Chapter 3

The uniform of the Azure Knights—adorned with blue accents—fit his well-built body so perfectly that it drew the eyes of everyone around.  

When he ran a hand through his bright, sun-colored hair, a pair of deep navy eyes were revealed beneath, framed by a clear, open gaze.  

His sharply cut jawline and chiseled nose made one question whether this was truly the same innocent-looking boy Rodella had once met as a child. He looked every inch a man now.  

But no matter how much he changed, Aivert was still Aivert.  

“You’re early, Rodella.”

Rodella gave a small nod in response.  

“Naturally.” 

Without realizing it, she smiled and casually linked her arm with his.  

After seeing nothing but the rotting radish-like faces of the Administration Bureau all day, it was only natural to brighten up at the sight of a dear friend.  

“Then, Vice Commander, the Chancellor will contact you separately la—”

Just then, a silver-haired woman who had been closing the doors of the Chancellor’s office came rushing toward them and smacked Rodella square on the back.  

—Smack! 

“Ack!” 

Rodella winced and reached for her aching back, glaring.  

“What was that for!”

“How many times have I told you to stop hanging onto people in public!” 

The one whispering scoldingly while trying to calm them down was Cecilia Elvamont—a member of the Administration Bureau and their fellow academy graduate.  

She was the eldest daughter of House Elvamont, more famous for its merchant guild than its noble name.  

“Come on, I’m just happy to see him! You expect me to just say hello and keep walking?”

Rodella pouted.  

“Still! You don’t just cling to a guy like that in public!”  

If someone overheard, they’d think something indecent had happened.  

Cecilia was always too old-fashioned.  

‘Seriously, people link arms all the time these days—it’s trendy even at palace banquets!’  

Still, despite her sulking, Rodella released Aivert’s arm and stepped slightly away.  

A playful gleam crept into her eyes.  

“Then hugging must be fine, right?” 

‘One more friend to greet properly!’  

Rodella abruptly let go of Aivert and threw her arms around Cecilia.  

“Ack!”

Cecilia squirmed like she wanted to escape but couldn’t bring herself to push Rodella away completely.  

She’d always been weak to physical affection.  

“When did you get back? Weren’t you supposed to return the day after tomorrow?” Rodella asked brightly.  

“The mission ended earlier than expected,” Cecilia replied, giving up on breaking free.  

“Still, even if you’re engaged, acting like this in public…”

Rodella waved a hand dismissively.  

“That’s exactly why I should act like this. We have to look the part.”

She whispered the last part.  

Having known them for so long, Cecilia couldn’t help but be aware of their contractual engagement.

She pressed a hand to her forehead.  

“You’re not wrong… but…” 

When she glanced sideways, she spotted Aivert with a vague, unreadable smile frozen on his lips.  

With all her instincts as a merchant, Cecilia was certain that he was quietly singing the Empire’s national anthem in his head just to endure this moment.  

“And come on—we’re all friends. What’s the big deal?”  Rodella added innocently.  

Cecilia pointed at Aivert.  

“Still, he’s a guy! A guy!” 

Rodella blinked and looked at her as if she’d lost her mind.  

“Wait… You see Aivert Royden as a man?”

Cecilia reeled back as if scandalized.  

“What!? No!”

‘Are you crazy? I’d be in deep trouble if I saw your fiancé that way!’  

Rodella turned to Aivert with a teasing smile.  

“You don’t see me as a woman either… right?”  

‘Please—at this point, I’d sooner believe the sun rises in the west. We’ve played, swum, and even fallen asleep together since we were kids.’

Rodella looked up at him as if the answer were obvious.  

Aivert slowly opened his mouth.  

“…I see you as Rodella Syveric.”

Rodella turned to Cecilia with a smug look, as if to say, ‘See?’ 

“Told you.”  

Told her what, exactly?  Cecilia could only marvel that Aivert hadn’t long since given up and secluded himself in a monastery.  

“But really, what brings you all the way from the Azure Knights?” 

Rodella’s expression, brightened by the reunion, briefly clouded over.  

Aivert replied with his usual calm.  

“Had some business here.”

Business? Or business that he made up?  

Rodella’s gut twisted with unease. She narrowed her eyes.  

“The Administration Bureau officer who got assigned this time… is he alright?” 

“He survived.” 

The reply came in a soft, placid tone.  

Rodella’s brow shot up.  

In other words, he barely survived.  

“Just a few injuries.”

“Just? He’s probably too injured to even show up to work!”

‘Of course!’

It had to be the seventh time this year she’d heard that an Administration Bureau officer dispatched to the Azure Knights had come back in pieces.  

And the reason was always the same.  

Rodella tightened her grip on Aivert’s arm.  

“I told you to control your strength!”

Though her grip was iron-tight, Aivert didn’t resist in the slightest.  

He knew it—knew that trying to shake her off with force would only hurt her, not him.  

He was well aware of his own abnormal strength.  

And yet! Despite knowing that! He still didn’t control it!  

Isn’t that why every Administration Bureau officer he brushed against ended up in a stretcher?!  

— Craaack!  

Rodella squeezed his hand so hard it might’ve shattered.  

“You’re a knight now. What kind of knight goes around injuring people?” 

Her whisper was laced with reproach, but soft—barely audible beyond Aivert and Cecilia.  

The breath that escaped Aivert at the warmth against his ear was subtle. Then, he replied.  

“The ones hurting people were the criminals.”  

The words slipped from his lips—lips so bright beneath his golden hair that they always seemed to be smiling like the sun.  

“All I broke were the criminals and some buildings.” 

“And the Administration Bureau officer?”

“Got caught in the middle.”

Got caught in the middle? More like got in the way trying to stop the Azure Knights from breaking everything.  

“Couldn’t you have just broken the criminals and spared the building and the official, hmm?”

“I told you, he’s alive.” 

“Ugh, you absolute—!”  

‘This damned man. Aivert Royden.’  

At such a young age, already the head of the noble and ancient House Royden, and Vice-Commander of the Azure Knights, one of the Empire’s two great orders.  

Handsome, capable, with a future as dazzling as his looks… but he had one critical flaw.  

Since childhood, he’d been born with such overwhelming strength that he couldn’t control it.  

It made everyday life nearly impossible.  

The only reason he’d learned to function somewhat normally was because of Rodella, whom he’d met at the Academy.  

By now, the Azure Knights’ commander was probably tearing his hair out trying to calculate the compensation for medical bills and property damage that would soon flood in from the Administration Bureau.  

“I did try to hold back, but—” 

And yet, this guy had the nerve to say it like it was nothing.  

“But?” Rodella asked, flatly.  

Aivert answered without missing a beat.  

“The building must’ve been shoddily constructed. I’ll have to file a complaint with the contractor.”

“Oh, please.”  

That place? That was one of the top construction firms in the Imperial capital!  

— Smack!

In the end, Rodella smacked him hard on the back.

* * *

That night.  

“Dame Syveric, are you not aware the form layout has changed? Why did you process it like this?”  

Rodella was, once again, being scolded by her superior, Ryan, who seemed to be out for her blood on a daily basis.  

Of course, it was nothing but baseless nitpicking.  

‘The Chancellor specifically told me to submit it in the old format, you idiot!’  

Saying that would have been satisfying in the moment, but it would only make Ryan even more bitter and eager to pick another fight.  

So Rodella swallowed a sigh and smiled sweetly.  

She knew exactly how to shut him up.  

“That’s why I’ve prepared a separate version just for you, Sir. The format reviewed by the Chancellor is different from the one you prefer.”

‘I did exactly what you asked—but since your superior wanted something else, I prepared both. Happy now?’