Chapter 56
Chapter 56
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: Acknowledging Value
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Early in the morning, the Southern Knights assembled for the first time in a while. Lena was on her way to meet them after summoning the knights, but she was dressed in light ladies' attire rather than her uniform. The reason was simple. Why bother wearing the commander's outfit when she wasn't going to receive a warm welcome anyway?
'The mood will be even worse than before.'
Lena figured the knights would treat her more coldly than they had at their first meeting. Even after the first expedition ended, they had been uncomfortable around her, and one knight had even incurred the emperor's wrath. They might even blame her for that. And now, with rumors swirling that she was in a passionate affair with the Eastern Duke, she must seem several times more grating to them.
'I just hope I don't hear any weird remarks.'
Last time, what had they said? Something about her being a loose-tongued woman? If they were the type to laugh while saying that, they could easily mock her love life. Lena didn't want her relationship with Lin treated that way. So, with the intent to get through only the necessary talk and leave quickly, she hurried to the meeting hall.
But reality turned out to be completely different from what Lena expected.
"We've been waiting for you, Lady Lena."
A knight greeted her with a crisp salute full of respect. He was the one who had told her at the previous meeting that he could not accept her as commander. Lena stared in stunned silence at the knights lined up and saluting her.
"What is this all of a sudden?"
"We were quite rude last time."
The knight apologized politely before Lena could even respond. So she tilted her head and asked back.
"Have you given up on your superstitions?"
"We didn't believe in superstitions even then."
"Then what is it?"
When Lena pressed, the knight looked at her for a moment. Then, in a voice utterly serious, he reported.
"We heard that you are the Executor."
At the word "Executor," Lena involuntarily squeezed her eyes shut. Executor—that nickname really burdened her. As Lena looked embarrassed, the knight added gravely.
"If you'd told us sooner, we wouldn't have committed such discourtesy."
"You shouldn't commit that kind of discourtesy even without being told."
Lena muttered weakly, but the knights didn't take offense. They simply nodded in humble agreement. Because of that, Lena was inwardly exasperated.
'So that's why their attitudes changed?'
She thought she should have mentioned it sooner.
'No, even if I had back then, it wouldn't have mattered.'
Amid all the distrust and dissatisfaction, declaring herself the Executor would have just earned mockery. It was only after the first expedition that the title carried weight. A suspicious woman who returned alone with all the credit—turns out she was the Executor. Even she had to admit it painted a pretty plausible picture. But did that warrant such a complete turnaround in attitude?
'I knew they were simple folk, but...'
Lena smiled faintly at the knights' palm-turning stances. She had no desire to condemn them. Bowing and bending with the situation was just the way of the world, so she couldn't exactly fail to understand their change.
"I'll accept your apologies. We're stuck together anyway."
In the end, Lena spoke more gently, and the stiffly standing knights secretly sighed in relief. Thinking it had gone well, Lena addressed the clustered fingers—wait, the knights.
"You all know why we're gathered today. The schedule for the next expedition has come down. And starting tomorrow, we'll also take on rift monitoring duties."
Lena got straight to business without delay. She assumed they were worried about it.
"I know it's burdensome for everyone, but don't worry too much. I'll handle the next expedition alone, just like before. And for the monitoring duty, we've secured support from the East. So, knights, you can just assist the Eastern Knights from your positions."
Lena thought the timid Southern Knights would feel relieved hearing this. But her expectations missed the mark again. For some reason, the knights' expressions were odd. Far from reassured, they stared at her like children who'd had their gift snatched away.
"Is there a problem?"
When Lena asked what was wrong, the knights said nothing. They just belatedly averted their gazes, murmuring it was nothing.
. . . Lena explained the upcoming schedule and duties to the knights, instructing them to set the rotation themselves. As she finished and turned to leave, one knight chased after her.
"Lady Lena!"
The one who stopped her in the corridor was the knight who always spoke on behalf of the others. Lena halted at the call and started to respond, only to realize belatedly that she still didn't know his name.
"You are..."
"I'm Eden Pieta, eldest son of the Pieta Count family."
"Ah, I see..."
Lena nodded, then suddenly recalled the knight roster the Southern Duke had shown her. She had laughed seeing a son only ten years younger than his father; that was the Pieta Count family. As Lena blinked in recollection, Eden confessed.
"Actually, I'm the count's younger brother."
"Ah."
"His half-brother."
"Ah..."
Lena nodded deeply at the sudden backstory, and Eden awkwardly changed the subject.
"There's something I'd like to discuss about this mission."
"What is it?"
"First, I fully trust your judgment on the expedition. But regarding the rift monitoring—must we really rely on Eastern support?"
"What do you mean?"
When Lena asked for clarification, Eden bit his lower lip for a moment. Then, in a gloomy voice, he replied.
"If we accept help from the East, our reputation will hit rock bottom."
Lena's eyes widened at Eden's words. Harsh as it was, she didn't think they were in a position to worry about face or reputation. So she said honestly.
"I think preserving our lives is more important than saving face."
"But Lady, sometimes there are things more important than life."
"Like face?"
"No, recognition."
Eden answered with a stern face.
"As you know, we were drafted from our families. Most of us were pushed into this unwillingly, so we were just trying to survive. But seeing you, we realized we'd been steeped in defeatism before we even started."
"That's not defeatism, it's..."
Realism, isn't it? Lena held back the rest. But Eden continued emphatically, as if he hadn't caught her faint voice.
"You must know it bone-deep too. The pain of being discarded by your family for not being valued."
Lena's expression hardened briefly at Eden's words. Noticing her agitation, Eden pleaded again.
"We need a chance to return to our families with pride. So please, reconsider."
Eden bowed his head as he spoke, and Lena gazed at him quietly. After a moment, she opened her mouth.
"I'm sorry, but I can't gamble with that."
At the refusal, Eden lifted his head again. But before he could speak, Lena added.
"But I'll give your opinion serious thought."
***
"What are you thinking so deeply about?"
It was a low, pleasant rumbling voice. Lost in thought, Lena turned toward the sound and smiled brightly. Amid the thick darkness, a beautiful person like the moon appeared. It was Lin. Their midnight rendezvous in the garden continued today as well. No longer a secret, it was the open affair between the Eastern Duke and the Southern Duke's proxy.
"So much happened yesterday and today."
"What happened?"
"Meeting His Majesty yesterday, and seeing the knights today."
"...Can I ask what you talked about with the emperor?"
"Hm, I was going to bring it up anyway..."
Lena trailed off, casting her gaze beyond the dense branches. Then, murmuring toward the shadows on the palace windows,
"There are a lot of eyes watching."
Lin looked in the same direction and sighed. What had once been their private time, these midnight trysts, were no longer secretive or quiet. With their relationship official, rumors spread that they met in the garden every night. Some nobles had started spying to verify the gossip firsthand, leaving Lena and Lin gawked at by nobles plastered to the lakeside palace windows.
"Shall we move somewhere else?"
"That would just make the rumors worse."
"So what."
Lin laughed and extended his hand. Not to hold, but to beckon her over. Lena understood the gesture correctly. But instead of stepping forward, she silently stared at his hand, then lightly grasped it in return. Surprised by the unexpected touch, Lin paused, and Lena added calmly.
"It's weird if we walk separately. We're lovers, after all."
If they couldn't link arms, at least hold hands. Thinking that, Lena stood beside Lin. Then she asked the silent man.
"Are you uncomfortable?"
"No..."
Lin answered softly, then gripped her hand back. Pretending nonchalance, he muttered.
"I think we need to show them. People are suspicious."
"Suspicious of what?"
"That I'm using you."
"Pfft!"
Lena burst out laughing at Lin's whisper. Lin added more aggrievedly.
"Even in the East, they don't seem to trust me much..."
Lena clutched her stomach laughing at his sulky tone. Of course—the cold, arrogant Eastern Duke in love? People eyed it suspiciously. Rumors that he had no affection for the Southern Duke's proxy, just lusted for her body and abilities, or was doing it to spite the Southern Duke.
"People don't know you at all, Lin."
Lena finally stopped laughing and said, interlacing their fingers as she vowed.
"We need to show them more lovey-dovey moments."
As Lena smiled brightly, Lin forced a smile back. Truth be told, Lin was utterly flustered by the sensation of her fingers intertwining. She held his hand affectionately, smiled brightly, laced their fingers. All good signs. His heart fluttered secretly, pulse racing as he looked at Lena's hand in his. Staring made him greedy somehow. So Lin moved without thinking.
"Not just getting along..."
Lin pulled her hand as he spoke. Caught off guard by the sudden tug, Lena was drawn helplessly forward. Lin gently pushed her against a nearby large tree. As her back met the trunk, he stepped closer, leaning his head over her shoulder. Then he whispered softly.
"I need to look like I like you more."
The two figures overlapping looked exactly like they were about to kiss. But the only points of contact were their laced hands and tiptoes; everywhere else untouched, tension soaring. Lena, cornered in an instant, lost her words in shock. Lin's broad shoulders blocked the moonlight in her view. His thick shoulders felt strangely unfamiliar, making her blink. As Lena fell silent, Lin asked cautiously.
"Are you uncomfortable?"
"...No."
Truthfully, she was. More than uncomfortable—flustered. But not wanting to show it, Lena answered softly. Her voice trembled, unfortunately.
"Really?"
Lin asked innocently, irritating her a bit. She bit her lower lip secretly, then placed her hand on his neck like a lover. This time, Lin's shoulders flinched. Feeling his tension vividly, Lena said calmly this time.
"Yes, really. And you, Lin?"
"...Me too."
Though he said he was fine, Lin felt his nape heating. To hide his flush, he pressed his forehead to the tree. Their bodies pressed even closer. Neither moved in that state. They simply didn't know how. Awkward even alone, but with watchers. So Lena and Lin pretended to kiss, bodies overlapped for a long while.
"...His Majesty talked a lot about Duke Naza yesterday."
After a moment, Lena broke the awkwardness. Lin nodded slightly in agreement.
"He offered me Duke Naza's position."
"...To you?"
"Not to become Eastern Duke. More like..."
Then Lin suddenly lifted his head. As Lena paused in surprise, he asked with utmost gravity.
"Did he say he'd kill you if you disappoint him?"
Lena nodded without thinking at the precise question.