While Illya was in a state of confusion, Keisha issued an order.
“What are you doing?
Didn’t you hear what Miss said?
Sit next to Miss.”
"Good."
Elia reluctantly sat next to Lavinia.
But she had a feeling of anxiety.
‘Lavinia has exceptional intuition.’
Specifically, she was strangely quick-witted.
That's why, even in the original novel, she was the first to notice anything strange, and she solved problems quickly and boldly.
Therefore, she was worried that her presence next to Lavinia might reveal her identity.
'Plus, it's a woman like her.'
Unlike the men she had dealt with in the unit so far, if it was a woman like her, she would likely detect anything strange more acutely.
'Let me stay as silent as possible and not talk too much.'
Elia made up her mind and sat down next to Lavinia.
Lavinia looked at her and saluted.
“Deputy Commander Erhan, nice to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you too.”
“This is the first time we have met since your appointment ceremony as deputy leader.”
"Yes."
She answered deliberately succinctly and then raised the teacup.
Lavinia looked at her intently and opened her mouth.
“Deputy Commander Erhan, you look very beautiful unlike the soldiers.
Don’t you, Uncle Kesha?”
Kesha responded to her words.
“Right.
Honestly, at first I thought it was a woman disguised as a man.”
Elia almost spit out her tea involuntarily at the words Keisha spoke.
"But this idea was immediately dispelled.
This Erhan is a braver and more talented person than anyone else."
At Keisha's words, Elijah secretly sighed in relief.
Then Lavinia answered in a bold voice.
“These uncle’s words seem to mean that a woman cannot be brave and talented.”
At these words, Keisha hurriedly apologized.
“I didn't mean it.
I'm sorry.”
“It's okay.
I also know better than anyone else how terrible and hellish the world my uncle belongs to is.”
She raised the teacup and took a sip, then added.
“It is a difficult place for anyone to endure, whether man or woman.”
“Thank you for saying that.”
Elia felt uncomfortable with Lavinia's words.
'How could Lavina say such a thing?'
As far as Elijah knew, Lavinia was a typical noblewoman who grew up being loved.
An ideal heroine who walks on a path paved with roses, who has never experienced any difficulties, is devoid of any shortcomings, is positive, and has high self-confidence!
It was so devoid of imperfection that some readers considered it a bit naive.
Ilya felt a little strange in her speech, as if she knew very well how terrible the world of soldiers and war was.
Then, Lavinia called out to her.
“Deputy Commander Erhan.”
Lavinia smiled brightly again and continued her speech.
“Do you face any difficulties in living alone?
If Uncle Keisha causes you any trouble, it’s okay to speak frankly.
Isn’t it, uncle?”
"certainly."
Contrary to his answer, Keisha stared at her coldly.
How many people would dare to openly say they have difficulties in such a situation, unless they were crazy?
'Sure, her mind is in another world.'
Elijah looked at Lavinia and thought about it, then shouted in a voice full of excitement.
"nothing!"
“Your voice is strong and lively, that's good.”
"Thank you!"
After she greeted, Elia raised the teacup.
But Lavinia was staring at her with intense interest.
'Why is she staring so annoyingly?'
A strange smile appeared on Lavinia's lips.
“But Deputy Commander Erhan, the way you hold the teacup is a bit strange.
Men usually don’t hold it like this.”
She felt as if her heart had fallen, but she made up words brilliantly.
“I have a younger sister.
She has been urging me since I was young to hold him like this, so I involuntarily…”
“So, you have a younger sister.”
Lavinia followed Elijah's words slowly, looking at her with a strange look.
The moment she saw that look, Elia felt strangely nervous.
Then, the corner of Lavinia's mouth rose slightly.
“Anyway, Deputy Commander Erhan, do you know?
The reason for creating this anti-demon unit.”
She answered immediately.
“Yes.
It is a unit for training brave soldiers who will fight demonic beasts.”
“This is only the apparent reason.”
Lavinia filled Elijah's teacup completely and continued speaking.
“Actually, this unit was founded by my father to train my bodyguards.
Did you know that?”
'Of course I know that.'
But Elia hid what was inside her and pretended to be surprised.
"So.
I didn't know."
Then Lavinia turned towards her, and rested her chin on both hands.
“It even seems that my father is considering choosing my marriage partner from among them as well.
In other words, you, Deputy Commander Erhan, are one of the candidates to be my marriage partner.”
'But why are you telling me this?'
Elia felt uncomfortable as she sipped tea from her cup, when Lavinia whispered in a low voice.
“And I really like you.
As my marriage partner.”
“Pff!”
This time, she actually spat out the tea she was drinking.
The entire front of her uniform was soaked.
“Oh, are you okay?”
Lavinia asked, but Elijah looked at her in amazement.
She didn't even have the ability to respond or wipe her clothes.
'This, this what are you saying now?'
'No, more importantly, aren't you supposed to marry Axion?'
Then, Elijah turned her head towards Keisha, an expression of despair on her face.
She thought that Keisha, who cherished Lavinia so much, would not condone such a situation.
But Keisha was standing with his arms crossed, looking at them calmly.
Rather, he seemed to be smiling faintly.
Illya stammered with a confused face.
“Ah, miss.
In the unit, there are many, many fine young men better than me.”
“Maybe.
But I like Erhan the most.”
Lavinia took out a handkerchief and wiped Elijah's clothes, adding in a strange voice.
"yet."
At those words that included a condition, Elijah's eyes widened.
‘All I have to do is make someone other than me capture Lavinia’s heart in the future.’
If Axion and Yusar, who had exceptional appearance and abilities as in the original novel, competed, Lavinia would likely change her mind.
That was when Elia was relieved to find a glimmer of hope.
“But Erhan, there is one thing I really want to tell you.”
Lavinia stopped wiping Elijah's clothes and raised her head to look at her.
Something powerful sparkled in her beautiful golden eyes.
“I always get what I want.”
•
Elia returned to the unit and began to think seriously.
'What did Lavinia see in me that made her like me so much?'
Ilia only met Lavinia at the appointment ceremony when she was given the badge of Deputy Commander.
'We didn't even have a conversation then.'
But thinking about that was useless.
The important thing is to get Lavinia's attention away from her quickly.
'Lavinia is so stubborn!'
Her declaration that she always gets what she wants wasn't a lie.
Because that was the case in the original novel as well.
When she wanted something or had to do something, she moved with tremendous force of execution and always succeeded.
Wasn't she finally able to win the heart of the cold and arrogant Axion?
'I have to quickly summon Yusar so we can come up with a plan.'
If the situation continues like this, its business relationship with Yusar may be jeopardized.
Yusar's cooperation with her was established on the condition that he would be promoted to become the son-in-law of this grand ducal family.
Anyway, Illya had made an appointment to meet him in her room to discuss this matter.
Knock knock.
While she was thinking about this, a knocking sound was heard.
I looked at the clock on the table.
'It's a little early for us.'
'Well, maybe he arrived early.'
I rushed and opened the door.
“You came, Yusar?
More importantly, something big has happened...”
Elijah's eyes widened.
There was no Yusar, but a person wearing a hood, hiding his face.
When he took off the cap, strands of long, thick pink hair fluttered.
“Miss Lavinia, what brings you here…?”
“Erhan, I came to see you.”
She gently touched his chest with her finger and smiled charmingly.
“No, maybe it would be more accurate to say that I came to seduce you?”