MLHRGD 118

#118. Eve (3)

Nikolai tilted his head for a moment, then slowly answered.

“I don’t have a family, and no lover either. I do have a friend, but that guy needs to spend time with his family.”

“Was that consideration?”

“He’s someone I value a lot.”

The server glanced at Nikolai’s sly grin and muttered.

“Hm, so you do have someone like that.”

“Of course. Even someone like me needs at least one person to make life worth living.”

“What kind of person are you?”

“Me? A slacker who tries to avoid training by thinking too much. A coward who’s scared of war. Someone who loves drinking, women, and gambling—just a hopeless guy.”

“There are plenty of people like you in here. Is that why you come?”

Instead of answering, Nikolai just smiled.

The server seemed to like him even more.

“But earlier, you said you didn’t have a lover, right?”

She slowly closed and opened her eyes, gazing at him with a seductive look.

“Then how about spending tonight with me?”

At the bold invitation, Nikolai chuckled, then suddenly stiffened.

“Hmm…”

He rolled his eyes around and spoke with his usual habitual grin.

“Well, ha, what an honor that is.”

“Good. Then shall we go up right away?”

“Oh, wait. You’re in such a rush.”

“It’s not being rushed—it’s being thorough. The night is short.”

She grabbed his arm, urging him.

But Nikolai gently stopped her.

“Wait a moment, can you hear me out?”

Her brows furrowed. She sensed rejection in his tone.

“You said you don’t have a lover. Then what’s the problem?”

Sharply, she pressed. Nikolai lowered his brows apologetically.

“I said I don’t have a lover. But that doesn’t mean I don’t have someone in my heart.”

“What?”

“Believe it or not, I’m actually a man of principle. I can’t separate heart and body.”

“Ha!”

The beautiful server scoffed. She was admired by all the men in town, always begged to meet just once. To be turned down so firmly bruised her pride.

“Then why aren’t you with that woman tonight?”

Nikolai scratched his brow, hesitating for a bit.

“You’re wasting your time here instead of going to her on a night like this?”

She shot at him angrily. When he didn’t answer right away, she snapped.

“You’re just lying to reject me!”

“No, no, that’s not it.” Nikolai quickly waved his hands.

“Then what?”

“Well… I know my place.”

He spoke gently, like soothing a child.

“In this world, there are lines you should never cross.”

He traced an invisible line in the air with his finger, then mimed trying to cross it.

“And if you try to cross that forbidden line, things far worse than you imagine will happen.”

“What?”

Instead of explaining properly, Nikolai went on in his own way.

“The worst I can imagine is not being able to set foot here again.”

He stretched his arms out.

“I like this place.”

“What are you even…”

Before she could finish, Nikolai suddenly gulped down his drink.

“Hmm, this doesn’t even taste good.”

He emptied the glass clean but still called it tasteless.

Now the server looked at him as if he’d gone mad.

Nikolai placed money from his pocket beside the glass.

“Here. Thanks.”

“…That’s too much for the drink.”

“It’s a thank-you. I was bored, and you kept me company.”

She bit her lip, glaring at him fiercely. Nikolai winked playfully and left the tavern.

Though someone tried to stop him, he didn’t.

Thud!

The heavy wooden door shut, and the noisy tavern faded behind him.

The cold night air cooled Nikolai’s flushed, drunken body. His hazy mood also cleared.

“Haa…”

Letting out a long breath, he stood still beside the tavern door.

With his hands in his pockets, he stared blankly at the starry sky.

“Where should I go…”

He had nowhere to go.

He didn’t want to return to his lodging. And heading to the training grounds at this hour—only his friend obsessed with training would do that.

“No, even Andrei wouldn’t train while drunk like this.”

Of course, Andrei would never drink enough to get drunk in the first place.

“I wonder, what would he be like drunk?”

Imagining Andrei drunk and slurring complaints made Nikolai laugh to himself.

Just then—

“Nikolai.”

Startled by the unexpected voice, Nikolai spun around.

Andrei approached and patted his shoulder.

A light, friendly touch. Normally Nikolai was the one to reach out, never Andrei.

Nikolai blinked in surprise. Maybe he was seeing things from the alcohol.

“Andryusha?”

“I told you not to call me that.”

“No, but… what are you doing here?”

“I came to get you.”

“…Me?”

Nikolai pointed to himself. Andrei nodded.

“My mother is waiting.”

“Your mother—Madame Medvedev—is waiting for me?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because I told her I’d bring a friend.”

At Andrei’s calm words, Nikolai frowned.

“What do you mean? Explain so I understand.”

“It’s exactly as I said.”

“…You really don’t make sense sometimes.”

“Sometimes? I often feel you don’t make sense either.”

“Huh? Was that a joke?”

“No. Serious.”

“Man, even your humor code doesn’t match mine. Sometimes I wonder how we’re best friends.”

“I wonder that often, not sometimes.”

Andrei glanced at the dark sky, then urged.

“Let’s go.”

“Haa…”

“My mother is waiting.”

“…Right. We shouldn’t keep a lady waiting—especially Madame Medvedev.”

Muttering nonsense, Nikolai obediently walked along.

“Tomorrow we’ll be sleeping outdoors, so rest as much as you can tonight.”

“Ah, I don’t think I can sleep tonight. Is it okay to sleep drunk?”

“Absolutely not. You could fall off your horse if you nod off.”

“Hmm, then you’ll save me, won’t you, Andryusha?”

“…I’ll give you a sunny grave.”

“What? Are you trying to kill me? See, our humor never matches. The only taste we share is in women.”

“What?”

“I mean, let’s agree not to like the same girl. Women usually prefer men like you as husbands, not me. I really hate losing a girl to a friend.”

“Stop talking nonsense and get to bed.”

“Ha ha, fine, fine. Let’s go. For tomorrow’s sake.”

The night before battle.

Under a sky full of stars, the two young knights walked side by side. Their hearts were still restless, their minds tangled.

But because they had each other to share trivial talk with, the weight pressing down on their shoulders felt a little lighter.

Late that night, Madame Medvedev warmly welcomed Nikolai.

He ate the large late-night meal she had prepared, bathed in hot water, and lay down on a soft bed.

Not being alone gave him a strange sense of comfort.

‘Not like I’m a child, but still…’

Smiling faintly, he pulled the blanket up to his brows.

Though he couldn’t sleep until dawn, his heart felt lighter.

Andrei too, relieved after bringing his friend home, lay down with an easier heart.

He tried to sleep to preserve his strength, but sleep did not come quickly.

Madame Medvedev was the same. In a few hours, she would send her son and his friend to the dangerous battlefield where her husband already fought. How could she sleep peacefully?

She tossed and turned, then rose early to prepare a hearty breakfast for them.

The Medvedev household was not the only one like this.

Each family was different in background and situation, but one thing was the same.

On the night before departure, all shared the same emotions.

And so, the long, restless night passed—
and the day of farewell dawned.