<b>35.</b>


    <i>‘At mying-of-age party.’</i>


    Erce was able to recognize the man before her only when she heard his low-pitched voice.


    <i>Harsen Bernhardt.</i>


    <i>He’s that guy— Harsen. There were many titles attached to his name: the only heir of Duke Bernhardt, a knight of greatpetence, a schr who could have entered Gracyvan, and possibly the Prince Consort of Princess Hermia, the only daughter of the current King of Grania.</i>


    Erce couldn’t hide her shock when she saw that the fabled man of these titles was indeed real.


    When she finally caught her breath, Erce curtsied holding the hem of her skirt with both hands, “Greetings to the Young Lord of Bernhardt. I’m Erce Visaride. Congrattions on youring of age.”


    The man smiled lightly, “I see.”


    Erce was a little embarrassed by the short answer but continued calmly, “Thank you for inviting me.”


    “I’m d you enjoyed it.”


    “That’s…”


    His sarcastic tone made her speechless.<i> I can’t tell if it’s on purpose or if it’s because of the air around him. On the surface, the man isn’t polite or rude, so maybe it’s just my imagination.</i>


    Erce tried to calm her mind, put on a smile, and spoke out of courtesy, “I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to greet you because you’re surrounded by a crowd all day, but I guess I’m very lucky. I’m d I’m able to see you like this.”


    His answer was silence<i>.</i> He only stared at her with a nk face, so Erce drooped her shoulders and let out a sigh.


    “As I have heard, the Young Lord is very, very reticent.” Unknowingly, she spoke in a slightly grumpy tone. Since she was tired, it was hard for Erce to continue talking with him like she did with other people.


    There was silence again. The frustration squeezing her chest made Erce want to get out of this moment as soon as possible.


    “Then, I shall take my leave.”


    Erce meant to leave as the gong for the second part of the banquet had rung and the performances started again.


    There was a very beautiful, elegant melody, but Erce could hear none of it. Instead, she just stared at the hand in front of her.


    Erce looked at the man in surprise, wondering if he was requesting a dance. She heard the deep voice she thought she’d never hear again.


    “May I have one dance? Surely,” His mouth curled gracefully, “You don’t mind dancing with another man and stepping on his foot, right?”


    Erce paused at the man’s words.


    <i>Is he making fun of me for losing my bnce while dancing earlier?</i>


    Erce grumbled inwardly. <i>I usually don’t make such a mistake, but it’s unbelievable that he saw it then. Wait, has he been watching me since before?</i>


    She was about to refute that something had been on her mind at the time, but since she was coincidentally thinking about the man in front of her, she couldn’t make any excuses and felt annoyed. While holding his hand with a sulky face, Erce said, “I’ve never stepped on anyone’s foot while dancing before that, so of course I can dance.”


    “If you say so.”


    He didn’t seem convinced at all from his tone, but Erce couldn’t confront a man she just met for the first time.


    <i>How many seconds have passed?</i> He led Erce with his smooth natural movements alone. They stopped when they reached a certain ce. At the center of the hall, men and women stood in front of each other, gazing at each other.


    His hand was on Erce’s back beneath her dazzling blonde hair. Halfway across the back of her dress, she felt his cold touch on her bare skin.


    He held her hand in his other hand— still with a nonchnt face. <i>Is it just me or is he holding my hand a bit tightly?</i> Before she could think anymore about it, her body began to move.


    Their footsteps elegantly waltzed in line with each other’s steps. Whenever she was a little off, his hand naturally held her back and pulled her. Feet chased feet, and they chased each other. When one got distant, the other got closer, and when one got closer, the other would move away. Then he asked in a low voice, “Your foot?”


    “No issues.”


    “Be honest.”


    “It’s the truth.”


    <i>He’sughing again.</i> Erce felt strange when a man who seemed unlikely toughughed. He was a knight on the battlefield. To him, this pain is nothing, but his persistent questioning made it clear that he found it funny.


    While grumbling inside, Erce remembered something she wanted to ask him, “Um… By any chance, did you happen to meet His Highness, the First Prince, at the victory celebration?”


    He frowned, perhaps because it was a random question, “Yes.”


    At his positive answer, Erce hurriedly asked, “Then was the First Princess Consort also there?”


    She’d been wondering for long, but since her father and Caron didn’t tell her, she became even more curious.


    The man nodded slowly. Meanwhile, Erce made a turn. She slipped too far away so he pulled her in close to him. When she got close again, Erce whispered as if she were talking about a secret, “She’s my older sister.”


    “Is that so?”


    She said it as if it were a great secret but he answered normally, not even looking surprised. Erce was fuming on the inside.<i> I mean, it’s strange that a man of ‘his’ level did not know that.</i>


    <i>Anyway, the sooner he knows the better.</i> Thinking so, Erce said softly, “Actually, I couldn’t meet her ever since she entered the pce. She’s still newlywed so I can’t go find her. And I can only enter the pce if I’m summoned beforehand but strangely she hasn’t called for me. Perhaps, my family is being wary of her?”


    “…….”


    “Have you seen her from afar? I wonder how she’s doing.”


    He didn’t answer.<i> Maybe he’s trying to recall how she was then.</i> Erce guessed.


    “Do you miss her?”


    “My sister?”


    Harsen looked down at her without saying a word, and Erce responded with twinkling eyes, “Of course!”


    Then Erce suddenly sighed, “I’d love to see her. You can go to the pce any time because you’re a knight. If you request an audience, you can immediately see the royal family if you weren’t rejected. How I wish I was a knight too. If only I worked as a pce official.”


    “Before you can be a knight…” His hand slid down and grabbed her wrist. “This¹.”


    He didn’tplete his words, but she could vaguely understand what he meant.<i> He means that before that happens, this wrist would fall off.</i>


    Well, of course, Erce knew that. So now she wanted him to return his hold to her hand again and release her wrist, but he swept the pale skin of her inner wrist a couple of times as if appreciating the texture of her skin. Feeling ticklish, Erce squinted an eye. “Oh, anyway, how was my sister?”


    “I don’t know.”


    “What?”


    “I didn’t pay attention.”


    <i>He really doesn’t seem to know.</i> Erce’s face fell. <i>Come to think of it, why would he stare at the Crown Princess’s face?</i>


    <i>He merely kept his ce in silence under the king’smand. Of course, he wouldn’t be ncing at Eshahilde sitting on a royal seat.</i>


    “I can help you if you want to see her.”


    Erce raised her head at his words. <i>Did he say ‘help’? I’m sure I heard right.</i>


    <i>Then he’ll help me see Eshahilde!</i> Blinking her eyes nkly because she couldn’t believe it, she smiled brightly, curving her eyes into two crescent moons. “Really?”


    “…….”


    Oddly, Harsen’s face slightly stiffened. However, Erce smiled, reiterating what she had just said, “Anyhow, are you really going to help me meet her?”


    He curtly nodded his head once. Erce was over the moon at his brief nod.<i> I don’t know how he ns to do it, but since he’s the King’s favorite knight at the moment, it might be very easy for him to arrange this.</i>


    “Thank you, sir.”


    The infinitely reticent man was silent again. <i>At first, he looked like he didn’t like me. But he let me reach him.</i> Erce was so happy that she could forgive any rudeness.


    She had to leave now. Like a lie, the music in the hall faded away like it never existed. At the same time, their steps also stopped.


    The touch on her skin smoothly moved away. She curtsied formally, and he bowed.


    “It’s been a pleasure. I’ll get going first.”


    Erce had to return to her mother and brother. She also had to find Sierra and J.


    “Once again, congrattions on youring of age.” Finding this appropriate as a parting greeting, Erce was about to leave when Harsen’s voice suddenly stopped her feet.


    “Lady Visaride.”


    “…….”


    “Congrattions in advance on youring of age.”


    ‘Did I… tell him my age?’


    “Oh… yes. Thank you.”


    Erce wondered what that was about, but that was the end of their conversation. Harsen immediately turned around, leaving with those words.


    Erceter learned that she was the only one who danced with that man that day.


    * * *


    Time flew by and the girl was about toe of age. The smooth forehead of the girl who had grown a bit taller was furrowed. It was because her wrist was aching from writing invitations all day long for many days and nights, and also because of thisst invitation she had to send.


    “Ugh,” She groaned and repeatedly picked up her pen and dropped it on the paper.


    However, Erce decided to stop hesitating because such worries were useless in the first ce. It was an invitation to be sent out of courtesy anyway. She quickly wrote down a foreign name on the paper.


    <i>Harsen.</i>


    She had written up to that point, but her hand stopped again. It was her first time experiencing something like this.


    <i>Neither kind nor unkind, seemingly cold but not.</i> Usually, it was easy for Erce to deal with the opposite gender because those who approached her were generally infatuated with her.


    Even if she did not try to continue the conversation, it continued spontaneously and the atmosphere remained light. So she thought he was strange. Erce found him a difficult person.


    <i>Still, I’m grateful that he kept his promise from that day. </i>Because of his favor, Erce was able to meet her sister. Eshahilde even came to the marquisate herself.


    <i>What kind of magic did he use to pull that off? As it turns out, Eshahilde couldn’t meet her family because she had no choice but to be wary of the Queen as a princess consort. The whole family was surprised that day and happily greeted Eshahilde. Everyone was ted to finally have a nice family dinner together after a long time.</i>


    As a token of gratitude, Erce sent him a small gift with a letter. She moved the nib again.


    <i>Yours…</i>


    As she wrote thest part the door opened and her father, the Marquis, came in.


    The Marquis’s health had been deteriorating so it had been a long time since he retired and lived in the mansion.


    “Father,” Erce stood up and greeted him. He had be weak, but his charisma as a Marquis was still intact.


    “E.”


    The Marquis called her in his usual tone. Erce tilted her head, wondering the reason for himing over to her room. The Marquis calmly said to her, “I have something to ask you first.”


    “Yes, Father.”


    “Are you seeing anyone now?”


    She was never asked such a question from her father before. But she knew what it meant, so she felt a bit nervous. It was the same question her sister was asked before her marriage.


    “No.” Erce straightened her back and gave the same answer as Eshahilde.


    The Marquis seemed relieved or perhaps confused by her answer. “A proposal has arrived from Damonshire.”


    Her eyes trembled slightly. She avoided her father’s gaze and stuttered, “A-already..? Right before mying of age?”


    “There was a rumor that the Damonshire kid had you in mind. I didn’t expect the stubborn Count to be defeated by his son’s stubbornness.”


    The Marquis offered Erce a paper presumed to be a marriage proposal. Erce read the proposal in her hand word by word.


    Starting with ‘The Damonshires wish for the union of our eldest son, Casaro, and your second daughter, Miss Erce,’ the letter listed the merits of the alliance in detail, what both parties would get, and reminded the Visarides not to forget how much the Damonshires’ son wanted Erce.


    Ending with the name of Count Damonshire, ‘Yours truly, Rondeman Damonshire,’ the proposal was perfect in every way.


    <i>Seems like, in the end, Casaro was sessful in persuading the Count.</i> Erce hesitated, unable to answer. The Marquis didn’t care and continued, “If you marry Casaro, the First Prince will stably ascend to the throne.”


    “…….”


    “And your sister will be the Queen.”


    “I know.”


    “If Eshahilde bes Queen, don’t you think Caron and your path ahead will be easier in the future?”


    “Of course.”


    “E, let me ask you again. Are you sure you’re not seeing anyone?”


    She knew that this was thest chance her father would give her. <i>If I lied and put off the marriage, Father would let it slide once. But…</i>


    “No, Father.”


    She loved her family. She loved both Eshahilde and Caron. Erce didn’t want them to take a bumpy road, to the point that she’d be willing to have an unwanted marriage. Recognizing what Erce’s answer meant, the Marquis smiled faintly.


    “Like his father, Casaro may be arrogant but he’s objectively decent. Above all, he’s had no scandals with women, so he wouldn’t be a bad husband.”


    “…….”


    “We should celebrate youring of age and have the wedding right away.”


    <i>Right away?</i> The word surprised Erce and opened her eyes wide.<i> I know that Casaro wants to get married right away, but I didn’t expect Father to want that too.</i>


    “Not an engagement?!”


    Bitterness spread on the Marquis’s face, “I’m afraid I won’tst for long.”


    “Please don’t say that, Father.”


    “If your sister’s husband fails to be the king, and if I die and Caron inherits the title, things will get worse.”


    Erce felt heartbroken as the wrinkles on his forehead indicated the passing of time and his impending death.


    A knight can spend his life honing his battle skills regardless of his age, but it is hard to survive in politics at a young age.


    If the sessor inherited the post without sufficient experience, the family’s power would crumble in a short time. No matter how great a Visaride is, he can’t skip this process.


    That’s why her father pushed Eshahilde to be the First Princess Consort, throwing out Marquis Robert’s daughter who was previously appointed. Erce faced the Marquis. From the start, her choice was set.


    “I’ll get married, Father.”


    Casaro was her best choice.


    * * *


    Hering-of-age party, which marked the beginning of the second act of her splendid life, was over.


    Harsen did note.


    Rumour had it that he had a secret affair with Princess Hermia that day.


    Also, that they’re going to have a wedding soon.


    And sooner orter, her father will send a reply to Damonshire epting their proposal.


    * * *


    The next day,


    A proposal arrived from Bernhardt.


    It was a concise letter.


    [Harsen Bernhardt is proposing marriage to Miss Erce Visaride.]


    * * *


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