The Knight Commander of the Second Male Lead [Novel] Chapter 105

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 105

Chapter Title: A Cup of Tea in the Rose Garden

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After finishing her conversation with Randell, Nina mobilized even North Wind to track down Lui.

It was a garden draped in rose vines that the Mimina Company had painstakingly gathered from across the continent, even shoving money into Randell's hands to breed. They were just beginning to bloom, presenting a beautiful sight.

Though the Mimina Company had sighed that it would take at least ten years for them to take root.

"Sir Lui?"

Calling out to him cautiously through the archway, he turned around.

"Lady Nina."

He gave a faint smile.

"You didn't have to go out of your way."

"Sorry."

Nina slyly lifted the basket she was holding and asked,

"Should I just go?"

"Since you brought something heavy, let's sit for a bit."

Beyond the ornate rose arch was a gazebo likewise covered in roses. The two settled there.

As Nina took out the tea set, Lui asked,

"How are you going to heat the water?"

"Like this."

The spirit sigil flashed, and the water in the pot boiled in an instant.

"I'll take it from here."

Lui began brewing the tea with elegant skill, and Nina offered the prepared glass cups, chilling them rapidly with her spirit once more.

"Sir Lui too?"

"I prefer mine warm."

Hmm, it's the fifth month though.

With a cheerful trickle, he filled her cup, and a sweet tea aroma wafted out.

"Why does the tea taste better when you make it, Sir Lui? Same leaves and all."

"It's the difference in affection."

Lui smiled as he lifted his own cup. Nina agreed with that. She didn't love tea as much as Lui did.

Savoring their tea for a moment, the two gazed at the rose garden.

Small cream and pale pink roses draped over the gazebo like a veil and lace trim.

A sweet fragrance occasionally drifted in on the breeze, mingling with the tea scent, accompanied by the diligent buzzing of honeybees.

"You resemble my little sister, Nina."

Since he said she resembled him, Nina replied,

"Then she must have been quite the beauty."

Lui laughed.

"Yes, she was a beauty."

The past tense made Nina pause, but Lui continued leisurely,

"You know my eyes see better than most people's."

"Yes."

Nina nodded, and Lui smiled faintly.

"I used to think I could do anything with these eyes alone. Arrogant and twisted. Just recalling it embarrasses me."

"I can't imagine that."

A twisted Lui? Nina tilted her head. Lui set down his teacup.

"But the world wasn't so kind. Even seeing through everything, I couldn't pierce people's hearts, distinguish good from evil, or know truth when it wasn't always true. I returned home a wreck, and by then it was far too late. The only one to welcome me was my little sister."

His parents had passed, and the household was in ruins. Even in that situation, his sister had smiled and said, "Brother, you're back."

He had knelt before her and sobbed. There was no turning back time, no erasing regrets.

"To earn medicine money for my frail sister, I left her with relatives and set out to find work."

"And you ended up at the Ebony Knight Order."

"No place paid as well."

Lui added,

"Though no one here lacks a backstory like mine."

Back then, the order was full of people who came for the money, practically selling themselves.

His tale wasn't even special gossip.

"Didn't I complete my three years, leave, and come back?"

"Yes. The Young Master and I were thrilled. We never pried for reasons, though."

They worried that asking might upset him and make him leave again.

"I kept writing steadily to my sister. Got cute replies too. When I heard medicine prices rose, I even borrowed money."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"The ducal family's interest rates are usury, aren't they?"

"But if it helped her get better, that was enough for me."

"Hmm, doesn't sound like it'll end well."

Lui laughed.

"Right. When I returned home after three years, my sister had died long ago, and my money had funded my relatives' lavish living."

The replies from his sister had been fabricated by them too.

His abilities were still useless. He knew the letters were ghostwritten but thought they were helping her because she was too ill.

Don't rely on your eyes so much, he thought—only to regret it again.

Nina's eyes widened.

"You just let those guys get away with it?"

"Well, no. I beat them black and blue. Broke some furniture too."

They must have acted that way thinking he'd die upon joining the Ebony Knight Order.

They were probably shocked he survived longer than expected.

The order paid half a three-year salary upfront in a lump sum upon entry.

"They took that money and sold off my sister right away. When I pressed about her grave, they told me."

At the shop, they said the frail girl hadn't lasted long working and died.

Buried in a mass grave, no individual tomb.

"So I came back."

At least, he thought, he mustn't take his eyes off Nina and Adrian until the end.

"I see..."

Lui hadn't said a word or shown a hint, so she had no idea.

"It's a secret."

Lui raised his pinky in a plea, and Nina hooked hers with his.

"Of course."

Lui continued,

"I got a report earlier about human trafficking rampant."

"Human trafficking?"

Nina's eyes widened.

"It's banned in the Rubaenu Duchy, isn't it?"

"In the major cities. With Belak appearing more due to heretics, people are flocking to cities with grand barriers."

"Forming slums."

"Yes. And if you ask whether Belak don't appear in barrier cities..."

"They do too."

"Thanks to that, even the Rubaenu Ducal Family, famed for safety, is seeing an influx."

"Right. Population's spiked, they said."

Lui nodded.

"Yes. Hearing about human trafficking brought my sister to mind."

Lui's violet eyes fixed straight on Nina. He smiled.

"We might meet them if we go to the capital."

'Whoa.'

They say the quiet ones are the scariest when angered.

He looked ready to charge in alone.

"If you go, call me too."

"I can't bother the Ebony Knight Order Captain with something like this."

"But you can bother Nina."

At Nina's words, Lui gazed at her and smiled.

"Understood. If I think it's necessary, I'll bother you."

"Yes."

If they promised, no need to worry about Lui.

Now they could chat leisurely.

Nina leaned back fully against the chair, stretching her legs out and crossing them.

"Ah, nice weather. Pretty garden. Oh, there's a bear coming over."

Lui looked up at "A bear?" and then chuckled "Pfft."

Jin's red hair stood out even in the rose garden. He was striding right toward them.

"What's this? Whispering just the two of you."

"How'd you know we were here?"

Nina asked, and Jin plopped down as he answered,

"Obvious where you'd go."

"Whoa, no way."

Nina shook her head.

She had used even North Wind to find this spot, yet Jin had intuited it.

At Nina's reaction, Jin crossed his arms, resolving not to admit—even if his mouth split—that this was his fifth try.

"Wherever you run, you're still in my palm."

"What, beast instinct?"

Nina muttered as she pulled out another cup, which Lui filled.

Jin glanced at Nina's dew-kissed glass.

Before he could ask, Nina reached out and chilled his tea too.

"The captain should've heard what we talked about at the meeting, but since he didn't come, I had to find you."

"Oh, right."

Nina clapped her knee and briefly recounted the meeting.

"And I'll be away for a while."