Light Calendar Year 95
A year flew by.
“Captain Fen, we’re heading out first.”
Several knights waved to Fen.
The Second Squad’s duty shift for the day was over, and members of the Order were gradually packing up to go home.
“You go ahead, be safe on the way. I still need to finish today’s attendance report.”
Fen rubbed his temples with a headache, picked up his quill, and continued to tackle his report—due to his magical talent and following Erian, his reputation within the Order had skyrocketed over the past three years, culminating in him becoming the captain of the Holy Capital’s Second Squad.
“Hey, not done yet? I’m heading home then—”
“Wasn’t it you who recommended me for this captaincy in the first place?”
Fen shot a resentful look at the grinning Erian.
“Looking for trouble, having to write duty reports to submit every single day.”
“The capable shoulder more burdens! If you can’t even handle such a small matter, what’s the point of talking about dreams of reviving the Papal State?”
Erian patted Fen on the shoulder.
“You look happy today? What happened?”
“Nothing much. It’s Lila’s birthday today, going home to celebrate.”
With that, he pulled out a silver necklace set with a sapphire.
“She likes blue. I bought it secretly while on patrol, to surprise her.”
Fen nodded, signaling for Erian to go ahead.
‘Unknowingly, we’ve already reached the crucial plot point…’
Over this past year, Voss and Lila had fallen in love, and he had also maintained a harmonious relationship with Erian.
Of course, Fen knew this was merely a facade.
Under the pretext of being Lia’s boyfriend, he had visited the Valsil household many times.
Then, as in many standard adult comic plots, he had conquered them one by one, hooking up with Nora and Talia separately.
Over the year, the three female leads gradually abandoned propriety and shame, doing everything possible with Voss—culminating in the four of them jointly exploring the great harmony of life.
And today was the last day Erian would remain in the dark.
It was also the day their foursome would be inadvertently discovered.
Fen watched Erian walk out of the Order’s main gate with a complicated expression, watching him tightly clutch the necklace in his hand—when he returned home and gently pushed open Lila’s bedroom door, he would see the most unfamiliar side of the person he thought he knew best.
That righteous Erian, that eternally smiling Erian, what kind of face would he wear then?
Fen felt a pang in his heart. He didn’t want to think about it anymore.
‘Better to think about what I should say next to help Erian pull himself together…’
—
The night deepened.
A light drizzle fell outside the window.
Fen checked the clock—it was already nine.
He walked through the rain towards the Horn Tavern in the southern district—according to the game’s plot, Erian was there now, drinking heavily.
Pushing open the wooden door, the heavy smell of alcohol hit him, but the usual tavern clamor was absent; on the contrary, it was eerily quiet.
The only sounds in the air were the hushed whispers of numerous patrons and the intermittent sobs of a certain man.
He looked towards the source of the sound.
Near the bar stools, a dejected man sat.
He raised his glass and drank, then buried his face in his right arm again.
But Fen noticed his left hand still tightly clutching the unsent necklace.
“Mister Fen! You’re here!”
The tavern’s proprietress hurried over as if meeting a savior.
“This is for the drinks.”
Fen placed several silver coins on the table and approached Erian’s side somewhat silently.
“Fen… Fen!?”
As if sensing the man’s approach, Erian lifted his head.
Despite being dizzy, he tried hard to focus on the person before him.
He stared blankly for a few seconds, as if finding an outlet for his emotions, tears welling up in his eyes.
“I… I went back to celebrate Lila’s birthday, and then I saw…”
Fen thought, ‘This is bad,’ and quickly patted his back.
“Let’s go home first. We can talk about things slowly later… alright?”
With that, Fen slowly helped Erian to his feet, hoisting one of his shoulders over his own back, and headed towards the tavern door.
“Home? I… have no home.”
Erian let out a cold laugh.
“I saw it with my own eyes! I saw… my mother… my eldest sister… my little sister… all with that Voss!”
These words were like a thunderclap from a clear sky, instantly igniting the tavern with this news.
“I… did I hear that right!? The women of the Valsil house, with one man?”
“A mother-daughter-well situation… tsk tsk, these nobles really know how to play.”
“Wait, that Voss… could it be Lord Voss from the Church?”
‘This wasn’t in the game!’
Fen inwardly groaned.
In the game’s plot, Erian was supposed to be drinking alone in misery!
How did all this get known by random people!
‘It seems the Valsil family’s scandalous affairs will soon spread throughout the Holy Capital…’
—