BVAL 10

Chapter 10

Let’s Date

At the sudden mention of same-sex relationships, Zipfel glared at me as if telling me to cut the nonsense.

“Have you lost your mind?”

I turned my head again and looked at my hand.

Like pencil marks smudged across paper, faint traces of blood stained my fingers.

“No. I just think I’d be more helpful to the Admiral than Sir Zipfel.”

“What—!”

Mm, that irritated tone. Refreshing.

Since I couldn’t scratch his throat the same way, I figured I’d at least get on his nerves.

“Zipfel. That’s enough.”

“….”

With just a glance, the Admiral dismissed Zipfel and rose from the sofa.

I tensed up a little inside, but I didn’t show it as I looked at him.

But when he leaned over the table toward me, I couldn’t help but flinch.

“W-why…”

Because of his height and large frame, his shadow completely enveloped me.

“So, how exactly do you plan to be of help to me, Lady?”

I couldn’t answer right away and just blinked.

The Admiral was holding out a handkerchief.

More precisely, he had been about to place it directly against my neck before lowering his arm and handing it to me instead.

“…You have quite a talent for being intimidatingly kind.”

“My apologies.”

His deep, resonant voice lingered briefly in my ears before fading.

After giving me the handkerchief, he straightened up again. Even without any particular intent, his gaze carried the pressure of a predator.

I couldn’t help but reconsider whether the idea I had come up with was truly wise.

But in the end, I swallowed a sigh and spoke.

“More people will keep approaching you in the future. Mostly women, I’d say.”

The silk handkerchief was clean and smelled nice. It didn’t sting at all when it touched the wound.

“Among them, some will try to engineer physical contact with you—just like the examples I mentioned.”

The Admiral frowned slightly, and I also scrunched my face as I continued with a smile.

“But from what I see, it won’t be easy for you to tell whether those situations are genuine or not. Even if you can, it’ll be extremely troublesome.”

He was meticulous about security, sure—but in that area, he seemed rather naïve.

“Even if you realize their intentions aren’t pure, as someone who’s ingrained with the duty of protecting civilians, it’ll be difficult for you to stop someone from throwing themselves down the stairs, won’t it?”

“They would go that far?”

In a K-romance fantasy setting? Easily.

“You seem like the kind of person who would never ignore someone in danger—unless they’re an enemy.”

He didn’t deny it. Looks like my interpretation wasn’t wrong.

I smiled confidently at the Admiral, who had his fingers interlaced.

“I can block all of that for you.”

“And how exactly would you do that?”

“I have a perfect method. Though it requires a great sacrifice on my part—and your cooperation.”

I could feel Zipfel’s gaze from behind, as if questioning what nonsense I was spouting, but I ignored it.

“That sounds like it requires some explanation.”

“Yes. First, I need to stay near you!”

After all, it’s not like I can become a sniper and eliminate suspicious individuals remotely.

I placed the handkerchief on the table and stood up from the sofa.

Then, stepping onto the finely woven carpet, I continued,

“Until now, you’ve avoided all private approaches from others.”

As expected, Zipfel’s expression didn’t look too pleased.

“But if I’m going to drive people away from you, then you have to allow my approach.”

Both Zipfel and the Admiral looked displeased.

But would they still think that after hearing this?

I cleared my throat and suddenly raised my voice in a rough tone.

“Ahem! Make way! The Admiral is passing! Hey, you there—move your face aside!”

“……”

“That’s not what you want, is it?”

“…Obviously.”

It was a bit funny how both of them blinked at me, but I held it in.

“From my perspective, if I go around openly showing my intentions like that, I’ll be nothing more than your bodyguard. And then I won’t be able to properly block people from approaching you.”

Zipfel shot me a glare. What, embarrassed you got surprised?

I gave him a smug smile before turning back to the Admiral.

“So, there needs to be a valid reason for you to tolerate my presence.”

“And that reason is?”

The Admiral lifted his chin slightly.

I kindly explained.

“Well, it’s not like I can join the navy without attending the academy. So let’s think about this logically.”

Clap—I brought my hands together and asked,

“What’s the most plausible reason for me to drive away those who approach you—especially women?”

The Admiral didn’t seem to have an immediate answer.

Then I’ll provide one.

“The answer is: because I have feelings for you.”

Admiral, even if you frown, you’re still handsome—but do you know how that looks from my perspective?

Honestly, I’m completely fine. Just thinking you’re good-looking.

Smiling brightly, I continued,

“Then! Why would you let me chase away other women without stopping me?”

Again, no one answered.

But it didn’t seem like they didn’t know—it felt more like they didn’t want to know.

Unfortunately, there’s only one truth!

“Because you also have ‘feelings’ for me, Admiral.”

The corner of the Admiral’s eye twitched.

“Admiral?”

“……”

“Now you see why I said it requires my great sacrifice and your cooperation.”

Zipfel muttered something about it being the opposite, but I ignored him.

Hmm, maybe I should make it look proper.

I took a bouquet of dried red hydrangeas from the silver vase.

Then I walked up to the Admiral and dropped to one knee.

Of course, I only knelt for momentum.

“Admiral Richard Aquilus!”

Holding out the dripping bouquet, I beamed.

Then, looking at his slightly pale face, I said,

“Let’s date.”

You get dragged into a tiger’s den and can’t find a way out?

Then just settle down and live there.

Let’s see who leaves first.

…That’s how boldly I confessed, but—

The Admiral gave no answer. No expression either. It felt like I’d walked into a museum.

“Ah, cold.”

If it weren’t for the water dripping from the bouquet onto my foot, I might’ve wondered if I had gained the ability to stop time.

“My arm hurts, and my leg’s going numb, Admiral.”

Only then did he slowly blink.

And then he reached out to take the flowers—

“If you take this, we’re dating.”

—and withdrew his hand.

“Is that a rejection?”

“First, stand up.”

“I’m up. So, your answer?”

“Soldiers and merchants aren’t that different. Both pursue efficiency and profit.”

Maybe it’s because he controls maritime trade? That was surprisingly flexible thinking.

And hearing it from a face sculpted like a collaboration between Michelangelo and Da Vinci—it almost sounded like a historic quote.

Should I carve it onto the table beside us?

Besides, he wasn’t wrong.

“Then you accept!”

At my cheerful response, the Admiral frowned.

Wow, the statue can frown too.

“Dating you would be a loss.”

“Well, you’d lose some popularity, so that’s not entirely wrong.”

“Have you already forgotten everything you just said?”

Like an AI assistant spouting nonsense, the Admiral looked at me with strained patience.

“You said it yourself—what matters to people is the existence of exceptions.”

“I’m glad we understand each other.”

When I smiled brightly, he returned a hollow smile.

“Is that so? That makes me sad.”

“If that’s your preference, I’ll respect it.”

With that face, even if he claimed to be saddened by mutual understanding, I’d let it slide.

But apparently not. His elegant jaw tightened.

“Stop twisting my words, Lady. What I mean is that the moment we become lovers, a private exception is created.”

He explained calmly, like stating that one plus one equals two.

Of course, one plus one equals two.

“That’s right. I know.”

“Then why make such a proposal?”

He looked at me as if asking whether I didn’t realize that private exceptions would create far more problems than public ones.

“Well…”

Sometimes one plus one becomes something cute.

“A single private exception will eliminate all other exceptions.”

“Are you relying on the authority of House Labius? Don’t get your hopes up. Your reputation in the South is already at rock bottom.”

Right. I’ve confirmed that twice myself.

“Or is that calm expression because you truly don’t understand? If you stay by my side, the number of people approaching me will only increase.”

“They won’t be able to.”

“Then what exactly are you relying on—”

“My reputation.”

The Admiral’s gaze paused briefly on my lips.

I stepped back with a bright smile and lifted my chin to meet his eyes.

“My terrible reputation will protect you from people trying to approach you.”