My Childhood Friend Told Me to Go Marry the Most Beautiful Woman in the Kingdom, So I Seriously Started Improving Myself—and Somehow Ended Up Making Women Fall Hard - Chapter 122 & 123

Chapter 122: I Want to Support the One I Admire

Side: Irene Hadius

Calm down.

My chest felt light and floaty, while only my fingertips burned with heat.

Sitting in front of me was my former classmate from the academy—Sir Hort Rubel.

Back then, he lived a quiet school life. A kind person who stayed beside Rina… but never really stood out.

However, he had been part of the same elemental magic research group as me, and during that time, a single hint from him led me to a breakthrough.

Kind, intelligent, and thoughtful—men like that are rare. And naturally… appealing.

And now, that same person had become a Royal Guard.

That alone was already incredible, and yet… he had made a name for himself in another field as well.

A brassiere designer.

Undergarments that not only made a woman’s figure look beautiful, but also freed us from those suffocating corsets.

And more than that… his designs weren’t simply indecent. They were practical for movement, or elegant for refined attire. That made them even more appealing.

There’s just… too much to take in.

And right now, that very creation rested in my hands, inside this box.

A deep brown. Calm, yet not dull.

He had designed something new… while thinking of me.

The kind of material that caught the light with a soft sheen—clearly crafted with great care and skill.

…It’s truly wonderful.

If I showed this to the other noble ladies in high society, I’m sure they would gasp in admiration… and look at me with respect.

Not made to show off—but to refine.

Fitted to my body, my position, my daily life.

The structure, the stitching, the amount of lace, the width, the balance of weight… the skill of a craftsman. The kindness of a designer. A clear understanding of its purpose.

I could tell… someone who was originally gentle and thoughtful had made this while truly considering women.

A man I hold feelings for… made this for me, thinking of me.

I was born as a count’s daughter and have been loved by many people.

But I never knew that receiving a gift from someone I personally like… could make me this happy.

Even back at the academy, this person was unfair in a way.

He never stepped on others to get ahead.
He never got swept up in competition.
And yet, when it mattered, he always reached out a hand.

He never made his efforts look like effort.

And now, that same person stood tall in front of me and declared, “I will become a Crown Knight.”

Haah… at this point, how could I not support him?

I liked him… but as a man from a baron family, he didn’t match my standing, so I had thought of sealing away those feelings.

But if Sir Hort becomes a Crown Knight… then I would be the one falling behind.

And that same man… reached out his hand to me.

—“Will you help me?”

That wasn’t just polite talk. Even after reading the political situation, he still said it in his own words.

…He’s still dangerous. This kind of thing is really dangerous.

The court mages fall under the Second Prince’s domain.

The Hadius family survives by staying neutral—balanced on a knife’s edge.

One wrong step… and my house could burn.

The deep brown inside the box felt like it was quietly speaking to me.

—I made this for you.

Just that alone made my chest tighten.

If he saw me as nothing more than a tool, he wouldn’t choose a color like this.

He’d make it flashier, something that stands out, something to show off—like saying noble women are just decorations.

But this… is different.

It protects my “dignity” and my “position,” while making my “body” look beautiful.

…What is that? Of course I’m going to fall for it.

I didn’t let my expression break. I kept my manners. My voice stayed steady.

I slowly blinked, then gave an elegant smile.

“Sir Hort.”

I added “sir” to keep my distance.

If I dropped that… I’d probably just run straight toward him on my own.

“I understand your goal. To aim for the Crown Knights… that also means being prepared to step into the very core of the kingdom.”

“Yeah.”

He looked straight at me.

I took a small breath and deepened my smile.

—I like you. I’ve liked you for a long time now.

Even knowing that, my heart still clapped on its own.

With my fingertips, I gently traced the edge of the box.

“Then, not as a transaction—but as cooperation, I’ll give you my answer. I, Irene Hadius, will positively consider taking your hand.”

“…Really?”

“Yes, really. However—”

I lifted my gaze and, with a smile still in place, drove in the point.

“The moment you treat me as a decoration, I’ll cut ties immediately. And also, the quality of my bra next time must be just as good. That is a required condition.”

“That’s the required one…?”

He made a genuinely troubled face.

Cute. …No, no, no. I clenched my fist inwardly.

If I let it slip here that I’m already supporting him, I lose.

As a count’s daughter, as a mage… I’ll bring him along at my own pace.

You support the one you admire. Falling comes last. Carefully, I gave a refined nod.

“Yes. Because it truly is wonderful.”

I said it. Ah… I said it. 

But when I saw his ears turn just a little red, it felt like I scored a small win deep inside.

…Alright. Cute.

Quietly, I made a declaration in my heart.

Sir Hort Rubel is a dangerous man.

He holds the skill and innovative thinking to capture the hearts of the kingdom’s women.

Politically.
In everyday life.
And most of all, when it comes to women’s hearts… I will stand on his side.

And I’ll help him gather allies within the Second Prince’s domain.

If that’s what he wants.
In the way he wants.

“Well then, I’ll take my leave for today.”

“Yeah.”

As I watched Sir Hort walk away, I heard footsteps coming from behind me.

“What were you doing?”

“My-my, isn’t that Lady Rina? Hiding yourself like that… what exactly were you doing?”

Rina Carhoi stood there, wrapped in a black robe pulled over her head.

Sir Hort’s childhood friend… and the woman who abandoned him.

“That’s none of your business. What are you doing here?!”

“Please refrain from such hysterical remarks. I was simply invited by Sir Hort, and we were catching up after a long time.”

“Then what’s with that paper bag?!”

“Ah, this? It’s a brassiere made by Sir Hort.”

Back in our academy days, I did see Rina as a rival.

But recently… she had been making one mistake after another, and there were no notable achievements from her as a court mage.

More than that—now that she had successfully performed spirit summoning, I could sense something unsettling lurking behind her.

“A… bra?!”

“Yes. A custom-made piece by Sir Hort. Do you even realize what kind of status it holds to have one of these in the kingdom right now? I suppose you wouldn’t.”

“What do you mean by that?!”

“You lock yourself in your room, calling it research, and don’t even attend social gatherings. Meanwhile, I’ve been fulfilling my duties as a noble while also presenting two works already as a court mage.”

If possible… I did wish she would return to how she used to be.

But at this point… part of me had already given up on that.

“Shut up!”

She shouted hysterically to the very end… then ran off.

“While you’re busy falling on your own, I’ll be deepening my relationship with Sir Hort.”

I didn’t look back.

I do hope… you manage to climb back up.

Chapter 123: A Demon in Hiding?

Side: Hort Rubel

The negotiation with Irene… worked out.

The court mages. The Second Prince’s domain.

I now had a foothold there.

It wasn’t a place you could cut through with a sword. It was all about manners, trust, and reading the atmosphere.

And the bra… just like Lady Lumina said, it worked in a negotiation setting. 

But even then, I still couldn’t fully read Irene’s smile.

That’s why my next move was already decided.

If I’m going to gain people among the court mages, simply increasing numbers won’t mean anything.

There’s someone in that domain who can change the atmosphere itself—a core figure.

The only “witch” among the court mages… Elder Lohengram.

Just hearing the name made my back straighten.

Even back at the academy, she was spoken of like a legend.

A true legend.

A witch… serving as a court mage in the kingdom.

Her power and influence are immense. Which means—if I can connect with her…

It would strengthen Lady Lumina’s backing.

“…Would Lady Irene be able to introduce me?”

Just saying it made my stomach tighten.

My opponent is a witch. Would she even agree to meet me in the first place? 

Irene’s “I’ll consider it positively” sounded elegant, but in reality, it felt more like a probation period.

If I rushed and made a mistake here, it would all be over.

First, I needed to report to Lady Lumina. After that, I’d make a formal request to Irene.

As I organized the steps in my head and turned toward the corridor leading back to the royal castle—

That’s when it happened.

“Hort.”

A low voice echoed from behind. 

When I turned around, Dame Haua was standing by the wall.

Her arms were crossed. Her expression was stiff. Her eyes weren’t smiling.

“Lady Haua?”

“Heading back to Lady Lumina now?”

“Yes. I need to report.”

“Before that, listen. …It’s not good news.”

The air suddenly felt colder.

I straightened my back.

“There’s a possibility a demon has infiltrated the royal castle.”

“…What?”

For a moment, my ears refused to process it.

Inside the royal castle? That’s a joke, right? This is where the royal family lives.

The barriers are tight. Security is strict.

The Royal Guards protect the royals, the First Knight Order secures the castle, and even the gates are patrolled by the Second Knight Order.

There shouldn’t be any way for a demon to get in.

“It’s not confirmed. But I can smell it.”

“Smell…?”

“I’m not speaking metaphorically. You’ve dealt with demons in the Third Knight Order, haven’t you?”

The demon incident in the Third Knight Order.

The image of Daitaros turning into a demon and rampaging flashed through my mind.

“Gina and the shadow division have been tracking demons lurking in the kingdom ever since that incident.”

Hearing that Gina and her group were the ones investigating made it feel real.

“…The Shadows?”

“That’s right. Demons take advantage of the darkness in people’s hearts, waiting for a chance to manifest in this world. And in general, they’re driven by desire… dangerous beings.”

Haua took a step closer.

“The demon incident in the Third Knight Order… that wasn’t just an external intrusion. There’s a high chance it’s connected to someone on the inside. And on top of that, someone is trying to worship demons and increase their numbers.”

“Inside…?”

“They managed to get into the royal castle. That means there’s probably an accomplice.”

Cold sweat ran down my back.

Demons… it didn’t end with Daitaros.

“How did Gina figure that out?”

“She picked up the lingering traces from the Third Knight Order incident. The shadow division has been tracking demon activity ever since.”

Haua frowned slightly. A chill slowly spread through my chest.

So something that should’ve happened outside the castle… might actually involve someone inside.

“Does Lady Lumina know?”

“She does. But we haven’t identified anyone yet. You’re her Royal Guard… no matter what happens, protect Lady Lumina.”

“Yes!”

I swallowed hard.

A royal castle with a demon inside… If that’s true, then entering the Second Prince’s domain—could I get the court mages to help identify it?

“Hort.”

“Yes.”

“Don’t rush. But be ready. You’re not just a knight who uses a sword anymore. The moment you stepped into politics… poison started flowing into your life too.”

Haua’s voice was low.

“Make up your mind.”

“Yes!”

She lightly tapped my chest with her finger.

“You’re my student. You’ve gotten strong enough lately that your sword’s starting to reach me. The time you’ve spent up to now wasn’t wasted. Have some confidence.”

“Thank you.”

Haua let out a small snort.

“Don’t lose to something like a demon.”

“Yes!”

The moment I said it, my voice came out stiffer than I expected.

Haua shrugged.

“That’s all for the report. Go give your report to Lady Lumina.”

“Excuse me.”

I finished reporting to Lady Lumina about Irene.

Then I returned to my room and knocked on the window three times.

A moment later, Gina appeared.

“You called?”

“Sorry for calling you this late.”

“No, it’s between you and me, Sir Hort.”

Since the day of her confession, I had only seen Gina in a work setting.

Being alone like this… it had been since my sister’s house.

“There’s something I want to ask you.”

“Yes. What is it?”

“About demons. How did you find them?”

It had been bothering me the whole time.

As for identifying Daitaros as a demon… others had cornered him first.

In the end, I hadn’t been able to figure it out myself.

“Are you familiar with the demon cult?”

“Yeah, I heard about it back when I was in the Third Knight Order.”

“Then, to be precise, we haven’t exactly identified the demons either. However, both in the Third Knight Order incident… and in this current case where a demon may have entered the royal castle, a man in a black robe has been sighted. As for the Third Knight Order case, that was before you were assigned there, Sir Hort.”

…A man in a black robe?

“The demon cult was indeed driven to collapse by the Third Knight Order. At that time, the death of the priestess said to have been summoning demons was also confirmed. However, the priest of the cult was never found. He remains hidden in the shadows. And even when we talk about demons… the ones who summon them into this world are humans.”

Humans… summoning them. Yeah, that made sense.

“We’ve been searching for that person. And the place where he was sighted… was the royal castle.”

“In the royal castle?”

“Yes. We tried to capture him, but we suffered several casualties, and he escaped. That man is also suspected of abducting Magnum Flabo Galactica.”

“He took Magnum?”

“Yes.”

That name caught me off guard.

“Because of that, we believe there’s a possibility that the priest who summons demons is hiding among the Second Prince’s faction… or within the court mages.”

“I see…”

If getting Irene to connect me to Elder Lohengram leads to finding the demon… then this just became even more important.

“Got it. I’ll help too.”

“Yes! Thank you very much.”

Once the work talk ended, there wasn’t much left to say.

As I stood there, Gina gently placed her hand over mine.

“Sir Hort… were you able to speak with everyone?”

Her question made my heart skip, and I nodded.

“Yeah. Just like you said.”

“My feelings… will always remain with you, Sir Hort.”

Her feelings.

The meaning behind her confession.

So I…

“Thank you.”

I responded by holding her hand in return.