Chapter 51

After the Dubos ladies left, several days went by.

Sleep, wake up, train, eat…

It felt like something had changed, yet nothing had really changed at all.

My daily routine, the monotony of my days, my conversations with Vivian—they were all the same. And yet… I sensed a faint shift.

Perhaps the atmosphere between us had grown a bit more… mature.

It was subtle, but those small changes accumulated, making everything feel just a little different.

Vivian started wearing a chest binder to support her growing bosom, and her clothes became slightly thicker.

Her gestures and expressions, her gaze… all of them felt more adult-like, a bit more formal than before.

Even her tone and choice of words weren’t the same as they used to be.

I didn’t find it uncomfortable. Maybe this was a necessary stage we both had to go through as we matured.

If anything, perhaps it was a bit late in coming.

Since there were no parents or trustworthy adults around to guide us, we were drawing our own lines together, growing in our own way.

***

I was lying on a bunk in the penal unit’s barracks, passing the time.

The bed, once spacious enough, was now a bit cramped and uncomfortable.

Just as Rani had pointed out, it seemed my body was definitely getting bigger.

Shaving had become part of my daily routine, and the smell of my sweat lingered more strongly after training.

While I was marveling at the changes in my body, I sensed a commotion outside the door.

“What the…?”

Balon scratched at his untrimmed beard and opened the door.

We could hear our flustered comrades bustling about.

-‘Hey! At least grab a chair or something… No, just keep carrying it around…!’

-‘Go get some water! Clean water, you idiot! You think she’s gonna drink the same water we do?!’

Martin and Willas both got up, curious about the clamor outside.

But before they could do anything, someone came pounding on our door.

“Kylo!”

Duran, one of the boy soldiers in my unit, stuck his head inside and hollered.

“Hey, get up! Lady Vivian is here!”

Vivian…?

Only then did I understand why everyone was acting so frantically.

I got out of bed and walked toward the doorway.

Just as I was stepping out, I noticed someone standing there who only reached up to my chest.

“…Kylo.”

The moment she saw me, Vivian broke into a wide grin.

We rarely ever smiled directly at each other, so I found myself momentarily breathless.

Behind her stood several boy soldiers, staring with unabashed curiosity.

We’d seen each other during the last expedition, so a few of them were already straightening their clothes with dutiful expressions.

Especially those in my unit.

Vivian had once personally brought food to us and changed our bandages.

Maybe that was why they were looking at her with something like comradely affection.

“…Why are you here?”

I glanced around and asked, “Where’s Burger?”

“I’m not here to see Burger.”

Vivian replied, then pressed against my chest as she made her way into the room.

“Let’s talk inside first.”

Balon, Willas, and Martin, who shared the room with me, scrambled aside in surprise.

As soon as Vivian stepped into the musty barracks, the atmosphere changed.

A soft floral or perfumed scent immediately cleared away the stale smell of sweat.

Balon gulped quietly, Willas darted nervous glances around, and Martin held his breath, waiting to see what Vivian would do next.

Every time I saw this, I was reminded of Vivian’s position in a new way.

We were always together, and I was so used to seeing her weaker side that I tended to forget—Vivian was the lord of this land.

If my comrades hadn’t been conscripted as boy soldiers, they would never have encountered her at such close range.

…Though if I hadn’t been taken as a hostage, I suppose I might never have met someone from the southern regions either.

Anyway, her abrupt entrance into our barracks was baffling.

Still, I didn’t bother stopping her.

Vivian looked around at the space where I’d spent the last two years, then spoke to the three who shared the room with me.

“Could I have a moment alone to talk with Kylo?”

Balon, Martin, and Willas agreed so quickly they nearly tripped over themselves rushing out.

“Out…! Everyone out!”

“Move it, you bastards!”

They shoved aside the boy soldiers crowded at the doorway. As they stepped outside, they called back through the closing door:

“H-Have a good tim—”

-Slap!

“—I mean! Please enjoy your conversation.”

Once they were gone and the door shut, Vivian let out a soft laugh, as though thoroughly amused by it all.

Vivian’s plan made me think she must’ve agonized over it a lot—and that, in her eyes, this was the only path left.

Vivian spoke up.

“None of the boy soldiers here would be rotten with political baggage... They went on an expedition with me, we got friendly... They’re around my age, so if they swear loyalty, won’t they stay by my side for a long time? Couldn’t they serve only me, become my soldiers?”

She wasn’t wrong.

By the time Vivian hits her mid-twenties, if these boy soldiers are still at her side, they’d be a considerable force.

It might only be two hundred of them, but if you think of forming a knightly order around those two hundred, it’s by no means a small number.

“They’re not my father’s soldiers—they’d be mine. And I think only these boy soldiers can fill that role.”

“...You’re fooling yourself just because you’ve shared a few friendly exchanges. They’re all in here for committing crimes, after all. Can you really trust them?”

“They did what they had to in order to survive. Many of them lost their fathers and watched their families crumble.”

She had a point, so I shrugged softly.

“...Kylo, you too... If you’re going to protect me, isn’t it better with comrades than on your own?”

“...What ‘comrades’? Don’t talk nonsense.”

She frowned as if annoyed.

“Anything’s better than having the First Knightly Order around...!”

“...Well, when you put it like that, I guess so.”

At my agreement, Vivian let out a deep breath.

Even her exhale carried a faint floral fragrance.

Gazing steadily at me, she said:

“So, Kylo, I have a favor to ask.”

“...”

“Teach your comrades the sword. Think of them as the knights who will protect me—and train them.”

“Why me?”

In response to my brusque tone, Vivian looked a bit hurt and surprised.

“...You won’t do it?”

And that was unfair.

She was asking, fully expecting I’d give in.

No matter how we clashed, there was one solid truth we both shared:

I wanted to protect her.

For reasons neither of us understood, we both knew it deep down.

And that realization, for some reason, felt humiliating.

Trying to hide that feeling, I scratched my cheek.

“Even if I do, it doesn’t mean they’ll automatically become your soldiers. Earning their loyalty is a whole other issue.”

“I know.”

Vivian answered decisively.

“...I’ll make sure of that. So you just... do this for me.”

“...”

Watching her growth always made my heart thump a little faster.

Not quite as much as when I was swinging a sword or fighting, but definitely more than when I’d just be sitting around doing nothing.

Maybe it was because I remembered those days when all she did was cry.

Seeing her get on her feet and forge her own path... gave me a strange feeling.

I tried to shake off that feeling with a harsher question:

“...You’re not expecting me to do this for free, are you?”

Vivian gave a small laugh.

“...Why would I give you anything? You’re my prisoner. You have to do what I say.”

“Then I won’t do it.”

She tilted her head with a playful grin, letting me know she was joking.

I rarely saw that smile from her.

“...I’m kidding. Is there something you want?”

“Send me home.”

“Are you insane?”

Her face hardened in an instant.

Satisfied with her annoyed reaction, I considered for a moment.

In truth, there wasn’t anything I needed.

This land isn’t my home, so owning anything here wouldn’t mean much.

I’m already used to living here, so it’s not uncomfortable anymore.

If I had to pick something I wanted...

“...”

“...”

I locked eyes with Vivian.

The atmosphere shifted ever so slightly.

Vivian must’ve felt it too—she couldn’t hold my gaze the way she used to and looked away.

Her cheeks turned a faint pink, and the hint of playfulness vanished from her expression.

As if to break the strange tension, she cleared her throat and said:

“...Ahem, I’ll have a new sword made for you.”

I let out a slight chuckle.

“Alright. Got it.”

She looked a bit startled.

“...So you’ll help?”

“There’s no other way, is there?”

She let out a sigh, relief clearly showing on her face.

Then, as if she had no more strength, she collapsed onto my bed.

“Honestly, I was tense, thinking you’d call it a stupid plan.”

“You’re just trying everything out—why would I complain about that?”

“...Is that so.”

I nodded, then spoke to Vivian.

“Then that’s settled, right? Now get up and leave. Don’t stay here.”

I was uncomfortable with the way her lying on my bed kept provoking odd thoughts in my head.

Vivian, too, swayed a little as she sat back up.

“...I will leave, but Kylo, remember this one thing.”

“...?”

“I’ll be coming here often from now on. I need to befriend these boy soldiers and make them my allies.”

After a moment’s thought, I asked,

“You sure you’ll be okay? You said you find it disgusting how they’re all brimming with lust, and now you’re going to wade right into them.”

“...”

Her face hardened, clearly unsettled by that notion.

I was the one teasing her, but seeing her reaction, I felt I’d definitely have to stick by her whenever she came here.

Not that anyone would be crazy enough to show off their lust in front of her, but thinking of her being exposed to that made me feel filthy as well.

Perhaps that was why I wanted her out of these penal unit barracks quickly.

She had arrived unannounced in a place overrun with men; who knew if she might stumble upon something she’d find repulsive?

Like dirty underwear… or more dirty underwear.

“Anyway, get going already.”

I rose from my seat, turned my back to her, and walked toward the door.

I intended to open it and create an obvious chance for her to leave.

“You said everything you needed to, right?”

Then, on a sudden impulse, I looked back at her.

“Oh, unless you want me to tell the guys about your plan—”

But the moment I turned around, Vivian flinched dramatically, as though caught off guard.

She moved quickly, but I still saw it.

...She was lifting up my blanket and smelling it.

“...”

“...”

“...Say whatever you want. They’ll probably be curious why you came here anyway.”

I was so taken aback that I couldn’t even ask her what on earth she was doing.

All I could do was pretend I hadn’t noticed and try to keep talking.

“...”

“...”

My head was spinning in confusion.

Why did she smell it? Did she think it stank? I felt strangely embarrassed.

I should’ve washed it more often…

A million thoughts ran through my mind.

With stiff fingers, I opened the door.

Outside, a bunch of boy soldiers were waiting around.

Vivian, realizing she’d been caught in the act, hung her head slightly, hiding her expression.

“...W-well then, I’ll s-see you at dinner.”

Stammering, she got up and left, clearing her throat awkwardly as she walked outside.

– – The End of The Chapter––

 

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