Chapter 02
Whoosh.
A warm early spring breeze drifted in through a half-open window.
The office smelled of old wood. My eyes were drawn to a large, tall bookshelf that covered an entire wall—stacked tightly with books, papers, a sacred sword tied with leather straps, and a silver-decorated steel scabbard surrounded by medals.
My gaze moved up to the center wall, where official crests were typically hung.
Unlike an ordinary office, the Commander-in-Chief’s office displayed three crests in order.
At the very top was the royal crest, below it the military’s crest, and at the bottom—the crest of House Procyon, the family that produced the current Commander-in-Chief.
“Commander. Lady Blandea Lefevre has arrived.”
The office was large, but I didn’t have time to look around.
Schloitz’s eyes were already on me.
Just like yesterday, his gaze was cold.
I lowered my eyes politely. He was still talking with what looked like a high-ranking knight.
“The preparations for the demonstration are complete.”
The knight spoke.
On a large table to the side were several Oparts in various colors, laid out like gemstones.
I’d seen them plenty of times in the estate’s research lab.
Schloitz stood and walked toward me.
I instinctively held my breath.
Through lowered eyes, I saw he was holding one of the Oparts.
He must have been examining it before I arrived.
He reached me in a few strides.
I had my hands politely folded, trying to stay calm, but I could feel my palms growing damp with sweat.
“Lady.”
His voice… so different from when we were young.
It echoed heavily in my ears.
“What position is most comfortable for you?”
Huh?
“To receive a blessing.”
Oh.
…For a second there, I almost seriously misunderstood him.
If I had a more dramatic personality, I might’ve screamed on the spot.
I silently thanked my mother.
“Thank you for the strict training on controlling my expressions…”
“This posture is fine, sir.”
In The Mad Beauty’s End, it said Schloitz Procyon hated waiting.
It was a habit he picked up after becoming Commander-in-Chief.
With the pressure of leading during a near-war situation, it made sense that he’d grow more sensitive.
I held out my hand to him.
It was much like I used to do at debutante balls—offering my hand to shy young men who came to greet me.
The same gesture, but…
I looked so… desperate.
Was it my mindset?
Either way, just extending my hand felt arrogant.
After hesitating, I opened my mouth.
“Sir Procyon.”
But no other words came to mind.
Should I say “Place your lips on my hand”? Or “Please bless me”?
Everything sounded weird. Too many words rushed through my head and crashed into each other.
Besides, he probably already knew the standard procedure for receiving a blessing.
Schloitz took my hand.
Just as I expected, he didn’t say much.
But he was tall—so he had to lean down quite a bit to meet me at eye level.
Quietly, his lips touched the back of my hand.
…
In noble society, this kind of gesture—when a lady offered her hand—was an accepted opportunity to quietly observe the gentleman up close.
Ladies learned this custom early.
The men knew it too.
That’s why they usually kept their eyes lowered while kissing a lady’s hand.
We weren’t at a ball, but I didn’t think Schloitz would be looking directly at me.
So I risked a glance upward—and my eyes trembled slightly.
His long, dark lashes framed those piercing blue eyes.
A clean, sculpted face, with sharply defined features and shadows.
With his lips pressed lightly to my hand, Schloitz looked… just like the novel described—so elegant it was hard to look away.
He was devastatingly handsome.
So much so that this blessing almost felt… divine. I couldn’t tear my eyes away.
He looks tired.
Had he not been sleeping well?
That thought passed, but my heart began to beat strangely.
At first, I thought it was just nerves from being close to Schloitz.
But no—it was too intense.
…Is this from the blessing?
My body buzzed like static.
It felt like energy inside me was colliding, prickling all over my skin.
Even my chest hurt with a deep throb.
If it’s going to feel like this every time I bless someone, this might be tough…
The last time I gave a blessing—to Enrico—it lasted one week.
Since he was pouring all his energy into research, the military would likely be mass-producing Oparts within the year.
I’d have to plan out the order of blessings carefully to avoid exhaustion.
By the time the pain and irregular heartbeat became too much, Schloitz raised his head.
I smoothly pulled my hand back and gave him my most polite smile.
According to Venus, from the second meeting onward I should start looking intimidated by Schleuz.
So next time, I’d try glancing away nervously and avoiding eye contact.
I then offered my hand to his aide and the knight in turn, but something felt odd.
Why isn’t this hard?
Unlike with Schloitz, I didn’t feel faint, sweaty, or uncomfortable at all.
Was I just overly nervous before?
Still, it’d be weird to ask for a redo to test it.
Oddly enough, both the aide and the knight let go at the exact same time.
It didn’t seem like they timed it, but they clearly felt something happen.
Because right after, they both looked at me in shock, covering their mouths like I’d just punched them.
Seriously, I didn’t do anything…
I didn’t get a chance to ask back at the mansion…
Well, of course not. I’d snuck out without telling Enrico.
Frowning slightly at their exaggerated reactions, I said,
“It might say so in the letter, but from what I know, the blessing lasts about a week.”
“…Ah!”
The aide finally snapped out of it and quickly answered.
“Yes, understood. Since you don’t have an assigned assistant yet, I’ll prepare a schedule for you.”
I turned my gaze.
Unlike the two flustered men, Schloitz was still watching me with a blank expression.
His pale eyes, with barely visible irises, made his stare feel even colder.
In The Mad Beauty’s End, it is often mentioned how even the protagonists couldn’t hold eye contact with Schloitz when he looked at them like that.
Of course, I liked even that about him.
“Sir Procyon.”
I was about to say goodbye but hesitated.
What if Enrico tried to sneak in as a replacement while I was gone?
Why was I even dealing with a scheming sibling in a story like this?
Anyway, I added quietly:
“I’ll see you again in a week.”
Schloitz gave a slight nod.
“You may go, Lady.”
****
“Lady Blandea seems very afraid of the Commander,” the aide said once she had left.
“Her eyes were shaking like crazy. I thought she was going to cry.”
“Isn’t that the case with most nobles?”
“True…”
The aide scratched his head awkwardly.
Plenty of nobles had tried to act friendly with the Commander, only to freeze up and back away.
But none had run toward him confidently and then suddenly shrunk back in fear.
Is the Commander really that scary?
The aide was genuinely worried.
“What if she bursts into tears next time—Commander? Are you okay?”
Schloitz didn’t respond.
He simply removed his gloves—and reached out to grab the aide’s hand.
“W-What’s going on?”
The aide froze.
Then he realized: Schloitz’s hand was ice cold.
Like it had been submerged in frozen water—or like that of a corpse.
“Commander… what’s wrong with your temperature?”
“It’s inconsistent.”
“Are you sick? Should I call the military doctor?”
“No.”
Schloitz let go of his hand and stared down at his own.
“There seems to be a problem with the research.”
****
And yes—there was a problem with the research.
I found out the next day.
More specifically… thanks to Enrico, who came storming in like the wind.
“Why the hell are you joining the military?!”
“Enri. Don’t tell anyone, but…”
I said with a serious face,
“I’ve always dreamed of holding a high rank in the army.”
“You?! You don’t even care about power!”
“I care a lot.”
“Don’t joke with me! You’ve always acted like a peaceful old tree, just soaking in sunlight. You’ve been living like someone who already died once! If you had enough money, you’d move to the countryside and laze around like you were born to it!”
…How does he know me this well?
I cleared my throat awkwardly, trying to hide my shock.
But it was already too late.
“Anyway, I already got my rank. I’m First Commander.”
“…What?”
“I was supposed to be Seventh Commander as Lady Lefevre, but thanks to my sacred sword ability and the fact I can grant blessings, they bumped me up.”
