Ruite had wondered if such a day would eventually come—the day everyone inside the Knights would find out about his relationship with Chester.
However, he had vaguely expected that if that day ever arrived, it would be entirely Chester’s fault.
After all, Chester was always the careless one.
No matter how much they were in public, Chester was the one who would unabashedly initiate skinship if he thought no one was looking.
So, he truly hadn’t predicted a situation like this.
He never imagined he would be the one to act so transparently in front of others.
When he burst into the infirmary, he truly saw no one but Chester.
Seeing that the medical staff was away, he had acted as he usually did, never dreaming that members of the task force were standing in a blind spot.
Ruite bit his lip.
Silence swirled through the infirmary.
Morgan, Toby, and Cedric awkwardly exchanged glances before nodding as if they had reached a silent agreement.
“Captain, we’ll head out now, so please get your treatment.”
“L-Ruite! We’re leaving, so… just, uh, be comfortable. Very comfortable.”
Morgan and Cedric spoke in turn.
Cedric likely said it out of consideration, but it didn’t make things any more comfortable.
The three of them fled the infirmary with hurried steps.
As the sound of the door closing echoed in the hallway, the three of them nodded simultaneously as if they had made a pact.
“The rumors were right.”
“Yeah, definitely.”
“I knew those rumors didn’t come out of nowhere.”
Each of them added a word.
In fact, rumors about the two of them had already spread quite a bit within the combat unit.
As is often the case, the subjects of the rumors hadn’t heard them yet, but everyone else already regarded the relationship between Captain Chester and Ruite from the research unit as a foregone conclusion.
And today, the three of them finally obtained confirmation.
The rumors were indeed true.
“Let’s keep this between us.”
Morgan said cautiously.
“Yeah. But even if we don’t say anything, I think everyone’s going to find out soon enough anyway.”
“I agree. In that state… even the Commander will know soon.”
Toby shook his head.
By the time the three of them had completely left the area, Ruite let out a burst of pent-up breath, sinking into a pit of self-reproach.
“Ah, seriously…”
Ruite clutched his hair and slumped to the floor.
Those three definitely knew, right?
Should he have pretended it was a natural reaction and made an excuse that he was just worried as a close Academy classmate?
But even if he had said that, it didn’t feel like they would have believed him.
Who would believe “just friends” after seeing someone sprint into an infirmary and grab Chester’s face like the world was ending?
“I’m ruined.”
“What’s ruined?”
A voice came from above.
Chester reached down and stopped Ruite’s hands, which looked ready to pull his hair out.
“They all know, right? We’re caught?”
“Well… probably.”
Ruite stood up abruptly and sighed.
“Anyway, that’s not what’s important right now. Where and how are you hurt?”
Chester pointed to his right cheek with his finger.
“Anywhere else?”
“Nowhere. And it’s not even a serious wound.”
In truth, Chester had intended to go straight into interrogating Brett and the other captured men as soon as he returned to headquarters.
However, Morgan had insisted he go to the infirmary first, nagging that he shouldn’t let his face be scarred.
Because Ruite had only heard that Chester went straight to the infirmary upon arrival, he had panicked and made a scene all by himself, fearing the worst.
“What is this feeling? I’m relieved, yet I feel completely drained.”
Ruite let out a deep, soul-crushing sigh.
If he had known it wasn’t a serious injury, he wouldn’t have been caught by those three.
“Don’t worry. Those three aren’t the type of people to go around spreading gossip.”
“I know, but… I didn’t expect to get caught like this.”
“So you hate it? The rumor that you’re seeing me?”
“How could I hate that? I just don’t particularly enjoy our private business being the talk of our workplace.”
Ruite reached out and carefully touched Chester’s wound.
A small furrow appeared between his brows, showing his displeasure at the sight of combat marks on Chester’s face.
“Oh, right. What happened to Brett?”
“You’re only asking now?”
It couldn’t be helped. Upon hearing Chester was hurt, Ruite hadn’t been able to think of anything else.
“He’s currently detained within the Knights’ headquarters. We’ve also confirmed the estate where the plants were cultivated. Within a few days, the Puro being grown there will be disposed of.”
“That’s a relief. So it’s finally over?”
“There are still many procedures left until they pay for their crimes, but we’ve crossed the biggest hurdle.”
“Nothing else happened, right?”
When Ruite asked, Chester, who had been talking freely, suddenly went quiet.
He sat in the chair and stared up at Ruite intently.
Feeling awkward under the sudden, persistent gaze, Ruite tilted his head.
Could he call it “nothing” when Brett had run his mouth about how they were the same? He certainly understood what Brett was trying to say.
Though he didn’t know the man’s life in detail, it was clear his personality had been warped by family pressure.
His poor reputation in the Knights and his eventual violation of principles likely stemmed from a desperate need for validation.
Since he was a child, Chester had always wanted his father’s recognition.
Even while despising the man, he had wanted to be seen for who he was.
But not anymore. It didn’t matter what his father thought of him.
Because Ruite had given him the courage to choose and had validated his very existence.
Ruite had accepted him as he was and awakened a conviction within him that he hadn’t even known he possessed.
If Ruite hadn’t been there, Chester might have acted unbothered on the outside while being deeply shaken within when hearing Brett’s words.
He would have felt resentment and agitation, unable to handle the battle with composure.
As he listened to Brett’s rambling, what Chester had thought of was Ruite’s smiling face.
Feeling the change within himself made him feel nothing but joy and happiness.
Everything was possible because Ruite was there.
“Hey, did something really happen? Come on, tell me.”
“Ruite.”
“Yeah.”
Ruite nodded with a serious face.
Thinking that something truly significant must have happened at the scene where Brett was captured, his expression was quite grave.
“Marry me.”
“…”
Ruite froze. Chester lightly kissed the back of Ruite’s hand.
“Things are great as they are, but I want to be in an even deeper relationship with you.”
Chester’s eyes as he looked up were quite different from usual.
Ruite, belatedly processing the words, felt his face turn as red as an apple.
“T-That… we’re already promised to each other in an arranged marriage anyway…”
Flustered, his words came out in a jumble.
Ruite reflexively averted his gaze and bit his lip. His heart was thumping so wildly he thought it might burst.
“The promise between the families doesn’t matter. I would have proposed to you even if we weren’t promised to each other.”
“Give me a warning before you say things like that… My heart seriously can’t handle it.”
Ruite covered his mouth with the back of his hand and touched his face.
His skin was so hot he felt like he might burn his hand.
“I wanted to say it more grandly, but I suddenly felt like I had to say it right now.”
In truth, Chester had been keeping the proposal in mind ever since Ruite said he would prove himself to Benger by solving this case.
He had planned to formally propose once the incident was successfully resolved.
But after everything that happened today, he felt he couldn’t wait another moment.
“For the rest of my life, it has to be you. What about you?”
Ruite’s lips quivered.
Since his embarrassment hadn’t faded yet, he ended up squeezing his eyes shut.
“I… I don’t want anyone but you, either.”
Chester grinned, stood up, and pulled Ruite toward him by the back of his neck.
As their lips met, Ruite naturally wrapped his arms around Chester’s waist.
A deep, lingering kiss followed.
Forgetting for a moment that they were inside the Knights’ headquarters, they only sought each other’s warmth.
“We’re going to get busy soon.”
Chester lightly nipped the bridge of Ruite’s nose.
“But you know you have to wait until my six months are up, right?”
For the first six months after joining the Knights, one’s freedom of movement was restricted.
Preparing for a wedding would naturally require many outside appointments, so they had to wait until that period was over.
“Yeah, it’s not much longer now. I can wait that much.”
With Chester wearing a constant smile, a grin finally spread across Ruite’s face as well.
“Once we get married, everyone in the Knights will really know.”
“That’s true.”
“Ah, before that, you haven’t forgotten, right? That you have to meet my father and have a showdown.”
At the somewhat aggressive choice of words, Chester let out a small laugh.
“Don’t worry. I’ll be right by your side.”
Chester nodded with a bright smile.
They were magical words that made him feel like they could accomplish anything.
