# Chapter 18

Episode 18:     Ladies and Knights

That voice.

How warm and soft it seemed. How sweet. Nevertheless, Estelle felt a sharp pain as if someone was poking her in the neck with a needle.

She forced herself to turn her body around and saw a dark purple uniform.

Had he always been that tall? Her line of sight, which had always been around his shoulders when she was Estelle, now remained on his chest. Slowly raising her head and raising her vision upward, she noticed a face with a friendly smile.

It was Estelle's old friend and enemy, the one who had taken her life with his own hands, who was now speaking to her with a soft voice.

Lucifella thought she would curse at him when she finally saw him. But she remained silent. There were so many words in her mind, but every word she wanted to say tumbled over the others in her mind until she could say nothing.

Lucifella saw this familiar and strange man with her eyes wide open.

Here was the face that had always smiled softly, but Lucifella thought it was strange. Here was Khalid, who had always smiled in front of Estelle, but had his appearance been a lie?

"Lady, what's wrong?"

Yiojif’s voice reached her ears, but Lucifella couldn't say anything. The mere sight of that smile had made her feel like she was going back in time.

It made her feel as if nothing was wrong. Like he hadn't killed Estelle; Estelle was alive and far away for unavoidable reasons.

She missed him like two friends who’d been separated for a long time.

"You don't look well, Lady."

Khalid's face became anxious. At that moment, Lucifella came to her senses.

Whenever he was faking, he had a habit of turning his head slightly, lowering his gaze to avoid the other person's eyes, and then looking straight ahead again--calculating how to act in such a short moment.

That was the Khalid she saw now. His face was shaped into a calculated tenderness. He didn’t really care about her.

"I..."

Her lips opened like a fool, and her voice came out. Her fingertips trembled. He frowned slightly, and then shot her the look he reserved for looking down on people.

"I'm, just...….”

What could she say? ‘I hate you?’ ‘I want to kill you?’ No, that wasn't it. She had to say "Estelle" first because Estelle was the only one who could unleash hatred upon hatred onto this man. But now that she'd confused herself, how could she call herself Estelle?

"Lady Aydin?"

But Lucifella detested his calm face. Wouldn't he die if she stabbed him in the neck now? Unfortunately, however, she had no weapons in her hands.

"You must not be feeling well. Take my hand. I'll help you to the carriage."

Khalid approached with a reasonably polite face and reached out to Lucifella.

Then, someone put a hand on Lucifella's shoulder from behind her back.

"I'll do it."

"……...."

It was a familiar voice. Lucifella looked back, and there was someone she knew very well. Her fiancé, the Duke of Heint.

"You don't seem very well; don't you think you should stop talking and get in the carriage?"

Lucifella saw his hand on her shoulder. As she looked him in the eye, she noticed his displeased expression. Curiously, Lucifella's proud spirit had returned. Though her thoughts had been rushing up to this point, they now stopped because of something she had just realized.

"Did you come to see off your fiancée, Duke Heint?”

With a personable look, Khalid spoke to Jed. Khalid's expression remained unchanged despite the blatant signs of disgust that Jed showed.

"Well, as you can see."

"Duke Heint,” Yiojif said with a bright expression. "Fancy meeting you here.”

"I came to meet Your Majesty the Prince."

Jed spoke very rigidly, setting an example for Yiojif. Yiojif's face turned into a sad expression.

"I didn't expect my fiancée to be meeting the Prince in a place like this."

"I came out because I was worried about Her Ladyship."

"Really? I didn't know that Your Highness and Her Ladyship were so close."

Jed smiled grimly. Khalid's eyes looked over Yiojif and Jed.

"No, I'm worried because she had an episode in front of me. You're not jealous, are you? Are you jealous?”

Looking at the sparkling face of Yiojif, Jed wanted to slap him across the face, but he, too, said with a social smile, "Shouldn't I be jealous?”

"Eh!"

Yiojif jumped up and let out a strange exclamation at the brazen words by Jed.

"Your Highness, I am a very jealous man."

Of course, it wasn't really that Jed was jealous of Yiojif. It was well known to both Yiojif and Jed. It was Jed's warning that he would not stand by if anything happened. Recognizing it, Yiojif smiled, although inwardly he was in a cold sweat.

"My Lady."

Lucifella looked over when she heard his voice. Next to her was Jed, not Khalid. It was the complete opposite of what it was before.

"I guess you're not feeling well.”

She did not answer.

"Don't you have the energy to answer?"

Though the voice and manner were quite soft, Lucifella remained silent. Khalid, who heard the conversation, narrowed his eyes and said, "It's a little surprising. I didn't expect you to be so sweet when it comes to dealing with women."

Jed frowned when he noticed the sarcasm. He recognized that the tone was to insult him. If Lucifella were disrespected, Jed would be disrespected further.

‘That piece of shit.’

People always thought that Jed one-sidedly targeted Khalid, but the reality was a little different. Khalid didn't like Jed as much as Jed hated Khalid. He'd always scratched at Jed's nerves with his smiling face. If the Emperor hadn't been the one to invite that bastard from Ersha, Jed would have cut his throat.

"I didn't know my treatment of my fiancée would be judged by everyone."

"No, I think it's a little special."

"Special?"

Instead of answering Jed's question, Khalid spoke to Lucifella.

"Duke Heint is a man of heart. Don't you think so, Lady Aydin?"

Then all three men's eyes were on Lucifella. Lucifella looked down and kept her mouth shut. Everyone could see that she was a bit unstable.

Yiojif watched with interest. If Lucifella had another outburst here, it would ruin Jed's face. It was the first time that Yiojif had witnessed Khalid attacking Jed so aggressively, so he enjoyed watching the scene.

Khalid spoke with a wistful look on his face, "Oh, I didn't realize Her Ladyship wasn't feeling well. I'm sure it's hard for you to answer. That's too bad. I wanted to have a conversation, but Her Ladyship's physical condition...… I don't think it's a good situation.”

Then the corners of Lucifella's closed mouth went up slightly, and she opened it.

"First of all, thank you for helping me at the palace last time."

Yiojif’s eyes were filled with keen interest. It was because Lucifella's expression, which had seemed somewhat distracted, had now changed.

"And thank you for your kind assessment of my fiancé."

Lucifella placed her hand on Jed's, which rested on her shoulder. When the warm touch landed, Jed's hand trembled. His gaze lingered long on Lucifella's tiny white hand.

Khalid's eyes slightly widened when Lucifella, who opened her mouth for the first time, said something surprisingly normal.

"It's just that my fiancé does not lack in any way in his treatment of me, his fiancée. Did it seem so unexpected and generous of the Duke's heart?"

Her voice was clear, and she was literally as gentle as a gentle lady could be. Jed, too, was startled by her unexpected appearance. It was a completely different look from how she had always acted as if there was no tomorrow.

'Is this why she was able to hide her true self?

The way she was now was typical of a lady. Jed felt strange witnessing her, who seemed foreign to him with her sudden change of character.

"The kindness was just a little unexpected. It's a different look from Duke Heint's past. Our Lady must have a unique beauty that attracts people."

Twisting her lips, Lucifella said, "In the past... you sound as if you've known my fiancé for a long time. Have you been friends for a long time?”

Lucifella had no intention of passing over this one-sided taunt of Khalid’s now. It was against her pride.

"No."

The answer came not from Khalid but from behind her. Lucifella looked back and saw that Jed looked unhappy.

"Not me either. I was a Knight of the Ersha kingdom. I'm sure you didn't know. No, maybe you're not interested.”

She was aware that she was being laughed at. There was a rumor that she was crazy. As expected, Khalid must have known that. Lucifella bit her lip in shame.

"It's not that I didn’t know, but I was just a little curious. A Knight of the Kingdom of Ersha has continued to hold onto his motherland title. I mean, couldn’t you have been friends with people like Duke Heint when you were in Ersha?”

Khalid's relaxed face hardened slightly at that. Lucifella had pointed out the possibility of a relationship between Khalid and Yansgar having started when he was still in Ersha.

Realizing Khalid was unsettled, Lucifella rekindled all the accusations coming out of her mouth once again, hinting at his being a traitor.

"Although I became a knight of Yansgar, I had no friendship with these men before the war."

At Khalid's answer, Lucifella smirked. How could she believe that? Those were the words of a man who had turned his back on his country and slit the throat of his superior. Khalid's face was coldly hardened.

How disgusting. What right did he have to be offended?

Khalid was the one who cut her throat. So, why did he have that look on his face? The country may have been lost, but Khalid had lost nothing as a result. Nevertheless, he was displeased by such ridicule.

"Your Highness. I hate being treated like a fool.”

/”Khalid, I hate being treated like a fool./ (Flashback)

Lucifella intentionally repeated the words she used to say as a habit when she was in Ersha as Estelle. Khalid's eyes widened slightly. At that, Lucifella felt a sense of exhilaration.

"I don't know how many people you’ve been fooling, and I don't want to know, but I'm not a fool. I don't want the Duke to believe in rumors and think I'm a fool.”

Lucifella's words caused silence between them. Yiojif was still sticking to the bystander's attitude and Jed seemed lost in thought throughout their argument.

Khalid looked at Lucifella as if he were searching, and Lucifella forced herself to lift the corners of her mouth, smiling and biting the delicate flesh of her lips inward.

"My act of hospitality must have given you a reason for misunderstanding. My Lady, I hope it is not misinterpreted.”

Lucifella turned her head, frowning at the words. Then, as if she just remembered, she looked at Yiojif and said, "I'll be on my way, then, Your Majesty."

"It's a shame. I would have liked to talk more. I hope to see you in a short time."

"I will never forget your kindness, Your Majesty."

Lucifella spoke with strength in her eyes without even a hint of a smile. Yiojif felt a chill in the air.

"Let’s go."

With that voice, Jed's hand, which Lucifella had held, slid down.

It was only then that Lucifella realized that Jed was still behind her. Jed stood behind her and reached out to her politely.

After hesitating about what to do, Lucifella smiled and held his hand in order to not look unnatural, to act like an affectionate couple who are engaged.

Jed's strong hand held her, and its warmth seemed to soothe her persistent feeling of bursting. Oddly enough, Jed didn't do anything special, but Lucifella felt comforted.

Lucifella turned around and looked toward Khalid. She could feel Khalid's gaze touching her. Lucifella was about to face him but quickly closed her eyes and turned back to step into the carriage. Jed walked with her, keeping up with her pace.

"Are you really here to see me off?” Lucifella asked as they walked towards the carriage. Jed nodded at her.

"I thought it was the right thing to do to at least say hello before your long trip since we're engaged."

Lucifella picked up her head. Maybe it was because prestige was essential to the nobility. She didn't want to cause any problems. In fact, her nerves were on edge because Khalid was behind her.

"Yes."

When Lucifella uttered such dry words, Jed stood tall and looked at Lucifella's face. Lucifella, who had walked about three more steps, realized that he had not followed, and stopped to look back. Jed's expression was subtle.

"Do you want something else?" she asked, frowning at the dubious look.

Jed's eyes were slightly bigger at the words and soon wrinkled as if they were unpleasant. He burst into a dejected laugh.

"No," he said grimly.

There seemed to have been something significant going on with Jed, but Lucifella didn't think that deeply about it because she was busy trying to sort out the complex emotions that were boiling inside her.

As Lucifella's steps accelerated, Jed's steps also accelerated.

Before getting on the wagon, Jed reached out his hand. Lucifella glanced at it and allowed herself to be supported as she stepped into the carriage.

On this day, she at least owed him that much. Since he came just before she went berserk, she got a chance to think about things calmly. By his presence in front of Khalid, Lucifella was able to realize that she was now engaged to Jed Kyle Heint.

"Thank you."

That was really genuine. But at the words that came out of Lucifella's mouth, Jed had a strange look on his face. It was as if he couldn't believe she was grateful.

"What?"

"Many things."

Jed thought for a long time and eventually sighed after seemingly something had been understood.

"You’re usually not polite to me, but Her Ladyship must have her own reasons."

Lucifella, whose mind had been devoted to Khalid, suddenly stopped thinking about him.

‘Why do normal words suddenly come out of that person? And what's with that look?’ Jed was looking at Lucifella with a complicated expression.

"I want you to clear your mind while you are at the estate.”

“……?”

Lucifella had a curious look on her face. It was as if he knew about Khalid and her. Besides, he was as sweet as someone being led to the sacrificial altar.

"I don't know when I'll see you again, but behave properly. I'll do my duty as your fiancé too.”

Lucifella's face crumpled at Jed's words, the displeasure spreading. She had wondered why she thought he was so sweet.

"Do you want me to behave properly?”

When asked by Lucifella, Jed answered.

"I meant don't act like 'then.'"

What the hell was he talking about? Lucifella got on the carriage. The last time she looked back, Jed was looking at Lucifella. For a brief moment, Lucifella thought Jed's thoughts could not be unknown.