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Chapter 6
“Impossible!”
Noah burst out, shouting. Not once had she ever thought of using such a despicable means.
On the contrary, she had been excluded from promotion lists several times precisely because of her close association with Reto.
“The last promotion was an opportunity I earned with my own strength!”
Being called an outstanding genius or whatnot meant nothing in the special institution called the military.
If anything, those titles were just useless labels that turned into poison.
“How can you see me like that…!”
That’s why Noah worked several times harder than others, desperately piling up achievements to reach this point.
And this promotion had been especially important.
When one is promoted to major, the military bestows a ceremonial sword. Rumor had it that the sword for this round of promotions was a treasure belonging to one of the Empire’s noble families.
Finally, the chance had come just in time—and then that man in front of her ruined everything.
The person she trusted most.
The one she may even have truly loved.
And he brazenly took away the very swords she had longed for.
“…And that’s what happened.”
Panting in anger, Noah forced herself to take a breath. Only after brushing her bangs back did she manage to calm her emotions.
“What’s the point now?”
The promotion review was already over, and the sword was in Reto’s hands.
‘Well… better him than some stranger.’
Noah tried to think positively, at least. At least Reto would understand the value of such swords and wouldn’t treat them carelessly…
…Would he?
Suddenly, a chill ran down her spine.
That slick, carefree man who lived however he pleased—there was no way he’d properly treasure those precious swords.
Damn it. With growing unease, Noah ruffled her hair.
If she was lucky, maybe he’d just shove them in a wooden crate and forget them in storage. But knowing him, he might actually use one to pop open a bottle!
“Then I’ll give it to you.”
Noah blinked.
“I’ll give you the sword.”
She thought she had misheard—but no, the words rang out clearly again.
Noah spun around. Her eyes met Reto’s. He had been watching only her from the beginning, his deep red eyes gripping her steps as if refusing to let her go.
“I told you yesterday too. That sword—I’ll give it to you.”
But you ran away and tossed it aside yesterday.
“…”
Noah’s face went pale.
“My sword!”
She belatedly patted her waist, but of course, the sword she had completely forgotten about wasn’t there.
Collapsing to her knees, Noah despaired.
“You idiot!”
“Not that much of an idiot.”
“Up you go.”
Reto easily lifted her and sat her on the table, blocking her escape with his arms.
“I don’t know why you’re so crazy about that sword…”
“…”
“…But if you marry me, I’ll give it to you. As a dowry.”
“…Excuse me?”
Noah pressed her forehead with one hand. Her head was starting to ache.
“What on earth are you thinking?”
The sword aside, she needed to know why he had suddenly latched onto marriage.
“Why are you suddenly forcing this marriage thing since yesterday?”
“Because I want to marry you.”
Reto’s answer was firm.
“…What?”
“Marriage.”
“Oh.”
What else would he mean? Reto tilted his head innocently, and Noah, her face red, shouted back at him in frustration.
He chuckled, then confessed more seriously.
“I may not even count as human, but the only one who can guide me at all… is you.”
At least he knew.
But even faced with his heartfelt confession, Noah remained cold.
After all, thanks to this bastard, she had suffered countless times.
As a superior, he was a failure. As a lover, even worse.
“You’re the one who said you had no intention of ever marrying.”
They had shared some heated moments in the past.
Back then, he had repeated over and over that he would never marry.
He even said he didn’t like the idea of dating anyone.
So Noah had never told him she loved him. And he never said it either.
But the feelings they had for each other were real.
‘That’s what made it so hard.’
A wall existed.
A high, thick, merciless wall between them.
“I’m angry with you, General.”
Noah lightly pushed at his arms that seemed to cage her in. To her surprise, those taut muscles gave way easily.
“But more than that…”
Noah climbed down from the table and glared at him.
“…I want the sword.”
“Will you marry me, then?”
“The sword first.”
She held out her hand.
“Give me the sword first.”
“Should we split the sword during our wedding vows, as a token?”
“If I can use that sword to cut you down, I’ll gladly do it.”
“You want to wear a red dress? How fitting, my bride…”
“Have you finally lost your mind, General?”
“My eyes are red too. Did you choose the dress for me?”
“If it’ll be dyed in your blood, sure.”
“Then I’ll start saving a drop each day.”
“No need. I’ll kill you all at once.”
“Noah, you’re so fiery and intense…! Save that for the bedroom!”
“Just die on our wedding night.”
“Then bury us in a couple’s grave. I’ll wait for you. How about at sea?”
“I prefer a proper burial.”
On their way home from work—
“You’re really insane…”
Noah shuddered, replaying his words in her head.
Why had she ever gotten involved with someone like him?
No matter how much she thought about it, she could only blame his face and body. Nothing else about him made sense.
“…”
Beside her, Ami’s stare was icy.
“You’re weird too.”
“…Why me?”
Noah blinked innocently.
“Were you serious? About all that?”
Ami scoffed, shaking her head quickly.
“As your friend, let me be clear: you’re not exactly sane either. You and the General—madness is your baseline. The only difference is whether common sense is sprinkled on top.”
“In other words: you’re a mad dog with common sense. The General’s just a mad dog, period. Got it?”
“Lieutenant, bow your head.”
“You only pull rank when you’re annoyed!”
Ugh, how can anyone work like this?
Still grumbling, Ami lowered her head to the ground.
“Anyway, about what happened earlier…”
Four seconds later, she stood back up, fixing her messy hair.
“When an ex comes crawling back with regrets and a proposal, any sane person would tell them to get lost.”
“That’s why I told him to get lost.”
“In what world is that telling him to get lost?!”
Ami shouted in exasperation. Then she pointed out the glaring problem in Noah’s conversation with Reto.
“You were just sitting there bantering with him! Like some happy couple joking around!”
“What are you talking about? I put up a wall.”
“The wall you put up wouldn’t even stop a fart! And why didn’t you object when he said he wanted to be buried next to you someday?”
“Because what happens after death isn’t my concern.”
“Genius, prodigy… yeah right.”
They were just extraordinary idiots.
Ami clicked her tongue and walked toward a parked car.
A tiny, cutesy black compact beeped.
“My darling baby!”
You’re the reason I endure!
Ami rubbed her cheek against the car and sniffled.
“What do you think? My first magic-powered car!”
“Not bad. Four-seater?”
“Technically, but the backseat’s so cramped it’s really only good for two.”
“That’s just how compacts are.”
Seated in the passenger seat, Noah noticed the built-in radio.
“I’ve been thinking of buying a car myself lately.”
“Forget it. Just hitch rides in the General’s car.”
“…Hey.”
“What?”
Noah glared, but Ami just snorted and started the engine.
“Mark my words, you’ll be married in a few months.”
“I said I’m not getting married!”
“That’s exactly what people who marry first always say.”
Throw me your bouquet.
The little car revved and pulled out, heading toward the city.
Tonight, they were having dinner at Noah’s place.
“But why do you think the General interfered with your promotion?”
“How should I know.”
Tch. Noah clicked her tongue loudly.
‘…What do I do?’
But inside, she was more conflicted than ever.
She desperately needed the swords Reto had taken. That was why she had gone this far.
But marrying for them—that wounded her pride.
‘No, it’s more than that…’
There was a deeper, more fundamental problem.
The next morning.
Clare, dressed in her school uniform, sat at her desk before leaving for school, writing a letter.
It was addressed to her grandmother, who was working at sea.
The pencil in her plump little hand wobbled across the page in her childish scrawl.
“…All done!”
Satisfied, she let out a happy sigh and read over her letter.
To Grandma, with both hands.
Grandma, how are you? Are you earning lots of money? The house is a mess right now.
Big sis almost quit the military because she’s going to marry the man she used to date.
I heard on the radio that it’s better not to go back to an ex. I’ve never been in love, but I think the same.
But Sis is too obsessed with looks, so I think she’s going to go after him.
I’m working really hard to protect the family in your place, Grandma, but it’s not easy.
I’ll head to school now. Work hard too, Grandma! Don’t forget to buy me a present when you come home. Love you! Kisses!
At the bottom, there was a postscript.
P.S. Brother still hasn’t come home. So the tranquilizer you gave us to use on him is still here. Sis tried to throw it out because it’s past the expiration date, but As said that guy’s tough enough it’ll still work fine. Do you think it’s safe to use?
Clare’s face was full of pride as she read her letter through to the end.
