The Lord Of Sinal (13)

At her strong denial, Kaiston nodded as if understanding, then turned and left.

“Hah, hah.”

Only then did Esnel let out the breath she had been holding and relax her tense body.

“Miss Lotus…”

Young noblewomen from a family close to her quickly approached and supported her.

“What’s wrong?”

“Did Duke Crunel say something rude?”

Esnel simply shook her head at their questions. It wasn’t a feeling she could explain with words. Her heart still pounded loudly, proof of the shock of that moment. She pressed her hand gently to her chest. No matter how much she blinked, the enchanting violet eyes remained vivid and wouldn’t fade.

Her gaze followed Kaiston. Those who spoke even a word with him were mostly seasoned high nobles, knights, or military men. Young ladies like Esnel and daintily raised young nobles dared not speak to him. Kaiston, who hadn’t come to the banquet to be the center of attention, gave no easy opening. He only offered brief thanks to guests who answered his invitation as the lord of the castle. Even his courteous, yet insincere, smile was so striking that most nobles broke into a cold sweat and quickly left his side.

Anyway, the one who returned to his now-quiet side was Commander Luther. He laughed as if amused.

“Have you forgotten how to deal with ordinary people from only facing monsters?”

Only after hearing Luther did Kaiston realize why the situation had gone that way. People had instinctively felt fear toward him, like a sharpened blade.

Kaiston clicked his tongue.

“I suppose it’s no wonder they live so soft.”

“Because it’s a peaceful time.”

Luther’s remark made Kaiston recall the first time he met Liris. She hadn’t been afraid of him. She had only trembled because of the situation, not out of fear for him. Was her life so hard even in these peaceful times that she wasn’t intimidated by his sharp presence? He felt a sudden pang of pity.

“By the way, that young lady from the Lotus family.”

Luther’s words made Kaiston recall the red-haired lady who had tried to grab his attention without fear.

“That young woman is rising to the top on the Isles.”

“Is that so?”

He had not been unaware of her unusual looks. But even if she was rather pretty, she was just part of a gray background to him, not evoking any special feeling—like a well-arranged artificial flower. Seeing his indifferent reply, Luther prodded him.

“Wouldn’t she make a fine bride?”

Kaiston stared into Luther’s deep gray eyes. He wondered what scheme this man had, but the commander, who had become as sly as his lord, only wore a faint smile.

“You may not know, but—”

Kaiston smiled slightly and toyed with the ring on his left ring finger.

“I’m taken, too.”

“Huh?”

Luther found himself opening his mouth; the slightly shy smile that had come over Kaiston’s face was astonishingly charming.

“Someone? A partner.”

He became very curious who could provoke such a reaction from him.

“You’ll know soon enough.”

“Hmm. Really?”

It certainly wouldn’t be a young noblewoman from the Isles’ noble families; he would have been informed if so. Could she be a lady from a Sinal noble house? How could the Duke Crunel of a great noble family have taken a spouse so quietly and without any rumor?

While Commander Luther was lost in thought, Kaiston swept his gaze across the banquet hall.

When approaching the Duke Crunel—his first priority—became unlikely, the captains of the Red Moon, just as he intended, began to draw the attention of the young ladies and young nobles. Young people from the Isles, curious about what dangerous things were happening there, flocked to those straightforward knights.

Watching Ban and Haris, who looked clearly flustered yet kindly answered their questions, Kaiston smiled with satisfaction from a distance. He hoped they would find pretty lovers from this opportunity.

He thought again that he should provide such an opportunity every year. Some nobles who glanced this way caught sight of the duke’s smile and froze, not realizing it.

Meanwhile, Liris wore a displeased expression at how anticlimactic Esnel and Kaiston’s encounter had ended. It had certainly been a good thing that Kaiston showed little interest in Esnel. But she was puzzled as well.

‘If it’s not because she’s pretty, then why did he come to like me?’

“Aaron, what on earth is our master’s taste?”

‘They said it was love at first sight.’

Liris tried to recall how she had been then, exhausted from a grueling fifteen-day journey and still trembling after being saved from a terrifying monster.

“Is it the pitiful look?”

Aaron watched Liris tilt her head and, stifling a huge yawn, closed his eyes.

“Aaron, pay attention. Hmm? When does he…”

Liris, who had been about to lift Aaron and say something, suddenly froze. Aaron, finding it odd that she stopped and stayed still, opened his eyes again and looked at her. Liris’s gaze was fixed on the entrance to the hall.

A dazzlingly beautiful blond with gently curved eyes and a kindly smile that naturally lowered people’s guard entered, and the young ladies and young nobles greeted him warmly.

“Millen…”

A long-time friend, or rather, a man she had mistaken for a friend. The man who had casually betrayed their long friendship had appeared.

Millen Grandis. Twenty-four years old. A recognized prodigy who rose to the position of the Imperial Second Knight Order’s Commander at a young age by his own ability, not by family. Behind the model-cavalier appearance lurked a dangerous man with dark desires.

Kaiston looked at Millen’s more handsome-than-expected face and recalled the information he had already obtained about him. He had frequented the Imperial Palace since childhood and built a relationship with the Crown Princess. How should he put down this brat who likely knew so much about Liris that Kaiston did not?

He glanced at Commander Luther. Even though his eldest had appeared in the banquet hall, Luther showed little reaction. After sipping champagne from a glass taken from the table, he looked at Kaiston.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Your son came, yet you show no reaction.”

“He’s not my son.”

Luther said indifferently.

“A ridiculous fellow calling himself a knight.”

Kaiston let out a small laugh. Millen’s hidden tendencies were certainly far from those of a knight. Apparently he had completely fallen under Luther’s eye, who cared more for those who shared the blade than for blood. Kaiston thought that was fortunate in a way.

“If you have nothing to do with the Commander.”

Kaiston’s violet eyes shone brightly.

“May I take him?”

Luther’s eyes went wide at Kaiston’s words.

“You, into men?”

Even after the recent misunderstandings, Kaiston didn’t seem offended. He merely shrugged. They both knew it was a joke anyway. Luther had long heard tales of Kaiston taking those unfit to be called knights and turning them into knights.

“Hmm. I don’t much mind either way. Still, I do have some stake as having been that brat’s father once.”

He grinned.

“If you promise me a day’s time, I won’t meddle in that fellow’s affairs.”

He would no doubt want to cross blades with him. Kaiston, who had been looking forward to it, nodded without objection.

“Very well.”

Luther’s expression noticeably brightened. He looked very pleased at the prospect of having him all to himself for a full day’s sparring, not just a single bout.

“Shall I take my leave then?”

Having achieved his purpose, he had no reason to remain in this tiresome banquet hall.

“Do as you wish.”

It was true that it would be awkward for him to stay while he needed to keep his son in check. Knowing that, Luther was also prepared to leave.

“Then you’ll have to introduce your partner to me later.”

“I will.”

After greeting Kaiston, Luther turned and left. Several military men and knights who had accompanied him left the banquet together. Their gazes briefly passed Millen on the way out, but neither greeted the other.

It was clear their rift was deeper than expected. It likely had nothing to do solely with the Crown Princess. The son’s duplicitous nature must have been known to the Commander for some time.

‘Now, then.’

‘What to do next.’

Kaiston’s gaze went to Millen. Whether by chance or not, Millen was also looking at the duke. The two men’s eyes met in the air. Millen looked somewhat startled; he too had heard the fearsome rumors about Duke Crunel. Still, the duke’s presence was so overwhelming that there could be no other who fit the title. Seeing his father, Commander Luther, constantly by his side made it clear that he was indeed Duke Kaiston Crunel.

He had wanted his father to leave the hall. He doubted his overly straight-laced father would quietly overlook what he intended to do.

Kaiston gave Millen a slight smile as Millen stared intently at him.

“Come here, little one.”