At my sudden mention of same-s*x relationships, Zipfel glared at me as if warning me not to play games.

“Have you lost your mind?”

I turned my head back to look at my hands.

Like pencil marks smudged on drawing paper, faint blood stains were visible on my fingers.

“No, I just think I could be more helpful to the Admiral than Lord Zipfel.”

“What…!”

Mmm, such an angry voice. How refreshing.

Since I couldn’t scratch his neck in return, I at least wanted to get under his skin a bit.

“Zipfel. Enough.”

“….”

The Admiral, after dismissing Zipfel with a glance, rose from the sofa.

Though internally nervous, I maintained my composure as I looked at him.

However, when he leaned toward me, bracing himself against the table, I couldn’t help but flinch.

“W-what.”

His tall stature and large frame cast a shadow that completely enclosed me.

His tall stature and large frame cast a shadow that completely enclosed me.

“So, how exactly does the Duke’s daughter think she can be of help to me?”

I couldn’t answer immediately and just blinked.

The Admiral was holding out a handkerchief – I hadn’t even noticed when he’d taken it out.

More precisely, he had started to apply it directly to my neck but lowered his arm to hand it to me instead.

“…You have a talent for delivering kindness in frightening ways.”

“I apologize for my rudeness.”

His low, rich voice resonated briefly in my ears before fading.

After handing me the handkerchief and straightening up, his gaze carried a predatory pressure even without any particular intent.

I had to reconsider whether the idea in my head was truly wise.

But finally, swallowing a sigh, I spoke.

“From now on, many people will approach you, Admiral. Well, mostly women.”

The silk handkerchief was clean and had a pleasant scent. There wasn’t even a slight sting when it touched the wound.

“Among them, someone will try to initiate physical contact with you, like in the example I mentioned.”

The Admiral furrowed his brow, and I grimaced while smiling as well.

“But from what I can see, it won’t be easy for you to distinguish whether those situations are genuine or not. Even if you could, it would be quite troublesome.”

While he’s thorough with security, he seems quite naive in these matters.

“Even if you know their intentions are impure, with your ingrained spirit of protecting civilians, it would be difficult not to try to stop someone throwing themselves down the stairs.”

“They go that far?”

Well, in a K-rofan setting, that’s nothing unusual.

“You seem like someone who would never ignore a person in crisis, unless they’re an enemy.”

Judging by the lack of denial, my interpretation wasn’t wrong.

I gave a confident smile to the Admiral, who had his fingers interlocked.

“I can prevent all of that.”

“How would the Duke’s daughter manage that?”

“I have the perfect solution. However, it requires both my great sacrifice and your cooperation.”

I felt Zipfel’s gaze from behind, as if saying ‘What kind of scheme is this,’ but I ignored it.

“That part seems to need explanation.”

“Yes, first of all, I need to be near you, Admiral!”

Well, it’s not like I could become a sniper and remotely eliminate people with impure intentions.

I put the handkerchief down on the table and stood up from the sofa.

Then, stepping on the carpet woven with elegant patterns, I continued.

“Until now, you’ve avoided all personal approaches, Admiral.”

Indeed, Zipfel’s expression wasn’t good at all.

“But if I’m to drive away people who approach you, you’ll have to allow my approach.”

His expression showed strong disapproval. The Admiral didn’t look too pleased either.

But would he still think that way after hearing this?

I cleared my throat and then shouted in a rough voice.

“Ahem, make way! The Admiral is passing! Hey, you there! Get your face out of the way!”

“……”

“This isn’t what you want, right?”

“……Obviously not.”

Both Zipfel and the Admiral blinked at me, which was quite amusing, but I held back my laughter.

“Well, from my perspective too, if I go around openly showing my purpose like this, I’d be nothing more or less than your security guard. Then it would be difficult to properly block their approaches.”

Zipfel glared at me. What, embarrassed about being surprised?

I gave him a mischievous smile, then quickly turned my head back to the Admiral.

“Therefore, there needs to be a proper reason for you to look after me, Admiral.”

“And that reason is?”

Toward the Admiral who briefly lifted his chin, I spoke kindly.

“Well, since I haven’t attended the naval academy, I can’t join the navy. So let’s think about this logically.”

Clapping my hands once, I asked him.

“What would be the most plausible reason for me to drive away people approaching you, Admiral, especially the women?”

The Admiral didn’t seem to have an immediate answer. Well then, I’ll have to tell him.

“The answer is ‘because there are feelings involved.'”

No, Admiral. Even with that frown, you’re still handsome, but how do you think I feel looking at you?

Actually, I don’t feel much at all. I just think you’re handsome.

I faced the Admiral’s frowning expression with a bright smile and spoke again.

“Then! Why would you let me freely drive away women’s approaches?”

Again, no one answered.

But rather than not knowing, it seemed more like they didn’t want to know.

Unfortunately, there’s always only one truth!

“Because you too have ‘feelings for me.'”

The Admiral’s eyes trembled slightly.

“Admiral?”

“…….”

“Now you understand? The reason why I said I need my big sacrifice and your cooperation.”

Though Zipfel tried to object, I paid no mind.

‘Hmm, should I make it look proper.’

I took out a bouquet of red hydrangeas that had become dried flowers from the silver vase.

Then I approached the Admiral and knelt on one knee before him.

Of course, I knelt to gain momentum.

“Admiral Richard Aquilus!”

Holding out the dripping bouquet, I smiled brightly.

And looking at the slightly pale Admiral, I said.

“Let’s date.”

Caught in a tiger’s den with no escape route in sight?

Might as well make yourself at home.

Let’s see who leaves first.

……Though I confessed so boldly.

The Admiral gave no answer. No expression either. Felt like I was at an art museum.

“Ah, cold.”

If water droplets from the flower stems hadn’t wet my feet, I would’ve wondered if I’d gained the ability to stop time.

“My arm is getting tired and my leg is going numb, Admiral.”

Only then did the Admiral slowly close and open his eyelids.

And as he reached to take the flowers from my hand-

“If you accept these, it means you’re dating me.”

-he withdrew his hand.

“Is that a rejection?”

“First, stand up.”

“I’m up. So what’s your answer?”

“Soldiers and merchants are no different. We pursue efficiency and profit.”

Is it because he’s an Admiral who controls maritime rights? He’s surprisingly flexible with his words.

And when he says it with a face that looks like Michelangelo and da Vinci collaborated on a sculpture, it feels like hearing the quote of the century.

Should I engrave it on the table nearby?

Besides, he’s not wrong.

“Then it’s a yes!”

At my cheerful response, the Admiral frowned his handsome forehead.

‘Wow, even the statue can frown.’

“Dating a Duke’s daughter would be a deficit.”

“Well, you’ll lose some popularity, so that’s not entirely wrong.”

“Have you forgotten everything you just said yourself?”

The Admiral looked at me with a face of gathering patience, as if watching an AI secretary spouting nonsense.

“You said it yourself. Exceptions are important to people.”

“I’m glad we understand each other.”

When I smiled broadly, the Admiral responded with an insincere smile.

“Is that so? I’m sad.”

“If that’s your preference, I’ll respect it.”

With that face, I could overlook even if he had the peculiar taste of being sad about good communication.

But apparently not. The tension in his elegant jawline became more pronounced.

“Stop misinterpreting, my Lady. I mean that the moment you and I become lovers, it creates a personal exception.”

He explained calmly, as if explaining that 1+1 equals 2.

Of course, 1+1 is 2.

“Right. I know that.”

“If you know, why make such a proposal?”

The Admiral looked at me as if asking whether I didn’t understand that having a personal exception would be much more troublesome than just having public exceptions.

“Well……”

Because sometimes 1+1 equals cuteness.

“Because one personal exception will eliminate all other exceptions.”

“Are you relying on the authority of House Rabius? Better not dream in vain. Your reputation in the South is already at its worst.”

Right. I know that well, having confirmed it twice already.

“Are you really so clueless that you can maintain such a calm face? With you by my side, those approaching me will only increase.”

“They won’t be able to approach.”

“So what exactly are you counting on-“

“My reputation.”

The Admiral’s gaze paused briefly on my lips.

Smiling sweetly, I stepped back and lifted my chin to meet his eyes.

“My worse reputation will protect you from people’s approaches, Admiral.”