chapter 10
Phibi wiped away the tears sliding down her fingers.
It felt as if, even now, Reika might appear in front of her and smile brightly.
“Senior Phibi, I’ll always be by your side, so don’t be sad…”
Reika had been the junior who followed Phibi the most faithfully in the Border Guard. She was a girl with light lavender eyes that slightly tilted upward like lilacs.
Phibi and Reika were the only two women in the Border Guard.
Both were born in the slums of the border region. They had lived by begging, and to avoid starving, they were practically forced to enlist in the Border Guard.
When Reika first joined, her martial skills were terrible, and she was constantly scolded by senior members for being a woman. But Phibi never treated her that way.
Perhaps because she saw her own past reflected in Reika, she felt a sense of kinship and, whenever she had time, taught her combat skills and trained with her.
“Senior, thank you.”
Even when other seniors treated her harshly, Reika never lost her bright smile.
Whenever Phibi saw that innocent expression, it felt like the despair and negativity inside her chest faded away.
They trained together, lived together, and became closer than anyone else in the world.
They always took vacations at the same time, went out to eat delicious food together, and bought cute little trinkets.
Years later, after grueling training, Phibi became the captain of the northern border guards, and Reika also became a platoon leader.
On the day Phibi was officially appointed captain of the Border Guard, Reika called her to her quarters.
“Reika, what is it?”
“Senior Phibi, congratulations on becoming captain! Please accept this.”
What Reika handed her were combat leather boots the same red color as her own eye color. They were something she had wanted for years but couldn’t afford.
“Reika! Where did you get money for something so expensive?”
Phibi asked in shock, and Reika smiled bashfully.
“You said you wanted them, didn’t you? Hehe, I bought them with my saved salary.”
Standing in front of the surprised Phibi, Reika continued with a loyal expression.
“So please wear these and lead our unit well from now on. I’ll follow you even more diligently! Captain Phibi!”
Reika smiled brightly, even clenching her fist with enthusiasm.
“Thank you.”
Seeing that smile, Phibi believed that no matter what attacked the Border Guard, she and Reika could defend it together.
Of course, that resolve shattered a few months later due to the horrific war started by the North.
“The White Tigers have invaded!”
The northern White Tiger forces suddenly launched a nighttime surprise attack. There had been no declaration of war.
Launching a covert invasion without warning or declaration was an extremely vile act. But they had no choice but to face the sudden assault.
“We must hold out until the Lord and reinforcements arrive!”
Phibi and Reika led the Border Guard to the front lines and fought fiercely until Leon and reinforcements from the capital arrived. They cut down the invading White Tigers again and again.
But there was no end to them. Fighting without rest quickly drained their strength.
At one moment, as Phibi staggered, breathing heavily, a northern warrior swung his sword toward her. A blade of aura flew toward her with deadly force.
She couldn’t dodge.
The moment Phibi closed her eyes tightly—
“Senior, it’s dangerous!”
Reika jumped in front of her.
Slash—
The incoming blade cut diagonally through Reika’s body.
In that instant, Phibi decapitated the staggering enemy without hesitation.
Phibi rushed to Reika, who was bleeding.
“Reika! Stay with me!”
Cough… “I’m… fine… compared to our training… this is nothing… cough!”
Reika tried to reassure her, but her body trembled dangerously.
The bright, lively light in her lilac eyes was fading.
Phibi quickly exhaled healing breath over Reika’s wound, but the bleeding did not stop. It was too severe.
She pressed down on Reika’s wound desperately with both hands. Blood poured out between her fingers.
“Hang on a little longer… healers from the capital are coming soon…”
“Senior… I’m fine… cough! Go stop the enemy until the Lord arrives…”
“How could I leave you like this?!”
“You’re the captain of the Border Guard! Please… stay focused…!”
At Reika’s resolute voice, Phibi’s face twisted. A cry mixed with despair escaped her lips.
Then Reika slowly removed the ring from her finger and handed it to her.
“Take this…”
It was a sapphire ring they had bought together on their first vacation.
Reika gave her one last bright smile.
“Senior Phibi… I’ll always be by your side… so don’t be sad…”
With those words, she closed her eyes while smiling faintly.
Blood stained her face, but her expression was peaceful.
Phibi clenched the ring tightly in her fist and stood up.
Holding back sobs and grief with gritted teeth, she returned to the battlefield. Remembering Reika’s final smile, she cut down the northern warriors like a madwoman.
When Leon and reinforcements arrived, the North was utterly crushed and the war ended in overwhelming victory.
Phibi was awarded a medal for her achievements and promoted to Supreme Commander of all southern border defenses.
After the ceremony, when she returned to the Border Guard, the members celebrated her victory with a feast.
But she felt no joy.
After the loud celebration, once everyone had fallen asleep, she wandered the base alone.
The training ground where she and Reika always trained together.
The dining hall where they talked after work.
The guard post where they worked overtime side by side.
Everything was unchanged—except Reika was gone. It felt like she had been left alone on a deserted island.
That night, Phibi went to Reika’s empty quarters and tried to sleep there. She lay on the bed, absentmindedly touching the ring on her finger.
Drip… drip…
Her tears fell onto the blue sapphire gem. She bit her lip hard, but a sorrowful sob escaped.
Not long after, she submitted her resignation as Supreme Commander of the Border Guard.
She planned to leave everything behind and live in seclusion in the countryside.
But Leon, the head of the house, stopped her. Her skills were too valuable to abandon.
“If you hate the Border Guard, then at least become the captain of the mansion’s guard.”
In the end, following Leon’s will, she became the captain of the Drake household’s guards.
And she resolved to live the rest of her life cursing the North.
She could never forgive Alex and the northern warriors who stole her happiness with Reika.
From then on, she decided she would strictly and ruthlessly monitor that hostage from the North.
He would tremble just by meeting her eyes and struggle to breathe properly.
That would also be for Reika, who was cruelly killed by the North.
With that resolve, Phibi rose from Reika’s grave.
The Next Day
From dawn, I was pacing nervously around my room.
“Phibi is going to be my attendant…”
I still couldn’t forget her hostile eyes. I was so nervous I couldn’t sleep at all.
I perked up my ears toward the door.
Soon, footsteps approached.
Click.
The door opened, and I quickly slipped under the blanket, covering my head.
Maybe if I pretend to be asleep, she’ll leave…
I trembled under the blanket.
Then—
Whoosh!
The blanket was suddenly pulled away.
I opened my eyes slightly in shock.
There she was.
Phibi stared down at me with sharp, murderous eyes.
She said nothing—just roughly removed the blanket, unlike Bain or Joy who at least introduced themselves.
She really doesn’t even want to talk to me…
While I was trembling, she placed a bowl of food in front of me with a rough motion.
I was too scared to even say thank you.
I cautiously approached and started eating.
There were a few small pancakes and fruit.
But with Phibi staring at me like that, I couldn’t taste anything.
I finished the meal mechanically.
She immediately snatched the bowl away.
I curled up in the corner.
Please just leave quickly…
It felt unbearable, like rolling on a bed of nails.
Then Phibi silently gestured sharply.
“Come here.”
I followed her trembling.
She took me into the bathroom and turned on the faucet.
ROAR!!!
Water gushed out violently.
The sound felt like her emotions toward me.
I swallowed nervously.
Just behave… and survive.
But I wouldn’t do what I did with Leon again.
That had clearly annoyed him.
And Phibi seemed even more terrifying.
What should I do?
I need another way.
A way to soften even a little of her hostility…
I hid in the corner and looked at Phibi quietly.
And then my gaze landed on something…
