1.5

Pavel’s daily routine didn’t change much, even after he began dating Larisa. He woke up early in the morning and headed to the Kingdom’s Knights. Training, paperwork, more training—everything remained the same.

That is, until a week after meeting Larisa, when she unexpectedly appeared at the knights’ headquarters.

The sharp sunlight before noon pierced through the window, brightly illuminating the commander’s office. The silence was so profound that even the sound of dust floating in the air seemed audible, interrupted only occasionally by the shouts of knights training outside.

Pavel was reviewing documents in the commander’s office. The paperwork concerning the supply of essential goods for the order was a matter of great importance, so he meticulously checked for any discrepancies.

During this time, no one usually entered his office unless it was something extremely urgent. Elio, standing by his side, merely waited and answered any questions Pavel asked.

It was when Pavel turned a page of the document with a faint rustling sound.

Knock, knock.

Both Pavel and Elio turned their gazes toward the door at the same time.

Who could it be at this hour? 

Pavel’s brow instantly furrowed. Elio, looking uneasy, walked toward the door. 

Could it really be something so urgent? 

None of the knights ever came to see Pavel at this time.

“What is it…?”

Elio opened the door and peeked outside but froze before he could finish his sentence.

Pavel narrowed his eyes as he watched Elio’s stiffened back. 

If the visitor had left Elio so flustered and speechless, could it be the Crown Prince? Or perhaps even the King himself? 

With such thoughts, Pavel rose from his seat.

Elio quickly turned his head and stammered, 

“C-Commander, um, you have a visitor…”

A visitor?

If it were the Crown Prince or the King, Elio would never use the word “visitor.” There wasn’t even time to ask who it was. Elio, still stammering, stepped aside, and the door swung wide open. Pavel, about to reprimand the rude intruder, froze in place with his mouth slightly open.

Standing there was someone who didn’t match the atmosphere of the knights’ headquarters at all—radiant and out of place.

“Hello, Sir Pavel.”

Larisa greeted him with a bright smile and a small wave.

Today, Larisa looked nothing short of angelic. Her light yellow dress was charming, and the small white flowers woven into her braided hair added to her radiance. She looked lovely and adorable.

However, perhaps due to the tightly cinched corset, her chest appeared slightly lifted, giving her an unexpectedly provocative allure despite her innocent appearance.

Larisa tucked the parasol she was holding under her arm and tilted her head as she asked, 

“Do you have time? May I come in?”

Elio, still wearing a dumbfounded expression, hesitated before stepping back. Then, he shot Pavel an intense look as if to say, ‘Answer her quickly! Quickly!’

It was clearly a time meant for the knights’ work. There wasn’t any spare time to dedicate to other matters. And yet… Pavel cleared his throat once and addressed Elio.

“Could you step out for a moment, Sir Cullinan? I need to have a word with Miss Lochrain.”

“Understood, Commander!”

Elio, for some reason, looked unusually cheerful as he stepped aside. “Thank you,” Larisa said with a smile as she addressed Elio and took a step into the commander’s office. The room suddenly felt brighter.

Pavel found himself annoyed at the sight of Elio grinning foolishly at Larisa. Then, startled by his own thoughts, he flinched. 

Why was I feeling so agitated just because Larisa had smiled at someone else?

Standing behind Larisa, Elio silently clenched his fist in a gesture of encouragement toward Pavel before quietly closing the door and leaving. Now alone in the office with Larisa, Pavel scratched the corner of his brow and approached her.

Taking her hand lightly, he kissed the back of it and asked, 

“What brings you to such a rough place? If you had sent word, I would have come to you immediately.”

“Were you planning to just never meet me unless I called for you? Do you not want to see me?”

“How could that be? It’s just…”

“Hmm, I’m very disappointed. I waited an entire week, and here I am, forced to come all the way here. What will people say if they find out? That I, Larisa Lochrain, was so desperate that I came to the Kingdom’s Knights just to see you, Sir Ainsley?”

“Who would dare to say such disrespectful things?”

“It’s all your fault, Pavel.”

Pavel was at a loss for words in the face of Larisa’s reproach. In truth, this was his first time with a woman, so he had no idea what he was supposed to do. 

Should I have contacted her first? Was it appropriate to visit her?

He had no clue what was right or wrong.

Larisa, watching Pavel squirm uncomfortably, chuckled softly and said, 

“I’ll forgive you this time. Besides, it’s nice to get a look around the knights’ headquarters.”

“Thank you.”

“But you’ll have to make up for leaving me bored for an entire week.”

“What can I do for you?”

Eager to do whatever Larisa wanted, Pavel asked with determination. In response, Larisa, with a mischievous look, gestured toward his chair with her eyes.

“Can I sit there?”

It was just a chair, after all. Pavel led her to his desk, guiding her hand. Larisa sat in his large, plush chair, looking satisfied as she ran her hands over the armrests and examined the desk.

“You were working, weren’t you?”

“I always handle the knights’ paperwork at this time.”

“Hmm, can I take a look?”

“There’s nothing special in them. Nothing confidential.”

Larisa flipped through the papers, gathering them into a neat stack before sliding them to the side. Then, she pushed the chair back, creating some space between herself and the desk. She bit her lip and smiled, her eyes curving into a playful expression.

For some reason, that smile made Pavel’s heart pound.

“Pavel.”

“Yes, Larisa.”

“Lean against the desk here and look at me.”

Though he couldn’t guess what she was thinking, Pavel obediently did as Larisa instructed. The two were now facing each other. Larisa, seated in the chair, looked up at Pavel, while Pavel, perched on the desk, gazed down at her.

He felt as though his palms were sweating. His mouth felt dry. For some reason, he wanted to avoid Larisa’s penetrating gaze. Her eyes sparkled with an unreadable light.

But Pavel swallowed hard and remained still, allowing Larisa to observe him as much as she liked.

Larisa, clearly pleased, slowly scanned Pavel from head to toe. His neatly combed hair revealed a smooth forehead, and his handsome face, slightly flushed with embarrassment, was a sight to behold.

And, as she had thought before, the knights’ uniform was simply too provocative. The modest and disciplined design of the uniform was meant to conceal the well-toned physique honed through rigorous training. But the tailored fit only accentuated his broad shoulders, slender waist, and firm thighs.

Imagining the sculpted body hidden beneath the uniform made her cheeks flush with warmth.

“Why don’t you take off your jacket?”

“…Sorry?”

“Take it off, the jacket.”

“Why are you suddenly asking me to undress?”

Pavel instinctively glanced toward the door. He had an intuitive sense of what Larisa’s request might lead to. Noticing his gaze, Larisa let out a burst of laughter.

“What’s wrong? Are you scared someone might come in?”

She stretched out her arm and placed her hand on Pavel’s thigh. Her well-manicured nails slowly grazed over the pristine white fabric of his trousers. Pavel inhaled sharply, the sound escaping his lips, as his ears flushed bright red.

“Hurry, take it off. I want to see it now.”

Her eyes seemed to ask, ‘Didn’t you say you’d do anything I wanted?’ Faced with that gaze, Pavel found himself unable to refuse.

With trembling hands, he began unbuttoning his jacket, one button at a time. It was just a jacket—nothing more. 

Why was I so nervous? 

He scolded himself as he carefully removed the jacket and placed it neatly on the desk.

But Larisa wasn’t finished.

“Undo the buttons on your shirt too.”

“Larisa, but here… What if someone comes in?”

“No one will come in. Didn’t you say no one comes here at this hour? Besides, I said I want to see.”

What should I do? 

Pavel bit his lip, his face still flushed red.

This was a place of utmost propriety. The idea of revealing his bare body here had never even crossed his mind. After training, he would wash up and change into clean clothes before solemnly attending to his duties. 

And yet, here he was, in front of the lady he admired, removing his clothes piece by piece. The situation left him utterly bewildered.

Larisa, watching the large man awkwardly fumble with her request, couldn’t help but feel amused. 

A man who didn’t know what to do—meaning he was consumed by the thought that he had to comply with her demand—was utterly endearing.

No, was “endearing” the right word? Perhaps it was closer to the feeling of having a delightful toy she could control at will.

Of course, Pavel might feel hurt if he knew. But after all, it was his side that had proposed they date, even if it was just a façade. And he was the one who agreed to her demands. So Larisa felt there was no room for complaints.