The morning in Aldrant is dull in color. Even when the sun rises, it takes time for the sky to find its blue hue. If you watch closely, it slowly clears up as if it’s about to snow. Now, Rensley has become accustomed to the gray mornings. Rensley exhaled a sigh, dispersing into the air like tobacco smoke. Despite most of the year being winter in Aldrant, there are still seasonal changes. The time it takes for the sky to turn blue has shortened. It was still cold, but compared to when Rensley first arrived in Aldrant, it felt warmer.
“When spring comes, there’s no need to worry about invasions beyond the walls,” they said, but recently, the Knight Order was busy with surrounding inspections, training, and weapon checks.
“When spring comes, they tend to make their final move before hibernation.”
“Is it similar to animals feasting before hibernation?”
During a break in training, Stan nodded in response to Rensley’s question.
“A few years ago, there was a disturbance. The late king was a great warrior, but not a magician. Even though there was a magician’s guild back then, the destructive power of their magic was different from that used directly by the royal family. In large-scale battles, magic can be useful, and they are vulnerable to magical attacks because they are not human. You may not have seen it yet, but the summon that His Grace the Grand Duke controls is truly powerful. As a result, when we are in battle, we become overly dependent on His Grace.”
“If the summon is so powerful, isn’t it okay to rely on it?”
“The summon may be powerful, but His Grace is still a human. There was a time when the castle was under siege, and His Grace was unwell for a few days. Unfortunately, it happened when the defense was breached. He couldn’t use magic as usual because he was not in good health.”
Rensley’s brow twitched slightly. He recalled the words that said magic couldn’t cure illnesses. Though the Duke was generally a quiet person who didn’t like to move much, hearing that he had been bedridden with illness stirred something in his chest.
‘I’m in quite a serious condition too.’
Rensley sighed lightly, berating himself. It’s common to get sick and lie in bed at some point in one’s life. Now that he was healthy, the illness he experienced must have been nothing more than a cold with a fever. However, his heart felt exaggeratedly cold.
“At that time, I fought with the militia before joining. It was really dreadful. In the days of the late king, it was natural to deal with things with human strength alone, but things have changed. There were many casualties and injuries, many buildings and facilities were destroyed, and the damage was immense. It was around that time that Commander Anton took office. He’s not easygoing.”
As soon as he finished speaking, as if to prove the story, Commander Anton raised his hand. A strict command was given to resume training, and the instructors instructed the training in unison. Rensley and Stan also picked up their weapons, stood in formation, and began simulated combat.
Knight training usually ends in the early afternoon. The rest of the schedule varied depending on the day’s tasks or the person. Noble heirs either went home to participate in family affairs or learned something else, assisting in family businesses. When people hear about the Royal Knights, they usually think of a group composed only of nobles, a symbol of nobility. To Rensley, who naturally thought so, the appearance of the Northern Knights was quite a strange sight, but now he was used to it. After training, Rensley sometimes helped in the kitchen or stables. Occasionally, he visited Stan or other close members’ homes for a meal.
He also drank alcohol at Max’s shop outside the castle from early evening and sometimes borrowed a novel he wanted to read from the library and read it in his room. Even after joining the Knight Order, the position of being treated as a guest by the lord of the castle did not change. As he didn’t need to worry about meals, Rensley’s recent life has been generally relaxed.
While Rensley had designated training or schedules, the Duke’s work did not have a set ending time. Sometimes it ended early, sometimes it continued until late at night. However, a small change occurred in the man’s life, which used to involve being confined underground after official duties were over.
“Your Grace.”
Sitting in front of his desk in the Grand Duchess’s bedroom, Rensley stood up quickly to greet the guest who entered the room. As always, Gezell quietly approached Rensley.
“Were you reading a book?”
“Yes. The next part of the pirate story I mentioned last time has arrived at the library. It ends with Alfred stealing a nobleman’s jewelry and escaping! I was so curious about the aftermath! I wonder when the next part will come out… I want to lock up the author and make them write instead of escaping.”
“If you wish, I can have them investigated and brought here.”
At that, Rensley quickly extended his hand.
“No, no. I didn’t mean it seriously.”
If he joked and played along, it might become a reality. With an expression that seemed to say so, Gezell nodded his head. Suddenly, Rensley became curious.
“Your Grace, you like books, don’t you? Have you ever met authors or scholars who write books?”
“Sometimes, that’s the case. There were times when I received help when the late king established a new system. However, since I am far away, there is a cost to inviting, you see.”
Even in the royal palace of Cornia, renowned scholars were occasionally invited by the king. Rensley had never attended such gatherings, nor had he been particularly curious.
Cornia, originally a place with many visitors, was, in some aspects, more fashionable than Pheraira, ruled by the emperor. Thanks to the prosperous harbor, the variety of food, drinks, music, dance, clothing, and jewelry couldn’t be matched anywhere else. From the square, market, and church, to the royal palace, there were always new faces bustling around. With that experience, it was natural to think that foreigners would wander around, but it was not the case in this distant land.
“Shall we start today’s practice soon?”
Rensley extended his hand as he spoke, and Gezell shook it. Facing each other, they looked into each other’s faces. The Grand Duchess’s room was spacious, providing enough room for both. Rensley cleared his throat and spoke sternly, like a teacher.
“Let’s review what I taught you yesterday.”
“Sure.”
Gezell only smiled faintly, as if to say something without saying it. Since there was no music, Rensley moved his feet first while matching the rhythm with his mouth. When Gezell followed by lowering his head slightly and mimicking the movement, Rensley immediately gave feedback.
“No, Your Grace. Please lift your head and look at my face. If you keep looking down at your feet when you dance, your skills won’t improve.”
“I’m worried I might step on your foot.”
The king of the North, who said such things, seemed uncharacteristically hesitant. With this attitude, maintaining strictness would be difficult. Rensley quickly laughed.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
“It’s okay because you learn by stepping on each other’s feet at first. It’s not a big deal if your foot gets stepped on.”
Ciatbeut tf kjrc’a j rmtbijg bg j kglafg, Efcrifs Zjfigbrfc tjv xcbkifvuf atja mbeiv yf rqgfjv lc atlr cbgatfgc ijcv.
Vagfcuatfclcu vfofcrfr jujlcra lcnjrlbcr vlvc’a wfjc atja fnfgs jrqfma bo ilof aegcfv lcab j wlilajgs bqfgjalbc. Snfgsvjs ilof mbcalcefv, jcv bc bcf rlvf, qfbqif kfgf yers qgfqjglcu obg atf jgglnji bo rqglcu.
When the Grand Duke decided to invite the Imperial Ambassador to a banquet, workers who barely repaired or fixed the aging or malfunctioning parts of the castle, meticulously cleaned the lights hanging from the ceiling. Taking down curtains or carpets, dusting, washing, and repairing were all labor-intensive tasks.
Rensley’s assigned task was to dance with the Grand Duke as the Grand Duchess. The fact that the Grand Duchess was from Cornia was well known to the Imperial Ambassador. Since it was an official reception, spreading the dance from fashionable Cornia in the north wouldn’t be a bad idea. Although he had danced several times in taverns, he hadn’t done so in the castle yet. After all, there hadn’t been a large reception in the Grand Castle since the wedding ceremony.
“Alright. Hold my waist here.”
Gezell’s hand firmly gripped Rensley’s slender waist. As Rensley leaped, Gezell’s hand lifted him, and he floated silently in the air, chuckling quietly. It was quite enjoyable for him to look down at the man who he always had to look up when standing.
Descending lightly, changing direction, and once more. Again and again. Unlike vigorous jumping in place, the key was to quietly float up as if flying and then gently land. After lifting Rensley once again, Gezell, still holding him, spun around in place. This time, Rensley also made a sound and creaked with joy.
“It feels like I’ve become a child.”
“You’re light, so I could hold you all day.”
“Well, I didn’t become that thin. These days, I eat well and train a lot, so my body has become quite firm.”
“Regardless, you feel light.”
“Your Grace, your strength is too overwhelming.”
While making a tut-tut sound, Rensley’s body slowly descended again. After dancing for a while, his throat felt a bit dry.
“Can we take a break for a moment? How about a cup of tea?”
The two sat facing each other at the table. Gezell shared his brief impressions of the lesson.
“I didn’t know there was such a dynamic dance.”
“Originally, it was a dance for commoners. But you know, people find things interesting if they recognize them, right? At first, some people criticized it as vulgar, but later, everyone started dancing it at parties without caring about their status. When I left Cornia, it was incredibly popular. I’m sure it has spread to the imperial capital now.”
So, if he mastered it now, when spring arrived and he went to meet the emperor, Gezell would be able to dance this popular dance with the new Grand Duchess. If he didn’t teach it, who would introduce this trendy dance to him? Since a noble princess might find it difficult to do such things, it was the first and last merit he could leave as the Grand Duchess of Aldrant.
“When moving steps in order or lifting me, your movements are good, but when lifting the mood, you’re too passive. This dance’s charm lies in freely tempting each other until you hold hands and move together. Of course, royals and nobles don’t dance so openly, but…”
“Um…”
In front of a contemplative Gezell, Rensley chuckled inwardly. He didn’t have high expectations even when delivering the lecture. It would be his most challenging task yet to teach a man who had only read books every day to suddenly dance and seduce his partner.
The criticism that this dance was vulgar was partly due to the choreography of men lifting women, but more significantly, it stemmed from the prelude to the actual dance, where partners faced each other and engaged in a seductive ritual. In the pubs and squares where commoners gathered for parties, it wasn’t uncommon for the atmosphere to be stirred up with acts that almost evoked sexual intercourse.
Of course, nobles didn’t engage in such explicit dancing. However, the essence of this dance lay in sending a hand kiss, showcasing elegant yet seductive gestures, and displaying affection for the partner as much as possible, before dancing together.
“If it’s too difficult, try something simple. First, press your lips to the back of the hand.”
“Like this?”
Suddenly, Gezell grabbed Rensley’s hand and kissed it lightly. Despite acts like hand-kissing and their nighttime activities becoming commonplace, Rensley’s lips slightly parted. He felt warmth in his ears as he tilted his head.
“Not me; I meant your own backhand.”
“My own hand?”
Despite his confusion, Gezell followed the instructions, pressing his lips to the back of his fingers. This time, Rensley demonstrated.
“Then, like this, extend your hand while looking at your partner. Sending a kiss is the basic praise offered to a woman before dancing.”
Like a loyal servant, Gezell imitated Rensley. As his hand, which was just kissing, extended, his long and elegant fingers with clearly defined joints and neat nails were highlighted.
He gazed at Rensley without smiling or sending meaningful glances, as was often done by men dancing. Nevertheless, Rensley couldn’t say anything and just stared at him.
If they dressed appropriately and performed the same actions in the ballroom, other men’s attempts to court would be overshadowed by Gezell Jivendad. When Rensley forced a smile, Gezell, who was waiting for the evaluation, asked first.
“Was it strange?”
“No. I envy you as another man. Well, I still have my own strengths.”
Rensley stood up from his seat and approached him. As they sat down, Gezell embraced Rensley’s waist even more naturally than when they were dancing, sitting him on his knees.
“In fact, Your Grace, you may not be interested in such new dances… Thank you for considering my request.”
“No need to thank me. I thought I wouldn’t enjoy it much, but after learning it from Sir Maelrosen, it’s not so bad.”
Whether he was inexperienced in seduction or skillful, Rensley couldn’t help but smile ambiguously again.
Before he could erase the smile, a firm knock on the door sounded. While Rensley hurriedly stood up from Gezell’s knees, a familiar voice was heard from outside.
“Rensley, it’s Samlet.”
“Come in!”
When Samlet, the chambermaid, entered the room, she was smiling brightly from the beginning. Only Rensley, who had noticed the identity of the clothing that she held in her arms, swallowed a gulp. Getting closer, Lady Samlet spread out two sets of clothing in front of the two.
“Oh my, His Grace is here too. These are dresses for Rensley to wear at the banquet. Today, both should be tried once, and we’ll need alterations. Originally, a seamstress should come and do it, but this time, I’ll have to be meticulous and request it.”
“I apologize for troubling you each time, madam.”
“It’s not a bother; I enjoy it. When I was young, I even tried sewing. Trust me since I’ve done this before. This worked out well. How about His Grace choosing one as well?”
Gezell nodded without any intention of avoiding the situation from the start. Rensley, looking at the dresses, asked,
“Do we need two? We’re only going to wear one, anyway.”
“You’ll be choosing one from these two. The dress you won’t wear this time can be altered and worn later.”
Having two dresses for the queen at a royal banquet was modest. Since there were often banquets hosted by the king in Cornia, and royals frequently attended, they had their clothes tailored for various occasions. Sometimes, at large-scale banquets where many guests were invited, the king and queen changed clothes two or three times in one night. Preparing new clothes just before a banquet could be hectic, so royals usually had several outfits made at once, considering the future banquets that were sure to come.
Of course, Rensley had no use for a spare dress, and he didn’t need an additional dress for the occasion. However, not wanting to dampen the enthusiasm of Lady Samlet, who spoke with an air of certainty, Rensley simply smiled as if to acknowledge the appropriateness.
“Since you’ll be wearing a veil anyway, a slightly revealing neckline shouldn’t be a problem. I opened up the neckline a bit on one dress. I also made the back visible. Please take a look at both, and the elegance of the skirts is essential. Although it’s a ceremonial outfit, it’s not a traditional one, as it’s meant for a banquet in the imperial capital. I’ve designed it according to the skirt trends popular there.”
Indeed, the dresses were splendid. It would have been nice if Rensley, acting as a proper noble lady, could have made the dresses enjoy the love and admiration they deserved. How unfortunate for both of you. Sending silent sympathy, Rensley tried on the clothes.
“I think this dress shows a bit too much of the body… What if someone figures out that I’m a man?”
“Who would think such a thing? With your slender figure and covered by a veil, you’ll never be noticed. It’s not like your bare arms or legs will be exposed. What about you, Your Grace? Which one do you prefer?”
Up until now, Gezell had been quietly listening to their conversation. He didn’t hesitate for long when prompted. He pointed to one of the dresses with his finger.
“It seems better for the body not to be too exposed. There’s no need to take unnecessary risks.”
“If Your Grace thinks so too, there’s nothing to be done. I liked this one better, though.”
With a disappointed expression, Lady Samlet slightly pushed one of the dresses aside. Then, Gezell added a comment.
“Still, trying on both wouldn’t hurt. What do you think, Sir Maelrosen?”
“Hmm? Oh, sure. Trying them on here is fine.”
“That’s a great idea! Come here, Rensley. Let’s try this dress first.”
Even though Rensley became more elegant as he removed his shirt, he felt somewhat awkward. Before joining the Knight Order, he occasionally wore indoor dresses or outerwear and visited the Duke’s residence. The casual attire worn inside the castle had little difference from the men’s robes, except for the presence of a skirt. However, wearing such a glamorous dress was awkward, especially after the ceremony, and it was the first time he had done so in front of Gezell.
“This dress requires a tight waistband because the back is open. Please wait a moment, Your Grace, after I tie the waistband.”
“It’s fine; I’ll tie it myself. Lady Samlet, you’d better handle the dress a bit more. It seems like the skirt part is wrinkled.”
“Oh, no. It’s my job. After I tie the waistband, it’ll be enough to tidy up.”
“I’m fine, so don’t worry about it.”
When Gezell stood up, she reluctantly stepped back. While Lady Samlet boiled water to straighten the wrinkles on the dress, Gezell approached Rensley from behind. Rensley felt his waistband being grabbed, and he couldn’t help but chuckle.
“There was a time you tied my waistband. Do you remember?”
“Of course. It was the first time I had received such kindness, and it was more enjoyable than I thought.”
Perhaps because of that, Gezell’s touch in tying the waistband this time felt more accurate and faster than last time. Compared to then, it felt more careful. Reflecting on the past sensation, a smile returned. The voice of the man standing behind him became lower and softer, only audible to Rensley.
“If we had lived like we are now back then, who knows, we might have done other things first.”
“Other things?”
“Your back is straight and lovely.”
“Your Grace, Lady Samlet can hear.”
Whispering back, Rensley couldn’t help but smile discreetly again.
The moment Rensley finally put on the dress, his expression turned somewhat bashful. However, he stood tall, like a mannequin, for Gezell and Lady Samlet to enjoy their view comfortably.
“Recently, in Pheraira, dresses with vibrant patterns like these are in fashion. The patterns are lively, and the solid colors are bright, so it really complements Rensley’s hair color. What do you think, Your Grace? It looks beautiful to me.”
“Beautiful, but there are too many exposed areas for a ballroom event.”
“The veil will cover everything up to the chest. It will just have a slight see-through effect.”
“In art lessons, they teach that imperfect concealment can attract people’s attention and curiosity.”
Beautiful and all, but Rensley couldn’t help but find it ridiculous to put a dress with so much exposure on a man like him, who had a figure like a tall mountain with no curves. Perhaps the two of them had greatly misunderstood. With the compliments continuing, Rensley waved his hand dramatically.
“I don’t think this dress suits me either, madam. I’ll try on the other one. It’s better not to do anything that might be risky.”
“Hmm. It’s strange for Rensley to say something like that.”
With a bone-chilling remark, Lady Samlet prepared a new dress. This time, it was a relatively thick and sturdy dress based on a calm and somewhat dark red. It had a lot more substance compared to the previously worn dress, which would undoubtedly suit better for a ballroom event, but for a man who couldn’t reveal his identity, it had no significance.
The dress had many buttons both in the front and back. This time, Gezell, feeling as if he had a dry throat, shooed away Lady Samlet, saying he would handle it.
“The lady might find it strange.”
“Even if she does, what can she do about it?”
Rensley buttoned up the front while Gezell took care of the buttons on the back. The thick fabric dress, tightly wrapping up to the neck, looked more like the attire of a clergy studying in a monastery rather than something fit for a queen attending a ball.
“If you were fond of parties, you must have attended the court banquets in Cornia often, Sir Maelrosen?”
“I’ve been to many parties here and there, but the royal banquets… I attended a few times but stopped. They seemed dull and not enjoyable.”
The current queen of Cornia made an effort to treat Rensley and Ivet without discrimination. Thanks to her kindness, Rensley occasionally attended banquets. Rensley’s appearance in party attire didn’t differ from other princes, and those who didn’t know his status as a scribe approached him for flattery but left with a face of insult. He still wasn’t sure… Shouldn’t the person who feels insulted be himself in such situations?
After a few incidents like that, Rensley stopped attending royal banquets. As no one forced him, Rensley continued to spend time with the servants, only sneaking into the hall when the party’s food and drinks were lacking.
In doing so, he sometimes had conversations with young noble sons at the dull party, and sometimes enjoyed a short escapade or secret meeting to escape the boredom.
“I hope you enjoy the upcoming party.”
“It should be fun. I’ll be dancing with Your Grace, and there are no ordinary people here anyway.”
All the buttons were fastened. Rensley carefully examined his reflection in the mirror. The neat feeling of the attire made his blond hair and violet eyes stand out even more.
It wasn’t bad since his face would be covered with a veil anyway. The awkwardness of forcibly wearing clothes that didn’t suit him seemed to dissipate. Rensley nodded approvingly.
“I think this one is better after all.”
“Alright. If it suits Your Grace and Rensley, then it’s fine. You can wear the other dress at the next event. Now, let me check for any areas that need adjustment. Is there anything uncomfortable? Sleeves, waist, or neck. It shouldn’t be too tight as you need to move comfortably for the dance.”
“No, it seems fine.”
Lady Samlet sighed as if disappointed, but she diligently measured and noted the length of the dress skirt, the waist circumference, and the neck length while moving here and there.
When she left the room after organizing both dresses, Rensley returned to his usual shirt and pants attire. After the lively footsteps from the opposite side faded, Rensley looked at Gezell and smiled.
“Wearing beautiful clothes and suddenly becoming shabby, doesn’t it make me look like a beggar?”
“Well, no matter what you wear, it seems you can’t look bad. In fact, Sir Maelrosen looks best when he’s not wearing anything.”
With a serious tone and expression like no other, Rensley gave up responding to the comment.
Volume 3’s cover~
Thank you! And I thought there will be a continuation of the bedroom situation. Gezel doesn’t want others to see his lover skin hihi
ur welcomee <3333333
Gezelle’s last line was Smooth! Can’t believe even chattery Rensley is tongue-tied 😆
He’s now so comfortable with Rensley. Just like a husband with his wife (≧▽≦).
No likey this chapter’s Title 😢
It should be the first dance of this royal couple, and many more to come !!
Ahh this chapter was so heartwarming. Thankyou so muchy 💖💞
ur welcomeee😆💛
Gezell is winning such rizz, goshhhh