Marquis Lockhart

"I think this is the first time I went into the medical ward 'and' got injured."

"Is it really?"

"No."

Rubbing my neck, I mutter a bare-faced lie. I had gotten myself injured multiple times in place of healing and recovery multiple times before. It was mostly the person in front of me that gave me a reason to come here in the first place. Couple that with Mary's natural mischievousness, and you've got a recipe for trouble. Ev stammered as she thought of her next words.

"…Right. Anyways, can you tell me more about this alleged engagement of yours for real this time. I really can't believe you would just let yourself be swept away like this… no matter how thickheaded you are."

I eyed Ev with a suspicious glance, unsure of her intentions.

"Are you curious or just insulting me?"

"Can't I be both?"

…Huh, never thought of that

"Yeah, I guess you could do that."

She gave me a sly grin, like a child having committed some sort of mild local taboo.

"You really are weird."

"No I'm not! You've just been cooped up in here for too long that you're not thinking straight… maybe I should request for more hours to better train you. In a way, this is also a part of my job."

She cast me a glare to warn me not to insult her. However, her sharp gaze soon turned mellow and caring as concern began to bleed from her words. I gave her a warm, genuine smile.

"It'll be fine. You guys have prepared me enough to handle basically anything. I mean, with your hellish training and Mary's creative way of teaching me, I doubt there is anything out there that can even make a scratch on me. I just have to trust in your tutelage.

"You just got scammed because an old man almost made you desecrate your pants."

"… I don't know what you're talking about."

Damn, after I worked so hard to steer the conversation from that direction. To think that we would just make a full circle to that topic.

She once again glared at me. This time, concern never appeared in her irises; only the cold remained. I breathe out a heavy sigh, one full of fatigue and stress. It wasn't really helpful, considering my nerves are just about to collapse from the aura she was emanating.

After a few torturous seconds, I gave up. When it came to will and dedication, she was above me by another realm.

"Like I said, I was scared. The man – Marquis Lockhart – ticked me from the very beginning. He used the same tactics as me, and not only did it better but even used such a simple plan to completely break me down. It felt like the man could see right through me. Like all the things both 'known' and 'unknown' to me were nothing more than 'this' and 'that'."

I began my story. Ev listened intently to mu every word. Just like usual, she was good at anything as long as she cared about it. This focus and determination was the same thing that led her to become the youngest 「Sword Saint」 in the history of Flügelhein.

"It looks to me like Mary really helped you out this time, huh. You should be prepared. If you let the same thing happen between you and that old man happen to her, then I doubt you would even be able to call yourself 'Prince', anymore."

"I know. I'm more surprised that she hasn't asked me to do anything… yet."

The thought sent shivers down my spine. In some ways, Mary was the worst person anybody can have a debt to. If it really came down to it, I would have to take desperate measures.

"Marriage… huh…"

"What's wrong, curious why you're still not married yet?"

Her face flushed, her arms moved around in a frantic manner. To be honest, I thought a swordmaster would be more calm and composed like this.

Guess she's special then

"It's not that… well, it is. But that's not the point. What I'm more curious of is why you were asked for an engagement instead of a higher position. Lockhart is still just a Marquis right? So, wouldn't it be more practical to just ask to become a duke instead?"

I knew it!

"…Well, about that. Unfortunately for him, I don't have that kind of power. I may be royalty, but I'm still only a prince–a second one at that. Giving such a big promotion to a Marquis is certain to cause a lot of political backlash. Not to mention the fact that neighboring countries would love nothing more than to get rid of a fellow competitor. If that happens, all hell will break loose. Other nobles – both low and high-ranking – would jump on the chance to get a piece of the royal pie. A civil war might even break out from the social divide from being on the newly-appointed Duke side. Not to mention terrorists and activist groups. In the end, the Marquis chose the slow and patient route."

I explain my hypothesis to Ev with clarity. Despite my sudden speech, she didn't have any problems hearing or understanding. Truly frightening.

"So he chose to play his most valuable card."

"Exactly. The Marquis' unconditional love for his only child is something that is a common topic in social gatherings by noble families. Every party I've gone to has at least talked about the Marquis' daughter some way or another."

Marquis Lockhart is a common topic among noble chit-chat. He was often called as the mischievous, enigmatic, reclusive, secretive, or some other lame adjective. He also almost never attend parties and celebrations claiming to be 'too busy with work'. Though that was a reasonable excuse, it wasn't something that one could use all the time even if it was true.

"Having played such a valuable card, other nobles would steer clear to intervene. What a truly devious man."

"I couldn't agree more."

Silence lingered in the medical ward. Despite my analysis of the situation, I couldn't but I was missing something crucial.