Chapter 3

"Ano, Oni-sama…?"

"Let me get this out first. I’m serious. The only person who can marry you without causing any problems is that mad warrior himself."

"M-matthew, please, wait… about this… talk… to Bernard…?"

As I asked, barely able to catch my breath, Oni-sama averted his eyes and said,

"No."

"Oni-sama!"

In response to my scream, Oni-sama spoke with a resigned tone,

"There’s no other way, Amelia. If that man understood the dignity of the royal family, I would have talked to him first. Or if he were a knight with a heart for the country and its people, I would have laid the groundwork. But he’s a mad dog who only listens to you. A man who was mistakenly born as a human. If I were to bring up the marriage proposal, my head would literally fly off."

"Then you’re saying I should tell him myself? Tell him to marry me, with my own mouth!?"

"Amelia."

Oni-sama called my name with a deep, heartfelt voice.

"I understand how you feel. If I were in your position, I would hate my brother, hate the country, and be crushed by pessimism about the future. But… understand, Amelia."

Oni-sama continued with a tone of deep disgust.

"As long as that mad warrior is around, no one will propose to you."

"That may be true, but…!"

"And that man is a cursed magic sword in human form. Whether you try to imprison him or exile him, he will easily return to you."

I pressed my forehead, still trying to correct him.

"Both his imprisonment and exile were based on false accusations. Bernard was punished unjustly, yet he still rushed to help me and Oni-sama in times of crisis."

"What are you saying, Amelia? That man has never moved for my sake. Everything he does is for you. He only helped me as a side effect. Ha, to him, I’m less than a weed on the roadside. He only helped me because you were there, because you wanted it. – That’s right, from the moment you picked him up, he has shown the destruction of three thousand soldiers for you. He’s something that was mistakenly born as a human. He was probably supposed to appear as a cursed magic sword."

Oni-sama stroked his chin, speaking with a knowing air.

I wish he wouldn’t look so confident, given that none of this is true.

No matter what anyone says, Bernard is human. He may overdo things sometimes, but he is sincere, trustworthy, and a fine knight.

"Oni-sama, as I’ve said many times, I didn’t pick him up; I’m just temporarily taking care of his life. And the three thousand soldiers is an exaggeration. There were other allies besides Bernard, and he himself said, 'I only took care of about two thousand.'"

"Do you not find that conversation suspicious, Amelia!?"

Oni-sama punched the air as if there were an enemy there.

"Indeed, he has saved my life. I admit that. More than once. I also admit that. …Because of the late king, both you and I have been in dire straits many times. When I heard that you were surrounded by rebels at the peace talks, I was so darkened that I couldn’t see. – But every time that mad warrior secured your safety by slaughtering the rebels, dyeing the ground red, and piling up corpses, you became a target of fear too!?"

Oni-sama covered his face with one hand and continued.

"Even before that night, it was already like that. The nobles who knew nothing of war laughed it off as exaggerated rumors, but the head of the Royal Knights and the commander of the Royal Guard would pale and look away whenever they saw you and Bernard, avoiding even passing by. Even the mighty Count Bolts, who was known for his bravery, knelt before me and pleaded to spare his son from a marriage proposal with you! – Even the great general Bolts, who was hailed as the strongest in our country!"

"Oh… I see…"

I had never heard this before. I would have preferred to never know.

"Among the noble families, those from military backgrounds were all desperately trying to avoid marriage proposals with you… because that mad warrior would come with you… The knights whispered that marrying you and taking in Bernard would be a death sentence for their families."

"Yes… I have heard that…"

"Because of him, there were already few marriage proposals for you. But that night, at the grand ball where we invited important figures from other countries, that mad dog, who only cares about your safety, decapitated someone in front of everyone. Since then, no one has wanted to marry you. – So, it’s only right that he takes responsibility, right, sister!?"

I pressed my forehead again.

I was beyond a headache; I was dizzy.

---

It was about two years ago, a month after Oni-sama ascended the throne.

He held the first grand ball after his ascension.

I was dressed more elaborately than usual.

At Oni-sama’s coronation, I wore a traditional white dress, so it had been a long time since I wore a beautiful, fashionable dress.

Even during my time as a princess, I often acted on behalf of Oni-sama and had many formal occasions, but the attire for such events was always traditional and formal, meaning it was always similar.

I had smiled and said, “It’s nice not to have to think about it,” but it would be a lie to say I didn’t long for a fashionable, beautiful dress.

Oni-sama’s long-awaited ascension and the first grand ball after his ascension.

My heart was secretly fluttering.

When Bernard saw me in my elaborate dress, he lavishly praised me, saying, “You look wonderful. You are very beautiful. …I can’t think of any other words. You are very beautiful, as I have always known.” This praise stirred my heart more than anything.

Even with years of self-restraint, his words still moved me, and a hint of hope and joy seeped through.

Bernard, as usual, stood behind me, serving as my guard.

I felt stronger just knowing he was there.

As the ball began, a long line formed in front of Oni-sama and me.

Nobles from our country and important figures from other countries. The line was arranged by rank and influence, so by the time it was halfway through, there were a few faces I didn’t recognize.

So, when the Count of Cesnik introduced his eldest son, I didn’t think much of it.

It was unusual, though. There was a slight unease.

I had heard that the Count of Cesnik’s eldest son was often ill, suffering from many serious diseases and rarely leaving his bed.

– Probably, only family and servants had actually met the eldest son. No one at the ball had any personal acquaintance with him.

So, when the Count introduced him as his eldest son, everyone believed it.

I had met the Count’s eldest daughter before.

But I had also heard that she had given birth the year before. Perhaps her child had caught a cold, I thought.

She had taken in a son-in-law to continue the family, but had struggled to have children. When she finally had a child, it was a cause for celebration in the entire family.

The introduced eldest son was beautiful but thin and delicate, a look that anyone would believe had been shaped by years of illness.

Perhaps his health had improved recently? Maybe the Count wanted him to experience a grand ball.

In the span of a few seconds, I thought all this and then greeted him with my usual smile.

– …No, I was supposed to greet him.

But in just a moment, a blink of an eye.

After I blinked, the Count of Cesnik’s eldest son was missing from the neck up.

I didn’t understand what had happened.

I didn’t understand, but something round, like a ball, had bounced up to the ceiling and then fallen in a circular path.

By chance, the landing spot was where a lecherous Duke, known for his lack of boundaries even in his fifties, stood. He instinctively caught the falling object, and then – .

The Duke’s loud, rough scream echoed through the grand hall.