Chapter 26 – I Don’t Think I’ll Forget This Anytime Soon
It was just past noon that day—
and I was bored.
Today, unusually, I had the entire day off.
Even though we’re short on staff, we dorm mothers do get proper rest days.
It’s just that, usually, I go help out with meal service on my days off…
because I want to see the knights.
But today, that was already over, and I had no plans left.
Normally, I’d go watch the knights’ training at times like this,
but they weren’t training today either.
“What should I do now…”
Leo-san and Elga-san always tell me, “Take it easy and rest,”
but honestly, resting at night is enough for me.
Even I know to sleep properly at night, of course.
It’s not like I sneak around the dorms visiting the knights’ rooms while they sleep.
But since I get to live in the knights’ dormitory of my dreams,
I want to spend the daytime watching my beloved knights as much as I can.
“…Maybe I’ll clean the training room.”
I was lazily rolling around on my sofa when the idea suddenly hit me.
The knights’ training grounds include both indoor and outdoor areas.
On sunny days, or during the daytime, they usually train outside.
But on rainy days, at night, or when doing muscle training,
they use the indoor training room.
That room is cleaned periodically by whichever dorm mother happens to be free.
The knights always keep it tidy themselves,
so it doesn’t need cleaning very often—but it felt like the right time to do it.
And since nobody should be using it today,
this was my chance.
…Well, I would actually be happier if someone were using it,
but I didn’t want to interrupt anyone’s training.
Still, if cleaning could help them train comfortably, that would make me happy too.
So I filled a bucket with water, grabbed a rag, and headed for the training room, humming cheerfully to myself.
***
Just in case, I hung a little sign outside the door that said “Cleaning in progress.”
Not that I’d mind if someone came in—
actually, I’d love that.
“All right!”
Rolling up my sleeves, I took a deep breath, opened the door, and stepped inside.
“Ah—!”
But what I saw made me freeze.
At the far end of the room—
Leo-san was doing push-ups.
“…!”
And not just any push-ups.
He was shirtless.
Wh-wh-what an—!!
—Absolute blessing.
My voice caught in my throat, my heart leapt,
and my pulse quickened in an instant.
“…!!”
Leo-san hadn’t noticed me yet.
Looking closer, I saw he was supporting his large, muscular body on just one arm, the other tucked behind his back.
So strong… so amazing…!
Every time his body moved up and down, sweat dripped from him, glistening as it fell to the floor.
He must have been at it for quite a while already.
Ahhh… he’s so cool… too cool…!!!
The reality of Leo-san’s well-built body was enough to make me swoon.
But more than that—
the serious expression he wore as he furrowed his brow and exhaled sharply, counting quietly between breaths—
it made my chest tighten with something warm and unfamiliar.
Even though he’s always buried in paperwork as the Captain,
he never neglects his training.
He was supposed to have today off, too.
But even on his day off, he finds time to strengthen himself like this.
He doesn’t let his high position make him lazy—
he works hard for the sake of the kingdom every single day.
He’s really… such a hardworking man.
And thinking that—
something in my chest squeezed painfully.
What is this feeling…?
It was different from the flutter I felt over his muscles.
Something deeper, softer—
“Oh? Sibel?”
“Ah—!”
Lost in thought, I jumped when Leo-san suddenly called my name.
“I-I’m sorry! I wanted to say hello, but you looked so focused…”
“No, it’s fine. Did something happen?”
“Uh…”
Wait—why was I here again?
Was it to watch Leo-san train…?
As he picked up a towel nearby and wiped the sweat from his face and neck,
my eyes followed without thinking.
“Um…”
“?”
Ahh… no, this is too much…
He’s too dazzling! I can’t think straight anymore!
When he stood up and turned toward me,
his body looked too perfect to look at directly.
Those arms… that chest… that stomach…
Everything—absolutely everything—was perfection.
He wasn’t just my ideal—he was beyond it.
A masterpiece.
A national treasure.
Even from a distance, the sight of him was too intense.
“Ah, sorry. I must’ve shown you something unsightly.”
“No!! Not at all!!”
I blurted out too quickly, my face burning red.
Leo-san looked a bit embarrassed and quickly pulled on a loose shirt.
Unsightly? No way!
It was a work of art!
If only I could paint, I’d immortalize him in a portrait.
Or better yet—an actual life-sized Leo-san figure…!
“So, what brought you here?”
“Ah…”
Now that he was dressed, he walked over to me—
and oh no, he was still breathtakingly handsome.
The way he ran a hand through his damp hair was unfairly attractive.
“Oh, were you here to clean?”
“Y-yes…”
But honestly, I could barely hear what he was saying anymore.
My head felt fuzzy.
“Thank you. But weren’t you supposed to rest today?”
“Please, don’t mind me…”
“?”
I could watch him forever.
Sure, it was a bit overwhelming—but now that he’d put his shirt on,
I couldn’t help feeling a little disappointed.
I should’ve looked a bit longer…
“…One more time…”
“Hm? What was that?”
“Ah! N-nothing!! Nothing at all!!”
That was close. If I wasn’t careful, I might start drooling.
That would be disgraceful for a lady! Get it together, Sibel!
“Really, thank you as always. But don’t push yourself too hard, okay?”
“No, not at all! I do this because I love it! And today, I got an unexpected reward!”
“A reward?”
“…That’s… my little secret.”
“?”
Leo-san looked puzzled, but thankfully didn’t press the issue further.
“Well then, I’ll go wash off the sweat.”
“Yes! Please take your time!”
“And don’t overdo it, okay, Sibel?”
“I’ll be careful!”
“…?”
Oh—right. That’s not what he meant…
With his usual gentle smile, Leo-san left the room.
But even after he was gone,
I couldn’t stop replaying in my mind the image of his serious, focused face as he trained.
I don’t think I’ll forget it anytime soon.
