Chapter 30
Chapter 30
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: Massage
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Luna finished her day's work.
She waited for Aiden at the training grounds, but...
"Why isn't he coming?"
She hadn't heard that he'd gone off to buy condoms.
After waiting a long time with no sign of him, Luna gave Charles an order.
"Find Aiden and bring him here."
"Understood."
'Tch... Doesn't he know how rare it is for a Swordmaster to personally review his swordsmanship?'
She knew Aiden hated learning swordsmanship.
He made it so obvious from the look on his face that only an idiot wouldn't notice.
But there was a reason Luna was forcing him.
It was only natural to assign him to a relatively safe spot during the northern reclamation, but all sorts of things could happen during reclamation efforts, and that worried her.
What if Aiden got captured by orcs or elves as a prisoner?
She thought it would be incredibly hard to keep her sanity if that happened.
With Aiden weighing on her mind, Luna found it difficult to choose the option of leaving him behind.
All her secretaries were participating—leaving just Aiden out would surely spark rumors.
Rumors that she was giving him special treatment, or that she didn't trust him, things like that.
She knew full well none of it would be good for Aiden.
"Hah, that jerk has no idea how much I'm looking out for him."
She was always cold when dealing with others.
It wasn't that she truly lacked emotions...
It was an unconscious self-defense mechanism to avoid getting hurt herself.
If you never relied on anyone in the first place, betrayal wouldn't hurt as much.
She viewed human relationships with ruthless calculation.
That was the only way her heart felt at ease.
Give money to the poor, honor to those who craved it, and make them follow her.
And always keep in mind that they could betray her at any moment.
That was Luna's way of dealing with people.
But why was Aiden different?
She felt he was a little different from the others.
Of course, it was physical attraction, but it was natural for Luna—who'd been a virgin until recently—not to realize that.
In any case, while Luna waited for Aiden...
She spotted Charles approaching the training grounds alone from afar.
'Why's he alone? Where's Aiden?'
Charles made an awkward face as he approached Luna.
"Secretary Aiden left the Grand Ducal Palace with Jin a long time ago."
"What?"
She'd given up her own training time to coach him personally, and he'd ungratefully run off? Luna trembled with anger.
There were only five Swordmasters on the entire continent.
Neither Luna—one of them—nor Charles had expected Aiden to run away from her personal instruction.
Trembling with a sense of betrayal she hadn't anticipated at all, she flashed a cold smile.
"That's how you want to play it, huh?"
Today, her red eyes seemed to burn fiercely.
'Just you wait until tonight.'
With revenge in mind, Luna bit her lip hard, drew her real sword, and meditated on how to torment Aiden tomorrow.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The next day.
Morning duties in the office, followed by the ministers' meeting in the afternoon.
Unlike the last secretaries' meeting, she was fully alert this time.
The reason...
"Large-scale population influx across all regions of the Grand Duchy. Most are construction workers from merchant guilds and companies. Truly astonishing. I've been a civil servant for quite a while, but I've never seen so many people move in such a short time."
Goethe continued his report with a surprised expression.
"Secretary Aiden's plan has exceeded expectations, so we should raise the targets for next year and the year after."
Finance Minister Goethe praising me.
The results were so impressive even I felt proud, so I glanced at Luna with a look that said...
See? Aren't I amazing?
But her gaze toward me was utterly indifferent.
What was it? She looked like she had something to say.
Why's she in such a bad mood? Did something happen?
"Haha, Secretary Aiden. You've got great foresight."
"Indeed. Even back in the Interior Ministry, his abilities stood out."
The more they hyped me up, the colder the atmosphere from Luna grew.
What? What's her problem?
"Impressive results, E...I...Den."
Her praise felt laced with thorns.
Why's she doing this to me? What did I do?
Then I remembered: yesterday, I'd slipped out of the palace without a word to her and crashed at home.
No way... She's not mad about me skipping training, is she?
I wasn't the only one sensing the icy tension.
"Ahem... Next report."
The reports continued like that.
Everyone in the conference room kept stealing glances at Luna and me.
I desperately hoped the chilling meeting would end soon...
"That concludes the council meeting. And Aiden..."
Why... why call on me?
Her eyes gleamed menacingly as she stared me down.
"I need to talk to you. Stay behind."
As soon as Luna spoke, everyone else bolted from the room like arrows. I sank into despair.
Don't go! Don't leave me behind!
Feeling betrayed as they ignored my silent pleas and fled...
-Bang.
Now alone in the conference room with her, Luna glared at me.
"Aiden? You didn't show up at the training grounds yesterday. Where were you?"
"Well..."
Should I tell her I went to buy condoms?
As I pondered, she sighed.
"Hah, do you hate learning swordsmanship that much?"
Her eyes suggested some misunderstanding.
Honestly, saying I forgot because I was buying condoms felt... no, utterly embarrassing.
With no response from me, she seemed to confirm her misconception and spoke calmly, like she was admonishing me.
"Aiden... I know you hate learning swordsmanship, but if something happens during the northern reclamation..."
"No, that's not it... This time, I went out to buy condoms and forgot."
Luna jumped in surprise at my words.
"Huh? Condoms?"
"Yeah, we haven't been careful with birth control, right? So I figured I'd buy some while I was out..."
As I trailed off, Luna's face flushed red as if steam would pour out.
"That's what it was? And I didn't realize..."
A brief silence followed.
I had no idea what to say.
She just fidgeted with her hands, her face still red, unable to speak.
"W-Well... See you at the training grounds later."
The Luna who devoured me like a beast at night was acting so shy...
Why is she this cute?
I couldn't help but smile.
"Yeah, I won't be late today."
With that farewell, I headed to my office.
And I regretted going to the training grounds that day like crazy.
"Hngh! I'm dying here!"
An hour into my mindless horizontal sword swings.
"You haven't even hit 200 yet! No whining. Imagine an enemy right in front of you!"
Glancing at the scolding Luna, I felt resentful.
I'd already run 10 laps around the training grounds.
Then a one-minute break before swinging the sword like a madman—how could it not be exhausting?
Too wiped out to continue, I collapsed to the ground.
How bad was it? Sweat pouring down my body in the dead of winter, breaths coming in gasps—that says it all, right?
"Hah... hah... No joke, my arms are gonna fall off!"
"What kind of man gets this tired?"
Her gaze felt unfair, so I shouted back.
"This is more than enough, right? And it's not 200—it's 600 total! What kind of Swordmaster teaches swordsmanship this brutally?"
But she didn't see it that way, glaring at me sternly.
"Swordsmanship basics are all about stamina. Yours seems below average, Aiden."
"Below average? That's not fair!"
But Luna didn't buy it, giving me a thoughtful look as she replied.
"Even the farmers I trained last time did way more than this."
Her words hurt my feelings.
"Farmers use their bodies every day—it's obvious they'd be fitter!"
The farmers here had great stamina by default.
Spending all day in the scorching sun doing backbreaking farm work toughened them up.
Compared to that, it was natural for me—used to modern conveniences—to lag behind.
"Whatever! I can't do more!"
I flopped flat on the ground, and Luna sighed.
"Hah... Fine, that's enough for today. Wash up in your room and come out—you'll have time for dinner then."
With that, she extended her hand to me.
"Come on, get up."
I grabbed her hand and pulled myself up.
After washing up in my room and coming out...
-Knock knock.
-Secretary Aiden, I've brought your meal.
"Ah! Thanks."
The green-haired maid pushing a cart met my eyes, blushed, and looked away.
"H-Here it is."
Why's she like that?
But I quickly realized why the maid was reacting that way.
Oh... It's because I'm in a robe?
I'd just showered, so I had on underwear, a t-shirt, and a robe—must look suspicious.
"I have clothes on underneath."
I defended myself, but...
"Y-Yes..."
She avoided me even more.
She hurriedly set the food on the table, her eyes darting wildly...
And wheeled the cart away.
No... No! It's not what you think...
I got the feeling I'd be labeled a pervert by tomorrow if this went on.
"Ugh... I'm innocent. Nothing like that happened."
After finishing my meal, I lay down to sleep...
-Rustle...
A presence at the window again.
No way... Again?
-Knock knock.
Confirming my thought, a knock from the window.
The window eased open, and Luna slipped in wearing comfortable clothes.
"How's your body?"
"Everything aches. But... I'm too wiped out today to do anything."
At my words, Luna smirked wickedly as she approached.
"Pfft... Don't worry. I came to give you a massage tonight."