As the legion commander's voice tickled her ear, Mia forced her heavy eyelids open. Feeling Mia stir, Etienne tightened his arm around her waist.
Mia let out a hollow laugh. The reality of his so-called "well-behaved sleeping habits" was far from proper.
"Etienne, wake up."
True to his military background, Etienne snapped awake at Mia's gesture. Upon realizing their faces were alarmingly close, he startled and tumbled from the bed, nearly losing his balance in his frantic retreat.
'...This was excessive.'
While Mia clicked her tongue internally, Etienne stammered through an apology. For someone whose silver tongue usually left Mia flustered, this stumbling performance felt strangely miraculous.
"I-I apologize!"
"...Sure."
Mia's tepid response clearly failed to comfort him.
"I'm truly sorry, Mia."
His repeated apology met Mia's deliberately hardened expression. Though not genuinely angry, seeing his flustered state inexplicably made her want to play the stern role.
"It appears our definitions of 'proper sleeping habits' differ, Etienne."
Etienne remained wordless for several breaths before shamefacedly muttering, "My deepest apologies. Having always occupied private quarters, I... never realized..."
"You claimed military academy training would prevent such issues..."
"...I have no excuses."
Mia found herself unable to berate such earnest penitence. As her superior, and given her own lack of genuine displeasure, it seemed simplest to treat this as mutual teasing and move on.
'...But overlooking this incident doesn't prevent recurrences.'
Even if they dismissed this first offense, repeated physical contact mimicking real lovers couldn't be tolerated. Should she become more than a mere accomplice to him, wouldn't that disrespect the noblewoman he might truly love someday? Maintaining shared quarters clearly risked further complications.
"It's nothing serious. The bed's clearly inadequate for solo use anyway. I'll relocate."
Mia watched Etienne's face carefully as she spoke, expecting immediate agreement. Instead, she encountered a stormy expression suggesting vehement opposition.
'...Rochefort's spitting image. Though far more aesthetically pleasing.'
Mia glared at Etienne while mentally cursing his unfairly handsome features. "Well? Speak your mind."
"Nothing at all."
His petulant tone prompted Mia to arch an eyebrow. The man clearly wanted to protest despite knowing his guilt. She jerked her chin in challenge - shockingly impertinent from subordinate to superior, yet the penitent Etienne offered no reprimand. Given his recent conduct, she suspected he'd tolerate such behavior regardless.
"I completely understand your displeasure, Mia. You've every right to-"
Her finger jabbed his ribs, cutting off the apology. "We're supposed to be lovers. Early rumors of discord would undermine everything. If proximity troubles you, perhaps separate lodgings at our next stop?"
The suggestion held logic, though Mia's embarrassment clouded her judgment.
'...I should've maintained composure.'
Chiding herself, she sighed. "You're right. But knowing your nocturnal habits, I can't in good conscience reclaim that bed. I'll take the floor tonight."
"Don't be absurd!" Etienne interjected urgently. "If anyone deserves discomfort, it's the sleep-disturber!"
Yet Mia couldn't stomach making her superior floor-bound while she luxuriated in bedding. Some lingering shred of conscience forbade it.
"The idea of my commander sleeping on boards unsettles me, even with permission."
"......"
"So you reject both solutions? How inconvenient." Her dry tone sharpened. "Surely you'd prefer avoiding repeat embarrassments?"
"I'll reform my sleeping habits!"
Mia snorted. "Can such things be 'reformed'?"
"Through sleepless vigilance if necessary."
His absurdly resolute expression made Mia palm her forehead. 'What am I to do with this man?'
This persistent nuisance. Were it not for his life-saving debt from her past incarnation, she'd have disciplined him properly already. But having vowed this lifetime to his service, options felt limited.
"Fine. We'll continue sharing."
After prolonged hesitation, Mia surrendered with a sigh. Their charade needed maintaining - as a non-standard recruit, her position remained precarious without Etienne's constant endorsement.
"Mia."
She looked up to find him holding the balcony door open.
"The view's remarkable. Join me?"
The sunset-drenched streets of Lavin indeed resembled masterwork paintings, yet Mia found Etienne's smile outshining even the gilded cityscape.
"Beautiful, no?"
"Merely adequate."
His chuckle held warmth. "Seeing this... one might believe our romantic fate."
"We're performers in a play, Etienne. Never forget that."
"Naturally."
Yet his sunset-lit gaze brimmed with disconcerting sincerity as he murmured, "But in this moment... doesn't it feel real?"
Mia suppressed a shiver. No man had ever dared look at her thus, leaving her flustered and irritated by equal measure.
"We should retire. The chill..."
"So soon? The sky's still-"
His arm crept toward her shoulders. Mia sidestepped the embrace.
"Should you catch cold, who'll assume responsibility? Dinner awaits."
The excuse sounded pathetic even to her - since when did Mia Blancher care for meals or sniffles? Yet Etienne's crestfallen acquiescence proved effective.
Back inside, Mia finally exhaled. Distance from golden-hour romance slowed her racing pulse.
'What's gotten into Rochefort? Method acting gone awry?'
As the door closed, she pondered actors who lose themselves in roles - and whether her partner might be among them.
