Chapter 69

“Wait. What are you talking about? Why would I abandon you?”

She looked at Eched with an expression of disbelief. Then, just like Eched earlier, her lips clamped shut.

The once stiff contract in Eched’s hand crumpled weakly. His eyes, staring down at her, gleamed.

It was an obsessive gaze. She had seen it once before—the day she realized that Eched’s demeanor had shifted. It was the same ominous feeling as that day.

The silver-gray eyes, already tainted with obsession, burned darker and darker. The closer his silver eyes turned to black, the more intense his anger became.

‘This is… dangerous….’

Realizing the danger instinctively, she tightly gripped Eched’s hand. However, the miracle of his gaze returning to its original color did not occur.

“Don’t leave me. Say you’ll stay by my side forever.”

She gasped.

What could possibly frighten Eched so much that he wore such a terrifying expression?

Even as he struggled to control his rage, there was a pitiful vulnerability in his eyes, like a child afraid of being abandoned.

“It’s a misunderstanding. I’m not leaving.”

At times like this, it was crucial not to stammer but to convey her thoughts clearly.

She locked eyes with Eched, as if telling him to abandon his misunderstanding and listen carefully to her words.

“This house is for investment purposes.”

“……”

“Of course, at first, I asked someone to find land because I was considering living there myself. But things have changed a lot since then, haven’t they? I no longer have any reason to live alone. Isn’t that right? When did I make that request?”

“F-Five months ago!”

The broker, quick-witted from dealing with many nobles, promptly shouted.

Satisfied with the response, she shrugged her shoulders at Eched as if to say, “See?”

She urged the broker to speak up. To spill the words he had said to her earlier.

The broker obediently repeated what he had told her earlier, leaving out the part about how it was a good place to live even for someone living alone. Instead, he focused on how it was a promising investment opportunity.

“And I promised, didn’t I? Why not trust me for once? Am I that unreliable?”

At this, Eched looked utterly flustered.

Come to think of it, it was annoying. She had sworn to Eched that day that she would never leave without a word.

But he kept doubting her like this, leaving her no room to feel good about it.

‘The more I think about it, the angrier I get.’

The situation shifted. Now, it was she who felt anger, while Eched looked strangely flustered.

Eched, flustered…

It was a word that didn’t suit him at all, but she had no time to marvel at the sight of him in such a state.

She made it clear that she was thoroughly displeased.

“So, how long are you planning to hold onto that contract?”

At her cold tone, Eched placed the contract back on the table.

Without hesitation, she pressed her finger against the spot where her name was written and stamped it.

“I’ll write you a letter. You can go to the Arturito Merchant Guild to collect the payment.”

“Yes.”

The broker, clutching the contract, quickly stood up and practically fled the room.

After wiping her finger with a prepared handkerchief, she also rose from her seat. Eched, however, remained frozen in place, as if turned to stone.

“Are you still standing there? Go do your work, Commander.”

She deliberately brushed past his arm as she walked away. Eched, seemingly unable to muster the courage to stop her, did not grab her again.

***

“It’s not like they reconciled… but it wasn’t exactly a fight either.”

“Did he get scolded?”

“The Commander? Why? Isn’t it the Chief avoiding him?”

The knights were utterly baffled. Lately, the question “Why?” seemed to linger on their lips constantly.

“Whatever the case, it’s clear the Commander is feeling down.”

They barely managed to suppress a sigh as they looked at Eched, slumped on the floor.

Sitting there so pitifully, he resembled an old man who had just been stood up.

“Could it be… divorce…?”

“Don’t even say such unlucky things.”

The knight who made the comment was promptly smacked by another and retreated.

Regardless, their superior’s mood swings were a sensitive matter for the knights.

Unable to approach him, they simply groaned inwardly, watching their Commander drift aimlessly like a ship lost at sea.

“This is better than last week, at least…”

They recalled the so-called “training” from last week, which was nothing short of one-sided beatings. The knights, unable to withstand the Commander’s sparring, shuddered at the memory of the pain.

“Last week, our bodies suffered. This week, it’s our minds.”

The knights all sighed in unison, then turned their gazes toward Lutz.

They were truly in sync, as if they were perfect partners.

Lutz pretended not to notice the stares directed at him.

His cheeks prickled under their gaze, and the back of his head burned so much it was impossible to ignore.

Eventually, Lutz responded to their silent plea. He sheathed the sword he had been holding with a slightly irritable motion and turned to face the knights.

No words were exchanged, but Lutz instantly understood the meaning behind their looks.

‘Why did you go to resolve the situation, only to make it worse?’ That’s what their accusing eyes seemed to say.

“Is this really my fault…?”

Lutz felt wronged. That day, it genuinely hadn’t been possible to discuss Eched with Shaterian.

Surely, none of them could have shamelessly said, “Commander and the Chief aren’t getting along, and we’re suffering for it. Please do something.”

Lutz ran a frustrated hand through his hair. The knights continued to stare at him with pitiful, pleading eyes, urging him to resolve the issue.

‘I want to quit.’

Was today the day I finally submitted the resignation letter I always carried in my heart?

Though perpetually overworked, Lutz knew it was hard to find a job that offered such good benefits.

Of course, being affiliated with the Imperial 1st Knight Order would make him highly sought after, but…

Despite his current state, the Commander was objectively an excellent superior.

He handled most of the troublesome tasks himself and delegated appropriately to his subordinates.

Though he lacked social skills, respect for human dignity, and empathy, he was still highly competent, making him tolerable as a boss.

Moreover, unlike most nobles, he didn’t look down on commoners. As a commoner himself, Lutz greatly appreciated this trait in his Commander.

In any case, as the Deputy Commander and aide to the Commander of the Imperial 1st Knight Order, Lutz had a duty to resolve this situation.

Lutz could now empathize with the feeling of a pig being dragged to a slaughterhouse. He stood before the door of the Grievance Counseling Office, unable to bring himself to open it, staring at the doorknob for a long time.

After much deliberation, he finally opened the door.

The staff, busy processing paperwork, looked up.

Lutz spoke resolutely.

“Can I… receive counseling?”

***

“Counseling?”

The sudden word made her blink.

Lutz’s determined expression suggested he had a significant concern.

Coincidentally, the last scheduled session had just ended, leaving the counseling office empty. Unable to refuse, she led Lutz into the office.

She placed a cup of tea in front of him and sat across from him.

Lutz, his hands clasped together, stared silently at the steaming teacup as if carefully choosing his words.

This was a common occurrence at the start of counseling sessions.

Most people hesitated like this before opening up about their problems.

What could be troubling him so much that he was taking this long to speak?

“Take your time. Share when you’re ready.”

Lutz let out a short sigh. Then, as if he had finally decided to speak, he opened his mouth heavily.

“My workplace superior has been making my life difficult lately.”

“……”

The weight of his words hit her like a hammer. She stared blankly at Lutz, who had just voiced his concern.

“Well…”

If Lutz’s superior was anyone, it had to be Eched. 

Was it okay to ask “Why?” at this point? 

She suddenly felt conflicted.

Sitting face-to-face with him as counselor and client, she decided it was better to feign ignorance and refrained from mentioning his name.

“Your superior is… bothering you?”

Even as she said it, she found it hard to believe. That Eched would harass his subordinate…

“Yes.”

What surprised her most was that Lutz, with no trace of deceit, sincerely affirmed her question.

She let out a groan and took a sip of tea to soothe her parched throat.

“In what way…?”

“He wasn’t like this before, but… he’s taking out his personal emotions on his subordinates.”

At this point, she wanted to grab Lutz and ask if he was joking. Her unfocused eyes darted around in disbelief.

Eventually, she gave up, letting out a long sigh and leaning back against the sofa.

“Eched? Why?”

Forget professionalism; she couldn’t ignore her curiosity.

“His mood has been erratic lately. The knights are walking on eggshells.”

It was true that Eched’s mood had been volatile. Last week, he seemed upset, but this week, he was subdued, as if trying to avoid her.

“But he’s not the type to take it out on the knights, is he?”

“What subordinate wouldn’t be affected by their superior’s mood?”

“That’s true.”

“And it’s not like he doesn’t take it out on us. Last week, he swung his sword mercilessly under the pretense of training. This week, he’s been sitting in the training grounds all day with a gloomy face, which is mentally exhausting for the knights.”

“Is that where he’s been? Why?”

“When I asked casually, he said that you get annoyed just by seeing his face. So, he’s trying not to show himself.”

He probably didn’t realize that this only made things worse.

She sighed.

“In any case, the Commander’s mood has turned the entire knight order into a minefield. So…”

Lutz took a deep breath before continuing.

“Could you please forgive the Commander just this once?”