~Chapter 14~
No… We were having a good conversation. Wasn’t the mood nice? Was it just me?
I didn’t know why Aydin apologized so suddenly. It didn’t even seem like the right time for an apology.
Could it be… after all this, is he apologizing in advance because he still can’t believe my foresight and won’t take me into Luche? Please, no.
“Um, why are you apologizing all of a sudden…?”
I really hoped it wasn’t for the reason I was thinking.
It was as if he heard my thoughts. Aydin slowly lifted his head and looked me in the eyes.
For a moment, his serious dark green eyes caught all my attention, and I even forgot how to breathe.
Up close, Aydin didn’t look like Yushen’s perfect handsome face, but his strong body gave him a comforting, reliable feeling that would attract anyone who likes “beastly” or older men.
‘He could win the heart of any woman who likes those types…’
I didn’t hate it either, so I kept looking at him.
I prefer Yushen’s face, but there’s no reason for me to like Yushen anyway.
Luckily, Aydin’s unintentional charm didn’t last long.
“You must have worried a lot before telling me this secret.”
“Ah…”
“I’m really sorry I couldn’t believe your words right away, Miss Montrose.”
The moment I realized why Aydin apologized, I let out a sigh of relief.
There was no reason for Aydin to be sorry.
My conscience felt tighter.
I didn’t know Aydin was such a warm person just because he was an extra. I had always tried to ignore my guilty feelings, thinking he was just a character in a novel, but his apology made me realize I was wrong.
But regret wouldn’t change anything.
‘…I can’t turn things back.’
My mouth tasted bitter.
In the end, Aydin had no reason to be sorry to me. In fact, it was right for him to doubt me and ask for proof.
Even if I was from this world, the power of foresight is not something easy to believe.
‘It would be weirder to believe something so vague right away.’
But if Aydin had believed me instantly, could I really have used him?
Someone like that would use my power for their own greed, not for Luche or the Empire.
Just like I had thought before.
Also, if Aydin was that kind of person, he wouldn’t even be in Luche. Yushen really hates those types.
Anyway, Aydin trusted my foresight. He even said my power would be a great help not just to Luche, but to the Empire.
‘But I don’t really want to help the whole Empire.’
I didn’t show my real feelings and just nodded.
“I’ll help you join Luche, Miss Montrose. No matter what, I’ll convince the higher-ups!”
A strong ally was born in that moment.
From that day, I could feel Aydin completely trusted me.
I wasn’t even officially in the knights yet, but he gave me a uniform and told me to study the organization chart, acting as if I was already a member.
Well… I guess he’s confident he can get me in.
“…That’s what happened.”
Aydin finished explaining to Yushen why he recommended Letitia.
But even after hearing the story, Yushen didn’t react much.
“…Captain?”
“……”
“Captain!”
“…Ah, yes.”
Yushen finally answered after Aydin called him a second time.
“What are you thinking about?”
“Oh, just… something personal.”
Yushen avoided answering.
He couldn’t bring himself to say, “You were tricked by that woman.”
Aydin didn’t know, and no one who didn’t know Letitia’s real identity would know, but she was a wicked witch.
Aydin was completely tricked by a witch—by a well-made scam.
Yushen realized it when Aydin explained where he met Letitia.
The amount of money he had given her for travel didn’t fit with her acting poor—unless she did it on purpose.
But right now, the problem wasn’t that Aydin was tricked by Letitia.
It was that even if Aydin recommended someone who shouldn’t join, Yushen couldn’t just refuse or ignore it easily.
That’s because of Aydin’s high status in Luche—right after Yushen and Vice-Captain Winter.
To oppose Aydin’s opinion, Yushen needed a good reason.
From Yushen’s side, he had a very clear reason—Letitia is actually the witch Leana.
But if he revealed that…
‘Aydin’s position would be in danger.’
He was already looked down on for being born a commoner. If people knew he was fooled by a witch, they’d have a reason to attack him.
That’s why Yushen had to be extra careful.
‘How can I save Aydin from the witch?’
Aydin, watching Yushen sigh, asked carefully,
“…Do you not like my idea?”
“It’s not that, it’s just…”
Yushen avoided the question again. He couldn’t say he didn’t like the recommendation to Aydin’s face.
He was deep in thought.
‘…Did she approach him on purpose?’
If Letitia knew about Aydin’s influence in Luche, it would seem like she planned this, but unless someone on the inside helped, there was no way she’d know.
But he couldn’t just assume there was a traitor inside.
Even if she was a witch, all the knights’ information was special and not easy to get.
Yushen had no way of knowing why Letitia approached Aydin—unless he asked her directly.
At that moment, Yushen’s eyes widened a little.
‘Why didn’t I think of that?’
‘Instead of worrying about what she might do, wouldn’t it be better to keep her where I can see her?’
He had been worried about not being able to watch her since he was so busy with work. But now, he found the answer.
‘If I keep her close, I can stop her before she causes trouble, and maybe find out her secrets. And if I get a chance to prove she’s a witch, that would be even better.’
Even though he doubted the foresight ability, it was a good enough reason to let her join Luche.
“Alright.”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“You can bring her.”
Aydin, who was watching Yushen’s reactions, suddenly looked bright and happy, as if he was soaking in the sun.
“Don’t take it back later!”
Yushen nodded.
Aydin clapped his hands and said he’d go tell the good news to Letitia right away. He was about to leave Yushen’s office.
“Aydin.”
Aydin, who had already opened the door halfway, turned around at Yushen’s voice.
“You know you have to submit a report before you finish today, right?”
No matter what, this was something Aydin did on his own.
There are some things he can decide alone, but letting in a new member is different.
Since Luche is a closed group, they are strict about accepting new people.
Aydin was prepared for some punishment.
But he was a bit surprised that the punishment was only a written report.
“I’ll try to make sure your report can cover any problems that come up.”
“Thank you!”
Aydin smiled and put his hand inside his uniform.
Actually, he had already written the report, just in case.
He hoped Yushen would be generous, but he never thought he’d actually use it.
Aydin walked up to Yushen’s desk.
He smiled at Yushen’s purple eyes and said,
“Here’s the report you asked for.”
Then he took out a neatly folded paper and gently put it on the desk.
Yushen, who had been watching, burst out laughing.
Aydin sometimes acted in ways that surprised Yushen, but they always fit Yushen’s sense of humor.
After Aydin left, Yushen looked at Letitia’s recommendation letter again.
‘She said she’d start work tomorrow, right?’
He decided that as soon as he arrived at work the next day, he would go see Letitia.
The longer he hadn’t seen her, the more he wanted to ask.
