ISKC 13

Chapter 13

“Do you two know each other?”

For a split second, Rosalyn hesitated.

Did he see me exchanging glances with Erich?

But she hadn’t turned around even once.

Does he have eyes in the back of his head or something…?

Still, the more she delayed an answer, the more suspicious she’d look. Rosalyn feigned complete ignorance.

“It’s my first time setting foot in the Imperial Palace, so how could I possibly know His Highness the Prince?”

It sounded natural enough.

Yes! Shift the topic to the Crown Prince instead!

But instead of following her lead—

“So you knew the First Prince as well?”

“…No?”

Her answer stumbled.

Rosalyn had meant to pretend she misunderstood the question and redirect it toward the First Prince. But flustered, she made it sound as if she knew both Erich and the Prince.

“I just told you this is my first time in the palace, didn’t I?”

She tried to cover it up, but Cassis never let go once he found a gap.

“My first question was about Erich.”

Her bluff had failed completely.

Damn it, don’t waste your knightly instincts on things like this!

The Black Iron Commander’s intuition was famous. He’d clearly sensed she was hiding something and was deliberately cornering her.

But I really don’t know the First Prince!

And now she was about to be branded guilty for something she hadn’t done. Rosalyn forced a bright, clueless smile.

“Ohh, I thought you were asking what kind of relationship I had with the Prince. My mistake!”

But his cold glance was merciless.

“Deceiving your supervisor is fraud. And under probation, any crime earns you harsher punishment.”

The deadly edge in his tone sent cold sweat down her back.

If Cassis imagined she was on familiar terms with the Hydra Guildmaster, he’d immediately assume shady backdoor dealings.

Worse still—

What if my community service hours get extended because of this?

Rosalyn’s survival instincts, honed in the brutal slums, kicked in at once.

“Oh, come on. Me, deceiving you, Sir Cassis? Did it bother you, perhaps? I mean, Captain Erich is handsome enough to unsettle anyone. Maybe you enjoyed my little flirtation more than you let on? And now you’re worried I might turn that same charm on another gentleman, and not just any gentleman, but the Commander of the White Silver Knights…”

She spun her tale past the first act, the second, and well into the fourth—

“Rubbish.”

Cassis cut her down flat. Without even acknowledging her nonsense, he strode briskly ahead.

Rosalyn allowed herself a tiny smirk. Maybe he really was flustered?

Phew, survived that one!

Reaching 1,000 hours already felt hopelessly far away—she couldn’t imagine adding even more.

I really do know Erich. But it’s not shady business, it’s mutual cooperation.

Where exactly had Cassis sniffed out the connection? Was it when Erich asked for an assistant?

That’s just how he is, though.

Just today, Erich had shamelessly said he’d brought her into the palace only to inform her that the Duke was arriving in the capital.

As if wearing his arrogance like a badge on his forehead, while at the same time doing the most eccentric things imaginable.

That was Erich—someone who’d just as easily joke with a maid sweeping the floors as with a knight commander’s aide.

But just as they reached the main gates, a knight came running.

“Wait! You there!”

He pointed directly at Rosalyn.

“Me?”

“Come with me.”

The White Silver knight jerked his chin toward the inner compound.

Erich must’ve called for me. Rosalyn narrowed her eyes toward where Erich would be waiting.

But calling me out separately looks suspicious as hell.

Or maybe…

That bastard would probably enjoy seeing Cassis’s suspicions deepen.

Best play dumb.

She turned back toward Cassis with a troubled look, ready to say I have no idea what this is about—when a dark blue cloak swept into her vision.

“What business do you have with my aide?”

Cassis’s voice to the knight was like frost in winter.

“Nothing you need to know,” the knight replied lazily.

Listening from behind Cassis, Rosalyn clicked her tongue inwardly.

Oh, you’re dead now.

She’d recently learned that Cassis absolutely hated people ignoring rules. And here was a knight trying to drag away his direct subordinate without explanation.

Unsurprisingly, Cassis’s tone grew even sharper.

“Without stating your business, I cannot hand over my aide. Aide, follow me.”

He spun around, and Rosalyn quickly hurried after him.

It probably was Erich, but—

Better stick with Cassis this time.

Not because that knight was obnoxious. Not because Erich was insufferable.

But because if Cassis slapped another 3,000 hours on me for looking suspicious, I’d be doomed.

Cassis didn’t give anyone time to protest; he boarded the carriage immediately.

Only then did the knight shout after him:

“There are documents you need to collect!”

Cassis didn’t so much as twitch.

Rosalyn climbed in, feigning ignorance—when the knight blurted out in desperation:

“The Commander specifically requested the aide!”

You idiot! You said that out loud?

Rosalyn felt Cassis’s gaze burn into her.

I don’t know a thing. Not a thing.

Drawing on years as the Empire’s top information broker, she wore a perfect poker face.

She thrust out her metaphorical duck’s foot.

“Oh my, what should I do? Perhaps Commander Erich has taken a liking to me! I tried to hide my charms, but maybe even the eyes of the White Silver Commander can’t be deceived?”

She recycled her earlier excuse. Cassis’s eyes only grew colder—though more in dismissal than suspicion.

Yes, that’s it. Just think I’m spouting nonsense.

A man as rigid as Cassis would only grow weary of such topics.

“What a dilemma. To be caught between the Empire’s two greatest commanders… But no matter what, even if Commander Erich truly were interested, I have my loyalties. I’d choose you, Sir Cassis…”

On and on she rambled until Cassis finally had enough.

“You needn’t come to headquarters. Go home.”

The carriage door slammed shut in her face.

The cold wind practically howled around her.

But Rosalyn silently pumped her fist.

Yes! Victory!

Being thought of as a silly lady caught between two dashing commanders was far better than being suspected of shady dealings.

Weren’t those two ranked the Empire’s top two most eligible bachelors by the noble ladies?

Somehow, she’d ended up acquainted with both.

But no thanks. Even if they begged, I’d pass.

One was eccentric to the point of madness, and the other so rigid she’d suffocate first.

Shaking her head at the thought, Rosalyn was interrupted by the knight, still insistent.

“Hurry along. The Commander is waiting.”

“Fine, fine.”

The knight led her to the gardens.

There, in a gazebo, Erich was sipping tea leisurely by himself.

If you wanted me, why not stop me earlier?

Making her walk all the way to the main gate only to drag her back—

What a twisted hobby.

Rosalyn flopped down into a chair without waiting for an invitation.

Crossing one leg over the other, she rubbed her shin exaggeratedly.

“Ugh, my legs. If you were going to summon me, you could’ve done it sooner. Do you have any idea how far I walked?”

“You haven’t changed.”

Even in the presence of the Commander of the Emperor’s own knights, Rosalyn showed not a shred of decorum. Erich only smiled, amused.

And no wonder—because their relationship was unlike any other.

Perhaps even stranger than the one between Cassis and Erich themselves.