Chapter 9 – It’s A Misunderstanding, Captain! (Part 4)

As the ceremony ended, people gathered around the bride and groom to talk. Lena, trying to avoid her father’s still glaring eyes, attempted to slip away.

“Lena, wait a moment. Um…”

“Baron Leshuriel, the lord wants to see you for a moment.”

Baron Leshuriel, who was about to grab Lena, stopped at the call.

The lord, sitting at a distant high table, was looking at Alhendore with curious eyes.

‘Oh no.’

It seemed the lord had recognized Alhendore as the Duke Lengester.

“Hurry and go!”

“…Alright.”

Excited, Lena pushed her father’s back. Feeling like his daughter was getting rid of him, the baron reluctantly left.

He didn’t want to, but he had to go to the lord. With a heavy heart, he trudged toward the lord.

Taking advantage of the moment, Lena tried to escape but was stopped by an unexpected voice.

“It’s been a while, Lena.”

Sheara Ferdando approached, gently waving a feathered fan.

“It’s been a while, Miss.”

With an awkward smile, Lena watched as Sheara confidently approached her. Opening the fan wide to cover her mouth, Sheara’s eyes curved into coquettish crescents as she smiled.

“Who is the gentleman beside you? He’s someone I’ve never seen before.”

“Oh, he’s the captain of the knight order where I serve.”

Even though she asked for an introduction, Sheara stood in front of Alhendore without giving Lena another glance.

“I am Sheara Ferdando of the Ferdando family.”

As if expecting a kiss on the back of her hand, Sheara extended it toward him.

In the Ferdando estate, Sheara was like a princess. She was accustomed to such greetings, so she extended her hand half out of habit and half with personal interest.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Alhendore Lengester.”

Alhendore didn’t even glance at her hand, turning his head coldly to look at Lena.

The cold, emotionless eyes that briefly glanced at Sheara melted like snow, dripping with honey as they looked at Lena.

Sheara snapped her fan shut, trembling with anger.

While Alhendore’s clear boundaries were admirable, Lena was worried. Sheara only closed her fan when she was deeply offended.

This could be troublesome. 

Lena sighed, wondering how much of a tantrum Sheara would throw, but Duvelln intervened just in time.

“Hey, Lena!”

Duvelln placed his hands on Sheara’s shoulders, smiling at her.

“Sheara, Father is looking for you.”

The lord had called Lena’s father earlier out of curiosity about Alhendore.

It was an obvious lie, but Sheara bit her lip and left.

When those siblings were together, Duvelln was always the more temperamental one. Unlike his genteel sister, Duvelln was a boisterous man who often mingled with mercenaries.

“Sorry about my sister, Lena. She’s a bit prickly, isn’t she?”

“Oh, no!”

A bit prickly? She’s extremely prickly!

Duvelln, an old friend, quickly understood the true meaning behind Lena’s bright smile. Laughing heartily, Duvelln turned his curious gaze to Alhendore.

“But who is this? Aren’t you going to introduce me?”

Though Duvelln’s gaze seemed a bit unsettling, Lena decided to introduce him briefly.

“This is Duvelln. Duvelln, this is my-.”

“Your fiancé, right?”

Just as Lena was about to introduce Alhendore, the overly eager Duvelln interrupted with nonsense.

Lena’s previously smiling face began to crack.

“Wow, you got yourself quite a fiancé!”

What kind of misunderstanding is this?

If he was going to make assumptions, why ask for an introduction in the first place?

Lena’s lips twitched as her face stiffened.

It seemed Duvelln mistook Alhendore for Galverd. After all, he had never seen Galverd’s face.

“No, he’s not!”

“You reconciled with your fiancé?”

“I told you, he’s not!”

Lena wanted to correct him, saying this man was just her superior, but clueless Duvelln wasn’t listening.

“What’s with the friendly act?”

Alhendore lowered his head close to Lena’s ear, his eyes flashing ominously. Already breaking into a cold sweat, she heard the sound of teeth grinding chillingly.

‘Captain!’

Desperately clinging to his shoulder, she blinked rapidly.

‘Captain, please calm down!’

Though he was annoyed to be mistaken for that guy, Alhendore found Lena’s clinginess endearing. He sighed deeply.

He wrapped his arm around Lena’s shoulder, pulling her closer.

“Get away from her.”

Growling lowly, Alhendore was irritated by Duvelln’s close proximity to Lena.

Duvelln hesitated for a moment but soon started talking excitedly.

“Wow…! Hey, with your fiancé around, you won’t be afraid of your tyrant captain anymore!”

Alarmed by Duvelln’s nonsense, Lena hastily spoke.

“When did I ever call my Captain a tyrant?”

“What are you talking about? You said he always interfered with your dates because he couldn’t get a girl himself-.”

No!

“Shut up!!”

“What?”

Hearing Lena curse for the first time since childhood, Duvelln blinked in surprise.

The guests, who had been chatting in groups, turned their attention to them.

Everyone seemed curious about the commotion. Among them was her father.

Lena, flustered, looked around and grabbed Alhendore’s hand, running out.

She only thought of getting Alhendore away from Duvelln before he could say more.

“Um, Duvelln, I have something urgent to do, so I’ll be going now. Bye!”

“Wait, hey! Lena!”

This is crazy.

Hurrying out, Lena ran until the outdoor party venue was out of sight.

They arrived at the garden behind the lord’s castle, where she finally caught her breath.

Everyone was focused on the wedding party, so the garden was empty.

Lena, her expression serious, faced Alhendore.

“Captain, this is a misunderstanding.”

“Misunderstanding?”

His gaze was full of distrust. Sweating, Lena rolled her eyes.

“Yes, a misunderstanding.”

“What misunderstanding?”

His tightly closed lips curved into a sinister line.

“Are you saying it’s a misunderstanding that I’ve never held a woman’s hand?”

“Well, that’s true.”

“Or that I’m a tyrant who always interferes with your dates?”

“Cough…”

“If you have an excuse, let’s hear it.”

Looking around, Lena found no way out. She decided to face it head-on.

Sometimes a direct approach was best.

Taking a step closer, she looked up at him. Standing on tiptoe, she placed her hands on his shoulders. She puckered her lips, aiming for his lips.

‘Too short…’

Quickly changing her target, she kissed his neck.

“Are you going to be mad at me?”

“…”

Blinking her big eyes, she looked up at him.

“Don’t be mad… I’m sorry…”

Rubbing her cheek against his chest, she acted pitifully. Sighing deeply, Alhendore finally gave in.

“How can I win against you?”

“Hehe.”

Cupping her cheek, he leaned in. Lena, still holding onto his shoulders, closed her eyes.

His thick tongue invaded her mouth, exploring her teeth and the inside of her cheeks. She trembled as their tongues intertwined.

His laughter filled her mouth, heating her insides. The tickling sensation made her grip his collar tightly.

“What are you two doing!!”

“Gasp-!”

Baron Leshuriel’s booming voice echoed through the garden.

“Run!”

“Do we have to?”

“Yes!!”

Dragging Alhendore, Lena ran towards the carriage.

Though she felt sorry for her panting father, she ran desperately.

“Should we have a wedding like this too?”

“Is this the time to say that?”

As they reached the castle gate, Alhendore casually asked, matching her pace.

Does this man never get tired? He showed no signs of exhaustion.

“So what? Now that we’ve been caught, we might as well have the formal talk.”

“A formal talk?”

Lena paused momentarily to catch her breath, trying to picture sitting next to him, with the Duke and Duchess, her father, and Earl Canabella all seated together. The idea of a meal meant to discuss marriage was foreign but not unwelcome, making Lena’s ears turn a slight shade of red.

“So, where do you want the wedding?”

“Well, the wedding…”

Thinking about it, Lena’s cheeks turned red. This man seemed born to charm.

“Take your time. Think about where and how you want it.”

Blinking, Lena looked up at him.

Blushing, she took his hand. Holding hands, they ran together, Lena smiling brightly.

A wedding… It might not be so bad.

As they ran happily, Baron Leshuriel shouted desperately.

“Lena! Stop right there!”

“Gasp!”

Where did father get such stamina? 

His eyes burned with something beyond anger.

Startled, Lena grabbed Alhendore’s hand and ran even faster.