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Chapter 13
“Since we’re on the topic…”
Ami glanced at Noah.
“Um, about your promotion…”
“……”
“No, just listen for a bit. When did you draw your sword again…?”
Noah, who visibly shuddered the moment the word promotion came up, was barely calmed down before Ami hurried to continue.
“I’m an intelligence officer, right?”
Thanks to being attached to the special fleet, she had clearance to access a certain level of classified information.
If Noah had been promoted to Major as planned, she would’ve been temporarily assigned to the Logistics Command for officer training.
“…What?”
Noah’s eyes widened.
“Is that true?”
“It wasn’t announced publicly, but in fact, this year’s field officer training is set to be held at the Logistics Command.”
“I didn’t know that?”
“Well, there wasn’t a need to mention it anymore…”
Huh?
Ami tilted her head, stopping mid-sentence.
“Now that I think about it…”
“……”
“Not a single one of our HQ’s people made the list, did they?”
It wasn’t just Noah, the most likely candidate for promotion, who had been passed over.
General Okeanus hadn’t just dropped Noah, but all the candidates from headquarters during the last promotion round.
Which meant the training location was never disclosed to them.
“Ami.”
After a moment of silence, Noah asked:
“Could you look into it for me?”
“It’s not hard to check, but what exactly are you suspicious about?”
“I’ll tell you later.”
“How am I supposed to help if you won’t tell me anything!”
Even so, Ami eventually agreed to help.
She looked reluctant, but she knew better than anyone that Noah wasn’t the type to suspect people over nothing.
Still, the person most unsettled by this situation was Noah himself.
What are they hiding…?
While changing clothes in the locker room after work, Noah froze halfway through taking off his navy-blue uniform jacket, standing absentmindedly for a long moment.
At first, he’d thought Reto had spitefully interfered with his promotion.
But that didn’t fit the Reto he knew at all. That’s why it had angered him so much—enough to end things.
“Do you know Brigadier General Flanchi?”
But then there was that casual question Reto had thrown at him not long ago.
And now, Ami’s mention of what was supposed to come after his promotion:
“This year’s officer training is set at the Logistics Command.”
“…Haa.”
Noah yanked off the rest of his clothes in irritation, tossing the uniform straight into the laundry bin.
First, I’ll just go home and rest…
But the moment he stepped outside the building—
“Finally done?”
Reto was waiting by the parking lot entrance, waving cheerfully before striding toward him.
“Good work today.”
“…General.”
“Mm? What’s wrong?”
Reto’s voice was warm as he responded to Noah calling out to him.
“……”
Noah stared at the man approaching him as if entranced.
Of all times, the sunset was bleeding across the horizon. The breeze was just right.
Silver hair, glowing faintly red as it fluttered. Crimson eyes that didn’t bother hiding their affection, even with the bangs falling into them.
And the fact that he was being pulled in again—
Noah was quietly shocked.
Damn it. Falling for him all over again.
“You called me, but now you’re quiet. Tired?”
Reto leaned down a little, carefully studying Noah’s face.
“Take a nap while I drive.”
“General.”
“Mm?”
“We’re still at headquarters.”
“…So prickly.”
Reto raised both hands halfway, about to step back playfully—
“When everyone’s so busy,” Noah tapped him lightly on the bridge of his nose with one finger, “you’re the one skipping out, aren’t you?”
“…Huh?”
Reto stiffened like a broken puppet.
Noah’s gaze wasn’t indifferent or annoyed.
The soft smile he wore made Reto’s heart jolt.
“Don’t provoke the Knights too much. They answer directly to His Majesty. Until the Commander arrives, isn’t it wiser to be cautious?”
With that said, Noah walked past him.
Left standing alone, Reto could only watch blankly as Noah’s back receded.
“What are you doing?”
Noah called out after stopping in front of Reto’s parked car.
“My sister’s waiting. Her neck will get sore from craning.”
“Uh…”
Reto hurriedly opened the car door.
Noah sat in the passenger seat with a flat expression.
It might’ve looked like he was angry, but Reto knew better.
“Noah.”
Starting the engine, Reto asked:
“You really do like me a lot, don’t you?”
“Seems nonsense is your specialty, sir.”
“Liar. Your eyebrow twitched.”
Noah’s hand twitched, lips twisting in defeat as he instinctively moved to cover his eyebrow.
Reto’s crimson car glided smoothly out of the parking lot.
“Mmm…”
Clare stood in front of a full-length mirror, staring intently at herself.
“As!”
She quickly called for As.
As, who’d been watching her sway her hips back and forth, smiled.
“What’s wrong? Don’t like the dress?”
“Nooo, the dress is beautiful!”
The pink frilly dress Clare wore was a gift As had made herself for her enrollment.
It was full of lace and ribbons—exactly Clare’s favorite.
“But there’s a serious problem.”
“Oh? What problem?”
“A really serious one…”
Clare muttered gravely, eyes still fixed on the mirror.
“I mean… look at me…”
Even As began to tense up.
“…Aren’t I just too cute?”
In the mirror, Clare cupped her own cheeks with both hands.
“This is really, just… so cute and pretty.”
“My lady…”
As gently placed a hand on her shoulder.
“I think so too.”
She even nodded solemnly.
“Right?! I’m way too cute!”
“If being cute were a crime, you’d be serving life without parole.”
“What’s that?”
“It means you’d be in prison forever.”
“Oh my gosh! Am I really that dangerously cute?”
Clare collapsed dramatically, hugging herself.
“Ah, the world is cruel indeed!”
Why had the world burdened her with such destructive cuteness?
She sniffled like a tragic heroine while As quietly snapped away with a camera she’d somehow produced.
“…Oh.”
After a while, As glanced out the window. Wheels on gravel could be heard approaching.
“The young master must be back.”
“How do you know?”
“I hear the car.”
“Then it’s brother-in-law’s car!”
Clare shot up, clutching her skirt with both hands and dashing down the hall.
“My lady, noble girls are supposed to walk gracefully!”
“Who needs that!”
She charged so hard the floor might crack, grinning ear to ear.
“Sis!”
Noah, just coming in the door, jumped in surprise.
“Clare, what are you doing looking like that.”
“How do I look? Cute, right? Pretty cute, huh?”
“As if this is the first time you’ve been cute? Come here, let me hug you.”
“No! Wash your hands first! And change clothes!”
Rejecting the hug decisively, Clare finally turned to greet the guest.
“Hello, Brother-in-law!”
She bent her knees slightly, lifting her skirt hem in a practiced curtsey.
“Welcome to my dinner party tonight.”
“Hey, don’t call him brother-in-law.”
“As said people who swear they’ll never get married are the first to do it. You and Brother-in-law are destined to marry.”
“What a clever young lady.”
Reto, moved, dropped to one knee.
“Lady Velo, thank you for inviting me.”
“Mhm!”
“If you’ll permit me, may I have the honor of kissing your hand?”
“No.”
Clare shook her head.
“You should wash your hands and rinse your mouth first. Anyone who comes in from outside has to.”
“Young master, welcome. General, please come in as well.”
As came to greet them.
“Thank you for inviting me. Please accept this small gift.”
“Oh, you didn’t need to…”
She accepted it sheepishly, then froze in shock.
This is…!
Here in Sharpe Territory, a coastal region, people preferred seafood and white wine.
What Reto had brought was the most expensive white wine of all: Foam of the Goddess.
It was so costly one would have to save three months of household expenses just to buy it. And now it was in her hands.
“…I-I’ll prepare dinner right away!”
Flustered, As hurried to the kitchen.
Meanwhile, Clare came up to Reto after he washed his hands.
“Thank you for helping me that time, sir!”
“What a polite young lady.”
Reto found her lively greeting utterly adorable.
Especially her boldness in knowing how pretty she was—it was charming beyond words.
But one thing weighed on his mind.
“…That boy hasn’t bothered you again, has he?”
He meant Sir Delat’s son. Kneeling to meet Clare’s eyes, Reto asked.
“No.”
She shook her head, looking fine.
“Today was quiet. He didn’t say anything weird to my friends either.”
“That’s good.”
“But, um…”
Clare recalled what she’d seen at school today.
“His legs went all bouncy, like this.”
“……”
“……”
Noah and Reto exchanged a silent glance.
“But, Uncle! Don’t I get a present too?”
“Goodness, what do you take me for.”
Reto promised to give it to her after dinner.
“Yay!” Clare cheered, clutching her cheeks.
“…That girl, who on earth did she get that materialism from.”
As her guardian, Noah could only sigh.
“Aww, but…”
Clare gave her a soulful look and sighed deeply.
“I’m getting older, you know. It’s not like the old days.”
“What’s different now…?”
“Back then, adults would give me snacks or pocket money just for smiling. But now that I’m in school, they don’t.”
“……”
Noah was speechless at her dead-serious expression.
A sideways glance showed Reto doubled over, trembling with suppressed laughter.
He looked about to pass out.
“Sis, what’s wrong with him?”
“He says he needs the bathroom.”
“Ew, but aren’t men with incontinence bad marriage material?”
“…Where did you even learn that?”
Another marriage counseling radio show, probably.
Noah was exhausted keeping up with her rapidly growing knowledge.
“Everyone, dinner is ready.”
As’s voice rang out like salvation.
