The Knight Commander of the Second Male Lead [Novel] Chapter 47

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 47

Chapter Title: A Sparkling Welcome Home

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Whispering, Nina's voice grew quieter. Adrian parted his lips slightly as if about to speak, then clamped them shut again.

Nina smiled.

"Come on, say it quickly."

"What?"

"What you want to say. What you need to say."

"Later."

"How do you know when later will be? No, no. Now."

"Please do it somewhere without me."

At Jin's heavy sigh, Nina laughed and stepped away from Adrian.

"Why, want me to help you out, Jin? Got something to say? Go on, say it."

"I'd like to ask you to keep your distance right now, Captain."

Jin grabbed her shoulder and gently pushed her away. Nina laughed as she was pushed back.

She turned to Adrian and said,

"Then I'll go change clothes, Your Grace."

"Permission to withdraw granted."

Nina crossed her arms and bowed at the waist before heading to the lodging with Jin.

In an instant, Nina changed into her uniform and re-braided her hair.

Then she opened the window and jumped down.

Straight down was the fastest way, after all.

Jin, who had come out through the entrance, was startled by Nina suddenly dropping down. Adrian spoke without even turning to look at her.

"Nina, use the entrance."

"Yes, yes, I'll be careful."

Nina stood at ease behind Adrian.

Soon, the sound of Sir Lui and his group crossing the castle gate could be heard.

The hooves of the One-Horned Horse rang out even lighter than a horse's.

Sitting rigidly in front of Sir Lui was Poco with a tense face.

A normal horse might have looked burdened carrying two people, but the One-Horned Horse made it seem effortless.

"Why does Poco look so tense?"

Nina whispered very quietly while maintaining her dignified expression.

"She said it's her first time riding a horse."

At Adrian's words, Jin whispered even more softly, "Really?" Adrian replied curtly, "Yes."

Then the One-Horned Horse stopped, Lui dismounted, and escorted her down.

Nina nodded deeply to herself as she saw Poco's cheeks flush slightly.

Lui, with his glossy light brown hair tied back in one ponytail, always wearing a gentle smile and speaking softly, looked exactly like a knight straight out of a fairy tale.

If eight out of ten maids working at the castle blushed, it was because of Lui.

He treated even the dishwashing maids like ladies, so it was no wonder he was so popular.

That was why Nina and Jin unconsciously called him "Sir Lui" instead of "Steward," saying they couldn't imagine him as anything but a knight.

It wasn't wrong—he was a knight, Ebony Knight Order Vice-Captain or not.

Poco's gaze turned toward Adrian and Nina.

She gave the Lengxi Kingdom's signature greeting, raising her clasped hands.

"It's nice to see you again, Lady Nina."

"The feeling is mutual."

Nina lightly placed her hand over her heart and then removed it.

She instructed the awkwardly standing butler to show her to her room and let Poco enter the castle first.

"Sir Lui, you've had a hard journey."

Lui smiled gently at Nina's words.

"It had been so long since the Violet Forest that it felt more like reminiscing than hardship. And, Captain."

"Yes."

"You shouldn't go outside dressed like that. Did you catch a cold?"

Nina glanced down at her outfit for a moment, then jerked her head up and whispered to Lui,

"You saw?"

"There was an intruder where His Grace was, so how could I not know?"

Lui's smile was gentle and his voice soft, but his words were sharp.

In Jin's style, it would be something like, "If I didn't know that, I'd be an idiot. You think I'm an idiot?" But in Lui's way, it came out so mild.

Still, Nina knew better than to be fooled by that mildness, so she quickly apologized.

"I'm sorry."

"And?"

At Lui's follow-up, Nina judged he wasn't truly furious enough to open his eyes wide and bowed her head.

"I'll be more careful from now on."

"Good."

Only after Lui smiled did Nina step forward and order the accompanying soldiers to disperse. Confirming Lui's smile, Nina finally relaxed and turned her steps.

While the servants handled the One-Horned Horse and luggage, she kept glancing toward the door.

Lui even openly asked, "Are you preparing a surprise party?" Nina sighed, hesitated, then hurriedly blocked the path of Adrian and Lui just as they were about to enter the castle.

"Ah, actually, you shouldn't open the door like this."

"Is there a problem?"

Lui asked, and Nina pouted before grinning.

"I wanted to surprise you on your return, but I wish I'd had more time to prepare. Oh well."

She opened the entrance door and bowed.

"Welcome back to Black Shield Castle."

Even at Nina's exaggerated words, Jin proudly straightened his shoulders. He hoped Adrian and Lui would be amazed by the results of the hard work from Nina, himself, and the servants.

Adrian and Lui exchanged a glance before stepping inside.

Adrian halted at the entrance.

Lui let out a small gasp of admiration.

"It feels like you were only gone a short while."

At Lui's words, Nina cleared her throat and lifted her chin proudly.

"The atmosphere has completely changed. I thought it was just an old castle..."

Lui trailed off.

It didn't feel that way at all now. Instead, it evoked the stately fortresses of ancient noble houses from epic tales.

Clean, neat, and cozy...

The decorations, some seemingly from ancient relics, were placed neither excessively nor insufficiently, and the wall-mounted candelabras gleamed like new from how diligently they'd been polished.

The tapestries on the walls were fresh too. Bright, vibrant ones fitting for a spring day hung prominently.

"You must have worked really hard."

At Lui's words, Nina humbly bowed her head. "I got a lot of help from Randell-sha."

Jin patted his shoulder and said,

"Even so, the Sages didn't lift a finger to move furniture."

"They did clean."

At Nina's retort, Lui asked with a strange look, "Clean? The Sages?"

Nina told the two, "It's a long story."

"For now, you both must be tired, so go change and wash up. I'll have a light meal prepared. Butler."

The butler hurried over at Nina's call.

"Prepare a meal."

"Understood. Shall I bring hot water now?"

"Yes."

"Understood."

As the servant withdrew, Nina teasingly asked,

"Shall I help with your bath then, Young Master?"

Adrian stared at Nina's face for a moment before replying,

"Sure."

"Yes!"

Nina excitedly followed behind Adrian as he went upstairs, and Jin made a dumbfounded noise, "Wha, what?"

Lui said to such a Jin,

"I'd like to hear the backlog of stories in the meantime. Of course, Lady Nina will explain later, but it doesn't hurt to hear in advance."

"Is that okay?"

"What do you mean?"

At Lui's words, Jin flapped his mouth with a face like, "No, that just now. Didn't you see?"

Lui replied with a kind smile.

"It seems the Vice-Captain still doesn't know His Grace well. Come on, let's go in."

Jin glanced worriedly upstairs before being led by Lui to his room.