~Chapter 20~
As Winter expected, Yushen was startled and flustered by the sudden question.
Only then did he realize he’d been acting differently than usual.
Ever since that talk with Letitia a week ago, Yushen’s mind had been focused only on her.
It made sense—after all, there had been two awkward moments between them that day.
It wasn’t just Letitia who was bothered by it. Yushen felt the same way.
He just tried hard not to show it.
Of course, he kept remembering those scenes.
Even though his trauma hadn’t disappeared, only with Letitia did he feel fine having her close.
Not just “fine”—it was like his trauma was gone.
He tried to imagine it with Winter, but immediately shook his head.
When he erased Winter from his thoughts, the supply room scene replayed itself.
“If I’d gotten closer that time…”
As soon as he spoke his thoughts out loud, Yushen snapped back to his senses.
He quickly covered his mouth, but it was too late. He couldn’t take back what he’d just said.
Wait a second.
‘…Did I really say that out loud?’
Yushen was confused.
He’d been spending so much time thinking about the past lately, his grip on reality felt weak.
He slowly turned his head to look at Winter, who was watching him with a slightly pouty face.
“…Winter, what did I just say?”
“With a really dreamy look, you said, ‘If I’d gotten closer that time.’ Who were you missing so much?”
Winter’s voice was full of teasing. Yushen squeezed his eyes shut and opened them again.
“…It was just sleep talking.”
“Oh, really? That’s cute.”
It was clear Winter didn’t believe a word.
“So who was in your dream? I’m dying to know who made you so regretful.”
He didn’t care about the excuse—he just wanted to know who Yushen was talking about.
Yushen shook his head. It wasn’t a topic that helped him at all.
If he started talking to Winter, he’d probably spill everything that happened with Letitia.
No, with Winter’s clever tongue, he definitely would.
“…Enough about that. Why did you ask about the witch?”
Yushen changed the subject.
Honestly, he’d forgotten all about the witch until Winter brought it up.
Maybe it was because Leana, the witch, was now Letitia right beside him, so the urge to hunt her down disappeared.
He even forgot this was information only he knew and had started to act like he’d already caught her.
‘…That was careless. It’s not over yet.’
He reminded himself to stay alert.
“Normally, you’d finish your work and then drag Sir Aydin to chase after the witch, but lately you haven’t. That’s what I heard.”
Winter looked a little disappointed as Yushen dodged the topic.
‘Well, I can guess who it is even without him saying.’
A sly smile spread across Winter’s face.
But Yushen didn’t see it—he was pretending to work.
“…Did I really?”
“Yes. You’re obsessed with the witch, Captain.”
“…Me? No way.”
“Yes, you are.”
“…Once the knights recover, I’ll start the hunt again.”
Yushen realized he couldn’t win in a verbal battle with Winter and quickly changed topics.
But it was useless.
“Just so you know, everyone’s already back to normal. You’re the only one who needs to recover, Captain.”
Winter answered as if he’d prepared the lines in advance.
He hadn’t brought it up to scold Yushen. He didn’t care about the witch—he just liked teasing his boss.
Why? Simple.
‘Because it’s fun.’
He knew Yushen would be feeling guilty, too.
Winter barely kept himself from laughing as he watched Yushen play with his pen.
All Winter had ever seen was Yushen working, working, or chasing criminals.
And…
‘My little sister keeps bothering him, so of course he feels guilty.’
At least now, Winter had a chance to get his clingy sister off the captain’s back.
He was determined not to miss it.
Winter’s guess about Yushen’s change?
‘That’ was Letitia.
Winter was sure Yushen liked her.
His instincts, honed by watching Yushen for years, were certain.
He’d thought it was strange from the start. Even strict Aydin and strict Yushen, who always kept their distance, treated Letitia kindly.
‘But what if it’s just personal feelings?’
Winter didn’t know why Aydin acted that way, but he was happy to see Yushen’s feelings—especially since it was for a woman.
So when he heard a report a week ago that Yushen took Letitia somewhere alone, he couldn’t help but be happy.
But there was one thing—he couldn’t act like he knew yet.
‘Captain is shy. If he realizes I know, he might try to take it all back.’
Even though Yushen seems soft, he’s very careful about this stuff, so Winter needed to be subtle.
He had the perfect bit of gossip to torment—no, help—Yushen.
‘Should I let something slip on purpose? I bet he’ll have a great reaction.’
Winter quietly waited.
When Yushen reached for the fifth file, Winter spoke up.
“Oh, Captain.”
“Yeah?”
“Did you hear the new recruit went on a mission today?”
Snap—
The tip of Yushen’s pen broke.
Of course, this was news to him. With Winter’s authority, he could send people out on missions without reporting it to Yushen.
So, Yushen failed to focus on work and not think about Letitia.
His mind went right back to that day the wall collapsed.
He remembered Letitia’s wide, teary eyes looking up at him after the explosion.
Even if he closed his eyes or shook his head, he couldn’t forget her face. It wouldn’t go away.
‘…I really have lost my mind.’
Was it a mistake to let the witch join Luche?
Was this his punishment?
He kept asking himself, but there was no answer.
He didn’t know it himself.
‘If I knew she’d mess with my head this much, I never would’ve let her in.’
But it was too late to regret it now.
He decided it was better to find out what Letitia was thinking when she joined Luche, something he hadn’t learned a week ago.
He was sure that knowing what was in her dark heart would make him feel better—even a little.
Yushen dropped his broken pen and looked up at Winter.
For a second, he saw worry in Winter’s eyes.
“…Winter.”
“No.”
Even before he could explain, Winter refused right away.
But Yushen didn’t give up.
“I haven’t even said anything yet…”
“You don’t have to. I can see it on your face.”
“Just listen, Winter.”
Winter looked at Yushen and thought,
‘He looks like a sly fox, but he acts like a nervous puppy.’
It was funny, but every time Yushen made that face, Winter always felt weak.
‘I know exactly what he wants to say, but I have to listen anyway.’
He knew what Yushen wanted—to go along on the rookie’s mission.
“…Absolutely not.”
Winter was determined, so he turned his head to avoid Yushen’s pleading eyes. But Yushen’s stare was so intense, he could feel it on the side of his face.
Winter sighed. It was already decided.
Yushen saw this reaction and his eyes lit up.
“Why do you want to go?”
Winter had lost.
But he wasn’t going to give in easily.
If Yushen was going, he’d make sure to hear a good reason!
“Uh… I might be needed?”
“It’s an easy job—just changing purification stones.”
“But it’s near some ancient ruins, so there might still be monsters.”
As soon as Yushen finished, Winter’s face hardened.
He seemed to have forgotten, but the ruins where Letitia went today were a place where Winter had wiped out all the monsters years ago.
“Captain, are you saying I didn’t do my job right?”
“…Huh?”
“I went there myself.”
Yushen blinked, trying to figure it out. Then he suddenly realized and all the color drained from his face.
Unlock soon!~