Chapter 12
“Ah… no way, right?”
Even after returning to my room, my pounding heart refused to calm down.
Did Calix realize that I was about to kiss him? Or did he not?
What if he figured it out and became more guarded from now on?
And if I can’t awaken him because of that—what about my happy future?
“Ah, no. Probably not.”
For some reason, I felt like he hadn’t noticed. There was absolutely no evidence for that—it was just blind confidence.
But once I convinced myself, the tension melted away, and fatigue rushed in.
I lay down on the bed and pulled the blanket up to my chin. It felt like my body had fused with the mattress.
“Ugh… this is nice.”
There was one thing my healing power couldn’t restore: sleepiness.
Sleep wasn’t treated as something to “heal,” but as something my body genuinely needed.
I really needed to sleep now. Today had been way too long.
So I decided to sleep deeply and for a long time… or at least, I think I did.
“Gasp!”
When I opened my eyes to the ominous chirping sound, it was already morning.
‘No. You’ve got to be kidding me.’
Before I could even process the shock of my precious night disappearing in the blink of an eye, someone knocked on my door.
Knock, knock—
“Riana! If you’re awake, come to the dining hall. The place where the banquet was yesterday.”
“Ah—yes! I’m coming!”
The very unwelcome voice of the vice-captain echoed through the door.
‘I don’t feel like I slept well at all… but I feel refreshed. Which somehow makes me annoyed.’
Despite my mixed feelings, my body felt incredibly light. I got up, washed my face quickly, and left the room.
I was heading toward the dining hall, passing through the lobby and the reception room, when—
“Captain.”
A woman’s voice came from inside the reception room. As I walked a little farther, I saw Calix standing face-to-face with a woman through the gap in the door.
She wore a teal velvet dress with frilled sleeves, and her abundant orange hair spilled down her shoulders. Her face looked like she was about to cry as she spoke again.
“You know you’re the only one I can turn to now.”
Calix stood in front of her. He was wearing a navy frock coat with epaulets on the shoulders, looking more formal than yesterday.
Calix didn’t answer. The woman gazed at him with desperate eyes.
‘This looks serious. So this must be the “important schedule” he mentioned.’
I glanced at them briefly and quietly continued walking, careful not to draw attention.
But when I looked back one last time—
Calix, who had been staring at the woman seriously, turned his gaze toward me.
‘Our eyes met…!’
“Riana.”
Calix called my name.
“I—I was just on my way to the dining hall! Please continue your conversation!”
I said that and immediately opened the door and ran out of the building. Even while running toward the dining hall, cold sweat trickled down my back.
‘He’s not going to kick me out for interrupting something important, is he…?’
Deciding I needed to act like the perfect rookie today, I boldly entered the dining hall and shouted,
“Good morning, everyone!!”
“…Oh.”
“Big sis! Good morning! Over here!”
Jude acknowledged me reluctantly, while Boris—his face badly swollen—greeted me warmly.
As soon as I sat down, Boris piled bread and fruit onto my plate and spoke with a deeply moved voice.
“I heard you drank in my place after I passed out yesterday. I’m truly ashamed.”
“It was fine. Really?”
“No, no! I’m usually not like that. I don’t know why I passed out yesterday.”
“No, it’s fine. It’s not strange. You’re just weak to alcohol, Boris.”
“Eh?”
While Boris stood there stunned, I put some bread into my mouth.
“It’s good.”
I didn’t know what kind of bread it was, but it was packed with grains and tasted great.
Seeing my reaction, Boris smiled brightly and brought over some strawberry jam.
“Try it with this! It’s amazing—I ate five myself!”
“Thanks.”
I spread a generous amount of jam and took a bite—
“Ah, big sis. You’ve got jam on your mouth.”
“Huh?”
“On the other side, a bit farther—ah, never mind. I’ll get it.”
Flustered, Boris grabbed a napkin. Then, without hesitation, he held my shoulder with one hand and wiped the corner of my mouth with the other—like an older brother fussing over a clumsy younger sister.
“Oh, thanks—”
I was just about to thank him when I heard the vice-captain’s voice.
“Huh? Captain? I thought you said you weren’t having breakfast today. What brings you here…?”
When I turned around, Calix had just entered the dining hall and was quietly looking in our direction.
He soon turned his gaze away and walked to his seat.
I straightened my posture and looked at Calix again.
His expression looked stiff. It seemed that whatever important meeting he’d had earlier hadn’t gone well. That was probably why he came to eat breakfast after saying he wouldn’t—maybe to lift his mood.
‘Wait… it’s not because I interrupted, right?’
No way. It’s not like I did anything.
‘But…’
Why is he staring at me like that?
Calix was looking straight at me as if he were trying to bore a hole through my face.
‘Did I do something wrong…?’
His eyes looked calm, but there was a hint of dissatisfaction in them. Nervous, I took crunchy bites of an apple.
Just then, the vice-captain approached Calix and spoke.
“Did the discussion go well?”
Oh—perfect timing.
The vice-captain annoyed me often, but sometimes he was surprisingly helpful.
‘Maybe he’s more perceptive than I thought.’
Still, what exactly was going on?
I was curious too, so I listened carefully.
Calix took a sip of tea, set the cup down, and said in an indifferent tone,
“Yes.”
“You rejected her properly, right?”
“No.”
“…What?”
“I agreed to go to the Droia Territory in a week.”
“What? Captain! That’s not a profitable job! The pay is terrible, and it’s nothing but hard labor!”
“I couldn’t ignore it after hearing their circumstances.”
“Then they should’ve asked the Imperial Knights!”
“They already did. Several times. There was no response.”
“Those bastards. They have no intention of working at all.”
The vice-captain gulped down water in frustration.
‘Droia Territory…? That sounds familiar. Ah—wasn’t it that incident?’
I remembered hearing about it in a report from the temple knights before my regression.
‘A minor issue in a border village of the Droia Territory, resolved by the Hennes Mercenary Group.’
It hadn’t been serious enough for the temple to care deeply, but Calix had handled it successfully in my previous life.
‘Whatever it is, it should be fine.’
Ah—wait.
‘Droia is a full day’s travel from here, and the request probably won’t be resolved immediately.’
Does that mean I won’t see Calix during that time? Will I just have to sit around and wait? That’s a huge waste of time!
“Then how will you form the expedition team? Just the people stationed here? About ten?”
“No. Ten from here, and tell the western branch to send twenty more.”
“What? Do we really need that many?”
“It’s just in case.”
‘Ten people…!’
I absolutely have to be included in that ten.
I’ll go on the expedition, watch Calix’s every move, awaken him when I get the chance—and then run away.
It’ll be easier to escape while we’re outside, too.
‘It’s a perfect plan.’
As soon as that thought formed, I grew impatient. Just then, the vice-captain scanned the dining hall, bending his fingers as if counting.
“Let’s see. Jerome, Kate, and Marcus should go. I’ll handle command—”
“No. I’m going. You stay here.”
“Ah—yes. Understood. Then for the remaining members… should we include the rookies? Jude, Boris, and—”
At that moment, the vice-captain’s eyes landed on me. I looked back at him with confidence.
‘Go on. Say my name.’
“Riana should probably stay here—”
“No!”
I shouted and stood up before he could finish.
“Huh? What’s this, Riana? Were you eavesdropping?”
Ignoring the vice-captain’s flustered reaction and Calix’s gaze, I stepped forward.
“I wasn’t trying to listen. Your voice was just really loud.”
“Ah… okay. But what do you mean ‘no’?”
“Please take me on the expedition too.”
“What? What would you even do there? Someone as weak as you would just be useless—”
“Why?”
Calix cut him off.
I met Calix’s gaze and answered.
“That’s because…”
Ugh… What do I say?
I can’t exactly say I want to follow you around and aim for your lips.
While desperately searching for an excuse, I spotted Boris smiling like a big puppy. Then I remembered what he’d shouted during the welcoming banquet.
Ah—let’s use that.
“The three of us promised we’d stick together from now on. Right, Boris? We’re always together, aren’t we?”
At my question, Boris—who had just stuffed a piece of bread into his mouth—jumped to his feet, raised both fists high, and shouted,
“That’s right! We are one body forever!”
Uh… that’s more than I signed up for.
While I was feeling uneasy, the vice-captain shook his head helplessly and gave a thumbs-up.
“Good grief. What a bunch of troublemakers. Fine! All of you are coming!”
‘Why does he look strangely moved?’
“We’re one body!”
Boris shouted excitedly.
And I felt even more uncomfortable than before.
