A Knight Who Protects His Enemies

“There was no sound at all, I told you.”

Balron leaned back in his chair, his body swaying, as he glanced at the squad members arguing around him.

Mikel of the Yanes unit stood at the center, leading the conversation, with the squad members gathering around him in small clusters.

“Didn’t you hear anything?”

Sanders tilted his head and asked.

“I wasn’t the only one who didn’t hear anything! Everyone missed it! Besides, after Lady Vivian went berserk, the entire castle grew deathly silent. Any sound would have been obvious! You could have even heard ants crawling.”

Mikel waved his hands emphatically, denying Sanders’ claim.

“Hm… Really? That’s strange.”

Sanders looked thoughtful for a moment.

Mikel shook his head firmly as he continued answering the questions.

“You’re all wrong. What, do you think Lady Vivian went berserk because of Kyle? That makes no sense! Is that really what Lady Vivian is like? Would a person who always maintains composure do something so drastic over mere affection? There must be political reasons beyond our understanding!”

He was adamant.

“Lady Vivian, noble and elegant, over Kyle? That’s insane. Okay, Kyle’s not a bad guy, but… this is Lady Vivian we’re talking about. The Lord of Roktana, the genius who revived the declining Rondore family. Besides, her beauty is so miraculous, it’s as if a goddess descended. Could such a perfect being genuinely be obsessed with one man?”

Mikel believed there was no way someone as beautiful as Vivian could be so fixated on just one man.

Especially when that man was Kyle, who had always been around.

Hearing this, Sanders tilted his head and countered.

“…Are you sure? Isn’t it possible she’s just shy and hesitating?”

Mikel laughed dismissively.

“Shy? The noble, ice-cold lady… shy? If she had such intentions, she would’ve taken the lead and done what she wanted. Anyway, if she were shy, she wouldn’t have locked Kyle up, now would she?”

“So, what are you saying then? Why exactly did Lady Vivian lock Kyle up?”

When Sanders pressed for an answer, Mikel responded with an exasperated look.

“…Well, maybe she was upset because Kyle, who is a prisoner, tried to leave without following proper protocol. I understand Kyle’s perspective, but there are still procedures to follow, right?”

“…If she locked him up because she was upset, wouldn’t locking him in the dungeon have been enough? Why in Lady Vivian’s chambers?”

“…Well, maybe she treated him with some respect because of their friendship.”

Sanders snorted, clearly done listening to Mikel’s reasoning.

“This guy just twists things to fit his own liking. Hey, Lady Vivian didn’t just steal a kiss from Kyle in front of everyone recently! She even showed up at his quarters with a drink! Are you ignoring all of that?”

At this, Mikel finally seemed distressed, holding his head in his hands.

“No, no, no!! There’s no way Lady Vivian could be obsessed with someone like Kyle!! The lady who is like a goddess would never act like that toward Kyle!”

He shook his head violently, clearly unable to accept it.

Meanwhile, Balron sat back in his chair, silently observing this chaotic scene.

“Hey, Balron!”

Mikel suddenly turned his attention to Balron.

“You tell me! You’re one of Kyle’s closest friends, right?”

Balron responded nonchalantly.

“What.”

“What’s the truth here? Did Lady Vivian really act so irrationally over Kyle? Is she in love with him? That Lady Vivian?”

Balron put his feet down from the table and straightened his chair, then asked in a low voice.

“…Why does that matter?”

“Shit, it hurts my stomach thinking about it. Seriously, does she really like Kyle that much? I envy him—”

“—Envy?”

Balron clicked his tongue.

At the irritation in his voice, everyone turned their eyes on him.

Though Balron hadn’t intended to argue, his mind was already clouded with thoughts about Kyle over the past few days.

Balron knew who Kyle couldn’t bring himself to kill and why he couldn’t return home.

“…Hey, how many scars do you have on your body? How about the ones on Kyle’s body—have you ever counted them?”

Mikel looked uncomfortable, sensing the seriousness in Balron’s tone.

“What? What’s this all of a sudden—”

“…Don’t you know that every one of those scars was inflicted in Lady Vivian’s name? Didn’t you see the burns on his back? His broken leg during that incident when he saved Lady Vivian—is that gone from your memory?”

“…B, Balron. I… it’s not like that…”

“There are countless more that we can’t even imagine. I doubt you even know half of it, but they’ve shared experiences far beyond what we can understand. I believe Lady Vivian really has acted this way out of affection for Kyle. But…”

Balron stood up, spat on the floor, and walked away.

Despite feeling guilty about Kyle, he couldn’t shake the feeling.

“…Still, don’t envy him. If you don’t have the endurance to face what Kyle has endured, you shouldn’t. Just watching him makes me pity the guy. Do you not pity him? He’s a high-ranking noble back home—someone we wouldn’t even dare to look in the eye. Yet here he is, unable to even smell his homeland. What’s there to envy?”

“…”

“Fucking idiots. Are you seriously going to make jokes about this? Aren’t you at all sorry toward Kyle?”

Mikel scratched his head.

“I, I just… jokes are how I deal with discomfort. Why so serious?!”

“…”

Without a word, Balron left the barrack in silence.

As he walked to patrol the castle, Balron spotted Willas and Martin heading onward.

“…Where’s Kyle?”

Balron asked.

Martin sighed and shook his head.

“…Still locked up, as far as I know.”

Willas scratched his head and sighed.

“What are we going to do about this? No matter how we think about it, there’s no clear solution.”

Balron remained silent, head bowed, deep in thought.

Willas continued, shaking his head.

“To be honest, Kyle could’ve left. Yet he stayed and saved all of us. No, it’s more like he put a leash on himself for our sake.”

Balron took a deep breath.

The castle was bustling with preparations for Vivian’s upcoming 19th birthday.

The dirt paths were filled with maids, busy with chores, raising clouds of dust, and the marble corridors of the castle echoed with hurried footsteps.

Everyone was preparing for the arrival of important visitors, yet they all stayed eerily quiet, cautious of Lady Vivian’s temper.

Through Balron’s blurred vision, the entire scene seemed distant.

He stayed silent for a moment, then whispered.

“…Let’s do something.”

Even though his conversation with Kyle had ended, Balron couldn’t shake the uncomfortable feeling for ignoring Kyle’s plea. The aftertaste was more bitter than anticipated, making it impossible to stay idle.

******

The delicate rustling sound ceased as Vivian emerged from behind the thin curtain.

Her half-transparent robe revealed her curves, and the short nightgown barely covering her underwear prominently displayed her legs. The flickering candlelight gently illuminated them.

Vivian approached me, wrapping her damp hair in a towel.

Her natural, casual movements made it feel like we had been lovers—or even married—for years.

If it weren’t for the handcuffs binding her wrists, the intimate feeling would have been even stronger.

It had already been four days since I was locked up.

Her damp hair flowed down her shoulder more softly, and a subtle, sweet scent lingered faintly with every movement.

“Isn’t it fascinating, Kyle?”

Vivian suddenly spoke.

“While we prepare, almost all adults would have gone through this.”

“…”

“Everyone pretends to be pure, noble, or virtuous, but eventually, most have indulged in intimate interactions.”

I understood the point she was trying to make.

Indeed, we had grown up together, and over the years, we had noticed the disparities between us and the hypocritical adults around us.

“Then they would face others with straight faces the next day, isn’t that ironic when seen through the eyes of a child?”

Vivian chuckled lightly as she neatly stacked the documents on her desk.

Every move she made held my gaze.

After finishing her task, she quietly approached me.

She paused by the foot of the bed and looked at me.

I looked back at Vivian.

The bed and sheets around me, Vivian standing before me, the distant furniture behind her, and the soft candlelight wrapping her body—everything seemed surreal yet captivating.

In the warm glow, Vivian quietly smiled and gently bit her lower lip.

“…It’s just too good that you’re here like this.”

Her voice dropped.

“It feels like you’re truly mine now.”

She carefully climbed onto the bed, her knees first, then the rest of her body, slowly moving toward me with the grace of an elegant lioness.

Each movement accentuated her feminine figure.

With every motion, her body and the fabric brushed against the bed, creating soft whispers.

Eventually, she reached me, pressing her fingers firmly on my thighs and slowly crawling up my body, like a cat.

Each touch felt like flames.

The heat radiated from her every touch.

Her expression, gestures, and the atmosphere she carried were clouding my rational mind.

My heart pounded madly, cursed or not.

To fall for such passion was inevitable—such a woman commanding your love. Refusing her would be nothing but humiliating.

“…Did you only learn this much from Madam Linné?”

I struggled to form words, trying to belittle her.

“…Huuh?”

Vivian tilted her head and let out a light laugh.

To steady myself against her allure, I desperately attacked her.

“Always pretending to be strong, weren’t you…? Just like how whores dangle after men?”

Vivian chuckled in response to my provocation.

“Why don’t I feel offended? It’s delightful to see you react this way right now.”

Her hand slid confidently between my legs.

The moment her fingers grazed a sensitive spot, I involuntarily trembled.

“Phew—!”

Vivian laughed at the sight.

Clutching my teeth against her brazen touch, I managed to say:

“What is this… touching without any shame?”

“Why would I be shy about exploring what’s mine?”

But despite her assertive words, Vivian’s face told a different story—her cheeks flushed red, and her ears matched the color. Her breaths were quicker and warmer than usual.

She was undoubtedly putting on some act, but her belief that I belonged solely to her felt genuine.

Soon, she pressed her body close to mine.

With my hands bound, I was powerless to move.

She draped her torso on mine and, as in previous encounters, looped her arms around my neck.

Our faces were mere inches apart now.

The only difference this time was how much closer she was.

There wasn’t a single gap between us.

She completely eliminated the distance.

Her cool body was now draped on top of mine, sending shivers down my spine.

“…I like how you’re always warm. Is it because you’re from the North?”

This was the most explicit she had been during my confinement.

“…”

She indulged herself using me, letting out a soft sigh.

Then, as if eager to continue, she slid her hand back to the same spot.

“…Stop it.”

I whispered at the renewed sensation.

“Why?”

Her tone carried a playful innocence.

“Don’t pretend you don’t know why.”

– Swish, swish.

Ignoring my words, Vivian moved her hand up and down with deliberate motions.

Nothing I was doing would have an effect on her right now.

Vivian, seemingly ignoring all my protests, closely observed my face, then gently attached her lips to my ear.

Even this was likely something she learned from Linné, though she whispered sweetly into my ear afterward.

“…Do you want me to suck you?”

I clenched my fists.

Vivian’s faint smile continued as she whispered.

“…If you give up and admit you’re mine, I’ll do it for you till morning. Here’s your chance to soil the face everyone admires. Deep down, you want to scold me for this, right?”

It was the voice of a devil.

“…Don’t you want to see me desperate, holding you in my mouth?”

I squeezed my eyes shut before turning to look at her again.

“…Please stop.”

My silent plea froze the atmosphere in the room.

Vivian’s steady expression slowly hardened, and her hand faltered.

My heartfelt plea seemed to wound her somehow.

“…Is it such an issue for you to ask me to stop?”

She whispered, deflating.

Then, with a sigh, she pulled her hand away.

Vivian retreated from the bed.

After adjusting the chains, she gave me enough freedom to lie down on the bed.

“…Let’s end it here for today.”

She stated.

“Sleep, Kyle. It’s time.”

“…”

I refused to lie down.

For some reason, complying with her felt like conceding, so for the sake of my shattered pride, I remained rigidly propped against the head of the bed.

Vivian, observing my defiance, stayed silent.

“Hmph.”

She blew out the candle, plunging the room into darkness.

The room was quiet now, and she quietly climbed back onto the bed.

Her head rested on my thighs without trying to force me to lie down. Her expression, hidden by the darkness, was no longer visible.

“…Kyle, can you stroke my hair just once?”

Her voice was low and calm.

The sharp tone she usually carried had softened, revealing a flicker of tenderness.

It was as if, in the safe haven of darkness, the armor-bound girl re-emerged before me.

At this instant, she didn’t feel like a dictator seeking ownership but more like a fragile girl yearning for protection and affection.

” …My hands are bound, how can I?”

My reply carried dryness.

Vivian chuckled faintly, a bitter laugh.

“…Right. Sorry.”

I asked abruptly.

“…How long do you plan to keep me locked up?”

Vivian was resolute.

“Until you submit.”

Then, as if dismissing further conversation, she shifted topics to offer her goodnight greeting.

“Sleep well, Kyle. Dream of me. I…”

Her quiet reflection spoke.

“…I should dream of you smiling.”

Her final words faded like a whisper.

I, too, hidden in the darkness by her fragile whisper, blinked my eyes in the dark.

…Indeed, I couldn’t remember the last time I had smiled in her presence.

Gradually, the tension left her body.

Silence returned to the room, enveloping us.

It was an exhausting day, reminiscent of the countless past battles.

Yet, alongside that exhaustion, there was also a familiar sense of camaraderie, as if even these challenging moments were something we were weathering together.

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