Prologue

It was a war that had raged for six years.

Winter Night, a Kingdom that formed a pact of balance with Glorias, a Kingdom with green trees and natural beauty. The relationship between the two Kingdoms, which began to falter from the time of the previous Kings, eventually led to war.

The blood of many people was splattered on the dry land, and the bitter wailing of the loss of someone’s loved one every night did not stop. It was a war in which only pain remained for both allies and enemies. The six-year war ended with the victory of the Kingdom of Glorias. At last, peace had come.

After a long war, the soldiers returned home. Upon hearing the news of the great victory, the people of Glorias came out of their houses and welcomed them back home. Although there were some who did not come back alive, it will be recorded as an honourable death in history.

On that day, festivals were held across the Kingdom to celebrate the victory. In the royal palace, a banquet was held for the soldiers who suffered on each battlefield. While the whole nation was enjoying the joy of victory, the commanders and vice-captains of the knights gathered at the scene at the invitation of the King.

The King looked warmly at his servants who had suffered during this time.

“You’ve been through a lot. I believe that, thanks to you, this country was able to find peace again.”

At the King’s remarks, all the servants bowed their heads deeply. The King looked at them one by one. Soon, the King’s gaze rested on a red-haired woman paying homage in a monotonous manner.

Adora Alfred, the youngest leader of the Knights and the only woman knight in the Kingdom of Glorias. The fact that she played a major role in this war was undeniable to anyone who was with her on the battlefield. If you remember the moment when the head of the commander of an enemy country, which seemed like a troublesome thing, was cut off at once and held in her hand, she roared at the fact that the war was finally over.

The King was proud that she was his own subject.

“Alfred. You played a huge role in this victory.”

“No, Your Majesty. It’s all thanks to my colleagues fighting together.”

The King smiled contentedly at her showing her arrogant yet humble demeanour.

“No one will deny that you have done much for this war. I’d like to thank you personally for your contribution.”

“On the words of His Majesty, I am pleased.”

“No, I definitely want to give you a prize this time. If you want anything, tell me. If you want a title, I will grant it to you, and if you want an estate, I will gladly give one to you.”

“…Well, I have one request.”

She thought she would definitely refuse, but the King’s eyes twinkled at the unexpected words.

“Feel free to tell me.”

“I’d like to step down as a knight now.”

What? For a moment, the King wondered if he had heard it right. But at her subsequent remarks, everyone looked at her in astonishment.

“I’m thinking of getting married.”

Madam Adora Alfred is getting married?!

Since she was a child, she wore trousers rather than a skirt and carried a sword rather than a flower. 

Is it true that the person who became a royal knight despite everyone’s objections and rose to the position of a commander said that she would quit as a knight in order to get married? 

The Red Beast on the battlefield, who used to smell like blood more than flowers, is getting married?!

Everyone around her couldn’t believe what she said. They doubted whether they had heard it correctly. The scribe standing next to the King forgot his manners and cleaned the inside of his ears. The servants standing behind the King hiccuped without realizing it, and the other knights beside her also opened their eyes wide to determine if this was a dream or reality. They even pinched their cheeks or patted their ears.

“So, I want to leave now. Please do me this favour.”

But Adora Alfred was serious. She didn’t even repeat her words. When they realized that she was sincere, everyone on the scene watched her with bated breath.

The King swallowed and asked again.

“Whoa, won’t you regret it? Isn’t it difficult to climb up?”

Through this war, she gained the King’s trust as well as those who saw her in a bad light. 

Upon hearing about her achievements, the people began to praise her, calling her a war hero. Even if she hoped for an excessive reward, she did a job well worth it.

It was a good chance to take this opportunity to rise to a higher position, and she was going to leave without it. It would have been a different matter if she had lost her limbs or suffered an injury that prevented her from holding her sword.

“Yes, I want to live as a wife now.”

Did she say she wanted to live as a wife?! 

Everyone at the scene stared at her in astonishment.

Even the King was astonished. A person who was blunt in everything and knew nothing but swords, wanted to become a wife, and wanted to quit as a knight?

The King was genuinely worried that she might have suffered the aftermath of the war.

However, her attitude, which received everyone’s attention, remained intact. It was as straight and upright as ever. The King was puzzled, but when he said he would listen to any request, he eventually nodded and allowed it.

“I will allow it.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

After receiving the King’s permission, she seemed a little relieved and politely thanked him with a lighter demeanour. Regardless of the fact that everyone there still glanced at her without erasing the look of astonishment off their faces. 

And it wasn’t long before rumours began circulating that she really was looking for a marriage partner.

The rumour caused a stir throughout the Kingdom. 

Madam Alfred, who seemed to have stayed single for the rest of her life, was getting married! 

Moreover, the story that she had even given up as a knight in order to get married had been a hot topic for a while. On the other hand, attention was focused on who the hell would marry her.

A few days later, a man visited the Alfreds. The man proposed to her, and it was later reported that she had accepted the proposal. And the people, who heard whose proposal she had accepted, were shocked in a different way this time.

Because it was the shame of the Royal family.

A man as useless as an ornamental rose.

A weakling, said to be only half a prince.

The Fourth Prince, Lionel Leonic Glorias.