But I was told it wouldn’t be a problem if I later corrected it as a mistake...
Yet here he was, relentlessly pushing forward.
"Um, Sir Tulio..."
"Please, call me Jade."
"Th-then, Sir Jade..."
"Yes? What is it?"
His eyes gleamed with joy, like a loyal dog waiting for praise.
No, I mustn’t give in.
It was just a coincidence that I handed the handkerchief to this knight, so how did things escalate into such a grand affair?
"I was so moved last night that I couldn’t sleep! I know it’s sudden and may be an inconvenience, but I couldn’t wait any longer and had to come see you."
"Oh my," her mother’s delighted voice reached her ears, but this was no time for that.
"W-wait a moment. This is all so sudden, and you’re already talking about an engagement..."
"I have no intention of forcing you into a marriage you don't desire! I only hope you’ll get to know me a little, and perhaps keep me in mind."
And eventually, an engagement...
It was almost as if she could see a tail wagging behind him.
Milietta was terrified by the single-minded, loyal dog-like determination in his eyes.
He didn’t seem like a bad person, but he was certainly overwhelming.
Her mother, sensing Milietta’s hesitation, launched a barrage of supportive comments to Jade, saying, “If our daughter agrees, we have no objections whatsoever.”
With his cheeks slightly flushed, Jade leaned closer, and Milietta, feeling cornered, forced a strained smile.
...But I was told he was a quiet person!!
But it was already too late.
Milietta, now completely cornered, found herself unable to resist and ended up agreeing to a one-on-one date with him.
* * *
The direct descendants of the Gordon family, regardless of gender, have always been exceptional individuals.
Their estate was an outlying region, barren of fertile land, devoid of mineral resources or notable products, and overwhelmed with a population in the slums. It was a place everyone avoided, believing its recovery to be impossible.
Yet, the current Earl Gordon raised his hand and declared he would take on the challenge. With a series of rapid and effective measures, he turned the region profitable in just five years.
The residents who had fled to neighboring estates due to poverty began gradually returning, and last year, the final slum was dismantled. It would not be an exaggeration to say that the region is now on its way to becoming one of the nation’s major cities.
The eldest son, too, was extraordinarily talented. At the young age of twenty, he was appointed as an assistant to the Prime Minister and was even rumored to be a candidate for the next Prime Minister. However, as was typical of the Gordon family, known for their lack of ambition for power and their laid-back attitude, he would likely step down from central politics without any regrets when it came time to inherit the title, and content himself with leisurely managing the estate.
Amidst all this, attention was drawn to the eldest daughter, Milietta, as she approached her debutante ball.
Milietta herself believed that her appearance and abilities were entirely average, but in the context of the Gordon family, her “average” was quite remarkable.
When Duke Lager, one of the nation's most influential figures, took the opportunity to speak with her when she was momentarily alone at her debut, he was astonished by her broad knowledge, deep thoughtfulness, and outstanding political insight, all well beyond her years. It wasn’t long before she had captivated the Four Great Dukes, and unbeknownst to her, they formed a protective barrier around her, agreeing that her future husband would have to be someone they approved of.
With her daisy-like charm and impeccable demeanor, noble sons would do anything to get close to her, but the Four Great Dukes had imposed strict conditions, stating that only those Milietta herself approached at a ball could speak to her, while subtly flaunting their power. As a result, all the young men could do was watch her longingly from afar.
Jade was no exception. He would often loiter in front of Milietta, but she never showed the slightest interest, not even meeting his gaze.
Desperate to learn anything about the woman he loved, Jade heard through connections with the ducal families that she enjoyed reading tales of romance involving knights. This spurred him to decide to become a knight himself.
He began training his body with fierce determination and quickly revealed his latent talents, earning his knighthood in just a year and a half, after which he joined the knighthood.
Jade swiftly distinguished himself within the ranks, and eventually, he was appointed as one of the Crown Prince’s personal guards. But fate had it that he was assigned as a guard at the very ball where Milietta was to hand out her embroidered handkerchief. He spent the previous night drenched in tears, knowing he would be in attendance as a mere guard.
And yet, against all odds, with the unexpected assistance of his father, Milietta herself handed him an embroidered handkerchief.
His rivals, long considered formidable foes, were left stunned.
Of course, Jade knew Milietta didn’t intend anything serious by it, but he had no intention of letting this chance slip through his fingers.
After the ball, I thanked the gods for my incredible luck, so overjoyed that I hugged my father (he complained it was too much), and I was so excited that I couldn’t sleep a wink all night.
Though the engagement didn’t materialize, I had finally found a way into that impregnable fortress. As a knight, it is my duty to pursue this with all my might, and I’ll sweep aside those rival enemies with ease.
The loyal dog, now with a heart dyed pitch black, sat in the carriage on the way home with a thin smile on his lips.
There’s no way I’m letting her go.
—No matter what it takes.
[The End]
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