The Con Artist and the One Hiding Secrets
“I’ve summoned the tutor again. This would be a good opportunity for you to refresh your court etiquette.”
Just as Kaon had expected, he got a stern talking-to from Baroness Robere. It seemed he would have to retake etiquette lessons, even though he had completed them years ago. It was all a consequence of his recent behavior.
However, Kaon decided to comply without complaint. After all, every action had its consequences.
Since that day—when Alessia had fallen into his arms through the curtains—their daily lives hadn’t changed all that much.
Alessia treated Kaon just the same as before. Kaon did the same. As if by mutual agreement, they acted as though nothing had happened.
Though, perhaps, just a little, they had grown more comfortable around each other.
“Kaon, are you coming in now?”
“Yeah. Are you heading to the training grounds?”
On his way back to his room, Kaon ran into Alessia and naturally asked. After finishing her morning routine, Alessia would always exit her room just as he passed by.
At such times, they’d exchange a few light words, like this, and share bits of their daily lives.
“Today I’m training with Sir Leroy, so I thought I’d head out a bit early.”
“Alessia, if Yvon behaves inappropriately, you have to tell me. It’s a matter of discipline.”
“If he goes too far, I promise I will. But it hasn’t been that bad yet, so it’s okay. I’m off now, Kaon!”
Alessia waved as she trotted off toward the stairs. Kaon returned the wave and silently watched her disappear from sight. Her silver hair, tousled from her quick steps, fluttered in the breeze streaming through the windows.
There was one other small change—Alessia no longer wore that strange hat.
She now let her crimson eyes show, just like when she first arrived in Ferdinand.
When she first stepped out of her room after that day, Kaon couldn’t contain his joy. Knowing that his feelings had reached her even a little, and that it had brought her some comfort, made him smile like a fool all day long.
Though their relationship hadn’t changed much outwardly, that didn’t matter. Kaon was simply content that she had let go of one burden from her heart.
‘Maybe I should ask Madeleine to bake some cookies.’
As she slowly set down her burdens, he held a small, quiet hope—that one day, there might be a place for him in her heart.
“Sir Pierre is definitely the most handsome. That cool and aloof aura! Ah! He’s just dreamy.”
“I like Sir Maurice better. He’s always so kind. And isn’t he just adorable? I mean… he’s not exactly a statue-like beauty, but I find his kind of face more attractive.”
Behind a large column next to the kitchen, a few maids huddled together, chattering away.
Handsome knights had always been the stuff of women’s fantasies, regardless of the era. And Ferdinand, second only to the royal family, boasted the largest number of knights in the kingdom.
So, being in Ferdinand and not gossiping about knights was practically a sin against instinct. The maids were simply letting their instincts run wild.
“But none of them can really compare to Young Master Kaon, right?”
“That’s not fair. You can’t include the young master in this conversation.”
“Then do we exclude Lord Leonidas too?”
“Oh please, obviously. If you already know the winner, what fun is the game?”
Despite the blunt tone, everyone nodded in agreement. The siblings of House Ferdinand—especially the young master—possessed an overwhelmingly flawless beauty. They simply didn’t belong in such trivial rankings. It was no fun to compare them; the outcome was too obvious.
“Still, Sir Pierre is objectively a very handsome man. The match isn’t completely hopeless, is it?”
“That’s what you call bad luck in the bracket.”
“What kind of bad luck?”
It was then that an unfamiliar voice chimed in.
“You know, because Pier—Oh my gosh! My lady!”
The maid who was responding out of habit clutched her chest in shock upon seeing who had spoken.
“We thought it was the Baroness! Must you always sneak up like that, my lady?”
“Sorry, sorry. You all just looked like you were having so much fun. I didn’t want to interrupt.”
Alessia apologized with a playful wink, her movements as natural as if she’d always been a part of the group.
“What were you talking about that was so much fun?”
“Well, um… my lady, actually…”
Maids were commoners, while knights were at least lower nobles. Gossiping about their appearances wasn’t exactly proper behavior.
Knowing this, one maid hesitated. But another blurted out the question.
“My lady, in your opinion, which knight is the most handsome?”
“Hey! You can’t just ask that!”
“Why not? She seemed curious. You’ll keep it a secret, right, my lady?”
“Of course. I won’t tell a soul. You know I’m good at keeping secrets.”
That did it. Several maids giggled and burst into laughter. Over the past few months, they had grown quite close to Alessia.
At first, they had kept their distance, wary of the “Lady of Ingelos.” But contrary to her noble and delicate appearance, Alessia turned out to be surprisingly down-to-earth and cheerful.
She often approached them first with a smile or shared snacks, and over time, they couldn’t help but grow fond of her.
Before, they would scatter when she approached, but now she often joined their conversations and was welcome among them.
Even when she overheard their complaints or gossip, she never let a word slip. Naturally, she had earned their trust.
“So who do you like best, my lady?”
“Just based on looks?”
“Overall! Or do you care more about physique? Maybe cultured ladies like different things?”
At the sincere question, laughter broke out again. Alessia laughed along.
“I don’t think I’m all that different… Still, maybe I do prefer taller men over shorter ones.”
“Of course, my lady!”
“My lady, it’s not just about looks. Actually—mmph!”
“You have no filter! My lady, please ignore her. We’ll explain when you’re of age.”
The maid clamped her friend’s mouth shut, then grinned.
“Now, please tell us. Who do you think is the most…”
Before she could finish, the maid suddenly jumped to her feet.
“What? Why’d you stop mid-sentence—Baroness Robere!”
The tall maid who was scolding her also stood up quickly. The baroness had somehow appeared right behind them.
“You all seem to have plenty of time on your hands. If you have so much energy to spare, why are you wasting it here?”
“S-sorry, my lady!”
The maids went pale as they scattered like mice in front of a cat, quickly returning to their duties.
Only Alessia remained seated. But Baroness Robere walked right past her without even a glance, as if she weren’t there.
Alessia quietly watched the baroness’s stiff, retreating back.
“Alessia used magic?”
Kaon was startled when he heard the unexpected news after returning from training one day.
“Yes, she showed us for the first time yesterday.”
“To think our young master missed it! My heart aches at the tragedy,” Nils added, as Maurice nodded in agreement, saying her skills were truly remarkable.
“Even that mage from the Tower looked genuinely surprised. If another mage is that impressed, then Lady Alessia must be more talented than we thought.”
“To be beautiful, kind, and now skilled in magic! Ah, Maurice here wishes to be reborn as Lord Kaon in the next life.”
“Keep dreaming.”
“Yes, sir.”
Kaon shut Maurice down with a single word and fell into thought.
“Alessia using magic…”
Of course, being a noble of Ingelos, it was only natural for her to use magic. But hearing it out loud still gave him a strange feeling.
Her engagement to him was just a pretense. Alessia had likely come to Ferdinand as a mage. That fact suddenly hit him with more weight.
“Looks like things won’t go the way Leo wanted.”
Kaon felt relieved. His sister had been planning to use Alessia’s lack of magical ability as a bargaining chip in their negotiations.
She had worried that Ingelos might try to pass off an unqualified mage, but it seemed that wasn’t the case.
They were a bunch of reckless mages, so it wouldn’t have been entirely surprising if they had. But those concerns were unwarranted.
Besides, if she couldn’t use magic, she wouldn’t have volunteered to inspect the Monster Forest—especially not earlier than scheduled.
It was a good thing either way. The inspection had been decided from the beginning, and if Alessia was powerful, it would benefit her and the knights alike.
And most of all, Kaon could now confidently support her with peace of mind.
“Look at those maple leaves! It’s really autumn now.”
Lost in thought about Alessia, Kaon raised his head at Nils’s boisterous voice. As he said, the distant oak trees were already turning brilliant shades of red and gold.
Kaon was reminded of the day the Ingelos carriage first rolled down this path. His heart had pounded wildly with every step it took beneath the then-lush green trees.
“Do you know it’ll be Octivios (October) next week, Nils?”
“Already? Time really flies. Maurice, better brace yourself. You’ll be an old man like me in no time.”
“I don’t think I’ll turn out quite like you.”
“Hey, that’s rude!”
It felt like just yesterday, and yet autumn had arrived in full.
The season in which Alessia would soon face the monsters.
“Please, let this season pass without incident.”
Kaon prayed with all his heart
