Chapter 3

So Heartless

The armor of a knight was, by its nature, a top-grade product.

Equipment was something crafted to suit its user, and for knights, who were the finest elite within the Empire, ordinary gear would have been meaningless.

“But this is what it ended up like.”

At Noel’s words, as she pointed to the completely crushed armor, Aiden’s back quickly began to grow damp.

Even someone with no particular talent for combat would have realized at once that the force Noel was exuding now was anything but ordinary.

“Do you understand what this means?”

“…What does it mean?”

“It means that if he hadn’t been wearing armor, Gale would have died instantly. From a single, sloppy strike you threw without even taking a proper stance.”

◈ Weaver of Fate

< Copied Skill >

【 Noel Astrea Simus 】

◆ Heart of Pure White

※Unique – This character alone possesses it!

Among all qi cultivation techniques, it boasts the highest efficiency, but to master it requires extraordinary effort and perception. This qi technique was passed down directly from Dame Noel’s master and has been honed to its utmost limits.

Even I would have wondered what in the world was going on if I saw a cultivation method inherited through direct transmission suddenly being used by someone else.

I could fully understand how she felt.

“So, it would be best if you spoke up quickly. Otherwise, I’ll have no choice but to draw my sword.”

I take it back.

There was no way I could understand this. Not in a thousand years.

“…Why does that conclusion follow?”

“Gale’s way of thinking isn’t always right, but at least when it comes to the fighting path he has built, you can be sure by crossing swords with him. With just that much, I can more or less understand how you came to learn it.”

As soon as Noel said that and her hand drifted toward the sword at her waist, the dampness at the back of Aiden’s neck went utterly cold.

Her face was still smiling, but the intent that seeped between her words was unmistakably genuine.

This woman—if she didn’t hear an explanation that satisfied her, she really intended to draw her sword and cut me down.

“…”

But…

How was I supposed to explain any of this?

How could I possibly tell her that I was someone who had possessed this body inside a game world, and that as part of that privilege, I somehow had the ability to copy and wield skills?

“Since you continue to remain silent, may I interpret that as your consent?”

But I had to do something.

If I didn’t, I might actually die here.

And as that thought echoed in my mind, I heard a soft click—as if a button had been pressed somewhere deep inside my head.

That was the sound that always echoed in his mind whenever he dealt with a client.

The feeling of shifting into a working state.

Convincing her that he was just an ordinary swindler…

He had already crossed a river he could never return from. Best to give up on that cleanly.

He couldn’t think of any explanation that would satisfy Noel here and now.

In that case, the only option left was—

I’ll deceive her.

That had always been his trade, hadn’t it? Lying to survive.

Aiden’s mind began to spin at full speed.

Knowledge from the original work that might be useful in this situation came flooding into his thoughts.

At its root, the art of a swindler was deceiving others, and the root of deception lay in provoking an emotional response.

Therefore—

When he combined everything he knew about this woman called Noel Astrea Simus, he sifted through it all to find the keywords that would most disturb her.

And at the end of that search—

“…Seems like…”

Even to Aiden himself, the words that came out felt less like something rational and more like something assembled by instinct.

“…It seems you don’t remember, do you?”

“…Pardon?”

“When you were young, I mean.”

He let the words drop softly, almost absentmindedly.

As if he were feeling a quiet sadness. A hint of loneliness, perhaps a trace of reproach.

He himself couldn’t believe the nonsense he was saying.

Of course she wouldn’t remember. He’d never met her in his life.

But the moment Aiden spoke those words—

“-”

◈ Weaver of Fate

Only you know the truth of this world. By building bonds with important characters in the main story, you can gain new rewards!

【 Noel Astrea Simus 】

Bond: Level 2

You can copy 1 additional skill.

<Copied Skill>

◆ Heart of Pure White

...

...

It was a good thing.

No matter how you looked at it, it was good.

Yesterday’s stunt had worked so well that he’d even received a free skill copy as a bonus. There was nothing about it that could be called a loss.

◈ Sham Marriage

You have been selected as Dame Noel’s spouse. Maintain your contract with her to the end!

A related event will soon occur.

…Except for this part.

And what’s this “related event” supposed to be?

He frowned, glaring at the message window.

No matter how he looked at it, nothing about that sounded promising. It reeked of imminent personal danger.

…Should I try to gather more abilities?

Honestly, he’d rather not get tangled in any fights, but if the system was going out of its way to tell him that something bad was coming, sitting around doing nothing would be the height of idiocy.

…But from whom?

He couldn’t very well go back to Dame Noel and try to grab another skill. After everything that had happened yesterday, even showing his face to her would be unbearably awkward.

Wasn’t there a suitable candidate somewhere?

While he was lost in such thoughts—

He noticed the sudden commotion around him.

“His Highness Daniel will arrive shortly!”

“Everyone, finish tidying up and clear out! Don’t draw unnecessary attention!”

Amid the unexpected commotion, he cautiously poked his head out into the corridor. It looked like some very high-ranking personage was coming to visit.

The Imperial Capital Command was essentially the central nervous system of the Empire’s military. All kinds of people came and went here, but even so, it was rare to see a guest of this status a member of a royal family.

As the prince strode down the corridor in all his grandeur, the staff of the Imperial Command scrambled to clear a path for him, stepping aside with almost theatrical urgency.

Aiden’s eyes narrowed slightly as he watched.

If he’s royalty from the Holy Crown Kingdom…

He rifled through the game’s setting in his mind.

The powers wielded by the Empire’s people were qi granted by Karva’s authority. In contrast, the powers of the Holy Crown Kingdom came from divinity, the authority of Sia, the god of purification.

And those most adept at wielding that divinity were precisely the royals themselves—people whose existence was closest to the source of that holy power.

…Might be worth a try.

If building relationships increased bond levels and let him copy skills, there was no downside to at least introducing himself to someone like this.

If things went well, he’d gain something. If not, no harm done.

And since he carried the title of Dame Noel’s spouse, simply offering a polite greeting wouldn’t be such an unforgivable breach of protocol.

With that thought, he stepped into the corridor, catching sight of the prince walking with his chest proudly thrust out. Naturally, Aiden positioned himself in the prince’s path, as though to greet him.

“It’s an honor to meet you, Your Highness. I am…”

The moment he spoke and extended his hand—

With a sharp smack, his hand was brusquely slapped away. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

A voice, steeped in the same disgust one might have for a cockroach approaching, immediately followed.

“Remove yourself. You reek of lowliness.”

“…”

…Life in this world really was harsh.

Aiden slowly let that realization sink in as he looked at the man who had struck his hand aside.

A young man with a slick, unctuous face. Every muscle on it seemed etched with arrogance and self-importance.

…So this must be why everyone scrambled to flee before he arrived.

If this was his temperament, their reaction made perfect sense.

“When you address royalty, you show respect by dropping to one knee. What is a clueless, ignorant wretch like you doing here at all?”

“…”

That sort of thing—wasn’t it a custom that had been buried and forgotten ages ago?

These days, even a royal would usually be socially buried if they dared demand such displays.

“I am the Seventh Prince of the Holy Crown Kingdom of Craven. My name is—”

Slick.

No need to even bother remembering his real name. To Aiden, this bastard was just Slick.

With a bored expression, Aiden mentally sliced the prince’s introduction to ribbons.

And judging by the next words out of Slick’s mouth, he’d clearly made the right call.

“And judging by the way you comport yourself like some guttersnipe, I don’t even need to ask about your lineage.”

“….”

Good grief.

Listening to this bastard reveal the entire breadth of his rotten personality in mere seconds, Aiden felt a throbbing pain explode behind his temples.

“…Your Highness. I think you should reconsider treating this man too lightly.”

It spoke volumes that even the fully-armored guard beside him stepped in, trying to dissuade him.

Of course, the prince’s face immediately puckered up in displeasure.

“Be silent. Who told you to interrupt?”

“But the person here—”

The guard leaned in to whisper something in a hushed voice.

Slick’s lips curved into a crooked smile, as if he’d just heard the most absurd joke imaginable.

“—Ah.”

It was the smirk of someone who couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

“The one she brought back? The Lionhearted’s?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

At the guard’s reply, Slick let his repulsive gaze slowly rake up and down Aiden’s figure.

“This? This is the one?”

“….”

“She ignored all my requests and went and chose this wretch as her ‘spouse’?”

…From the way he was talking, it was obvious enough.

This bastard had apparently had a keen interest in the position of Dame Noel’s husband all along.

And only now did Aiden finally connect the dots.

◈ Sham Marriage

You have been selected as Dame Noel’s spouse. Maintain your contract with her to the end!

A related event will soon occur.

“….”

So this related event the system warned about—

It was none other than the spectacle currently unfolding in front of him, involving this degenerate royal.

And he had walked straight into it himself while trying to prepare for it.

Ah.

Aiden Kellermain.

Day two of employment.

On the first day, the sworn comrade of his new wife nearly drew a sword on him.

On the second day, he found himself entangled in a quarrel with foreign royalty.

Ah.

There was simply nothing left to say except a long, tired sigh.