Chapter: 14
The first “game” began with Max, the laziest member of the knight order.
For days, he had been shirking his snow-clearing duties, pushing them onto his comrades while he stayed buried under his blankets.
As usual, Max had been taking a nap with his rabbit doll, Merida, when suddenly—
He was lifted up in an instant.
Edwin grabbed the back of Max’s neck—despite his large build—and threw him straight into the snow.
Then, with a bright smile, he said:
“Shall we play a game?”
“A… a game?”
“It’s an icicle game. We spar using icicles instead of swords.”
It sounded like a child’s game.
But once the sparring began, Max ended up sobbing.
He had never known icicles could hurt that much.
Edwin struck precisely and swiftly, not giving him a single chance to dodge, targeting his weak points.
And as if he were narrating a fun fairy tale, he casually added:
“Did you know? If you pierce someone with ice, it leaves no evidence of murder. The weapon melts away, after all.”
At those words, Max ran away on all fours.
After that, every icicle around the base mysteriously disappeared—thanks to him.
The second “game” involved Harriet, the glutton.
Assigned to handle meals, Harriet had eaten half the bread before lunchtime had even begun.
As a result, many knights couldn’t fill their stomachs.
His gluttony didn’t stop—he devoured bread again the next day.
And on the third day—
Bang!
The kitchen door burst open with a loud crash.
The one responsible was Edwin, who should have been training at that moment.
He spoke to Harriet, who was just about to stuff bread into his mouth:
“Shall we play a game?”
“What kind of game?”
“A game where you eat all the bread here.”
Harriet’s face lit up, and he eagerly nodded.
Looking at the piles of bread spread out before them, Edwin smiled like an angel.
“The bread isn’t fully baked.”
“It’s perfectly baked!”
“No, the dough is still raw.”
Then he reached out toward the bread.
Flames suddenly began to rise from the pile.
The fire grew larger and larger, quickly becoming uncontrollable.
Seeing a royal’s special ability for the first time, Harriet gasped and stepped back.
Terrified, he pleaded:
“C-Commander, at this rate the dining hall will burn down!”
“Isn’t it better than undercooked bread?”
The flames shot up to the ceiling.
As Harriet tried to run, Edwin grabbed him by the back of the neck—his grip impossibly strong.
“P-please spare me!”
“The bread is done now.”
When Harriet turned around, the flames had stopped.
All that remained were the charred remains of the bread.
“Go on, eat.”
“How can I eat something that’s completely burned?!”
“Then I’ll help you.”
Edwin gathered the charcoal-like bread in his hand—
And shoved it straight into Harriet’s mouth.
“Ghk—cough! I don’t want to!”
“I’m helping you win.”
“I—I give up! You win, Commander…!”
After that, Harriet didn’t even look at bread for several months.
In this way, Edwin maintained peace in the knight order through his “games.”
However, no one in the Rune Knight Order ever wanted to be his opponent.
When Edwin visited them again after a long time, he smiled gently despite the heavy atmosphere.
“While I’m staying here, let’s all pretend we don’t know each other.”
“……”
The knights exchanged glances, remaining silent.
Edwin kindly added:
“Don’t call me ‘Commander’ or anything like that.”
“……”
“Sounds fun, right?”
After saying that, he picked up some bread and fruit and left.
The subordinates could only stare blankly at his retreating figure.
Silence filled the dining hall once more.
* * *
Knock, knock.
A knocking sound was heard.
Dana, who had been reading on the sofa, stood up.
“Who is it?”
“Senior, it’s me.”
It was Edwin’s gentle voice.
What is it?
When Dana opened the door, he asked:
“I came to have breakfast together. May I come in?”
“Yeah, come in.”
Entering her room, Edwin headed straight for the table.
Soon, several plates were set on a beige tablecloth.
Fresh fruit and freshly baked bread.
Surprised, Dana asked:
“Where did you get these?”
“I borrowed the plates from the caretaker.”
“And the food?”
“…Please, eat.”
He pulled out her chair for her.
Then he placed a neatly sliced piece of apple into her mouth.
As the sweet-tart juice spread across her tongue, Dana’s expression brightened.
Edwin watched her with satisfaction.
Sitting across from her, he continued to tend to her meal—
Cutting the bread into easy bites and refilling her glass with water.
“You should eat too. You said we’d eat together.”
“Yes, Senior.”
He took a bite of bread as well.
Then he suddenly asked:
“Have you ever been in a relationship?”
Cough!
Dana, who had been swallowing her apple, choked in surprise.
“W-what?! Why are you asking that?!”
Is this a question or an ambush?
Edwin calmly handed her a glass of water.
“Then I must be your first.”
Does it work like that?
When Dana just stared at him speechlessly, Edwin smiled.
“It’s my first time too.”
“……”
“Do you know what couples consider important?”
“…No.”
“Making sure the other person is doing well.”
“Is this a battlefield or something?”
“Checking if they slept well, if they’ve eaten.”
Now that she thought about it, it did sound like the usual conversations of couples around her.
When Dana nodded, Edwin smiled brightly.
“So from now on, let’s have all three meals together.”
How did it turn into that?
Dana’s eyes widened.
Edwin explained:
“I need to see for myself that you’re doing well.”
“I’m doing fine without you.”
“Then may I at least ask you every morning, noon, and night whether you’ve eaten?”
“……”
“I promised, didn’t I? That I’d look at you with affection.”
“This is what you meant?”
“Yes. From now on, accept whatever I give you. No matter what it is.”
His gaze was firm.
Dana fell into thought.
Had anyone ever taken care of her meals like this before?
Meals had always been arranged according to her brother’s preferences.
Even when she had been sick and left all her food untouched, her family hadn’t noticed.
And even if they had, they probably wouldn’t have said anything.
Realizing that, Dana spoke carefully:
“Edwin…”
“Yes?”
“When I said earlier that I’m fine without you… I didn’t mean to reject your kindness.”
Edwin listened quietly.
“It’s just… this kind of warmth is new to me, so it’s hard to accept.”
“……”
“It feels unfamiliar and awkward. So sometimes I might sound cold.”
Her face turned red.
“But… I’m always grateful.”
She gently closed her eyes, as if shy.
“From now on, I’ll accept everything you give me. Even if my reactions seem awkward, please understand.”
Seeing her sitting there with her eyes closed, clutching the cup with both hands—
Edwin’s heart stirred.
“……”
“……”
Perhaps that was why—
For once, he couldn’t answer right away.
Dana, who had come closer to him.
Dana, who had mustered the courage to confess her feelings—
She was unbearably lovable.
“…Thank you for telling me.”
Edwin replied, suppressing the emotions threatening to spill out.
Dana lifted her head and looked at him.
Her tightly closed lips trembled slightly, then curved into a soft smile.
At that faint, blooming smile—
Edwin’s heart surged.
