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Chapter 3
“Ah! Ow, ow!”
Noah could only scream in pain at her younger sister’s heartfelt scolding.
“What did Grandma say before she left?”
Clare huffed furiously. Her little palm was as red as it was firm.
“She told you again and again to stay away from men, alcohol, and gambling! And you—how could you marry some strange man?”
And on top of that, over a bet?
“You got married because you lost a bet?”
Dragging out her words in a mocking tone, Clare spoke like a seasoned mother who had already raised three sons.
Reto, who was watching from the side with amusement, couldn’t help but admire her inwardly. She was remarkably smart and sharp for her age.
“You—you’re such a tiny thing, and there’s nothing you don’t say…!”
Noah mumbled in a shrinking voice.
It was humiliating enough to be scolded by her little sister in front of that damned mad dog, but even worse was the fact that she had no defense.
“If you were better than a tiny thing, we wouldn’t be in this mess to begin with!”
But such weak protests couldn’t possibly put out the fiery anger of a little sister burning with love for her big sister.
As Clare’s relentless lecture resumed, As, who had brought drinks, cautiously spoke up.
“What you said earlier… was it really true?”
“Yes.”
Reto answered without even sparing a glance at As, who was staring intently at him. The ice cubes in the glass clinked together softly.
“It’s true.”
“Please don’t speak informally to As.”
“Yeah! Don’t talk down to our As!”
Noah and Clare butted in at once.
“As is my sister. Please don’t speak to her so casually.”
Noah, finally managing to shake off Clare’s hand tugging at her ear, spoke firmly. Reto squinted one eye.
“Hm, but she is dressed like a maid, isn’t she?”
It was a fair observation.
As looked exactly like the model image of a maid.
Her hair neatly tied up, a dark blue dress that wouldn’t show stains, and a yellowish apron.
The only odd thing was that the dress itself was made from a surprisingly expensive fabric. Even Reto, who didn’t know much about textiles, could tell at a glance it was valuable.
“Even so, it doesn’t matter. As is my family.”
“That’s right! As is my sister.”
Clare ran right to As’s side.
“Ah, I don’t mind….”
Embarrassed, As blushed and stammered.
“Hm.”
After a moment of thought, Reto nodded.
“Then I’ll call her sister-in-law.”
“Don’t you dare!”
Noah shouted.
“What kind of twisted nonsense is this?”
Since things had come this far, Noah decided to ask directly. She could no longer hold back her anger—it burst out at last.
“Just how much do you hate me, General? No matter how I think of it, I can’t understand. If anything, I’ve done well, haven’t I—”
“Yes.”
Reto admitted easily.
“You’re a very capable and exemplary soldier.”
In less than two years after graduating from the academy, Noah had risen to the rank of captain.
That single sentence was enough to sum up her skill and achievements.
“Your upright nature and inability to tolerate injustice naturally put you at odds with the rotten fish above….”
“And what does that have to do with you—”
“That’s why I fell for you.”
The sudden confession was plain and simple.
But his voice, deeper and more serious than ever, and those unwavering crimson eyes pierced straight into Noah.
“I know I’ve got a rotten temper.”
Reto openly acknowledged his flaws.
“I enjoy tormenting others, my hobby is mocking people, and I stay in the army because I get a kick out of ridiculing the higher-ups….”
“Shouldn’t someone like that just live alone?”
Clare whispered to As.
“I know what that’s called! Riri’s mom taught me—that kind of man is called ‘trash’!”
“Shh, hush!”
As pressed a finger to her lips, asking her to be quiet.
Clare pouted, but quieted down—for now.
Luckily, the broken confession picked up again.
Even in her bewilderment, Noah noticed that Reto seemed rather impressed by Clare’s wit and boldness.
“Because of who I am, my eyes naturally fell on you. Watching someone so upright and dazzling only made me painfully aware of how lowly I was.”
“That sounds more like a confession at church, not a love confession.”
“Young miss, please…”
At last, As ushered Clare outside.
“…Your sister-in-law has quite the sharp tongue.”
“My sister is not your sister-in-law, General.”
After snapping at him not to call her that again, Noah let out a long, heavy sigh.
One hand on her waist, the other rubbing her face repeatedly, she finally spoke.
“General.”
“Are you serious?”
Noticing her calmer tone, Reto tilted his head.
“Does it sound false?”
“Yes.”
“Very honest.”
At her blunt reply, Reto burst into laughter.
“No matter what else, I’m not the kind of scum who’d play a cruel joke with someone’s feelings.”
“That’s true.”
Noah answered right away.
That was the Reto she knew.
He might sneer openly at people he disliked, but he wasn’t the sort to toy with someone’s heart.
And yet…
That man… likes me?
Noah found it hard to believe.
The confession had come far too late.
And besides—who proposes or confesses love as part of a stupid bet?
Regardless of sincerity, there was no trust in such a confession.
“…I refuse your confession.”
Noah spoke firmly.
“I appreciate your kind view of me, but I’ve never once seen you in that way…”
“Really?”
Reto suddenly leaned in close, smiling with his eyes.
“You shouldn’t lie.”
His finger lifted, pointing to the tip of her right eyebrow.
Though it didn’t touch, Noah flinched as if it had.
“When you lie or say something you don’t mean, your eyebrow twitches.”
“……”
“That’s why you always lost when we played cards.”
His finger quickly dropped away.
“Did you really think I wouldn’t notice your habits? I’ve watched you closer than anyone.”
Noah’s face turned redder than strawberry syrup.
“Hey, mister!”
Just as Reto was about to get into his car, Clare blocked his path with arms crossed.
“…I thought so earlier.”
Closing the half-open car door, Reto crouched down to meet her eyes.
Her deep blue eyes sparkled, and her round cheeks looked adorably plump from good food and sleep.
Especially that wary attitude toward him—it was admirable.
Was Noah like this as a child too?
Reto found himself imagining her younger days. His lips curled without realizing.
“You really talk like a grown-up, sister-in-law.”
“Are you teasing me for sounding old?”
Clare narrowed her blue eyes.
“It’s a compliment. Your vocabulary is impressive, and your way with words is remarkable.”
“But still, speaking informally to me on our first meeting—that’s rude, isn’t it?”
“You’re right, Miss Sister-in-law.”
“You’re not even dating my sister. Don’t call me that.”
Reto quickly pressed his lips together to keep from laughing.
It seemed not even the notorious mad dog could win against this little lady. In his heart, he had already surrendered.
“Then what should I call you?”
“My name is Clare Velo.”
She gave a small curtsey and held out her tiny hand.
Reto bent one knee, then pretended to kiss the back of her hand.
“Pleased to meet you, Miss Velo.”
“You’re very polite.”
“I studied hard for today.”
At his words, Clare beamed, her plump cheeks pushing up adorably under her eyes. Reto couldn’t help but smile back.
“Do you like my sister?”
Clare asked bluntly.
“Hmm…”
Reto was caught off guard by such a direct question.
“…Probably?”
Clare’s eyes widened in disapproval.
“Grandma said any man who can’t even admit his own feelings should be dumped immediately.”
“Your grandmother is a wise woman.”
After a brief pause, Reto steadied his breath and said, as though making a decision:
“The truth is—I like her very much.”
“Kyaaa!” Clare squealed, covering her cheeks with both hands.
“How much? How much do you like my sister?”
“That’s a secret.”
“Aw, if you want me to help you, you have to tell me!”
“Still a secret.”
“You’re stingy!”
Clare puffed out her cheeks in a pout.
Reto poked one gently, and like air leaving a balloon, it deflated. A tiny tongue poked out between her lips.
“Hahaha!”
Caught off guard by the cuteness, Reto shook with laughter.
“Ah, Miss Clare, I might end up falling for you too.”
“Grandma said men who like little girls either get killed or have their limbs cut off!”
“…Where is your grandmother now?”
“She went to work on a ship. She’ll be back later.”
A sailor? Reto nodded in understanding.
“But you know…”
By now, Clare’s wariness had completely vanished.
She liked that he didn’t treat her like a little child, and above all—he was handsome. Honestly, the handsomeness made everything better.
“If you liked my sister, you should’ve been nice to her. Why did you always bully her?”
“I didn’t bully her that much.”
“But whenever she came home from work, she always cursed you.”
Clare recalled the nights her sister returned drunk.
“‘That mad dog bastard! I’ll strip the flesh off his bones and sink him into the sea!’”
“Little lady! She can hear you!”
“Ugh, you smell like alcohol…”
Even on sober days, she muttered things like, “That damn mad dog, I’ll kill him…” Clare remembered it all.
“If you like her, you should treat her well! These days, even kids know that bullying someone you like is….”
Clare launched into a stream of nagging.
“Noah…”
Reto lowered his head, one hand rubbing at the corner of his mouth. A heavy sigh escaped.
So she really did curse me…
Through his silver hair, his ears flushed with embarrassment.
