The Knight Commander of the Second Male Lead [Novel] Chapter 53

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 53

Chapter Title: Not Forgotten

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I thought I'd forgotten it. Thought I'd forgotten everything. But no.

One note at a time, eyes closed, Adrian began to play the violin.

Nina closed her eyes.

'Adrian's violin. It's been so long. As good as ever.'

If only Adrian hadn't joined the Rubaenu Ducal Family.

Even if he hadn't become the duke.

Through his playing, his shadow and glittering light poured out together.

Like a pearl made from a mermaid's tears, shifting from sorrow to radiance.

Adrian shook out his hands lightly and set the violin down.

"How was it?"

Adrian gave a small smile at Nina's question.

"Shouldn't I be asking you?"

"You're the one playing it."

"You're the one listening."

"Well, to put it simply, that I really love Adrian's playing?"

Adrian laughed at Nina's words.

"I'm grateful."

Whenever Nina called him 'Adrian,' he could always just be 'Adrian.'

The illegitimate son of the Rubaenu Ducal Family. Captain of the Ebony Knight Order. The duke who killed his family. Just Adrian, no other titles needed.

Your Adrian.

"Shall I play a few more?"

Adrian, who had claimed to have forgotten it all, resumed his position. Nina grinned and straightened up. He played the pieces he remembered.

Only after several bursts of Nina's applause did the music stop. This time alone, Adrian knew she had drawn a line for him.

Normally, the moment Nina called him "Young Master," their time as Adrian ended.

But today, she would listen as long as he wanted to play as Adrian.

"Nina."

"Yes?"

Her golden eyes gazed up at him softly. Adrian knew Nina had drawn that line purely for his sake.

Young Master and Adrian.

Because he needed both names at once.

How had Nina known?

That back then, he had wanted a free friend, yet was too much of a coward to not also want a loyal vassal who wouldn't leave.

"Thank you."

Nina, who had been smiling quietly, suddenly jumped to her feet.

"No need."

"So... am I cute?"

Nina hesitated, not grasping the question's intent at first. Then she realized it circled back to the beginning and let out a laugh.

"Of course, Young Master. You're cute. Shallo, Kel, and Raja too. Their hair tones are oddly similar... The age gap isn't much, but they feel like adorable kids."

"But they're not kids."

Adrian said as he put the violin back in its case.

"True, but that's the vibe. Kittens...?"

Kel, Shallo, and Raja would keel over if they heard, but that's how Nina saw them.

Adrian closed the case.

"If you say so."

"By the way, Young Master, it just hit me."

Nina tilted her head.

"You knew we'd snag Professor Gerahim, so did you guess we'd fail with Rorokomo?"

"I did."

"Then why didn't you stop me?"

"Because it's you, Nina. You might've pulled it off anyway. You always surpass my expectations."

Nina slumped her shoulders at Adrian's words.

"Sorry I couldn't deliver good news."

"Turning what you bring into good results is my job, Nina. Whatever you bring will always turn out well."

Nina laughed at Adrian's words.

"That almost sounds like permission to go wild."

"Naturally."

Why else would I put up with this?

Adrian's expression said it all, so Nina laughed again.

"Then we'll proceed with Professor Gerahim as discussed, Your Grace."

"As you see fit."

As Nina left the room with light steps, he spun the chessboard once more. Professor Gerahim was just the start.

He pulled an invitation from the chess table drawer.

An invite to the Imperial Capital's annual Summer Ball.

None had come since he became duke. But now, rumors of reclaiming the plains must have spread, along with word of the knight order.

He'd face snubs if he went, but go he must.

He tossed the invitation back in the drawer.

Nina, fresh out of the room, widened her eyes at the two figures by the door.

Lui and Jin stood like guards, one on each side.

Before Nina could speak, Jin shushed her and shook his head.

Nina shrugged inwardly—if that's how it is—and walked past naturally.

Even if Adrian heard her footsteps inside, he wouldn't catch her pause at the door.

The two fell subtly into step beside her.

Only after putting real distance between them and Adrian's room did Jin sigh.

"I really thought we'd gone back in time. Gave me a shock."

"Same here. Never dreamed we'd hear it again."

Only Nina could coax Adrian into playing violin.

It had been ages, so the first strains triggered intense flashbacks.

Close their eyes, and the old knight order days appeared vivid as ever.

Nostalgic.

"Not that I'd go back if asked. Knight order life was pure hell."

Lui laughed at Jin's words.

"Memories grow fond with time? Still, things improved once His Grace took over as captain."

"Fair. Even with Belak swarming, I started thinking it was bearable."

"Their numbers have dropped since. Lady Nina's barrier holds stronger."

"Yeah. Only worry is if I die, does the barrier crumble?"

Only then did it hit Nina.

'Wait. Then the heretics will come after me?'

In the original story, after the barrier fell—post-knight order wipeout—the temple sacrificed priests to restore it.

Heretics knew the temple's barrier, undid it secretly, sparking disaster. But now the plot had twisted.

The knight order annihilation had been narrowly averted.

'Sun and Winter are holding the barrier.'

Possible only because she'd contracted them. Spirits couldn't wield power without a human conduit.

So if Nina died, the Violet Forest barrier would collapse too.

Unless she preemptively sacrificed her life force to sustain it postmortem.

And everyone would chew her out if she tried. Obvious.

'Heretics need that fragment to revive the corrupted spirit lord.'

Might as well claim the other fragments first.

'Though tracking them down won't be easy.'

Only the Violet Forest's location for a shattered spirit lord fragment was known.

Other bits had become Belak, or seeped into people as roots of evil—rage, envy, hatred.

Or sealed deep in places unknown to humans, like the Violet Forest barrier.

As Nina mulled it over, Sir Lui said quietly,

"We should find a workaround first."

"Right."

Nina grinned, and Jin looked deeply wary.

"That smile never bodes well."

"Come on, Jin."

Nina strode ahead laughing briskly, while Jin shook his head and trailed after.