# 14
---
The first “game” began with the battalion’s laziest knight… Max.
For days, he evaded the task of removing snow, contenting himf with hiding under his warm blanket.
As usual, he was hugging his rabbit Merida and falling asleep with her, until Edwin suddenly lifted him by the collar.
Then he threw his huge body into the snow forcefully, and smiled brightly.
'How about we play a game?'
'For... a game?'
'It's an ice crystal game. We will not fight with swords, but with crystals hanging from the ceiling.'
It seemed like childish fun.
But as soon as the exercise began, Max burst into tears, as it was the first time he discovered how painful ice could be.
Edwin did not give him any chance to catch his breath, but instead delivered precise and quick hits to sensitive spots.
Then he started narrating as if he was telling an interesting story.
‘You know? I heard that whoever stabs his opponent with ice leaves no evidence of the crime... the knife melts and disappears.'
Those words alone sent Max scrambling on all fours, terrified.
Since that day, the ice blocks had disappeared from the base's surroundings... he had removed them all himf.
The second game was with the voracious Harriot.
He was put in charge of the kitchen, but he ate half the bread before lunchtime even started.
Thus, many knights remained without sufficient food.
His greed did not stop, but he repeated the ball the next day, and then the third.
On the third day, there was a loud crash... as the kitchen door suddenly opened, and Edwin entered while he was supposed to be in training.
Before Harriot put the loaf in his mouth, he said to him:
'Shall we play a game?'
'What game?'
'Eat all this bread to the last game.'
Harriot's face lit up, and he nodded approvingly.
Edwin smiled angelically as he looked at the arrayed loaves of bread.
'But it looks like it wasn't baked well.'
'On the contrary, you have fully matured!'
'No...the dough is still raw.'
He extended his hand towards the bread, and saw flames erupting from the loaves, rising until it became a massive fire.
Harriot gasped in horror, as it was the first time he had witnessed the power of a member of the imperial family.
‘Q… Commander, if this continues, the kitchen will burn down!’
'Better than eating raw bread, right?'
The flames rose until they reached the ceiling.
Harriot tried to escape, but Edwin grabbed him by the back of the neck with inexorable force.
'A... please! Let me!’
'The bread is now done.'
Harriot turned and saw that the fire had died out, leaving a black, charred heap.
'Come on, eat.'
'How could I eat something so burnt!'
'Then let me help you.'
Edwin gathered the pieces of burnt bread into his fist and shoved them into his mouth without hesitation.
‘Khhh…khhh! 'I can't!'
'I'm helping you win the game.'
'I...I give up! You are the winner, Commander...!'
Since then, Harriot has not gone near bread for several months.
In this way, Edwin maintained order within the Rhone Knights' battalion through his “games.”
But the truth is that none of them ever wanted to be his opponent anymore.
Despite the atmosphere heavy with dread, he looked at them with a gentle smile and friendly eyes.
“While I'm here... let's all pretend we're strangers to each other.”
No one said a word, but they exchanged glances in silence.
Edwin gave a nice explanation.
“And don’t call me a leader or anything.”
“This will be fun, right?”
Then he picked up some bread and fruit, and left with calm steps.
The knights stared in amazement at his back until he disappeared.
Silence filled the dining hall... a silence they had not known for a long time.
***
A light knock on the door.
Dana looked up from the book she was reading on the couch.
“Who's there?”
“Me, Edwin.”
His sweet voice came to her.
Dana opened the door, wondering why.
“I came to have breakfast with you. May I come in?”
"Help yourf."
Edwin entered with calm steps, heading straight towards the table.
It was covered with a beige tablecloth, and lay plates of fresh fruit and freshly baked bread.
I asked in surprise.
“Where did you get all this from?”
“I borrowed the dishes from the person in charge of the place.”
“And the food?”
“……You better start eating.”
Then he gently pulled her chair back, and began offering her a carefully peeled piece of apple until it touched her lips.
As the sweetness of the sour apple juice spread into Dana's mouth, her face shone with a delicate light.
Edwin gave her a satisfied, pleased look.
He sat opposite her and continued serving her during breakfast; He cuts the bread into small pieces to make it easier to eat, and fills her cup with water so that it does not empty.
Dana said cautiously.
“Eat too. Didn’t you say we share food?”
“Yes, Senpai.”
Then he also took a piece of bread and ate it. Suddenly he asked her an unexpected question.
“Have you ever tried to be in a love relationship before?”
“Kh… kh!”
Dana almost choked on the piece of apple she swallowed.
"Oh, no! Why the question now?"
Is this a real question or a sneak attack?
Edwin held out the glass of water to her coldly and calmly.
“So...I'm your first, right?”
Can things be so simple?
Dana stared at him silently, and he replied with a gentle smile.
“Me too, this is the first time.”
“Do you know what is the most important thing that loved ones care about?”
“No...what is it?”
“To make sure each other is safe.”
“Like we're at war?”
"They ask, 'Did you sleep well? Did you eat your food?'
Dana remembered that this was actually the most discussed topic among the lovers around her.
She nodded her head in agreement, and Edwin smiled very happily.
“So from now on, we will eat three meals a day together.”
What is this strange result?
Dana's eyes widened in surprise.
Edwin realized the situation.
“I want to check for myf that you are always okay.”
“I'm doing fine even without you.”
“So... would you allow me to ask you every morning, noon and evening if you have eaten?”
“I promised you, remember? To look at you with eyes full of affection.”
“And that's what you meant?”
“Yes. And from now on, whatever I give you… you have to receive. Whatever.”
His gaze was steady and unwavering as he spoke.
Dana remembered her past...
Has anyone ever cared for her like this?
Her meals were always prepared according to her older brother's taste, and even when she fell ill and left all the food, no one noticed. And even if they had noticed… they wouldn't have said anything.
She realized that fact, then said in a low voice.
“You know, Edwin...”
“Come in.”
“When you said I was fine even without you... it wasn't a rejection of your warmth.”
Listen to it silently.
“Just… it's the first time I've experienced this emotion. So it's hard for me to accept it easily.”
“It's weird and awkward...so maybe my words come out cold sometimes.”
Her face turned red and she said.
“But...I will always be grateful to you.”
Then she closed her eyes in shame, and added in a low voice.
“From now on, I will receive from you everything you give me. Even if my behavior seems confused… please understand.”
Her hands were tightly hugging the cup with her eyes closed, and violent waves flowed through Edwin's heart.
So he couldn't answer directly as he usually did.
Adan, who approached him with such courage, who revealed to him the sincerity of her heart... seemed to him extremely beautiful and wonderful.
Finally, he said, suppressing his explosive emotions.
“Thank you... for being honest with me.”
Dana raised her head and looked at him.
Her small lips were trembling slightly, then parted into a shy smile.
As soon as he saw her, Edwin's heart beat violently.