Betrothed to My Sister's Ex

Four days by carriage and two days by fast horse from the royal capital, in a remote rural area.

On a highland in the farming village stood the estate of the Shadelan Family, the baronial family.

The exterior of the mansion was far more magnificent than one would expect from their actual economic situation. The Shadelan Family’s fall from grace had occurred only recently, and the antiquated design from the previous century still conveyed a solemn sense of history.

In front of the massive gate stood—

“Please open the gate! I bring urgent news from Lord Cyrus, master of Granado Castle, to Lord Gregor Shadelan. Please let me through!”

“E-even if you say that, I told you it’s impossible—”

Tania, the maid, was clearly flustered but firmly refused to open the gate to the messenger from Granado Castle.

“I’m just following my master’s orders not to let anyone through here… No matter how many times I’m told, I can’t help it! If you have complaints, please take them up with my master!”

“That’s why I’m asking you to let Baron Gregor know!”

“I was told not to open this gate! Ah, please don’t drag me into this, just do whatever you want on your own!”

Tania glanced frequently toward the mansion. Presumably, Baron Shadelan was hiding somewhere within sight. It was akin to a child’s clumsy game of hide-and-seek—far too immature a ploy to pretend no one was home.

This back-and-forth had continued for days. The messenger from Granado Castle and the baron alike must be nearing their limits... when suddenly—

“...Are you sure about this, Marie?”

In the dim carriage, Lord Cyrus whispered the question, and I nodded. He nodded in return and gave a command to the coachman.

“All right—charge!”

—Bhuooooooo!—

A roar came from four black horses. Their bulky frames were easily twice the size of horses seen in the city, their muscular bodies armored in steel.

Between the two horses in front was affixed a massive log—a siege hammer. These black horses, trained for war chariots, charged at the iron gate without hesitation!

“Eh? Eek—screeeam!”

The elderly maid dove sideways in panic. Immediately after, a resounding thud-thud-thud echoed as the two-horse-powered hammer smashed into the iron gate, sending it flying like a sheet of paper.

“Whoa...”

We could only stare in disbelief at the overwhelming force. Lord Cyrus chuckled beside me.

“Sorry, Marie, I didn’t mean to be so rough... but my best friend got a bit carried away.”

“W-what? Wh-what is this? War? What’s going on?”

Tania, trembling as she sat on the ground, looked utterly paralyzed. The elderly maid stared up at the war horses shaking their heads with flared nostrils and repeated the same sound over and over.

The man on the coachman’s platform calmed the horses while raising his hand with a bright smile.

“Hey! Everyone’s favorite, Prince Ruifeng, here!”

“W-w-what... what?”

“I’m just a bystander, but this looked fun, so I joined the fight! I’ve wanted to try this once! And these horses seem happy to show their true strength. Right, Ringo-maru?”

“N-n-n... that name though!”

In her confusion, Tania latched onto the least important thing.

Leaving things to Prince Ruifeng wasn’t going to help. I signaled Lord Cyrus and stepped down from the carriage with him. Standing in front of the still-sitting Tania, I said:

“You are a maid of the Shadelan Family. I have no business with you. Where is the baron?”

“W-w-who are you? What right do you have to say such things? Who on earth are you!?”

“He is a novice knight of the Dirts Kingdom knights order.”

Before I could answer, Lord Cyrus spoke from behind me. I gave a light flick to the military cap pulled deep over my eyes and let my cape flutter as a formal knight’s salute.

With golden bangs and amber eyes, I looked down at the maid.

“My name is Madi, madam. It’s a pleasure.”

“K-k-knight? The knights order... why would they be involved?”

“Of course, this is a forced summoning of Baron Shadelan. We have sent a formal letter asking him to come to Granado Castle, but since he has not responded, we have come to fetch him.”