Chapter 41

Just as their eyes were about to meet again, Aivert gently pushed her head back down first.

“We’re almost at Mirpol.”

As if to tell her to focus on what was ahead.

“Oh, you’re right,” Rodella murmured in awe.

As she enjoyed the wind against her skin, Aivert couldn’t even breathe properly from the thoughts pounding in his head.

‘I feel like I could fall off this horse any moment, Rodella. You’re way too close. And now you’re even saying the exact words I wanted to hear… Even if I know your words don’t carry the meaning I’m hoping for. It’s driving me crazy, but I’m grateful. Because I can pretend that this erratic heartbeat is from riding, not from you.’

Soon, they arrived in Mirpol.

***

“Oh! I’ve seen these two somewhere before!”

Being famous had its perks—and its inconveniences.

Rodella and Aivert had tried to quietly enter the shop.

Unfortunately, it was almost closing time, but the shopkeeper seemed far more delighted than annoyed. After all, noble customers didn’t just make a day’s profit—they could change your annual earnings.

“Oh! The Duke’s son and Lady Syveric! Aren’t you the famous soon-to-be newlyweds everyone in the capital’s talking about?”

Pleased with himself for recognizing them, the shopkeeper gave a self-congratulatory nod.

Rodella raised a finger to her lips. “Shhh. We’d like to look quietly.”

“Ah, of course, of course. Shall I keep your visit a secret as well?”

More than starstruck, the shopkeeper was business-savvy—and rightly guessed her intentions.

Rodella smiled. “You catch on quick.”

“Wonderful. Please let me know if anything catches your eye.”

With that, the shopkeeper returned to the counter.

He clearly wasn’t worried the two of them might steal anything.

Thanks to that, Rodella—at least—could browse the accessories in peace.

“Cecilia likes flashy decorations. Dangly stuff, you know?”

But the stones couldn’t be too big.

Her eyes scanned the necklaces and bracelets quickly.

“Maybe I should look at rings instead?”

Cecilia was notoriously hard to please when it came to design.

Rodella hesitated, then caught sight of something in the ring section.

“Oh! Isn’t this one pretty?”

It was a thin gold band with a small, brilliant diamond glittering on top.

“I like simple things like this,” she smiled.

“It wouldn’t get in the way when wielding a sword, either.” Aivert replied without missing a beat. 

“That’s true…”

“…Wait. Cecilia uses a sword?”

Rodella shot him a skeptical look. Aivert, looking entirely serious, replied: “No.”

Then why bring up swords?!

“Anyway, which of these would make the better gift?”

Rodella lifted two necklaces. One had a green gem, the other red—same style, but completely different vibe.

Aivert immediately responded.

“Give one under your name, and the other under mine.”

He didn’t want to come off as the heartless guy who didn’t care about his friend’s birthday.

“Great! We’ll take both!”

At her words, the shopkeeper called someone from the back.

“Get their measurements and adjust the size.”

“Yes, sir.”

While a master craftsman came out to assist Rodella, Aivert discreetly gestured the shopkeeper over.

“……?”

Any merchant with sense knew better than to loudly acknowledge a summoned nobleman—especially when his fiancée was present.

Most nobles preferred to keep surprise gifts secret.

“The lady’s a size 8.”

“And the gentleman…?”

Aivert, knowing it was better to measure himself than let someone else mess it up, sized his own ring finger.

“I understand.”

“I’ll pick it up later.”

The shopkeeper, knowing exactly which ring he meant, nodded and returned quietly.

He was not just sharp—he was exceptional at his job.

[Zarkan Atelier]

Aivert casually glanced at the atelier’s name and emblem on the wall, then returned to Rodella’s side.

‘I’ll make sure that’s not just a birthday gift…’

‘That ring will be the one I propose with.’

He was determined.

***

Thanks to Aivert’s mad riding speed, they astonishingly returned to the Azure Order headquarters the same day.

The sun was just beginning to rise—perfect for catching a short nap and starting the workday.

At least, that was what Rodella was thinking…

“Urrgh!”

“Well done, sirs!”

She spotted knights unloading giant barrels from a cart.

“…?”

Rodella raised an eyebrow. That’s… a lot of alcohol.

Wait a second.

They were supposed to be receiving military supplies from Cecilia’s trading company—there’s no way alcohol would be on that list.

Which meant she had no idea what those barrels were doing there.

She turned to Aivert. “Still got work left?”

“…Not really,” he said, clearly reluctant.

He already knew what she had seen.

Rodella stared him down until he finally admitted, “Looks like you’ve taken interest in something you’re not supposed to know about.”

“Excuse me?” She raised her brow even higher.

‘Did you just admit that out loud?!’

More importantly, ‘how guilty do you have to be to say something like that?’

“The barrels, right? Something’s up—I’m going to find out.”

Aivert pressed a hand to his forehead.

Rodella burst into laughter.

“Where’s the last paperwork you filed? With the Commander? Or do you still have it?”

There should be a copy somewhere.

Aivert could hear her genuine intent—she wasn’t letting this go.

‘She picked the perfect time for this, huh.’

He sighed, hand still on his forehead.

Rodella continued.

“Who was originally in charge of this? If it was the quartermaster, there would’ve been an internal report. So someone must’ve kept separate ledgers to hide it.”

She truly was the ace of the Administration Bureau.

She knew too well how nobles and organizations funneled money in and out.

Which meant there was no way to cover this up.

Aivert was left with one option.

“You really want to know?”  He asked, like he was holding the Crown’s darkest secret.

Rodella hesitated.

“…Is it bigger than the alcohol warehouse?”

Aivert smirked. “That’s just the tip of the iceberg.”

Is that something to brag about?! Rodella facepalmed.

“If you want to report it, I won’t stop you. I’ll take the fall,” Aivert said quietly.

“But there are a lot of unrelated knights. Especially ones from noble merchant families or public servant families—”

In other words, they need a way out.

Rodella sighed and waved a hand.

“I’m not reporting it!”

‘I can’t! How the hell could I?!’

Sure, she was a stickler for separating personal and professional affairs, but this?

No.

Besides, if she reported this, the Administration Bureau—who’d already been gunning for her since her first report—would pounce.

They’d accuse her of hiding it all along, claiming she only turned it in once she couldn’t cover it up anymore.

She’d be dragged in no matter what.

So if that was the case—

“…Then I need to know everything before the Administration Bureau opens an investigation. So I can prepare.”

‘Guess I’m an accomplice now…’

At her words, Aivert’s somber face relaxed into its usual calm expression.

Wait a minute.

“…You tricked me, didn’t you—”

“I’ll call him.”

Without missing a beat, Aivert turned and headed toward the training grounds.

Rodella shook her head furiously behind him.

‘I’m not an accomplice! I’m just fixing things from the inside! I swear! How big is this mess, anyway?!’

Judging by what she saw, it didn’t even look like they were stealing anything.

If anything, it seemed like the Commander had poured in more of his own personal funds than they’d ever skimmed.

That… might’ve been why she was helping.

Though she wouldn’t lie—if she didn’t have some ambition about becoming Chancellor someday, she’d be lying.

She looked up at the swaying pulley ropes.

‘Now that I’m part of this place… now that I know there’s something wrong here… I can’t just ignore it anymore.’

That was her resolve—however muddled it was.

And just as she solidified it—

“Where’s Lorenz?”

“I’ll fetch him right away, Sir.”

Aivert was already calling someone in.

Rodella stared.

“…Lorenz?”