One Day, My Fiancé Brought His First Love Along - Chapter 48

“Hey, the commander’s mood is downright icy today. Know why?”

“Oh! I overheard something earlier—apparently, he had a bit of a showdown with the Sel Order’s commander. Commander Cylas actually raised his voice, and everyone was shocked. Sounds like things got pretty heated.”

“What? I’ve never seen anything like that before. What would our commander even have to clash with Sir Carlisle about? Did they say why?”

“No idea. But usually, commanders don’t get into fights like that. And of all people, it had to be the Sel Order’s commander. Guess we’ll be walking on eggshells for a while.”

Sighs echoed throughout the training grounds as the knights whispered among themselves. Meanwhile, the two culprits at the center of it all—Aileen and Tanil—kept their mouths shut and tried not to look guilty.

As Imperial Orders of equal standing, commanders had always engaged in a subtle kind of rivalry. And especially in the case of Carlisle—it was well known that he was not only younger than the other commanders, but also considered, unofficially, the most exceptional Sel Order commander in history.

While many knights across the Empire admired him, just as many were envious. So it was no surprise that the other commanders would feel competitive toward him.

Somewhere deep down, there had probably always been a bit of buried inferiority at play.

“Hey, you two. Perfect timing. What’s the Sel commander like today?”

The question came abruptly from a nearby knight, and suddenly all eyes in the area turned toward them, sharp and expectant.

Of all times to ask something so loaded.

“…He seemed the same as always,” Tanil replied calmly, managing his expression quickly.

“Hmm, really? Then what the hell was our commander so worked up about?”

The knight, seemingly disappointed, clicked his tongue and lost interest. The others, who had been glancing over, also turned back to their usual banter.

Aileen tsked silently. Didn’t they realize the tournament was approaching? How could they waste time gossiping?

Tanil let out a long breath beside her and whispered, sweat beading on his temple.

“I really didn’t think things got that intense. I’m a little rattled.”

“Same. If I’d known it would escalate like this, maybe I wouldn’t have brought it up at all.”

Neither of them had anticipated this. Aileen, in particular, had never imagined Cylas—who tended to be calm and composed—would show such sharp hostility toward Carlisle.

Sure, Aileen and Tanil belonged to the Khan Order, but temporarily, they were under Carlisle’s leadership. It wasn’t like he was being unreasonable with his request.

Besides, the special joint training had imperial backing. Even though the Emperor had left the tournament preparations up to each Order, some level of respect was still due.

Between the tournament, the northern subjugation, and the joint training, none could really be prioritized over the others. All were important.

Which meant Carlisle and Cylas held equal authority in this matter. Even if they disagreed, it shouldn’t have led to raised voices.

Especially not to the point that the entire barracks was buzzing about it.

But Aileen’s thoughts were cut short when someone called them.

Commander Cylas had summoned them.

“I’ve finished the discussion. Do you both still wish to continue with the special training?”

His voice was lower than usual—sharp like ice.

“Yes, sir.”

“Yes, Commander.”

Their answers were crisp and unhesitating, but Cylas’s gaze darkened further. A heavy silence hung between them.

“Sir Carlisle personally informed me of his intentions. He said he wishes to continue the training with the current members, arguing that we’re already midway through the schedule and replacing anyone now would only hurt efficiency.”

“……”

“After a long discussion… I’ve agreed to his request.”

The two knights, who had been holding their breath in quiet dread, widened their eyes.

“But listen closely. That doesn’t mean you’re excused from personal training. And if you fail to produce results in the tournament—expect consequences.”

Cylas’s words were firm, if not threatening.

He had explicitly declared the training over, only to reverse course the very next day. His pride had undoubtedly taken a hit.

Aileen understood. She even felt a little guilty.

Fortunately, while he might have warned them harshly, he didn’t pursue the matter further. His eyes lingered on them with what felt like suspicion, but that was as far as it went.

“Whew. That took ten years off my life.”

“Tell me about it. We didn’t even break any rules…”

Aileen made light of it, trying to ease the tension with a playful remark.

“Well, it’s over now. Though I’m guessing it’s going to be exhausting from here on.”

“Wasn’t that what we signed up for from the beginning, Aileen?”

“Touché. Let’s head to training.”

“Let’s.”

After the drama died down, the atmosphere in the Imperial Orders gradually returned to normal—at least on the surface. Whatever was going on in Cylas’s heart remained a mystery.

Aileen, meanwhile, threw herself into training with renewed determination. She had fought hard to keep this opportunity, and she wouldn’t let it go to waste.

“By the way, has the Khan Order finalized their tournament roster?”

It was during a short break. Setar, chugging water from a bottle as big as his forearm, wiped his mouth and asked offhandedly.

“Of course. What about the Lil Order?”

“We settled ours ages ago.”

“And you two are obviously competing.”

“You two are definitely competing too, right?”

Their laughter echoed loudly, shaking the training ground with its easy cheer.

“Oh, and guess what—Haller’s joining the tournament too.”

“Haller… isn’t he the one from that dagger incident?”

“Bingo! He’s been gritting his teeth this time around. He says he knows his limits and isn’t aiming for the championship—but he’s determined to take Aileen down a peg.”

So, he only half understands his limits.

With a cheerful grin, Setar delivered the chilling comment. Tanil winced and asked uncomfortably,

“Is it really okay to talk like that? I mean, we’re all on the same team.”

“You’re a little too soft, Tanil. Between Aileen and Haller, who do you think I’m closer to?”

Setar’s booming laughter rang out again, echoing off the training ground walls. After composing himself, he added with a chuckle,

“I’ve watched both Haller and Aileen for quite a while now. To be honest, I wouldn’t stand a chance against Aileen. But Haller…”

He didn’t finish the sentence, but the meaning was clear.

He even winked exaggeratedly—an expression that didn’t quite suit him but somehow matched his straightforward nature.

“Anyway, that’s all I’m saying. Aileen, let’s train hard and crush it!”

“Gladly, Setar.”

With the bright mood carrying them forward, they got up and began preparing for the next round of training.

While the four of them chatted animatedly, Carlisle—who had quietly been cleaning his sword off to the side—stood up.

The sound of his footsteps approaching made Setar flinch. He had completely forgotten Carlisle was there, his presence so quiet it had slipped everyone’s mind.

Considering how loudly they’d been speaking, Carlisle had definitely heard everything. Setar quickly ran through his memories, trying to remember if he’d said anything out of line.

He had mentioned Haller, sure, but it wasn’t like he was gossiping about the Sel Order. Aileen had been part of the topic too, but nothing inappropriate. Probably.

“We’ll be going over the move we practiced before the break,” Carlisle said in a steady, even tone.

Setar lifted his heavy sword. This technique wasn’t particularly difficult for him. A glance showed the others still struggling a bit, but he was doing fine.

Just as he was repeating the motion with confidence—

“Setar.”

A low voice cut sharply through the air beside his ear.

“Y-Yes, sir?”

“Your wrist isn’t moving smoothly during the swing. Stay after training.”

“Pardon?”

“Is there a problem?”

“N-No, sir!”

Having gotten the answer he wanted, Carlisle moved on without hesitation. As he strode toward the next knight, Setar watched his back, confused.

His form wasn’t that bad. He was sure of it. At least better than Tanil’s. Why was he the only one singled out?

That night, when the moon glowed bright and the world lay heavy beneath the stars, quiet murmurs—though slightly too loud for comfort—filled a room tucked deep inside a large estate.

“The perfume’s effects are manifesting far too quickly. How do you intend to fix this?”

Marquess Hessiden, usually the picture of refined nobility, was visibly rattled. His thin lips trembled with fury.

“I told you. It was meant to be used over time.”

The figure sitting across from him, robed in deep black and face hidden, responded with cold detachment.

“You said it would be market-ready. You should’ve accounted for unpredictable variables.”

“Our sorcery isn’t delicate enough to handle that level of precision, Marquess.”

“You—!”

Hessiden nearly raised his voice again, then quickly caught himself. He ran a hand through his hair, forcing himself to breathe.

Though he acted as the superior, this was a fragile partnership. Even if the other party hailed from the barbaric northern tribes, they were equals—for now.

Showing too much irritation would only damage the carefully built trust between them. Hessiden forced himself to calm down.

“…Fine. Still, we succeeded in diverting the Emperor’s attention, didn’t we?”

The voice from the hood softened, as if pacifying a restless child.

“True. But the trail may be uncovered sooner than we planned. Rumors say the Emperor has already begun an investigation.”

“Then we create a new distraction. Isn’t that what we agreed upon, Marquess?”

“How many troops have you gathered?”

A slow, chilling chuckle echoed from beneath the hood. Hessiden exhaled sharply, changing the subject.

“We’re still gathering forces. The North is barren, as you know.”

“The perfume is just the beginning. With the tournament approaching, we’ll use that timing to trigger chaos—then slip away quietly.”

“Perfect.”

“It may unravel quicker than expected, but as you said—we’ll adapt.”

“We will.”

“I’ll do my part. Make sure your people do the same.”

“Of course.”

A crooked smile crept up Hessiden’s face.

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