Side Story 1

Wallace yawned as he quietly opened his eyes in his quarters.

Before heading to duty, he sat on his bed and scratched his head absentmindedly.

Martin and Valon, who shared the room with him, were not there.

Both were on night duty today.

Hoping to enjoy some rare alone time, Wallace lay back down on his bed… only to realize sooner than expected that he was already bored.

With a sigh, he changed into his uniform.

Creak.

As he stepped out of the barracks, Wallace made his way toward the castle.

The crisp dawn air gradually lifted his spirits.

For some reason, the world seemed more beautiful today.

The grand castle of Rondor, standing tall, seemed to blend perfectly with the pleasant weather, appearing even more reassuring than usual.

Perhaps he had developed a certain affection for the place.

After all, this was the home he had protected since childhood—his attachment to it might have naturally deepened over time.

And yet, Wallace knew exactly why he was in such a good mood lately.

“…Everything worked out in the end.”

Just before stepping into the castle, he murmured to himself.

The faces of the patrolling soldiers, the bustling maids—everyone looked content.

Loctana had regained its stability, and so had the House of Rondor.

Most importantly, Wallace felt warmth deep in his chest when he thought about how well things had turned out for Kailo.

That man had lived a truly difficult life.

People assumed nobles lived in luxury, but in truth… nobility had its own struggles.

Maybe it was just that Kailo and Vivian were unique cases.

Regardless, witnessing their hardships had been painful.

Now, knowing that the two had finally found happiness brought Wallace great joy.

However, despite their newfound bliss, Wallace hadn’t seen Kailo or Vivian for eight days.

For eight whole days, he hadn’t laid eyes on the lord of this vast castle—the very person he was sworn to protect.

They hadn’t left the castle.

He knew for certain that they were still inside.

But in the past eight days, the only people who had seen them were a handful of maids.

Wallace climbed the stairs toward the western wing of the castle.

Upon reaching the third floor, he found his comrades standing guard.

“Took you long enough.”

Yanes said the moment he saw Wallace, stretching his tired body.

Beside him, Martin stifled a yawn.

“…Wow.”

But Wallace had no time to focus on them.

The looks on their faces told him everything he needed to know.

“…Still?”

Kailo and Vivian still hadn’t come out of their room.

The area they were guarding was the third floor of the western wing—the section Vivian had designated as off-limits.

Somewhere deep within was Vivian Rondor’s old bedroom.

She and Kailo had entered that room together eight days ago… and had yet to emerge.

What could they possibly be doing in there?

Reminiscing about old times and laughing together?

While Kailo’s behavior was understandable, none of the knights dared entertain improper thoughts about Lady Vivian.

-…Thud! …Thud!

The moment they first heard the sound of wet flesh smacking against flesh through the door, however, there was no longer any doubt.

Wallace couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

No one could.

Of course, they all knew the two were in a relationship… but the idea of them actually doing that was surreal.

And this was Vivian Rondor they were talking about.

The ruler of Loctana.

The woman who had single-handedly rebuilt her crumbling house.

The survivor of countless assassination attempts by political rivals.

The commander of the knights.

Not to mention, her beauty was unparalleled.

Any one of those qualities would have men lining up to court her.

But to have all of them in a single person?

It was almost unfair.

And now, that untouchable flower had finally been plucked.

At first, the Fourth Knights Order refused to accept what they had heard.

It was something that had been expected, sure… but everyone still sighed in resignation.

“They aren’t even married yet. Isn’t this improper for nobles? Especially for a lady?”

“Well, they are engaged. I guess Lady Vivian doesn’t care anymore.”

“Damn it, Kailo, you bastard…”

Some had secretly admired Vivian.

Others had idolized her.

This moment felt bitter for all of them.

Yet, in the end, everyone had to admit the truth.

If there was anyone worthy of claiming her, it had to be Kailo.

Most assumed this was just their first night together.

That was what they told themselves.

It was a natural progression of their relationship, after all.

But the passionate sounds didn’t stop when morning came.

• Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!

“Hnnh…! Haa…!”

Vivian’s breathy moans seeped through the door, in sync with the rhythmic slaps of flesh.

Hearing the dignified lady make such adorable noises—no one could believe their ears.

Only Kailo would ever hear that side of her.

At some point, the knights truly understood how deeply the two were connected.

Their passion was so intense that furniture occasionally scraped against the floor, shifting around.

They were clearly experimenting with various positions.

Every now and then, an especially sensitive spot must have been struck, as a sudden, unguarded cry of “Ah!” would echo through the hall.

It was impossible to ignore the sheer pleasure in her voice.

At first, Wallace had thought this must be the worst form of torture.

His comrades probably felt the same.

Listening to it made them imagine it.

Imagining it made them jealous.

Jealousy stirred desires.

And enduring all that while on duty?

It was pure agony.

But after a few days, they stopped feeling tortured.

By the third day, it was simply awe-inspiring.

-Smack! Smack! Smack!

“Kailo…! It—It feels too good…!”

“Wrap your legs around me.”

How did they have this much stamina?

Neither of them seemed to tire.

Aside from short naps, warm baths brought in by maids, and meals delivered to their room—

The sounds of their love never ceased.

It was hard to believe that this was their first time.

They were so deeply immersed in their passion that they simply couldn’t stop.

Wallace found himself feeling envious.

Would he ever experience such a love in his lifetime?

A love so overwhelming that he wouldn’t even think of stopping for days on end?

By now, curiosity had overtaken all other emotions.

Even after eight days, it still hadn’t ended.

He had assumed it would be over by now.

But judging by the exhausted expressions on Yanes and Martin’s faces, he had been mistaken.

Yanes glanced toward the far end of the hall—the door behind which Kailo and Vivian still remained.

Then, with a tired sigh, he muttered, half-jokingly,

“…Kailo, you bastard, let our lady rest already. Eight days should be enough.”

The knights standing guard chuckled at the comment.

None of them had ever dared covet Lady Vivian.

But they had all sworn to protect her with their lives.

And now, the very woman they had devoted themselves to was being utterly ravished inside that room.

The sound of Kailo’s relentless movements and Vivian’s euphoric cries left no doubt.

As his friend continued behaving that way, Wallace found it even easier to let out his criticism.

“…I should go.”

Yanes, as if he had seen enough, patted Wallace on the shoulder and left to rest.

“Damn.”

Martin was no different.

“…Sigh.”

Wallace let out a deep sigh.

He was happy that Kailo had found happiness, but he hadn’t expected things to go this far.

Yet, he couldn’t help but wonder—who was the one insisting on continuing such an irrational relationship that had lasted for eight days?

Was it both of them?

Or was it Kailo, who had just awakened to his sexuality and was still unable to satiate his desires?

…Or was it Vivian Rondor who refused to let Kailo go and was obsessively holding on to him?

Wallace didn’t know.

But if it was Vivian who was clinging to him, then Kailo needed to die even more.

***

Maid Laura swallowed nervously as she stood in front of the door.

Beside her were senior maids who had helped her carry warm water.

-Remember. Always remember. Be careful with your gaze.

They had warned her multiple times.

Vivian Rondor’s jealousy was extreme, and they had strictly advised her not to lay her eyes on Kailo Alan carelessly.

Although she seemed to have softened recently… the senior maids spoke of what they had seen in the past.

Being careful never hurt anyone—that was their principle.

Laura had felt it as well while serving under Vivian.

The depth of her love for Kailo Alan was unfathomable.

Laura had only been in direct contact with Kailo Alan for about a month.

Her impression of him?

That he did not resemble a noble at all.

If she had to put it nicely, he was wild and rough…

If she were to speak honestly, he was an unrefined commoner who knew nothing about etiquette.

…Though, he was somewhat handsome.

…And, well, his physique was quite impressive.

…And considering the feats he had achieved to protect Vivian Rondor, he was undeniably manly…

…But still, he was a Northerner.

A detestable existence.

Kailo Alan sometimes ate with a hearty appetite, only to carelessly spill food in the process.

Even Laura, a mere maid, had been taught proper dining etiquette, so watching Kailo made him seem somewhat lacking.

However, in Vivian’s eyes, he could do no wrong.

Even when he clumsily spilled food, her gaze dripped with honey.

She smiled at his every action, cherishing even his flaws.

The Iron Lady, who never smiled for anyone, beamed with uncontained happiness at the slightest thing Kailo did.

How deep must her feelings run for even his shortcomings to appear endearing?

Through these countless moments, Laura gradually came to understand the depth of Vivian’s feelings for Kailo.

“…Hoo.”

Laura sighed before knocking on the door.

Regardless of the circumstances, as someone who understood Vivian’s heart, she had to be extra careful with her gaze.

Especially when intruding into their private space—Vivian would become even more sensitive, like a beast guarding its territory.

She had heard of a maid who had to quit after carelessly glancing at Kailo.

No matter how unpolished Kailo Alan might seem, Vivian Rondor was an undeniably terrifying presence.

Sharper and stronger than anyone else.

That was something Laura could never forget.

—Knock, knock, knock.

Laura knocked and spoke in a soft voice, doing her best to keep her speech steady.

“I have brought bathwater and food. May I enter?”

She had spoken naturally, but just before knocking, she had pressed her ear against the door.

If the two were in the midst of intimacy, it would be a grave mistake to interrupt.

Fortunately, they were not.

Soft footsteps approached the door.

—Creak.

As the door opened, a thick scent wafted out.

The heavy mixture of sweat and bodily fluids.

The unmistakable scent of a man and a woman having engaged in a passionate affair.

Even Laura’s face threatened to heat up at the intensity of the smell.

Just from the scent alone, it was clear that the previous night had been anything but ordinary.

It smelled like a beast’s territory.

—Thud.

At that moment, a shadow loomed over Laura.

A figure stood before her, slow and imposing.

Laura instinctively let her eyes trail upward from the floor.

Forgetting, like a fool, the warning about her gaze.

First, she saw thick feet.

Above them, a white robe was loosely tied around a muscular waist, as if ready to slip off at any moment.

His upper body was completely exposed, revealing layers of defined muscles.

Moreover, his entire body was covered in bite marks, as if someone had claimed him as their own.

There was no need to ask whose teeth had left those marks.

The bites themselves proclaimed their owner.

They further reinforced the impression of an untamed beast.

And alongside the marks, countless scars crisscrossed his skin.

Like an animal’s natural patterns.

Perhaps it was the scent of his body that made him seem even more primal.

It was Kailo Alan.

For a moment, Laura’s perception of him as an unrefined commoner wavered.

Instinctively, she thought of him as a powerful male.

Without realizing it, her cheeks flushed red as she stared in a daze.

…She could almost understand Vivian Rondor’s feelings.

Just a little, she wondered what a night with him would be like.

She was curious about the feeling of being beneath him.

Kailo ran a hand through his sweat-dampened hair and jerked his chin.

“Come in. Just put down what you brought and leave.”

“Ah, um… Y-Yes, sir.”

Just as she regained her focus and reminded herself of her duty, a chilling voice rang out.

“Kailo.”

Laura instantly snapped back to her senses.

She hurriedly lowered her gaze.

Only one person in this space would address Kailo Alan so intimately.

As Kailo turned around, he saw Vivian Rondor standing there, clutching a blanket to her chest.

She too was naked, except for a thin piece of cloth draped over her body.

Laura stole a glance at her and was utterly shocked.

Disheveled hair clung to her wet face.

A reddened left cheek, as if it had been gently struck.

Yet, her beauty remained undiminished.

If Kailo had been the embodiment of a male… then the once strong and commanding Vivian now stood completely as a female.

The contrast was so stark that Laura struggled to process it.

As she lowered her gaze, she could feel Vivian’s sharp stare piercing into the top of her head.

Even after the witch hunt, even after Kailo Alan barely survived his brush with death, even if her personality had softened… a tiger remains a tiger.

Laura, drowning in overwhelming fear, prayed desperately.

She begged the heavens that this moment would pass without incident.

No matter how much she appeared as a female in this moment, that only applied to Kailo.

To Laura, Vivian remained nothing less than a terrifying predator.

“…Go inside, Kailo.”

Vivian murmured the words under her breath.

There was a hint of jealousy laced in her voice.

Normally, a woman who had just shared intimacy would be too embarrassed to step out in front of others.

But driven by that jealousy, she had staggered her way from the bed all the way here.

On the other hand, Kailo seemed entirely indifferent.

He merely let out a yawn and returned to the bed.

Laura pretended not to notice Vivian’s gaze and busied her hands outside the door.

Yet, she could still feel it—Vivian’s relentless stare upon her.

“Ah, ah… I’d love to go see Miles, too. I, I’m starved for love…”

Laura mumbled nonsense, conjuring up an imaginary person in her desperation.

Later, she would look back and feel ashamed at how ridiculous she had sounded, but in her frozen state, this was the only response she could muster.

Fortunately, with a sigh, Vivian finally averted her gaze.

“…I’ll let it slide.”

Her voice was a whisper, barely audible to anyone but Laura.

Laura felt her blood run cold.

Yet, perhaps feeling magnanimous, Vivian offered a small smile.

“…He’s just too handsome not to look at.”

“…Ha, haha…”

Laura couldn’t muster a proper response, only managing a hollow laugh.

The maids entered the room and set to work.

They removed the damp towels and the cold bathwater, replacing them with fresh ones.

The dishes from before were cleared away, replaced with new food.

Vivian observed them for a moment before making her way back toward the bed.

Her eyes were solely fixed on Kailo now.

“…Oh.”

But as Laura continued to watch, she suddenly gasped.

Vivian, who had been walking, suddenly wobbled.

Her legs trembled, and then—she collapsed onto the floor.

“Ah…!”

A soft whimper escaped her lips.

In an instant, the movements of every maid in the room froze.

There was no ignoring what had just happened—it had been too obvious.

And they all knew exactly why her legs had given out.

The heavy scent in the air was proof enough.

No one in the room was ignorant of the reason—eight days of continuous relations.

Just how intense had it been that she couldn’t even walk?

Vivian, now clearly flustered and embarrassed, turned red.

She tried to stand but failed.

The maids did their best to pretend not to notice.

Yet, deep down, they had to suppress their laughter at the sight of the proud and dignified Vivian, reduced to this state because of a man.

To laugh now would mean death, Laura thought.

But the situation was so absurd that holding back laughter was almost impossible.

‘You wretched woman. At least feel some shame. Just how wild was it?’

Laura thought to herself, desperately suppressing the smirk threatening to form.

…Yet, she also tried to push away a tiny pang of envy.

And then, at that moment—Kailo Alan rose from the bed once more.

He walked toward the flustered Vivian, her face still burning red.

—Swish.

Without a word, he scooped her up effortlessly, as if she weighed nothing.

The lighthearted air shifted in an instant.

One moment, they had all been amused by Vivian’s predicament.

The next, they found themselves envious.

Vivian, once pitied, now became the object of their jealousy.

How could they not be?

She had someone who would cherish her so dearly.

The maids stole glances at Kailo.

Vivian, unaware of their gazes, had eyes only for him.

Her face, once flushed with embarrassment, softened into a dazed expression.

As always, her eyes overflowed with affection for him.

Kailo carried her to the bed and tossed her onto it.

Then, turning his gaze toward the maids, he spoke.

“…If you’re all done, leave.”

At his words, the maids snapped out of their daze and hurriedly finished their work.

They scrambled toward the door.

Just before the door closed, Laura stole one last glance inside.

And there, she saw—

Vivian, feverishly undoing the sash around Kailo’s waist, her movements desperate.