Chapter 91

Commander’s Office of the Azure Knights.

Latine leaned back against the chair, eyes closed.

His thoughts were a tangled mess

It wasn’t uncommon for administrative officers to get injured in the Azure Knights

But Rodella’s injury hit differently.

Memories of her working tirelessly for the order crossed his mind, and even scenes of her from childhood flickered before his eyes.

“Hoo…”

A heavy sigh slipped out on its own.

Technically, this incident hadn’t occurred within the Azure Knights.

But she was under his command, so it was his duty to protect her.

And that left a bitter taste in his mouth.

Would this have happened if he had just patrolled the field himself?

But officially, he had to prioritize security at the imperial palace and couldn’t go out on site.

“Life was easier when I was a mercenary.”

He muttered under his breath, resting an arm over his eyes in lament.

Only because no one else could hear him.

Considering all he’d been through to rise to this seat, that wasn’t something he could say out loud.

Especially not with Aivert Royden around.

Latine was still unable to shake the restlessness from his chest when—

—Knock knock.

“Commander, you have a letter.”

“Again? Who’s sending stuff now.”

Grumbling, he got up from his chair.

Nine times out of ten, it was either a bothersome noble nearby or yet another invitation to some party he’d need to take leave to attend.

“Hurry and hand it over so I can get you out of here. Why’re you delivering letters at this hour?”

He scolded the knight opening the office door.

The Azure Knight delivering the letter wasn’t even on night watch duty.

The knight bowed with an awkward scratch of the head.

“I was doing some personal training…”

“I told you, no training at night.”

Latine took the letter from his hand and turned him around by the shoulders.

“You’re going straight to bed. If I find you in the training yard, you’ll be sparring till morning.”

“Y-yes, sir!”

“Now, straight ahead. March.”

“March!”

Latine looked fondly at the knight’s sturdy back disappearing down the hall before closing the office door.

“Alright, let’s see which bastard this is.”

His gaze was cynical, but as soon as he saw the envelope, his face brightened.

[To my friend.]

There was only one person who addressed him like that.

Sure enough, the handwriting inside was all too familiar.

[You’re probably feeling a little off right now.  

The friend I know is actually pretty sensitive under that tough front.  

I’m not doing too well myself, so… how about a drink?]

“If she calls, of course I’m going.”

Smiling to himself, Latine tossed the letter into the fireplace and watched it burn.

Then, as if he’d been waiting for this moment, he burst out the door.

Instead of his commander’s uniform, he wore a tattered black robe over his shoulders.

Unfortunately, it wouldn’t do to be seen meeting that friend of his in private.

Pulling the hood low over his face, he slipped out of the knights’ quarters unnoticed.

A figure cloaked in black leapt over the wall of the Chancellor’s estate.

Without even needing to grip the top, he landed silently in the shadows below.

Neither the guards at the main gate nor anyone else noticed the intrusion.

“Tsk.”

Latine clicked his tongue.

For the home of the Empire’s Chancellor, the security was far too lax.

Of course, any knight capable of noticing Latine Modilac wouldn’t be left in some house guard detail to begin with.

Still, it left a bad taste in his mouth.

He knew he had high standards, but even so—it was hard not to be disappointed, seeing how ill-equipped the place was to protect the only friend he had.

‘Guess I’ll have to nag her again to tighten security.’

For what must’ve been the twentieth time, Latine resolved to say it once more as he kicked off the ground.

He landed lightly on the windowsill—already unlocked—and slipped inside.

“Welcome.”

Ameris greeted him under the light of a single candle.

She’d only lit that one because she knew he’d come through the window, and didn’t want his shadow to be seen.

Piled up beneath that candlelight were stacks of documents.

Latine grimaced at the sight and shut the window behind him.

—Click.

Only then did Ameris light the room’s enchanted lamps, as Latine crossed his arms with a scowl.

“Working overtime? Even the Azure Knights don’t make their men work at this hour.”

“Really? Sounds like a good place. Maybe I’ll join the Azure Knights.”

She played along.

“Sorry to disappoint, but our admin officer seat is already filled.”

He spread his hands, and Ameris gave a genuinely wistful smile.

“Too bad.”

Latine looked at her for a moment, then ran a hand through his hair with a troubled expression.

Then finally, he said what he hadn’t been able to earlier.

“—She’s injured. But still in that seat.”

Ameris turned to him.

Her friend’s hair was a mess, mirroring the chaos in his mind.

“Still bothering you?”

Latine shrugged.

“You called me for drinks because it’s bothering you too, didn’t you?”

“Well.”

Ameris narrowed her eyes, then smiled.

“Yeah. I did.”

‘Though it wasn’t just that.’

The rest of her thought, as usual, faded quietly into silence.

Meanwhile, Latine was muttering again.

“Those noble faction bastards really don’t think things through. If they want to profit, the Empire needs to be running properly first.”

He scowled deeper.

“And it’s not like any of them are actually qualified to be Chancellor, yet they’re all drooling for the seat.”

“They overestimate themselves.”

Ameris replied smoothly.

“Anyway. The kids are going to be newlyweds soon, why can’t they just leave them alone?”

‘They can’t even wish them well. Do they have to play with people’s lives like this?’

Latine kept grumbling about those bastards.

In the past, he would’ve been swearing up a storm by now—but as the commander of a knight order, he’d cleaned up his vocabulary quite a bit.

Realizing that, Ameris said softly, “About those two… they might be separated soon.”

“Why?”

Latine’s eyes went wide. He had no idea why that would happen.

Ameris shifted her gaze and murmured,

“I was thinking of sending her on a diplomatic tour abroad… as a birthday gift.”

That got Latine to half-jump off the wall he was leaning on.

“Ah, right! Dame Syveric’s birthday is soon, huh?”

He glanced at the calendar and marveled.

“Time flies. But her birthday’s coming up—when’s the wedding?”

It was an offhand remark.

He just naturally assumed the two would get married someday, no matter when.

But then came a response he hadn’t expected at all.

“Actually, about that…”

Ameris leaned back in her chair and rested her chin on her hand.

“They’re in a contract engagement.”

“Huh?”

Latine’s face went blank.

Seeing his confusion, Ameris raised a finger to her lips and said quietly: “They’re not getting married. They’ll probably break off the engagement soon.”

Latine’s jaw dropped.

“WHAT??”