The Mrangel army immediately retreated after losing their commander.

Thanks to the lull in the fierce battle, Aaron was able to remain at the camp.

Ension examined Mannea’s body and reported:

“There were no traces of drugs or other suspicious items on her body.”

“No incense pouch either?”

“No. I turned the lining of her clothes inside out and checked everything thoroughly, but found nothing.”

“I understand. All we can do is hope something turns up at the Tudra temple. You may go now.”

Next, Coana entered the strategy meeting tent.

As he approached, he bowed respectfully to Aaron and Ension.

Everyone was busy reporting, but Aaron’s mind was completely focused on Lucilia.

She would leave this place tomorrow.

To reunite with her as quickly as possible, he needed to bring the war to a swift conclusion.

Aaron cut to the chase, dispensing with formalities:

“Have you interrogated the assassin?”

“We searched him thoroughly in case he had hidden poison in his mouth, then bound him. However…”

“However what?”

“He died an hour ago. After calling the military doctor to examine the body, it appears he had already taken a slow-acting poison. The doctor said death occurred after a certain amount of time had elapsed.”

“So capturing them alive was pointless since they were going to die anyway.”

“How many assassins were there?”

“Thirty-five. As I reported earlier, they disguised themselves as soldiers, carried explosives on their bodies, and detonated them sporadically.”

Coana reported the extent of the damage in detail.

Aaron, who had ordered that information be contained to prevent leaks, rested his elbow on the chair’s armrest and rubbed his chin.

According to Mannea, the Pope had cultivated spies. So he must have thoroughly trained assassins as well.

They had seized the opportunity as soon as news spread that Mrangel had launched a preemptive attack.

As feared, the target was Lucilia.

Their intention was obvious: to eliminate any holy power that might remain and to distract

Aaron from focusing on battle by disrupting his composure.

They probably thought they could shake Aaron, the commander, with a kidnapping incident, since he had brought his wife to the battlefield after having tasted her body.

“But that reason alone seems insufficient.”

Were they trying to use this opportunity to definitively brand Lucilia as a witch who brought misfortune to the war?

Did they plan to widely publicize that the Papal Office had eliminated an evil witch…

That would justify harming Lucilia.

If Aaron raged in outrage, it would disrupt the war, making it convenient to pin blame on him as well.

The crime of being bewitched by the “Black Fog” and causing defeat. The crime of surrendering Caldman territory to the enemy as a result.

But that would only happen if they successfully gouged out Lucilia’s eyes.

“They couldn’t have overlooked the possibility of failure, so what exactly is the Pope’s hidden agenda?”

He had an ominous feeling that a greater calamity was about to strike.

Though he was reluctant to part with Lucilia, he would feel at ease only if he sent her to a safe place.

* * *

“Ahnn, ah!”

“Haah.”

The thought of sending her back to the estate intensified his obsession.

He had originally intended to just hold her quietly, but things didn’t go as planned.

Touching her small body made him want to kiss her, and once their tongues intertwined, he became desperate to delve into her flesh.

Having lost his self-restraint once, he spiraled endlessly.

How many times had it been already?

Even as dawn’s blue light began to spread, he couldn’t stop.

As he nibbled on her aroused buds, he murmured:

“You’ll be riding in a carriage all day, so it would be better to rest from now on, but…”

His words contradicted his actions.

His back muscles became increasingly defined with each powerful thr*st.

After pushing in as far as possible and thrusting a few times, they fit together perfectly.

Unable to withstand the electrifying pleasure, Lucilia’s lips parted helplessly.

“Ah! Hauk. Uh.”

“I’ll clean things up here as quickly as possible and return.”

“…I’ll wait. Hnngh! Make sure to bring back news of victory.”

Her lips, struggling to finish her words despite her panting, were so beautiful.

Had he ever admired something this much before?

He swore to heaven, never once.

Lucilia’s beauty was more precious than a masterfully crafted sword.

He had never imagined being captivated by a woman’s appearance in his life…

Aaron gazed endlessly at Lucilia, who clung to him desperately.

He looked unabashedly into her orange eyes that shone brightly in the dim space.

Even if she read his thoughts, there weren’t many to discover.

That she was the most beautiful in the world, that the ecstasy of their union was thrillingly intoxicating, that he wanted to be with her.

A shy smile appeared on Lucilia’s face.

“You’re beautiful too. I’ve thought before, ‘How can a man’s face be this beautiful?'”

“What strange things you hear. If Rombon had heard that, he would have milked it for a whole year.”

“It’s true. Ungh! Ah!”

He thr*st his hips forcefully to prevent her from saying anything more embarrassing.

As he intended, Lucilia had to cry out in pleasure until her voice grew hoarse.

After a brief nap at dawn, Lucilia finally opened her eyes as Aaron wiped her body thoroughly with a wet cloth.

She didn’t have the strength to move a finger, even as he cleaned her intimate areas.

As he wiped her limp hand, Aaron clicked his tongue.

“Tsk! You can curse me for being inconsiderate.”

“How could I curse you when I felt how much you wanted me?”

“You can call me a beast if you want.”

“It was… inhuman.”

She had inwardly gasped, certain that he possessed supernatural strength.

How could he look so unaffected after exerting himself all night?

It seemed like he hadn’t slept at all.

He gently stroked Lucilia’s face.

“I’ll lay out plenty of blankets for you.”

“Thank you. I won’t refuse.”

“I’ve sent word to Belrak Castle near Echorn. I asked the lord of Belrak for private soldiers, so they will escort you to Tudra.”

“Yes.”

“I’ll miss you.”

“…”

As she lost her words and her pupils trembled, his soft lips pressed against her cheek and the tip of her nose before parting her teeth and entering deeply.

Not too aggressively, but with just the right amount of stickiness, he licked her teeth, showing his affection.

She hadn’t realized that the feeling of being loved could be so overwhelming.

Lucilia was enveloped in an emotion completely different from the respect shown by the kingdom’s people.

This was an intensely private domain.

Though difficult to define in a single word, it was a feeling similar to unity.

Sharing breath, struggling with primal stimulation while n*ked, not minding even if she gave her soul.

It was surprising that she could have such thoughts.

“I’ll miss you too.”

“When you get to Tudra, deal with the fire incident first.”

Aaron tapped Lucilia’s reddish cheek.

He even smiled slightly, as if entrusting her completely with Bessie’s punishment.

* * *

The servants all had bewildered expressions at the fact that so many people had been mobilized to protect Lucilia.

Hans and Karen’s expressions were no different.

At first, they brightened, thinking Aaron had returned, but then hesitated, finding it strange that he hadn’t sent a messenger ahead.

But to send only Lucilia back?

After dragging her along to satisfy his l*st…

If he had grown tired of her, this procession seemed excessive.

Ension dismounted and opened the carriage door himself.

“We’ve arrived.”

“Thank you.”

As Lucilia stepped onto the footboard, everyone’s eyes widened in surprise.

The gauze attached above her eyebrow was clearly a sign of treatment.

Had she been injured on the battlefield?

Yet her expression was incomparably more relaxed than before. Despite having been in such a dangerous place, her complexion was excellent.

They had heard that a woman’s skin brightens after *ntercourse with a man, but this seemed like an unfounded assumption.

Even before departing for war, their master hadn’t left Lucilia alone.

Hadn’t he explored his wife so vigorously that the bed nearly broke?

After being so exhausted, her complexion should have been dark, not bright.

It was inexplicable.

Unaware that Aaron and Lucilia had deceived everyone, the servants pieced together various fantasies.

Karen rushed over to support Lucilia.

“My goodness! How did this happen? Were you attacked by the enemy?”

“It’s a long story.”

“What was Sir Willar doing…”

As Karen’s eyes accused him, saying “Aren’t you supposed to be the lady’s escort?”, Ension murmured softly:

“It’s all my fault.”

Lucilia smiled reassuringly at Ension and stepped forward.

In the distance, Bessie was watching with eyes full of curiosity.