"I will marry you.
The entire Kingsguard was in raptures. Of course, it was Cain who was most surprised.
While everyone was freezing, the leader of the Kingsguard began to speak with a stain on his cheeks.
''When I left the territory, I came to King's Landing to find someone stronger than me. And now I've met one.
I hug Cain as I say this.
Cain, who had been frozen, finally starts to move.
''Even if you call it marriage out of the blue, I'm only five years old. I don't know anything about the Knight Commander either.
That's right. My name is Tijuana von Liebelt. Daughter of the Duke of Liebert, the ruler of the North Woods. You mustn't care how old I am. I am an elf, I will live for 300 years. And my appearance will remain the same for the time being.
Just because it's an elf doesn't mean that the duchess can't decide to get married in one fell swoop.
Although it has not been made public, Cain already has two fiancées. If this is not the case, it will be a bad situation.
''I don't think it's right for a duchess to decide to get married with one's own two minds. I'm only five years old and you should discuss this with the duke.
'I told him when I left home that I wouldn't come back until I found someone to marry, so I'm fine with that.
'That being said, I'm in trouble. My father has other people he needs to talk to.
Cain looks at the Deputy Commander, Dime. Dime knew that Cain was engaged to His Highness the Princess and the Duchess.
Dime thought that he should be able to do something about it, but he shook his head and looked resigned.
'I suppose so. I can't make this decision on my own, I'll have to talk to His Majesty first.
As Cain, that was the most annoying thing about it. I'm sure that the other day His Majesty called me a "skeletal beast", and if this comes to light, I'm sure I'll get some more small talk from him.
I'm going to have to go on with my business today, so I'll leave it at that. ... "Don't worry, I'll get right on that." what?
Dime, go arrange an audience with His Majesty right now.
Cain looked at the dime with sullen eyes, but the dime sighed and said, "I understand," and headed to the royal castle.
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇.
I pause for a moment and sit in my usual parlor. It's my usual seat, but sitting next to me is different than usual. It's because the Knight Commander is next to me.
His Majesty and the Prime Minister come into the room and take their usual seats in the middle.
''Cain, didn't you go to the Konoe Guards to drop off some materials after we talked earlier?''
Yes. ... I left it at home.
I nodded emphatically.
Tifana, the Knight Commander, began to speak.
''Your Majesty, I intend to marry Baron Cain here.
He just dropped a bomb on me.
""!!!!"
His Majesty and the Prime Minister are both in raptures. Of course, the dime standing behind them sighs.
His Majesty looks at Cain with a tightening of his gaze.
'How did that happen? Cain. Say it.
Cain told him that he went to put down the materials, that he had a mock battle with a knight, and that the Knight Commander came to him just before he was about to have a mock battle against thirty knights. And I told him that I had a mock battle with the knight commander.
I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work. Cain, you didn't tell him about Teres or Miss Silk.
I haven't told you because it was still confidential.
Cain replies honestly.
'I knew the Knight Commander had said he wanted to marry someone stronger than him, but I didn't expect it to be Cain.
His Majesty replies with a sigh.
''Cain, you have heard that the Knight Commander, Tijuana, is a duchess. But Liebert's domain was originally the land of the elves. Aren't elves good-looking? So many times they were blown up into wars to kidnap and enslave people. In the original will of the first generation, this Esfort Kingdom did not discriminate in terms of race. That's why it's one of the territories of this country. Even though it is called a duke, it is almost the same as an independent state because it gives you autonomy.
His Majesty continues.
'A dukedom, of course, but that's only in name. Think of her as a princess of a country. And you've been courted by the princess. Do you understand? Cain.
Cain nodded honestly.
─ Mistress Tijuana, I will tell you this still in private. It's a good thing that you're not the only one who's been in a position to know that you're going to be engaged to Miss Silk, daughter of Telestia and Duke Eric. What are you going to do when you hear that?
His Majesty said honestly. Cain looked down.
Tifana looked a little surprised to learn that he had already engaged the princess and the duchess as his betrothed. Her face immediately tightened and she began to make oblique statements.
''You mean that you're such a gem that His Majesty and Duke Eric would approve of you. Then, more and more I would like to marry you.''
At those words, Cain now exclaimed.
'Hey ...'
Cain was going to ask him to stop, but His Majesty began to speak first.
'Alright, alright. I will acknowledge your feelings. Write a letter to the Duke of Lathan. When you have his permission. You understand.
'All right. I'd like to write to you right away. Now, if you'll excuse me.
It's a very good idea to be able to have a good time with your friends.
Then it's time for me to go too, "Well, wait." ... Yes, I knew that was the case.
I was about to leave with him, when Her Majesty stopped me.
'We need to have a little chat, don't we? Cain. You're not going to just go home, are you?
A silent pressure from His Majesty and the Prime Minister came to Cain.
''I still don't know what to do, since it was so sudden, too.
Cain replied honestly.
''Even so, I didn't expect you to beat even a knight commander with the title of Sword Saint, that should have had the highest level of Sword Art Lv.5 and Martial God's Blessing Lv.5. I'm a Knight Commander simply because I'm the strongest knight in our country and that's why I'm a Knight Commander. You see what I mean?
... that the Knight Commander of Tijuana wasn't feeling well. ...
Cain was deceived, but both His Majesty and the Vizier were swept away.
'Cain, who are you?'
His Majesty asked straight away.
'You are the third son of Garum?'
While calming himself down, Cain replies.
'Hmm. Good for now. Cain, do you intend to do any harm to this country?
His Majesty looks at him seriously.
'I have no intention of doing so. His Majesty has given me the rank of Baron, and I have had Princess Telestia and Miss Silk recognized as my betrothed. I have every intention of serving this country, but I have no desire to harm it.'
Cain turned his serious eyes to His Majesty and replied.
At that moment, His Majesty's face relaxed.
''Mm. I'll tell Teres and Miss Silk. I'll let Teres and Miss Silk know from my end. The engagement is not yet confirmed.
I understand. I look forward to working with you. Now, if you'll excuse me.
Cain bowed and then left the room.
He wanted to get into the carriage and go home, but he knew that if he didn't report to Garum, he would be in trouble again later, so he turned his attention to Garum's villa.
As soon as I arrived at the mansion, I headed for Garum's study.
'Nii!!!!!!! The Knight Commander of Tijuana proposed to me?
Garum's surprised voice echoed in the mansion.
'... yes. It was just a mock battle. His Majesty and the Prime Minister already know that.''
Garum could only hold his head up.
Even more so, Cain had an engagement between His Highness the Princess and the Duke's daughter.
Furthermore, the duke's daughter, who is also the head of the elven territory, and to top it off, the strongest swordsman in the country, wants to be Cain's wife.
It was no longer in Garum's hands. It's true that Garum is also a frontier earl who is considered a senior nobleman.
But the royal family, His Royal Highness the Princess and the Dukes, are higher in rank than the Silford family.
Moreover, Cain is independent and is now a baron, a lower class nobleman.
''My head hurts already. That's enough for today.''
Garum snapped.
'Now if you'll excuse me. I'll come back to you if anything else happens.
With that said, Cain left the room.
'I don't know how it happened to our Cain at all.
It was Garum, muttering to himself.