T/N: Due to some websites stealing my work without my permission, I have put some text between chapters, so please bear with it and read chapters on moonlight novels only; this helps me in many ways. This is just a small request from you guys. 

The knights of Ruchtainer, who had built a long history, tradition, and reputation, often had the unfortunate habit of acting superior due to their strong sense of pride and self-esteem.  

In the military police, they often scoffed at Ruchtainer, calling them an old-fashioned traditional knight’.  

Moreover, there was a trend in which it was more honourable to defeat and defend external enemies than to deal with internal problems. This further elevated Ruchtainer’s haughtiness. 

“Of course you would refuse, right? They think we are the kids next door who come out whenever they call us to play.” 

Nicholas asked excitedly, but Kilian remained silent, staring at the letter.  

At the end of his long, crossed legs, his black shoes tapped leisurely.  

“…It might be worth trying.”  

“What?”  

Nicholas’s mouth hung open in surprise at the unexpected response. 

Did he really expect to hear such a childish response from Ruchtainer in this situation?  

“Who knows, the Black Moon might be in Ruchtainer.”  

Killian said.  

They would find it offensive to suspect that the criminal, the Black Moon, was within Ruchtainer.  

To treat Ruchtainer, who sacrificed their lives to protect the empire, as a murderer!  

The dignity of the noble and virtuous knights would not allow such treatment.  

If they could merely pretend to cooperate with the military police’s request and avoid insults, it would be considered a success.

“They suggest keeping an eye on potential candidates for the Black Moon during the friendly competition.”  

Nicholas applauded Kilian’s insight.  

Indeed, Kilian had a reason to be recognized as the young leader of the military police.  

* * *  

A few days later, Killian received a message from Mikhail in the morning.  It was a request to have dinner together, since it had been a while since they had shared a meal.   

When he said that he would come to the Grand duke’s mansion in the evening, Killian replied to do so.  

Originally, the two of them used to have dinner together at least once a month, but lately, they hadn’t been able to see each other much due to their busy schedules.  

‘As for Sophia…’  

It seemed that the fact that Sophia stayed at the Ducal Manor was not yet known to the public. If rumours had spread, people would have already gathered to inquire about them.   

But they probably didn’t have the leisure to discuss such gossip, given the consecutive deaths of two nobles.  

However, it seemed that Mikhail already knew that Sophia was staying at Kilian’s house.  

‘It’s fine if Sophia joins us,’  

Since he had personally come to the Grand Duchy to pick up Sophia last time, he must have heard about it to some extent. But Mikhail wasn’t someone who would casually spread rumours. 

Killian pondered whether to invite Sophia to dinner but shook his head.  

It would be a bit strange to exclude the people at home, and enjoying a private dinner together felt a bit strange. Besides, Mikhail said it was fine.  

With that in mind, Kilian left the military police headquarters a little earlier than usual.  

When he arrived at the Duchy, Garfield, who had been waiting for him, greeted him.   

However, the other maids were nowhere to be seen. As he entered, the atmosphere inside seemed more chaotic than usual.  

“What’s going on?”  

Garfield didn’t seem busy with preparations to receive Mikhail.  

“Ah, the dress that Miss Sophia tried on in the boutique has arrived today.”  

Garfield gestured towards Sophia’s room on the first floor.  

Of all days, the day the dress was completed coincided with Mikhail’s visit, making everyone seem a bit flustered.  

“The lady is currently trying on the dress that arrived.”  

“Is that so?”  

“Do you want to go up and have a look?”  

Translator:  HaileyFranchette

Read on moonlight novels only

Garfield asked. Since it was a dress Killian had personally brought for her, it would be a good idea for him to check it once.  

However, Killian hesitated for a moment. He realized that he hadn’t seen Sophia’s face for several days. No matter how busy he was, it was strange that they hadn’t even crossed paths while living in the same house.  

“Is she trying to avoid me…?”  

He strongly sensed her intention to avoid meeting him. However, Killian had no intention of letting her continue to evade him.   

“Okay.” 

Nodding his head, Killian headed towards Sophia’s room.  

As they went upstairs, several maids were standing in the corridor, and they could hear the voices of the designer and Sophia from inside the room.  

Garfield, the butler announced Killian’s arrival and knocked on Sophia’s door.  

“Miss Sophia, master is here.”  

There was a moment of silence inside at Garfield’s words, and then a delayed response came.  

“Yes, please come in!” 

It was a reluctant permission that seemed to be reluctantly given.  

Killian turned the golden doorknob and opened the door. 

Since the sun had not completely set, the room was bathed in soft afternoon sunlight.  

In the centre of the room, there was a full-length mirror and dresses hanging on long hangers brought from the dressing room.  

And there she was.  

“Your Excellency.”  

Sophia, who was sorting out the dresses with the designer, turned around.  

A pure white dress studded with small crystals glistened in the golden sunset.   

Her light brown hair was blown in the wind like golden sand in the sunlight.  

For a moment, Killian caught his breath.  

Her face, which he hadn’t seen for a few days, looked livelier than before. Perhaps that’s why she looked even more beautiful today.  

“Your Excellency, you came at just the right time.”  

Designer Andrei greeted him with a smile.  

“Don’t the dresses suit her perfectly? She looks like an angel descended from the heavens, doesn’t she?” 

Andrey praised her with a voice mixed with admiration.  

Killian nodded his head, unable to take his eyes off Sophia. (T/L: Someone is falling hard, kekeke.) 

He knew that Andrei tended to use excessive metaphors even in normal situations.   

Even when I went to get my clothes fitted, he said things like, “It feels like a god has descended” or “You look like a graceful black panther.”   

But today, I couldn’t think of a more suitable description than Andrei’s metaphors.  

Because of the sunlight streaming in through the window, Sophia, dressed in white, truly looked like an angel.  

“I did make the dress a bit smaller, as you requested, but there is still some room in the back. Since you didn’t want it completely tightened~” chattered Andrey, sharing idle small talk.  

Thanks to his high tone, Killian was able to take his eyes off Sophia.   

You’re the best designer in the empire. You’re right that clothes are wings.” Killian coughed lightly.  

The reason Sophia appeared exceptionally beautiful was due to her magnificent dress.  

Then, Sophia subtly tilted her head.  

‘What’s wrong with acknowledging that I look pretty?’  

As the fiancée, it was her duty to be evaluated.  

‘Well, it’s not like it would be a good thing if he finds me pretty anyway.’  

Sophia thought it was for the best. She speculated that their relationship hadn’t progressed to a complete romance, considering he didn’t compliment her beauty.  

“We’ve also considered the upcoming Royal Ball. It’s the 500th anniversary, after all. You must be more beautiful than ever,” added Andrey. Despite orders being backed up for a year due to the Empire Ball, they had prioritized Sophia’s dress in advance because of her affiliation with the Rivelon Ducal House.  

“The 500th anniversary Empire Ball?”  

Translator:  HaileyFranchette

Read on moonlight novels only

Sophia, who hastily checked the date, covered her mouth in surprise.   

The grand festival, ‘The National Foundation Festival’, an indispensable event in Rofan novels!  

It was a period when the entire Empire burned with excitement due to the ball and festivities, and less than a month remained until then.  

And what did that mean?  

‘The female protagonist is coming to the capital!’  

Estelle Niore.  

If my memory serves me right, Estelle was the lovely woman with pink hair and beautiful green eyes.  

And the Empire Ball marked the starting point of Estelle’s story, where she came to the capital and first met the male lead, Mikhail.  

‘Wait a minute. Killian also falls for Estelle!’  

An excellent idea suddenly came to Sophia’s mind.  

What if Killian got along with Estelle?  

If we just push their intertwined fates along, there’s no reason it can’t work out.  

And if I use that as an excuse to break off the engagement…!  

‘But wait, isn’t this a familiar plot?’  

A development I often saw in transmigration novels.  

The story where the transmigrator and the male lead fall in love while trying to connect the original female lead with the male lead.   

‘Is this also cliché?’  

She glanced at Killian.  

No, let’s change our perspective.  

The feeling of being blocked by clichés might be because I assumed the male lead was Kilian.  

‘Look closely. Isn’t it possible to think of that man as a supporting character? … Of course, he’s too handsome to be just a supporting character.’  

Sophia shook her head. 

‘There are also stories where they ditch the dump truck and ride a Benz!’  

In romance novels, the condition for a “dump truck” is none other than “cheating.” No matter how amazing the guy is, once he cheats, he loses his qualification as the male lead.  

So, if Killian cheats, it’s possible for a complete change of events! 

Yes, I will become the heroine who dumps the killer and rides a Benz. 

‘I’ll become the heroine who upgrades to a Benz.’ (T/L: Her way of thinking is so funny.) 

‘That man is a complete jerk. A soulless, heartless, low-life jerk…!’  

“Sophia.”  

“Yes?”   

At that moment, Sophia was taken aback as Killian called her.  

“Why are you giving me such a glare? What were you thinking to make such a face?”  

“Me? I was glaring at you, Your Excellency?”  

No way!  

Sophia looks at herself in the mirror while pretending. His gaze, slightly narrowed, looked down at her.  

“His Highness, the Crown Prince, will be arriving soon.” 

As if Killian had decided not to question her, he brought up Mikhail’s visit.  

Garfield looked at his watch and glanced at him, knowing that it was almost time for the appointment.  

“Well then, please prepare yourself and come out.”