CHAPTER 3: HIS MISTRESS?!

I woke up with a terrible headache. Well, yesterday was so terrible. Captain Masashi made me drink a lot of sake yesterday. I thought it was extremely rude to turn down his offers, so I had no choice.

Then the most embarrassing thing that happened to me yesterday was... I was so drunk to the point that they even let Captain Kiro carry me home.

When I got home, I remember Zeid saying something like, "You can put her down there."

Down where?

Guess what?

on his ice-cold office floor!

Thankfully, Captain Kiro ignored what he said and put me on the couch. Then after that, I can't remember what happened next.

"Madam, why not stay here for a bit and have some tea?" Lila said, placing the tray with food on the table in front of the couch.

"Nah, I'm okay. I just don't want Zeid to come back home while I'm still here. You know his temper so... " I said and then stood up, massaging my temples.

"But..."

"I'm going to be fine, Lila. I'll just take that tray and go to my own room. Just go. "

"Then let me carry the tray for you, madam." She said, worried.

I chuckled and looked at her, smiling widely.

"You don't have to. I can do it. I'll go now. " I carry the tray and walk out of Zeid's office. I shoved the bread into my mouth as I walked towards the house where I am staying, which is located on the other side of the Chen clan's territory.

Just imagine how I struggled with carrying the tray while I ate. But let me tell you, women tend to multitask and multi-hold. If that's even a word.

"You don't really have delicadeza, don't you?"

I almost choked on my food when I heard Zeid's voice from behind me. Gosh! Is he a ghost? I didn't hear him walking. Did he walk on air?

Because there was something in my mouth, I did not reply.

"Come with me. We will go somewhere. " He said and started to walk away.

I immediately chewed and swallowed the food in my mouth and looked at him.

"W-Wait! I haven't taken a bath yet! "

"Then take a bath. Make it faster. "

I blinked and rushed back to my house. I immediately took a bath, brushed my teeth, brushed my hair, and put on my clothes when I arrived. But oh dear... wearing a kimono is really troublesome.

Not all of the women in this household wear kimonos. But I am already part of Chen's household and Zeid's wife, so although it is not required to wear a kimono, I just want to wear one since I think it's a respect for their tradition.

When I finished, I went back to Zeid's office. My head is still aching, but it's a little better after I have taken a bath and drank herbal tea.

He raised his head and looked at me. Then he stood up and walked out. How rude.

"Let's go."

I just went in and he went out. How nice! really nice.

"Where are we going to?" I asked while walking behind him. He walks fast, so it's hard to catch up with him.

He didn't respond. Mmm, that's not new. If he wants to speak, he'll speak. But most of the time, he will speak to me but just to criticize me or give me a short answer.

I sighed. I didn't want to argue, so I just shut my mouth and followed him.

After 6 minutes of walking, we arrived at the training arena.

All of the members of his squad are already there, and they are all lined up.

A well-mannered squad... I'm not surprised. In Zeid's attitude, maybe he'll scare them to death if he does not like their attitude.

"Captain." Lieutenant Ren greeted. He then looked at me and smiled. "Mira."

I also smiled at him and nodded. "Good day."

"Start now." Zeid commanded. Lieutenant Ren nods and follows him. The lieutenant faced them and told them to find a partner and start dueling.

They, of course, followed the command and started dueling using their wooden swords.

My brow furrowed in confusion. Why did he bring me here?

"Uh, Zeid, why---"

"Observe and tell me what you see." He said, cutting me off.

Observe and inform him of what I see. W-what?! 

What if I tell him that I see people fighting under the sun? Maybe I will be at the edge of the river, dead. I sighed.

So, I am here just to observe. This is so boring. I want to go out and visit some interesting places.

HAHAHA

Just kidding.

I'm just wondering why he needs me here. I'm not even allowed to join his squad---wait, wait, wait... Don't tell me he's telling me to observe because he will later force me to join his squad. Then what? Then he'll give me a death mission so that I will not be able to come back to their house. HAHAHAHA!

What is this pointless thought?

"Why are you smiling?" He asked, looking at me with his intimidating facial expression. Why is he always looking like he has not eaten for a month? He's always grumpy.

I looked at him, waving my hands in front of me.

"E-Eh? N-Nothing!"

"Then start telling me the things that you observed." He said, and looked at the people who were dueling.

I bit my lower lip to stop myself from smiling. He's too serious.

"Umm... That one looks so stiff. If he keeps on moving his body like that, he will surely lose his bala--" The guy lost his balance before I could even finish what I was saying.

"S-See?" I said.

I told him what I observed. Then I told him how they could improve their swordsmanship.

I did not notice that there were some who stopped dueling and began to listen to what I was explaining.

"Woahhh! How did you know all of that, madame Mira? " The baby-faced woman asked, staring at me in amusement.

"Uh..."

"You seem so familiar with these things, madame." The young man, who I think is just around 17 years old,

"Because---"

"Stop asking questions and continue your duels." Zeid commanded. His squad immediately followed his command and went back to dueling.

"As I've thought." He said.

"What?"

"You've seen a lot of duels. I cannot deny that you are really from that clan. Can you fight?" Zeid then asked.

"A little bit, I think. Why? " I asked. Don't tell me my thoughts a while ago are real?!

"That's good. I don't have to protect you every time."

Woohh.. That's a relief. It's not about joining the squad. I just assumed too much. How funny.

"Don't worry, I will not be in danger." I replied, scratching the back of my neck a little.

He did not respond and just continued observing the duels. Then, a moment later, two people arrived. One man and one woman who I am not familiar with

"Oh Zeid~ I missed you." She said and wrapped her arms around his arms.

"Let's talk over there."

They walk a bit further and discuss something together. Lieutenant Ren ran towards me and sat beside me.

"Is that his mistress--look?" He grinned and looked at me. It seems like he's teasing me.

"Or a paramour? It's the same. No?" I said, then chuckled.

"It's not secret, so rest assured that it's not. And the captain's pride and dignity are so high for those kinds of things, Mira."

"I was just kidding!"

"But you're jealous."

"What? Who told you that? "

"Hahaha! I can see it! " He said, teasing me.

I tsked and looked at the squad members.

"Why are you guys so tense these days? Is the problem outside of the city a lot worse? " I asked.

He sighed and looked at the squad members.

"We lost a lot of squad members. There's an expedition squad and they haven't come back for almost half a year. The area where they have a mission is not that far from here. One month is enough for them to come back. Everything is a mess. There are a lot of things that are occurring that we cannot understand. Monsters are not the only enemies that we have now; we also have humans." He explained and then glanced at me.

"I wish I could help. But I'm not even capable of helping myself. "

"It's fine. We're trying our hardest to solve this problem. Besides, you have to be safe. If you suddenly disappear, Captain Zeid will no longer have a wife. HAHAHAHA! " he said.

"Ren!"

"Sorry! Hahahaha! "

I exhale and shake my head lightly.

"He'll be happy without me because I'm the source of his negative energy. I think he's just forcing himself to be with me or talk to me. It's okay though. I don't want this marriage either." I said in a low-pitched voice. Just enough for him to hear what I said.

He looked at the view from afar and smiled.

"Captain Zeid is indeed cold to everyone. But I think that's just a facade. He cares about everyone. He wants the best for everyone. Do you know why he brought you here? If not, I shall tell you then... he's not always by your side. He's making sure that you know how to fight to protect yourself. " He said... "Oh, they're coming, I will leave you now." He walked away and raised his hand to greet the two people who had arrived a while ago.

I look down and think about what he said. He might be right or...

Whatever the situation right now, it must be pretty dangerous because Zeid is thinking that way. But...

He might care for everyone else, but not for me. For sure.

I remember the first time we met...

He told me right away...

"If you think I'm going to accept you, then you're wrong. I reject you. "

I tried everything I could to get his approval. I tried to get out of my comfort zone to impress him and accept me. But I give up.

Well, who said I would like this marriage?