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“……”

Inside the moving carriage, it was like sitting on a bed of thorns.

Beside me sat Selian, and across from us was an old man.

It would have been better if someone at least talked, but the old man was buried in a pile of documents, busy with his own work, while Selian wore an openly displeased expression, seemingly lost in her thoughts.

Wondering if I should do something, I pulled out a novel I had brought along, but the words just wouldn’t stick in my mind.

Both of them were preoccupied with their own tasks, leaving me feeling anxious and out of place.

“Suddenly, the royal family…”

I recalled how I ended up in this situation once more.

*

“Miss, I think you should come over for a moment.”

A maid approached us, interrupting the conversation between Selian and me.

From her tone, the expression on her face, and the sweat trickling down her forehead, it was clear that she was in quite a hurry.

“Please wait a moment. I’ll be right back.”

Selian seemed to grasp the urgency of the maid’s presence, rising from her seat instead of asking what it was about.

However, even after Selian stood up, the maid opened her mouth as if she had more to say.

“Um… Your friend has requested to join you.”

“Me?”

“Yes. I’m not sure how Lady Elysia knew you were here, but she specifically mentioned both you and Lady Elysia…”

“…What on earth is going on? I heard someone has come, and I’m curious about who this guest might be.”

“That is…”

At Selian’s almost commanding question, the maid hesitated before answering cautiously.

“A representative from the royal family has arrived.”

As soon as the maid finished speaking, Selian’s brows furrowed deeply.

It was the first time I had seen Selian look so upset.

*

As I entered the drawing room, I spotted an old man with completely white hair sipping tea.

Lucas Deretia, the head of House Deretia and Selian’s father, sat across from the man but hadn’t touched his tea.

He was merely rolling his eyes, reading the mood off the old man sitting before him.

Even if the person was from the royal family, it was puzzling that someone of Lucas’s stature, a Marquis among aristocrats, would bear such scrutiny; nonetheless, I didn’t show any judgment as I stepped into the room.

“I’ve brought them, my lord.”

“Oh, come in. Have a seat.”

After following Lucas to the sofa, a maid approached and placed teacups before Selian and me.

The maid adeptly poured the tea and then retreated gracefully.

“It’s been a while, Lady Deretia.”

Seeing us seated, the old man addressed Selian.

“What brings you here? How did you know Elysia was here?”

However, despite the old man’s polite inquiry, Selian’s mood remained prickly as she got straight to the point.

She had looked displeased even before arriving in the drawing room, and her tone was far from calming.

Fortunately, the old man from the royal family seemed unperturbed by Selian’s attitude and turned his gaze toward me.

“So, you must be Lady Elysia Frentz. A pleasure to meet you. I am Kaiden Vardi.”

“Oh, hello. I’m Elysia Frentz.”

Meeting his outstretched hand without any formalities, I shook it lightly, introducing myself again as he seemed already informed about me.

The moment our hands met, I felt the distinctive calluses only experienced swordsmen possess.

And then, in that moment, a name popped into my head.

“Kaiden, could you be the strongest among the eight Sword Masters…?”

“Ha ha, just ignore those rumors. I’ve just been working in the royal family, and people enjoy embellishing the truth.”

Despite the lack of manners evident in how he shouted while gripping my hand, Kaiden responded with a friendly smile.

Even though he was a Sword Master, I hadn’t known he was a swordsman until we shook hands.

His aura was contained entirely, making him appear to be nothing more than a scholar at first glance.

In contrast to Craig, another Sword Master I had seen whose aura screamed knight, Kaiden exuded nothing.

In fact, I didn’t even notice the sword resting next to him until I recognized who he was.

His sword was so seamlessly integrated into the surroundings that I almost considered it just another decorative item in the room.

“So, what’s the purpose of your visit?”

With an even more openly frowning face than before, Selian interrupted our conversation.

Only after letting go of the hand we had been holding in the handshake did her frown seem to ease a bit.

Kaiden didn’t mind Selian’s demeanor at all; however, Lucas, the lord, looked perplexed by her attitude.

“It’s nothing serious. I merely came to escort you both at the royal invitation.”

“You’ll need to explain how you knew Elysia was here.”

“Ha ha! I originally intended to visit the Academy, but Lady Selian had already returned to her family, and Lady Elysia went to House Atillea with her friend, Yuli.”

The old man leisurely took a sip of his tea before continuing.

“So, I went to House Atillea, but ended up at another friend’s place, Anne’s family… and then turned around and went to House Klain.”

And taking another sip.

“Oh dear! When I arrived at House Klain, lo and behold, it’s House Deretia, isn’t it? Fortunately, I arrived today and was told that Lady Elysia was here. Isn’t it a stroke of good luck that I had to escort both of you?”

I couldn’t help but think if he could have just used the Magical Crystal to check their locations beforehand, but…

“It took a little time, but thanks to that, I can enjoy this sort of unexpected vacation. Plus, I’m being treated so well.”

The old man was now fully leaned back, casually sipping his tea with a smile.

He seemed like he just wanted to loaf around.

A Sword Master loafing around? I was doubtful whether I should believe that or not.

And if I hadn’t decided to stay a few more days after Selian’s suggestion, Kaiden would have had to turn the carriage back to the Academy, right? Talk about a dog’s training.

“Haah…”

Selian sighed for a moment and then spoke.

“So what’s the purpose of the invitation? Surely you didn’t send the esteemed Kaiden just for a simple invitation. Does Elysia even have any reason to be under the royal family’s gaze?”

“Well, under ordinary circumstances, I wouldn’t be here. I could just send a few subordinates or simply request a visit through a letter or Magical Crystal. But how about if that subordinate is me?”

Kaiden retorted with a grin aimed at Selian.

Kaiden was one of the eight unique Sword Masters of the continent and unequivocally the premier sword of the royal family. No one could place Kaiden beneath them—except for one.

“Yes, indeed. His Majesty has invited you both. The purpose of the invitation is typical, but the person inviting you is anything but ordinary.”

“You expect me to believe that?”

“Ha ha. I’m not sure how you would come to trust me, but His Majesty simply wishes to see both of you.”

Having finished his tea, Kaiden stood up.

“Thank you for the tea. Now I will wait, so please let me know when you’re ready. Ideally, I’d like to take my leave after staying a few days, but I can’t delay His Majesty’s command, so we’ll be departing tomorrow.”

Despite his seemingly carefree demeanor, I found myself doubting whether this was truly the Sword Master I had imagined.

After finishing up, Kaiden rose from his seat and left the drawing room, guided by a servant of House Deretia.

He was probably off to get a room assigned for himself to rest after the exhausting journey, just like I would.

“Looks like it’s true. You two have a big deal with the royal family, so hurry back and get some rest.”

Lucas finally managed to speak with a somewhat relieved expression.

Yet, as I returned to my room, I couldn’t shake the feeling that Selian’s expression still hadn’t softened at all.

 

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