"Oh my, Astina. Hello."
Yuni greeted with a bright smile.
"Oh..."
Astina looked at Yuni with an interested expression, but her gaze carried a sharp edge.
Just being nearby made my body tingle.
The sight of Yuni half-embracing me was more than troubling, it was serious.
To resolve the situation, I quickly separated from Yuni and spoke up.
"Astina, it's been a while..."
"It's been a while? It doesn't seem like it. Was it just a few weeks?"
"Ha ha... Isn't that long enough? How have you been?"
"I've been fine. You seem to have been doing well too,"
She said sharply.
"I've been unwell, dizzy and..."
"Then you might need a more comfortable place."
Astina reached out her hand towards me.
Then she spoke.
"Gravity."
"Huh?"
"Senior?"
I was taken aback by the sudden magic.
I floated in the air, and Yuni, beside me, looked bewildered.
Astina, with a kind smile, turned to Yuni.
"The little miss has her own matters, doesn't she? Someone is waiting for her inside."
"Li, little miss? No, more importantly, I was going to go with Rudy. He needs to be there too..."
"You didn't tell us that."
"I said I had a companion."
"You said you had a companion, not that they had to be with you in the conversation."
"Ugh..."
Yuni stepped back at Astina's words.
"I'll take good care of your companion, so you go do your thing."
"No."
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64ce79d606107d003c23ea27", id: "pf-5140-1"})Yuni answered firmly.
"Rudy also has something to say to the commander. It's more efficient if we handle our business together."
Is she referring to Ian as the commander?
Why did she come to meet Ian?
Before I could express my confusion, Astina spoke.
"Efficient?"
Astina approached Yuni with a cold air.
"This is a military place. There are things more important than efficiency here. It's different from the academy and the royal palace you're used to."
After saying that, Astina looked at the soldiers around us.
"Escort the princess to where the commander is."
Having given the orders, Astina began to lead me inside the building.
"Hey, senior! Rudy!"
As I moved further away, Yuni cried out in despair.
I couldn't look after Yuni in such a situation.
Although I was grateful to Yuni for bringing me here, I couldn't dare to stop Astina.
I floated into the building, suspended by Astina's magic.
Astina placed me beside her, giving me a sharp look.
"Did you come to brag about having a girlfriend or something?"
"Of course not..."
"Then what brings you here? You said you were unwell."
"Could you please put me down? I won't run away."
At my request, Astina sighed and gently lowered me to the ground.
Once on the floor, I opened the bag I had brought with me.
"First, please take this."
I took a box out of the bag, and Astina frowned as she looked at it.
"What's this?"
"Please open it."
Inside the box was Astina's nameplate.
Astina Persia, President of the Liberion Student Council.
The letters were precisely engraved.
"What if you had lost it? That would have been careless."
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64cc9e79c7059f003e4ad4b0", id: "pf-5109-1"})Astina's eyes lingered on the nameplate, filled with longing, and her lips curved into a pleased smile.
"I had completely forgotten about it."
"Will you keep looking angry even after I've taken the trouble to bring this to you?"
"When have I ever looked angry?"
A warm smile spread across Astina's face.
Seeing Astina smile like that made me feel good too.
I didn't mind the imposing Astina, but she looked best with a calm smile like this.
With a smile still on her face, Astina narrowed her eyes at me.
"But, you didn't come here just to bring this, did you? Especially not when you're unwell?"
Her frown was there, but the atmosphere was different from before.
"Of course not. I came to talk about various things."
"Really?"
Astina laughed playfully at my response.
"I bet you were more pleased to see a certain face there."
"…Huh?"
"You might be good at winning over girls, but understanding their hearts is another matter."
"…Winning over girls?"
"Enough of that. If there's business, let's get to it."
Astina opened the door to a room marked 'Deputy Commander's Office.'
The room was plainly furnished with just a desk and a table for guests, devoid of any other decorations.
It was typical of Astina not to add decorative items, but the emptiness felt stark.
Astina sat down at the guest table in front.
"So, what did you come to talk about?"
I sat opposite Astina and began.
"I wanted to check on your well-being and perhaps offer some advice on any troubles you might have."
"Well-being is one thing, but troubles?"
"Is it wrong to come for advice?"
"There's nothing wrong with it, but to come all this way?"
Astina seemed perplexed, fidgeting with her lips.
I continued with a smile.
"More importantly, how have you been?"
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "663633fa8ebf7442f0652b33", id: "pf-8817-1"})"That's the same question you asked earlier."
"But I didn't get a proper answer. Do you find your role in the Royal army suits you?"
"It's just so-so. I thought I would fit in well with the military, but its oppressive atmosphere doesn't really appeal to me."
"The rebels will be targeting you, Astina."
I shifted the tone, speaking earnestly.
Astina's expression hardened at my sudden serious remark.
"I know."
"Did you join the Royal army because of what I said about the future? Is that why you made this choice?"
"The rebels are a threat to the empire. You know that as well as I do. Someone had to do it."
"But it didn't have to be you, Astina."
I looked at Astina with concern.
"Did you make this choice because I said you might die?"
"Yes..."
"It could have been something that never happened."
"But it could have."
"Weren't there other options?"
"I believed it was the best way."
"Because of me?"
I asked cautiously.
"Did you make this choice because if a situation arises where you could die, it would put me in danger too? And because I would try to change the future, is that why you did this?"
The reason Astina joined the Royal army.
Considering her character, it was easy to understand.
Astina would not burden others, even if she collapsed from overwork.
She feels responsible for the issues of those around her and gives her best to help.
That's who Astina is.
Being in the Royal army meant we couldn't help her directly, and it was harder to reach out to her.
Protected by the empire, but in a position where she had to confront the rebels head-on, she was at greater risk.
Yet, Astina chose to join the Royal army.
She confronted the rebels head-on and took the position of deputy commander.
She chose a path where she faced greater danger, but it made those around her safer.
Being in the Royal army meant there was nothing we could do to help directly.
"It's an overestimation of your importance. I made this choice for my own safety."
I swallowed the words I was about to say.
Further discussion would only confuse Astina.
Knowing only the outcome of the future, I couldn't say more to Astina.
But, I wanted to convey the commitment I had made after seeing her future.
"Astina, just remember this."
I had already seen Astina's future and made a promise to myself.
"If you're ever in danger, Astina, I will come to your rescue. I will save you, no matter what."
Astina looked surprised at first, then blushed and averted her eyes.
"You flirtatious guy. It's because you say things like that, women get attracted to you."
"Flirtatious? I..."
Astina, grumbling a bit, looked at me and smiled warmly.
"Still, hearing you say such things does reassure me."
Astina took a deep breath.
"For you, who speaks like this, I promise I'll never let myself die."
"Don't worry, even if you're in danger, I'll be there to stop it."
"Thank you, I'm counting on you."
Astina shifted her posture and looked intently at my face.
"So, shall we talk about your concerns? I can't stand being in debt, so I'll help you resolve your worries."
"My concern..."
I hesitated for a moment.
Did I speak too hastily about having a concern?
If I talk about my worries here, won't that just burden Astina?
Then Astina glared at me.
"You're not planning to just resolve my concerns and keep yours to yourself, are you?"
"Is that being underhanded?"
I let out a wry laugh at Astina's words.
I thought about glossing over my concerns, but it didn't seem like Astina would let it slide that easily.
Or maybe she'd try to figure out my worries without my knowledge.
It would be better to speak frankly here.
I opened my mouth quietly.
"It's about the Astria family."
Astina looked at me with keen interest.
