One Day, My Fiancé Brought His First Love Along - Chapter 86

This shop was known for having the best blacksmith in the area and a nearby mine, so the quality of its weapons was excellent. Every time they came here, the knights of the Sel Order made sure to stop by and buy something.

“Welcome!”

As they stepped through the door, a middle-aged man behind the counter greeted them with a booming voice.

“It’s been a while, Mr. Hans.”

“Well, well, if it isn’t Lady Piel! I saw you from afar earlier and called out, but you didn’t even glance my way. I was a little hurt, you know.”

“That’s why I came by.”

“Thank you for always stopping in. I really appreciate it.”

The shopkeeper chuckled warmly. From his tone, it was clear that he and Piel knew each other well—likely because she was a regular.

“And what can I help you with today, my lady?”

After a brief exchange, the shopkeeper turned his attention to Aileen. She thought for a moment before answering.

“I’d like to take a look at some daggers.”

“Oh, daggers! Excellent choice. I doubt you’ll find a better selection of high-quality daggers anywhere else.”

Piel and Niar followed her inside, clearly interested.

Niar, especially, seemed excited. Ever since he saw Carlisle throw a dagger, he’d been so impressed that he insisted on buying one for himself so he could learn too.

“Take your time browsing. Just call if you need anything.”

The shopkeeper kindly stepped aside, giving them space to look around. The three of them began inspecting the wall covered in neatly displayed daggers.

“There are so many… it’s hard to pick.”

“I only planned to get one for practice, but now I’m thinking I might need at least three.”

As Aileen carefully picked up a dagger and examined it from different angles, the door opened again.

She didn’t turn around—choosing to focus on the selection—but then Niar’s loud voice broke her concentration.

“Captain!”

It was Carlisle. He was alone; no other customers followed him in.

“What brings you here?”

Piel, wide-eyed with surprise, asked the question. Carlisle didn’t answer right away. Instead, he looked over the three of them, one by one.

“Are you here to buy weapons too, Captain? We were just picking out daggers. If you’re not too tired, would you mind helping us choose?”

Before anyone noticed, Niar had rushed up to Carlisle, eyes sparkling with excitement. His face was filled with admiration, respect, and hopeful curiosity—so much so that it nearly overwhelmed Aileen just watching him.

“The shopkeeper would probably pick a better one for a beginner.”

Carlisle’s blunt reply deflated Niar instantly.

But before Aileen could even feel sorry for him, Niar quickly recovered and went back to looking through daggers with Piel. Having brushed him off without hesitation, Carlisle moved a few steps away and began calmly inspecting the swords.

Aileen turned her focus back to choosing a dagger, determined not to be distracted by the others.

“How about this one? I think the length suits you well, Lady Aileen.”

“No, this one. This one matches Lady Aileen perfectly.”

Before long, Piel and Niar had stopped picking out their own weapons and were instead arguing over which dagger suited Aileen best. She let out a quiet sigh and tried to ignore their growing debate.

And then—

“This one’s better.”

A calm, low voice cut in, and a dagger suddenly appeared in front of her. Aileen looked at it in surprise. The argument between Piel and Niar ended instantly.

Niar, in particular, looked at the dagger in Carlisle’s hand with envy.

“The weight, the grip, and everything else—it’s the best fit for you.”

When Aileen didn’t take it right away, Carlisle added more, still in that quiet tone.

She didn’t want to accept it, but now even the shopkeeper, along with Piel and Niar, was watching her. The longer she stayed silent, the more uncomfortable the air around them grew.

If he was doing this out of guilt for what had happened with that rude man, she would’ve preferred he just ignored her instead.

In the end, Aileen slowly reached out and took the dagger from him.

The weight, the feel in her hand—it all felt just right. Now that she held it, she had to admit: Carlisle had chosen well.

She didn’t like how this moment made her feel, but she couldn’t deny that he had picked the best weapon for her.

“Thank you, Captain.”

Carlisle gave a slight nod and began to turn back toward the sword display. He probably thought she was just being polite.

But Aileen wasn’t finished.

“And… thank you for saving my life. I was too out of it to say anything before. But really—thank you.”

As her quiet words came to an end, Carlisle paused briefly.

He didn’t answer. Instead, he nodded a little more deeply this time before walking away.

Aileen felt as though a small weight had been lifted off her chest. Like a sore tooth had finally stopped aching. Maybe the thank-you she’d left unsaid had been weighing on her more than she’d realized.

She looked down at the dagger he’d chosen and made up her mind to buy it. Then she turned to Piel and Niar.

“Did you two find anything yet?”

“I’m here to buy a spare sword,” Piel said.

“I… I’m getting a beginner’s dagger,” Niar added.

“Alright, then. Let’s go pay,” Aileen said as she headed toward the counter.

But just as she was about to reach it, Carlisle stepped in front of her without warning.

“I’ll take care of it.”

“Oh, are you buying it for us, Captain? I’ll gladly accept it!” Piel exclaimed, bowing dramatically, completely unfazed by the sudden offer.

Next to him, Niar looked like he might tear up from gratitude.

Aileen was about to refuse, but after seeing the two’s reactions, she quietly accepted instead. Not accepting now would feel even more awkward. Nothing was ever simple when Carlisle was involved. She bit her lip ever so slightly, trying to hide her frustration.

“Would you ring us up, please?”

The shopkeeper, who had been twitching in his seat ever since Carlisle entered, finally stood with a wide grin. He looked like a predator that had been waiting for the perfect moment.

“Sir Carlisle! My father’s been asking about you nonstop—if you’ve stopped by recently. Would you mind waiting just a moment?”

Instead of heading straight to the counter, the shopkeeper quickly apologized and disappeared into the back.

“It’s been years since the Captain saved my father’s life, but he still hasn’t forgotten,” Piel said with a click of his tongue. “I wonder what he’s planning to give him this time. I’m dying to know.”

Soon, the shopkeeper returned with an elderly man. The moment the older man saw Carlisle, his face lit up with joy. Then, with great humility, he spoke.

“I don’t have the skill to craft a sword worthy of you, sir, so I offer these daggers instead. Please accept them, Sir Carlisle.”

In the old man’s hands were two finely made daggers. Even to Aileen’s eyes, they looked exceptionally well-crafted.

Carlisle remained silent for a moment before accepting them. The old man and his son both looked overjoyed, nearly jumping with excitement.

“But please… at least allow me to pay for them.”

Without waiting for a response, Carlisle ignored their protests, placed a few gemstones on the counter, and left the store.

Aileen and the two other knights hesitated awkwardly for a moment before following him out.

It hadn’t even been that long, but Carlisle was already gone—as if he’d vanished into thin air. Niar looked disappointed, but Piel didn’t seem to care. He cheerfully ushered the others toward more shops.

Thanks to that, Aileen ended up spending quite a bit—on herbs, cookies, and whatever else caught her eye—before finally returning to camp.

By the time evening rolled around, it was time for dinner. Following Piel’s instructions, the knights had gathered in a large open clearing and sat in a loose circle on the ground.

Aileen recalled something Piel had explained on the way back.

— “We have a kind of ritual before setting out here. This region is especially dangerous, and a lot of knights have lost their lives. So over time, this tradition formed. Though calling it a ritual might be a stretch—it’s more like eating and drinking together.”

Despite the simplicity of it, the atmosphere felt a bit like a quiet party. A knights’ gathering.

They’d built a tall pile of firewood in the center of the clearing and lit it. Flames roared to life, burning high enough to seem like they could swallow the night sky. The heat that radiated outward was intense.

Aileen—and the other knights—felt as though the fire might consume them at any moment. They sat in a circle, transfixed by the flickering blaze. So that’s why they light the fire.

Drawn toward something vast and overwhelming, and yet terrified of being destroyed by it. That fear was just starting to creep in when Carlisle spoke.

“We live. And return.”

The low, steady voice cut through the tension like a blade. In an instant, the fear dissipated. In its place came a strange sense of excitement, a surge of fierce anticipation that slowly rose in each knight like a distant heat mirage.

And that tiny flicker soon became a blazing flame, burning as if to pierce the heavens.

No one knew who would survive the coming battle. Their enemies were growing more persistent, their curses more sophisticated by the day.

Some of the knights were facing the northern tribes for the first time. Others had clashed with them before. But all of them felt the same tension.

And still—they were here to overcome it. To endure it. Even to enjoy it.

That was the reason this tradition existed.

The knights feasted with the fire roaring before them. Even on the eve of battle, no gathering like this was complete without a little alcohol.

Carlisle, knowing that well, permitted a low-alcohol drink to be shared among them. The knights, not forgetting their responsibilities, drank modestly and enjoyed the taste.

“Niar. Not even a single drop, got it?”

Just as Niar brought his cup to his lips, one of the Sel Order knights jumped up, visibly alarmed.

“But I want to drink too…”

Niar replied with his usual deadpan expression, sulking slightly.

“Do you even have a conscience? Not even a shred of guilt, huh?!”

“Exactly! After what you did to us last time when you drank? You’re a menace, you brat!”

As the knights shuddered at the memory, Aileen quietly leaned over and asked what had happened.

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