Chapter 22

“Did he really throw a wooden sword and demand a sparring match the moment you first met?”

“Yes.”

“Normally, people wouldn’t call that cool—they’d just say he’s rude…”

Serenia lowered her brows awkwardly and smiled with her eyes. Derkan, listening with a bewildered expression, shook his head at Serenia’s gentle demeanor that seemed to melt away all tension. Even though love often comes out of nowhere like an accident, hearing Serenia’s story made Derkan feel even more protective of her than before.

“So, did you manage to land a hit?”

“No. I couldn’t hit him even once.”

“…Wait, then did you get hit?”

No matter how much of a sparring match it was, even if Lucien was the commander, would he really hit a girl he’d just met, especially if there was a difference in skill… Derkan thought surely not, but couldn’t help feeling uneasy as he looked at Serenia. Seeing his doubtful gaze, she burst into laughter.

“That’s not it either. I don’t know if he was going easy on me or if I dodged well, but I wasn’t hit.”

“Whew, that’s a relief. At least the commander I serve isn’t that much of a jerk.”

“Even if I had been hit, it was just sparring, so it couldn’t be helped.”

Even if she had been struck a few times, Serenia would have shrugged it off. But in the end, Lucien didn’t really attack her during their match, which was a huge relief. In the middle of their sparring, the mansion staff came searching for the missing Serenia, and when Helena saw them sparring, she scolded her youngest son mercilessly.

She couldn’t help but laugh when she remembered young Lucien’s unfairly accused and frustrated face. It was a scene from the past only possible because both Serenia and Lucien were so young.

“So, did you start liking him from that day?”

“That… I’m not sure.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Sir Derkan, do you remember exactly when your special feelings began?”

“Of course. The moment I saw my wife, it was like an angel descended and I heard bells ringing in my ears.”

Serenia, now used to Derkan’s endless praise for his wife, clapped and played along. Love takes many forms, and though Derkan’s and her own crush were so different in type and origin, she found his stories fascinating.

“I really don’t know. When I first saw Lucien, I just felt like I’d finally found space to breathe and wanted to get closer… but that could just be friendship, right?”

“Hmm…”

“After that, we were always together, training side by side. Honestly, what I remember most is both of us struggling, competing, and trying to win. It was just fun and freeing to be together, and I always wished those times would last forever.”

“Hey…”

“Oh! Once, I lost my wooden sword by mistake, and before Master came, Lucien gave me his own sword.”

“……”

“Of course, Master immediately knew it wasn’t mine, but Lucien shamelessly insisted and held his ground. When I think about it, he’s secretly kind and reliable, so I felt…”

“That’s enough. Let’s stop there.”

“Huh?”

“You two need to learn the definition of ‘friend’ again. Seriously, you should have made more friends! Then you wouldn’t be so confused like this…”

“You two…?”

“Oh, that was a slip. Ahem. Anyway! Got it! Who cares when you fell in love. So, in conclusion, you’re just seeing the commander through rose-colored glasses and think everything he does is lovely, right?”

“It’s not rose-colored glasses—objectively, Lucien really does have a pretty face.”

Before Serenia could finish, Derkan covered his ears with his palms, then uncovered them, interrupting her.

“Ahhh, I’m not listening!”

It was karma for all the times he’d ignored his colleagues and bragged about his wife. He wanted to tease Serenia, but her earnest and pure expression made it impossible.

“Just confess… Please, someone, just confess already…”

From Derkan’s perspective, it was obviously mutual affection, so instead of going in circles about friendship, someone should just confess and stop wasting time. Honestly, his heart was leaning toward Serenia, and he found the commander, who couldn’t even recognize his own feelings, a bit pitiful.

“In this world, unconscious jealousy is the most useless thing.”

Serenia, smiling faintly at Derkan’s cryptic muttering, looked past his shoulder and waved at the distance.

“Ah! That’s the commander, isn’t it?”

“How did you know?”

“It’s obvious from your expression. I, I, have something urgent, so I’ll go first!”

“Huh? The commander is calling—Sir Derkan?”

“Please, call me ‘Major’ in front of the commander!”

Even without turning around, Derkan could feel the piercing gaze from behind. As Serenia started to call his name, Derkan jumped up, blocking her words.

“Then our strategy meeting is tomorrow at the agreed time and place, right? I’m really leaving now. See you tomorrow.”

Serenia looked back and forth between Lucien, who was striding quickly toward her, and Derkan, who was waving and running away even faster in the opposite direction. At times like this, it was impossible to tell who was the nephew and who was the uncle. Serenia stared blankly as Derkan escaped without being caught by Lucien, but then Lucien’s empty hand grabbed her instead.

“The discipline of the army has collapsed.”

“Huh?”

“A superior officer appears and people run away without saluting, and they call a major by his name like it’s nothing…”

“I’m sorry. I’ll correct it immediately, Commander.”

“Why are you so formal with me? Just call my name. Only my name.”

When Serenia tried to match his seriousness, Lucien looked even more dissatisfied and bit her shoulder. It didn’t hurt through her uniform, but she could still feel his teeth through the thick fabric, and it tickled a little. As she shrank her neck and leaned back, his hand slipped down and naturally wrapped around her waist.

Serenia realized how true it was that humans were creatures of adaptation. Her heart still raced at Lucien’s casual touch, but she was starting to feel comforted whenever he hugged her from behind. Sometimes, without thinking, she’d absentmindedly lay her hand over his, playfully touching the back of his hand.

“I brought you all the way here to play with me, but you only play with that weird old man?”

“Weird old man…?”

“Don’t talk to older men.”

“Was age the problem?”

“No, don’t talk to younger men either.”

“Oh, so gender is the issue…”

“No, don’t talk to women either. Don’t help train the kids. Don’t work. Just play with me.”

It was more of a childish whine than a serious request. Serenia, trying to listen seriously, frowned and tilted her head back to look at Lucien. Her crown brushed his chest as their eyes met at different heights.

Normally, people would feel uncomfortable after staring into someone’s eyes for a long time, but Lucien never looked away first. After gazing at her quietly for a while, Lucien lowered his head. The shadow cast over her face grew closer, and his lips lightly touched hers before pulling away.

“…Not today.”

“What?”

“That was the signal just now, wasn’t it?”

“Did you think I’m an animal?”

“…You kind of are.”