Did I used to be friends with her?
Every time someone here recognizes me, it feels like I'm sinking deeper into an abyss. The pressure is overwhelming, almost making me feel sick.
Sitting at a table with three commanding officers, Lynn could hardly eat her bread under the intense gaze of the woman across from her.
Suddenly, the bread got stuck in her throat, and she coughed. Sahan, sitting next to her, handed her a glass of water.
"Hey, you okay?"
Before she could answer, Garnet scoffed, smirking.
"Oh, what's this? Are you two already close?"
Garnet's teasing laugh made the table go silent.
Lynn paused, about to speak, but-
"Garnet."
Hwan said her name in a quiet, firm voice. With a sharp exhale, Garnet's smirk disappeared.
"Alright, alright. I'm just joking."
She added, with a completely unapologetic look, "Sorry, Lynn. I've been watching a play and mixed up the lines."
"A play?"
From beside her, Sahan sighed heavily.
"Yes, yes. Let's go see it together next time. It's really fun, and the lead actress is stunning. Anyway, Lynn, are you okay?"
"Ah… yeah. I'm fine."
Apart from the fact that I don't remember you.
Maybe we were close, but I can't recall anything, Garnet.
With a sigh, Lynn felt her spirits drop even more.
"I was on a different mission," Garnet said, her expression softening a little. "I heard you had an accident during the operation?"
"Is it true you lost your memory?" Garnet asked, clucking her tongue in feigned sympathy.
Sahan, who had been quietly eating, finally spoke up. "Garnet, that's enough."
"Yes," Lynn answered quietly. "I hope I remember you all someday, even if I can't now."
The sincerity in Lynn's words left the officers silent.
Garnet's lips curled into a mocking smile. "Ugh, so sentimental," she murmured, looking uninterested as she popped a piece of pork into her mouth.
A brief silence settled as they continued eating. Lynn, feeling their eyes on her, took a deep breath and asked the question that had been on her mind.
"So… you're all Elite Commanders, right?"
They exchanged a glance and nodded.
"It seems I was just an ordinary soldier... Should I be using honorifics with you here?"
Her question earned amused looks from all three.
"Puhaha! You're hilarious," Garnet laughed, wiping a tear from her eye, while Sahan and Hwan exchanged looks of disbelief.
Sahan finally spoke, his tone gentle but amused.
"No need for that. Just keep doing what you're doing."
"Oh, really?"
"Yeah. No one's going to make a fuss."
Blaine's instructions about this woman would be coming soon. The three officers knew their leader well; it was Blaine who had personally brought her into the organization.
As Sahan finished speaking, he looked around the group. Slowly, the murmurs faded, leaving a calm silence.
In Sahal's world, a superior's decision was final. From that moment, no one would question it.
At Sahan's words, Garnet's eyes lit up with interest. She leaned forward, a coy smile on her face.
"That's right. You're a bit of a special case."
"Huh?"
"I heard you've been retraining lately."
"Mm, yeah. I just started today."
"Why not spar with me sometime?"
Garnet's forest green eyes sparkled with excitement.
Wow… when a beautiful woman looks at you like that, who could resist?
Caught up in her charm, Lynn found herself nodding before she even realized it. Garnet gave a playful wink to Sahan and Hwan, who both sighed, knowing no one could resist Garnet's unique personality.
Still, they each thought the same thing: This should be interesting. They were curious to see how a match between Garnet and Lynn would go, given their similar skills.
"By the way, Garnet," Hwan spoke up. "How did things go in Etheria's Border Region?"
Blaine had privately assigned Garnet an additional mission in the Etheria Border Region. She finished the last bite of roast pork before answering.
"As expected, the place is full of onyx. You could say the whole land is practically made of gemstones."
Onyx was an incredibly rare mineral on the continent. Even a small piece was worth enough to support someone for ten days.
To find an entire region made of onyx was unbelievable. Etheria, a small border kingdom about eight hours from Bliderin, had changed completely since the discovery of the onyx-rich area a few years ago.
Despite this newfound wealth, Etheria kept to itself, shutting out outsiders and only communicating within its borders. The leader of Etheria, obsessed with onyx, had grown more paranoid over time, even stopping people from leaving the kingdom.
Foreign nations eager to trade for onyx sent many proposals, but they all went unanswered.
Garnet, along with a few members of her small organization, "The Garnet," had managed to sneak into Etheria and assess the onyx supply firsthand.
Hwan tilted his head, listening with a calm curiosity.
"They say Etheria's defenses are tight. But I bet you found a way in, didn't you?" Hwan asked.
"Of course I did. Who do you think I am, Hwannie~?"
Garnet teased, her flirty tone making Hwan shake his head and laugh softly. Lynn, sitting across from Hwan, watched his face, surprised to see him smile.
When he smiles, his eyes turn into charming half-moons. It's enough to make anyone's heart skip a beat.
But not me! Definitely not.
Beside them, Sahan responded between bites of buttered bread.
"I bet Blaine was happy. Did you give him the report?"
"Already did."
Garnet hummed softly and folded her arms, tracing the rim of her glass with delicate fingers. Her eyebrows raised slightly. "Looks like another operation is about to start."
Her calm words were met with indifferent nods from Hwan and Sahan, who didn't react. But Lynn felt a small wave of tension under the calm at the table.
"Operation?"
Lynn repeated silently. Is another mission starting soon?
As if just remembering Lynn's presence, Garnet raised an eyebrow with a curious look, wondering about Blaine's plans for her.
"Maybe," she replied, her eyes scanning Lynn from her hair down to her shoulders. Garnet's lips curled into a playful smile before she stood up, her figure creating a striking silhouette.
"Well, I've got practice, so I'll head out." She turned to Lynn with a bright smile. "It was fun. See you next time, Lynn."
"Oh, yeah. See you… Garnet."
As she walked away, her long hair, tied back, swayed with each step, flowing gracefully and catching everyone's attention. People nearby couldn't help but watch her leave, their eyes full of admiration and silent curiosity.
***
Silken curtains hung by the window, swaying softly in the breeze.
A man stood before them, watching the sun set over The Empire's horizon. The warm light cast long shadows over his refined features.
He shifted his gaze from the Empire's glowing skyline to the dense trees of the Byro Kingdom below.
Memories began to stir, unsettling his thoughts.
It had been a brief connection.
It was time to let it go.
His dry lips still carried the marks of old wounds. Closing his eyes, he allowed himself to drift back into the vivid memories of that day.
***
"Lord Bi Young. It's Seoha."
Dressed neatly in his wedding attire, Bi Young adjusted his appearance in the mirror when his attendant's voice came through the VIP room door. He smiled slightly and answered,
"Come in."
At his invitation, his trusted attendant entered, holding a small scroll. Bi Young's eyes immediately fixed on it.
"What is it?"
"It's from the King, your highness."
"Father?"
By now, his father should have been on his way with the Byro Kingdom ministers. Bi Young took the scroll without hesitation and unrolled it. His expression sharpened, his brow furrowing as he read the message.
"...Secretly escape from here?"
"..."
"Is Schleiman on the brink of war?"