My Childhood Friend Told Me to Go Marry the Most Beautiful Woman in the Kingdom, So I Seriously Started Improving Myself—and Somehow Ended Up Making Women Fall Hard - Chapter 118 & 119

Chapter 118: The Women Who Fell Into the Swamp (14)

Side: Adelheid von Graetz

For the past few days, I had already noticed that something was wrong with my condition.

I had a fever.

A throbbing pain deep in my head.
My throat burned.
My bones ached as if they were creaking.
Even breathing made my chest feel heavy.

My secretary noticed, and only after the military doctor ordered me to rest did I finally stop pushing myself.

And this… was the result.

Lying in bed, my consciousness drifting faintly at the edges, I stared up at the ceiling.

My body wouldn’t move the way I wanted.

And yet… even like this, I could tell someone was beyond the door.

Footsteps.
A pause—hesitation.
The sound of someone steadying their breath… then a knock.

…I knew those footsteps.

“…Who is it?”

Just speaking made my throat ache.

Pathetic. A commander’s voice shouldn’t be hoarse in front of subordinates.

“It’s Hort Rubel. Commander, may I come in?”

Ah… just as I thought.

At that moment, my half-dazed mind sharpened.

I wanted him to come in.

And at the same time… I didn’t.

Right now, I had no armor.
My hair wasn’t tied.
And on top of that… my room was a mess.

This was my pathetic side.

I had already shown him hell in my office. Compared to that, this might be better—but this was private.

I should have said, “Leave.”

But with Hort… I couldn’t say it.

I made the sound of pulling fabric, pretending to hide something.

I even cleared my throat.

Pointless resistance.

That man could see right through things like that.

“…Come in.”

I said it.

The moment I did, something in my chest felt strangely lighter.

“Excuse me.”

His voice came closer.

Normally, that voice would make me straighten my posture… but today, it did the opposite.

It’s just the fever.

Because of the fever, my self-control is slipping.

I could feel his gaze moving around the room.

The mess. The desk. The towel. The documents. The maintenance tools.

He saw everything.

I pretended to close my eyes.

But they weren’t fully shut—through my lashes, I could still see him.

Pathetic.

All kinds of conflicting thoughts swirled inside me.

What if he looked at me with pity…?

That terrified me.

I had always acted strong so no one would look down on me.

If someone saw my weakness, it felt like everything I had built would crumble.

“…Don’t do anything unnecessary.”

I said it—sharp, cutting.

But a cough broke through, and my voice fell apart.

It was miserable… like strangling myself with my own words.

My shoulders trembled.

And in that moment, Hort’s presence changed.

His hesitation vanished.

He was always like that—

When he made a decision, his eyes changed.

“Commander. Sorry—I’m going to act on my own.”

“…On your own…?”

“Yes. Stop me if you want. But… I don’t think you can right now.”

…Cheeky.

Seriously… such a cheeky man.

And yet, I almost laughed.

It had to be the fever.

I was supposed to be stronger.

And yet right now, he was stronger.

No… he was always like this—strong only in moments like these.

When someone is weak, he strikes with kindness like a blow.

Unfair.

Stop him?

Impossible.

I didn’t have the strength to stop him.

I didn’t even have the words.

If I stopped him… I’d have to pull myself together again.

Right now… I couldn’t do that.

“…Do as you like.”

I said it.

“Do as you like”—that wasn’t something a commander should say.

It wasn’t permission. It wasn’t an order.

It was dependence.

I understood that myself.

Right now… I was relying on Hort.

Because I had a fever.
Because I wasn’t well.
Because I was stuck in bed.

Only at times like this… could I allow myself to rely on someone.

If my usual self said, “Wipe me down,” how ridiculous would that be?

Showing weakness to a subordinate.
My authority as commander would collapse.

I couldn’t accept that.

So this was the only time.

Right now, I was a patient.

And a patient was allowed.

A patient could be pathetic.

That excuse… made it acceptable.

…The unfair one was me.

Hort opened the window.

The air shifted.
Cloth rustled.
The sound of things being picked up from the floor.
Water. A pot.

…It felt comforting.

The sound of him tidying the room was nothing like clashing swords—

It gently brushed against my chest.

And yet, I forced myself to keep an annoyed expression.

Not because I didn’t want him to see.

But because I didn’t want him to notice… that I was happy.

“…If you don’t want to be seen, then close your eyes.”

“I don’t.”

I answered instantly.

Even I felt exasperated with myself.

If I closed my eyes, it would be easier.

I wouldn’t feel embarrassed.

That’s what I should do.

And yet… I didn’t want to.

I wanted to watch him.

Watch him move around my room—for my sake.

“I’ll watch what you’re doing.”

I said it as if I were monitoring him.

If I framed it that way, I could still remain the Commander.

Hort understood.

He understood—and still said nothing, simply going along with it.

That only made my heart more restless.

“…What are you making?”

“Porridge.”

“…Don’t need it.”

I didn’t need it.

I shouldn’t need it.

I could eat on my own.
I could stand on my own.
I could recover on my own.

“Commander, please eat.”

“An order?”

“A request.”

A request.

Again… how unfair.

If it were an order, I could reject it.

Crush it with my authority as Commander.

But a request… I couldn’t refuse.

If I rejected a request, I’d just be stubborn.

And on top of that, I was already weak from the fever.

So I stayed silent.

I didn’t want him to see the way my eyes wavered.

He placed water by my bedside.

The breeze from the window cooled my forehead slightly.

“…You’re a pushy one.”

“Yeah. If you’ve been sweating, you should change your clothes. I prepared some hot water.”

“…Then wipe me down.”

I said it.

The moment the words left my mouth, even my ears burned.

No—that’s not it.

It’s just the fever.

The fever made my words slip out.

I sat up and reached for the buttons of my pajamas.

Hesitating… but not stopping.

Because if I stopped now,

It would only make what I said feel even more pathetic.

“W-Wait—!”

“It’s fine. I’m wearing the bra you gave me.”

…What am I even saying?

If I were in my right mind, I would never say something like that.

Never.

But Hort froze.

That reaction was… funny, endearing… and irritating.

Don’t make that kind of face.

And yet… I like that face of yours when you’re in front of me.

“It’s cold.”

“Just a second—I’ll finish quickly.”

The warm towel touched my skin.

Gentle… and embarrassing.

I’m supposed to be the Commander.

And yet, these hands that swing a sword… are being cared for by someone.

Only Hort.

I don’t want anyone else touching me.

The way he touched me was careful… and before I knew it, I had already changed.

The smell of porridge filled the room.

“Blow on it… here.”

“…Ahm.”

It was hot.

But good.

The taste was light.

Still… Hort made it for me.

“…It’s bland.”

“Sorry. Want me to add some salt?”

“…This is fine.”

Saying that myself made me feel embarrassed, like I wanted to pull the blanket over my face.

After finishing, my eyes grew heavy.

I fought off sleep and forced myself to ask—

“…Hort.”

“Yes.”

“…Why did you come?”

I wanted to hear it.

Just saying “to visit” wasn’t enough.

I know I’m being unfair.

I understand that myself.

Only when I’m weak… do I try to draw out his true feelings.

Because this is the only time I can rely on him.

The only time I can let myself lean on someone.

So… just for now.

“You’ve always pushed yourself alone, even at work—never relying on anyone.”

Hearing that… my chest tightened.

He had seen it.

My stubbornness… my loneliness.

That fact was both comforting… and frightening.

“…You’re disappointed, aren’t you?”

“I’m not.”

“…You’re always like that.”

It’s not that I wanted him to be disappointed.

But if he was, I could escape.

If he wasn’t… there would be no way out.

I had always lived by leaving myself an escape route.

As a strong commander.

So no one would look down on me.

And yet, Hort crushed those escape routes.

With kindness.

“Hort… I want you to stay by my side.”

I said it.

And once I said it… there was no going back.

The moment the words left my lips, heat spread through my body.

Not the fever—something else.

Embarrassing.
Pathetic.
Shameful.

But I had already said it.

I couldn’t take it back.

“Yeah. I’ll stay.”

The hand holding mine was warm.

That warmth… almost made tears spill out.

I don’t cry.

I shouldn’t cry.

And yet, my eyes grew wet.

I had shown him this side of me.

I knew there were other women he wanted to cherish too.

That’s the kind of man he is.

Kind.
Bad at lying.
Unable to abandon anyone.

“Will you become my wife?”

…My mind went blank.

It must be the fever.

My thoughts couldn’t catch up.

But my heart understood.

Happy.
Happy.
So happy.

I reached out my arms.

“Hug me tight.”

…What did I just say?

The moment the words left my mouth, I wanted to disappear.

I’m not a woman who makes cute requests.

I’m a commander. A knight.

And yet—

The moment his arms wrapped around my back and pulled me in, none of that mattered anymore.

…Warm.

My chest settled.

It felt safe.

Maybe… this was what I had wanted all along.

For so long.

I could smell him.

His chest was firm.
Strong.

And I was leaning against him.

That fact was embarrassing… and comforting… and it made tears well up.

“…Thank you.”

I said it, and closed my eyes.

Sleep took over.

My feelings loosened.

In his arms… it felt like it was okay to be a little weak.

Okay to rely on someone, just a little.

…That’s what I ended up thinking.

Then, his presence faded.

The sound of the blanket being adjusted.
The window closing.
The lights dimming.

The door shut.

I was completely alone.

And the next moment—

Heat rushed through my entire body.

“…!”

Under the blanket, I squirmed.

This wasn’t the same heat as before.

This was embarrassment.

I remembered—

I had been hugged.

And he had asked me to become his wife.

“…W-W-What… did I just…?”

I pulled the blanket over my head and pressed my face into the pillow.

I hit the pillow with my fist.

Weak… frustratingly weak.

And still, I couldn’t stop.

My chest was loud.
My heart was loud.

There was no way I could sleep now.

“…Hort… you idiot…”

I muttered softly, making sure no one could hear.

And yet, my lips curled on their own.

Under the blanket, I rolled around restlessly.

My authority as Commander… my pride as a swordswoman… I left it all behind.

And just like that—

I had been turned into nothing more than a woman in love.

Chapter 119: Speaking of Resolve

Side: Hort Rubel

The moment I counted them out loud—five—it felt like my resolve was being tested.

Gina.
Nagi.
Fururu.
Natasha.
Adelheid.

If someone had told the old me “I like you,”

I probably would’ve been over the moon.

After Rina rejected me, I tried to change in my own way.

Following my sister’s words brought me here.

She scolded me for it… but because of that, I gained resolve.

That’s something to be happy about.

Feelings aren’t something light.

Accepting them means taking on a part of someone’s life.

If I accept them… then we have to support each other.

Right now, I’m the one being supported by all five of them.

But after facing their feelings, I finally understood.

I don’t just want to become strong.
I don’t just want to rise in status.

I want to stand on my own feet, choose with my own words, and become a man who can protect others with his own responsibility.

The title for that… is Crown Knight.

The shield of the kingdom.
The sword of the royal family.

And… someone worthy of being supported by them.

♢

The moment I saw the gate leading back to the royal castle, something in my chest cooled a little.

…I’m back.

As I walked through the castle, I sorted out my thoughts.

I know what Lady Lumina is thinking.

Be recognized through diplomacy.
Turn that into a struggle for the throne.
And… the idea of using me.

I don’t find that scary.

What’s truly frightening… is drifting along while staying vague.

I stopped in front of the door and took a deep breath.

Knock.

“Yes.”

“It’s Hort. I’ve returned.”

“Come in.”

I opened the door.

The air in the office was as sharp and quiet as ever.

Lady Lumina stood before a pile of documents. She set down her pen and looked up.

Her silver eyes pierced straight through me.

“Welcome back. Did you manage to refresh yourself during your break?”

“Yes. …I faced a lot of things.”

I stopped choosing my words so carefully.

If I stayed vague here, it would only repeat again.

“Lady Lumina. I will become a Crown Knight.”

“Fufu. Is that you reaffirming your goal?”

“No. It’s a declaration.”

Her eyebrow twitched slightly.

That small reaction pushed me forward.

“I want to become a Crown Knight… for myself.”

“…For yourself?”

“Yes. Not because someone told me to. I’m choosing this… so I won’t run from the responsibility I’ve taken on.”

Lady Lumina stayed silent.

It felt like her gaze was testing me.

Then, slowly, her lips curved—just a little.

A gentle… yet strict smile.

“…You’ve finally stepped onto this side, Sir Hort.”

“I never intended to run in the first place.”

“You were running. You always hide behind the words ‘for someone else.’ You pretend to carry responsibility, while avoiding choosing what responsibility to take on.”

“…”

“But those words just now were different. You said you would choose for yourself. For your own sake.”

Lady Lumina stood and walked toward me.

The distance between us closed.

That alone made my back straighten.

“Very well. Then there is something I want you to do.”

“…An order?”

“It is an order. Something necessary for you to become a Crown Knight.”

She neatly aligned a map and several stacks of documents on the desk.

“Within the Second Prince’s domain… build allies with your own hands.”

“The Second Prince…”

What came to mind was someone who had built a magic tower within the royal domain—a tower master among the court mages, holding strong influence.

“…Within the court mages?”

“Yes.”

Lady Lumina answered calmly.

“The strength of this kingdom doesn’t lie in the knight orders alone. Mages are involved in war, governance, and information. Who they pledge loyalty to… can shift the entire balance.”

“…I’m a Royal Guard. Stepping into the mages’ domain—”

“That is exactly why you are suited for it.”

Her eyes narrowed slightly.

“I’ve heard your childhood friend is among the court mages.”

At the mention of Rina—my chest tightened sharply.

“The court mages care about appearances. They value logic. They respect hierarchy.”

“…”

“But your creation—the bra—is different. It protects a woman’s body, supports movement, and improves appearance. And more than that… you can explain it as a technique.”

I held my breath.

…Had Lady Lumina seen this far ahead from the very beginning?

Telling me to make bras—wasn’t just to win over women.

Was it also meant to be a key to entering the world of mages?

“Among the court mages around the Second Prince, there are those who crave results. Some want fame. Others want research funding. You can create something to draw them in.”

“…Draw them in?”

“That sounded a bit crude. Think of it as… a bargaining chip.”

Lady Lumina smiled.

A diplomat, turning negotiation into her weapon.

If I want to become a Crown Knight, just swinging a sword won’t be enough.

Use words.
Gain knowledge.
Build systems.
Create allies.
And… use whatever I can.

“…Understood. I’ll do it.”

“Good boy.”

“…Please don’t treat me like a child.”

“Then silence me with results.”

Lady Lumina handed me one of the documents.

“Start with this person. Someone close to your position within the court mages. A count’s daughter—Irene Hadius. Win her over. And there’s also a professor I want you to bring to our side… an individual known as the ‘witch’ among the court mages.”

“…”

“Show them your technique. Spark their interest. Make them your allies.”

I took the paper.

My fingertips felt slightly cold.

…This is where the real battle begins.

Holding onto all the feelings I gathered during my break,

I stepped deeper into the heart of the royal castle.

“Lady Lumina.”

“Yes.”

“I’ll see this through. To become a Crown Knight… and to uphold the responsibility I’ve chosen.”

“Yes. I’m looking forward to it.”

Lady Lumina smiled.

It wasn’t a sweet smile.

ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー

[Afterword]

Hello, this is the author, Iko.

And with that, Act 07 comes to an end.

There hasn’t been much visible progress yet in the Royal Guard arc or Lumina’s arc…

The Royal Guard arc might end up being a long one (^◇^;)

And it seems it’ll be a bit longer before Lumina gets pulled into the swamp too (^◇^;)

Well then, in the next chapter, it’s finally their turn.

Hort will be facing Rina and Irene.

What will happen next—stay tuned!