IICSYIRD l CH 56

Who Are You Thinking About ? (13)

Posted by Eleanor, Released on July 1, 2025

Chapter 13

Schloitz suddenly looked up—and stared straight at me.
His gaze was always cool and indifferent, so when his eyes locked onto mine, it felt like he was looking straight through me.

I snapped out of it a beat too late and stood up from where I had been leaning against the window.
Just as I was about to bow and step away—

Schloitz raised his hand and motioned for me to stay where I was.

‘…Does he want me to stay at the window?’

I blinked in confusion.
As I stayed there, not moving, I could see him sigh.

“…?”

Then, without another glance, Schloitz entered the building, and I couldn’t see him anymore.

I had no idea what he meant by that, but I kept standing by the window anyway.

‘How long am I supposed to stand here like this?’ I was just starting to wonder when—

“Commander! The Supreme Commander has come to see you.”

“…Lord Procyon?”

Did he come straight here from earlier?

At Lora’s words, I stepped out of the room.
Schloitz was standing right in front of the door.

“I told you to wait inside the room, not to stand by the window like a curtain.”

“…I misunderstood.”

“You really are something, you know that? You always manage to surprise me in the weirdest ways.”

“I’ll make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

I gave him a sheepish smile.
Only then did I notice his wet hair and soaked shoulders.

“Didn’t the Nephile guards bring you an umbrella?”

“Most of them were so shocked by the artifact that they lost their minds.”

I nodded, understanding what he meant.

Earlier, when Schloitz went out to take care of monsters, he didn’t bring a single knight from the military with him.
That meant he was confident enough not to need protection—but also that he didn’t want to waste effort protecting others.

The Nephile guards who went with him were not people he planned to protect.

That might’ve felt unfair to them—but their own superior had made it clear that Nephile wasn’t part of the military.
So if they had complaints, they should start there.

I glanced at the officials waiting nervously in the hallway.
The chief, standing at the front, flinched and turned away as soon as our eyes met.

“Will you take just them again tomorrow?” I asked.

“What, do you want to come too?”

“I thought you didn’t like it when I followed you around.”

I spoke in a low voice as I glanced down the hall.

“I can handle Sir Agnes’s duties. Maybe you could bring him instead tomorrow?”

There was no answer.
I looked up in confusion—and saw Schloitz staring at me with a strange expression.

I quickly averted my gaze, flustered.
Then, from just above my head, his voice dropped down.

“You say I don’t like you so casually.”

“…I only remembered that you seemed uncomfortable when I joined you last time. I’m sorry if I overstepped.”

“Right, I did. For a second there, I almost misunderstood.”

“Misunderstood… what exactly?”

“I thought maybe you’d secretly done something wrong to me.”

My throat suddenly tightened.

“…Of course not.”

Schloitz probably said it without thinking, but it gave me a mini panic attack.

****

That evening.

I had dinner in a very fancy dining hall for the first time in a while.

It was a formal banquet hosted by the chief—who looked like he couldn’t digest a thing.

As expected, Schloitz was seated at the head of the table, while I sat across from the chief.

After so many days of military-style food, this noble meal felt refreshing.

‘Though, honestly, the taste isn’t that different.’

Some dishes—like the stew—were actually better at the military base.
I realized again how hard the chefs at the officers’ mess must work.

In the story, even the cadet cafeteria and the staff mess were said to have great food.
But probably nothing compares to the commander’s private dining hall.

After the dinner ended, I returned to my room.

I looked at the clock.

‘The timing to deliver the blessing is… tricky.’

Schloitz hadn’t made the blessing or artifact use official yet.
And even if he did, he probably wouldn’t do it publicly in Nephile.

Still, the chief and other Nephile administrators were constantly chasing after him.
Understandable, since he was such a big deal.

I could secretly hand him the artifact, but kissing his cheek? No way that would stay hidden.

And if someone did see that… rumors about me and Schloitz would spread through the capital in less than a week.

That’s why I had already asked Agnes to set some time aside for me.

“Sir Agnes?”

“Oh! Commander Blandea!”

Agnes jumped up from where he’d been reviewing a pile of documents with his subordinates.
The knights quickly stood and gave me a sharp salute.

He stepped out and closed the door behind him.

“What’s the matter?”

“I have a document to deliver to the Supreme Commander.”

“Ah, I see. Let’s go.”

Agnes understood right away and started walking.
Though still clearly sleep-deprived, he looked in better spirits than usual.

For some reason, it reminded me of Raphael.

“You seem happy.”

“Yes, Commander. I never imagined the words ‘insane person’ could bring me so much joy.”

“…Maybe don’t say that to Lady Filken.”

“Of course not. Military matters are confidential. I always follow protocol.”

…That’s not what I meant.

Maybe it’s the lack of sleep.

I decided to just change the subject.

“There’s no issue with the Holy Sword reserves anymore?”

“No, we’re good now. The sword keepers had been hounding me since new cadets are joining in two months, but I can finally return with my head held high.”

“And this didn’t interfere with Lord Procyon’s schedule?”

“That’s actually what I’m happiest about…”

I smiled, and we continued chatting as we walked down the long hallway.

Schloitz’s quarters were on the floor below ours—the nicest part of the entire manor.

He basically had the whole floor to himself.
Rooms like that were usually reserved for visiting royalty.

It was a clear sign of his status.

Two attendants were guarding the door.
When I asked to be announced, one of them knocked and stepped inside.

“The Supreme Commander says you may enter.”

I stepped in.

The room was enormous—almost the size of three of my own combined.
It was decorated in an elegant and classic style, with rows of marble vases rimmed in gold.

‘Maybe this used to be the room of a high priest or pope during the age of religious revival?’

I suddenly found myself wondering what Schloitz’s military quarters looked like.

“What brings you here?”

I looked up.

Schloitz was wearing much more relaxed clothing than usual.
His shirt was simple, open at the neck, and tied with leather strings.

Come to think of it, I’d only ever seen him in uniform before.

The casual look was new to me—and a little mesmerizing.

He had clearly just washed—droplets of water were still falling from the ends of his hair.

His robe was draped over the table nearby.

I’d come at the perfect time.

I took a jeweled necklace from inside my coat and respectfully handed it to him with both hands.

He raised one eyebrow and accepted it, holding it up to eye level.
A small smile curved his lips as he recognized what it was.

A cleverly hidden artifact was embedded inside.

“I don’t recall ordering anything this elaborate, Commander Lefevre.”

“No, but… I prepared it just in case.”

“Overly thorough, aren’t you?”

I couldn’t help it.
I still had no idea why Lora had poisoned Enrico back then….

Lora and Grey were with me now.
I hadn’t wanted to come alone to Schloitz’s room.

Bringing subordinates made it look more official.

Also, I was carrying all the artifacts myself—not in my luggage, but literally on my body, six of them hanging from inside my coat because I was afraid of losing them.

Schloitz tucked the necklace into his hand and gave me a small bow.

My heart skipped a beat—but that wasn’t the surprising part.

Thud!

“Ah!”

A loud sound from behind made me jump.
I turned around—and was even more shocked by what I saw.

“Grey?”

“Sir Grey!”

Grey had collapsed to the floor.

He looked pale earlier, but I hadn’t expected this.

“What’s wrong with him?”

Lora immediately stood at attention and reported,

“Sir Grey started trembling when he saw the Supreme Commander—and then fainted! I’m sorry! I’ll correct it!”