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Chapter 25
Colonel Plancy was famous for being devoted to his family.
Unlike Sir Delat, he was a man faithful to his household, earning widespread praise even within the military.
It was no wonder he was deeply shocked by the betrayal of the family he trusted.
“The residence we were staying in is also provided by the navy, so we need to vacate it soon.”
On top of that, Colonel Plancy would have to compensate for various damages, including embezzlement charges he had committed.
“…It’s truly unfortunate,”
Noah said sincerely, expressing genuine sympathy.
Reto, too, rarely showed his regrets.
“In a sense, they are the real victims of this incident.”
Thus, their short break came to an end.
Yet the two of them still hadn’t left the break room.
“Do you have something to say?”
Noah turned on the sink and filled an empty mug with water. As the clear stream mixed with coffee residue, the water slowly turned murky.
“I just wanted to be with you.”
“…….”
“Was I too honest?”
“…Yes.”
A large arm emerged behind Noah. With the sink’s tap closed, Reto cleaned the wet cup in her stead.
Then, he gently wiped Noah’s wet hands with a handkerchief.
The touch carried no selfish intention—every movement was careful, deliberate. Entranced, Noah watched him.
Every brush of the soft handkerchief across her fingers sent a tingling warmth through her chest.
‘Ah, I tied my hair back…’
A brief worry flickered that her ears might turn red.
“You’ve got hardworking hands too, Captain.”
Even after the moisture had disappeared, Reto continued to tenderly wipe and caress Noah’s fingers with the handkerchief.
“It’s natural for a soldier.”
Noah didn’t bother to retract her hand.
“When did the scar on your left ring finger appear?”
“It happened during training when I was a cadet.”
“Did it hurt?”
“Not that much……”
Noah’s eyes widened as she tried to respond.
Over the faint scar on her finger, Reto slowly pressed his lips.
It was a deliberate, slow, and careful movement, so vivid she could feel the pressure of his lips against her skin.
“…It seems it did hurt.”
She could feel his lips tracing a gentle curve along her finger.
Flustered, Noah darted her eyes around.
The warmth from his breath on her finger felt inexplicably embarrassing.
“Noah.”
Reto lowered her hand to his face after pulling away his lips.
“You are more than I deserve.”
Leaning his face into her palm, Reto’s eyes narrowed.
Even partially visible, his red eyes shone like the most beautiful rubies in the world.
“I had many words prepared… but when it comes to it, they just won’t come out.”
“Isn’t it more about the place?”
The shabby break room had as much charm as a squeezed dishcloth.
Used coffee filters piled up in the corner trash can, military-issued snacks unsuitable for the soldiers’ tastes lined the shelves, and a mop, dyed gray with old stains, leaned against the window.
“Actually, I reserved dinner for us this weekend.”
“Then why didn’t you just wait?”
“I tried to… but……”
Reto hesitated briefly, then spoke as if surrendering.
“…This was unavoidable.”
Even Reto couldn’t understand it himself.
They were just sipping cheap coffee in a cramped, shabby break room, exchanging boring work-related small talk.
Why did he feel certain he would remember this moment for the rest of his life?
The answer came immediately.
No, it had been there all along.
“Noah Velo.”
Reto knelt on one knee, lowering his body.
Her round, blue eyes reflected him clearly.
The sight of his nervous sincerity masked with a calm smile.
“I know my personality well.”
He wasn’t a good person, even in idle words.
“I will surely trouble you. You’ll nag, and I may make you sad, just like last time.”
Instead of a tempting promise of a shared future, it sounded more like a child’s apology for a minor mischief.
“But if you guide me and correct me, I’ll try never to repeat such mistakes again.”
A faint pain ran through her left ring finger.
Noah flinched, and Reto obediently pulled back his lips.
Where his lips had been, a faint imprint remained on the scar.
“I have no ring now, and this isn’t a grand building.”
“….”
“…This is the worst proposal, isn’t it?”
Even he thought it was absurd. Even if she rejected him immediately, he had no defense.
Yet Reto decided to trust Noah a little more, as she hadn’t pulled away from his hand.
The precious person who had endured him repeatedly.
“I am such a lacking person… but……”
Still, just this once more.
A faint tremor accompanied his sincere voice.
“Will you marry me?”
The solemn proposal quieted the break room.
A spine-chilling silence pressed on Reto’s chest, tightening it little by little.
Unable to face the speechless Noah, he lowered his head again, afraid even the hand he held might slip from sweat.
“…Just one question.”
A calm voice broke the silence.
When Reto lifted his head, he met Noah’s usual, unchanged expression.
The composure she showed in response to his confession impressed him, and secretly, he was afraid.
What if, being so late, his confession didn’t touch her heart?
‘I should’ve waited until the weekend…’
“Why couldn’t you wait until the weekend?”
Noah’s question hit the exact concern Reto had feared.
“Because I was happy.”
Reto spoke honestly.
“The moment I drank coffee with you earlier—I was so happy I nearly cried. I’ll remember this moment even on my last day.”
Then he realized.
“You made my dull life shine.”
“….”
“I want to be a brilliant moment in your life too.”
Reto kissed her left ring finger again.
The kiss, heavier than before, was both sacred and aching.
“Saying I love you feels clichéd. You make me exist.”
Reto pulled away and gave an awkward smile.
“…Was it still insufficient?”
“…Not at all.”
Noah, who had been silent, finally spoke.
“Reto.”
Letting go of his hand, Noah knelt on one knee as well.
“Reto Oceanus.”
This time, Noah took Reto’s left hand and kissed it, mirroring what he had done moments before.
Reto squinted one eye when her teeth gently grazed his finger. Noah then pulled back her lips.
“…You have some selfish motives, huh?”
Seeing the faint bite mark on his finger, Reto’s face displayed a sweet smile.
“I just released some pent-up grudges.”
Noah gazed at her finger marked by him, feeling quite satisfied.
“That’s pretty thrilling.”
“Finally sharing my taste, huh? Thrilling, isn’t it?”
“You just proposed, remember?”
“Then now you have to scold me.”
“Your mouth is the problem, you…!”
Noah slapped Reto’s lips with her palm.
Though it stung, Reto only smiled happily.
Even exhausted from slapping, Noah laughed along lightly.
“What can you do……”
The two, kneeling reverently toward each other, were experiencing the happiest moment in the world.
“I’m the fool who fell in love.”
“I’ll make you the happiest and most precious fool in the world.”<
