Chapter 27
– Be Careful
The Laila Tavern was as noisy as ever, but around Shanelika, it was strangely quiet, almost as if there were an invisible curtain blocking out the bustle.
Shanelika, her cheeks flushed from the beer, sat at the table. Across from her sat Derwin, his expression completely unchanged. And standing beside the table, glancing between the two of them, was Shtern.
Shanelika quickly grasped the situation she was in.
So… I’ve just been caught hanging out with the princess’s knight?
“What are you doing here?”
The awkward silence lasted only a moment before Shtern casually pulled over an empty chair and sat down, his scarlet eyes gleaming as if he’d stumbled upon something amusing.
“Having a drink!”
Shanelika answered brightly.
“Just you and Sir Derwin? Oh, did Her Highness the Princess come with you too?”
“No, I came with the knight!”
Having already assessed the situation, Shanelika answered without a shred of hesitation.
“Together? How did that happen?”
“We bumped into each other earlier at a dessert shop!”
She then proudly took out the pink dessert box she had gotten to-go earlier and showed it to him.
“You came straight here from there?”
“Yes! I’d heard so much about how famous the Laila Tavern is, so I wanted to try it today. The knight said it’d be dangerous for me to come alone at night, so he escorted me.”
Derwin silently marveled at her lie. He’d noticed it before—she was remarkably quick-witted.
“I see, you wanted to come here. You should’ve told me. I could’ve brought you.”
Shtern nodded and smiled warmly.
“It was a sudden thought on my day off. But I’m glad to see you here, Captain!”
Whether it was because of the beer, Shanelika genuinely seemed in high spirits.
“But what about you, Captain? I heard people of your standing don’t usually come to places like this.”
“I’m not here to drink. I had something to check on. I was about to leave when I saw you.”
“Ah.”
Shanelika glanced at Derwin. His face was as impassive as ever.
“Aren’t you two going to say hello to each other?”
It slipped out naturally. After all, the three of them were sharing the same space, yet the atmosphere felt split—Shanelika with Derwin on one side, and Shanelika with Shtern on the other.
“Oh, do we need to? Feels like we’ve always been around each other. Hello, Derwin?”
“……”
But only Shtern greeted warmly; Derwin didn’t even respond. Suddenly, Shanelika recalled something Ferdin had told her—within this mansion, the term Kaisel Knights was a forbidden topic.
Kaisel Knights… could that be connected to the Captain too?
“Haha, truth is, we’ve never really exchanged greetings. Knights are all like that.”
Shtern gave a sheepish smile. Derwin’s expression didn’t budge.
So there really is something there.
Shanelika thought, but she couldn’t ask here.
“Looks like you’ve finished your drink. It’s getting late.”
Seeing her empty beer mug, Shtern looked at Derwin.
“I’ll take Shanel home. You don’t like places like this, do you? You must be tired—head back first.”
Among Shtern’s considerate words, one detail caught Shanelika’s attention—Derwin didn’t like such places. She turned wide-eyed to him.
“You don’t like places like this, Sir?”
“I’ve never liked noisy places. Always been that way. Right?”
Before Derwin could answer, Shtern spoke up for him. Still, Derwin remained silent, as if saying, Talk all you want.
“I see. So you came here just because of me, even though you don’t like it.”
She stopped herself from saying the rest—I knew you didn’t seem to enjoy it from the start… it was my stubbornness that kept us here.
Briefly, she reflected. She only realized thanks to Shtern’s comment.
Then, for the first time since the conversation began, Derwin spoke.
“As Her Highness’s close friend, I will be the one to escort you home.”
His tone was completely flat and businesslike.
“No need. I’m also Shanel’s guarantor, and I’m closer to her than you are. We’ve gone out together plenty of times.”
Shanelika blinked a few times. His tone was casual, but she couldn’t shake the feeling there was something hidden in it.
No, the real problem is—if he finds out I’m living at the Kartel mansion, that won’t be good!
She hadn’t told Shtern she’d moved out of the Vista Inn. Since the Kaisel Knights’ usual tavern had changed after she’d entered the palace, there had been no need to mention it. Shtern probably still thought she was at the inn.
He covered for me once. This time, I’ll cover for him.
Resolving herself, Shanelika spoke firmly.
“Captain, we see each other all the time. But not the knight. I’d like to spend more time with him today.”
“Oh? You’re choosing that stiff friend over me? Abandoning me? Ouch, that hurts.”
“I can hang out with you tomorrow!”
“Well, we do spend lunch together every day.”
As he said that, Shtern glanced at Derwin with a relaxed look.
“Then, Shanel, let’s come here together next time.”
“Here? During lunch?”
“No, take a whole day to hang out with me.”
“Sure! I’ve got plenty of time on my days off.”
Her quick agreement made Shtern smile with satisfaction. He rose from his seat.
“Alright, I’ll head off. Derwin, take good care of her.”
“……”
“Say something, will you? Hah, who’s ever going to fix that personality of yours.”
With a helpless chuckle, Shtern stepped closer to Shanelika, bent down, and whispered in her ear:
“Still, be careful, Shanel. I’m fine with it, but if people from the royal family see you together, it won’t be good.”
“Why?” she whispered back.
“You’re Her Highness’s friend. Don’t tell me you don’t know—the thing everyone in the royal family knows.”
“Ah.”
Shanelika immediately understood—he meant the rumor that Lydia liked Derwin.
“Even if you’re spending time together without any ulterior motive, if Her Highness hears about it, she won’t be pleased.”
“Really? I mean, he was just escorting me because I insisted on going somewhere dangerous. Wouldn’t she think he did well?”
“Maybe. But women’s hearts don’t always work that way.”
Would she really feel bad about it? Shanelika wasn’t sure.
“Alright. I’ll be careful. Thanks for the warning.”
“Good. See you at the palace. Get home safe.”
“Yes! You too, Captain!”
Standing up, Shanelika waved at the departing Shtern until he disappeared.
“……”
An awkward feeling settled in. Thinking about it, she’d been happily chatting with Shtern all this time, while Derwin had stayed quiet.
“Are you okay?”
“What do you mean?”
“You just don’t seem in a good mood.”
“I’m fine.”
Then why were you so quiet earlier?
Without realizing it, she began gauging Derwin’s mood. His features were as perfectly sculpted as ever, but right now, his expression seemed oddly stiff—different from how he’d looked earlier today.
I guess I should’ve been more careful.
She could think of only one reason for his mood: being seen together by someone from the palace. Their engagement was known only within the Kartel mansion, not outside. In hindsight, she’d gone out with him without considering they might be spotted in the city.
And Derwin was someone who lived strictly as a human and held a high status—of course he’d be sensitive about such things.
Hmm… maybe we can’t go out together again for a while.
The thought made her unexpectedly sad. To shake it off, she brightened her voice.
“You should’ve had a beer too! It makes you as happy as me!”
She decided to keep things simple.
“How about now? I’ll get another round!”
“I’ll pass.”
“Oh… then shall we head out?”
“Let’s.”
Again, his replies stayed short.
Deciding it was better to leave quickly, Shanelika got up and walked down the stairs with him. Just as they reached the first floor, a loud cheer erupted.
“Huh? What’s that?”
The thunderous sound drew her away from the front entrance, toward the source of the noise.
“Wow!”
Stopping in her tracks, Shanelika covered her mouth with both hands.
Several dazzlingly beautiful women were dancing on a wide open space that served as a stage. Their dresses were so sheer they seemed on the verge of revealing everything, and they were all stunning—not only in face and figure, but in the fluid grace of their movements. They embodied the rhythm of flutes and percussion perfectly.
Heavens… they’re beautiful!
It was a performance that could steal one’s soul. She stood among the crowd, watching for a long while, even forgetting she was with Derwin.
Only when the performance ended did she realize she’d broken her earlier promise to leave right away.
Glancing up, she saw Derwin watching the now-empty stage silently.
“Uh… wasn’t that amazing?” she asked, feeling awkward about apologizing.
“It was a fine performance.”
“Right? I’ve never seen such beautiful dancers before!”
His praise instantly lifted her mood.
“Before we go, can I just go ask those dancers something? I’m dying to know!”
As soon as the show ended, audience members flocked to the performers to greet and chat with them. Shanelika envied them.
“Go ahead. I’ll wait here.”
“Thanks! I’ll be right back!”
She quickly vanished into the crowd. Derwin watched her from afar.
But moments later, as he scanned the now-clearing stage area, he realized something.
Shanelika was nowhere to be seen.
