TVPSTDK-44

Of course, unlike the original Cassia, I wasn’t about to wander around the outpost alone like a lunatic.

 

I just thought I’d step into the living room for a bit, just to get a change of pace.

 

When I arrived in the living room, I glanced around.

 

The dimly lit space was eerily quiet.

 

To be honest, it was hardly fitting to call it a ‘living room’.

 

All I could see was a worn-out table, a couple of rickety chairs with uneven legs, and a cold fireplace that hadn’t been lit in who knows how long.

 

‘When are they ever going to replace this furniture…?’

 

I let out a sigh internally, then suddenly lifted my head.

 

Beyond the window, the dark night sky was scattered with stars, glittering like shards of glass.

 

‘Come to think of it, it’s been a long time since I’ve looked at the stars like this.’

 

I gazed outside, momentarily lost in thought.

 

Ever since I joined the Azure Dawn Knights, I had been constantly on the move, never getting a moment to breathe.

 

Buried in paperwork, staying up countless nights—there had never been time for leisure.

 

It had been ages since I last spent a night like this.

 

But as I stared into the dark sky, something began to stir.

 

Something terrifying, pitch-black, and utterly nightmarish… kept trying to creep into my mind.

 

My face twisted involuntarily.

 

‘I’m scared.’

 

Even changing locations didn’t help.

 

I was still… afraid of the demonic beasts.

 

I clasped my trembling hands together, trying desperately to steady myself.

 

I tried distracting myself—staring at the stars, thinking about the various issues at hand…

But none of it worked.

 

‘I won’t be getting any sleep tonight.’

 

I clenched my teeth.

 

If I fell asleep now, I was certain to have nightmares.

 

The dreadful memories of the day kept clawing at me, refusing to let go.

 

Before I knew it, I was standing alone before a demonic beast.

 

The creature loomed over me, its massive maw gaping open.

 

Razor-sharp teeth.

 

Thick, dripping saliva.

 

Those glistening, menacing eyes staring straight at me.

 

A palpable hatred tightening around my throat.

 

……Wanting to tear me to pieces and kill me right away.

 

‘Am I really going to end up being killed like this?’

 

‘Just like in the original storyline?’

 

And then—

 

Boom!

 

The ground trembled violently, and the demonic beast in front of me shattered into pieces.

Frozen solid, the creature exploded into fragments of crimson ice.

 

At the same time, someone grabbed my shoulder and pulled me back.

 

I felt a broad, solid chest press against my back.

 

A large hand gently covered my eyes.

 

The touch was strangely warm.

 

‘Don’t worry.’

 

A man’s voice spoke firmly behind me.

 

It was a voice I knew well.

 

‘As long as I’m here, not even a single hair on Administrative Officer Astrid will be harmed.’

 

The moment I heard those words, my trembling stopped—almost as if by magic.

 

And then—

 

“…Administrative Officer.”

 

“……”

 

“Administrative Officer, Astrid!”

 

Gasp!

 

It felt as if I had been sinking into the abyss, only to be yanked to the surface in one swift motion.

I let out a sharp, ragged breath.

 

Giscard had approached me before I even realized it, looking down at me with deep concern.

 

“Are you alright?!”

 

“…Ah.”

 

I stared up at Giscard blankly.

 

My blurred vision slowly came into focus.

 

At the same time, my mind cleared, as if I had been doused with cold water.

 

It seemed I had completely exposed my panic.

 

‘Goodness, what a disgrace…’

 

My face flushed red with embarrassment.

 

I made a fool of myself in front of Giscard.

 

The other knights didn’t even blink in the face of the beasts.

 

At this rate, I’m completely unfit to be a knight!

 

“I’m sorry, it’s my first time seeing a beast, so I was a little startled.”

 

I hurriedly opened my mouth to explain.

 

Meanwhile, upon hearing my apology, Giscard pressed his lips together tightly.

 

I couldn’t tell what he was thinking—his blue eyes darkened, sinking into thought.

 

And then—

 

“What are you apologizing for?”

 

After a long silence, Giscard shot the words at me as if spitting them out.

 

I was slightly bewildered.

 

‘What’s with the sudden outburst?’

 

Did I say something wrong?

 

“It’s natural to be afraid. If a person has lived as a civilian until now, like Administrative Officer Astrid, even more so.”

 

Giscard continued in a sharp tone.

 

“Ordinary civilians suffer trauma just from witnessing a beast. And you—didn’t you almost meet a terrible fate because of one?”

 

“…Commander?”

 

I called out to Giscard hesitantly.

 

I mean—he’s obviously angry right now.

 

But still, it feels like he’s…

 

‘Trying to comfort me.’

 

I could understand if he was worried about my physical safety.

 

After all, since I’m of imperial status, the imperial family could raise issues depending on my health condition.

 

Even looking at the original storyline, after Cassia was killed by a beast.

 

The treatment of the Azure Dawn Knights plummeted to rock bottom.

 

But right now—

 

‘It really feels like… he’s genuinely concerned about me.’

 

Not just about whether my body was intact, but whether my mind was okay too.

 

That version of Giscard felt a little unfamiliar to me.

 

Not that it was a bad thing—far from it.

 

Rather, this strange, ticklish sensation in my chest—what is it?

 

“…….”

 

I bit my lower lip for no reason.

 

Meanwhile, Giscard seemed to have sorted out his emotions.

 

“……Haa.”

 

He let out a long sigh from deep within his chest and composed his expression.

 

Then, in a subdued voice, he apologized.

 

“I’m sorry.”

 

His tone was notably formal.

 

“Administrative Officer, Astrid, you did nothing wrong, yet I took my anger out on you.”

 

“No, it’s okay.”

 

I shook my head hastily.

 

Hey, it’s normal for someone to get a little snappy when they’re worried.

 

Rather, the fact that this usually prickly male lead had openly expressed his raw emotions…

 

‘It really feels like he’s accepting me as a comrade.’

 

Just as I was being swept away by this wave of emotion—

 

A quiet voice resonated.

 

“Actually… I get scared sometimes too.”

 

“Huh?”

 

Surprised by his unexpected words, my eyes widened slightly.

 

Giscard murmured as if sighing.

 

“Every time I face a beast, I feel afraid. That I might lose my knights. That someone might die because of a beast I failed to stop.”

 

“……That’s…”

 

“When the purification elixirs run low and my knights can’t properly use aura, when they suffer from the side effects of aura depletion—I get angry at my own incompetence. But—”

 

Giscard looked at me quietly.

 

If his deep blue eyes seemed strangely warm—

 

Was that just my imagination?

 

“You resolved all those problems, Astrid.”

 

“Commander…”

 

“I no longer have to fear losing my knights in vain. And that—”

 

Giscard spoke clearly, enunciating each word.

 

“—is all thanks to you, Astrid.”

 

“You’re exaggerating.”

 

I replied, feeling somewhat perplexed.

 

“This is just my job.”

 

That’s right.

 

The administrative officer’s duties include supplying materials and providing support for the knights.

 

Not to mention ensuring they have a comfortable environment to live in.

 

“You may call it ‘just your job,’ but the truth is, it isn’t.”

 

But Giscard refuted my words.

 

“This is the first time.”

 

“The first time for what?”

 

“The first time our order has had someone serve as administrative officer.”

 

As if he had decided to lay everything out, Giscard continued.

 

“The first time someone has provided us with an ample supply of purification elixirs. The first time someone has looked after the knights’ well-being with such care. And—”

 

Biting his lower lip slightly, Giscard concluded in a quiet voice.

 

“…The first time someone has gotten angry on our behalf.”

 

“Commander…?”

 

“Everything you’ve done—Astrid—you’re the first.”

 

Why is he suddenly painting me in such a golden light?

 

Feeling a bit flustered, I met Giscard’s gaze.

 

But the look in his eyes was nothing but sincere.

 

And then—

 

“Though it’s late… truly, thank you.”

 

Giscard bowed his head deeply toward me.

 

TL/N: AWW, HE TRULY CHERISHES HER AS A COMRADE NOW!

 

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TL/N: AS A TOKEN FOR MY GRATITUDE FOR Y’ALL PATIENCE AND SUPPORT W ME, ANY CHAP OF THIS NOVEL THAT I’M GONNA UPLOAD NEXT TILL CH.50 IS GONNA BE UNLOCKED! THANK YOU GUYS FOR SUPPORTING “TVPSTDK”>.<

 

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