Tap. Tap. Tap.
"Hey, Rue."
"?"
Rue turned toward the window—and saw Lavis hanging outside it.
On the third floor.
"What are you doing out there?"
Rue frowned but ignored him, continuing to put on his clothes.
He began buttoning his shirt while Lavis casually sat on the windowsill.
"You didn't answer me. What are you doing?"
"Getting dressed. What else?"
"I meant where are you going?"
"None of your business."
"Suspicious. You haven't shown up at the office all morning…"
"Mind your own business and leave."
"Hm…"
Lavis narrowed his eyes.
As if recalling something he had overheard from the servants earlier, a slow, mischievous smile spread across his face.
"Hehehe."
The moment Rue heard that laugh, a bad feeling crawled up his spine.
He turned his head.
Too late.
Splash!
Lavis poured liquid from a small bottle onto the floor beside Rue's bed.
"What are you—Ack!"
"Sleep well~~"
"Are you insane—?! That smell—! How much did you pour?! Cough—are you trying to kill me?!"
"Are you really that easy to kill? You'll just sleep for a while~"
"You crazy bastard—"
The insult never finished.
Rue's body slowly slid down the wall behind him.
His eyes remained open, but his eyelids were growing heavier by the second.
"I… will… kill…"
The words dissolved into slurred murmurs as sleep dragged him under.
"Hehehehehe."
Seeing Rue collapse with his shirt only half-buttoned, Lavis climbed through the window.
He kicked Rue's leg.
Once.
Then again.
Just to make sure.
"Good."
Lavis grabbed some tape from the bedside table.
Then a pair of scissors.
After that—
he took off his socks.
The same socks he had been wearing for an entire week.
Without hesitation, he shoved them straight into Rue's mouth.
"Tie tie~ then stuff~ lalala~ hehehe then lock away~~"
Still humming cheerfully, Lavis hoisted Rue over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.
His destination was obvious.
The underground storage room.
"Hehehehe… what a sweet revenge."
"C-Commander… help! Please help me!!"
Yuma blinked in surprise.
He stared in confusion as Kru suddenly appeared screaming the moment Yuma opened the training room door.
"Please stop that madwoman—Ekk!"
Before Kru could even step outside—
a slender hand grabbed him from behind.
"AAAAAA—!"
The door slammed shut again.
One minute later it opened once more.
Camelia stood there, her long hair flowing down her back.
"Good afternoon, Your Highness."
"Good afternoon. Training?"
"Yes. But the children have become terribly soft. They start whining after barely moving."
"I wasn't whining! Who in their right mind demands a thousand push-ups—mmmppp!!"
"Quiet! Ssshh! What if that demon adds more?!"
Bang!
Camelia smacked the door in annoyance before looking back at Yuma.
"Don't exaggerate."
"Don't worry, Your Highness. I know my limits. I'll stop before they die."
From inside the room, Yuma thought he heard cheering—
which immediately turned into sobbing.
He could only chuckle softly.
"Are you going out, Your Highness?"
"Yes."
"Hmmm…"
Camelia stepped back inside for a moment before returning.
She held a small pouch.
"Spending money."
"Hm?"
"You're going out, aren't you?"
"...?"
"Just take it. The one thing I've never lacked in life is money."
She slipped the pouch into Yuma's hand.
"So take it."
"I'm not lacking in money either, Camelia."
Camelia only shrugged.
"I'll return inside now, Your Highness."
"Alright."
After bowing, Camelia stepped back into the room.
Click.
Then locked the door.
"NOOOO!!!"
A scream of despair echoed from inside.
Or perhaps Yuma had imagined it.
Tilting his head, he looked at the closed door.
After all, he never quite understood human emotions.
Continuing toward the gate, he encountered Chloe carrying a basket of medicinal plants.
"Commander!"
"Good afternoon, Chloe."
"G-good afternoon!"
Despite being taller than most men, Chloe spoke with a small, gentle voice.
She was extremely shy and usually only spoke with division leaders or high-ranking officers.
"Medicinal plants?"
"Yes! Professor Chaiden asked Bonnie and me to help him."
"Then I won't delay you."
"Ah! Yes! I hope you have a pleasant trip, Commander!"
Yuma smiled faintly as Chloe bowed nervously and hurried away.
Looking at the sun, Yuma frowned slightly.
Hopefully Rue hadn't been waiting long.
He continued toward the back gate.
"Hm?"
But the person waiting there—
was not Rue.
"…Lavis?"
Hearing the doubtful tone, Lavis immediately waved with enthusiasm.
"Yuyu! I've been waiting!"
"…Huh?"
Still confused, Yuma returned the guards' greeting and approached him.
"Where's Rue?"
"Oh, I don't know. He suddenly had something urgent and asked me to replace him."
"…Replace him?"
"Yep! Then he left!"
"Hmm…"
"Hehehehehe."
"…"
Something felt strange.
Yuma glanced back at the headquarters building.
If this were a mistake, Rue would already be here correcting it angrily.
But…
"…it's too quiet."
Too peaceful.
Almost as if Rue had truly asked Lavis to come instead.
Which shouldn't be possible.
Just this morning Rue had been enthusiastically discussing plans with the head butler.
Yuma looked back at Lavis.
Still grinning.
Too happy.
So happy that Yuma almost felt guilty for suspecting him.
Is there really nothing wrong…?
Yuma wondered.
The sun was getting hotter.
He sighed.
"Let's go."
"Yes! I'm the perfect guide for this, Yuyu. I know every shop in the city—even the tiny alleys. Just trust me."
"Hm. I need to buy academy supplies."
"Leave it to me! First we'll stop by a café. They have a famous cake there!"
"…"
"Then we'll go east. Lots of good clothes there!"
"For academy supplies?"
"Yes! There are super cute— I mean— Ahem… I've wanted to take you there for a long time…"
"…."
"The western district has tons of office supply stores!"
"School supplies?"
"Yep! And right next to it is the food district!"
"…"
Yuma watched Lavis dragging him toward the carriage while talking nonstop.
…this trip definitely isn't going to go smoothly.