Chapter 6 – Are You Jealous, Captain? (Part 3)

“Sir Cashetra! Over here, over here!”

“Assistant?”

Many people had walked in by now. The moment she finally spotted the one she was looking for, Lena waved her hand vigorously.

Hyde, who had walked into the cafeteria without any particular thought, widened his eyes upon seeing an unexpected person.

“Hey, what are you doing?”

“Be quiet!”

Aran asked while chewing a piece of meat, looking as pitiful as a wounded puppy with his drooping eyebrows.

Lena glared at him with a distorted expression. 

How could his mannerisms be so un-noble-like? 

He was a truly intriguing person the more she saw him.

“I didn’t expect to see you at this time, Assistant.”

“Phew, I didn’t expect to be here at this time either.”

Hyde sat next to them after spotting the two.

As opposed to someone whose brain is also made of muscles, the intellectual Hyde placed a steaming mug in front of her.

“I’m not sure if you’ll like the tea we drink in the knight order, Assistant.”

“It’s fine, thank you.”

It was a statement indicating that the tea, drunk by the rough knights, might not suit a young lady’s taste.

She knew there was tea among the military supplies, but this was her first time actually drinking it. For those who went out wielding swords, alcohol was more appealing than tea.

He must have found it in some corner and brought it for her. Thinking of his consideration, she took a sip and, well, it tasted quite old.

‘Still, it’s not entirely undrinkable.’

Meanwhile, Aran tore off a turkey leg and brought it to her nose.

“You need to eat a hearty breakfast.”

“You ignorant fool, do you think the Assistant is like you?”

“What did you say, punk?”

Ignoring the two growling at each other, Lena looked around. It was the peace of mind that brought her leisure.

Checking the state of the knights’ uniforms, wondering if she should call a tailor. Checking if there were enough wooden training swords, and if the dining hall needed repairs.

Taking care of the knights’ daily needs was the duty of an assistant.

Hyde gently stopped Lena, who was looking around like a meerkat.

“Sometimes, it’s good to relax.”

Hyde’s consideration came from knowing her mind was filled with work. Lena awkwardly scratched her cheek.

Her eyes curved into crescent moons under the tear mole beneath her left eye. Her long hair flowing down to her waist made her face one that many women would find charming. 

‘If only our Captain had just half of that, he would have been very popular.’

Lena looked genuinely regretful.

If Hyde had a gentle appearance, the Captain’s appearance could be described as sharp as a knife.

His short hair that reached his neck exuded neatness, and his sharp eyes made his handsome features even colder.

The most impressive aspect, however, was his personality. Even the women who were entranced by the Captain’s chiseled looks would each flinch after a single conversation with him.

‘I know that feeling well.’

The feeling of wanting to slap his cheek but being unable to lift a hand due to his high status.

Watching the twitching eyes and lips of noblewomen and young ladies next to the Captain made her own heart ache.

“Ugh, what’s a training freak saying to a work freak?”

Lena, reminiscing about old memories, was brought back to reality by Aran’s taunting voice. Ignoring Aran, Hyde spoke up as if he had just remembered something.

“By the way, have you heard the news?”

“What news?”

Hyde smiled as if he was about to share something that would be on the front page of the daily news.

“About the eldest son of the Paraton family having an affair with the young lady of the Rasabea Marquisate and getting dumped by the young lady of the Lengay family.”

“What…?”

What was this sudden news?

As Lena tilted her head in confusion, Hyde spoke with his characteristic consideration.

“I thought you might want to know. Was it unnecessary meddling?”

“No, thank you for telling me.”

A bewildered Lena briefly organized the situation in her mind.

So, my ex-fiancé cheated on his pregnant lover and got dumped by the pregnant lover. Is that it?

Knowing Hyde was well-versed in social circles, it wasn’t surprising he heard about her ex-fiancé. The problem was the sudden news of her ex-fiancé’s affair.

‘They say old habits die hard.’

Once a cheater, always a cheater—it seems to be a truth of life.

When Lena was subtly nodding her head, the dining hall fell silent for a moment.

Confused, Lena instinctively turned her head towards the entrance. Then she met eyes with Alhendore, who was walking in with a sullen expression.

“Gasp!”

“Lena.”

He’s sulking. And he’s sulking big time!

Lena screamed inwardly. He must be annoyed that she was surrounded by men after doing everything with him.

His steps were heavy as he walked towards her. His voice calling her was cold. Lena shifted her eyes.

What to do? What should I do?

His eyes, which were fixed on her, flickered momentarily to the side, and they gleamed. He looked like a beast ready to pounce on Aran and Hyde at any moment.

‘Oh dear.’

Lena hurriedly ran to him, smiling innocently as if she knew nothing.

“Captain! What brings you here?”

“…”

His expression seemed to say, ‘Why are you asking when you know?’ but she didn’t care. After staring at her for a while, Alhendore finally sighed and surrendered.

“Really, you’re impossible.”

Alhendore, eyebrows full of annoyance, grabbed her hand and turned around. The knights watching them had eyes wide open.

Lena, flustered, tried to pull her hand out, but his grip was so firm that it only tightened instead.

“Captain, everyone is watching!”

“What’s it to them if I hold my woman’s hand?”

Where did he learn such cheesy lines!

As they moved away from the dining hall, a loud cheer shook the ground. How would she ever hold her head up high again now?

Lena lowered her head, her cheeks burning.

And so, she was caught and dragged away, barely an hour after running away.

***

In the study where he brought Lena, Alhendore was in such a hurry that he didn’t even think of sitting down and instead stood her right against the door.

“Lena.”

“Yes?”

Even though there was no more space to move, he took a step closer. Lena instinctively tried to step back but was blocked by the solid door.

The firmly closed door pressed hard against her back, as if pushing her towards him, saying there was no place left to run.

Alhendore came close enough for their breaths to mingle. He rested his head on her shoulder, and his large fingers intertwined with hers on their own accord.

The excessive proximity made her forget how to breathe, and Lena held her breath. The weight from her shoulder, mixed with his fresh scent, made her head spin.

“Why are you avoiding me?”

“I-I’m not!”

“Patrolling the squad.”

“Th-that was just work!”

“No, it wasn’t.”

“…Yes, it was.”

Still leaning his forehead on her shoulder, he slightly turned his head to look up at her.

Lena shifted her eyes uncomfortably at his intense gaze. As she avoided his eyes, his head followed her movements.

“Even now.”

“W-what?”

“You’re avoiding me.”

“T-that’s because you’re looking at me so intensely!”

Honestly, the sudden squad patrol was indeed an act of avoidance, but not for the reason the Captain thought.

It seemed he thought she misunderstood his relationship with Ophelia.

But that wasn’t the issue. It was too overwhelming! The distance where his prominent nose seemed to brush against her with any movement was unbearably uncomfortable.

“You’re saying you weren’t avoiding me?”

“Yes! I wasn’t, so can you please step back a bit?”

“Or else…”

Or else?

With his head buried in her shoulder, he suddenly fell silent.

Alhendore didn’t know how to deal with this complicated feeling.

In fact, he knew. He knew that Lena hadn’t misunderstood the situation between him and Ophelia.

But rather, that made it even more painful.

He wished she would misunderstand and be jealous. He wished she would scold him and ask what he had with her and tell him not to be close to other women.

‘Has she completely forgotten my confession?’

For a few days after that, it seemed awkward. He thought Lena was seriously considering what happened then. That’s why he waited. He had waited three years, so what was a little more?

‘But now it seems like she has completely forgotten.’

One day, she started treating him comfortably again. As if she had forgotten his confession and their past relationship.

‘She isn’t even jealous.’

While he was going mad like this.

Seeing Lena eating with the members, his subdued jealousy flared up obscenely again.

‘I know you had breakfast.’

Of course, he knew. Aran must have dragged her there against her will. But he couldn’t help feeling jealous.

Couldn’t she be jealous of me and Ophelia as well?

When lovers, people in love, see their significant other happily interacting with someone else, they feel a certain emotion rise.

‘You don’t seem to have it.’

As if you don’t love me.

‘Should I confess again?’

This can’t go on. It was clear Lena had forgotten his confession and that day’s event. If this goes on, she might fall for another man, get married, have kids, and grow old with another man’s child for the rest of her life…

“Do it with me.”

He quickly lifted his head and stared straight into her eyes. Lena momentarily wondered what he was talking about.

Do what?

Then, with a strange intonation and peculiar atmosphere, she screamed. 

Surely, he wasn’t asking to do that thing we did back then, was he?

“You pervert! Captain, are you really a pervert?”

“……What are you thinking? I’m asking you out on a date.”

“Oh…”

Ha…….”

Seriously, my little lady can be quite unexpected at times.

‘But I’m relieved.’

It seemed she hadn’t completely forgotten about that day’s event.

This time, Lena, whose ears turned bright red for a different reason, pushed him away and ran out of the captain’s study.

It was more annoying to see him just quietly watching her with tears welling up in her eyes.

“Captain, you’re really mean!”

“Yeah, yeah. See you after work.”

No matter how much she ran away, she was still in his palm. Alhendore waved his hand gently with a slightly relieved heart.

See you later, my little lady.

<It’s a Mistake, Captain!> To be continued in Volume 2