Kōichi looked at Darkness's face, slightly twisted with intense excitement yet somehow all the more captivating, and the urge to tease her suddenly faded.
He remembered that beneath the hopelessly masochistic Knight was someone burdened by the weight of her family, an overly kind fool who would sacrifice herself without hesitation to protect her people.
"Always chasing the ultimate humiliation and the most desperate situations... Darkness, watching you protect yourself that way can be exhausting sometimes."
Kōichi murmured under his breath. The sadistic captain's expression vanished from his face, and his gaze softened as never before.
He suddenly stopped and reached out with elegant care, gently brushing a crumb of sweet potato from the corner of Darkness's mouth.
His touch was light. As his fingertips grazed her burning skin, they stirred a pure flutter in her heart that had nothing to do with masochistic pleasure.
"That's enough humiliation for tonight, Lalatina."
For the first time in private, Kōichi called her by her real name with genuine seriousness. His voice was clear and gentle.
"Since you think afternoon tea in the Royal Capital feels insincere, I'll show you how a true noblewoman enjoys a night in Axel. Tonight, you're not a meat shield or a masochist. You're simply my companion."
Darkness froze as though she had been struck by a paralysis spell.
Such sudden, innocent tenderness left her more flustered than even the cruelest insult could have.
"K-Kōichi? What did you just call me? And... what's with that attitude? H-hurry up and look at me with disgust! Otherwise, I..."
"Shh. That's an order from your captain."
Kōichi cut her off with a smile, then naturally bent his arm and gestured for her to take it.
"Keep your head high and your chest out. Show me the bearing of the heir to House Dustiness. Our next destination has no place for a pervert who does nothing but pant."
Kōichi led Darkness to a quiet lakeside on the outskirts of Axel City.
Far from the noise of the bustling streets, the lake reflected a brilliant river of stars. A gentle breeze swept across the water, carrying away every trace of restlessness.
Kōichi took a clean picnic blanket from his backpack and spread it over the grass. Then, as if performing a magic trick, he produced a bottle of premium flower nectar wine from Wiz's Shop, supposedly a prized elven vintage, along with two crystal glasses.
He drew Darkness down beside him and gently poured her a drink before raising his glass.
"There may not be a castle terrace, but tonight, this entire sky belongs to you. Darkness, you don't have to protect anyone, and you don't have to long for anyone to hurt you. All you need to do is be Lalatina, the girl who loves the stars, enjoys sweets, and sometimes feels lonely."
Darkness held her glass and gazed at the shimmering reflections dancing across the lake. The feverish intensity in her eyes gradually faded, replaced by a gentle calm.
She lowered her head shyly, her golden hair falling over her chest, and spoke in a barely audible voice.
"This feels... so strange. There's nothing humiliating about it, but my heart still feels... fuller than when I'm being ravaged by a monster. Kōichi, you really are a terrifying man... Is this some more advanced form of psychological torture?"
Kōichi smiled and sat beside her, gazing up at the stars shoulder to shoulder with her.
"Since you insist on seeing it that way, think of it as a gentle execution."
A breeze drifted across the lake, stirring countless ripples of golden light. From the grass came the occasional clear chirp of an insect, as though nature itself were providing music for the quiet night.
Kōichi slowly rose and brushed the grass from his clothes. Under Darkness's puzzled gaze, he straightened his collar, then bowed with the grace of a perfect court gentleman. His right hand rested over his chest while his left extended toward her, palm up.
"Beautiful Miss Dustiness, there may be no grand orchestra here or a marble dance floor, but the starlight has taken its seat for you, and the evening breeze is tuning its melody. May I ask you to make this place your stage and share a dance with me?"
Darkness's hand jerked, nearly spilling the flower nectar wine in her glass across her pale thigh.
She looked up at Kōichi's gently smiling face beneath the moonlight, as though some spell had stolen away her soul.
"D-dance? With me?"
Her voice came out slightly hoarse. She hurriedly set down her glass and fumbled to her feet, but the heavy pieces of her armor scraped together, producing several poorly timed metallic clanks.
"Kōichi, y-you're joking, right? You've seen me fight on the battlefield... I-I'm such an idiot that I can't even swing a sword without missing! If I try something this elegant, I'll definitely step on your foot, trip you into the mud, and leave us both in an unbearably awkward situation..."
As she spoke, an unnatural blush crept across her cheeks, and her eyes began to wander.
"B-but if, in such a romantic setting, you became disgusted with my terrible dancing and even pushed me onto the grass to scold me... th-that might actually be..."
"No 'ifs,' Lalatina."
Kōichi firmly took the hand protected by her metal bracer. With a gentle pull, he drew the tall Knight toward him.
His other arm naturally slipped around her slender yet powerful waist, bringing them close enough to hear each other breathe.
"Stop imagining those masochistic scenarios. Close your eyes. Feel the direction of the wind, and follow my steps."
Kōichi whispered beside her ear, his voice carrying a reassuring warmth.
Then he began to move.
There was no stirring rhythm, only the faint rustle of their leather boots against the grass.
Kōichi's steps were steady. Using his keen senses, he guided every shift in Darkness's balance with precision.
To his surprise, the Crusader who always seemed to lose her sense of direction on the battlefield displayed remarkable coordination within his embrace.
Her stiff body gradually relaxed under his gentle guidance. As they turned, her long golden hair traced graceful arcs through the air.
Moonlight spilled across her silver armor, surrounding her in a soft glow. She no longer resembled the perverted Knight everyone knew, but a sacred warrior goddess who had stepped out of an ancient epic.
"See? You're doing wonderfully."
Kōichi guided her through a small, elegant step and praised her softly.
"Right now, you're more graceful than any lady in the Royal Capital."
Darkness clung tightly to Kōichi's shoulders. She did not dare open her eyes, simply allowing herself to sink into this unfamiliar tenderness, into the feeling of being cherished and gently guided.
Her heart pounded wildly, not from masochistic excitement, but from a pure, girlish flutter she had never experienced before.
It almost brought her to tears.