Chapter 45
Chapter 45
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: Ainel's Sex Talk for Ariana
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After filling my belly and returning to my spot, I felt the stares intensifying even more. Some smirked mockingly as they looked my way. Three hours remained until lights out. Even though the sun had set, I couldn't just nod off early whenever I wanted. I had to maintain my weapons and gear to get through the rest of the day.
Over there was Ainel, back from patrol—and whatever else. She was chattering noisily with some other guys.
...What to do?
As I stared off at the distant forest, things suddenly quieted down beside me. Curious, I glanced over and...
"Hail to Her Highness the Princess!"
One of the knights saluted on behalf of the group. Ariana, Rise, and the princess were heading our way.
"So this is the Gold Eagle Knight Order... What fine morale."
It was night, but the princess's silver hair still reflected the light beautifully. Even clad in armor, she couldn't hide her elegant bloodline.
"At ease, everyone. Ariana Katrin."
"Yes."
"It was a pleasant talk. Looking forward to tomorrow."
"Yes, Your Highness."
She probably wanted to pull the Katrin earldom—and the entire Gold Eagle Knight Order—to her side. From what I'd seen so far, Ariana held a neutral position, making her prime prey in Princess Asabel Sylv's eyes.
"Hm?"
"Is something wrong?"
Asabel, who had been surveying the area carefully, pointed right at me.
"Who's that one? Doesn't look like a knight, but he seems pretty strong. A squire?"
"He's not a knight yet, but a soldier brimming with potential. I'm training him personally."
"The commander herself...?"
She seemed slightly intrigued by the idea of the commander raising him personally. But that was the extent of it. She turned away, interest gone.
"Then I'll head back to my tent."
"Yes. See you tomorrow morning."
Asabel departed for her tent, escorted by imperial knights. I'd tensed up a bit when she suddenly singled me out.
"Daron."
"Yes."
Ariana approached me as she finished inspecting the knights. Rise, trailing behind her, lit up with delight at the sight of me.
"How was today? Being surrounded by knights—didn't it get to you a little?"
"No. It was perfectly manageable."
"'Manageable' implies it carried some weight. How was the food? The Gold Eagle Knight Order's specialist cooks are excellent."
Such things were beyond me.
"Ah... haha. It was splendid."
I couldn't judge the taste, but it sure looked delicious. Visually speaking, it was top-notch.
As I gave an ambiguous smile, Rise stiffened.
"Daron. You didn't get served, did you?"
This girl Rise had me pegged. She nailed the vibe whenever I was hiding something. Not that there was any need to spell it out.
"What? Is that true?"
"Lunch was just jerky, so greasy stuff felt heavy. Today I ate with the soldiers."
It was an obvious lie to anyone. But Ariana couldn't press the issue. Even as commander, she had to consider the knights' positions. Every eye was on us now. Digging further and exposing the truth would only make things hard for me, and she knew it.
"Make sure you try it next time. Head Cook!!!!"
"Yes!"
The head cook who'd refused me earlier came running, flustered, anxiety in his eyes.
"See that he's served tomorrow morning. Gotta let him taste your skills properly, right?"
"Y-yes. Understood."
"No, it's fine."
Still... I didn't like it. Uncomfortable either way.
"I'll eat when I earn the right."
I couldn't change their view of me. Lowly status, nothing proven. Better to demonstrate my worth and eat proudly than rely on someone's charity—that never sat right.
"I'll get stronger. Then the qualification will come naturally."
"If that's your resolve, Daron, then very well."
Plus, eating with the soldiers meant seeing Ray every time.
"Daron..."
Rise gazed at me admiringly. Lately, she wasn't just hooked on my cock anymore—she was falling deep for me as a whole.
"It's late, but shall we do some training anyway, even if short? To get stronger?"
"...Yes?"
"Didn't move much today; feeling all stiff. Good spot over there."
Training with me daily had become routine for Ariana. She saw this as the perfect chance.
"Commander. Mind if I tag along? Wanna see Daron in action."
"Ainel. I told you to address the commander properly."
"Rise, you're such a stickler."
"It's fine. Come along."
"Yay!"
A sudden night training session, and Ainel was joining in. She seemed interested in me... but she'd already forgotten about that knight from earlier?
"Hah... hah..."
"Hu... Good work."
It was called training, but really just sparring.
"Wow. Rack up some achievements, and you've got the skills for knighthood in spades."
Ainel marveled at my better-than-expected prowess, praising me. I lacked the strength even to reply, just collapsing onto a nearby spot.
"Daron. Drink this."
Rise had somehow fetched cool water—two cups, one for Ariana and one for me.
"Vice Commander. Serving Daron before the commander?"
"Ah. Th-that's..."
Rise, who'd unconsciously handed me the water first, yanked her hand back. Blushing beet red, she offered a cup to Ariana first instead.
"I'm fine."
Ariana knew Rise liked me and brushed it off. She wasn't the narrow-minded type to nitpick over something like that.
Ainel, who'd been watching Ariana the whole time...
"Wow. Really? For real real?"
She looked plenty intrigued.
"What's with you?"
Ariana eyed Ainel curiously as the latter stared holes through her. She took the cool water from Rise and gulped it down.
"No way Commander and Vice both like the same guy?"
"Guh!"
Ariana reacted violently mid-drink. Water caught in her throat, sending her into a coughing fit.
"Love triangle? The top two in the Gold Eagle Knight Order both crushing on one guy. That's legit shocking."
Ainel was the type to get hyped over others' love lives.
"Must be tough for Vice. Competing with the commander for one dude. Gotta respect it, though—thought you had zero time for romance, but you fell first."
"Hm. Hm..."
Rise didn't deny it. If anything, she looked pleased.
Bragging about full-on sex would've been too embarrassing, but she clearly wanted to broadcast our mutual feelings. Even with me holding her back, she craved that validation.
"*Cough*. What nonsense. R-Rise yes, but not me."
The most rattled in this mess was Ariana Katrin herself. The last person anyone expected emotional turbulence from was shaking hard.
But was it really like that? Hadn't she drawn a clear line with me? Could emotions have overridden reason... and she'd been hiding it?
Either way, this was turning into quite the entertaining situation.
"Commander. Remember asking me about guys?"
"Hm? I remem... ber."
Ariana probably regretted answering as the words left her mouth. She knew exactly what prior chat with Ainel this would dredge up.
"The guy you jerked off is this one, right? Thinking back, timeline matches when word got out you started individual training with some soldier."
"...Th-that."
Ariana sucked at lying. Her face said it all.
"Commander, not judging or anything. Won't spread rumors. Honestly, proud you've finally opened your eyes to men."
Ainel's 'consolation' felt anything but.
"But Daron's dick really that huge? Gotta be exaggeration, right?"
"No. It's enormous."
Huh? Why're you answering that?
"Huh? How would Vice know? Don't tell me you too...? Ah, you two already...?"
"W-well... Truth is, I saw the commander touching Daron's cock."
Rise threw her superior under the bus to escape the hot seat.
"Ah, gotcha. That's why Vice fell for Daron? Makes sense—big dick always wins."
Rise didn't deny it this time either. ...She had surrendered to my cock, after all.
"Anyway, means you did it. Right here with a witness, so confirmed. Commander, seriously, no judgment."
No matter how Ainel insisted, Ariana's face burned crimson, like it might burst. Whether she liked me or not was unclear, but having Rise and Ainel know she'd jerked me off was mortifying.
"Damn, Daron. You're one hell of a guy. How'd you snag both commander and vice? Kinda makes me wanna fall for you too."
"Ha... haha."
This woman Ainel...
She's got some guts.
"But the big dick thing's real, huh. Wanna fuck? I know cock inside out. Lemme appraise it for you."
"No!"
Ariana bolted upright, shouting. Rise stepped up to refuse on my behalf, but Ariana beat her to it.
"Sh... Shouldn't it be with someone you truly like mutually?"
"Commander, what kinda outdated crap is that?"
"Out... dated?"
The knight commander aged a century in an instant.