Chapter 19
1657 Words
– The Commander Who Forgets His Duty
Spoiled Days
Since the news of the pregnancy, the atmosphere in the mountain inn completely changed.
Hana became far more spoiled than before. If she previously only asked for strawberries or peanut cookies, now every hour she had some odd request.
“My dear husband… I want chicken porridge… but the porridge must have carrot slices shaped like hearts,” she said seriously, eyes sparkling.
Rei looked at her for a long time, his expression as flat as usual. “…Porridge with heart-shaped carrot slices?”
Hana nodded quickly, then added with puffed cheeks. “Muuu… if not, I won’t eat.”
Rei finally sighed. “Alright.”
Some inn servants who saw this could only stifle laughter behind the door. They did not expect the cold commander to order the cook to cut heart-shaped carrots just for his wife.
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Adorably Clumsy
Besides being clingy, Hana now became much clumsier.
One morning, she tried to pour tea herself. But because her hands trembled, the cup fell. Hot water almost spilled on her feet—luckily Rei was quick and pulled her into his arms.
“Hana!” Rei scolded softly, his tone full of worry.
Frightened Hana bowed her head. “S-sorry, my dear husband… I just wanted to be independent…”
Rei looked at her seriously, then stroked her hair gently. “No more ‘independent’ for you from now on. You just need to sit prettily. Let me do everything.”
Hana blinked, then smiled. “Then… may I have tea again? But this time with honey…”
Rei paused, then gave a faint smile. “Alright. With honey.”
Since that day, Rei hardly allowed Hana to move by herself. He was always one step beside her, even for small things like walking in the garden or riding a carriage.
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The Missing Commander
The news of Hana’s pregnancy did make Rei’s troops happy. But they also began to be confused, because their commander hardly appeared at headquarters.
One officer whispered to his subordinate. “Commander… hasn’t shown up in a strategy meeting for three days.”
The subordinate only shrugged. “He’s busy looking after Lady Hana. Even the elite troops can’t meet her casually now.”
On the other hand, Rei really didn’t care. He was known as a disciplined, cold leader who didn’t compromise. But now he preferred to sit beside sleeping Hana just to make sure she breathed peacefully.
Once at night, a captain came with an urgent report. But when he entered the room, he saw Rei carefully arranging Hana’s blanket.
“Commander, this is an important report—”
“Tomorrow,” Rei cut in flatly.
“But—”
“Tomorrow.”
The captain shut his mouth, then hurriedly left, muttering, “Our commander… has completely changed…”
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A Night Full of Promises
That night, Hana lay in bed, her face bright though she still frequently felt queasy. She turned to Rei sitting beside her.
“My dear husband… I’m troubling you, aren’t I?”
Rei shook his head slowly. “No. You’re not a trouble. I feel relieved to always be by your side.”
Hana looked at him with watery eyes. “But your duty… your troops…”
Rei bowed his head, then kissed her forehead. “They can wait. You and our baby cannot.”
Hana covered her face with both hands, her face flushing. “Such a flirt… when you say that I might melt…”
Rei smiled faintly, holding his wife’s hand and placing it on Hana’s belly.
“I’m Rei, commander of a thousand soldiers, but for the two of you… I’m just a husband and a father.”
Tears streamed down Hana’s face softly. She whispered:
“My dear husband… never change.”
Rei nodded, his eyes shining with firm resolve. “Until my final breath.”
– Stir at Headquarters
Gossip Spreads
The central headquarters, usually serious, was now filled with whispers. The soldiers were uneasy because their commander hadn’t shown up in meetings for nearly a week.
“They say Commander Rei is busy taking care of Lady Hana now,” one soldier whispered.
“Taking care how?” another replied.
“I heard it from the inn guards. The commander even fed the lady directly.”
“Haaa?!” Half the barracks were shocked and nearly dropped their helmets.
A senior captain could only sigh. “He used to be known as cold… now he’s turned into a storybook husband. Has the world gone mad?”
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Secret Mission: Sneaking In
Their curiosity peaked. Finally a group of soldiers dared to sneak into the inn disguised as servants. They wanted to see with their own eyes how Commander Rei treated his wife.
In the dining room, what they saw made their jaws nearly drop.
Rei—the cold commander who once looked at enemies until they trembled—now sat politely beside Hana, holding a tiny spoon.
“Hana, open your mouth.”
“My dear husband, not so slowly. Bigger this time,” Hana whined, acting spoiled.
Rei smiled faintly (yes, he smiled!) and obliged.
The soldiers hiding behind the door nearly fainted all at once.
“That… that’s a smile?!”
“Our commander can smile?!”
“No… the world must end…”
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Puffed Cheeks Scene
After the meal, Hana puffed her cheeks because Rei hadn’t immediately given the dessert fruit.
“Muuu… I want strawberries!”
Rei stood up at once, panicked but composed. “Alright, I’ll get them.”
Hana huffed cutely, her eyes glistening. “If it takes too long, I’ll cry.”
Seeing that, the soldiers peeking in were already overwhelmed. One whispered tremblingly.
“Our commander… feared by thousands of enemies, but defeated by his wife’s chubby cheeks and teary eyes…”
Another covered his face with his hand. “I… I can’t look anymore… too sweet…”
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Back to Headquarters
A few days later, Rei finally returned to headquarters. All the soldiers lined up properly, restraining themselves from laughing or whispering.
Rei passed through them with his usual flat expression, but every soldier’s eyes were fixed on one thing—there was a small basket of fresh strawberries in his hand.
One soldier almost fainted from holding back laughter.
Another whispered softly, “So now Commander Rei isn’t just the ‘God of War’… he’s also the ‘Strawberry Husband’.”
The senior captain quickly smacked their heads. “Be quiet! If he hears you, we’re done.”
But in his heart, even the captain felt amused. Their cold commander had truly changed since Hana arrived.
– The Lady Comes to Headquarters
A Startling Arrival
That day the central headquarters suddenly buzzed. Troops lined up—not because of an inspection or war, but because of the news: “Lady Hana is coming!”
Some soldiers even pinched each other in disbelief.
“Seriously? She’s the one who changed the commander?”
“I must see her myself… this is history!”
The gate opened. Rei appeared first, his face still expressionless. But all the soldiers focused on the petite figure by his side—Hana, now in early pregnancy, walked slowly, holding her husband’s arm tightly.
“My dear husband… don’t walk so fast, I’m dizzy,” she said in a spoiled voice.
Rei immediately slowed his pace. “Alright, let’s go slowly.”
The ranks of soldiers nearly collapsed all at once.
“Commander… obeys?! Instantly?!”
“This must be a dream…”
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Scene in the Headquarters Hall
In the grand hall, Hana sat prettily in a special chair while Rei stood beside her like a personal guard.
A captain stepped forward with a report. “Commander, here’s the border data—”
Before he finished, Hana suddenly spoke up.
“My dear husband, I’m thirsty… I want cold apple juice.”
Without thinking, Rei grabbed a pitcher, poured it, and offered it gently.
The captain standing in front of the table nearly dropped his documents.
“Wha… Commander pouring drinks?!”
Other soldiers held their breath. That view was tenser than when they fought a thousand enemies.
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Cheeks Puffed Again
A few minutes later, Hana spoke again.
“My dear husband, why is there no honey in the juice? I want honey… if not, I’ll be sad…” Her cheeks puffed, eyes glistening.
Rei sighed softly, then said calmly. “Alright. I’ll ask the servants to add it.”
Seeing that, one young soldier whispered while trembling. “Puffed cheeks… again… Commander defeated once more…”
Another covered his face with his hand. “We have no hope against the Lady’s power…”
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Headquarters Falls into Chaos
After the meeting, Hana stood carefully, then suddenly gripped Rei’s arm more tightly.
“My dear husband, my legs are tired. Carry me…” she said in a spoiled voice.
Without hesitation, Rei bent and lifted Hana into his arms as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
The headquarters officially erupted.
“HAAAAH?!”
“Our commander… carrying his wife in the meeting room?!”
“The iron dignity is gone…”
The senior captain hurriedly barked, “Silence! Don’t make a fuss!”
But even he had to cover his mouth to prevent bursting into laughter.
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Closing Moment
As they exited the headquarters, Hana whispered while pressing her head against Rei’s chest.
“My dear husband, everyone’s staring at us… I’m embarrassed.”
Rei lowered his head a little, his voice calm but firm.
“Let them. I want everyone to know that you’re mine.”
Hana immediately covered her face with both hands, her cheeks bright red. “My dear husband, don’t say that in front of so many people…”
Rei only smiled faintly, while behind them the soldiers kept exchanging looks of total shock.
- Writer
