My Desertion Would Be Faster Than Heros’ Obsession

The man hesitated, seemingly intimidated by that piercing gaze, and took a step back. Then, after exchanging glances with his companions, he quickly changed his tone.
“Ahem, well… We’re leaving. I think there’s been some misunderstanding. We were planning to head down too.”

His voice had lost its previous arrogance, now laced with meekness. Bowing slightly, he mumbled under his breath before hastily leading his group away.
However, Karon was still glaring at their retreating figures.
“Lady Salvia, if you wish, I can take care of them right now….”

“No, there’s no need.”
I wasn’t particularly furious with them. I was more surprised to find that this world had its own brand of annoying troublemakers, just like back on Earth. It made me contemplate the ‘Law of Conservation of Idiots.’
If I had truly been angry, my personality wouldn’t have allowed me to just let it slide—I would have already demonstrated the power of ‘violence and fear’ by now.

But Karon, on the other hand, seemed genuinely unable to suppress his rage simply because they had been disrespectful to me.
“I really mean it,” I emphasized again.
Only then did Karon’s expression soften.

“Yes! In that case, let’s hurry down too!”
He beamed brightly, as if the previous moment of tension had never existed. Seeing that cheerful face, I decided against telling him that his personality seemed to have changed a bit.
…Wait a second. Could this be another romance fantasy development?

‘The once gentle boy who turns dark and obsessive as he grows up!’
That was a common trope in romance fantasies.
Unfortunately for Karon, he had brown hair and brown eyes, which severely lowered his chances of being the main love interest.

But what if Karon really did love me? What if his personality had changed over the past year we were apart, and he had become obsessed with me but was trying to hide it whenever I was around?
This wasn’t me getting ahead of myself! After both Aquila and Winter turned into romance novel protagonists before my eyes, I had every right to be suspicious of any potential plot developments.
‘Besides, we were apart for a year.’

It was a well-worn trope for a male lead to undergo a dramatic personality shift and develop an unhealthy obsession during a brief separation.
‘How do I figure this out?’
To determine whether he was truly harmless and innocent or just pretending to be while secretly harboring a dangerous obsession…
‘Right, I should check Karon’s subordinates!’

A common giveaway in romance novels was how the male lead’s subordinates reacted to his behavior. If the male lead was faking innocence in front of the heroine, his close subordinates would usually be unable to hide their shock. Yet, the heroine would completely miss the signals.
I glanced at Karon, who was grinning brightly in front of me, then shifted my gaze to his subordinates.
One of them, a girl named Luca, was supposedly close to him.

However, Luca was still smiling just as cheerfully as before.
She didn’t seem to find Karon’s behavior odd at all.
Hmm. Looks like Karon hasn’t turned into a secretly obsessive male lead after all.

***
“So, does this mean we’re free to go now?”
“Yes. Your mission here is complete.”

There was still work to be done suppressing the Second Prince’s forces in the mountains, but that was assigned to another unit. Our mission was over.
‘It’s a shame I didn’t get to see Aquila or Ishina.’
I had especially wanted to tell Aquila my thoughts in person, so it was disappointing that I couldn’t meet him. Still, at least I was able to deliver Karon’s parents’ keepsakes to him.

“Karon.”
Before parting ways, I reached for his hands. They were much larger than mine, with prominent veins—hands of a grown man. For a moment, I felt a strange sense of unfamiliarity.
But I reminded myself not to see Karon in a different light. He had always been the same in front of me, after all.

“Take care of yourself. I’ll finish my service first and wait for you.”
“Yes, Lady Salvia! I’ll write letters diligently!”
His grip tightened as he spoke, his face clearly showing his reluctance to part.

“I hope we get a chance to see each other again before I’m discharged.”
“It would be nice if there’s another external deployment, but if not, there’s nothing we can do.”
In truth, external assignments were a hassle for us, but if it meant meeting people I knew, I could tolerate it.

“And… about your parents’ keepsakes…”
I hesitated, worried that it might have been too painful for him. But Karon smiled as if it was nothing.
“Yes! I’m really fine!”

“I see.”
If he said he was fine, it would be rude to insist on comforting him. So instead, I lightly patted his hand.
“Karon, let’s meet again.”

“Yes, Lady Salvia! Please stay well until then!”
As our Snowy Mountain Battalion moved out, I glanced back. Karon was still standing there, watching me.
He really was an unwavering person.

***
“Hmm…”
Karon gazed at the locket in his hand, a keepsake from his father.

Salvia had seemed genuinely concerned for him, but…
“A yellow flower.”
Looking at the flower inside, he didn’t think about his parents. Instead, his mind was filled with how much the color resembled Salvia’s eyes.

That was why he liked the necklace. That was why it was important to him.
And that was all.
‘Parents?’

They didn’t matter. He already had Salvia. What else could be more important than that?
“Karon.”
Just then, Luca approached him, her fists clenched, looking troubled.

“I heard that Lady Salvia is getting married to Lord Aquila! What is going on?!”
“Oh, that? It’s fine. Why?”
“Karon! Do you really think Lord Aquila will just leave you alone once they’re married?”

“Aquila treats me well.”
“That’s not the issue! No man likes having another man hanging around his woman!”
“Then…”

“If they get married, it’ll be hard for you to stay by Lady Salvia’s side!”
Karon’s expression darkened instantly.
Luca was one of the subordinates who followed him closely. They had met when Karon was assigned to his new unit, where Luca, a highly capable soldier, had been excelling as a senior.

During a battle with a monster, she had nearly fallen off a cliff and would have died if Karon hadn’t saved her. Since then, she had followed him loyally, almost like a devoted subordinate.
As they grew closer, Karon often spoke to Luca about Salvia—the most important person in his life.
Luca, realizing the depth of his attachment, had given him advice on how to stay close to her.

She had suggested that he act weaker, as if he couldn’t live without her. She believed that such a portrayal suited him best.
That was how Karon had ended up writing letters like this:
“I’ve thought about it, and I truly have no one else but Lady Salvia.”

“I have no family, no dreams, nothing. Without you, I am nothing.”
“Unlike Dalin, I don’t even know who I really am.”
“So, after my discharge, I hope, as promised, you will always stay by my side….”

Salvia had seemed deeply concerned when she read his letter.
But the truth was, Karon had only written it to ensure that she wouldn’t abandon him after he was discharged.
He had no problem with Salvia marrying Aquila.

As long as he could stay by her side, that was all that mattered.
But if Luca was right, if marriage meant he might be cast aside…
Suddenly, an unsettling anxiety crept up on him.

He thought back to the sight of Salvia just moments ago.
Her coral-colored hair, her golden eyes, the sharp curve of her gaze that always seemed ready to scowl. Her thin neck, her long fingers.
But above all else…

‘She was small.’
When he saw her again after a year, he had been shocked.
In his memories, Salvia was always a reliable, strong figure. Someone who resolved every crisis, led others, and kept everyone in line.

But now that he had seen her again, it finally hit him.
‘She was always this small.’
And she was only a year older than him.

She had been just seventeen when they met.
For the first time, Karon truly understood.
“I have to protect her.”

If Aquila took her away, how could he do that?
“…Luca, what should I do now?”