Chapter 8: A Clingy Return
by xennovelYes, thanks to the Commander’s thoughtful arrangements, I returned safely. I appreciate the escorting knight and the use of the villa. Please accept this modest token of my gratitude.
As the conversation began, the knight’s expression gradually returned to normal.
The knight set the prepared gift on the table. As Diches held the gift box in the hand that wasn’t clasping Lara’s, the next words flowed immediately.
“I’ve come to announce our return. If there’s anything you need done, just say the word. I’ll begin clearing the dormitory at once.”
Returning to the Knight Order immediately after his honeymoon, the knight received an awkward look from Diches.
“So you won’t be staying in the dormitory anymore?”
“Yes, haha. I’ll be commuting from my new home.”
“And why is that?”
Fiddling with the bluish ribbon on the gift box, Diches asked coolly. Wasn’t that ribbon supposed to be a symbol of farewell? His deeply set eyes were as dark as the abyss.
“With me here, how could you possibly live anywhere else?”
“Pardon?”
“I’ll provide another dormitory for you and your wife. It’s not mere charity—I want to keep someone like you by my side.”
‘What the hell… is that some clingy line?’
Lara began to feel genuinely afraid of the man. At the same time, her mind raced, as if she already knew how this was going to unfold.
It seemed his obsession wasn’t limited to one target anymore—it shattered the cliché of obsessing only over the heroine.
He, who once hoarded the heroine exclusively, had transformed into a dark-hearted philanthropist intent on monopolizing everyone.
‘You’re the type who’d applaud even if the hero made a complete mess of things.’
Chapter 3: The Quintessential Big-Hearted Hero
Exhausted, Lara left the office and immediately headed for the infirmary, asking them to sterilize her hands.
While rinsing her hands at a nearby faucet to remove the acrid smell of disinfectant, a white handkerchief was suddenly offered from behind.
“If it’s alright, would you take this, Raan?”
‘Not you again.’
Her brother, ever the gentleman, offered his handkerchief with a smile. Bathed in the warm sunlight, his presence evoked memories of a kind older sibling. As Lara stood dazed, Lawrence quickly scooped the handkerchief up in front of her.
“But there’s a condition—since I know your name is an alias, you must tell me your real one.”
‘Still oblivious, huh…’
Irritated, Lara shoved his hand away and dashed toward the Training Ground.
“Wait, hold on. Edgar III is looking for you.”
Answering the call with a mere nod, Lara entered the Training Ground and spotted Edgar III sparring with a senior knight. His speed and skill made him a formidable match.
With a heavy clang of metal in the background, the senior knight bent forward. Edgar III calmly parried a sudden thrust, and soon, rapid clashes resounded as he swiftly launched his own counterattack—the tip of his sword stopping precisely beside the senior knight’s neck.
Gasping sounds filled the air as one of the onlookers raised a hand in Edgar III’s direction.
“Thank you for the sparring.”
Edgar III nodded in acknowledgment, glancing back with a composed look as if he’d long known of the watchful eyes.
“Truly impressive, Edgar III.”
“There’s no need for such praise. Compared to you, I’m nothing.”
“I really am nothing.”
Despite Lara’s heartfelt confession, Edgar III remained unmoved—the misunderstanding had long since suffocated the truth.
“You’re amazing. Even though I knew you wouldn’t believe me, you still answered with such humility.”
“No, honestly, I’m nothing compared to you! Come on, can’t you believe me? Huh?!”
“You’re incredible.”
“I’m nothing! I can’t handle a sword like you, nor can I dart around with such ease!”
“Hey, rookie! Stop downplaying yourself and come here to clean this up.”
With stern orders signaling the start of training, Lara had no choice but to join them.
While the knights cleaned sweat-soaked armor and weapons, murmurs arose near the entrance. Curious, Lara turned to see a veteran knight standing in the center of the Training Ground, his gaze heavy with solemnity.
“Anyone who entered the Commander’s office today, come out immediately.”
Lara jumped, nearly dropping the shoulder piece she held. As the murmurs grew louder and everyone hesitated, Edgar III stepped forward confidently.
Seeing a friend act honorably, Lara couldn’t help but follow, quietly positioning herself beside Edgar III.
The piercing gaze of the veteran knight fixed on her, making her feel exposed. Soon, another knight—the same one from the office—stepped up beside her.
Now, the scene featured Edgar III, Lara, and the knight returning from his honeymoon.
The veteran knight’s eyes narrowed to slits as he shot intense glances around. Both his aura and demeanor signaled that something serious was afoot. If this were a theft, the situation would undoubtedly spiral out, especially with Lara and Lady Elina III disguised as men.
‘If they were to search us…’
Lara silently hoped that the cliché about dire premonitions didn’t hold true this time. In a deep, commanding voice, the veteran knight took charge.
“Who left excrement neatly arranged under the Commander’s desk?”
“…Oh my, goodness…”
“Heavens…”
“How on earth did this happen…”
As shocked and angry murmurs erupted among the knights, only Lara reacted with a subtly amused expression.
‘Is this really something to be shocked about? It’s absurdly trivial!’
Lara couldn’t believe that such a minor incident had upended the mood, a wry smile creeping onto her face amid the seriousness.
The veteran knight, catching Lara’s expression, narrowed his eyes sharply.
“Edgar III, you’re not the one for this. Luke, the same goes for you. So it’s down to you now.”
‘Am I really the one who’s going to be blamed for this mess?!’
“You’re not managing your expression well.”
Lara, now suspected as the culprit behind the excrement plot, couldn’t hide her absurd disbelief. Her protest sounded almost laughable, just as Edgar III interjected with a serious tone.
“Raan isn’t foolish enough to relieve himself in places like that. He knows the difference between a restroom and an office.”
‘I wish he’d call himself an intelligent anti-hero…’
She couldn’t help but resent having such a friend.
“I’m sorry, Sir Edgar III, but I believe this wasn’t an accident—it was deliberate. Someone harboring ill will against the Commander set this up to tarnish his honor.”
The veteran knight, drawing on his old detective skills, began probing the case further.
“At the scene, the excrement was arranged perfectly—every piece in its place. This shows the culprit was completely at ease while doing his business.”
“That means…”
“It suggests there was an accomplice outside, aiding the culprit during the act.”
The investigation quickly expanded, and cold sweat trickled down Lara’s temples. It felt as if she were watching a well-fed dog nonchalantly nibbling on grass.
Then a knight raised his hand and stepped forward. After a brief hesitation, he managed to speak.
“I saw it. I saw Lawrence standing by the faucet with that rookie knight. I’m sure Lawrence was handing over some toilet paper.”
“Is that true, Lawrence?”
All eyes, including the veteran knight’s, shifted toward Lawrence. Lara simply watched, resigned.
“I’m innocent! All I did was offer a handkerchief. It’s the same white color, so from a distance it could be mistaken for toilet paper. But this handkerchief in my possession proves my word.”
“Then why did you offer the handkerchief to him?”
“It was… I told Raan to dry his hands since they were still wet.”
“Well, if you just did your business, you should wash your hands first. Does that testimony seal your fate? Care to explain, oh toilet paper saboteur?”
“I absolutely did not— poo… excrement splat!”
For the first time, a protest burst from Lara’s lips, though it was barely intelligible.
It was laughably absurd that they could take such an incident so seriously. The sheer irony made it impossible not to chuckle.
While Lara folded her arms and let out muffled laughs, the surrounding reactions remained icy, as if witnessing a deranged confession.
“…What a dangerous brat. Take him to the interrogation room immediately!”
“Yes, sir!”
“No, that’s not—wait, hold on.”
Lara broke into tears—it was just too hilarious.
Dragged out by knights and with Edgar III standing in front of them, Lara couldn’t stop sobbing all the way to the cold underground interrogation room. It was simply too funny.