Looking for a Husband to Confine Me - Chapter 16
Chapter 16
The knight commander of Crow’s Order, who was supposed to be absent, was somehow descending from the tree. I looked up at the woman, bewildered, as she placed her arm around my shoulder as if we were close friends.
She leaned against me, a sly smile on her face. She was wearing only a black tank top, her white knight’s uniform carelessly draped over her shoulders.
“C-Commander, why are you here…?”
I heard Kelliard’s voice, filled with fear. In contrast, the commander who had descended from the tree seemed calm.
“Well, I was taking a nap here, and you came.”
“Th-that’s…”
“Kelliard, I ask again. Don’t you know it’s your work hours?”
I looked back and forth between the commander, who raised an eyebrow as she spoke, and Kelliard, who stood stiffly, tense.
‘Well, you’re on duty too.’
Anyone would think this commander wasn’t on duty. Judging from the knight’s earlier statement that she was absent, it seemed she had been here without telling anyone.
It was absurd to see her reprimanding Kelliard. And Kelliard was simply bewildered, unable to even think about it.
“I-I apologize, Commander.”
His neck was so stiff that I could see the veins popping out. Suddenly, his eyes met mine. It was as if he had found a good prey.
“My sister suddenly came to visit. I was scolding her for her rude behavior.”
“Sister?”
The commander looked down at me, her arms still around my shoulders. When our eyes met, I couldn’t help but smile. She smiled back at me.
“You came to see Kelliard.”
“No. That’s not true.”
I wasn’t here to see Kelliard. In fact, I didn’t want to see him.
I shook my head and replied, “It’s not like that.”
“Amelia,” Kelliard called my name, his voice sharp, as if he were shouting.
“Don’t raise your voice in front of your superior.”
Kelliard, who had been glaring at me, straightened up again, tense at the commander’s lowered voice.
I looked up at the woman, who had initially seemed carefree. She was a bit loose, with her sly smile and casual demeanor.
I glanced at the woman’s arm resting on my shoulder. But surprisingly, it was a muscular body. It seemed she wasn’t just holding the title of knight commander for nothing.
I turned my head, sensing a gaze. The woman’s blue eyes were fixed on me.
“I am Ray Kewind. You are…”
Before I could speak, she continued, glancing at Kelliard.
“Amelia Hazel, the young lady.”
“Yes.”
I nodded in response.
Unlike her sharp gaze toward Kelliard, her eyes held a gentle light when she looked at me.
“Listen, Kelliard. You seem to have misunderstood.”
“M-misunderstood? What do you mean?”
“I mean, the young lady hasn’t done anything rude.”
“What…?”
Ray seemed to have figured out why I was here.
“Amelia is my guest. She didn’t come to see you.”
Kelliard stiffened at her words. Only his pupils moved, shaking uncontrollably as he was taken aback.
“You, on the other hand, have been rude to my guest.”
“I-I apologize!”
“And you didn’t even ask for permission or report it. You seem to be lacking in education.”
Ray stroked her chin, her eyes sparkling.
Gulp! Kelliard’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He seemed to swallow dryly, as if his throat was parched.
“Isn’t it too early to report about the schedule?”
“I-I wanted to report about Pazl’s whereabouts as quickly as possible.”
“What about the other knights who are with you?”
“…They are still following Pazl.”
Aha. So Kelliard had deliberately come quickly to report about Pazl before the other knights.
“Then you should be out there looking for Pazl, whose whereabouts are unknown, instead of being here.”
“Yes!” Kelliard answered quickly, tense, as the commander, Ray, commanded. Then, he disappeared, his body stiff.
He didn’t even look at me, still clinging to her. She seemed to be more formidable and terrifying than I had thought.
‘Ray Kewind.’
It’s a name I remember, I thought, and then I recalled.
Ray Kewind, her former name was ‘Ray Lefkind.’ She was the Crown Prince’s sister, one of the current Emperor’s daughters. Ray was a princess, but she gave up her claim to the throne.
I had heard that she was friendly with her brother, the Crown Prince, but I never imagined she would be the commander of his Knights’ Order.
“My subordinate was rude. Please forgive him, young lady.”
“Oh, no, it’s alright.”
I smiled back at her as she smiled at me. Her arm was still around my shoulder.
When will this arm come off?
“And please keep the matter of Pazl a secret. It’s something that shouldn’t be known. I will punish Kelliard later.”
“Of course.”
I nodded emphatically. It could be Kelliard’s mistake, but it could also be a way to test my future actions. Despite her appearance, I instinctively felt that Ray was not someone to be underestimated.
Ray smiled, pleased with my answer.
I glanced at the back of Ray’s hand, which was resting on my shoulder, and poked it with my fingertips.
“Actually, this hand…”
“Oh, my apologies.”
Thankfully, it came off easily.
“I’m sorry for leaving you. I didn’t manage to get my timing right. I forgot because I was taking a nap.”
Ah, this woman is also on the free-spirited side.
“It’s alright. I came here because of my own misunderstanding.”
“Everyone makes mistakes.”
Ray laughed heartily. A beautiful woman with a striking presence, if I had met her in a social setting, at a formal ball, I wouldn’t have been able to take my eyes off her.
Not only me, but everyone else there would have been captivated by her. She was that captivating.
Was it because of that? I stared at her and blurted out without thinking.
“Are you married?”
“….”
“….”
Oh, my god. What did I just say?
She was even more beautiful up close, and I just blurted it out. It’s human nature to seek beauty, right…?
The problem was how to salvage this situation. Even Ray seemed taken aback by my question and didn’t answer.
“I, I just said something stupid.”
“I couldn’t find you in the Commander’s office, so I came looking for you. Lady Hazel.”
Ricardo Div’s voice came from behind me. He must have finished his conversation with Damian.
“The Commander is here too.”
“Deputy Commander Div.”
Ricardo approached Ray and me, noticing the awkward atmosphere, he looked puzzled.
“What happened?”
I shook my head quickly and gave an awkward laugh. Looking up at Ray, I spoke slowly again, “I’m sorry. I was out of my mind a moment ago and said something stupid. Please forgive my rudeness.”
“It’s alright. You’re an interesting lady, Lady Hazel.”
Her hearty laughter followed.
“For your information, I plan to eat well and live well on my own. I’m not getting married, nor do I have any plans to.”
Ricardo stared at Ray, as if questioning her answer. I just forced a smile, saying “I see.”
It was a mistake. It wasn’t like I wanted an answer, it was just a question that came out without thinking. It was instinctive, I just wondered if someone so beautiful would have a partner.
‘I shouldn’t have come.’
If I had just reviewed the letter properly. I regretted it deeply.
“The carriage is ready, Lady Hazel.”
“Yes, thank you.”
“I’ll escort you to the carriage.”
At Ricardo’s words, I tried to refuse, saying it was alright, but Ray nodded before I could.
“Yes. Please, Div.”
She then turned to me, took a step forward, and gently took my hand. She leaned forward and kissed the back of my hand.
“Then take care. I’ll see you again, Lady Hazel.”
Even after Ray disappeared, I was too flustered to move easily.
“I’m sorry. The Commander is like that with everyone.”
“No, it’s alright.”
Her beauty really is a crime. I was even getting a little smitten. I forced myself to regain my composure and followed Ricardo’s lead.
I had a hunch about why Ray wasn’t getting married. It was because she was royalty, and for the sake of her brother, the Crown Prince, she didn’t want to cause unnecessary controversy.
Moreover, she had felt how most nobles viewed her as a princess since she was young.
The Crown Prince and Ray’s mother, the Empress, died on her fifth birthday. They were killed by assassins who had targeted the Crown Prince and the Princess. Afterward, Ray realized that her existence would be used in the struggle for the throne and power.
Therefore, she had given up on everything from the start. She relinquished her claim to the throne and inherited the Kewind title, which belonged to the Empress’s family.
Her seemingly free-spirited behavior and her respectful treatment of me, a mere noble’s daughter, didn’t fit with royalty. This was proof that she saw herself as a Knight Commander, not royalty.
“The Commander is always like that, so you don’t have to think too much about it.”
For a moment, our eyes met, and I stared at him intently. Every time I saw him, his violet eyes seemed to change color.
