Men who already knew they’d be bound by political marriages someday tended to justify a little “fire-playing” while they still could.
When the risk of being caught suddenly went up, it was only natural that those same men would start reconsidering their behavior. Most of them weren’t rebelling against the marriage itself, after all. They’d already accepted that duty.
Of course, they didn’t want to sour relations with their fiancées before the wedding.
In their world, adultery wasn’t merely scandalous; it was politically disastrous.
If an engagement were to be broken off because of infidelity, the fallout could shake alliances, ruin family standings, and stain reputations beyond repair.
Even if it didn’t go that far, the tension would remain, tainting the marriage that followed and the household built upon it.
So, for men like them, it was simple logic: better to end an affair now than face ruin later.
Pity the mistresses, perhaps, but those relationships were shallow from the start, built on convenience and weak conviction.
That’s all “flirtation before marriage” really is for noblemen like them.
Of course, if it were true love, the situation would be different. But that was rarely the case.
“Hmm. Then it sounds like there’s no real problem,” I said, leaning back slightly. “It might be shocking for the women being cheated on, but knowing the truth sooner is probably for the best.”
“Yeah, tell that to the ones who came whining to me,” Bard grumbled. “They can’t exactly complain to His Highness or Lady Bertia, so apparently I’m the next best target.”
Ah, I see.
As the prince of Alphasta and husband to Bertia, I was obviously off-limits. And confronting Bertia herself, the Crown Princess of a great kingdom, was even less possible.
So the complaints all funneled toward Bard, a knight close enough to us to seem approachable, but not so high-ranked as to be intimidating. Poor man.
“Kulgan, have you received any similar reports?” I asked.
“Not directly,” he replied crisply. “Although one of the civil officers did look as though he had something to say. When I asked him what it was, he immediately said, ‘No, nothing,’ and hurried off.”
Probably a guilty conscience. Facing someone as serious and upright as Kulgan, the poor man must’ve lost the nerve to confess his two-timing sins and fled on the spot.
Even aside from this topic, Kulgan had that kind of presence. He was the kind of man you just couldn’t bring love problems to.
Bard was the exact opposite. He was easygoing, approachable, and loud enough to make even embarrassment sound like a joke.
If someone had to choose between confessing to Kulgan or Bard, I’d pick Bard too. He didn’t mind rough humor, and he could laugh off even the most awkward conversations without judgment.
“Hey, Bard,” I asked, resting my chin on one hand. “Among the men from our country, how many have been hit by Bertia’s ‘two-timing prophecies’?”
I doubted the complaints reaching Bard came only from our side. The nobles moving through the royal palace of Seahealby included locals and guests from other nations as well.
Strictly speaking, if it involved foreigners, it wasn’t our concern, even if Bertia had been the one to spark it. But if our own people were getting tangled up, I’d rather deal with it now than let it become trouble later.
After all, I’d prefer to spend the rest of this stay and our journey home with my wife peacefully.
“Far as I know,” Bard said, scratching the back of his head, “no one from Alphasta’s been caught. Seems like the only ones she calls out are the guys who’ve actually been two-timing here in Seahealby. We’re here on duty, remember? Between the work hours and the schedule, we barely have time to sleep, let alone pick up girlfriends.”
He gave a grin. “So, even if someone back home did have a little something on the side, they’re safe for now. Doesn’t meet the ‘on-location’ requirement, I guess.”
“That almost sounds like you’re saying they would cheat if they had the time,” I remarked dryly.
Bard burst out laughing. “Hah! Not me, that’s for sure. Cynthia keeps me more than busy. Can’t imagine finding another woman who gets me like she does.”
I’d meant to tease him, but he met the jab head-on, answering without a hint of shame.
His grin was wide and bright like sunlight. There wasn’t a trace of pretense in it.
He really can say that without hesitation. I couldn’t help feeling a little envious. That kind of pure honesty wasn’t something I could imitate.
Then again, if I were the kind of man who wore his heart that plainly, I’d probably be a terrible ruler.
No, this balance was fine. I was who I was, and Bertia loved me for that version of me, after all.
“Looks like things are going well between you two,” I said, smile on my face. “By the way, what about you, Kulgan? How’s your love life? I heard Princess Bistona’s been quite persistent lately.”
I remembered that when I’d given Bertia’s maids a short break the other day, Milma had been debating whether to invite Kulgan along. I hadn’t followed up afterward—it hadn’t seemed important at the time—but if I had to guess, they’d probably gone out together. Or at least, she tried.
“Princess Bistona, you say.”
At the sound of her name, Kulgan’s expression darkened instantly, a deep line creasing his brow.
Bard, who clearly had no idea what was going on, tilted his head in puzzlement.
“Judging from that face,” I said, a hint of amusement slipping into my tone, “being chased around as a potential husband candidate by Her Highness Bistona is still as unpleasant as ever, huh?”
Realization dawned on Bard’s face. He gave Kulgan a sympathetic look, the kind men shared when they recognized a particular kind of trouble.
Bard was a rough, straightforward man, usually surrounded by fellow knights and oblivious to women’s subtler cues. Yet, ironically, he attracted them easily. There’d been more than one occasion when a woman he’d rescued during his duties had developed feelings for him and wouldn’t leave him alone afterward.
He wasn’t exactly smooth with women like Charles or me, nor intimidatingly unapproachable like Kulgan or Nert. Unlike Shaun, he didn’t have royal status or a formidable fiancée like Lady Joanna to shield him.
Bard had a pleasant face, a kind heart, and that easygoing smile that drew people in. The problem was, he often failed to notice when someone’s affection went beyond gratitude. By the time he realized it, the woman would have fallen for him completely.
So, despite not being particularly social, he’d had his fair share of headaches with women.