episode_0093

93. The Bet (2)

Luna was currently waiting for Cain in front of the military barracks.

She was in an extremely satisfied state.

“I’m going to win this bet flawlessly.”

The reason for her confident smile?

To understand that, we’d have to go back in time to last night.

────────────────────

Vivian and Adel noona came to visit and completely disregarded me.

They said things like I had no charm as a woman, or that it wasn’t that I didn’t meet men—I just couldn’t.

The fact that they had no experience with men either only made me angrier….

So, I accepted the bet.

‘How about losing your virginity?’

At first, an extremely outrageous proposal was made.

No matter what, spending the night with a man I wasn’t close to was just too repulsive.

‘Are you insane?’

‘Hey, Vivian, that’s way too extreme….’

And so, the bet we settled on was…

‘How about making a man initiate a kiss?’

It was an incredibly easy bet.

It didn’t even have to lead to an actual kiss.

Just getting the man to lean in first or beg for one would be enough.

Or if the guy confessed to me first, that would count as my victory too.

‘Any man is fair game?’

‘Of course not.’

‘How would we even know if you’re lying to us?’

In the end, the target of the bet was set as Cain.

He lived inside Grace Manor and was on friendly terms with both Vivian and Adel.

But there was one lingering worry in my heart….

‘But… is it just me? Doesn’t it seem like Milord—no, doesn’t Erika noona like him?’

‘…Huh? No way! Why would Erika ever like a commoner? What’s she lacking?’

‘A titled noble from our region falling for a commoner? Luna, have you been reading too many romance novels?’

Thinking about it, their argument made sense, so I accepted the bet.

There was just no way Milord would ever fall in love with a commoner.

It must simply be that Cain was useful and highly capable, so she treated him warmly.

Didn’t Jet also speak casually to commoners and treat them like friends?

I convinced myself that noona was just being friendly in the same way.

Then, at breakfast.

I decided to try out what I’d often heard about in romance stories… flirting?

While eating in the dining hall, I made eye contact with Cain.

Our eyes met briefly before he hastily looked away.

‘He avoided my gaze. Is he embarrassed?’

It seemed like the saying—”if they have feelings, they’ll be too shy to meet your eyes”—was true.

After that, I acted like a full-blown seductress, subtly taking care of him.

‘The quality of meals affects combat ability. I saved you the best cuts.’

So, as I left the dining hall, I handed him two pieces of meat from my plate.

Cain looked flustered by the sudden attention.

To reassure him, I even went as far as attempting a wink—something I wasn’t used to.

“Here, eat this.”

“???”

He seemed genuinely bewildered.

Clearly, his heart must be racing, and he’s probably thinking of me now.

Certain of my victory in the bet, I walked out of the dining hall with a smile.

────────────────────

Luna had glared at me warningly, subjecting me to painful mealtime torture with cryptic remarks.

Now that we had to meet alone, my hands were trembling uncontrollably.

“What did I even do wrong?”

Erika had taken a liking to my talent, so befriending her was easy.

Vivian and Jet, being naturally laid-back and kind, were quick to warm up to.

As for Adel, though she initially disliked me, we found common ground in business….

In short, I ended up getting involved with the nobles in one way or another, which led to friendship.

But with Luna… we’d never been close or had a proper conversation before she suddenly fixated on me.

Even as I trudged toward the military barracks, racking my brain, I couldn’t figure out why.

And the moment I arrived at my destination, there she was.

“Ah….”

For a second, I doubted my eyes.

“You’re here?”

Instead of her usual swimsuit-like attire…

She was wearing what looked like deliberately styled casual clothes.

Her chest… no, her midsection was exposed in this bizarre fashion, but still.

“Your clothes… why….”

“You don’t like them?”

“No! It’s just… the ones you usually wear—”

“Combat uniform?”

Her usual outfit—tight-fitting like a swimsuit.

Hard to believe, but apparently, that’s what passed as military uniform for the Grace family.

Since their bodies could be reinforced with mana anyway, lightweight and mobile clothing was supposedly optimal.

Luna placed her hands on her hips and interrogated me.

“Got a problem?”

“My apologies.”

Even though I was startled, I was still on Luna’s radar.

I immediately bowed my head in apology, but Luna pressed further.

“Sorry?”

“No.”

“Huh??”

“Uh… uhh!!”

“Am I amusing?”

“No!!”

“Not amusing?”

For a moment, Luna grilled me so hard it triggered military PTSD.

Despite her tomboyish, cute appearance, she proved herself a soldier through and through—her questioning skills rivaling a seasoned drill sergeant.

As I stumbled over my words, drowning in the absurdity laced with military nostalgia, Luna muttered while crossing her arms.

“This isn’t it….”

“Pardon?”

“Should I change clothes?”

This time, she tugged at her outfit and asked me seriously.

The way she said it didn’t sound like she was scolding me—she seemed genuinely curious.

Still, compared to her combat uniform, at least this wasn’t as indecent… or was it? Exposing the lower chest and abdomen—was that indecent too?

The fashion sense of men and women in this world was so liberal that even my own standards were getting warped.

Now I wasn’t sure which outfit was more appropriate.

Honestly, forget appropriateness—I liked her current stylish look.

“Your current outfit looks really pretty!”

“Hmm? You mean that?”

Luna asked again.

This time, I nodded silently, and she reached out.

Grabbing both my cheeks, she pulled me close until her nose was nearly touching mine.

One slight movement, and our noses would’ve touched.

Close enough to hear each other’s breathing.

Staring straight into my eyes with her deep blue ones, she repeated her question.

“Look me in the eyes and say it.”

“I mean it….”

“…….”

Finally, Luna released my face.

Then, turning her back to me, she strode into the barracks alone.

“I’ll go change.”

“Huh?”

“Wait here.”

Her tone was firm—almost an order—before she disappeared inside.

Her ears looked slightly red, but maybe that was just my imagination.

────────────────────

True to her soldier’s discipline, she changed in under ten minutes.

If her previous outfit was stylish and pretty, this one was a form-fitting uniform that highlighted her figure.

Cool, boyish, and striking.

She jerked her chin, signaling me to follow.

“I’ll be in your care.”

After that, the barracks tour proceeded without incident.

She didn’t say a word about the clothes, maybe because she didn’t want to discuss it.

“This is the stables. Roughly 300,000 horses are kept here.”

The tour turned out more interesting than I expected.

The empire was six times larger than China, comparable in size to the Eurasian continent.

Given this world’s gender equality, the sheer number of soldiers was staggering.

The casually mentioned massive scales here and there made the visit worthwhile.

Numbers in the millions were commonplace in this world.

Even the flag-capture drills between cavalry units were entertaining, almost like a sport.

After a while, Luna asked me for my thoughts.

“So, what do you think?”

“It’s amazing.”

“Right. Milord is amazing.”

She nodded in agreement.

But I shook my head and corrected her.

“*You’re* the amazing one, Luna.”

I meant every word.

────────────────────

I am just a tool.

Since childhood, I’ve lived gazing at a back that seemed small yet colossal.

Erika Grace.

She was so extraordinary that calling her family felt like an honor.

She killed one of Oyung’s relatives—someone no one had dared touch—and returned to the family.

Then, effortlessly winning the political struggle against the family head, she devoured the household whole. A genius.

Even if she was demoted to Count.

Even if the Redmain’s influence diminished.

Despite the setbacks, Erika Grace proved she was still a monster.

In an instant, she introduced new farming techniques and propaganda to boost conscription rates.

She reformed the military efficiently and expanded the cavalry by renovating the stables.

Unlike me—only knowledgeable in specialized tactics—she conquered politics and art alike.

Anticipating an era of warlords, she rapidly increased both the quality and quantity of the military.

And me?

I just move where Milord commands.

A loyal hunting dog that dashes wherever she points.

All I have to do is bark, obey, and bite down on the prey—giving my all.

I have no talent.

But the man beside me says:

“*You’re* the amazing one, Luna.”

Me?

I couldn’t agree at all.

“Haven’t you gone undefeated in all Blackdown Union battles?”

What about Vivian noona?

She has exceptional command skills but mind-blowing logistical prowess.

If you asked what mattered most in war—supply.

I know full well how incredible it is to master that near-perfectly.

Adel?

Annoying, but undeniably skilled in defense.

Add to that her business acumen—demand 8,400 gold coins out of nowhere, and she’d hand them over without blinking.

Adel’s ability to secure and allocate military funds made her indispensable.

Jet?

The general Erika trusted enough to send on the Redmain conquest.

Not only is he a brilliant commander, but his horsemanship is on a level I couldn’t even dream of matching.

Facing his cavalry corps as an enemy would be a nightmare.

But me?

I just command.

Though confident my tactics rival anyone’s, compared to my cousins, I’m talentless.

The rank of Supreme General might as well be a consolation prize to cover my inadequacies.

“Wasn’t it you who held the soldiers together and maintained formation during the Penrose battles?

Managing an army of over a million—how is that not incredible?”

Cain sounded sincere.

True, Vivian, Adel, Jet… even Erika noona.

None of them could command a force exceeding a million.

But that doesn’t make me superior.

And this man in front of me—couldn’t he be lying?

How many nobles’ daughters have sweet-talked me before?

Wasn’t he doing the same?

I hesitated, unable to reply immediately.

“Don’t believe me? Since you checked earlier—ah!”

Cain grabbed my hands and pressed them against his cheeks.

Just like earlier, when I’d held his face to see if he was lying.

He leaned in close, his handsome face inches from mine.

“Now do you believe me?”

Our dark eyes locked.

One slight movement, and our lips would meet.

But he just stared at me with unwavering certainty.

“You’re incredible, Luna Grace!”

My heart raced.

After Erika noona became a warlord.

After taking on the immense role of Supreme General—how lost had I felt?

No time to whine, just this creeping sense of dwindling confidence.

But now.

Right in front of me.

The man Erika noona herself praised—called her wisest choice, her most favored subordinate.

He affirmed me.

Called me incredible.

“……”

“Luna? You okay~?”

I couldn’t speak.

My body trembled.

The inferiority I hadn’t even known was inside me—it vanished.

In its place, unfamiliar desires surged.

A filthy urge—to just lean in and pretend it was an accident, to steal a kiss—filled the void.

But….

“Sigh….”

Barely resisting, I gently pushed Cain away.

Unlike his tough physique, he had zero mana, stumbling easily from my touch.

If I indulged my darker desires, I could have him anytime.

But I had to resist.

The bet wasn’t over yet.

“Cain.”

“Yes?”

I had to drive the nail deeper.

To make *him* want to kiss *me* first.

“Come to my place.”

All to win the bet.

Though by now, it wasn’t against Vivian and Adel.

Somehow, the bet had become against myself.