MY BELOVED KNIGHT'S
EVAN'S ADVICE

Ah, why is duke Evan able to find out about my relationship with the princess so quickly? And alas, could it be because of the shock that I glared in front of duke Evan like this? Where's my manners? I'm really outrageous.

Ernest said inwardly with regret and misdeed.

“Sorry.. forgive me Duke Evan...” Ernest who finally realized how disrespectful his attitude was towards Evan, said while slightly lowering his head, making Evan smile thinly.

“Why should I apologize? I don't even have the right to prevent someone from falling in love with someone else.” Evan acted in a calm manner while Ernest seemed nervous because from his words it was clear how about Evan who already knew the relationship between him and Tira.

“Sorry.. because I've dared to be disrespectful to duke Evan, by glaring in front of Duke Evan. I really...”.

“Let's remember Ernest, if I were you would be surprised to hear what I just said to you, when it seems like you two don't want your relationship to be known by others for now.” Evan's words almost made Ernest again glare because from now on what Evan said, so right on target.

“Where did.. Duke Evan know that I and daughter Tira... ah...” Ernest stopped speaking, feeling his tongue stiff to ask Evaan that question.

“At first I didn't know, but you guys told me.” Evan said with a smile with his face remaining as calm as ever, not wanting to make Ernest feel depressed while talking to him as he was right now.

“We? But... when we ever...” Ernest, who seemed confused by Evan's statement, asked again in a doubtful manner.

“Barusan.” Evan said briefly as he widened his angelic smile, which always made many women fascinated and infatuated with him, even to the point of acting recklessly like Duchess Kattie at that time.

“Actually, I'm still guessing, because you two're so suspicious, that's why I confidently said such a thing. And I did not expect, it turns out you just hooked and said that my guess turned out to be true.” Ernest could only hold his breath as soon as he heard what Evan had just said.

Jeez... it turns out. duke Evan really stuck me and did not realize by just admitting my relationship with the princess without thinking long that his words were just a lure for me. Sorry Tira.. I was really careless to the point of not realizing that duke Evan had already lured me.

Ernest said inwardly in a resigned manner, it was really unexpected that Evan could lead him like that, like a cow being taken to a slaughterhouse that can't fight back and just obeying when Evan leads him to tell the truth is still a big secret between him and Tira.

“Just remember Ernest, I won't tell anyone else about your relationship, before you yourself say it to the others.” Evan, who could see Ernest's uncomfortable face and was a little pale, immediately said the words to calm Ernest's heart and did not feel afraid that he would divulge the secret to others.

“If I don't want to keep it a secret, there's no way I'm gonna ask you to talk in a place like this.” Evan reaffirmed his intention to be feared leaking the matter.

“Do not worry, because actually if you can be honest, what you need to worry about is the response from the noble Alvero and the family of the daughter of Tira itself. Do you know the consequences of your relationship if it continues to the marriage stage? Have you two talked about it?” Evan's question made Ernest sigh with a heavy heart.

Evan, as a duke is the highest-ranking noble after the king and crown prince in Gracetian, who certainly understands very well all the rules that exist in Gracetian about the issue of noble status in the country.

Moreover, in a moment, everyone knew that Evan would be appointed as a grand duke by Alvero, where among the nobles with duke status would all be one level below Evan.

“I...” Ernest again stopped talking, because it felt like the conversation about the relationship between men and women with a big difference in status like him and Tira, where the woman has a status of nobility that is much higher than the man, often do not have a happy ending.

“It will definitely be a hard thing for you guys. You know the standard rules in Gracetian, when a woman marries a man in Gracetian, she has to follow the status of the man she marries. Even if previously the woman was a princess, if she married a commoner, her status as a princess would disappear, and she would no longer be considered a noble.” Evan paused his words for a while while staring at Ernest, whose handsome face seemed to imply sadness.

It was not that Ernest was afraid that he would be labeled as brash because only a knight (the low-ranking noble class in Gracetian) would have dared to fall in love with a princess, but Ernest was really worried, what is the fate and future of Tira while living with her, and how will people treat Tira in the future, whether everyone will talk about her behind her, he said, especially his friends and brothers who had the same status as him at this time, the status of nobility was quite high in Gracetian.

Financially, Ernest was not an ordinary knight who might not be able to compete with the nobility with a position on it.

Because of his status as Alvero's personal head start, Ernest had a very large salary and allowance, and he himself, along with Erich, had already built his business in the Netherlands, so that when compared to an Earl in Gracetian, he had a very high salary and benefits, ernest's wealth is arguably not going to lose.

However, with his wealth, Ernest realized that he could not buy social status, and made Tira maintain his royal status if married to a knight like him.

“You and Tira know the risks if you get married. Tira will no longer be able to enter the Gracetian palace as a princess, because of your position as a knight who became her husband. Inevitably, indirectly, Tira's relationship and family bit by bit will definitely stay away, and it could be that in the future, there is a possibility of breaking up. I sympathize with you because of that fact, but we do live in Gracetian and have to obey all the rules.” Evan's words, Ernest's chest tightened, however, despite how painful it was Ernest knew that everything Evan said was the truth he couldn't deny.

Are you ready to take the great risk of staying with me princess? Even if you are ready..do I have the heart to see you humiliated others because of your status that dropped dramatically because of marrying me? I... It doesn't matter if people look down on me, labeling me as a brash person, but you... Can I survive if I have to see you suffer?

Ernest said inwardly with his chest beating that felt so painful inside, as if he was very hard to breathe right now.

“Hah... is not easy Ernest, but if you do believe and hold fast to your love, I am sure there will be a way out for you. If only in Gracetian you would have lived a difficult life because of social status issues, I think you and Tira could have started your new life in another country. It's just that, advice from me, keep fighting to get the blessing of Alvero and Tira's parents, so that your married life can be happy.” Evan said as he patted Ernest's shoulder gently, making Ernest moved, as Evan had tried to comfort and calm him down, like a close friend.