Chapter 9
At Dan’s rude reaction, Hayden went silent.
His expression became far more terrifying than before.
Dan felt a chill run down his spine.
Sweat started dripping down his face.
“N-no, that’s not what I meant… I mean… I was just trying to politely apologize… I mean…”
Flustered, he only made things worse.
“Sir Brown.”
Hearing Hayden call him by his surname—something he never did before—
Dan immediately sensed danger.
He stood straight without thinking.
“Apologize properly next time. For now, you may leave.”
Dan looked at Hayden’s face—
and instinctively understood.
“I need to get out of here… now!”
“Al-Alchemist! I will properly apologize next time! C-Commander! I-I will take my leave!”
Dan bowed deeply and hurried away.
He ran as far as possible, trying not to be seen again.
Soon, he reached a quiet area far from the building.
He looked around quickly.
No one.
He held onto a tree and tried to calm his trembling heart.
“Wow… I never imagined it. That crazy sto—no… that woman is the Princess of the Magic Tower!”
Who was the Princess of the Magic Tower?
The only person in history given the title of alchemist among arrogant mages.
The woman rumored to have charmed even the Tower Master.
The most famous spender in the Empire—
who even borrowed huge amounts of money from the Tower.
That nickname—
“Princess of the Magic Tower”—
was originally meant to mock her.
“No wonder… she was covered in jewelry from head to toe.”
Dan didn’t know those were actually magic protection items.
He just thought she was extravagant.
“But why is someone like that running errands?”
He narrowed his eyes.
Then suddenly—
he realized something.
“Ah! I knew it!”
Who was his Commander?
Hayden de Roeln.
The best of the best.
Perfect education.
Perfect status.
Perfect reputation.
Huge wealth.
And even perfect looks and body.
And unmarried.
“There’s no way she’s just here for work.”
“She’s using errands as an excuse to come see him!”
Dan nodded to himself.
“I figured it out. I’m amazing.”
He even thought of running back and shouting the news.
But—
he stopped.
Something felt dangerous.
“If I go back… I might die.”
Then he frowned.
“…Why doesn’t the Commander dislike her?”
Instead—
he was worried about her.
“Could it be… she really is just running errands?”
“No way!”
Dan shook his head.
“She definitely likes him.”
Still—
something felt off.
“…Ah, whatever.”
Frustrated, he scratched his head—
and screamed.
“AAAGH! That hurts!”
The pain made him forget everything.
But one thing was clear.
“Her temper is no joke!”
* * *
Ivenne watched Dan run away into the distance.
“He’s really fast…”
For a moment, she was honestly impressed.
Then—
she heard a cough.
She turned her head.
Hayden was looking at her.
Still expressionless—
but there was a hint of hesitation.
“Our knight…”
He spoke carefully.
Ivenne looked confused.
Hayden sighed quietly and continued.
“He was rude to you. I apologize on his behalf.”
Ivenne’s eyes widened.
She stared at him.
That handsome face.
A face that didn’t even need to apologize.
Yet—
he apologized for his subordinate.
“Isn’t this unfair…?”
“And I’m also sorry for being late. I didn’t expect training to take this long.”
“Because of that, you went through something unnecessary.”
Ivenne was deeply moved.
In the past—
people from many departments would be late all the time.
10 minutes.
20 minutes.
Even over an hour.
And none of them ever apologized.
But this man—
was apologizing for just 10 minutes.
“I didn’t live my life for nothing…”
She almost cried.
But held it in.
From now on—
even if he was 10 hours late—
she decided she wouldn’t write his name in her “revenge notebook.”
“Um… well… I also made a mistake.”
“I should have protected the contract documents properly. Even if there was security magic, I still let someone touch it… and it got destroyed.”
“I’m really sorry, Commander Roeln.”
She bowed her head.
This time—
she apologized sincerely.
“So… about that…”
She spoke carefully.
“I think if I go back to the Tower and return, it will be around 7… Is that okay?”
She smiled awkwardly.
It was already 5:30.
Even with a teleport scroll—
it would take over an hour.
“If not for those checkpoint idiots, I’d be much faster…”
She felt annoyed again.
“Should I just come tomorrow…?”
That might be easier.
But—
she glanced at Hayden.
He seemed to think for a moment.
Then—
he spoke.
“Then let’s go to the Magic Tower together.”
Ivenne froze.
“…What?!”
“It’s more efficient than you going back and forth. We can both finish work there.”
“N-no… how about I come again tomorrow?”
“My schedule is tight tomorrow.”
Hayden shook his head slightly.
“So I’ll wait here. I’ll stop by my office and come back.”
Then—
he turned and went inside.
Ivenne just stood there.
“Ah… um… Commander… that’s not…”
Her voice faded.
“We’re going together…? Just the two of us?”
She was shocked.
Then—
she started calculating.
“What are the chances this won’t become a rumor…?”
Very low.
The road from the palace to the Magic Tower—
was the busiest street in the capital.
“And it’s evening…”
“I’m doomed.”
People would be everywhere.
A famous “luxury woman” and the Empire’s top bachelor—
together?
“That’s perfect gossip material…”
Her name would spread even more.
People would gather at the Tower just to see her.
Her life would become exhausting.
But worst of all—
there was something even more terrifying.
“And the scariest thing is…”
