The Royal Military Academy's Impostor Owns a Dungeon [BL] novel Chapter 817

Chapter 817: Unconventional Affection

After the Countess fainted, the other parents reacted as if this outcome had been carefully anticipated.

To the cadets’ surprise, no one panicked.

Someone cleared space. Someone knew to call a physician. Another already knew to look for the temporary lounge. Countess Jenna was moved with practiced ease, settled comfortably, and only after the findings came out did everyone disperse to continue exploring the booth.

By the time the physician finished checking her pulse and calmly declared that she was perfectly fine and would wake up anytime soon, the atmosphere had already returned to that earlier excitement.

It was after this that Luca finally found the chance to speak with Jax.

Count Alexander had waved them off and told them to go fetch the children.

Well. Technically, he had only instructed Jax to do that. But as the guilty critter in question, Luca had immediately volunteered with far too much enthusiasm—much to his own father’s shock. He might have even clung to Jax’s leg if the redhead had not readily agreed to let him come along to help. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

Still, despite all that, Luca didn’t even get the chance to start his apology.

Because, in the end, it was the perceptive Jax who noticed things first.

He turned around and squinted at him. "Hey. You look really pale. What’s wrong?"

Unfortunately for the inexperienced cadet, that was all it took for the dam to break.

Luca froze, hands clasping together so tightly his fingers went white. His shoulders shook, and then the words spilled out all at once.

"I’m sorry," he blurted. "I really am. Something’s been bothering me and I didn’t know how to say it and I think I messed up and I should’ve been more careful and I just... I needed to apologize."

"Huh?" Jax blinked.

Luca winced at the sound, somehow flustered and mortified at the same time. "I should’ve asked privately first instead of putting you on the spot like that."

Jax stared at him.

"Ask what privately?"

The redhead tilted his head, utterly confused, looking like a very friendly dog who had just been told there was trouble but had no idea what it was all about.

Luca’s voice dropped to a small, trembling mumble. "I should’ve asked if you wanted your family to come. Instead of assuming you did."

Jax blinked once.

Then, after three more blinks, he smiled.

"Of course I wanted them to attend," he said easily as they resumed walking. "Isn’t it perfect? Now they get to see everything. The place, the plants, all of you."

Luca’s golden eyes widened. "What? Really?"

"Yes, of course!" Jax said without hesitation.

The relief hit so fast it almost made Luca dizzy. But then another thought crept in, stubborn and heavy.

"...Then why did it sound earlier like you didn’t expect them to come?" Luca asked hesitantly. "And like your dad wouldn’t normally even go inside?"

Jax stopped.

Luca’s heart jumped.

Then the redhead looked thoughtful instead of upset. "Oh? That?"

Luca nodded, gaze dropping. He was sad now. And more than a little nervous.

Jax scratched his cheek. "That’s because there haven’t really been many events since I was young that my parents could attend."

Confused golden eyes blinked at that.

"?"

"For example," Jax continued casually, "our Junior Academy graduation. The captain, Kyle, and I didn’t even go. We signed up for a mission instead of attending the ceremony."

"...What?"

"I think the same thing happened for all our graduations," Jax added, thinking back. "Except kindergarten. That one I remember."

Luca stared.

"And the mercenary exam," Jax went on. "I forgot that parents could be invited, so I didn’t tell them either. I think my mom cried for three days."

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