Chapter 4 – It’s Indecent, Captain! (Part 1)

‘Ah, it’s warm…’

With the room heated by a generous amount of firewood and a cozy blanket pulled up to her neck, Lena stretched out her body without opening her eyes, relishing the warmth that melted her muscles.

Her mind, freshly awakened from sleep, was hazy and muddled in the heat, losing all sense of reality. She didn’t think at all about how she had fallen asleep or where she was.

“If you’re awake, why don’t you get up?”

Then, a low, deep voice sounded right next to her ear. It was a sound she should never hear, but it was too clear to dismiss as a dream.

“Do you think I can’t tell when you’re awake? I know you’re awake, so open your eyes.”

“Captain?”

This is real!

Startled, she hurriedly sat up, her voice cracking from her dry throat. She curled up, groaning from the parched feeling tearing at her vocal cords.

Watching her quietly, Alhendore handed her a glass of cool water. Like an oasis in the desert, Lena emptied the glass in an instant.

“Ahh!”

“Feel better?”

“Oh, I’m sorry, Captain.”

“What for?”

“Pardon?”

“What are you sorry for? List them one by one. Hm?”

Alhendore, sitting in a chair next to the bed with his legs crossed, stared at her intently. Lena rolled her eyes under his characteristic interrogative gaze.

Why is he so upset today?

‘What did I do wrong?’

Her half-asleep mind was as disordered as a pile of documents. No matter how terrible his personality was, he wasn’t someone who would accuse her without reason. So, she must have done something wrong, but…

‘What did I do wrong?’

No matter how much she racked her brain, nothing came to mind. Her head just throbbed from the lingering hangover.

Ah, this won’t do. If this goes on, I’ll just waste time. 

She decided to say whatever came to mind first.

“We need to purchase additional training batons for the 6th squad-.”

“You’re on a week-long reward leave. Did you forget?”

“For the Crown Prince’s birthday, we need to prepare training-.”

“Ha, I said you’re on a leave. Stop talking about work.”

Not that?

Lena groaned and decided to approach the fundamental reason.

Come to think of it, this unfamiliar room, this unfamiliar bedroom wasn’t Earl Canabella’s mansion. It wasn’t the familiar captain’s lounge either. 

So, where is this…?

“Ah, ah!”

“What now?”

“I have committed a grave sin!”

“Hmm? You’re getting closer.”

As expected!

While shouting ‘Eureka’ inside, she also felt despair. If what she thought was correct, she wouldn’t have any excuse even if she got fired.

Even if she tried to feign ignorance, the evidence was clear. She awkwardly got up and knelt on the bed.

‘Ah, Father. This unfilial daughter is finally returning to her hometown.’

Lena repeatedly bowed her head.

“Sob, I’m sorry. I stole and drank the liquor you cherished, Captain.”

She couldn’t bring herself to say she would somehow compensate for it as a sinner. Even if people pointed fingers at her for being shameless, she simply couldn’t afford to buy that expensive liquor again.

‘Why did I touch that! Stupid Lena, I’m the biggest fool in the world!’

While she was pulling her hair and blaming herself, Alhendore rubbed his throbbing temples. 

Did that little lady really think I would scold her over some liquor? 

A wave of bitterness and futility washed over him.

He could give her as much as she wanted. Alhendore muttered with a sullen face.

“That’s not something I cherish but something you cherish.”

“Pardon?”

“It’s fine. I told you, you could drink it.”

He couldn’t bring himself to say he had stocked it with things she liked out of spite. This ungrateful thief-like cat.

Only then did the conversation from the past flash through Lena’s mind. When she had been eyeing the display case with longing, the captain had said this:

“If you want to drink it, go ahead.”

“No, I’m fine!”

At the time, she had found it hard to drink his liquor and had refused. No matter how close they were, he was still her superior. She couldn’t openly say she would enjoy his liquor.

Afterward, she had used his words as a free pass to sneak into the captain’s lounge, but it turned out she could have just gone in openly. All her sneaking around felt pointless now.

‘Or maybe not, it’s still my superior’s rest area, so going in openly might be inappropriate?’

Lena’s expression changed by the second. Alhendore sighed deeply, knowing she was probably having more silly thoughts.

“Sleeping in a bathroom without firewood in late autumn? Are you crazy?”

“Pardon?”

“A girl who can’t even handle alcohol drinks three bottles of that strong stuff? What were you thinking? Did you want to die? Why not stab me in the back while you’re at it? I’ll send you off in one go.”

“No, I-.”

“You were lying down for half a day. Do you know that? Of course, you don’t. How could you? If you knew, you wouldn’t… Ha, never mind.”

Never mind what!

Alhendore, biting off his words, looked at her with bloodshot eyes. Lena couldn’t move an inch under his intense gaze, as if it were a shapeless shackle.

Intense? Is that the right word? No, more like… persistent. His eyes were more fittingly described as persistent.

The golden eyes, darkened in the dim light, glowed and flickered. Around the long, slit-like black pupils, golden waves rippled. In those undulating eyes, only she was reflected.

Lena flinched and avoided his gaze. After staring at her for a while longer, he clicked his tongue.

“Lie down again. It’s still dawn. It’s late, so sleep here.”

“Pardon? Oh, I’m fine!”

“Lie down.”

“Yes, sir.”

Unable to overcome the awkwardness, Lena leaned back at his command. She pulled the blanket up to her neck and closed her eyes obediently.

One sheep, two sheep. She counted sheep, hoping the captain would leave soon. But,

‘…Why isn’t he leaving?’

Unable to wipe away her cold sweat, she trembled her eyelids. Noticing the slight tremor, Alhendore placed his hand on her stiff forehead.

“Are you unwell? Should I call a doctor?”

“Gasp!”

“He said you were fine…”

From his muttering, it seemed a doctor had already been there once.

His voice sent chills down her spine, and she feared an innocent doctor might be accused of being a quack and have their wrist cut off. She desperately opened her eyes wide.

“I’m fine! Absolutely fine!”

“Really?”

“Yes!”

“Then why are you like this?”

“Ah, um.”

This man, I knew it, but he’s really persistent.

She racked her brain, searching for something to say. She couldn’t bring herself to say, “You’re making me uncomfortable,” so she just shifted her eyes. Alhendore, like a ghost, narrowed his eyes.

“Am I making you uncomfortable?”

“Y-Yes? No?”

“…….”

Ah, damn. 

She couldn’t help but lament this belated realization. Her alcohol-soaked brain hadn’t fully recovered its thinking circuits yet.

Alhendore, with a furrowed brow, suddenly climbed onto the bed. Sitting close beside her, Lena subtly moved away.

“C-captain? What are you doing?”

“What?”

“Pardon?”

“Why does it make you uncomfortable?”

“Ah, it doesn’t make me uncomfortable!”

“Don’t lie.”

How could it not make me uncomfortable?

Though she felt it was deeply unfair, Lena tried hard to assert that she wasn’t uncomfortable. Not that it worked at all.

Alhendore stared at her for a long time before finally letting out a deep sigh and turning his head.

“Just go to sleep.”

“Yes.”

The ring with the blue gemstone on his finger glimmered faintly.

Why did the captain’s face look so bitter? 

Puzzled, Lena blinked a few times before falling into a doze.

Watching her, Alhendore sighed softly.

“You’re like a stray cat who doesn’t understand others’ feelings.”