Main Story: A Romance on the Periphery

The sanctuary bell, known to many as the Bell of Good Tidings, was tolling. Not a single cloud could be seen in the sky that day, giving the impression that even God had given his blessing.

This was the royal capital, Rohze, of the Flür Kingdom. In mere moments, a wedding was to be held in the sanctuary of a state church that sat on a small hill overlooking the capital. This sanctuary was the holiest place in the entire palace.

“Can’t believe the commander’s really getting married!”

“Guess so.”

“Gotta say, part of me kept waiting for the big ‘gotcha’ moment.”

“Seriously? This would be way too much effort for a prank.”

My men and I—Corydalis Cashmeriana Pulcherrima, the lieutenant commander of the Special Ops Division—were standing guard just outside said sanctuary. Here we were, at the wedding of Duke Fisalis, one of the most prominent nobles of the Flür Kingdom, and the daughter of the Euphorbia family, an earldom famously on the decline. And all the while, I kept wondering to myself, Should we really just stand by and let this happen?

Flür was a peaceful and prosperous country, generally speaking, but this was the royal palace we were talking about. Not to mention, it wouldn’t be hyperbole to say that every VIP from across the nation was gathered here today, including His Majesty the King himself. There was no such thing as being too cautious.

Hence the reason the chivalric order had been called in to keep security nice and tight.

As the most elite squad among the kingdom’s knights—and the direct subordinates of the duke himself, to boot—we had been tasked with guarding the area just outside the sanctuary. That said, I’d actually been invited to attend the ceremony itself; I’d just turned it down because I had a job to do.

Why was I invited, you might be wondering?

I’d say the biggest reason would be that I’ve been friends (well, maybe partners-in-crime is more accurate) with the duke since our days at the knights’ training academy. Oh, and you’d never know it, but I’ve technically got the fancy title of the Third Son of Marquis Pulcherrima. That might have a little something to do with it too.

But forget about all that.

The point is, today I was experiencing the festivities from the outside looking in. I have to admit, part of me felt this was a way more comfortable spot to be anyway.

Oh, yeah. Right before the ceremony began, I caught a glimpse of the lucky bride getting dragged to the sanctuary by her maid... But wait. Hold on just a second. Was that seriously the earl’s daughter?

The Euphorbia daughter I knew was a much more plain, practically nondescript girl. I couldn’t claim to remember her all that well, given how rarely she showed her face in high society, but I seemed to recall her being a dyed-in-the-wool wallflower who wore dresses so dull in design and color that it was hard to believe a girl her age had picked them out. She wasn’t bad-looking or anything, but she was just so lacking in presence that it was hard to remember her in any real detail. Almost like she was some kind of phantom.

Today, however, she was the picture of a sweet, ephemeral beauty.

Makeup really works wonders! Wait, why am I so impressed?

Meanwhile, the other half of the pair was one mega handsome, mega elite catch of a guy, except for this one fundamental problem: his personality. Don’t get me wrong, he was great at his job—good-looking too.

But getting married when you’ve got a girlfriend you totally intend to keep around? I don’t know about that one, buddy. We may be friends, but that’s enough to put me off.

* * *

“I’m getting married.”

It was over a year or so ago when Duke Fisalis—the commander of the Special Ops Division—had suddenly announced as much to me.

Hell yeah! He’s finally breaking up with his mistress!

Though it wasn’t my place to comment on his choice of women, it was hard to watch him shirk all his duties around the house to fawn over his lover, so I was relieved to hear the news.

Maybe he’ll get his act together outside work now. It wouldn’t be an overstatement to say those capable servants of his are the only thing keeping that manor afloat.

“Congratulations! Then it sounds like you’ve got some affairs to get in order.”

“And why would I need to do that?”

“Huh? Don’t tell me you’re formally marrying your lover!”

“I wouldn’t be in this mess if things were that simple.”

“Yeah, that’s what I thought. What’s the deal, then?”

“My current girlfriend comes as part of the contract.”

“I’m sorry, WHAT?!”

I can’t believe he dropped something that nasty on me like it should’ve been obvious! A marriage where he and his mistress come as a package deal? Seriously? Guess that means he has zero plans to break up with the girlfriend any time soon. I already feel bad for that poor wife (fiancée?) of his.

As an aside, our subordinates in the Bombshell Trio had been ready to crack open the champagne when they’d first heard about the engagement, but as soon as they learned he had no intention of breaking it off with his mistress, they really let the commander have it.

* * *

Reminiscing about the commander’s abrupt wedding announcement made me think back to the wife-to-be of his I’d just seen.

So the commander’s just going to give a cute girl like her the cold shoulder, huh? (Or so I thought.) I’d never do something like that! I’m a one-woman man!

I was determined to use that boss of mine as an example of how not to behave.