"You left your assigned post without clearance."

Alaric spoke in a strict tone and Sarah froze the instant she heard those words.

"I—"

She tried to say something, anything to help her situation but then—

"Hmm? What are you talking about, Commander? She never left her post."

Lucian spoke before she could say anything and ruin it. He had his fun seeing her expression, now it was time to be the knight in shining armour.

Sarah looked at him in horror, Alaric’s eyes moved to him as well, and Lucian—

He smiled brightly.

"It’s just a misunderstanding."

He waved his hand.

Alaric stared at him.

Sarah stared at him even harder.

Lucian continued without shame.

"She was testing a new artifact."

Alaric narrowed his eyes.

"What artifact?"

He asked.

"Invisibility."

Silence.

Complete silence fell over the place as both Alaric and Sarah looked at him, Sarah felt like her heart would burst open any moment now.

And Lucian—

He nodded to himself, as if the explanation was perfectly reasonable.

"Very impressive, honestly. She was here the entire time."

Sarah’s eyes widened in horror, Alaric’s face became colder, obviously, both of them knew it was bullshit, but Lucian pulled through.

"You came to check twice yourself, Clara came three times, then you added another guard ten minutes later. We saw it all because we were here the entire time!"

Sarah blinked at those words.

What...?

How in the hell did he know that!?

Alaric noticed her reaction and his frown deepened.

"You are saying she was standing here while I replaced her?"

Lucian nodded.

"Exactly."

"And she said nothing?"

"We thought you were adding more security."

Sarah slowly turned back to Alaric.

Her face was stiff.

Painfully stiff.

Then, because she had no other choice, she gave a small nod.

Alaric looked at her.

Then at Lucian.

He clearly did not believe a single word.

That only made Lucian smile more.

"Effective artifact, no?"

Alaric’s jaw tightened slightly.

"Show it to me."

"No."

Lucian shook his head immediately.

"No?"

Alaric’s eyes sharpened.

"Of course not. Why would she reveal her trump card so easily?"

Sarah looked like she wanted to kill him, Lucian continued.

"She showed it to you, did she not?"

"I am obviously different."

Lucian placed a hand over his chest.

Alaric looked at Sarah, she lowered her eyes.

"Black."

"Y-Yes, Commander?"

Sarah stuttered.

"Is there an invisibility artifact?"

Lucian opened his mouth but—

"I am not speaking to you, Cross."

Lucian placed a finger on his mouth like the good subordinate that he was, that shit-eating smile on his face, however, still hadn’t disappeared.

Sarah gulped at those words, she had two options here, she could either tell the truth and be punished, or she could continue whatever madness Lucian had started.

She looked at Lucian.

He gave her an encouraging nod.

Sarah wanted to punch him.

Instead, she looked back at Alaric.

"It is... not a stable artifact."

Lucian nodded with approval.

Sarah hated that.

"Not stable."

Alaric stared at her.

"Yes."

"So unstable that you could not report it before testing it while assigned to night watch?"

Sarah couldn’t answer, Lucian raised a finger to say something but—

"I said I am not speaking to you."

Alaric spoke, without even looking at him.

Lucian lowered the finger.

Alaric turned back to Sarah and she...

"Yes, i-it is still in the testing phase and I... I’d rather not show it."

She nodded in a low voice and for a moment, the entire hall turned silent.

Alaric knew the truth.

Sarah knew he knew.

Lucian knew he knew and still looked delighted, no, that actually made him more delighted.

And that was what annoyed Alaric the most.

Not the lie itself.

The... ease of it.

His mouth twitched, he looked at Lucian, at the case in his hand, then back to Sarah—

"From now on, if I come to check your post, you will be visible. If Clara checks your post, you will be visible. If your position is changed, you will report it properly. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Commander."

Sarah nodded immediately.

"And if you leave your assigned post again without clearance, I will not accept creative explanations."

"That sounds fair."

Lucian smiled.

Alaric looked at him and his smile became innocent.

Alaric’s face did not change, but something in his eyes made the air colder.

"Cross."

"Yes?"

"Do not make a habit of interfering in command discipline."

Lucian tilted his head.

"I was only helping the truth come out."

Alaric looked at him for another second, then he turned around.

"Return to your position, Black."

"Yes, Commander."

Alaric walked away and only when he disappeared did Sarah let out another breath.

Then—

She turned to Lucian, still controlling the urge to punch the bastard.

"You are welcome."

Lucian smiled.

Sarah’s eye twitched.

Yes, she wanted to punch him, but she wanted to ask a much more important question.

"How did you know?"

"Know what?"

"That Commander and Clara came here and then positioned a guard to replace me."

"I heard it."

Lucian answered with a smile and Sarah...

She couldn’t believe it.

"You... heard that?"

Sarah looked at him like he was not human.

Which, to be fair, was partly true.

"I have sensitive ears."

Lucian shrugged but Sarah...

Her mind’s fuse was already blown.

He heard that!?

Sure he has sensitive ears, that’s not rare but...

He was training!

No, he was torturing himself!

He heard everything that happened up here, while doing THAT!?

She couldn’t believe it.

What sort of monster was he!?

She wondered, but then—

"Wait..."

She thought of something else.

"You knew they came to check on me and you did not tell me?"

She questioned, this time, more out of anger than shock.

"Oh."

"Answer me."

"I thought you came with me because you did not care."

Sarah stared at him.

"I thought Rebellious, I like it."

"You know that was not true."

Sarah spoke with a flat look on her face and Lucian—

"Well, I did."

He answered honestly.

"But I preferred company."

Sarah looked like she was deciding whether the penalty of killing him would be worth it.

"You are unbelievable."

"Blame your good company, not me."

"You..."

Sarah was fuming.

"Come on~"

Lucian groaned.

"Don’t you think it was rewarding? Look how close we are now."

"We are NOT close."

Lucian looked surprised.

"We just survived a command-level interrogation together. I told a creative story, you nodded very properly. It was excellent teamwork."

"..."

Sarah didn’t know what to say.

Lucian pushed forward.

"Shared hardship builds bonds."

"I am saying this again. I am NOT close to you."

"Aww. Tsundere."

Lucian smiled warmly.

"What did you just call me?"

"Nothing."

He shrugged.

And Sarah—

She turned away, not wanting to deal with him for a second longer.

"I am going back to my position."

"Such a hard-working girl."

Lucian praised.

She ignored him completely and walked away. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Lucian smiled as he watched her leave.