[No Title Provided]
Jena was spouting bullshit. "Captain, did something happen last night, by any chance?"
"W-what?"
The morning after her encounter with the Hero. Jena felt a dizzying haze wash over her mind at her adjutant's question about the previous night.
"Wh-why do you ask? Do I have to report that kind of thing to you?"
"No, it's not that, but..."
At Jena's curt tone, her adjutant stared at her with a frustrated expression. Jena knew full well why he'd asked. He'd harbored feelings for her for ages, and despite his exceptional skills, that's why he'd stuck around under her command.
The man's name was Kyle de Baxter. The Baxter family was a respectable house in the provinces, so Jena had been stringing him along, fully aware of his affections. Not that she had any intention of reciprocating.
"But why bring it up?"
"Well, there's been some talk among the men..."
Kyle trailed off, looking troubled at her question. He didn't need to finish for Jena to guess what he meant. A young man and woman spending a long night in the same tent. And the man had been granted a wish from her. Even holy knights—essentially an army—would jump to the obvious conclusion.
"Wh-what ridiculous misunderstanding is this?"
Jena's face flushed as she yelled at Kyle. It was a blatantly suspicious reaction, but Kyle—desperate to believe her—took her words at face value.
"R-right?"
"Of course! I'm a daughter of the Darius family. Naturally, I'd never stoop to something so vulgar..."
No one had mentioned anything vulgar, but Jena's guilty conscience made her blurt it out herself. Seeing Kyle's expression shift oddly, she hurriedly added,
"Vulgar... Nothing happened with that man."
Kyle, who knew how much Jena prized her family name, let out a relieved breath. But a sliver of doubt lingered.
"...So what did happen in there?"
"I said nothing!"
"The Hero forfeited his wish?"
Cold sweat trickled down Jena's back at Kyle's question. Even she knew no one would be dumb enough to give up a hard-won wish. But she was Jena von Darius, after all. She was the woman who'd sacrificed an entire region to the Demon King's army with bald-faced lies just to save her own skin—back before it had even happened.
"I-I begged him. Yeah, I begged."
"...What for?"
"It was..."
Jena started babbling at Kyle, not even aware of what nonsense was spilling from her lips. Compared to her usual composed demeanor toward him, her voice was louder, laced with pointless filler—but she didn't notice. In truth, she had no idea what she was even saying. The pathetic part was that Kyle was eating it up. It was full of holes anyone else would spot, but he never doubted her.
"Are you insane?"
"What?"
I scowled at the saintess barging in and snapping at me. No matter how I racked my brain, I couldn't think of a reason she'd have to chew me out. Hell, she didn't even have the right to get mad at me, no matter what I did.
"You used your wish like that?"
"...What're you on about?"
But Marian's words piqued my curiosity. Was word already out about how I'd made Jena suck me off last night? Not that it mattered if it was. Some might call the Hero a pervert, but screw 'em—I'd ignore the noise. Or better yet, lop off the head of anyone who badmouthed me.
"Sigh. You just wished to be friends with Jena?"
"What?"
I stared at Marian in disbelief. Friends? Me? With that Jena?
"No? That's what the holy knights are saying. That you chickened out because you were scared of crossing the Darius family, so you played nice."
As I gaped, Marian hurled more questions, sensing something off. Her words painted the picture for me.
Old habits die hard, huh.
That bitch Jena was lying her ass off again. I knew she was trash, but this exceeded expectations. As I pondered how to crush her,
"...Hey. Got a minute? I need to talk."
The shameless wench herself approached, fidgeting awkwardly. The holy knights packing up camp naturally turned to stare at us. Jena looked mortified, knowing she'd stirred the pot, while Marian glared at her with open hostility.
Hah, this bitch too...
Marian's jealousy was obvious. She didn't want Jena horning in on her precious Hero find. It pissed me off, so I decided to back Jena for now.
"Sure. Let's go."
"Wh-what? For real? You're actually gonna be friends?"
I blew off Marian and followed Jena.
"Ooh! Looks like you two really hit it off."
"Yeah. The Darius name carries weight everywhere."
The knights buzzed as we walked together. Jena must've heard—unless she was deaf. Sure enough, she flinched at every whisper, guilt eating at her.
"What the hell?"
I smirked at her panic. Simple reason: I'd slung an arm over her shoulder. Her face burned brighter.
"You two really are buddies now."
"Can't believe it's Jena of all people."
"Hey, the guy's the Hero. Not like us."
My bold move set them off again. I stared at Jena's frozen face and whispered in her ear,
"Friends, right?"
"Alright, we're far enough. No one's around—explain."
In a secluded spot in the woods, away from last night's camp, I needled Jena with a mocking grin. She clamped her mouth shut.
"It-it was all for you."
"For me? Interesting."
Her unexpected line hooked me. I eyed her curiously.
"If word got out that the Hero forced something so filthy and depraved, it'd be bad for you, right? I covered for you."
"Ha!"
I burst out laughing. This woman hadn't changed a bit. Well, technically her real depravity came later, but she was rotten from the start.
Does she have some delusion circuit in her head? How does she even sell that excuse?
I almost admired her consistency. She thought that nonsense sounded plausible.
"Sorry to disappoint. I don't give a shit if rumors spread."
"Wh-what?"
"Think about it: getting serviced by the Darius family's baby girl? Badge of honor for any man. Oh, hadn't thought of bragging—might do that."
"Y-you filthy pervert...!!"
Jena scowled in fury, then switched to pitying disdain, like she'd thought of something clever.
"Who'd believe a rootless nobody like you?"
Maybe. If she denied it to the end, last night might vanish into thin air. I had no proof. But publicly? Sure. Behind her back, plenty would gossip about me—and her. Humans love trash-talking and schadenfreude.
"Guess we'll see."
I knew she couldn't stomach even filthy rumors about herself. Soon enough, she waved the white flag.
"Alright. Got it. A different condition."
"Another one?"
I perked up again, watching her.
"The rematch I mentioned yesterday. I challenge you now. If I win, we forget today."
She glared, hand on her sword hilt. I chuckled. She must think she'd lost yesterday from carelessness.
"Why? No confidence?"
"Ah, fine. But if you lose again, you swallow it down—no excuses."
I fired back at her taunt. Her face flushed as she nodded.