Berth, the commander of the Berth Knights.¡± One candidate gulped. Ruby quietly looked around at the candidates and continued, ¡°As you know, the 3rd test is sparring. You may use a sword or martial arts, but cowardly behavior is prohibited.¡± After briefly speaking, Ruby sat down and gestured toward the person in charge standing at the entrance. A table on wheels immediately entered. On top of it is a small box covered with a cloth, and the candidates put their hands into the box and take out balls one by one. ¡®I am number 3.¡¯ Arhin held the ball tightly. She felt a silent gaze from before, so her body became stiffer. ¡®Is it an illusion?¡¯ She slightly raised her head and looked around. She couldn¡¯t see very well because she was wearing a cloak, but strangely, she felt as if the commander was staring at her. ¡®What is it?¡¯ Arhin slightly lifted the cloak that covered her face. As she raised her head, the vision in front of her soon became clear. Arhin took a step back after grasping the identity of the stare. ¡®Ugh.¡¯ She barely held back her scream. ¡®Why, why is he here?!¡¯ Her heart started beating wildly. He is the person she can¡¯t forget even in her dreams. The sweet face she had met on the terrace at the party was staring at her with an infinitely cold gaze. ¡®Did he recognize me? Did he even notice that I am a woman?¡¯ In this place, where the candidates who picked number 2 were fighting for a long time, the sound of metal friction echoed over and over again. However, Arhin could not concentrate on the sparring at all. Was his expression that cold? He used to smile kindly and talk kindly on the terrace back then, but now he was looking at her with a sharp expression. The man sitting there emitting a dangerous aura was the man whose lips she had stolen. It was something that Arhin could not have expected at all. ¡°Candidates who picked number 3, please gather in the center.¡± Now it¡¯s her turn. ¡®Let¡¯s calm down.¡¯ She tried to calm her beating heart, thinking of her mother¡¯s embroidery, Deborah¡¯s teacup, and her father¡¯s mustache again He said nothing. He probably doesn¡¯t even know who am I. First of all, let¡¯s think about it after passing this sparring well. There¡¯s no need to spoil the present by fearing something that didn¡¯t happen. Arhin walked to the right of the center. When she slightly bowed to the other person standing opposite her, he smirked. The reason is, Arhin, who has a small stature for a knight test participant, looks quite easy to beat. Disregard and derision were evident in the man¡¯s expression, his eyes saying, ¡®Consider yourself lucky to have made it this far.¡¯ Arhin also smirked. The thought of Ruby in front of her flew away before she realized it. Arhin slowly stepped toward her opponent. The man, who was looking at her fine jawline, jumped into the air suddenly, as if wanting to overpower her with force at once. The sword, shining in the reflection of the sunlight, fell mercilessly toward Arhin¡¯s head. Others watching expected Arhin to avoid or barely block it. However, Arhin leisurely faced the blade and parried it, making a clanging sound. Unexpectedly, a confrontation of strength broke. It was a force that could not be imagined to come from a small physique. Arhin relaxed the strength of her hand holding the sword and slightly dodged to the right. The man staggered in an instant as he focused all his energy on hitting her. Arhin didn¡¯t miss the opportunity and lowered her center of gravity to strike the opponent¡¯s waist up. It was an attack using the back of the sword, not the blade, so as not to get hurt. As the opponent twisted and sprained his waist, Arhin swung her sword strongly at his waist, and the round kick followed. The opponent fell with a thud. The room became noisy. Arhin stood still, lowering the tip of her sword to the floor. She was looking at the supervisors to see if she could attack the fallen one, but soon the opponent raised his body again with a terrifying expression. ¡®Looks like it¡¯s not over yet.¡¯ Arhin raised her sword again. Chapter 7 Ruby quietly watched the scene, propped his chin up, and slightly tilted his head. Candidate number 209¡¯s skills exceeded expectations. At this moment, it doesn¡¯t matter who that person is. The ability of that small body hidden under the cloak is considerable. That fact is the only thing that lingered in his head. Arhin immediately raised her sword horizontally, blocking the sword that was aimed at her shoulder and turning around to attack her opponent¡¯s lower body. It was a natural movement, like flowing water. Everyone couldn¡¯t take their eyes off the swords that clashed beautifully with each other. In terms of aggression and physique, it seemed that the person wearing the cloak would definitely be pushed back, but surprisingly, he swung the sword by blocking the opponent¡¯s attack with ease. ¡®Now it¡¯s time to finish.¡¯ Arhin raised the blade of the sword and pushed her opponent away. Then, she turned around, bent her waist, and pushed herself toward the opponent. thud. The man was staggered by Arhin¡¯s unexpected attack. A fist, not a sword, was aimed at his face as he hesitated and stepped back. crack. The sound of the nasal bones breaking resounded in the test hall. The man held his nose and bent down. ¡®Chance!¡¯ Arhin¡¯s cloak fluttered, and straight, slender legs stretched out. She kicked him hard as he held his nose. It was a clean and neat move. Soon after, the big man fell to the floor. thud! In the sunlight beating down from the window, dust rose from his body rolling on the floor. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± There was a heavy silence in the hall for a moment. Samuel grinned and muttered, ¡°Wow, he is good.¡± clap clap clap. Bach, an applicant who clapped his hands without him realizing it, quickly came to his senses when everyone looked at him. He hurriedly lowered his hands and cleared his throat. It was an action he did without knowing it, because of the extraordinary sparring performance. Bach glanced at Arhin. He was an opponent he thought was the easiest to beat. Easy fights aren¡¯t fun, so he wanted to avoid him. However, he recalled the image of him knocking down his opponent much larger than his own body with a single kick. It was an incredible, fantastic kick. ¡®I want to fight him!¡¯ The desire to win overflowed in Bach¡¯s heart. I¡¯ll win, join the Knights, and then compete with that petite cloak guy. Bach¡¯s face lit up with pleasure. It was the moment when he had one more reason to join the Knights. The sparring of all candidates is over. After victory or defeat is decided, it¡¯s time for the passed candidates to be announced. ¡°I saw your enthusiasm well. Let¡¯s end the third test with this.¡± Ruby¡¯s voice rang calmly. After all the sparring, the tension was relieved at the test hall. ¡®¡­¡­is it over? It seems that he didn¡¯t look at me because he remembered me.¡¯ Arhin let out a long sigh of relief. There is a class difference as big as the sky and the earth between the knight commander and the low-ranking knight. She probably wouldn¡¯t run into or gotten entangled with him if she was careful. I passed the third test. Now let¡¯s raise money with all loyalty! Arhin smiled and started to go outside following the manager¡¯s guidance. It was then. ¡°Candidate number 209, please stay here for a while.¡± Ruby¡¯s voice echoed behind her. Arhin stopped in the spot, hardened as if he had become ice. Questions lingered in the eyes of the others who passed her. Why does he want only candidate number 209 to not leave? But they couldn¡¯t find the answer because they had to immediately step out following the manager. Her back stiffened with tension. Arhin turned and looked at Ruby carefully. She saw him telling the two people sitting next to him to get out as well. Doubts hovered over the faces of Samuel and Rodri, who received the unexpected order without knowing the reason. Soon, only Ruby and Arhin remained. Arhin hesitated for a moment, then walked towards Ruby after making up her mind. She gave a brief salute, but Ruby didn¡¯t accept it. The warm afternoon sunlight broke through the window and shattered his blond hair. Deep, transparent eyes shine quietly. A slightly drowsy look, a slightly dangerous look. ¡®What should I do¡­¡­.¡¯ Arhin pulled her cloak down a bit more, covering her face in nervousness. It was, so to speak, an act of self-defense due to her nervousness. ¡®Do you recognize me? What will he say? Am I going to jail? Oh, please, no harm to Deborah.¡¯ Arhin with a nervous expression and Ruby with a cold expression. Ruby was the first to speak. ¡°Haven¡¯t we met before?¡± Arhin took a deep breath. Although she hoped that her thinking was wrong, she was certain that when the Marquis asked that, he already knew her true identity. She hesitated, then closed her eyes tightly and answered resignedly. ¡°¡­¡­yes, we have met before.¡± Arhin felt a strange sense of deja vu. That night, the man came over with a soft smile and asked, ¡°Have we met before?¡± Just as the questions differ, so does the atmosphere. If before he was like a beautiful ornamental rapier hanging on the wall, now he was like a sharp sword with a finely sharpened blade. Arhin bit her lip tightly. I¡¯ve been exposed. I will be punished, I will probably be beaten. But she decided not to make excuses. It is her credo that apologies should be sincere and simple. ¡°I will take responsibility for what I did. I am sorry.¡± Ruby¡¯s gaze landed on Arhin¡¯s slightly bitten lips. ¡°Is your name Aaron?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Are you a man?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Are you a criminal?¡± ¡°No, I am not.¡± ¡°Then is there any reason to hide your identity?¡± ¡°I couldn¡¯t apply as a woman, so I just borrowed the name of someone I know.¡± Arhin sighed at the continued negative answer. Whatever the case, every time the Marquis asked a question, she answered no. Even though it was all caused by herself, the atmosphere wasn¡¯t very good. I never imagined that the reunion would be like this. Ruby looked at Arhin in silence. His fingers tapped on the table. ¡°You only gave negative answers. Why should I let you join the Knights?¡± Ruby first decided to push the question of the woman¡¯s identity at the party back. It was a matter of having her beside him and getting to know her step by step. Right now his priority was finding out about the one candidate in front of him, who wanted to join his knight order. ¡°My name is Arhin Avand. I am the eldest daughter of Baron Karl Avand. As a woman, it wasn¡¯t easy for me to join the knights, so I borrowed the name of someone I know and applied. It wasn¡¯t because there was a legal or moral issue. I really want to join the Knights of Berth.¡± ¡°Why do you want to become a knight by borrowing someone else¡¯s name? I don¡¯t understand.¡± Arhin Avand. It was a name he had never heard of. Hearing Ruby¡¯s words, Arhin opened her mouth as if to answer, then closed it again. Although of a low ranking, she is a noble herself. It was something that anyone would be curious about when a woman of such status jumped in to become a knight. In fact, the reason is simple. She has no money, her marriage was called off, and all she¡¯s good at is swordsmanship. But can he understand? There is no way a person who was born into a good family and always sat in a shining position would sympathize with her circumstances. But Arhin doesn¡¯t know. What Ruby has been through after his father¡¯s death, what efforts he made to get this position, and what he did to keep it. Sometimes his face says a lot. He is a fresh-looking man who is just past his coming of age. He was like a flawless man as he smiled and said hello kindly. But when you looked into those eyes, the feeling they gave was so deep and heavy that you couldn¡¯t bear to look at them for long. Having become a marquis at a young age, his life was not smooth. He was threatened, ignored, and pitied. That¡¯s why he had to train himself by overexerting himself, and he had to wrap up his appearance with a smile and calmness. His appearance now was only a trace of his fierce life. Ruby does not know the financial difficulties of the low-ranking nobles, and Arhin does not know the weight of the burden on Ruby¡¯s shoulders. The gazes of the two, who did not know each other well, intertwined in the air. Chapter 8 ¡°I don¡¯t want to rot my abilities just because I am a woman, and I also have¡­ financial problems,¡± Arhin answered hesitantly. ¡°Do you know? That this special recruitment gives a living allowance.¡± ¡°I do.¡± Arhin sighed softly. She was worried that her actions would be taken as an immature noble lady¡¯s prank, but she herself had no words to clear up the misunderstanding. No, she had no reason to do so even if she had. This is because there is such a difference in status that she and he would never encounter again if this time went well. ¡°I already know how dangerous it is. The reason I applied while hiding my identity is that becoming a knight is my dream. If you are going to punish me for it, I will gladly accept it.¡± ¡°Well, the Knights have never asked about gender, and you have never said you are a man, so I have no intention of punishing you.¡± ¡°¡­¡­thank you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a little disrespectful to lie about your name, but let¡¯s just think of it as a stage name and move on.¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± ¡°It is true that your skill is very good, but do you know the difference between mercenaries and knights?¡± ¡°¡­¡­wages¡­¡­?¡± Arhin answered hesitantly. However, judging from his cold expression, it seems that her answer was wrong. ¡°Mercenaries can never have honor and loyalty, Aaron. Are you ready to risk your honor and be loyal to the Marquis of Berth and the Emperor?¡± ¡®Risk your honor and be loyal¡­¡­.¡¯ She took the knight test without much thought, but when she heard that, she felt the loyalty she never had suddenly emerge. For some reason, I feel like I should kneel down right now. Arhin gulped down. ¡°Yes! Now my body belongs to the Marquis!¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Instead of kneeling, Arhin placed her right hand on her left chest and pledged her allegiance as a knight. That too with a pretty serious expression. Ruby was briefly speechless at Arhin¡¯s words of dedication. ¡®It seems the Marquis quite likes what I said.¡¯ What she wanted to express accurately was that her body belonged to the Berth Knights, the Marquis, and the Emperor, but somehow the content was shortened. But it doesn¡¯t matter. As long as they have the same meaning. ¡°¡­¡­now call me captain, not marquis. You may go back now.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Arhin¡¯s mouth twitched. ¡®Does that mean I¡¯m accepted?¡¯ The corners of her lips slowly rose upwards. She hurriedly bowed her head and bowed deeply. ¡®Yeah! I¡¯m a real knight now!¡¯ Arhin, who was heading towards the entrance with a light step, was hesitant. Then he stood still as if contemplating something and quietly looked back. Things seemed to work out well, but she wasn¡¯t happy. Because there was one problem left. Arhin hesitated for a moment, then spoke, ¡°Well, I don¡¯t think I can tell you if it¡¯s not now.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I¡¯m so sorry for the rudeness of the other day, the shameless thing I did at the party.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Ruby fell silent. He had a slightly flustered expression, which was rare. He didn¡¯t expect that Arhin would bring up that topic first. But Arhin isn¡¯t good at reading people¡¯s expressions. Especially in a tense situation like now. ¡°It was not your first time, was it? If so, I am really sorry.¡± ¡°No¡­¡­ it was not.¡± Arhin¡¯s expression brightened considerably now. ¡°At that time, I was worried because your body was a little stiff like a stone¡­¡­. I¡¯m really glad that it was not your first time. Then I¡¯ll take my leave now.¡± Arhin walked out quickly with a more relaxed expression. Ruby, who was looking at her back without a word, buried himself deeply in the chair. He covered his face with his palm and sighed softly. ¡°A stone¡­¡­.¡± A low voice echoed in the spacious hall. In an instant, a rather strong wind blew against the window, and the tree branches swayed to and fro. The afternoon sun was dim outside the Knights building. The sun had already set. Arhin was just happy. She moved his feet humming the most exciting song she could think of. The paper in her hand fluttered in the wind. It was a guide sheet with the schedule until joining the Knights written on it. ¡®Now I¡¯m a knight, I can earn money, and my shameless behavior at the party is forgiven.¡¯ It¡¯s such a relief. The moment she felt light as if her body would fly away in such a happy reality, something attacked her and hugged her from the back of her neck. The familiar scent of roses lingered on the tip of her nose. ¡°Deborah!¡± Arhin turned around and hugged Deborah, who was hanging around her neck. She was worried because she couldn¡¯t even say goodbye properly, but she never thought her friend would come to her like this. It was obvious that the nag bomb of hers would fall, but she was so happy for now. She smiled and rubbed her cheek against Deborah¡¯s head. A warm atmosphere flowed between the two, like lovers who met after being separated for several years. Soon, Deborah¡¯s shrill voice came out. ¡°What the hell are you doing? Huh?! ¡­¡­have you met Marquis Berth?¡± ¡°Yes, we met.¡± ¡°Then, did he notice that you are the girl at the party and that you are not a man?¡± ¡°Yes, he did. I am confident now!¡± Arhin hugged Deborah tightly and smiled bashfully. Deborah must have known who her first kiss was. That¡¯s why she rushed to meet her like this. Arhin is just in a good mood. She hugged her friend even tighter once more before finally letting her go. Deborah patted her dress which was a little wrinkled from Arhin¡¯s tight hug. Deborah expected something big to happen, but was it just her illusion? If Arhin is jailed, she will release her on bail, and if she is in danger, she will assign a competent lawyer. But nothing happened. She was very grateful but also found it interesting. The two of them walked towards Arhin¡¯s inn. Deborah¡¯s carriage followed slowly. After the sun had set, the luminous stones began to shine in the narrow streets. ¡°Arhin, how could you leave without telling me?¡± ¡°Because you would definitely stop me.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true, but still¡­¡­.¡± Deborah sighed softly. She remembered the contents of the letter Arhin sent; her marriage to the Count, the baron¡¯s downfall, and her choice to become a knight. Arhin always exceeds her expectations. The narrow alley became even narrower. Now the carriage could not even follow and stood at the entrance waiting. ¡°I¡¯m glad the Marquis understands, otherwise you¡¯d be now¡­¡­ ugh, I hate to think about it.¡± ¡°I know. It¡¯s a good thing he¡¯s not someone like Count Amu.¡± ¡°You might have become a one-armed knight.¡± ¡°Marquis, no, the captain seems like a good person. I will try my best.¡± A dim light slid over Arhin¡¯s serious profile. Deborah watched her face silently. I can¡¯t stop her when she makes that expression. Deborah pouted her mouth slightly. If she becomes a knight, it means I won¡¯t see her often in the future. It was Arhin¡¯s choice, but why am I so sad? For some reason, the feeling of losing her friend made her feel a little depressed. Whether Arhin knew Deborah¡¯s feelings or not, she hugged her shoulders and moved her legs in big steps. ¡°I¡¯m hungry, so let¡¯s take a bath and have dinner first. I¡¯ll take your inn after that.¡± Arhin winked mischievously at Deborah. Soon, they arrived at Arhin¡¯s inn; the sign is tilted to the left and the entrance is made of cracked wooden boards. Deborah was at a loss for words. ¡°Arhin, you don¡¯t have any money?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s move to my inn. I¡¯ll pay for it.¡± ¡°No. I¡¯m tired of unpacking again.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± In front of them is an inn that is by no means luxurious in appearance. Who would imagine that a noble lady would stay at an inn like this? Arhin¡¯s behavior is not always like that of any other young lady. Come to think of it, she¡¯s been like that since she was a kid. Even when Deborah¡¯s family was still an ordinary merchant and not as rich as they are now, Arhin smiled kindly like this. She also ran around the neighborhood, shoulder to shoulder with Aaron, a blacksmith who is a commoner. Maybe that¡¯s why it¡¯s possible. Being able to stay at an inn with a tilted sign while wearing a baggy shirt and pants just because she joined the Knights. ¡°Phew.¡± Deborah couldn¡¯t hide her sigh. An evening that was infinitely pleasant for Arhin and a little unsettling for Deborah was over.