“It’s mashed potatoes, but I’m not sure if it will suit your taste.”

After setting down a plate of potatoes mixed with peas, the woman promptly brought another plate.

The vegetables, seemingly blanched in water, appeared limp but showed a deep green color.

After placing a bland-looking porridge with almost no chunks, the family members avoided Elena’s gaze with guilty expressions.

“Go get a chicken or something.”

The middle-aged man criticized his wife with a forced cough. The woman wrung her hands, clutching her apron. At that moment, the youngest child, swinging his short legs back and forth, asked with innocent eyes:

“Do we have chickens at home?”

“Ahem.”

Elena almost laughed but managed to cover it with her hand.

The man’s intention to gloss over the situation by suggesting they should have killed a non-existent chicken was exposed by his tactless son.

A middle-aged couple, a teenage girl, and a young boy who appeared about six years old.

An ordinary family. Though not affluent, the family atmosphere was very peaceful.

“It’s not much, but please eat plenty.”

The woman served small portions of food onto the plates. Elena nodded and picked up her fork.

Rolling the mashed potatoes on her tongue, she found them nutty and soft. Though there was no meat, it was fine for breakfast. Since Rudfelix was also eating what he was given without complaint, she moved her fork comfortably.

After finishing the meal and heading toward the prepared carriage, Elena looked back.

Rudfelix was handing a paper to the homeowner. The man, disappointed it wasn’t money, widened his eyes at Rudfelix’s explanation.

‘It’s nice to give a large sum for one night’s lodging, but……’

Since it could pose some danger to this family, Rudfelix didn’t compensate them with money at all.

‘Could that be a letter of recommendation?’

Unable to hear the conversation, Elena tried to guess what the paper was as she pulled a small pouch from her chest.

“Angel.”

Looking down at the voice coming from nearby, she saw the youngest son of the house.

“Let’s meet again.”

It felt strange that the youngest son saw her as an angel. Elena knelt and handed the pouch to the boy.

“There are dandelion flowers inside this.”

“There are flowers inside the pouch?”

“Yes. You should scatter these flowers in the backyard yourself. Understand?”

“To make a pretty dandelion flower bed?”

The youngest son acted indifferently, saying flowers weren’t edible.

“Not a flower bed, but something better will grow.”

This would completely overturn the soil and make it fertile.

“It’s a gift from me.”

“Why are you giving me a gift?”

The boy asked separately, apparently not realizing it was payment for staying overnight.

“Payment for giving me much inspiration for making new plans.”

“Inspiration?”

Elena gently stroked the head of the boy who asked, “What’s that?” Though it was just a brief moment, Elena could dream of the future family she would create with Rudfelix.

As soon as the carriage departed, Elena abruptly shared her thoughts with Rudfelix.

“A child resembling you would be really beautiful, don’t you think?”

The family they had just met resembled each other more in expressions than facial features. She couldn’t take her eyes off their peaceful expressions despite their poverty.

Thinking Rudfelix might have had the same thought, she spoke, but his answer came unexpectedly late.

“Let’s have children slowly.”

Does he not like children?

If that was why he wanted to have them slowly, Elena’s family planning might be completely useless.

“Do you hate children?”

“A child resembling us would be beautiful and lovely.”

Rudfelix immediately caught Elena’s suspicion. Then he preciously caressed her fingers and kissed them. As sensation rushed to her fingertips, Elena barely maintained her rationality while looking at him. She wanted to know if having children was burdensome for him.

“I want to fill one part of my life with time just for the two of us. After we have enough time for ourselves……”

Elena was concerned about his trailing words. But soon he looked into her eyes and said seriously.

“Let’s have them.”

***

“Fi, finally……”

Viscount Tozille’s voice choked, unable to complete his sentence.

The difficult mountain path. They took the mountain route forcibly because going around to reach the Grand Duchy would take too long. Later, he persisted through the mountains out of stubbornness, but it might have been better to take the detour.

He could have arrived in a day or two, but ended up stuck in the mountains for a week.

Now he just needed to meet the Grand Duke and quickly get his consent.

Even if he had to take a detour to the imperial palace, meeting the Grand Duke was the priority.

“I’ve come to see His Highness the Grand Duke.”

Viscount Tozille spoke to the butler who greeted him, suppressing his excited feelings.

“I’m sorry, but His Highness the Grand Duke is not here.”

“What……? Where did he go?”

Viscount Tozille’s voice trembled.

“He left for business.”

“When…… No, he didn’t leave this morning knowing I was coming, did he?”

Perhaps due to his hardships, he was in no position to mind his words.

The butler calmly shook his head and kindly explained.

“I’m sorry, but His Highness left a week ago.”

“What? A week. A week……”

As he was about to fall backward in excitement, Rudfelix and Elena boarded a ship heading to the Kingdom of Tristan. On the deck of the ship cutting through the water, Elena admired the sunset dyeing the sea red.

Once this ship docked at the port of the Kingdom of Tristan, it would take 6 hours by carriage to reach the temple in the capital. As her hair fluttered in the wind and she smelled the sea, a black shadow fell behind her. Large hands slipped around both sides of her waist and embraced her stomach, bringing warmth to her cold body.

“Let’s go inside.”

Rudfelix hugged Elena from behind and buried his face in her nape. Despite saying they should go in, he wrapped her tightly, preventing her from moving.

“I want to stay a little longer.”

“The wind is cold.”

“It’s refreshing.”

Elena closed her eyes and faced the wind strong enough to make her hair flutter.

“If you catch a cold, who will suffer?”

“Are you worried in advance because you’ll have to carry me if I get sick? Don’t you have enough strength with that solid chest?”

“Physical hardship isn’t as difficult as heartache.”

Worried she might develop a fever again, Rudfelix turned Elena toward the cabin and pushed her back.

Just when Elena was bewildered by his behavior, wondering when he had hugged her so tightly before, Rudfelix unbuttoned his outer coat and embraced her again. Elena couldn’t help but laugh while leaning into him as he tucked her snugly inside his coat.

She watched Rudfelix’s fingers trying to button his coat again and raised her own hand.

“Your clothes will burst.”

The coat wasn’t originally roomy, so the buttons were about to tear off.

“Shall we walk like this?”

Pleased with Elena inside his coat, Rudfelix turned his body. Elena made an “Uh-oh?” sound but then laughed.

“Shall we dance like this?”

As Rudfelix twirled once more, Elena burst into bright laughter and spun with him.

“Tan-tan-tan ta-ta-ta tan-tan-ta ta-ta-tan.”

Rudfelix made instrument sounds with his mouth. Elena nodded her head, keeping the beat.

People around them giggled at their wobbling dance, as if they were holding their own ball. The lovely gestures of the couple naturally brought smiles and captivated attention. Watching an ordinary couple sharing a beautiful love during their journey made everyone’s hearts melt.

It was just as Elena looked up at Rudfelix with a smile. She noticed something strange behind him. Before she could even say “Huh?”, a huge explosion—”BOOM!”—was heard.

“Ugh!”

Elena flinched in surprise. Rudfelix remained embracing her for protection while looking around vigilantly to determine where the sound came from.

Rudfelix tore off his buttons and pushed Elena behind him. Accustomed to clinging to Rudfelix’s back, Elena shouted with a pale face.

“Again?”

Why did they encounter disasters so frequently on their way to the Kingdom of Tristan?

This was already the third time.

***

“I’ve come to meet Saintess Seira.”

“Please wait a moment.”

The novice priest placed his hand on his chest, bowed, and disappeared. Elena quietly watched his robe flutter silently.

“Phew.”

Being on solid ground rather than the moving sea naturally brought relief.

Elena shuddered as if it were dreadful.

She never wanted to experience the sea water surging again as the earth split. Fortunately, thanks to the captain’s skillful navigation, they were able to reach the port.

“That’s what happened to Roina.”

Just as rocks had changed direction above Elena’s head, the seawater also split without engulfing her.

“It should be fine here.”

Fortunately, nothing like that had happened since entering the Kingdom of Tristan.

Since the captain had asked Rudfelix for help regarding the disaster, Elena arrived at the temple first to wait for the saintess.

While waiting for the saintess alone, separated from Rudfelix, she passed time looking around.