Published: July 5, 2025
Ryo and Abel were walking around the plaza.
Scotty followed behind them.
Ryo was, of course, in his usual robe, while Abel was dressed casually without armor... which meant Scotty was also in a relaxed outfit without armor.
"Scotty, you're quite the handsome guy, so you must be popular with the ladies, right?"
"Yeah, it was like that even back in the academy. But since I'm the second son of a baron family, I can't inherit the noble title. It's common for someone like me to marry into another noble family... but I haven't heard that he's fixated on a single woman."
"Is there someone particular in his heart?"
"Well, who knows?"
Ryo whispered his question, and Abel answered in an equally low voice.
In truth, Scotty had quite good hearing and could hear their conversation.
But he pretended not to hear anything, not even changing his expression.
This was a common sense required of members of the Royal Knight Order.
If you were assigned to a bodyguard mission around the king, you would inevitably overhear discussions that resembled state secrets.
He shook his head slightly in his heart.
"Since the squad captain of the Royal Knight Order is really busy, wouldn't he have no time to meet anyone? It might be good for Abel to introduce someone as a capable superior."
"Is that how it goes?"
Abel answered with a slight panic at Ryo's suggestion.
He had never considered that such things should be done.
However, when he thought about it, Scotty was indeed quite busy.
There probably wasn't time for him to meet anyone.
But should the king intervene in such matters... Abel had no idea.
"If that’s the case, whom should I introduce? I have no candidates at all."
"That's when your wife comes into play."
"Rhea?"
"At the very least, she might find a woman more suited to Scotty than you."
"That is certainly possible."
Abel nodded vigorously.
Scotty shook his head again in his heart.
He had to pretend he wasn't hearing anything, so he couldn't refuse out loud.
Serving in the palace seemed to be quite troublesome.
"Maybe someone from the Valkyrie Knight Order or around there?"
"If you could win over Mew..."
"Since she’s the eldest daughter of Marquis Westwing. There's a high possibility she'll inherit the marquisate. If you were to marry her..."
"It would be a big promotion."
Ryo stated emphatically.
Scotty sighed quietly in his heart.
"How about we subtly... really subtly, probe Scotty for that?"
"Is it really necessary to go that far?"
"But Scotty is a squad captain of the Royal Knight Order, which means he has many connections with the core of the kingdom, including Abel. Besides, he is an important old friend, right? Wouldn't it be better for you to know as a king and as a friend?"
"That's true..."
Abel seriously contemplated Ryo's suggestion.
They both thought that Scotty couldn't hear their conversation.
In reality, the one feeling cornered was Scotty.
He was wondering when he should reveal that he could hear their conversation.
"In my hometown, we used to have a thing called 'omiai'."
"Omiai?"
"It's where superiors and social elites matchmake to set up relationships with marriage in mind."
"Oh?"
"The rule was to act as intermediaries only at first, and then say, 'All right, it's up to the young people now' and leave."
This was Ryo's distorted knowledge about "omiai".
"So you mean I should take charge and set something up for Scotty... no, with Rhea, huh?"
"Yes, as your superior."
"But... meddling in matters of love, huh? I don't think there's any need to worry about Scotty; he should be fine on his own."
"That's because you were fortunate, and that's why you think that."
"Fortunate?"
Abel tilted his head at Ryo's words.
"You managed to marry without much struggle because you formed a party with a wonderful woman like Rhea. What else would you call it but fortunate?"
"Oh, um, sorry."
"I understand Lin and Warren. Both are wonderful people. But a personality like Abel's, a self-absorbed swordsman, being able to win over a woman as lovely as Rhea was just because you were in the same party. That's it."