Chapter 02
“What kind of assignment is it?”
Usually, when the military talked about a temporary assignment, it meant patrolling ruins… or patrolling ruins… or maybe patrolling ruins again.
Sometimes, though rarely, they’d also be sent to other cities the military was closely connected with to grab some armorers by the collar and tell them to make better gear.
But that didn’t happen often—so let’s ignore that.
“You’ve been assigned as the Supreme Commander’s aide.”
“…?”
“There’s a big gap in our officer ranks right now. And according to military regulations, even temporary aides for the Supreme Commander must be at least at a commander level or higher.”
I spotted Rafael’s injured arm, completely immobile.
There was a deep, diagonal wound across his chest, just missing a vital area.
If the monster had bitten instead of slashed, Rafael would’ve been torn in two—and I would’ve had to see two Rafaels.
Honestly, it was the kind of injury that made me break into a cold sweat just looking at it.
But still, no task should be accepted blindly.
Especially not when it had anything to do with Schloitz.
“What about Lord Dios Izel?”
“Well… he’s been disciplined. Just earlier.”
“…Why?”
“Because of collective responsibility. Since he’s my classmate… he got punished with me.”
Right. This is the military.
I realized that all over again.
And I also understood why Lefebvre had joined earlier than other nobles.
It was like a privilege that allowed him to avoid the brutal punishment of collective responsibility.
“How long will it last?”
“Until Lord Agnes returns to base. About a week, we think.”
I started feeling a bit anxious.
A whole week… as his aide… Would I be okay?
“Alright. What do I have to do?”
“There’s not much. I’ve already sorted the urgent documents.”
With that arm?
I was honestly impressed. And also really relieved that he’d survived.
“The only major thing right now is the Oparts documents… But Lord Blandea will probably handle those better than I can, so I don’t think there’ll be a problem.”
Rafael handed me a full manual while explaining various things.
He even repeated the most important parts out loud—and they were all related to the royal family.
Looks like the royal family is really trying hard to win over Schloitz.
“And Lord Blandea, please be careful with the ink.”
“Ink?”
“The new pen nib we’re using splatters a lot. The Supreme Commander doesn’t lift his head much while reading papers. If I don’t clean it fast enough, the ink stains the documents and I have to redo them.”
…My god.
Just hearing about it sounded like a disaster.
“Why not just switch back to the old nib?”
“We’d like to, but it was a gift from His Majesty the King. The Commander doesn’t care much, but people talk… We figured we should at least use it for a month before quietly changing it out.”
“Lord Rafael.”
“Yes?”
“You’re really going through a lot…”
Rafael’s mouth opened a little—then he burst out laughing.
“You can say things like that? Ah, sorry! That was rude. Please forgive me. I just… didn’t expect it.”
“What didn’t you expect?”
“You’re always expressionless, or looking terrified around the Commander… So I thought you were kind of like an inanimate objec— I’ll stop talking.”
This guy… says he’ll stop but already said everything.
I clenched my fist, and Rafael flinched in fear.
“Ahem.”
Anyway, he handed me Schloitz’s schedule and left.
I went back to my room and stared at the mirror.
Do I really not smile much?
I smiled a lot at my mother and father… and at Enrico.
At the maids.
At the knights.
At Lady Venus. At knights from other families too.
Okay, I did have a very fake, submissive smile around Lord Balrock…
But I had no choice.
In my previous life, I hated nothing more than having to fake-smile at people I didn’t want to.
Not that I was some awful person.
I was just… ordinarily poor, ordinarily sickly, and died ordinarily young.
My mom passed away early, and six months later my dad remarried.
He was rich, but that was about it. I barely—no, I never got any help from him.
I have lived alone in a tiny studio since middle school. Paid for college with loans and scholarships. Luckily, the interest on my living expense loans was low…
But the worst was when I was 20 and hospitalized with severe stomach pain.
My dad never visited—he was “too busy.”
Instead, my stepmom came and clicked her tongue every time she saw the medical bills.
“So many prescriptions now? Why are painkillers this expensive?”
I was constantly on edge around her.
I needed those painkillers just to survive. I was terrified she’d try to cut them off.
After a month in the hospital, I was too worn out to even smile anymore. She snapped at me for that too—“Just because you’re sick doesn’t mean you’re royalty.”
I knew my dad had money, but I couldn’t help shrinking in guilt.
Later, I realized I didn’t owe them a damn thing.
If your kid is in the hospital, of course a father should pay.
Looking back, I probably glared like a vengeful ghost.
But that was honestly one of the most satisfying days I can remember.
Then I landed a job at a big company out of spite, worked myself to death trying to climb the ladder… and died.
Maybe that’s why I don’t smile much now—because I lived such a miserable, spineless life before.
I had to smile everywhere, at everyone, even if I didn’t want to. I was sick of it.
Come to think of it, the reason I liked Schloitz might be because his short backstory felt similar to mine.
Though he lived even more desperately than I did.
I stared at my reflection, at the dark golden hair, and tried a smile.
In front of Schloitz… I guess I should smile a little.
It didn’t feel uncomfortable. Just a bit—no, a lot—nerve-wracking.
I hope I don’t mess up.
****
The Next Day
As usual, Schloitz finished his dawn training and headed to his office.
The Supreme Commander’s office wasn’t a private space.
It was located in the center of the military base, attached to the main headquarters building that held various meeting rooms.
For hundreds of years, the military had operated in a semi-war state, so everything was designed for maximum efficiency.
At the front entrance was a vestibule decorated in dark wood.
The large central door led to the Commander’s office.
That door was slightly open—as usual.
Rafael Clovis, his aide and the 3rd commander, always came early and opened it.
He’d done that ever since Schloitz became Commander. Nothing new there.
But—
The person opening the window inside the office wasn’t the one Schloitz always saw.
A woman with neatly tied golden hair.
Her hair glowed in the soft morning sunlight. The breeze flowed in as the window clicked open.
When she turned around—Blandea Lefevre—she looked a bit surprised.
“Lord Procyon.”
Then, as always, she offered a flawless greeting.
“Good morning. Were you at the training grounds?”
No need to ask why she was there instead of Rafael.
Rafael had been badly wounded during the last mission. And he’d also been disciplined. Even after his house arrest ended, Schloitz wouldn’t see him for at least three months.
Honestly, barely any commanders were still standing.
“I’m not sure if you’ve been informed yet, but I’ll be assisting you as an aide in Lord Rafael Clovis’s place.”
“Being served by Lady Lefevre herself… I’m so honored I might forget how to do my job.”
A sandcastle, huh?
Schloitz’s dry sarcasm left Blandea looking a little flustered.
She clasped her hands and bowed deeply.
A moment ago she’d looked like she was about to rush over and hug a long-lost family member—and now she was shrinking back in awkward silence.
Schloitz looked away and headed to his desk.
Rafael always kept the desk spotless, and it looked just as neat now. Nothing needed touching.
As he flipped through today’s documents, a cup of tea was placed beside him.
Rafael usually brought him tea every morning.
But now, someone else was doing it.
It struck him as a little odd.
He wondered when they’d even had time to pass everything over.
Another big difference: Blandea Lefevre was extremely quiet.
Rafael had been great at his job. Talented, capable, and a good aide—hence his role as both 3rd Commander and direct assistant to the Supreme Commander.
But he was also a chatterbox.
Sometimes he’d drop hints like, “Commander, think I could get a few days off soon?”
So Schloitz had gotten used to tuning him out without meaning to.
Now, the same office that had always been filled with Rafael’s chatter… felt strangely silent.
Just the sound of water boiling for tea.
The soft clinking of porcelain.
The faint rustling of papers being sorted beside him.
That was all. It even felt like she wasn’t breathing.
