Chapter 40

“I waited for Dame Syveric to take the post of quartermaster.”

No way. That would mean he waited for a new quartermaster to be appointed.

Wait… could that explain why all the previous Azure Order quartermasters ended up bedridden, and the Vice-Commander kept getting dragged out muttering nonsense…?

No, that’s too much of a leap. Right?

“WHOOOOAAAH!”

The knights, unaware of her spiraling thoughts, roared in amazement at the comment.

Rodella was dumbfounded.

‘You believe that?! Don’t believe that kind of joke!’

‘…And don’t say it with a serious face!’

***

The training was at a stage where it no longer needed direct supervision, so the two of them slipped away at an appropriate time.

They had taught the method—what remained was for the trainees to handle on their own.

That was when Rodella was struck by an unfamiliar sensation.

“It’s 7 p.m.”

She glanced down at her wristwatch.

“We’re done for the day.”

It had been a long time since that happened.

After transferring to the Azure Order, she had spent most of her time catching up on the backlog left by the previous quartermaster, systemizing operations, preparing regular reports, and even deployment with the field units.

Rodella stretched leisurely, savoring the rare free moment, and glanced over at Aivert.

Rustle.

He was still handling some paperwork, but judging by the thickness of the stack, he didn’t have much left.

He likely never had much desk work to begin with.

‘Vacation…’

As she watched him, the thought popped into her head.

He couldn’t mean to go on vacation during these random bits of downtime. If they saved up these scattered moments and handled their work in advance, they’d eventually have time.

“‘At home,’ huh…”

Aivert’s words echoed in her mind, and she tilted her head slightly.

At home? Her house? Or his?

Either way, there’d be preparations to worry about…

…Oh.

[The house will be taken care of by both families, so don’t concern yourselves. Focus on your duties.]

Recalling her father’s recent letter, her face flushed red.

“……”

‘‘Our’ house… So he meant that place?’

‘We’ll be practically living together!’

With Duchess Royden’s notorious enthusiasm for the handcuffs incident, and her own parents—Count and Countess Syveric—being just as intense once they set their minds on something…

It would be like wildfire on a dry field.

She figured by now the floor plans were done, craftsmen secured, and materials sourced. Maybe the whole house would be completed in a few months, rather than the typical year.

‘With the three of them involved? Very possible.’

Rodella shook her head, chasing away the ticklish thoughts.

When her gaze happened to land on the calendar, she gasped.

“Gah—it’s already July?!”

“What?”

Aivert looked up at her.

Rodella looked panicked.

“Cecilia’s birthday is in a few days! I don’t even know if I’ll have time to get her a present!”

Aivert’s mind immediately went down two paths.

‘Do birthdays really need gifts?’

But then—’What about Rodella’s birthday?’

…Obviously, he’d never let it pass without a gift.

For Rodella, Cecilia Elvamont’s birthday was probably the same.

Just like how she never forgot his birthday.

Only after walking himself through all that logic did he finally understand her urgency.

‘She’s her friend, after all. Of course she’d want to get her something.’

“Even if you can’t get something custom-made, there are places that sell good stuff.”

“Where?”

Rodella snapped her head toward him like lightning.

‘You’ll be just like this on my birthday too, won’t you? Since I’m your ‘precious friend’.’

That thought made Aivert’s chest ache… and warm.

So he smiled.

“If we ride at full speed from here, we can get to Mirpol in half a day.”

“Mirpol? Oh, right!”

Mirpol was well-known for its row of fine jewelry artisans.

Rodella’s face lit up.

“I haven’t used vacation days yet—wait, can we really go and come back in one day? What about work?”

It would require staying up all night. And that would impact her work.

As she groaned, Aivert offered a solution.

“I’ll ask the Commander to approve it as a field assignment. Mirpol’s within our jurisdiction anyway.”

An excuse to go under the guise of patrol.

“Hmmm…”

‘It’s not like we’re skipping work. It should be fine, right?’

Rodella nodded as Aivert was already grabbing his coat.

Impressed by his decisiveness, she spoke cheerfully.

“So now you care about Cecilia’s birthday too?”

Aivert replied smoothly.

“Nope. I don’t care. I’m just following you.”

‘I want to see you when your eyes light up with excitement. If you’re outside my sight, and something happens… I think I’d lose my mind. Above all, I don’t want another guy seeing that side of you. What if he falls for you like I did?’

His intense gaze turned to her.

Rodella clicked her tongue at the look.

“At least try to care about your friends’ birthdays.”

Aivert answered her clearly.

“You’re the only friend I’ve got.”

“Great. If you’re gone, I’ve got no friends left either.”

It was something she’d said not long ago—without realizing the weight it had carried.

He’d wanted to be angry at her for saying something like that so carelessly.  

But now he threw it back at her.

Still—

“You heartless jerk.”

‘Wait—Cecilia’s not even a friend?!’ Rodella was scandalized.

Once again, he’d made himself the villain.

***

Latine approved their field assignment.

“Good, take a breather. You two have been busy. Guess you don’t even need an excuse to go on a date anymore.”

To which Rodella replied with complete sincerity,

“It’s really a friend’s birthday.”

“I’ll consider letting you set aside official date time next. Don’t think of me as a stingy boss.”

From the way Latine spoke so solemnly, it was clear that unless Cecilia’s parents came to prove her birthday, he wouldn’t believe it.

“Well then, we’ll go enjoy our date.”

Aivert added fuel to the fire with that smug line, dragging her toward the stables.

Ignoring her exasperated glare.

Neigh!

Only one horse was prepared.

“What am I supposed to ride?”

Rodella blinked at him.

“Faster if we ride together. Just hold onto me.”

Rodella’s mouth opened slightly.

‘What, surprised? Does it feel weird to ride holding me like that?’

Aivert watched her, a bit hopeful.

Rodella grinned at him.

“That’s what I like about you. You always find the most optimal solution.”

“….”

***

“Hyah!”

Clop, clop!

Rodella didn’t even have time to say how fast they were going.

Like a war messenger delivering urgent news, Aivert’s horse thundered down the road.

Neighhhh!

This black stallion, apparently Aivert’s personal horse, seemed to grow faster with every strike of the reins.

Rodella had no choice but to cling tightly to the hand he’d told her to hold.

If she twisted wrong, she’d fall off for sure.

As the hours passed in a rush, she suddenly looked up at him.

“Hyah!”

His low voice spurred the horse forward—steady, urgent.

His blue eyes stared forward with unwavering focus.

He wasn’t someone who’d ever let her fall.

Even while galloping this fast, he had enough control to avoid exhausting the horse and the awareness to track their surroundings.

He was someone she could trust completely.

Whoosh!

The landscape whipped by in streaks, dirt and grit flying past.

But nothing came close to her.

He absorbed every gust of wind, every jolt, shielding her completely.

“You’ll get hurt.”

Mid-gallop, he paused to reach up and gently cover her eyes with one hand.

Even that touch was careful—like she might shatter if he wasn’t gentle.

He never touched her. So if he was doing this now, it had to be dangerous.

And, of course, it was.

Staring upward while riding at breakneck speed wasn’t exactly smart.

But still—

“I—I don’t think I could ever get hurt in your arms.”

Rodella carefully spoke, trying not to bite her tongue.

At that moment, Aivert glanced down at her.

“…Hah.”

Maybe it was because he was so close—she could clearly hear him exhale.