"Luke."
At that moment, Theo grabbed Luke’s hand to stop him.
"Leave it."
"...Doesn't it make you angry?"
When Luke dropped his fork without realizing it, the dull sound it made on the wooden table echoed softly.
It was only natural for those who had less to envy, criticize, and resent those who had more. That passerby likely didn’t have a personal grudge against Theo but instead resented the honor, power, and wealth he possessed, venting his frustrations in this manner.
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But just because it was natural didn’t mean it was acceptable. Simply criticizing someone, let alone belittling their efforts without understanding them, while painting oneself as a virtuous underdog, was far from justifiable.
"It’s not a matter of whether I’m angry or not."
"Then what?"
"I’m not the emperor, but I still lead an important organization in this country. It’s only natural for citizens of the Empire to criticize and gossip about me, but I can’t afford to respond to every single one."
Theo's words were irrefutable. Those in power were obligated to use their resources appropriately for the benefit of those who lacked them. The principle was simple: with great possession came great responsibility. Besides, whether an emperor ruled well or poorly, criticism from the people was constant.
Still, wasn’t it human to get angry if someone insulted you right in front of your face? But Theo, standing there so composed, made Luke question if the man even had emotions.
"So if you were planning to do something, let it go. We’ll be leaving here by tomorrow night anyway."
Theo added that he didn’t want to cause any unnecessary commotion and slowly stood up.
"It’s not like I was planning anything..."
Luke had indeed grabbed his fork and stood up, but even he wasn’t fully aware of the intent behind his actions.
"Then that’s good. Besides, isn’t it a win for you?"
"What is?"
"They’re criticizing me. Considering you don’t particularly like me, wouldn’t that be refreshing for you?"
The guests were currently badmouthing "Theo, the Commander-in-Chief." Superficially, Theo and Luke had once been rivals for the position of Commander-in-Chief, so Theo likely thought Luke might find the scathing remarks satisfying.
Theo turned his body first, leaving his empty plate as he headed toward the stairs. Luke followed, carrying his plate and water cup to the return station.
As he passed by the table where the guests were still loudly cursing Theo, Luke suddenly raised his water cup high and tipped it over. The remaining half-full cup of water poured directly onto the head of the loudest guest.
"Ah! What the hell!"
The shocked guest leaped to his feet, shouting at the top of his lungs. Theo, who had been waiting near the stairs, flinched at the commotion.
"Oh dear, what should I do? My hand slipped..."
Luke wore an expression as apologetic as he could muster, but the guest, with his hair soaked through, glared at him with disbelief. The man’s face flushed red with anger, now directed entirely at Luke. Theo seemed ready to intervene, but luckily, the guest’s companions stepped in to hold him back.
"He said it was an accident. Come on, let it go and head back upstairs."
"I’m really sorry, sir. But since you’ve been doused in cold water, maybe you can use this chance to cool off."
"What?! Hey! You, come here! What did you just say?!"
His companion, already fed up, gritted his teeth and dragged the agitated man away upstairs. Thankfully, at least one of them had their wits about them.
After lightly disposing of the drunkard, Luke turned to the inn’s staff.
"Sorry about the mess. If you give me a cloth, I’ll clean up the floor."
"No, it’s fine. We’ll take care of it."
The staff member, perhaps grateful that Luke had managed to drive out the disruptive guest, waved his hand with a bright smile.
From a short distance away, Theo had been watching Luke’s every move.
"What, you didn’t go up?"
Luke threw out a casual remark about Theo lingering by the stairs and headed to their room.
"Luke, why did you do that?"
As soon as Theo followed him into the room, he asked about Luke’s actions. It was typical of the upright Theo to bring it up immediately.
"My hand slipped."
"I saw everything. You poured that water on purpose."
"...I agree with part of what you said earlier."
Luke sat at the table and lightly scratched the belly of the sleeping fluffy monster. Before they left, he’d plucked a few strands of silver fur and placed them on its stomach, ensuring the color remained unchanged.
"But it’s still annoying."
"Why?"
"Why am I annoyed? Isn’t it simple?"
"You’re the Commander-in-Chief, a soldier. Someone who’s at the forefront of ensuring the safety of the Empire’s citizens being insulted by a drunken man who knows nothing—it’s naturally irritating. And I, well, I was a soldier too...”
Luke trailed off, unable to articulate the more complex emotions behind his frustration. The reason for his anger was the same as it had been back at Ermen’s shop. It felt as though the effort he had poured into pushing Theo, the protagonist, into that seat was also being belittled.
But today, something was different. His mood was heavier, more subdued. It had started the moment he saw Theo showing no reaction to the guest’s insults, simply accepting them without a hint of emotion.
"You’re the guy who beat me and took that position. Hearing someone criticize your work—or lack thereof—would naturally hurt my pride. If anyone has the right to criticize you, shouldn’t it be someone like me?"
Luke couldn’t fully express what he was feeling, so he cobbled together a reasonable excuse instead.
"So what you’re saying is, only those qualified should be allowed to criticize?"
"Exactly. And besides, that guy almost made my ears bleed. If I hadn’t dumped water on him, I probably wouldn’t have been able to sleep tonight from sheer annoyance."
This was true. Luke couldn’t just quietly endure watching someone shout so rudely at the top of their lungs, making a scene in the restaurant. At his words, Theo chuckled faintly, as if he understood.
"And Theo, if you must know, I don’t dislike you as much as you think I do."
"...Why?"
It made sense that Theo would ask that, given Luke’s behavior had always been carefully crafted to fulfill his role as a villain. Of course, Luke wasn’t particularly fond of how Theo had dragged him into this investigation in such a coercive manner, but that was a separate matter.
"In a few months, it’ll have been a full year since I left the military. I’m not so emotionally attached to things that I’m still hung up on all that."
But even as he said it, Luke couldn’t bring himself to be completely honest.
"If you don’t dislike me..."
"Huh?"
"If you don’t dislike me, then what is it?"
Theo’s steady gaze and direct question caught Luke off guard. His hand, which had been idly scratching the belly of the fluffy monster, froze mid-motion. Luke had only wanted to say he didn’t despise Theo enough to enjoy hearing strangers badmouth him, but the conversation was heading in an unexpected direction.
"Luke."
When Luke remained silent, Theo pressed him again.
"It’s just... nothing."
What’s the opposite of disliking someone? Liking them? Did he like Theo as a friend or a former comrade? But Luke couldn’t answer definitively, because they’d never been close friends or particularly amicable colleagues.
He did genuinely want Theo to succeed. Supporting him in becoming the Commander-in-Chief had been largely for Luke’s own peace of mind, so he could retire without loose ends. But there was also a part of him that wanted Theo, the protagonist, to sit in the seat he deserved. Perhaps that could be called a form of attachment, but it was hard to define or summarize in a single word.
"It’s nothing, really."
So Luke opted for the one answer that could shut down any further questions. It was a card he could always play.
"..."
Theo didn’t respond immediately, only nodding quietly as if he’d come to some conclusion on his own.
"Let’s stop talking and get some sleep. We have to get up early tomorrow," Luke said abruptly, standing from his seat to break the awkward atmosphere. He pulled an extra blanket from the dresser and a pillow from the bed, placing them on the floor.
"Luke, you should sleep on the bed," Theo offered, insisting he would take the floor. Luke waved him off, adding a sarcastic quip about how it wouldn’t be proper for the great Commander-in-Chief to sleep on the floor. Though both had endured harsh training and wars, the difference between a noble and a commoner showed in their adaptability.
"It’s fine. I’m the one asking for your cooperation, so I should at least have that much decency."
Before Luke could argue further, Theo had already settled on the floor, leaving Luke no choice but to climb into the bed.
The room quickly fell silent after the lights were turned off. The only illumination came from the faint moonlight seeping through the worn curtains.
Lying alone in the oddly spacious bed, Luke closed his eyes. But despite his physical exhaustion, sleep eluded him. He tried pulling the blanket over his head and counting sheep, but it was no use.
He knew why. His nerves, which should have been at rest, were entirely focused on one thing. Glancing down from the bed, he could make out Theo’s broad back in the faint light.
Now that he thought about it, they’d never shared a sleeping space before. In the academy, top-ranking students like them were usually placed in separate groups. And even in the military, commanders had their own quarters.
Realizing this was their first time sleeping in the same space, Luke stared at Theo’s back in silence.
"...Hey, Theo."
After about twenty minutes, Luke finally broke the silence.
"Are you asleep?"
"No."
As expected, Theo wasn’t finding it easy to sleep on the hard floor either.
"Hey. I can’t sleep because I keep thinking about you down there. Just get up here."
"..."
"Come on, it’s just for one night. Let’s just share the bed."
Theo’s broad shoulders twitched noticeably at Luke’s words.