Chapter 31

She had been the one trying the hardest to treat this situation like it was no big deal.

They were friends—was there really a need to draw a line between man and woman?

That would only make things awkward.

When she was younger, she stood beside Aivert Royden, the so-called Harbinger of Destruction.

Now that she was grown, living under the weight of noble family factions, it wasn’t like she had many friends.

Which was why she didn’t want things to get awkward. Not with him.

“Hey… what’s your name?”

Back at the Academy, she’d been a model student. She’d lent out notes, and helped anyone who asked.

Plenty of people had taken an interest in her.

But every single one of them had wanted her to stay away from Aivert.

“You hang out with him? That guy…”

Then came the deluge of arranged marriage proposals, political pressure, and ugly rumors—all of which pushed people further away.

Back then, she told herself it didn’t matter.

“I just have to do well. That’s all.”

I’ll become Chancellor. I didn’t come here to make friends anyway.

She still believed she’d make the same choice if given the chance to go back.

She didn’t regret it—not really.

But it had left her with a fear she couldn’t ignore.

“If you’re not around… I don’t have any other friends.”  Rodella murmured the words softly.

Not even she knew why she said it.

If she grew distant from Aivert, the only one left would be Cecilia.

But Cecilia knew Aivert too. Their closeness would fade as well.

Then she’d truly be alone.

So they couldn’t get awkward. They had to stay just like this—just like this.

“……”

Meanwhile, Aivert lay silent, eyes closed, breathing steadily.

To anyone else, he might have looked asleep.

But not to Rodella.

He didn’t sleep with his hand over his forehead.

The Aivert she knew slept like a statue—arms by his sides, posture straight, as if ready for a coffin.

“Are you asleep?”

“……”

No answer.

“You asleep?”

“……”

Still no answer, even louder this time.

Is he actually asleep?

There was a way to check.

She glanced at her report and deliberately misread the same section she’d repeated four times already.

“…thus, the Azure Knights’ preemptive monster suppression rate dropped from 80% to 70%—”

“90%.”

Aivert corrected her instantly.

Knew it.

—Thwack!

Annoyed, she gave his forehead a light smack.

Then gently moved his hand down to his side.

“Sleep. Relax.”

At that, Aivert opened his eyes—bright, clear, and completely devoid of sleep.

“…Can’t sleep.”

Understandable. Who could relax in this situation?

Rodella dimmed the lamp by draping a cloth over it, softening the light around them.

“Go ahead. I won’t make a sound.”

Then she resumed silently reviewing the report, ignoring the weight of Aivert’s gaze lingering on her.

Don’t make this weird. Just go to sleep already!

“…which has strengthened civilian trust in the Empire…”

Her quiet muttering finally began to sink in as she focused.

Aivert’s breathing slowly grew even and steady.

When she looked over, he was lying in his usual sleeping posture—arms by his sides, eyes closed.

“Good night.”

Rodella whispered with a small, unintentional smile.

Then, as she returned to her report—

Aivert opened his eyes again.

Eyes clear. Awake.

His dawn, once again, would be a long one.

* * *

The next day.  

At the center of the Azure Knights’ entourage heading to the Imperial Capital’s Quartermaster’s Office were five individuals.

Naturally, there was the Azure Knights’ commander, Latine, followed by Rodella, who would be giving the report—and, unavoidably, Aivert, who had no choice but to stay attached to her.

Then came Lorenz, who would be attending to them (though not quite a servant), and the mage Felix.

Felix’s reason for being there was simple.

‘To handle any problems that might arise with the handcuffs those two are wearing—immediately.’ –  That was Latine’s order.

Because of that, the most nervous person among the five wasn’t Rodella—it was Felix.

Tension (of a sort) filled the carriage.

Everyone’s thoughts differed slightly, but shared one common thread: ‘Just don’t let anyone find out about the handcuffs! As long as that doesn’t happen, we’ll be fine!’

But trouble, as always, came from the place they least expected.

* * *

The venue, prepared by the Imperial Capital’s Quartermaster’s Office for the regular report session.

Guests began arriving, and both the Red and Azure Knights’ quartermasters followed one by one into the imperial palace, stirring murmurs among the onlookers.  

Especially those who caught sight of Rodella and Aivert.

“Of course, it’s different with the Lady of House Syveric.”  

“I didn’t know he could make an expression like that.”

They must’ve thought they were far enough not to be heard, but Aivert’s ears caught every word.  

Still, since none of it particularly offended him, he simply ignored it.

Meanwhile, because of the handcuffs, it was easier to link arms than try to mimic a formal escort.  

Rodella stood close by his side, her arm looped lightly through his—not so much clinging as naturally holding his wrist or hand.

Fortunately for them, the rigid etiquette of noble society had begun to shift recently, thanks to the younger generation.  

Where once it was taboo for men and women to even have their fingers brush, it had become acceptable—if the couple was engaged—for them to walk arm-in-arm at social events.

Of course, no one did that at official events like this, let alone in the imperial palace or government halls.

But Rodella and Aivert had no choice.

‘Then let’s set the trend.’

Rodella, aware of the eyes on them, simply decided to ignore them. It was unavoidable.

“…?”

Then suddenly, she noticed something strange.

While standing beside Aivert, she began to sense a steady stream of subtle nods and glances from passing nobles—toward him.

It wasn’t strange for a duke to receive that many greetings.  

But shouldn’t they approach to say hello properly, not just silently offer covert eye contact?

‘Does he always get this kind of attention at formal events?’

Rodella glanced up at Aivert.  

The way he casually returned those silent greetings looked completely natural.

Unfamiliar, yet natural… She was still trying to make sense of it when—

They arrived at the grand hall where the quarterly report would take place.

Not long after they took their seats—

“Then, we shall begin the Quartermaster’s Departmental Report for the First Half of Imperial Year 911.”

Chancellor Ameris, head of the Quartermaster’s Office, officially opened the session.

The hall, which had been filled with quiet conversation until then, fell completely silent.

“Let us hope for promising news this time.”

With the Emperor’s brief remark, the steward stepped up to the podium and announced: “For this quarter’s report, we will begin with the Red Knights.”

Rodella stiffened.

‘It’s supposed to be the Azure Knights first.’

She knew this because she’d attended the previous reports as part of the Quartermaster’s staff.  

There was no way she was mistaken.

Others who realized the change exchanged looks.  

Whispers began circulating as the steward’s quiet comment traveled around the hall.

“His Majesty must be in a foul mood.”

“Well, I suppose he’d want to hear the good news first.”

The implication was clear: everyone expected the Azure Knights to bring the bad news.

‘Those bastards…’

But Rodella wasn’t shaken.

‘Fine. In the end, all attention will be on us—on me. And if the final impression is strong, that’s what people remember most.’

She clenched her fist under the table.

“You may proceed.”

The Emperor, known for his strict adherence to protocol, kept his words brief and gave only a small wave of his hand.

He clearly didn’t want to entertain ceremony any further.

With that, the atmosphere in the hall turned tense, like walking on thin ice.

“These meetings are never this cold.”

Latine murmured under his breath. Aivert glanced sideways at him.

Both men were worried about Rodella—but their conclusions differed.

Aivert believed with unshakable certainty—perhaps more than Rodella herself—that she wouldn’t make a single mistake.

“…Huh?”

But Rodella’s attention wasn’t on the stage or the tension.

She was still nervous, yes—but something else had just walked up to the podium, blowing her nerves away entirely.

“…What the hell is he doing up there?”