Post-Crisis Day

When the fool opened her eyes, she found herself staring into a pair of beautiful, light amber eyes. Even with her perpetually muddled mind and the dim, shadowy light, they shone brilliantly.

She knew them all too well—the eyes of the Supreme Leader.

But they were so incredibly close... Had she really opened her eyes?

The fool blinked, and a hint of amusement flickered within those bright, shining orbs.

Was everything last night real or a dream? Why was she sharing a bed with the Supreme Leader?

These questions were far too complex for a fool.

Fortunately, she was well-trained. She didn't need to understand complicated issues; sudden situations were generally handled by reflex—roll out of bed, kneel down, and bow her head.

As she knelt, she realized she was wearing different clothes. Gone was the modified, form-fitting military uniform. The fabric on her body now was both exquisite and simple, showing fine stitching and subtle patterns. It was soft, warm—garments from a bygone era.

The fool was just admiring her new clothes with her head bowed when she heard a soft chuckle from above. "So... you know you were wrong?"

The Supreme Leader seemed to be in a good mood.

The fool looked up and saw the Leader propping himself up on his elbows. The blanket had slipped to his waist, revealing his well-proportioned chest and abdomen. His fair skin, even in the room's gloom, showed faint red marks like the hues of a dusk sky—undeniable proof that last night was no dream.

"Ahem. I'm asking you a serious question. Speak."

As if waking from a dream, the fool lowered her eyes and mumbled, "I know."

"What exactly were you wrong about?"

"I don't know."

"..."

The fool looked at the Supreme Leader, her apology utterly sincere. Yet, after a few seconds of eye contact, her gaze involuntarily drifted downward again, and she couldn't help but swallow.

"Tch. Get up. I won't punish you this time."

The Supreme Leader's voice was lazy, tinged with a slight hoarseness, clearly indicating he had truly decided to forgive her.

The fool rose as instructed, but was even more confused. "But... weren't you punishing me last night?"

Her rare question made the Supreme Leader's current expression seem like that of a fool. "Punish? What are you talking about?"

"You were punishing me last night," the fool stated with certainty. So, it wasn't just her who thought it might have been a dream.

Even though the Supreme Leader now had his eyes wide open, looking rather undignified, she felt it was her duty to remind him. She couldn't let the Supreme Leader live in confusion like she did!

But even after her reminder, the Supreme Leader still seemed unable to comprehend. He even struggled to speak. "You think... last night... I was punishing you?"

The fool had never seen the Supreme Leader like this and didn't know how to respond.

As she nodded, the Supreme Leader finally found his tongue. "Why would you think that? Who taught you that?!"

It had been three years since the fool had faced anyone's wrath, and since her first meeting with the Supreme Leader, this was the first time she had seen him so unhinged.

She still didn't know what to do.

Answer or stay silent?

In the Action Squad, when faced with the captain or teammates' interrogations, silence was always the best answer. They yelled at a fool just to vent their own pressure.

But now she was facing the Supreme Leader, and the Supreme Leader never lost his composure, never got angry.

Even a fool could see the Supreme Leader was very different today. Confronted with this unprecedented crisis, her brain cells finally stirred to life.

"In the Action Squad, the men among the enemies must be killed. The women... should be punished like that."

The fool couldn't name who specifically taught her. In her five years with the Action Squad, there were often such moments. She learned this rule amidst blood and wails.

The only difference was, those punished women suffered terribly. Blood dripped in lines from between their thighs. Their sharp screams lasted until their voices grew hoarse or their breath stopped, and their broken bodies were finally discarded on the ground.

Yet she was so at ease, falling asleep amidst gentle kisses and waking in the Supreme Leader's bed. This punishment was far too sweet.

The Supreme Leader's anger dissipated.

The one who sent the fool to the Action Squad was none other than himself.

The fool watched as the light in the Supreme Leader's eyes slowly dimmed, his straight back bending as if to merge with the shadows.

She blurted out urgently—almost instinctively, "My Lord, I was wrong."

The Supreme Leader let out a choked laugh, then sighed. "It's not your fault."

Though clearly forgiven, the fool couldn't feel happy.

She didn't even know what she had done wrong before being punished, yet then received notice that she wouldn't be punished.

Even the smartest person surely wouldn't understand what was happening.

The fool had never understood the Supreme Leader's thoughts, but she had always known how to respond. Today, however, the Supreme Leader was acting so strangely that the fool just stood there, her brain overloaded.

The Supreme Leader reached out an arm and switched on the light. The room's illumination shifted from dim to bright, matching the level of a clear morning.

The Supreme Leader got out of bed naked and began dressing. The fool, however, found her gaze drawn to the room's furnishings.

A desk, a stool, a bed. A stack of white paper lay by the desk, weighed down by a fountain pen.

Compared to the palace, this room was far too simple.

Had the Supreme Leader really spent the last three years—having not returned to the palace—in a room like this?

Though a fool, her memory was always sharp. She remembered the palace's lush plants, winding streams, clear ponds, ivy covering the entire clock tower, flowers of every hue blooming in all seasons. The Supreme Leader's desk sat beside a huge floor-to-ceiling window, gathering the bright sunlight and scenery right before it.

Back then, she would brew tea for the Supreme Leader, with a different teacup style every day.

Yet in this room, there wasn't even a glass of water.

"Why are you crying?" The Supreme Leader, now dressed, turned around and stared in astonishment.

The fool didn't know why either; she hadn't even realized she was shedding tears.

"My Lord..." she murmured.

"You—stop crying! I said I wouldn't blame you!" The Supreme Leader hurried forward, using his hand to wipe her tears.

This only made the fool cry harder, yet she couldn't explain why she was crying.

Heaven help her, before today, she hadn't even thought of so many "whys."

The more the Supreme Leader wiped, the more tears streamed down the fool's face. Just then, the intercom on his collar chose the most inopportune moment: "Report! The press conference is scheduled for 3 PM today, concerning the Meteorite Crisis and the rebels..."

Hearing only the first few words, the Supreme Leader immediately shut off the damned thing and growled, "Colluding with rebels is no small matter! And you dare cry?! Keep it up and you'll be severely punished!"

Crying herself dizzy, the fool only caught the last few words and instantly stopped. "Okay."

"...What?"

"Then punish me!"

Seeing the Supreme Leader frozen there, the fool kissed him once more.

This "punishment" seemed to make them both feel better.

"You, ah... you should've said so earlier. Would've saved me getting dressed."

The Supreme Leader picked her up again.

The fool, feeling a rare curiosity, asked, "Does this kind of punishment really have any deterrent effect?"

"This isn't punishment! Forget it. After today, someone will teach you."