Chapter 74: Rondor’s Ball

The members of the Punishment Unit increased, and the accommodations were reorganized.

Buildings were torn down and rebuilt, and a new unit was established.

The 4th Cavalry Unit.

It was already a name in use, but now the term “Punishment Unit” was no longer used.

As a result, we, who were now functioning as a formal knight order, began to take on the general duties of soldiers.

The biggest change was likely the city patrols.

We, who had once been confined, now walked the streets of Loctana for its security, just like the other soldiers.

I was no different.

The townspeople of Loctana, who had once been familiar with my appearance, no longer threw stones or rotten fruit at me.

Instead, when they saw my red helmet, they would hurry to flee.

“The road splits. The road splits.”

Valon spoke as he dug at the excavation site.

He and Wallace were both smaller than me now.

I, too, would soon be turning 18, and growth was inevitable.

Changes in size also brought about changes in my presence.

“Clack.”

It was a light sound as my armor settled in place.

The city of Loctana, once in ruins, was now steadily being rebuilt, but that brothel, for some reason, had never deteriorated.

Its decoration of fine wood and carved stone maintained an air of elegance.

Wallace clicked his tongue and scolded Martin.

“When will you stop suggesting it? You know Kailo doesn’t want to mingle with commoners.”

Martin shook his head.

Valon, Wallace, and Martin were all 20 years old now, so there was nothing left to hide.

“What’s the difference between a commoner’s hole and a noble’s? It’s still just a hole. Kailo is just pretending. Once he tries it, he’ll love it. You know how soft a woman’s insides are…”

Thud!

Valon immediately stopped Martin.

“Enough, you idiot. You know full well that if Kailo goes to a brothel and sleeps with one of those women, Lady Vivian will have that woman killed, right?”

Martin sighed and shook his head.

“Do you really believe that? Vivian’s just talking. Do you think she’d actually kill a woman just for sleeping with Kailo? Hey, Kailo. Permission is harder to get than forgiveness. Just do it and think later.”

Valon lightly kicked Martin’s leg.

“How many times do I have to remind you about Serena?”

The name “Serena” caused the mood to turn a bit somber.

Martin hesitated for a moment but then continued.

“Hey! There is a difference between imprisoning someone and killing them? That woman will probably just end up in prison if she’s unlucky. You can’t stop a man’s desires. Just pay the woman well and have a little fun, Kailo.”

Seeing the eager look in Martin’s eyes, I knew I couldn’t avoid answering anymore.

Normally, I would ignore him, but when he got this persistent, it was different.

I knew.

If I slept with a prostitute, Vivian would really kill her.

Vivian had a certain possessiveness when it came to my body, as if she wanted to keep it clean.

… It was absurdly fastidious.

Martin, not understanding this at all, spoke so casually.

I responded.

“Forget it, you guys enjoy yourselves.”

Martin shrugged.

“…You really turned me down again. Fine, whatever. Valon, Wallace, we’ll go after we’re done here, right?”

Valon and Wallace chuckled and then, as if it were obvious, replied to Martin.

“Why are you asking?”

***

Vivian, who had been overlooking the land of Loctana from the inner room, was bringing her necklace up to her ear.

From the necklace, into which she had poured her focus, a small sound was coming out.

“Hey! There is a difference between imprisoning someone and killing them? That woman will probably just end up in prison if she’s unlucky. You can’t stop a man’s desires. Just pay the woman well and have a little fun, Kailo.”

Martin’s voice.

It was a suggestion that caused endless disgust to rise in her.

How dare he involve someone else?

It was a naive thought, one that didn’t read Vivian’s mind at all.

She didn’t like how Martin kept trying to persuade Kailo, but there was a reason why Vivian still tolerated him.

“Forget it, you guys enjoy yourselves.”

Kailo’s firm attitude.

Vivian, alone in the room, smiled with great satisfaction.

The corners of her lips, slightly moist, involuntarily curled up.

She knew exactly why he acted that way.

She knew exactly why he restrained the lust that existed in him.

“…Disgusting.”

Vivian, who had been smiling in ecstasy, whispered softly.

A strange mixture of disgust and pleasure echoed in the room.

How could they keep talking about brothels, even though they knew it was wrong?

Were all men like this?

Yes, at least Kailo understood, so that was enough.

He would know.

The moment he embraced a whore, perhaps all the women in the brothel would meet their death.

If she were to reward him, could she do so when his body was tainted?

Kailo must not resolve his desires anywhere else.

The one to relieve his lust should be no one other than her.

Only then would he, like a good dog, depend on her.

Kailo probably felt the same way.

It wasn’t that he wanted to resolve his desires with a whore, but rather that he blindly craved the reward she would give him.

Vivian knew that her kiss on his cheek was more effective to him than any sexual encounter with a whore.

His lascivious desires, aimed only at her.

“…Really disgusting.”

Vivian muttered again, fully aware of this.

Yet, a smile never left her lips.

She gently stroked the necklace with her fingertips and tilted her head once more.

The voice she heard in her ear felt like music just for her.

If she closed her eyes and could imagine enough… it almost felt like he was whispering in her ear.

• Knock, knock, knock.

“Lady Vivian, you need to go for dance practice.”

Lady Linne voice came from outside the door.

The peaceful moment was cut short in an instant.

Vivian took a slow breath and responded.

“Yes, I’ll go.”

Before getting up from her seat, Vivian fixed her gaze on the necklace one more time.

Now, the necklace was silent, but she still felt as though

Kailo’s voice was echoing in her ears.

The intense afterimage didn’t easily let go of her.

Vivian tilted her head slightly.

With her fingertips still stroking the necklace, she slowly brought her lips to it.

She gently closed her eyes and stayed there for a long time, pressing her lips against the necklace.

Faint breaths could be heard drifting in the room, and even as her lips left the necklace, she still smiled.

• Knock, knock, knock.

“Lady Vivian.”

At the sound of a voice coming from outside the door again, she slightly shook her head and stood up from her seat.

“Yes, I’m going.”

Vivian let out a short sigh before leaving the room.

She knew it was time for her to pull herself together.

Soon, her first ball would be held in Loctana.

It was the event where she would officially step into high society under her own name.

She had sent invitations everywhere and had been on edge for quite a while.

Even the princess of the Eastern Kingdom and the prince of the Delrum Kingdom, whose marriage had been rumored, were set to attend.

It was to be a grand banquet held the moment she turned 17.

This was not just a place to introduce herself.

It was also a place to rebuild Rondor and show the power of her domain.

Everything had to go perfectly; it was a highly important event.

…Dancing.

Vivian didn’t actually like dancing.

Still, she spent time diligently learning to dance for a reason.

It wasn’t simply to assert her feminine charms.

She had been thinking about it for a long time.

In the grand hall of Rondor, where the ball would take place, she and Kailo had often talked about it while having meals together.

…Vivian knew that, one day, she would dance with Kailo.

Kailo would attend this ball.

No matter what anyone said, no matter what the truth was… Kailo Alan was a guest of Rondor.

You couldn’t simply not invite a guest to the ball.

And once invited, there was no way to skip dancing at the event.

Even if Kailo had never learned to dance.

No matter how much they were enemies, they had spent so much time together that it was only natural they would dance together.

Vivian chuckled again.

How foolish would Kailo look, not knowing how to dance?

The thought of how much attention he would attract with his clumsiness made her feel a little bit of satisfaction.

Still, she was looking forward to that moment.

Holding his hand, his hand wrapping around her waist, her body resting in his arms…

While mocking each other, they would proudly show off their complicated relationship to the world, dancing in the center of attention.

…What kind of expression would Kailo have?

Would he grit his teeth and try to hold back a smile?

Would he blush awkwardly?

Would he respond with a blank face?

Or would he show a complex expression of disgust?

Vivian smiled and lightly adjusted her skirt.

Whatever it was, she was certain her first dance with him would be fun.