“When we get out of the carriage, we won’t be traveling together.”

Lucilia immediately nodded.

Any sensible person would understand that this was necessary.

Even pretend affection should be done in moderation.

If no one else, at least they themselves knew that protecting the kingdom’s people came first, and there was no value in sacrificing the reputation they had built up until now.

Now was the time to focus on battle.

“With Caldman’s fate and everyone’s lives at stake, please sound the victory drums. I’ll pray for God’s grace.”

Even without the Papal Office’s recognition, a saint was still a saint.

At the very least, Aaron didn’t think of her as a witch. He believed that both her prayers and holy power were imbued with divine strength.

Aaron’s sharp gaze softened considerably.

“You’ll face atrocities you’ve never seen in your life. Steel your heart.”

“For me, the greatest tragedy would be failing to be of any help and becoming a failure.”

Her increasingly steadfast heart became a peaceful ground for the knight armored with cold reason.

Unaware that Aaron’s emotions were surging rapidly, Lucilia tightened the laces of her boots that reached just below her knees.

When she frowned as her chest armor pressed against her, Aaron let out a short breath.
He suddenly stood up and sat beside her.

“Please straighten your back.”

“Why?”

“Your armor looks loose. I want to check it for you.”

‘You could have checked it earlier in the bedroom before departure.’

Back then, even as she struggled and strained, he didn’t give her a single glance.

Still, since he was showing interest now, there was no reason to refuse.

Lucilia suppressed her emerging smile and straightened her back firmly.

He grabbed the laces connecting the front and back plates of her chest armor and pulled them taut. With just a slight force from his fingers, her body was helplessly drawn toward him.

“Oh my!”

Lucilia barely managed to brace herself against the seat back to maintain her balance before her forehead hit his chest. Then, with her face flushed red, she straightened her posture again while keeping her head down.

Somehow, she felt as if Aaron was scrutinizing her face. Her skin tingled so much that she rambled aimlessly.

“I’ve never learned how to wear armor properly, so I must have tied it clumsily. Or perhaps there’s a special way to tie the knots…”

“Turn your body that way.”

Aaron grabbed her shoulders with both hands and turned her so he could see her back. Then he lifted the back plate to check if it fit properly against her body before quickly turning her back to face forward.

He began retying the crossed laces, adjusting the fit as he pulled them.

Her heart pounded helplessly at his seemingly indifferent yet meticulous touch and quiet voice.

“You might think loose armor would be more comfortable for movement, but it’s the opposite. Because movements become intense during battle, the armor needs to fit closely to the body for easier weapon handling.”

Of course, that makes sense. If the armor shifts around, gaps would form, and arrows or blades could penetrate those openings. I just didn’t know how tight it should be.

She considered continuing the conversation gently, but decided instead to simply appreciate him.

She wanted to remember the voice that caressed her ears, and to cherish the sight of his features—bold yet delicate.

His nose bridge resembling a towering mountain range, the philtrum extending from his nostrils to the peak of his lips. The lines were as exquisite as if drawn with a brush.

His moving lips…

Occasionally revealing his red tongue, they exuded sensual charm.

‘When will we live as a normal couple?’

As she kept stuffing down the words she wanted to say, they eventually overflowed the dam. Before she knew it, they escaped as sound.

“When will we…”

For a brief moment, the evening glow tinted Aaron’s gray irises.

Having unconsciously rolled his eyes, Aaron caught his breath as soon as he looked into Lucilia’s eyes.

It was as if he were being drawn into a beautiful sunset, swirling together with it. He felt a powerful sense of unity, like being caught in a snare that trapped his soul.

Flustered, Aaron painfully tore his gaze away.

Simultaneously, Lucilia also flinched and stammered.

“I was just cu-curious about when we’ll ar-arrive.”

“First, we’ll check the situation in Demre, then move to Echorn. If we ride at full speed, we can reach Demre within two days, but since war won’t break out immediately, there’s no need to rush.”

“What if they invade while we’re on our way?”

“We’re not the only ones troubled by sporadic attacks. Mrangel’s forces will be dispersed as well. They won’t be able to advance recklessly.”

There was no reason to doubt Aaron’s prediction, given his extensive battlefield experience.

After leaving the carriage, Aaron truly did not travel with her. He led the procession from the front, riding a warhorse clad in armor.

However, he slept in the tent. As planned from the beginning, he used the same tent as Lucilia every night.

But he wouldn’t even glance at her, catching only an hour or two of sleep before leaving without hesitation before dawn.

Lucilia was tempered between Aaron’s indifference and calculated attention.

For her, a moment of reversal that could make Aaron surrender was slowly approaching.

* * *

Thanks to the execution of the guard captain, discipline was well maintained in Demre.

The forces led by Aaron departed from Demre toward the Echorn region, where the Mrangel tribe frequently appeared.

Aaron’s jealousy exploded just as they were approaching Echorn.

A commotion seemed to arise at the front of the procession before spreading to Lucilia’s carriage at the rear.

Before she could find out what was happening, the sound of hoofbeats grew closer.
If it had been a stranger, Ension would have stopped them, but his silence suggested it was Aaron.

Just as she was about to relax, the door suddenly flung open, and a cheerful voice erupted jarringly.

“Saint! Wow, what an unexpected windfall of joy!”

The cold wind scattered Kel’s blonde hair as it passed.

She truly hadn’t expected the duke to be stationed here.

Kel hadn’t changed at all.

He still didn’t avoid Lucilia’s eyes, and his bright smile remained the same, making it hard to believe they were in a wartime situation.

Kel, excited as if on a picnic, hopped into the carriage. Then, without any hesitation, he sat across from her and chattered away.

“I just gave the young baron—well, baron now—a stern scolding for bringing you to this dangerous place. Anyway, that’s not right!”

“Actually… I insisted on coming.”

“Even so! Just because you wanted to come doesn’t mean he should actually bring you! People should have a sense of responsibility, tsk tsk!”

After clicking his tongue playfully, Kel immediately let out a deep sigh as if the ground might cave in.

“Sigh… My initial purpose was to achieve military merit, but now that things have turned out this way, I must change my strategy.”

What a random thing to say.

If it was related to strategy, he should be conferring with the allied forces, the royal army, and the knights of each territory.

Surely he wouldn’t divulge military secrets to a mere noblewoman?

While that seemed unlikely, judging by Kel’s solemn expression, it was as if Lucilia were his superior officer receiving a report.

With a face brimming with loyalty, Kel made a firm pledge.

“I must protect the Saint.”

‘Goodness, he’s just like a child at times like this!’

But Kel had his own hidden struggles.

Though he appeared frivolous on the surface, he had to tread carefully in everything he did.

He lived by humbling himself to prove he was not a threat to the king.

Splashing about in shallow waters and enjoying luxuries.

A life that seemed carefree and worry-free to others.

But when it was time to demonstrate his abilities, he acted solely out of loyalty to the king.

This time too, he must have joined the war, risking his life for the king.

Lucilia had always found this regrettable. Kel truly was a person without ambition for power.
That’s why she was drawn to him and wanted to be his friend.

“You joke so often that people believe that’s your true self. I’ve told you to carry yourself with more gravitas, but you never listen.”

“I’m not joking. Lord Artnal needs to dive into enemy lines and command the army. Then who remains at the camp? Who will protect the Saint?”

“I have my own escorts. So please fight for Caldman, not for me.”

“Aish! How can I fight with peace of mind until the end of the war when I’m worried about your safety?”

Outside the carriage, dry leaves tumbled in the winter wind, but Kel was as radiant as the blazing sun.

Being around someone with such bright energy naturally invigorated her.

“By the way, will you be staying in Echorn?”

“I must stay wherever the Saint is.”

‘You’re joking again.’

Lucilia covered her mouth and laughed, casually turning her gaze. At that moment, her clear eyes froze as if taxidermied.

Aaron was watching them from outside the carriage.