TYBMB 30

Chapter 30 – Erenant’s Interference

January 30, 2024

“He’s coming down… don’t tell me—”

To the flustered Karl, I once again replied with a smile.

“Yup, it’s that ‘don’t tell me.’ Besides, no one’s watching right now.”

With that, I stepped over the terrace railing.

Even though it was just the second floor, it was quite a height for a normal person to jump from. But for me, it was no problem.

When you hunt monsters often, you end up needing to jump from places much higher than this. I was well-practiced in jumping.

Clutching the hem of my dress tightly, I leapt down.

Karl, startled, shouted with wide eyes.

“Deputy Commander…!”

He quickly reached his arms out toward me.

He must’ve thought I’d fall and hurt myself if I didn’t land properly.

Because of that, I became flustered too.

I hadn’t expected Karl to throw himself forward to catch me.

For a brief moment during the fall, I regretted jumping down. But sure enough, Karl caught me in his arms.

“Karl! Are you okay?!”

I wasn’t some light little child—an adult woman had just leapt down.

So the impact must’ve been significant, yet thankfully, Karl didn’t fall.

He managed to catch me in a relatively stable position despite the height.

Even so, it had been dangerous. He could’ve gotten seriously hurt.

So I began to scold him.

“I could’ve landed just fine by myself! Why’d you catch me like that? That was dangerous! Don’t tell me your shoulder’s dislocated or something?!”

Worried, I reached out to touch his shoulder.

But Karl just smiled warmly.

“I’m fine. You’re light, so it’s nothing.”

Only after hearing his reassurance could I finally breathe a little easier.

Still, just to be sure, I asked again.

“Are you really okay? And don’t say I’m light—just the weight of this dress is substantial.”

“You’re really light. If you don’t believe me, how about I carry you around the garden once?”

“…Forget it. Quit the nonsense and put me down already. You’ll dislocate your shoulder for real.”

Even though I told him to put me down, Karl didn’t immediately do so.

He held me for a moment longer until I pinched his cheek, and only then did he finally lower me to the ground.

While I picked up my shoes—which I had thrown over the railing earlier—and slipped them back on, Karl asked,

“By the way, you said you were collecting your thoughts on the terrace earlier. Did you have a serious conversation with Sir Johannes?”

“Ah, well… Johannes introduced me to his fiancée.”

“Ah, now that you mention it—I think I caught a glimpse earlier. Lady Adelheid, right?”

I nodded and went over to sit on a nearby garden bench.

Karl joined me and took a seat beside me. I opened up.

“Yes, it’s Lady Adelheid. She seems like a wonderful lady, so I gave them my blessing. But… I needed some time to sort out my feelings and thoughts.”

Karl, as always, listened quietly.

And, as always, I found comfort in that silence, which encouraged me to share more.

“Johannes told me he wants me to be happy. That it’s been his oldest and most heartfelt wish. I almost cried when I heard that.”

“That’s touching… I have a younger sister, and if she said something like that to me, I’d probably cry too. I guess that’s exactly how the Commander felt?”

“Yeah. So I made up my mind. I’ll make his wish come true no matter what. That’s why I’m going to try to be happy from now on—just like he wanted.”

Thanks to my mother’s keepsake, I’d gotten a second chance at life. So I’d already decided to live it to the fullest—for her sake.

And now, if even Johannes says his dearest wish is for me to be happy…

Then I had to try even harder.

I had to be happier. I had to make their wishes come true.

After hearing all that, Karl suddenly asked,

“Is there anything I can do?”

“Hmm?”

He turned toward me as we sat side by side on the bench.

“Karl…?”

I responded without thinking, my voice tightening just a little.

Karl met my eyes directly and said,

“I want you to be happy too, Deputy Commander. Is there any way I can help—even just a little?”

“…”

Karl was, of course, already a great help to me.

In the many trials I’d faced while hunting monsters, Karl had always been by my side, supporting me.

Without him, I might not be here today.

But still, his words felt… loaded somehow.

Was he offering help as a colleague and friend, or was there more to it?

His gaze and tone were more serious than usual, which made it harder to interpret.

Still, since he was waiting for an answer, I gave one.

“Only ‘a little’ help? You’ve always been a big help. And I’m sure you will continue to be. If I’m going to be happy, I’ll definitely need you. Because before you’re my subordinate, you’re my dear friend.”

Maybe he was just expressing that desire to support me as a subordinate or friend.

Maybe I was overthinking it—reading it like a man’s proposal to a woman.

Regardless, I intentionally emphasized the word “friend” at the end.

I thought of him as a loyal subordinate, a dear friend, even like family at times—but never as a man I had romantic feelings for.

If, by any chance, he harbored other feelings for me, I wanted to make sure he let those go.

“…”

Karl didn’t respond.

He simply looked at me, as if trying to etch my image into his eyes.

Just as the silence began to feel awkward, he suddenly burst out laughing.

“I figured. Then I’ll keep doing my best—from now on, too. To make you happy—as your subordinate and your friend, Deputy Commander Yulia.”

“Thanks.”

I guess I really had overthought it.

There was no longer that serious undertone in his voice.

He sounded just like he always did—cheerful and lighthearted.

Feeling more at ease, I asked him,

“By the way, what’s the Commander doing?”

“Busy, as usual. Like every year, he’s surrounded by young ladies.”

“Ah, of course.”

I nodded, unsurprised, and looked toward the ballroom.

“I should probably go help him.”

“You’re heading over there already? We’ve barely talked.”

“The Commander isn’t good at brushing people off, especially young ladies. If one of the chatty ones has him cornered, he might be stuck for hours.”

The Commander was particularly soft toward those younger or weaker than himself.

He just couldn’t say no.

That’s why he was probably still stuck among the noble ladies.

“Yeah, if it’s the Commander, he might be stuck all night.”

“Well, I’ll head over. Are you going to stay here?”

“Yes. I think I’ll sit here and mope while stargazing. I’ve got a lot on my mind too.”

I smiled at Karl, then began walking toward the ballroom.

As I turned briefly to look back, I saw Karl waving at me.

Sitting alone on the garden bench, waving with a faint smile, he looked strangely lonely.

I hesitated for a moment, but eventually turned away.

I felt a little bad for Karl—but rescuing the Commander took priority.

* * *

As soon as I returned to the ballroom, I began searching for the Commander.

He was easy to spot, thanks to his tall height.

Sure enough, he was completely surrounded by young noble ladies.

The Commander was tall and handsome, which made him very popular among noblewomen.

So at any event or festival, he always ended up like this.

Erenant, in contrast, could be sweet-talking one moment and then coldly rejecting women the next.

But the Commander wasn’t like that.

He’d patiently listen to them chatter for hours.

I suspected it was because he didn’t want to hurt their feelings.

Anyway, I started walking toward him to help.

That was when Erenant suddenly appeared and blocked my path.

“Where are you going?”

“I have something I need to say to the Commander.”

Upon hearing my short reply, Erenant’s eyes twitched slightly.

I ignored him and tried to walk past—but he blocked me again.

“You’re my partner tonight. I’d prefer if you focused on me.”