Chapter 32: Misunderstandings and New Beginnings

“Uh… Commander, why are you giving me this? Is it meant to cheer me up?”

“At this rate, training will be disrupted. This book should help calm you down.”

“…….”

As Lara’s face shifted through shades of red and blue, Diches acted coolly as if there were no embarrassment to be had.

“I understand. After all, aren’t we both after the same man?”

“No—I said a woman!”

“Ah, really? I got a bit mixed up there. I’ll return it,” he said, nonchalantly.

‘Is that even more important…?!’

With trembling hands, Lara reluctantly handed back the risqué magazine. He longed to smack the back of his head for this absurd display, but instead he quickly demanded his leave form and prepared to depart.

At that moment the door swung open, and Lady Elina I, her long silver hair cascading behind her, stepped in. She had been carrying a lunchbox when she spotted the pair.

Thud! The lunchbox hit the floor. As its lid flew open and a dramatic spill of food ensued, Lara stood there utterly dumbfounded.

“Lara… oh, so you two were together. I’m sorry. Excuse my intrusion.”

Turning quickly, Lady Elina I dashed out. Immediately, Diches grabbed Lara and demanded sharply,

“What exactly did you do just now?”

“I did nothing…”

“You did nothing, yet Lady Elina I acted like that, didn’t she?”

“I’m not Lady Elina V—I certainly didn’t shoot lasers from my eyes to hit the lunchbox…”

Lara was at a loss as to where the misunderstanding had begun that sent her fleeing.

Diches chased Lady Elina I into the corridor while Lara remained in the office, the echoes of their voices clear through the open door.

“Wait a minute. Where do you think you’re going?”

“Just finish your conversation with Lara privately. I—I would only be in the way.”

“Who says I’m in the way?”

‘Of course, dropping by during work hours is bound to be disruptive…’

Unlike Lara’s indifferent stance, the two launched into an impassioned tug-of-war. Before long, Diches seized Lady Elina I’s delicate wrist and pulled her into the office.

Standing at a distance behind Diches, Lara hesitated, “Hey, can I have my leave form…?”

“It’s all a misunderstanding.”

“I… knew it. I wasn’t your first woman.”

“I said it’s a misunderstanding. And haven’t I already told you that none of those 81 women were ever genuine? I never gave my heart to anyone.”

“Neither did I. Just knowing you were my first man made my heart swell…I was happy, with all the times we laughed together.”

‘They’ve barely known each other for a month…’

While Lara seethed in silence, a dramatic scene unfolded outside as Lady Elina I clutched Diches’ garment, tears glistening transparently.

“Then why did you hold onto me? We weren’t even together… sob.”

“It’s a misunderstanding. Do I look like some guy who just grabs anyone? Yes—you’re the 128th. I’ve never truly been sincere with anyone but you.”

“Hey, my leave form…”

Overwhelmed by tender glances and gentle caresses sliding over her cheeks, Lady Elina I lowered her head and sniffled.

“I feel so worthless…I doubted my own friend, doubted you…am I really that bad?”

“No. What other woman is as gentle and kind as you? It’s okay to have doubts—as long as you promise you won’t pull away completely, I’ll always accept them, Lady Elina I.”

“Sob… I’m sorry.”

“Hey, my leave form…”

At last, Lady Elina I broke into another bout of tears. Diches swiftly moved his hand from one cheek to the other, wiping her tears away as persistently as a determined cockroach avoiding extermination.

“Dry your tears and look at me. It’s all just a misunderstanding.”

“Hey, when will I get my leave form…?”

“Though I’ve had countless lovers and shared intimate moments over 1,153 times with others, you’re the only one I’ve ever been sincere with.”

‘No wonder Lady Elina I has her doubts!’

With that kind of womanizing, it’s a miracle Lady Elina I hasn’t locked him away.

“I didn’t mean to reveal all this… My mother was a selfish woman who neglected her son and husband, preferring to frolic with her lovers.”

“Ah…”

Lady Elina I moaned sorrowfully. Meanwhile, as the conversation deepened, Lara felt his heart pounding in frustration.

“Before I met my father—the Duke—my mother was notorious for her escapades. When I suddenly arrived, my father, hiding her true status, took her in as his concubine.”

“Ah…”

Thus began a heartrending family tale lasting nearly 30 minutes, intended to justify the male lead’s past. By that time, Lara, exhausted from standing, had collapsed onto a sofa to wait.

“Because of that, my father even had to assume the debt of my mother’s uncle. It seemed my mother might finally be free. But… that was merely the start of our tragedy. My mother’s uncle schemed to squeeze more money from the Duke’s household, and finally, my mother was…”

“Ah…”

“After having him locked up, he got his sentence reduced on account of drinking and was released in less than five years. Unable to locate my vacationing mother, he targeted me, the Duke’s son…”

“Ah…”

And so, 1 hour and 30 minutes passed.

“That’s why I never received my mother’s love. Perhaps out of spite, I even began to despise women.”

‘…I feel like I’m starting to hate you too.’

Lara nearly wished he could knock his superior out, rummage through the desk for his leave form, and get out of there.

“This is the first time someone’s seen the real me beyond the title. Every woman approached solely for the Duke’s title.”

With wounded, pleading eyes, he looked like a cockroach cowering before an extermination spray.

Thankfully, the story seemed to end there when Lady Elina I embraced Diches with both arms around his large frame. Diches, surprisingly softened by her small, warm body, let his stern expression melt away—a perfect portrayal of the caring, clichéd female lead mending a wounded man’s heart.

“Now, may I please have my leave form…”

Just as Lara timidly tried to bring up the matter of his leave form, Diches bowed his head and began kissing Lady Elina I. Watching the two pressed against the wall, Lara thought quietly,

‘…those cockroach-like Saeki.’

* * *

A few days later, Lara was given a failing mark on his promotion exam, becoming the Imperial Knight Order’s first.

Could this mean his dismissal? Deep down, Lara secretly hoped so. Even when Diches called him in personally, he smiled absently, unaware of the gravity.

“Wha-what did you just say?”

But waiting for Lara wasn’t a dismissal at all.

“They’ve ordered you transferred to the sales department of the Imperial Knight Order.”

“There’s even such a division in the Imperial Knight Order…?”

“No, it’s a newly established department.”

Seated comfortably at his desk, Diches removed his shimmering glasses to wipe them clean. Lara stood before him, listening intently.

“If you stay on like this, your dismissal is inevitable. But no matter how lousy your swordsmanship may be, I have no intention of letting you go.”

“Didn’t you just say it was lousy?”

“So here’s the deal: You’re being transferred to a department where you won’t have to train intensively.”

“You just said it was lousy.”

When Lara persistently questioned him, Diches fell silent. After a pause, he continued,

“You’re trying one way or another to get away from me. Fine. For the department to actually run, results matter. So, Kyung Raan, I have a proposal for you.”

“I heard you loud and clear—lousy, indeed.”

“Recruit 100 new knights in one week.”

“What kind of crazy talk is that?”

“Exactly. If you can enroll 100 rookie knights within a week as a member of the sales department, you’ll be free.”

“You mean…”

“Yes. You can even get dismissed.”

Complete freedom. The kind of freedom Lara had dreamt of. If it meant escaping this stifling swamp of sweat and misery, he’d even sell his soul.

“I’ll do it… I’ll get 100 recruits!”

Standing tall before Diches, Lara confidently embraced his new role in the sales department.

‘…100 recruits. I’ll get them without a hitch.’

Like a low-ranking clerk determined to sell 100 electric blankets, Lara resolutely climbed into the carriage. His first target was the Lady Elinas.

Arriving at Duke Liniat’s Mansion, Lara soon managed to meet the Lady Elinas in the reception room. Only Lady Elina I, busy embroidering a handkerchief for Diches, and Lady Elina II, lounging leisurely on the sofa, were present—but the feeling was promising from the start.

“Let’s cut to the chase. Why not join the Knight Order?”

“Huh?”

“Wha—what did you just say?”

Two clear, girlish voices blended with two cheerful, boyish tones in unison. As expected, their reactions couldn’t have been more different.