The Royal Military Academy's Impostor Owns a Dungeon [BL]

Elior sounded like a man on his deathbed, but he still managed to squeak out a protest.

”Your Highness,” he said weakly, ”he really isn’t my partner.”

”Oh,” Princess Kira replied softly. ”So it has reached the stage of distancing. While I understand, perhaps it would be wise to clarify things later so the two of you don’t misunderstand each other further.”

She nodded to herself, clearly satisfied with that conclusion.

Only, she didn’t expect the frail beauty to suddenly speak again.

”No,” Elior said, something sharp twisting painfully in his chest. ”It has reached the stage of misunderstanding.”

She hummed in response, entirely unconvinced.

Elior’s hands trembled. His vision swam. Every time he thought he had finally explained himself, the misunderstanding somehow grew worse. More elaborate. More tragic.

This was no longer a hole.

This was a pit.

And he was tumbling deeper with every word.

This was probably karma.

He was likely paying for all the time he had lied about his identity.

Strangely enough, thinking like that changed something in him. She was saying things he needed to hear, but just so happened to be saying them for a totally different reason.

But nonetheless, she was right.

He definitely needed to clarify things.

He didn’t want resentment to further grow from this absurd misunderstanding.

Because what if one day they finally managed to mend everything, and she looked back on this memory?

Would he not be murdered on the spot?

Worse, would she not feel disappointed about his inability to protect her, even from herself?

”I swear,” Elior said, his voice rising despite his efforts to control it. ”There really is nothing between us. In fact, it is utterly impossible.”

Princess Kira looked at him expectantly, as if waiting for the rest.

But unbeknownst to her, he’d already snapped.

”I already have someone!” Elior blurted out, his voice carrying far more strength than he intended. ”I have already given my heart away. Completely. And it is impossible to get it back!”

The words rang out with startling intensity.

So loudly, in fact, that even the person currently spinning the wheel froze mid-motion. The much-anticipated wheel let out a sharp beep of protest as it continued to spin, momentarily forgotten.

Tck.

Tck.

Tck.

Tck.

Tck.

Conversations faltered.

Laughter died.

Every head slowly turned.

”...”

”...”

The silence that followed was absolute.

One could, without exaggeration, hear a pin drop despite the sheer size of the gathered crowd.

Then, finally, the silence was broken by the Orcish Princess’s delayed gasp.

”Oh.”

It was soft. Real. And very much the sound of someone realizing they had missed something important.

No wonder the sickly beauty had been so adamant.

Despite looking like a strong breeze might carry him away, he had defended his love with astonishing fervor. His voice had shaken, his body had looked unwell, but his eyes had been different. Bright. Focused. Burning with something unmistakable.

Passion.

Beautiful, really.

It was a shame Ada was not right beside her to note it all down. Then again, D-29 was probably somewhere nearby, right?

But as Princess Kira lingered on that thought, a much larger problem suddenly crashed into her awareness.

She might have created a misunderstanding.

”!!!”

She had insisted too strongly, relying far too much on her initial impression based on scent. But now, with the sharp and enticing smell of the man’s blood lingering in the air, it was painfully obvious that he was not bonded to his aide at all.

The panic hit her instantly.

What would she do if she were in his position? What if that man’s beloved ended up with the wrong idea because of her?

What if Bunbun ever thought she was in a relationship with Ada because someone else kept on insisting on it?

Unthinkable.

Absolutely unthinkable.

Realizing she might have hurt both the sickly beauty and the person he loved, Princess Kira straightened and took responsibility without hesitation.

”I apologize,” she said sincerely, placing a hand over her chest. ”I was wrong to assume. I spoke carelessly and caused distress. That is on me.”

Elior blinked, caught off guard.

”I will personally attend to this matter,” she continued firmly. ”I will help clarify the misunderstanding and ensure it doesn’t cause further harm.”

She paused, then added with determination, ”If possible, I would also like to meet your beloved and explain myself properly. I accused you wrongly and mistook your aide for something he’s not.”

”How could I even assume you were in a relationship with the aide who wasn’t derailed by emotions, but was instead crippled by his questionable sense of urgency!”

Her gaze flicked toward Rahil.

Rahil nearly choked.

Wait.

Excuse him?

If anyone needed to be criticized for a lack of urgency, it was absolutely not him. He had been born urgent. He had lived urgently. He had begged, prodded, pushed, and dragged his master off that perch with heroic effort.

If his magnanimous self had not insisted on dragging out the Prince who was waiting and pining like a decorative statue, none of this would have happened.

None.

They wouldn’t be here.

The Prince wouldn’t be bleeding in public.

They wouldn’t be socially combusting in front of his beloved.

Rahil opened his mouth.

Then he closed it.

Nope.

Absolutely not. It was safer to be the aide with no sense of urgency than to be the man who technically caused this entire situation. Especially with so many shining eyes turned their way.

Again, silence was survival.

But what surprised the aide who contemplated whether to open his big mouth was how brazen Prince Elior was.

The man, who had looked moments away from fainting, lifted his head slightly. His breathing steadied. And then there was that look in his eyes.

That glint.

The guy who had momentarily recovered now had that shine in his eyes that scared the bejeesus out of Rahil.

And sure enough, what followed could only be described as utter genius or a possible death flag as he listened in to their conversation.

Prince Elior inclined his head toward Princess Kira.

”Thank you,” he said sincerely. ”I appreciate your willingness to take responsibility and help clear the misunderstanding.”

Her posture softened.

Then he smiled.

Just a little.

”And if you truly wish to help,” he continued, ”then perhaps it would be best to prepare a statement now. While everything is still fresh. Maybe something I can show my beloved as proof of what occurred, rather than attempting to explain it later when it would then look like an excuse.”

Princess Kira’s eyes lit up.

”That is an excellent idea, dear customer.”

Rahil stared.

Of course, she liked it.

Of course she did.

Elior nodded, then fumbled briefly with his terminal. The holographic interface flickered, though from the outside it looked more like an excuse to raise his arm and angle it just right.

He cleared his throat.

And then he spoke.

”Hi. This is really sudden, but I figured I’d tell you about it. I had a rather unique experience today,” Elior said, his voice steady but soft. ”Because I really wanted to see you.”

His ears tinged faintly as he spoke, embarrassment flashing across his face, but it only made his expression warmer. Honest. Unguarded.

”I did have a small incident,” he continued. ”But I received help, and I am fine. However, there was also a misunderstanding. My aide was mistaken for my partner, even though that couldn’t be further from the truth.”

He glanced briefly at Rahil, then looked back up, eyes unwavering.

”That is because I’m already taken. By you.”

Princess Kira felt goosebumps rise along her arms.

”It would be impossible,” Elior said quietly, ”because I already cherish you deeply. So much so that I have already promised to have a future with you.”

He inhaled.

”But this misunderstanding was also my fault. I allowed it to happen because I have not yet fixed my life. Instead of being together, I spent too much time beside my aide.”

His fingers tightened slightly.

”I probably look and sound lame right now, but I promise to make it right. Whatever it takes.”

His eyes flashed with determination.

Princess Kira swallowed.

Who would have thought such a frail-looking beauty could sound so resolute?

So passionate?

Truly, it was just as people said: It wasn’t that good partners were rare, it was simply that most of them were already taken.

Moved by his expression and the way he could even think of saying such things, she mouthed silently, ”I’m sure she loves you, too.”

Elior tilted his head slightly and smiled.

”You think so?”

”Yes.”

”Then I hope so.” He paused, then added softly, ”Thank you for reminding me. I forgot to say it properly.”

Huh?

Then she watched as that mouth opened with something straight out of her novels.

”I love you.”

”Always did. Always will.”

”It’s probably me asking for a lot... But if you can, please wait for me a little longer.”

He looked straight at Princess Kira as he said it.

She was wide-eyed.

Then again, who wouldn’t be truly shocked when even Rahil thought his master had been possessed?

The flabbergasted aide was numb.

Just who was this person?

Well, apparently, it was the same Elven Prince who then got the Princess to be in the same recording, right next to him, as she passionately recited the words Rahil didn’t think Elior would ever get to hear in person.

She even happily and excitedly participated, scooting over and looking all determined.

”Beloved lady,” she said earnestly, her voice ringing with conviction, ”your partner here loves you very much. He defended your relationship even when I misunderstood.”

She nodded firmly.

”I don’t know why you’re not together yet, but he is clearly pining for you. He is a little sick, but if he eats his vegetables, then hopefully he will be fine.”

Rahil blinked.

”If his transgressions are not too severe,” Princess Kira continued, ”please consider forgiving him.”

Throughout it all, Rahil could only watch as Elior stared at her with open admiration, as if nothing else in the world existed.

Really.

What was the point of downplaying his looks and wearing such clothes when he shone like this?

At this rate, only the blind would fail to see that the guy was hopelessly, irreversibly in love.