CHAPTER 63: THE PERFUME INCIDENT

Thanks to all that, Louis had slowly learned how to handle documents, and the others had started seeing him as the captain’s assistant or adjutant.

But the truth was—he was the vice-captain.

He was supposed to be commanding the unit, training the knights, shouting orders across the field. That’s what fit his role best. And yet, at this point, everyone had probably forgotten he even was the vice-captain.

Someone else—someone better with paperwork—should have been in charge of administrative support.

Someone like Lyon, the efficient assistant to the captain of the first unit.

But no one wanted to take the job. Not when Captain Dominic was the one they’d be working under.

He was just too terrifying.

People got so scared they’d start trembling just trying to step into his office. Just one glare from those icy eyes, and rumor had it you could drop dead from heart failure.

—And honestly? Louis couldn’t say he didn’t understand.

And that’s how Louis had ended up being Dominic’ vice-captain, assistant, secretary, errand boy, and paperwork mule for the last five or six years.

Maybe it was because Louis had been sighing over his unreasonable life while working.

He picked up a heavy box full of documents with a grunt—and in that moment, something fell to the floor with a soft thud.

"What was that that just dropped?"

—Why is the captain so sharp only at times like this?!

Still holding the box in an awkward pose, Louis glanced down.

—Oh no no no no no no!!

He immediately dropped the whole box with a thud. The papers flew everywhere, but he didn’t care about that right now.

On the floor was a small glass bottle, glinting under the light. The label read: Biofresh Crimson Oil Deluxe Edition.

"Ah, th-th-th-this is, um, th-th-th-th-th-th-th—"

"Louis? Are you a chicken or something?"

"N-no! It’s, um, it’s—it’s perfume! Yes! Perfume, sir!"

He had never managed to give it to the captain, but he also couldn’t bring himself to throw it away. So it had stayed in his pocket all this time.

He knew he should’ve just tossed it, of course he did. But he also knew how ridiculously expensive it was. As someone who came from a normal background, he just couldn’t bring himself to waste something like that.

—Why didn’t I just get rid of it earlier?! I’m such an idiot!

As he rushed forward to grab it, Lyon—of all people—chose that moment to be "helpful" and swiftly picked it up.

"Huh? Isn’t this scented oil? And not just any kind—this is the high-end stuff! Wow, I didn’t expect you to be the kind of guy who uses this, Vice-Captain Louis."

—What the hell, Lyon?!

Are you trying to destroy me?! Did I do something to you?!

Oh... right.

Of course you have a grudge.

Louis did pull Lyon out of the first unit and has been working him to the bone ever since.

...

"What’s it used for?"

—Captain Dominic! What kind of question is that?!

Do you really not know? Seriously?! You look completely serious!

What have you even been doing with Shiao Yi up until now?!

While Louis was flailing, unable to respond, Lyon stepped forward and—of course—started explaining everything in his usual overly serious tone. That’s right. His one and only skill was being dead serious all the time.

Lyon, man, you clearly chose the wrong job.

"This is scented oil that was used specially for intimacy between men. It’s a lubricant. It’s also been blended with fragrance, and—oh wow—this one even has aphrodisiac in it. Top-tier, luxury stuff. Impressive. Vice-Captain Louis, who were you planning to use this with?"

"No way, Louis? Don’t tell me... You—"

"Wahhh! No! No! That’s not it! I got it as a gift! I was—I was supposed to give it to the captain! Th-th-that’s what they told me! Ahhh!!"

—Captain! Your eyes—your eyes are terrifying! Seriously, I’m going to die!

Because of that pressure, Louis ended up blurting out more than he should have.

"For me? Who gave it to you?"

"Hiiiieee! Uh, um, uh, A—A—A—Aar..."

"Aaron?"

Suddenly, the entire office felt like it had frozen over.

Even though Captain Dominic’s specialty was fire magic, somehow the air turned icy cold.

"Of course no, It was from Healer Sayu! He said it was to keep Shiao Yi from getting hurt—just his way of being thoughtful! He is really kind like that!"

"Wow, as expected of a famous healer. Even thinks of stuff like this, huh," Lyon said, nodding with admiration as he handed the bottle labeled "Biofresh Crimson Oil Deluxe Edition" over to Captain Dominic.

"Y-y-yeah, that’s right. A-alright then, let’s get this cleaned up! The sun’s gonna set soon!"

Louis quickly started shoving the scattered documents back into the box in a panic.

Just when he thought he was safe for a moment, the door suddenly slammed open, and Shiao Yi and Sayu walked into the room.

Wh-why now?! Of all times, why now?!

Louis was so startled he dropped all the papers he had just picked up right back onto the floor with a loud rustle.

"Captain Dominic, do you happen to have the order forms for the medical supplies we’re leaving behind? I’d like to make sure they stay in the infirmary."

"If it’s about that, ask Louis. Sayu, is Shiao’s body doing alright?"

"When compatibility is this good, the results really are impressive. He’s completely healed. His organs and bones—nothing seems off."

"I see. That’s good to hear. Shiao."

Captain Dominic smiled as he lifted Shiao Yi gently into his arms. Shiao Yi didn’t resist and just quietly let himself be held.

Wow... Captain, you can actually smile like that?

Louis found himself staring, deeply moved by the rare sight of Captain Dominic smiling.

Come to think of it, this might’ve been the first time he had ever seen a smile that looked so genuine on the captain’s face.

Lyon, too, stood there frozen, gazing at Dominic’s expression like he couldn’t believe it.