Honorable Knight: Life after Death

Sweet Fruit Grows Slowly

The day that has been awaited, the day where the party according to the schedule stated in the invitation letter has arrived.

The day before, a fairly luxurious horse-drawn carriage and its coachman who would take him to the party venue had been dispatched to the Alexander Mansion on behalf of Baron Leville, who is now ready to depart. As for the letter that was mandated to the Charioteer for Alexander, he has brought its contents.

At a party to celebrate Duke Kinston's fiancé with the daughter of the Viscount Libourne, Ariana von Libourne, all invited parties are expected to bring their spouses.

There, later there will be a dance party, just like how the nobles hold a party.

This is not required, but it is better for all invitees who are present to bring someone who will be an escort when the dance begins. Otherwise, Duke Kinston as the host party will feel uncomfortable. What is obtained later, of course, the relationship between the invitees and the one who invites will be a little tenuous.

As had been told in the letter, “Expected to bring a partner”

Duke Kinston who is higher in rank and also as host naturally has more influence than any other peerage, apart from archduke and king. Because of that, surely no one would dare not to bring their partner to the party later. It doesn't matter if the partner brought in is just a paid partner or something, the important thing is to meet the expectations of the higher-ranking party.

As planned in the letter from Baron Leville, all the family members who participated in fulfilling the invitation would first gather in the town square so that later the group would depart together for Duke Kinston's Mansion.

A few days earlier too, ever since Alexander met Azura, he hadn't missed a day seeing her. So far, he still hasn't gotten a hearty response from Azura, not even for Alexander's invitation about being a partner at Duke Kinston's party later.

Several things make Azura hesitate to give an answer. The first, she feels unworthy of Alexander who incidentally is still very young when paired with her. Second, she is just a commoner, while Alexander is a descendant of Baron Leville who is a noble.

The title of baron even though it as a low-level noble, is still considered high for the common people. Even for those who hold the title of knight, just having a relationship with them is enough to be proud of.

"Master Charioteer, let's go!"

...

Azura doesn't know how she should face today. She knows Alexander would come at some point in time. What is clear, she has woken up to make up before the sun rises.

In uneasiness, Azura sits on the cashier's seat. In fact, the shop has not opened as scheduled.

Lumina, who so far has witnessed disgusting events in her opinion these past few days, also knows something that makes her mother look tense waiting for someone to come, she doesn't know what to feel now. Various feelings, such as a fit of jealousy for her mother because she is not charming enough, a pity because she knows that her mother is in doubt, and also funny because her mother who had experienced youth now looked like another girl who is waiting for her proposal to come, all of these mix in her heart.

Staring in the mirror, watching her face, Lumina imagines her mother's face. Then, she compares it with the reflection of her face in the mirror.

“In fact, I feel as beautiful as Mama. But why is this young man named Alexander interested in Mama and not me? Look, my skin is even firmer than Mama's…” Lumina grumbles, feeling annoyed herself. She said it is unfair and unreasonable.

When Lumina is watching the reflection of her own face, the sound of a bell rings as a signal that a guest or customer has come into the shop. She rushes over there to take a peek, curious about Azura's answer later without thinking about the possibility that it isn't Alexander that the young man whom his mother is waiting for.

However, there is no need for Lumina to think about other possibilities, because it is actually Alexander.

...

Azura immediately stood in front of the door after hearing the sound of the horse carriage, no matter the sound was still faint.

Together with her heart beating so fast, Azura stared intently at the entrance of her shop. Somehow she could tell for sure that the sound of the horse-drawn carriage belonged to Alexander, and it was her heart that gave the answer.

Just as the horse-drawn carriage actually stopped in front of his shop, the door immediately opened.

As soon as Alexander opened the door, he saw the figure of his idol was standing waiting for him. He who felt that he had made Azura wait for a long time, immediately grabbed her hand for a kiss after he bent one knee.

“Oh my angel, sorry for making you stand waiting for me for so long. I'm really sorry I didn't rush over here…” says Alexander, who looks into Azura's eyes. “… Then, have you made up your mind to give the answer?” he asks.

Seeing Alexander's earnestness, Azura can't bear to refuse after all she had done was to change the subject when Alexander for the past few days had been patiently asking for that answer. She himself did not know what her heart was saying, because a definite answer had been obscured by something that had kept her silent all this time.

Azura with difficulty swallowing her saliva, she tightened her jaw to steady her heart. Then, she answers firmly and a little stammers “I will accompany you to the dance…”

Alexander smiles happily to hear the answer he had been waiting for patiently finally paid off.

"Thank you, Azura. I'm really glad you accepted this selfish invitation from me. I know, my actions seem forced. But you know, I won't let you down after this…”

"You don't have to be so shy about me, who is only a commoner, Sir Alexander. Instead, I should be the one who feels benefited by you. Because-...” says Azura who stopped, because her lips are touched by Alexander's index finger with a soft touch. The blush on her face begin to appear more obvious after so far Azura has endured the shame of being treated so romantically by Alexander.

Alexander immediately cut off Azura's stopped speech “Stop speaking so formally to me, Azura. For now, please try to be as casual as a couple…”

“Alright, Si-… I mean, Alexander…”

"Good. Then..." says Alexander which is immediately followed by an action, where he starts to hold Azura's hand.

With that uneasy feeling, Azura starts to follow Alexander out of his shop to the horse carriage. She isn't afraid about leaving the shop, but she is nervous about something she fears can make Alexander's reputation worse in the eyes of others.

Azura is well known around her shop area, so she is afraid of making Alexander's image lower because he is now holding hands with herself, who is only a widow with one child.

The news, of course, can quickly spread by word of mouth after several people witness it with their own eyes. And, as Azura expected, the people around seem to be whispering while their gazes are fixed on her and Alexander. It is clear what will happen later, the news about her and Alexander will become a hot topic for the townspeople.

Azura wants to let go of Alexander's hand, but she can't bear it after seeing that face that is smiling happily. Whether Alexander hears or realizes it, it is clear that now Alexander seems to not care about his surroundings.

Alexander realized everything. Inwardly, he is angry not because he feels humiliated. He is angry because indirectly, the people around look down on Azura.

Following the anger in his heart won't end well, Alexander knows that well. Moreover, beside him is Azura, who is definitely currently feeling pressured by the environment, he has to show something that can withstand or even relieve that pressure on her.

"Azura, look into my eyes..." says Alexander who suddenly stopped right in front of the carriage entrance, he stares intently at the pair of beautiful eyes in front of him.

Azura who gasped in surprise blinked her eyes a few times, then she immediately looks into Alexander's eyes. From those eyes, she sees something that makes her troubled heart slightly calmer somehow.

Alexander smiles gently realizing Azura seems to have forgotten a bit about the stressful environment, before he gives the advice “I know what you're thinking, Azura. But believe me, all these negative assumptions are just your shadow. Whatever you are afraid of in the future, let yourself face it bravely. Just look at those people, they are just people who are busy with other people's business. As for us, we just need to focus on our own world…”

She doesn't know how Azura should respond. All she can think about now is one, why Alexander could think of things that even she who is older couldn't think of. A thought, where she feels that only people who have faced many things could think of it.

However, of course, Azura understands what Alexander meant.

'Alexander is right, they are busy taking care of other people's business. I was fooled by myself, for taking care of what other people think of me...' Azura smiles so sweetly, her dimples are clearly visible to Alexader.

“Thank you, Alexander...”