* * *
“So, what brings you here?”
“I… came to pay respects to the brother of the person I married.”
The word “husband,” influenced by Klen, lingered on the tip of my tongue but was hastily replaced. Technically, “partner” would be more accurate.
But “husband” fits too.
It does.
Yet saying it plainly still feels unfamiliar and embarrassing.
“…”
The conversation abruptly stalled.
For some reason, Neser seemed unusually tight-lipped today.
I’d half-expected him to spew rude remarks like last time, completely disregarding the fact that I outrank him.
Something along the lines of, ‘Are you spying? What are you planning to do after meeting Lord Fabian? Didn’t I warn you to stay out of this?’
But instead, when I silently stared at him, he shifted his eyes awkwardly, as if uneasy.
Surely not…
“Did Klen say something to you?”
“…No.”
The silence before his denial was long enough to be noticeable—so long it felt as though countless unspoken words had passed in that gap.
Wasn’t he supposed to handle this better?
I figured he’d try to brush things off, hiding his true feelings, but apparently not.
What did Klen say to him?
Clang!
My thoughts were interrupted by the sharp sound of swords clashing.
From the center of the arena came the resounding noise of the knight’s and my brother-in-law’s blades locking with incredible force.
Judging by the grinding sound of steel against steel and their sheer effort, the match would soon have a winner.
Perfect timing—I could use this opportunity to gauge my brother-in-law’s temperament.
I deliberately tilted my head, moving slightly, and changed my position to get a better view.
“Careful, it’s dangerous to move.”
“Oh, it’s fine. A little closer should be okay. It’s my first time watching a sparring match like this.”
Of course, getting closer wasn’t just about watching.
The two swords clashed fiercely in the center again, briefly separating before colliding with renewed intensity.
Clang! Clang!
For a moment, I noticed my brother-in-law glance quickly toward an area beyond the arena.
His gaze lingered on an open spot—clear of spectators and fragile items.
It was also the exact place I was carefully approaching.
After a brief glance, he refocused on the match, completely unaware of my movements.
Screech—!
As predicted, the swords emitted an ear-piercing scrape.
But this time, the knight’s arm faltered, and the blade caught awkwardly.
I hurried forward.
Clang!
“Ah!”
At that moment, the knight’s sword flew from his hand.
Simultaneously, I pretended to trip on a rock, stumbling quickly toward the scene.
“M-Madam?!”
“It’s dangerous!”
Though the knights around us reached out to stop me, Neser, with his injured leg, couldn’t keep up.
“What are you doing?”
Feigning innocence, I turned my head, acting as if I didn’t understand his question.
Of course, everything was meticulously calculated.
And just as I turned to glance at Neser—
‘Whoosh—!’
A sword zipped past my face like an arrow.
The sheer speed and force left no doubt—my brother-in-law had quite the arm.
The blade embedded itself firmly in the ground behind me, missing me entirely.
Of course, it hadn’t even grazed a hair on my head.
But playing the part of someone fragile, I couldn’t simply stay standing after that.
“Ah…”
Feigning delayed realization, I let my legs give out beneath me, collapsing to the ground.
For added realism, I allowed my body to tilt to the side.
I’d learned enough to fall without hurting myself, so I was confident I wouldn’t be injured.
Thud.
‘Huh?’
Before I hit the ground, someone caught me.
“Get the healer, now.”
“Yes, sir!”
It wasn’t Neser.
Turning my head toward the unfamiliar voice, I saw my brother-in-law standing there, having crossed the arena in an instant to catch me.
“Are you hurt?”
“No, the blade didn’t even touch me.”
“I—?!”
I tried to speak, but they ignored me entirely, laying me flat on the ground.
Despite my wide-open eyes, a handkerchief was gently placed over them, followed by something cool dripping onto my forehead.
The calming scent spread, clearly some kind of fragrance meant to soothe.
“What were you all doing?!”
“My apologies, sir.”
My brother-in-law scolded the knights fiercely.
Hearing hurried footsteps and seeing the knights gather around me with guilty expressions, I instinctively tried to sit up.
“I’m really fine—”
“Lie down.”
“…Yes, sir.”
Is this how all eldest siblings act?
His tone was so reminiscent of my own eldest brother that I found myself complying without thinking.
Once the handkerchief slid back over my eyes, I had a moment to wonder why I’d obeyed so reflexively.
‘Why won’t they let me get up when I said I’m fine?’
The soothing scent tickled my nose, warm sunlight bathed my body, and a gentle breeze brushed my skin.
It was so pleasant I felt drowsy, my consciousness drifting in and out.
As I dozed off, I overheard voices:
“Does he faint this easily?”
“Y-Yes, sir. Even after the wedding, he collapsed a few times and was on a soup diet for a while.”
“Then why bring someone like that to the training grounds?!”
“I-I’m sorry! He insisted on greeting Lord Fabian…”
Though my mind was foggy, the sound of him reprimanding someone was clear.
I couldn’t allow anyone else to bear the blame for my actions.
Especially not someone close to me.
With effort, I opened my mouth.
“I… wanted to come… Please don’t… scold him…”
I hadn’t intended to fake anything, but my drowsy state made my voice sluggish and halting.
I wanted to add that I’d insisted on waiting nearby and hadn’t intended to disrupt the sparring match.
But the words refused to come out.
“…”
I could feel my mouth faintly moving.
I tried to force my eyes open, but my eyelids refused to budge.
At some point, the world around me had gone utterly silent, as though I had gone deaf.
What on earth happened?
My consciousness felt like it was sinking deeper the more I struggled, as if caught in a swamp.
“!”
I snapped my eyes open.
The scene before me had completely changed.
Instead of the blue sky, there was now a familiar ceiling.
Had I really fallen asleep?
In that situation, in that place?
“I heard you collapsed while watching a sparring match. Are you all right?”
Beside me, Klen was lying down at an angle, propped up on one arm.
He removed the cold silk pouch resting on my forehead and brushed back the hair covering it.
I couldn’t tell whether the gaze in his amber eyes held worry or something else entirely.
“The healer said you looked peaceful, as though you were just sleeping.”
“…I’m fine.”
Whoever that healer was, they certainly knew their craft.
I hadn’t actually collapsed—I really had fallen asleep.
Klen closed the book he had been reading and placed it on the table.
Judging by the time of night, he hadn’t gotten far in the book.
Had he been tending to me this whole time?
“You’re quite diligent, I see.”
“……”
No, maybe it wasn’t concern that kept him here.
Perhaps he had something to say and was waiting for the right moment.
“Since you keep fainting everywhere, should I tie you to the bed so you can’t move?”
“…?!”
His words, spoken like a joke, carried an unsettling chill.
Moreover, his upturned eyes didn’t hint at any amusement, making it feel even less like a joke.
I hurriedly opened my mouth.
“It’s not that the sparring match startled me… It was the sunlight…”
I couldn’t possibly admit I had fallen asleep because it was so warm and cozy, could I?
“It was too hot. I must’ve fainted from the heat.”
“Heatstroke, then?”
I nodded—or maybe it was too subtle to even count as a nod.
Either way, passing out and falling asleep weren’t so different, were they?
Perhaps because I mentioned heatstroke, Klen placed the silk pouch back on my forehead.
The coolness of the magic-infused pouch spread a pleasant chill over my body.
“Why did you suddenly want to meet my older brother?”
“I was curious about Fabian. I wanted to know what kind of person he is.”
I answered honestly, without hiding anything.
It wasn’t strange to be curious about the brother of someone I’d married, after all.
“Are you interested in my brother?”
“Yes. He’s your brother; I can’t just ignore his existence, can I?”
Klen looked at me intently, turning his body toward me and propping his chin on his hand.
His gaze, steady and probing, was hard to endure.
Occasionally, his touch was colder than expected.
“You could’ve just asked me. Fabian is a good man. He’s responsible, skilled in swordsmanship… and above all, diligent.”
As he spoke, it seemed he finally understood that my interest wasn’t unusual.
His tone even carried a touch of affection.
The last part sounded almost as if it implied, unlike me.
If his actions when I fainted reflected his true nature, he certainly wasn’t a bad person.
“Are you close to your brother?”
“We’re not what you’d call deeply bonded, but we’re close enough.”
Does that mean I can rule Fabian out as the culprit?
No, I couldn’t let my guard down entirely.
* * *
