Chapter 129
“What Do I Do, It’s My First Time”
There was sense in it.
“It’s not a fact. But in my opinion, the possibility isn’t small.”
“I see.”
“I said it knowing I might be digging my own grave, so please conduct the investigation properly.”
“…Yeah. Thanks, Cute.”
It was a brave thing for him to say, especially since he was a Holy Knight and his family were people of the temple.
To repay him, I had to narrow down the investigation even more precisely.
‘But someone with that kind of power…’
There couldn’t be many. Even among those with holy power.
Someone from a long line of holy knights, like Cute, who had inherited holy power over generations.
Or… one of the five great saints who were given strong holy power.
After leaving the Investigation Bureau, I went to the prison where Aron and the Belzer Swordmaster were kept.
While Roitz requested a meeting with the Belzer Swordmaster, I handled Aron.
“Aron.”
Aron didn’t speak, as usual.
But information isn’t only gained through words.
“I lost my sword aura too,” I said to him.
I saw his eyes shake slightly.
“It was pretty hard.”
“….”
“I think you went through it too, Aron.”
“Serdin, I…”
Aron finally spoke. It was the first time since we sat across from each other.
But soon, he fell silent again. Even without words, he was telling me something.
His eyes seemed to already know what I had gone through.
“He came to make me sign a contract.”
“….”
“Is he someone from the temple?”
Aron opened his mouth as if to answer, then closed it again, giving up.
‘So, he really can’t speak the contents of the contract.’
Even though Aron didn’t answer my guess, he didn’t deny it either.
He wasn’t trying to stop me from finding out the truth. He just couldn’t tell me.
“I’ll come back, Aron.”
“Serdin.”
As I finished the visit, Aron called me.
“…I’m sorry.”
He said it with a pained expression.
He had faced me twice now.
Hiding the fact we were fellow knights, standing with sharp swords pointed at each other.
He must have felt worse knowing it was me.
“And one more thing.”
“What is it?”
“……Is Manon… okay?”
Aron’s eyes were full of longing.
Only then did I understand why Manon had been so worried about him.
“….”
Some feelings can only be understood by experiencing them.
It would be a lie not to feel pain from the perspective of a fellow knight.
I felt Aron’s guilt toward me and his deep care and affection for Manon.
But that didn’t excuse what he did.
Nothing is unavoidable in this world.
It’s all a person’s choice.
“…She’s fine.”
I nodded and turned away.
The next day.
I spent all day running around, handling leftover work along with the mask investigation.
Now, I was holed up in the office with Roitz.
“Hmm.”
I had a little direction, but there were still tasks and thoughts to solve the case.
“Drink while you work.”
Roitz brought tea.
I drank it while going over the related documents.
After a while, I glanced at Roitz.
I saw his sharp nose as he focused on the papers.
“….”
I focused again, then glanced once more.
This time, I saw his lips pressed together seriously.
‘Ugh, why am I like this?’
Even while concentrating, I kept thinking about the park.
The moment we almost kissed.
‘Maybe I should’ve just gone for it that day?’
Even after sending Terrian and Lizzie away.
If I had just closed my eyes and done it, I wouldn’t keep thinking about it.
‘I should’ve done this or that…’
What would Roitz think if he knew what I was thinking?
‘But this is all I can think about right now.’
Then Roitz looked at me.
Our eyes met.
“What’s wrong, Serdin?”
He put the papers down and came closer.
“Why, why?”
“Just…”
He slid the chair next to me and sat down.
Then he positioned himself fully to look at me.
Resting his chin, with a faint, lazy smile.
“What are you thinking?”
He lightly touched my hair.
Seeing that, all my thoughts vanished.
“….”
All that remained in my mind was the saying I had heard: “Couples should be honest with each other.”
So I said what I was thinking far too honestly.
“I thought I wanted to kiss you.”
Roitz’s pupils shook for a moment.
‘Ah.’
I was surprised I said it, but once words are out, you can’t take them back.
Would he think it’s ridiculous that I had such personal thoughts while working?
‘Even a workaholic needs rest.’
And the same went for Roitz.
He adjusted his posture.
I prepared to respond if he teased me, but he spoke seriously.
“……Then do it.”
Then he waited politely, with a calm expression.
I blinked and asked for confirmation.
“Did you really say I should?”
“Yeah.”
“Commander said I should? I’m really going to do it.”
“Yes.”
I fixed my trembling gaze on him.
I had agreed, but…
‘How do I even do this?’
I only knew from books that kissing was putting lips together.
I had read descriptions, but applying it in reality… I couldn’t think of anything.
“Then, here goes.”
I didn’t know. I just had to try.
‘Do it quickly and get these thoughts out of my head.’
I took a deep breath and charged at Roitz’s lips with firm determination.
Smack.
Our lips collided.
I gasped.
I saw Roitz was surprised. There was a faint metallic taste from a small cut on his lips.
“Ouch.”
Was this wrong?
I often got my lips hurt, but this situation shouldn’t have caused injury.
“Serdin!”
Roitz grabbed my shoulders to check my lips.
I saw his lips were fine, strong enough not to be hurt.
He shouted angrily:
“Who kisses like that?!”
I protested, feeling unfair.
“It’s my first time! What do you want me to do?”
Roitz nodded, calming me.
‘This failed again.’
How should I try again?
I looked at him, and he had been watching me all along.
“…Why?”
“Nothing.”
“But everyone is a little bad at first. You learn by doing, right?”
“Yeah.”
I kept making excuses, then stopped, feeling frustrated again.
Roitz smiled and tapped my nose.
“See? First times are always like this.”
“…Right.”
“Yeah. Because you’re the first for me too.”
He whispered, his voice close.
He wrapped one arm around my waist.
The space between us vanished.
“……Commander?”
“Yeah.”
Then his other hand touched my cheek.
“Serdin.”
He called my name softly, slowly coming closer.
Slowly. Our eyelashes almost touched. His nose brushed mine.
‘I was worried about what to do… but this is all I had to do…’
The moment he touched me, it swept me away.
“…!”
I closed my eyes instinctively.
The sensation became clearer.
Roitz softly held my lips, even brushing the faint taste of blood from the small cut.
“Ro…”
I tried to call his name, but his tongue gently explored my mouth.
I gripped his shirt tightly.
He held me closer, as if I might escape.
What? He said it was our first time… but this… this isn’t possible.
The deeper he went, my breathing became short. My mind went blank.
It felt like being drunk, like wandering through a dream after a long sleep.
