BKSL CH 15

Chapter 15 – Could He Be Like My First Love, the Black-Haired Knight?

“Sibel, let me help you.”

“Leo-san!”

That day, while I was hanging laundry after lunch, Leo-san came over to lend a hand.

He often did this whenever he had free time—helping me, the one in charge of drying the laundry.

For the commander of the knights, he was truly such a kind person.

“I always tell you, you don’t have to help me. You should take it easy and rest.”

“No, it’s fine. We’re short on hands here anyway. We try to take care of our own things as much as we can. You dorm mothers already do so much for us.”

“But you must be tired, aren’t you?”

“Not really. The monsters have been quiet lately. Actually… now that I think about it, that started around the time you arrived.”

“Oh my, really?”

As I was stretching on tiptoe to hang up a freshly washed sheet, Leo-san casually took it from my hands and easily hung it up on the high pole.

Ahh… tall people really do have their advantages.

“Well, even if monsters do show up again, we’ll protect you—so don’t worry.”

“You knights are so reassuring. Thank you.”

As always, Leo-san chatted pleasantly while helping me hang all the laundry on the high rods.

“Thank you again for helping today.”

“No, thank you. I enjoy talking with you.”

“Oh my…”

He’s always so kind. He must be saying that just to make me feel comfortable.

“But I’ll have to do something to thank you next time.”

“Then how about this—”

Just as we were finishing up, Leo-san’s expression brightened.

“Next time we both have a day off, why don’t we go out somewhere together? The monsters have been calm lately. Of course, only if you’d like to.”

“Oh my…”

Go out… with Leo-san?

What a wonderful thought.

Since childhood, I’d been locked away, forced into noblewoman and saint training.

I’d never gone out freely, not once.

Even as Prince Marx’s fiancée, we never did anything that could be called a date.

And now, I might get to go out with this wonderful knight?

This was the best reward imaginable.

***

“I’d love to—but is that really okay?”

“Of course! I’d really like to spend some time with you.”

His usually firm brows softened, and his smile looked so gentle… almost adorable.

“In that case, I’d be delighted.”

“Great! Then, would you let me choose the place? I promise it won’t be anywhere dangerous—there are still risky spots nearby, so I’ll make sure it’s somewhere safe.”

“Of course, I’ll leave it to you.”

I smiled warmly back at his serious, responsible expression, and that was how we said goodbye for the day.

But even afterward, I couldn’t stop smiling.

I’d just agreed to go out alone with my beloved knight commander…!

Ahh, what a gift from heaven!

Because of the shortage of staff, we dorm mothers rarely got a full day off.

Even the knights often used their rest days to help us with chores.

So in truth, our work didn’t really feel like “work.” It felt more like a shared duty—something we all contributed to together.

Still, even a couple of hours spent outside with my favorite knight sounded like a dream come true.

And not just any knight—Leo-san, the commander himself.

Kind, considerate, reliable…

Tall, broad-shouldered, strong-chested, thick-armed, big-handed, long-legged, steady-waisted—he was the very definition of a dependable knight.

Compared to Prince Marx’s slim frame, Leo-san was the complete opposite—muscular, commanding, and my ideal of perfection.

Oh, and that black hair of his—so striking and elegant.

A black-haired knight…

I’m not sure why, but that detail makes him seem even more special to me.

Is it because he’s the commander?

Or maybe… does he remind me of my first love—the black-haired knight from that romance novel I adored as a girl?

…My first love, the knight…

What was the name of that book again?

I’ve loved knights ever since about eight years ago.

In my mind, I have this image of an ideal knight, but I can’t remember if it came from a novel or from seeing a real one.

I read so many romance stories about knights that maybe I just mixed them all up.

Hmm… I thought I remembered them all, but—

Could it be… that I’ve actually met someone like Leo-san before?

When I was nine, I went with Father to watch the knights’ training.

Maybe I saw him then and simply forgot.

Ahh… I wish I could tell that younger version of me, the one who fell in love with the knights that day, about this moment!

She’d be so shocked—she’d never believe it.

But still, I’d tell her this:

“Keep practicing your cooking and housework.
One day, it’ll all be worth it.”

—Yes!