CH 170

The owner of the voice which spoke up from behind the saintess was Kane.

* * *

Since his return from the dukedom of Etia, the knight commander’s days had been incredibly hectic, though in truth, his hands were full even before then.

Kane thought everything was over when he heard that indescribable roar that day. Instead, Girgantia suddenly dropped down from the sky, before soaring up high moments later. The last thing he remembered before briefly blacking out was a golden light engulfing the world, and when he came to and regained his senses, he found Estian in front of him.

It had been a soul-crushing week dealing with the aftermath of the incident since returning to the imperial palace. The knight commander had finally wrapped up most of his work, barely having time for a breather, when a certain person came to mind—that maid.

Irene was still in the palace, so it was likely her maid had remained too. That’s why he’d come to the kitchen, knowing that a gathering was being held by the attendants that night. The attendants were astonished by the knight commander’s arrival, who had stumbled into their somber discussions of the war, unbefitting of a dinner party.

“Sir-Sir Kane!”

The ones who spotted him stiffly offered their greetings, but he waved them off, bidding them to continue with their drinking. Glancing around, he quickly spotted a maid drinking by herself in the corner of the kitchen, with a weary look that seemed to decry the world ending. He couldn’t tell why she was surrounded by so many glasses when she was all alone.

‘Fortunately, it seems she’s alone.’ Kane was startled when he noticed his own thoughts. Why did he feel it was fortunate to find her by herself? Why did he feel relief that no one, especially not another man, was sitting across from her? As he was questioning himself, the maid raised her glass and downed its content in one gulp—she drank like a fish. It felt unwise to leave her be, so Kane quickly approached her. Just as he neared her side, he heard her mutterings.

“Should I meet Kane?”

“Are you talking about me?” he said. The sudden mention of his name compelled him to ask right away; his heart pounded strangely as he waited for her answer.

“Twins? You two look the same?” the maid slurred, as she turned to look at him. “Hmm, yeah. Since I’ve lost the male lead, shouldn’t I at least have the sub male lead?”

There was no doubt she was plastered to the point she’d mistaken him for two people. Nonetheless, Kane took a seat across from her and continued to listen to her drunken incomprehensible ramblings. At least it was better than being asked why he was suddenly intruding at her table. Only after he had taken a seat did he realize he didn’t know what to say. He tried to remember why he’d come looking for her in the first place.

His initial purpose to seek her out had been to inquire about the Girgantia incident, but now he was face-to-face with her, he felt more concerned about something else: why had the maid wondered if she should meet him?

“Kane. Twenty-six-years-old. Knight commander of the empire. Red-haired and brown-eyed. A dedicated aide to the emperor,” the maid said, interrupting Kane’s thoughts. “He appears to have a cool personality, but you can find a tenacious side to him upon getting to know the man. Never forgets any wrong done to him.”

All of sudden she’d begun reciting his profile? And how did this maid know all these details about him?

“And contrary to what other people think, he’s extremely dull when it comes to love. Basically has a weak spot for older women,” the maid continued.

‘Is… is that so?’ Just as Kane was pondering whether what the maid said was true, she suddenly leaned close to his face.