Chapter 3

“Clavis-sama was a magic knight, right?”

“That’s right.”

Under the pretext of having tea with his fiancee, Felix would come to visit Aurora with flowers and confectionery since the evening party a week ago. This was something his mother and sister have advised him as the duty of a fiancee. Was he acting like a fiancee should be? He didn’t know himself but he decided to seriously follow what had been told him to in order for his engagement to not be canceled.

To Aurora who’s facing a fiancee whom she had yet to be accustomed to, felt defeated at Felix’s mother and sister’s advise.

Today, Felix was not dressed in a knight’s uniform, but in an indigo and graceful frock coat. It has a great and modest embroidery inside which looked wonderful and his hair which was tied neatly behind his neck made him look like any other noble young men. There is no sign of his former self kowtowing before her. When Aurora praised Felix’s clothes, he told her that the embroidery was done by the same craftsman as the one’s who did the knights uniform. For Aurora, his answer was on point.

The garden was brimmed with afternoon sunshine as maids brewed teas and served the confectionery Felix brought in. It was a very quite place composed of a maid and two other servants with only the chirping of birds filled the lack of conversation. Yes, there’s not a single conversation between the two at all. This young man named Felix only give curt replies, after all.

After trying out the so-called “girls talk” Aurora hits the wall as she arrived the topic of his work. Felix who also realized how his response wasn’t enough, added—

“I belong to the magic knight platoon of the Imperial Guard,” he replied after a long while.

“I’m ashamed to say that I didn’t know that.”

Aurora said while doing her embroidery. She stopped doing her embroidery to greet Felix but she started her embroidery once again since she lost the confidence in holding a proper conversation with him. She felt sorry for not being able to talk to him properly.

Felix who was holding his cup of tea in one hand looked at Aurora in surprise.

“It would be strange to know the occupation of a man you’re unfamiliar with.”

“My maid even took me for a fool for not knowing about Clavis-sama.”

“……Women’s ability to gather information and spread it is scary.”

Felix’s blue eyes looked in the distant and Aurora couldn’t help but think the same thing too.

When the servants of the House or Porta heard that the one who has been engaged to Aurora was none other than Felix el le Clavis, their raucous cheers turned her brother’s fever to worse.

“My lady, were you really engaged to Clavis-sama? The ice knight Clavis-sama?!”

“Were you really engaged to Clavis-sama, my lady? That silver haired young man? Could it be a mistake?”

“My lady, you are being deceived! The young man might be a good person but that young lady, the wife of Duke Laetus might be planning something bad for you! Please consider things calmly and think again!”

“M-M-M-My lady! Will you bring me as your a lady attendant on the day of marriage?”

“Don’t get ahead of yourself, Hannah! My lady, please consider bringing me with you!”

Aurora was stupefied at the raucous crowd so much she couldn’t speak due to dizziness.

This was a charity work or a fake engagement. Aurora wasn’t planning in marrying Felix but if something happens, she would seriously have to stop people from talking about the marriage.

“As a daughter of an Earl, to not even know of such a famous young noble magic knight, was unbelievable.”

“You’re exaggerating.”

Felix brusquely reponded.

“I’m not being polite but my skills aren’t that great at all.”

“But my maid was boasting about how serving in the Imperial Guard is such an amazing task.”

“I belong to the 1st Order of Knights, First Platoon and Fourth Unit of His Highness the crown prince’s personal Imperial Guard.”

“That was quite long.”

“If I don’t mention the specific unit I am affiliated to, you might not be able to tell which I belong to.”

Felix answered in the same brusque manner.

“Each platoons have influential people such as Commanders and Vice-Commanders.”

“…”

“It’s not just about their swordsmanship nor their magical powers, they also have the ability to ‘stand above others’.”

Felix took a sudden exhale and Aurora paused for a while.

As she would expect, it would be difficult for a young man who doesn’t like to speak to acquire some power. He felt the need to acquire power because he was born as the eldest son and the heir.

Aurora sighed at Felix’s sombre state before her.

“I think that isn’t something to be worried about.”

Oh no. Aurora internally scold herself as she ended up speaking in a very casual manner.

One should better not speak in such a casual manner, as Aurora knew, would be an insult especially to those whom one is unacquainted with.

Felix blinked in surprise at her words.

“Those who have the ability to lead others, that itself is such a rare ability.”

Don’t go overboard. Aurora faked her cough, before she forgot about it.

“When my father was young, he was worried about not being able to do well in his job as an Earl but now he is doing his job fairly well. He have triumphed over different problems in our fief and I think that also influenced my mother.”

Aurora’s brother has feminine features resembling their father, whom in return used to be well liked by many women due to his friendly aura. He was but a frail young man before but now he has fully established himself as an Earl though he have as always been under his wife’s thumb.

A young man hoping to be of great service to his house as the future Marquis, Aurora thinks that it would be bad to compare the current Felix to his father.

“I’m sure everything will work out just fine.”

Aurora wondered if being comforted by stranger would make Felix angry and she didn’t expect any response from him, so she stopped her embroidery and stretched her hand towards the tea.

Felix did not answer, but the expression on his face softened.

“… Oh, right. Judging simply by a knight’s strength, who would be the strongest?”

That conversation is now over.

Aurora wanted to change the subject to change the mood and after a while, Felix answered.

“When it comes to swords, the Commanders and Vice-Commanders are of different level while the 1st Platoon Commander was second to none.”

“What about you, Clavis-sama?”

“…I probably belong in the top 10. ”

“Then you must be strong.”

“Only in brute strength.”

Aurora doesn’t know how many people would belong to a single platoon but she realized that they might be all strong people. Felix who was in a thought, turned somewhere in the distance.

“And your magic?”

“Magic Knights are difficult to rank because they have different magical affinities.”

“What is Clavis-sama’s affinity?”

“Ice.”

“It fits your appearance perfectly.

“Everybody says so, but magic isn’t commonly used in mock battles.”

As expected, Felix talks easily when it’s about work and realizing this, Aurora unconsciously relaxed her eyes.

“Mock battles?I would to have the opportunity to watch one.”

“I don’t know if it would be entertaining for a woman to watch but if such an opportunity arises, I’ll be sure to invite you.”

Aurora’s mouth arched up after witnessing Felix speak in such a gentle way and wished he would always be like this.