Chapter 5
Chapter 5
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: Promotion
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Luna ordered the knights to investigate the incident and, after reporting on the backlog of work, finally returned to her room.
“Haah...”
Exhausted from the whirlwind of events over the past few days, Luna collapsed onto her bed.
-Thud.
Assassination attempts were an annual occurrence, so she was no longer terribly shocked by them, but this incident had crossed a line... no, it had obliterated every boundary.
Over sixty new guards had been massacred, leaving just one survivor, and she herself had been poisoned with an aphrodisiac and lost her virginity.
Of course, no one knew about her lost virginity, so if Luna and Aiden stayed silent, it wouldn't become an issue... but dozens of deaths was a massive problem.
“If I catch whoever's behind this, I won't let them get away with it.”
Lying on the bed, racking her brain over who the traitor or mastermind might be, a scene suddenly flashed through her mind.
Herself, moving her hips like a beast atop the man pinned beneath her.
“Ah... I should've just died then.”
The image of herself panting desperately in a stranger's arms filled Luna with shame.
She wasn't some emotionless monster, merely desensitized.
She'd played it off casually in front of Aiden, but truthfully, it mortified her.
A virgin like her had lewdly rocked her hips atop a man's body.
She'd always had little sex drive, so why had she moved like such a wild animal...? She desperately wanted to pin it all on the aphrodisiac.
“If I catch them, I'll flay their skin and salt it.”
After unleashing a torrent of curses at the shadowy culprits,
Whenever she closed her eyes, memories of that day resurfaced.
Each sway brought intense pleasure laced with hallucinations.
The aphrodisiac contained narcotic compounds, so it was inevitable, but she hadn't stopped—chasing that stimulation, she'd kept grinding her hips.
Desperate for even one more taste of that scorching ecstasy, no, yearning for it to surge endlessly, she'd shaken her hips like a whore atop a stranger... and it had felt insanely good. That experience refused to leave her mind.
Now she understood why noblewomen always gossiped about their nights together, and just how exquisite it could be.
She knew now.
“Ah... right, what if I get pregnant?”
Their first time together.
The realization that every climax had ended inside her turned Luna's face pale.
If she ended up with a child, everything would get complicated.
She'd fended off suitors by declaring perpetual celibacy, but bearing the child of some outsider commoner like Aiden? They might interpret it as a grave insult to their houses.
And her relationship with Aiden would be a problem too.
Either raise the child as a bastard or marry him—which meant a man reigning over her life.
“That can't happen.”
But refusing marriage would brand any child between them a bastard, dooming it to a brutal future.
“Haah, who knew I'd ever worry about something like this...”
The ceiling light felt brighter than usual today. Luna covered her eyes with the back of her hand and sank into thought.
‘Can you really get pregnant from just once?’
Whatever the odds, a bolt of fear struck her. Luna bolted upright from the bed and hurried to the bathroom, scrubbing her privates furiously.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The next morning.
-Knock knock! Aiden! Get up!
-Knock knock! I said get up!
The landlady's voice jolted him awake.
-What did you get up to out there!? The lord's knights are here!?
“Huh?”
Luna's promised reward flashed in his mind, snapping his eyes wide open.
-Creak.
“The knights are here?”
The brown-haired landlady nodded grimly.
“Yes! They're looking for you right now!”
He called out urgently to her as she slammed the door.
“Tell them I'll wash up quick and come down!”
He wrung out a towel in the basin's water and wiped down his body in a rush.
Sticky compared to a modern shower, but unless you were nobility, full baths were rare.
Once wiped, he felt somewhat refreshed.
But don't I have work today?
He was due in soon under normal circumstances, but skipping a potential house in this situation would be idiotic.
Besides, the reward came straight from the Grand Duchess—no guard unit would dare complain.
What could they do when the ruler of Heyron Grand Duchy had sent knights on official business?
Grinning at the thought, he slipped into his clothes.
A threadbare white shirt and long trousers. Stepping out, he spotted a knight clad in gleaming white armor and a boy who looked a bit young. He greeted them.
“Hello? I'm Aiden.”
“Pleased to meet you. I'm Charles, a knight of Heyron Grand Duchy.”
“I'm Jin, squire to Sir Charles.”
They dipped their heads in greeting, then Charles spoke up.
“Her Highness the Grand Duchess commanded us to secure lodging for her benefactor.”
Landing a house this easily... people are the same everywhere, it seems.
Even modern society runs on connections.
“Oh my! Aiden's the lord's benefactor?”
Ignoring the astonished landlady, he hurried the knights along.
“We need to hustle if we're house-hunting. Let's go.”
“Right. This way.”
Trailing the knight and squire, they toured several houses in Vain, Heyron Grand Duchy's capital, but something felt off.
Every place Charles and Jin showed him was weirdly shaped.
Normal houses stretched long along the road... but how to put it?
All the ones they picked had narrow road frontage, extending deep backward.
And that wasn't all.
These elongated houses crammed tight against the main street like coops, giving an uncomfortable squeeze.
The layouts felt downright awkward.
From outside, just two tiny front windows.
Inside was weirder.
Front door opened to a long living room housing kitchen and bath, with the bedroom shoved at the far end.
Only one window apiece in the bedroom and living room—no others.
They're seriously only showing me bizarre houses... Usually rooms fan out from a central living area, but these were utterly alien structures.
Are they... deliberately pushing cheap dumps?
Makes sense—these shapes aren't pretty, and foot traffic would tangle horribly.
Definitely budget options.
As he nixed every house he inspected, Charles and Jin's faces grew stiffer.
They looked increasingly miffed, probably pegging him as greedy for rejecting freebies.
Sure, a handout's a handout—gratefully take the cheap stuff... but he had no intention of squandering his shot at a lifetime score.
With Luna's icy demeanor, he'd have snatched whatever without complaint, but these knights changed the game.
No way they'd off the lord's benefactor for picking pricey, right?
Common sense said she hadn't spilled the aphrodisiac-rescue details, just vaguely calling him 'benefactor.'
So they were clueless. Time to push harder?
“These aren't cutting it either. Anything else?”
“One last house... but it's nothing special.”
Charles's words pinged his instincts.
'Nothing special' screamed lie—probably a premium gem they'd held back.
Too ritzy, so they dangled it last to scare him off? He guessed and pressed.
“I'd still like to see it.”
His smile made Charles and Jin exchange glances, as if debating whether to show the expensive one.
“Very well. Follow us.”
The house they led him to was exactly the normal one he'd envisioned.
Spacious living room, generous windows.
Two bedrooms to boot—pure bliss.
See? Nailed it.
To any onlooker, it screamed perfectly ordinary. With no need to browse further, he declared,
“I like this one.”
“Y-You're... serious?”
Charles and Jin gawked at him.
Heh, why pick the flawed starters when a solid house is on offer? No sucker here.
You lowballed me hard.
Smug as could be, he watched Charles fumble for words and Jin heave a deep sigh, shaking his head.
“I'll handle the ownership transfer at city hall.”
Charles nodded and eyed him.
“Deed should be ready by afternoon. Need anything else? Her Highness said to furnish as required.”
He sorely needed a bed, sofa, and cooking gear—music to his ears.
Luna, you rock! True novel heroine.
Icy exterior, but those thoughtful touches... He teared up inwardly.
Thanks. Our secret dies with me.
Even back in Korea, lips sealed forever.
“Was just about to shop for furniture. Her Highness is too kind.”
Charles scratched his head.
“She might come off cold in manner or speech, but she's got a warm heart.”
Warm heart? Debatable. Overflowing consideration? Undeniable.
Heh... Nah, Luna, I won't haunt your name forever!
Probably exactly what you want from me.
From today, I forget you existed!
Beaming brightly, he said,
“Please pass on my thanks and regards to Her Highness.”
“Oh, and Aiden—we nearly forgot. You're promoted. Effective today, Squad Leader of Guard Detachment 5.”
“What?!”