Chapter 28 – Please Don’t Kick Me Out
“—Sibel.”
“Rick-san.”
The place where I was supposed to meet Leo-san was the courtyard bench.
It’s a familiar spot—Leo-san and I often take breaks there together after hanging the laundry to dry.
But this time, when I finished the after-dinner cleanup a bit earlier than expected and went to wait there,
the one who called out to me wasn’t Leo-san—
it was the new recruit, Rick-san.
“Is something wrong?”
“I just saw you sitting here, so I thought I’d come over.”
He said that and sat down beside me.
“Ah—sorry. I just met you today, but I called you ‘Sibel’ like everyone else does. That was kind of too familiar, huh?”
“Not at all. You can call me whatever you like.”
“Really? Thanks.”
Rick-san was very polite and friendly—a refreshing young man.
He’d only just arrived, so I’m sure he still had a lot to get used to.
When I first came here, everyone was so kind to me.
So I wanted to be just as kind to him.
“So, Sibel, what are you doing out here?”
“Oh, I’m waiting for someone.”
…Though, honestly, I was a bit nervous.
What did Leo-san want to talk about with me?
Had he found out?
That I sometimes… look at the knights in that kind of way?
“Out here? …Wait, could it be—are you meeting someone secretly?”
“Eh?”
Meeting someone secretly?
What’s that supposed to mean?
“Who’s the lucky guy? Do you have a boyfriend in the First Knight Order?”
“N-no, nothing like that—!”
Rick-san leaned in with a teasing grin,
and I quickly raised my hands, flustered, to deny it.
A boyfriend? Me? In the knight order?
Just imagining it made me feel faint.
“But with so many men around, there must be at least someone you like, right? Or maybe one of them’s been hitting on you?”
“No way! Definitely not!”
I mean, I like all the knights—but they’re all true gentlemen.
Even Elga-san, who’s so beautiful, never said anyone tried to flirt with her.
None of the dorm mothers have ever mentioned that kind of thing.
“So, Sibel, is there someone you’re intere—”
“Sibel.”
Before Rick could finish, a sharp, low voice cut him off.
“Leo-san.”
“What are you doing, Rick?”
When I turned around, I saw Leo-san glaring at Rick-san with an unusually stern expression.
“…Nothing. I was just asking her a few questions about this place.
Oh, so the person Sibel was waiting for was you, Captain.”
Rick sighed lightly and stood up, stepping back from me.
I hadn’t realized until then that, because he’d been so curious about romance talk,
he’d ended up sitting quite close to me.
“So, are you done talking?”
“Yes. It wasn’t anything important.”
With a bright smile at me, Rick said,
“See you later, Sibel,”
and walked away.
***
“…I’m sorry, Sibel. I kept you waiting.”
“No, not at all. I just came early.”
“He didn’t… do anything to you, did he?”
“Eh? Of course not!”
After Rick left, Leo-san sat down beside me,
his face still a little tense.
“Did he say anything strange, then?”
“Something strange?”
Hmm… I don’t think so.
Maybe he just wanted to gossip about romance.
He must be quite the romantic type.
“No, he didn’t say anything weird.”
“I see… that’s good.”
“?”
Leo-san seemed unusually uneasy.
He wasn’t his usual calm self at all.
“Still, be careful around him.”
“Eh? What do you mean?”
“We’re still trying to figure out the reason he was assigned here.
It’s odd that the capital suddenly sent one knight out here—especially when nothing major is happening.”
“?”
I tilted my head in confusion.
“That must mean he’s really talented!”
“Well… yeah, maybe.”
I wasn’t familiar with how knight deployments worked,
so I couldn’t really tell if something was wrong or not.
Sorry for being slow to catch on…
“Anyway, I don’t think there’ll be trouble,
but it’s best not to be alone with him, just in case.”
“Ah… I understand.”
I still didn’t quite get why,
but if Leo-san said so, I’d listen.
“So, Leo-san—you said you wanted to talk to me?”
“Ah—well, yes. Sort of.”
“Yes! What is it?”
“Er… how do I say this…”
He looked awkward, his eyes darting away.
Maybe he wanted to scold me about something as the captain.
But he’s always so kind, so it must be hard for him to say it.
“Um, please don’t hesitate to tell me. I’m prepared.”
“Prepared…?”
“Yes. I think I might’ve gotten a little too carried away lately,
taking advantage of my position as dorm mother.”
“…What?”
“I’m really sorry. I’ll be more careful from now on.
But… this job is my only real joy in life, so…
I’ll make sure not to cause trouble anymore,
so please don’t kick me out!”
“Wait—kick you out!? Of course not!
You’ve been doing an excellent job, Sibel!
What are you even talking about!?”
“…Huh?”
Really?
Judging by how confused he looked,
he genuinely meant it.
So I’d misunderstood completely.
Then… what was this talk about?
“…I just wanted to chat with you, that’s all.
Nothing specific.”
“Oh my.”
“…Was it a bother? I know you must be tired…”
“No! Not at all!”
So he just wanted… to talk to me?
No reason, just because?
That’s… strangely flattering.
“I’m glad.”
When he smiled at me like that—so gently, so sincerely—
my chest tightened again, and my heart thudded loudly in my ears.
They keep misunderstanding each other,
but little by little, the distance between them is shrinking.
Next time will be another “reward” episode for Sibel… probably. ( ˇωˇ )
