"Say… do you know anything about what's been happening lately?"
The villager she addressed froze, their face drained of color as if they had seen a ghost. They stammered, eyes darting anywhere but at her. Their expression practically screamed,
Why me? Why now?
And who could blame them? Standing before them was her—the head of the royal knights, Ramune. Her reputation alone was enough to send grown men running, and her piercing green eyes seemed to bore right through their soul.
Ramune tilted her head slightly, confusion flickering across her usually stoic face. The villager's silence puzzled her. Why aren't they answering? Did I word it wrong?
Maybe I should come across… friendlier? she thought, though her idea of friendly left much to be desired.
She straightened up, but instead of looking approachable, the shift only made her presence more imposing. Her expression hardened unintentionally, and her green eyes turned colder, sharper—like the calm before a storm. The once faint breeze seemed to grow heavy, as if the entire village held its breath.
"Do I need to repeat myself?"
her voice calm but firm, as if ensuring she was heard clearly this time.
But to the poor villager, it felt anything but calm. Her tone, combined with her overwhelming aura, felt like the edge of a blade hovering over their neck. Their knees wobbled as they quickly tried to piece together some kind of answer, beads of sweat rolling down their temple.
To Ramune, she was simply asking for clarity. To the villager, it was as if they'd been cornered by a predator.
She watched them fumble for words, blinking as if trying to figure out what exactly was so terrifying about her presence. She was simply asking a question, wasn't she?
Before she could say another word, Harris stepped forward, cutting through the tension with a casual smile.
"Hey, you're the best gossiper in town, aren't you?" Harris said, his tone light and easy. "You must know something about this—doesn't matter if it's just a rumor! Come on, spill the beans." His smile was so effortlessly charming that it could disarm even the most guarded villager.
The villager blinked, as though waking from a nightmare, their composure somewhat restored by Harris's friendly demeanor.
"W-Well," they coughed, trying to sound indifferent. "I don't know about that. W-Why should I tell you, anyway?!" They crossed their arms in an exaggerated tantrum, clearly trying to mask their fear. But it was obvious—they were on the verge of cracking.
Their denial, however, only seemed to loosen their tongue further. "And what's up with her?!" they suddenly blurted, pointing at Ramune. "Can't you knights learn how to ask someone nicely for once?! You're so—"
They never finished the sentence.
There was a flash of silver, so fast it was nearly invisible, and the villager's long, wavy hair fell in neat, sliced strands to the ground. The cut was so precise it was almost artistic.
The villager froze, their breath hitching in their throat. Slowly, trembling, they turned toward the source.
It was Ramune.
She hadn't moved much—just enough to draw her sword and return it to its sheath in one smooth, practiced motion. The grip of her sword was loose now, but her intense, icy green eyes pinned the villager in place.
Her voice was quiet, but the chill in her tone could freeze fire.
"...What did you just call me?"
The other villagers nearby were visibly trembling. One of them actually pissed themselves, too terrified to even move. As for the unfortunate loudmouth, his face went pale as tears welled up in his eyes. He clamped his mouth shut, trembling as if his very life depended on it—because, in that moment, it very much felt like it did.
Ramune's cold gaze lingered on him for a moment longer before she turned away, uninterested in further confrontation.
"Next time, choose your words more carefully," she said, her voice still calm but carrying a sharp edge.
Harris scratched the back of his head, trying not to laugh. She really doesn't realize how terrifying she is, huh? He stepped in quickly to defuse the situation.
"Alright, alright," Harris said, patting the villager's shoulder reassuringly. "Just take a deep breath, okay? No one's getting hurt here. Now… why don't you share what you know? You don't want her to get impatient again, do you?"
The villager nodded frantically, eager to avoid another close shave—literally. And just like that, the information started pouring out.
---
Ramune bowed deeply, her silver hair catching the faint light as she lowered herself with sincerity. "Thank you so much, Sir Harris. Words cannot express how grateful I am for your kindness." Her voice was steady but carried a rare warmth that softened her usual cold demeanor.
Harris blinked in surprise, waving his hand dismissively. "Ehh, no, no, there's no need to thank me like that, especially not from our almighty Head Knight." His tone was light, humble, and almost teasing, though his awkward smile betrayed just how flustered he truly felt.
"And anyway," Harris continued with a shrug, "you were just doing your job. If anything, I'm glad I could be of some help to you." He extended a hand toward her, his gesture casual yet inviting, his charismatic smile lighting up his face. Despite his relaxed demeanor, there was a subtle gravity to the moment, as though it carried more meaning than either expected.
Ramune glanced at his hand, hesitating for just a moment before grasping it firmly. Her piercing green eyes locked onto his as she spoke with quiet seriousness. "Next time, I'll show you my gratitude properly."
Harris chuckled softly, trying to ease the weight of the moment. "Then, next time, let's explore the city together. Consider that a fair way for you to thank me."
She nodded silently, her stoic expression unchanged, but there was a faint glimmer of thoughtfulness in her gaze.
As Ramune turned to leave, Harris's voice stopped her once more.
"Oh, one more thing," he said, his tone shifting slightly. "Have you ever heard of the old garden by the southern forest?"
Ramune frowned, turning her gaze back to him. "The old garden? No… What does that have to do with this?"
Harris leaned against the doorframe, his golden eyes narrowing ever so slightly. "Let's just say it's a place people don't like to talk about. There are rumors that the former king… used to visit there often, especially at night."
Ramune's sharp green eyes studied him carefully. "And what exactly was he doing there?"
Harris shrugged nonchalantly, though his enigmatic smile remained. "That's the thing—I don't know. But I'd bet my gold it wasn't gardening. Might be worth looking into, don't you think?"
Ramune remained silent, her expression unreadable. The southern forest… why haven't I heard of this before?
"You always seem to know more than you let on," she said finally, her tone more curious than accusatory.
Harris chuckled, waving her off. "What can I say? I've got my ways. Consider it a friendly tip, Head Knight."
Ramune nodded curtly. "I'll keep that in mind."
As she walked away, Harris's words lingered in her mind. The southern forest… Could it hold the answers I've been searching for?
Her metal boots clicking against the floor as she made her way out. The sound of her armor faded into the stillness of the night.
As Harris watched her leave, his gaze lingered on her figure for a moment longer than he intended. His usual playful smile softened slightly, replaced by something harder to define.
And as Ramune walked back to the castle, she couldn't help but reflect on the encounter. He's no ordinary man. There's more to him than meets the eye.
Yet despite her swirling thoughts, the gentle warmth she felt from Harris's words stayed with her, even as the moonlight bathed her path in an eerie silver glow.