Chapter 44

Since Lorenz had practically risked his life (?) to master the skills, he was managing the ledgers with a fair amount of precision.

But from Rodella’s perspective—someone familiar with the Administration Bureau’s auditing procedures—it was a miracle they hadn’t been caught yet.

“Rather than padding amounts across every line item, it’s better to create plenty of clean, complete categories and then stack extra money into ones where larger purchases wouldn’t raise suspicion.”

…Why am I teaching this?

Rodella was beginning to feel the strange sense of becoming an accomplice.

Still, it wasn’t like she was trying to justify corruption—this method was fairly common across noble houses and even royal departments.

More precisely, it was a tactic used to get more budget—by exaggerating spending in areas that were already costly.

“You can claim this budget is insufficient and ask for more. Then they’ll audit other categories too, but if those are spotless, they’ll go easier on your funding.”

“I see.”

Lorenz’s eyes gleamed as he mentally recorded her words—knowing better than to write them down where they could be leaked.

Under Rodella’s direction, the goods in the underground storeroom were moved elsewhere—either distributed to regional branches or smuggled out through knights commuting between headquarters and outposts.

Since any irregular transport would be suspicious, they’d slip the items into standard movements as inconspicuously as possible.

Even within the tightly-knit Azure Knight Order, only four people were fully in the loop: Latine, Rodella, Aivert, and Lorenz.

When Aivert saw the newly cleaned-up, flawless ledgers, he looked genuinely impressed.

“Thank the stars you’re on our side.”

He meant it.

Rodella looked up at him with narrowed eyes.

“You should’ve told me about this sooner.”

Her voice implied what if this had all blown up before I knew anything?—but she quickly caught herself.

“No, actually—don’t tell me anything.”

It was almost like Aivert could hear her thoughts: ‘What if I slip up and blurt something out?’

Rodella didn’t trust herself in these matters.

But then she realized the cold, hard truth.

“Ah… I already know everything, don’t I?”

‘I’m an accomplice! A full-fledged, inescapable accomplice!’  

It feels like it’s not a crime, but technically, it is!

Rodella clutched her head in despair while Aivert let out a low chuckle.

“I’ll tell you everything from now on.”

Because you want that. He was sincere.

But Rodella frantically waved her hands.

“No no no—don’t! I don’t want to know anything else!”

Aivert nodded obediently.

“If it makes you uncomfortable, I’ll keep it hidden.”

He was willing to do whatever she needed—but apparently, that didn’t sit right with her either.

“Wait, no. Don’t hide it, either!”

“…?”

Then what do you want?

He held back the words that hovered at the edge of his lips.

“Aaaaugh!”

Rodella clutched her head again in frustration.

He knew. Right now, her brain was completely consumed with work.

“Okay, so starting tomorrow we’re engaged?”

Back when their engagement was first announced years ago, he’d thought it would be fine.

He was the one always by her side. He believed he could wait patiently until she finally turned to face him.

But lately… he wasn’t so sure.

‘If I wait, will she really come to me? If the end of this wait is just another goodbye, then what am I doing…?’

Leaning casually against the wall, Aivert’s relaxed expression slowly hardened.

***

The long, chaotic day finally came to a close.

“No overtime for once.”

A lot had happened earlier (…), but mulling over all that would just give her a headache.

Rodella made a conscious effort to brush it off and headed quickly toward her room.

“Heading to bed, ma’am!”

Some senior knights greeted them along the way.

“Yeah, good night.”

Rodella waved back with a light smile.

Not too long ago, even waving like this had been awkward for her.

She glanced at Aivert quietly trailing behind her.  

For some reason, tonight—just tonight—she really wanted to get away from him quickly.

So she flung her door open.

“Well, you sleep well too!”

Just as she was about to slip inside—

“Where are you going?”

“…?”

Rodella blinked.

“Aren’t you coming to our room?”

They didn’t have to sleep together anymore, did they?  

Back when they were cuffed together, sure—but that wasn’t the case now.

Still, Aivert said calmly, “We can’t sleep alone.”

“Why not?”

Her voice mirrored his teasing tone.

A bright smile bloomed across Aivert’s face.

He took a step toward her—closer than was now necessary.

“…?”

Back when they were cuffed, this distance was normal. But now…

Rodella flinched slightly.

Standing so close their knees might touch, Aivert tilted his head and whispered,

“What if the other knights see us leaving separate rooms?”

“Huh?”

Let them see—wait, no. Hold on.

Rodella’s expression shifted to discomfort.

If word got out that the “couple” had started sleeping separately…

What would people think?

Aivert caught that change in her expression and added, “You hate taking risks, don’t you?”

“Well… yeah.”

He wasn’t wrong.

“So wouldn’t it be better to just keep sleeping together?”

That… was also true.

Rodella looked up at Aivert, who was smiling cheerfully.

Normally, his face was easy to read.  

He was either happy, or he wasn’t. But tonight, his expression was oddly ambiguous.

Was it just her mood?

Rodella shut her eyes tightly.

‘Fine, whatever!’ 

It’s not like anything would happen just because they shared a room!

Then Aivert added, “And besides… it’d be weird for newlyweds to sleep separately.”

He was quoting something they’d heard in Mirpol.

“We’re not actually married yet. They said we were future newlyweds.”

Rodella began to argue—then faltered.

…No, they weren’t even that.

They were about to say goodbye soon anyway.

But she didn’t dare say that out loud—there could be sharp-eared knights nearby.

As she hesitated, Aivert gave her a gentle nod.

“Whatever the case, we need to sleep in the same room.”

That matter-of-fact reminder somehow brought tears to Rodella’s eyes.

It’s just from lack of sleep. That’s all.

She realized how sensitive she’d become.

“Let’s go to bed early.”

Rodella fluffed her pillow and settled naturally onto the left side of the bed.

As Aivert lay down beside her, she quietly turned her gaze forward.

“…”

Silence fell.

She’d managed to sleep in the Administration Bureau, surrounded by enemies.  

So why was it so hard to fall asleep here?

‘…Did I say goodnight?’

At the end of the silence, Rodella spoke softly.

“Good night.”

“You too.”

The reply came instantly.

So he was still awake.  

Judging by his tone, he wasn’t even trying to sleep.

Rodella glanced sideways.

Aivert, as always, was lying flat on his back, staring at the ceiling.

He didn’t seem disturbed by her words—so she must not have woken him.

Rodella closed her eyes again and began counting sheep in her head.

“…”

By the time one sheep multiplied into dozens and then a whole flock, her exhaustion finally won.

Her mind drifted into sleep.