Chapter 26

Even if the cuffs could be removed eventually, there was still a far more pressing issue at hand.

“…The Red Knights would love to hear about this.”

It was a brutally realistic comment from Felix.

No matter where this happened, word always spread fast. If anyone found out…

“The Vice-Commander of the Azure Knights and the Quartermaster cuffed themselves while trying to arrest a criminal”—that story would become bar gossip across the entire empire.

“We can’t let anyone find out.”

“Let’s just walk around holding hands.”

Aivert and Rodella said it at the exact same time.

Aivert paused at her words.

“But your hand—”

“I said you can hold it.”

You’ve never hurt me before, that’s why.

Rodella grabbed his hand and gave it a gentle tug, then pointed at Thousand Faces.

“Tie him up. Let’s get back already.”

Before anyone saw them.

Cold sweat dripped down the side of Rodella’s face.

But seriously…how were they supposed to explain this to the Commander?

* * *

[Azure Knights Apprehend Thousand Faces]  

The Azure Knights proudly handed over Thousand Faces to the nearby patrol unit, bringing the case to a close.  

Fortunately, the suspect had been thoroughly roughed up—his insides a mess, his magic unusable, and his body so battered that he couldn’t muster any strength. Thanks to that, restraining him was possible.  

Given his history of breaking out of cuffs and escaping multiple times, the patrol unit didn’t take any chances. Despite his wrecked condition, they practically tied him up like a log and carted him off.  

“As expected of the Vice-Commander!”  

The patrol officers looked visibly relieved.  

If only they knew…  

Back at the Knights’ headquarters, even before the carriage returned, Commander Latine—having already heard the news—ran outside with a joyful expression.  

“Are you both alright? Any injuries?”  

Of course, his first concern was their safety. Even in his excitement, he couldn’t hide his innate human nature.  

“We’re fine. No injuries.”  

Aivert answered simply.  

Mental trauma doesn’t count as an injury, huh?  

Rodella rubbed her forehead with her unshackled right hand.  

“But you two seem closer than before. Is there still room to get closer after over ten years together?”  

Latine smiled, clearly in high spirits.  

Ah, so spending time together does make couples grow closer!  

The spring breeze was blowing through both families, surely!  

While Latine was lost in an avalanche of happy thoughts, Aivert—after a brief pause—spoke.  

“About that getting closer part…”  

‘Here it comes.’  

Rodella couldn’t bring herself to look at Latine.  

Aivert said calmly, “There’s something we need to tell you—”  

“You don’t need to use your leave days for the wedding! Don’t worry about it. …Am I really that terrible of a Commander?”  

Latine still looked delighted.  

No, Sir. That’s not it.  

Rodella looked up at the sky.  

“Let’s… go inside and talk, Commander.”  

She gestured toward the building.  

At that moment, Latine thought, ‘Ah, they must be embarrassed. The whole Empire’s been waiting for this day, after all. Hehe.’

Exactly ten minutes later, he was screaming: “WHAT?”

* * *

The one who had technically caused the mess—mage Felix—was trembling.

The Vice-Commander was one of the Azure Knights’ core members.

Yet he hadn’t just shackled that core member, but also the Quartermaster from the administration department? Together, no less?

He had effectively hindered the movements of two key figures. Of course he was panicking.

Still, Aivert’s report was dry and concise.

“I engaged with Thousand Faces.”

“And then?”

“Then the cuffs accidentally locked onto Dame Syveric.”

“…And?”

“I couldn’t cuff the criminal, so I cuffed myself.”

It wasn’t exactly the full truth, but it wasn’t a lie, either.

But that bare-bones report was more than enough to make Latine yell.

“You’d better start talking properly, right now!”

“……”

But Aivert clamped his mouth shut.

Even without him speaking, Rodella could sense what he was doing.

Felix may have caused the mishap, but he was a promising mage who’d just created a new type of magical restraint. Sure, he talked too much—but that only meant he was curious and communicative, not malicious.

But now? He had accidentally incapacitated the Vice-Commander of the Azure Knights?

If Aivert didn’t step in, Felix would be hit with a punishment too heavy for him to handle.

Even with a commander as kind as Latine, that kind of blunder would be career-ending.

What was merely a “ridiculous mistake” at Aivert’s level would become a “catastrophic disaster” at Felix’s.

It wouldn’t just block any future promotions—people might say he should leave the Order altogether.

Sure, he wouldn’t be expelled immediately, since they still needed him to figure out how to remove the cuffs. But even so, would he be able to keep working here?

Not a chance.

Was it because he’d been with the Order so long? Rodella found herself surprised by how quickly Aivert had calculated the risks—and how calmly he chose to take the fall for his subordinate.

That he would protect someone like this…

It was unfamiliar, surprising—and yet, oddly comforting. Strange, yes, but not unpleasant.

‘Had he always been like this with me too?’

It felt strange just to even think about it.

A curious, fluttering feeling.

Even if she didn’t understand what exactly the feeling was, she knew one thing for certain—it wasn’t a bad one.

“Hic!”

Behind them, Felix finally realized what Aivert was doing for him—and now he was completely beside himself.

“Who the hell just walks in wearing cuffs on their own wrist? Honestly, you should’ve just said you two decided to stick together because you were madly in love, huh?!”

To that, Aivert responded immediately.

“We have been lacking time together.”

“Aivert Royden!!”

—Crash! Crackle!  

Latine slammed his desk, which promptly shattered into splinters.

Papers that had been stacked on it fluttered gently to the floor.

At the sound, Rodella shut her eyes tight—then opened them again.

She saw Aivert’s hand in front of her, having swatted away a flying piece of debris.

Latine looked a bit startled.

“Oh—didn’t think that’d go flying that way.”

If they’d been fully trained knights with fortified bodies, a bit of wood might not matter—but Rodella wasn’t.

That could’ve been a serious accident. They’d almost had to replace their Quartermaster on the spot.

Flustered, Latine fell silent—at which point Rodella took her chance.

“I’ll submit a full report later, Commander.”

Aivert turned to look at her.

Their eyes met.

Having spent years together since their Academy days, the two didn’t need to say anything more.

‘I’ve got this. I know what you’re doing.’  

That brief glance conveyed everything.

“…Alright. Let’s talk later.”

Latine massaged his forehead.

“So let me get this straight. This is the mess you came back with?”

“Yes. Fortunately, no one else knows—besides Felix.”  Aivert replied.

Right, the rest just thought we were an absurdly sweet couple.  

Even when leaving a wrecked guardhouse, we were holding hands like a pair of lovebirds.

“…Anyway, make finding a way to unlock that a priority.”

Latine’s gaze shifted to Felix.

“You can do it, right?”

It was the second time Felix felt unfairly treated—but he had to succeed.

“…I will!”

For the Vice-Commander to have taken the fall for him—even if it made him look like an idiot—he would absolutely get it done.

“For now, their mobility is the issue… but maybe being stuck together isn’t the worst thing.”

Leaning back in his chair, Latine looked up at the ceiling with a strange, thoughtful smile, then turned his gaze back to the pair.

“You can sleep together, right?”

His expression said he was trying very hard to think positively and believe in the best.

Aivert and Rodella both froze without even meaning to.

Rodella’s face suddenly turned bright red.

“…Wait, what?”

Latine’s jaw dropped as he looked at their reactions.

‘Wait. Is this… an actual problem?’