Chapter: 06
Servante had told Dennis to think it over carefully when Dennis had previously hinted that he wanted to leave the military. However, this morning, upon seeing the discharge application sitting on his desk, he hurriedly went looking for Dennis. He eventually learned from an administrative soldier that Dennis was currently in the visitors’ room.
Even though he knew it was rude to chase someone into the visitors’ room, even if he was his superior, the reason for Dennis’s discharge was so absurd that he had no choice.
<Reason for discharge — I wish to return to my estate due to my parents’ urging me to marry.>
It was a reason he could never accept. There was no reason Dennis couldn’t continue his military service even after getting married, and the commander’s selfish desire not to lose a talent known as the “Golden Sharpshooter” had gotten the better of him.
But what Servante witnessed in the visitors’ room came as a tremendous shock.
‘Please. I don’t want to marry anyone but you.’
The princess was clinging to Dennis as she confessed her feelings with desperate sincerity. And that wasn’t all. Servante even saw her kiss Dennis.
‘Dennis and the princess were lovers?’
They were tragic lovers whose story was enough to bring tears to one’s eyes. For a moment, Servante felt as though he had been struck in the head with a massive club. He had never imagined such a scene in his wildest dreams.
Servante left the visitors’ room. If he stayed any longer, he might end up throwing a punch at Dennis.
‘So you deceived me completely.’
His anger was directed solely at Dennis. Perhaps it would have been better if he had been angry because Dennis had stolen away the princess who was supposed to marry him.
Had they not spent three years together? Since Dennis had always moved like an extension of his own limbs, Servante had believed he could read even the slightest change in Dennis’s eyes or breathing and immediately understand his mood.
What a tremendous misconception that had been.
Servante returned to his office and roughly threw off his hat and coat. He sat on the sofa, lit a cigar, and tried to let the unpleasantness consuming him drift away with the smoke.
That was when it happened.
There was an urgent knock on the door.
“Come in.”
The moment Servante gave permission, his three adjutants rushed inside like the tide coming in.
“Commander, did you see?”
“Captain Dennis and Her Highness the Princess were in a relationship!”
“That bastard dared to steal his superior’s woman without a shred of fear!”
Lieutenant Colonel Bartel cracked his knuckles and raged furiously. He ground his teeth, saying that Dennis had gotten carried away because he was relying on his handsome face, and that he was going to teach the man a lesson.
“Just say the word. I’ll smash that bastard Dennis’s face in.”
“Or I’ll break his ribs. A man who steals another man’s woman needs to be taught some manners.”
Strangely enough, the adjutants seemed even more enraged than Servante himself.
Then Major Lauro surprised Servante with an unexpected remark.
“That’s strange…. When Dennis saw the newspaper article, he said it was something to celebrate….”
Servante’s eyes sharpened at Lauro’s words. He immediately stubbed out the cigar burning in the ashtray.
“What are you talking about?”
“Ah, when the article about Your Highness marrying the princess first came out. Dennis’s reaction was a little strange.”
Lauro explained that Dennis had seemed quite bewildered and had instead said that Servante marrying the princess was something to be congratulated for.
Of course, Lauro admitted that Dennis might have said it deliberately because he was shocked by something he hadn’t expected, but it hadn’t seemed entirely false. If the woman he loved were going to marry another man, he should have been furious.
“Lauro, it was all an act.”
“That sneaky bastard. Everyone keeps praising him as the Golden Sharpshooter, so he’s forgotten his place!”
The other adjutants immediately argued against Lauro’s words.
For a moment, Servante’s thoughts became complicated. Come to think of it, Dennis’s reaction when he’d previously told him about the marriage had indeed been somewhat strange.
‘Congratulations. I heard the news that you’re going to marry Princess Katarina.’
‘Are you sincere? Are you happy that I’m getting married?’
‘I’m not sure if I’m supposed to be unhappy about it.’
That wasn’t the face of a man who had lost the woman he loved.
No, Dennis was a sniper who never lost his composure. He was exceptionally skilled at controlling his emotions. Servante’s mistake had been believing that he knew everything about Dennis.
In the end, Dennis had hidden his feelings for three years.
That must have been why he wanted to leave the military.
Just then, Dennis appeared in the office, and Bartel immediately rushed over, grabbed him by the collar, and began cursing.
“How dare you set your sights on Her Highness the Princess when you knew perfectly well she was going to marry the Commander?”
Although Bartel had asked the question, Servante’s nerves were on edge, waiting to hear Dennis’s answer.
“……”
Dennis simply endured the torrent of curses hurled at him like bullets without giving any answer.
“You think you’re something special just because everyone praises you? How dare you do something like this to the Commander—”
“Enough.”
Servante stopped Bartel before he could finish speaking. He then ordered everyone to leave the office, leaving only Dennis behind.
Soon, only Servante and Dennis remained in the office, surrounded by an uncomfortable silence.
Dennis couldn’t think of what he should say to explain himself to Servante. There was no good solution that came to mind.
He had joined the military in place of his sickly twin brother, and at present, he was completely living under his older brother’s identity. Moreover, he couldn’t deny the fact that the person Servante knew as his older brother was the lover of Princess Katarina.
‘Should I tell him everything? If it’s the Commander….’
Perhaps Servante would understand his circumstances.
But then the words his father had spoken three years ago resurfaced in Dennis’s mind.
‘Even now, your father wishes you would change your mind.’
‘If I don’t answer the military draft, I’ll be breaking imperial law. They won’t accept that Brother Dan is sickly as an excuse.’
The Imperial Family knew very well that this was a common trick used by the sons of noble families to avoid military service.
Dennis—or rather, Dan—had been at death’s door countless times since birth. That was why his father had given the twins the same name.
But by then, his father had grown too old to go to the military in his son’s place.
‘Then promise me just one thing. Promise that you will never let anyone discover that you’re a woman, and that you will never reveal it yourself. If you do, our family will….’
“I’m sorry, Commander.”
Dennis sincerely apologized to Servante. For now, those were the only words he could offer him.
“What are you sorry for? For loving the princess, or for deceiving me?”
“Both.”
He was unnaturally calm for someone expressing remorse. That only made Servante angrier.
And he wanted to ask something.
“Dennis, what was I to you?”
“Pardon?”
At the unexpected question, Dennis’s heart began pounding violently. It hurt because he had asked and answered that question countless times in his own heart.
‘You are my conqueror.’
Servante de Rojas was everything to Dennis. He was her entire world.
It was a secret she could never bring herself to speak, which only made it more precious and sorrowful.
“You are an excellent superior and soldier.”
Dennis disappointed Servante with a formulaic answer.
That wasn’t what he wanted to hear.
Suddenly, flames seemed to rise before his eyes, and he lost control of himself.
“Dennis, you have one final choice. The princess or me.”
“……?!”
The moment Servante’s dark eyes seemed to pierce straight through Dennis, his mind became covered in snow.
It was as if he were standing alone in a snowy wilderness, only to be caught in an avalanche and rendered completely helpless. He still had a will of his own, but even that will no longer felt like it belonged to him, making it impossible for him to express it outwardly.
“Her Highness the Princess.”
Dennis answered in a decidedly firm tone.
There was no point in hesitating.
Servante desperately restrained his anger as he watched Dennis choose Princess Katarina without the slightest reconsideration.
This wasn’t simply hurt feelings.
As much as he didn’t want to admit it, the burning heat of jealousy spread deep within his chest. It was a vile emotion that could neither be logically explained nor understood by others.
He had never imagined that being rejected by Dennis in favor of someone other than the princess would make him feel such an overwhelming sense of betrayal.
Perhaps he had placed more trust in Dennis than he had realized.
Why had he been so certain that Dennis would remain by his side for the rest of his life, like thread and needle?
“I see.”
Servante answered in a calm voice.
He soon tapped his index finger against the desk, seemingly deep in thought.
“Captain Dennis, I will approve it.”
His voice was utterly businesslike and cold.
“Pardon?”
“I will approve your discharge application.”
“Thank you.”
Dennis gave Servante a slight bow.
“Disappear from before my eyes as soon as possible.”
Servante said only what he had to say, then rose from his seat and walked toward the window. He cracked it open slightly and lit another cigar.
“Commander, I’ll be taking my leave.”
Dennis saluted him properly and turned to leave the office.
But he still had one last thing he wanted to say, and he could not bring himself to open the door.
