Aaron had set out to defend Caldman’s territory and, going further, to subjugate Mrangel.

Though she understood it was an unavoidable choice, Lucilia couldn’t help feeling regret that they had given up Echorn too easily.

As she sank into worry, Aaron looked at her solemnly.

“Even though their commanding leader was killed, they didn’t retreat. Seeing how they stubbornly persisted, replenishing their lost troops, it seems they will never give up.”

“If word gets out about the epidemic spreading, we might be attacked.”

“Yes. That’s why we’re attempting to negotiate by offering part of Echorn’s land. Though I’d love to kill the Mrangel king who sits hidden in his palace, this isn’t something to handle impulsively—we must resolve it rationally.”

The king was such a mysterious figure that his true nature remained unknown. This was the root of the deep-seated prejudice that associated ‘Mrangel’ with ‘gloomy people.’

Though reluctant to accept a ceasefire under these terms, she had to acknowledge it was the best option.

If they didn’t yield, they would suffer even greater casualties.

If Aaron, skilled in warfare, had made this judgment, it meant that continuing to fight Mrangel would likely lead to our defeat.

Perhaps maintaining peace through a ceasefire wasn’t such a bad idea.

As she was thinking this, an arrogant snort escaped from Aaron’s nose.

With a scoffing laugh, he lowered his voice gravely.

“I will definitely sweep those bastards out of Caldman.”

“But you said there would be a ceasefire.”

“We just need to contain the epidemic. Then we’ll wait for their border defenses to weaken and go for the Mrangel king’s head.”

He would personally venture into the perilously dangerous enemy territory?

Lucilia took Aaron’s hand and shook her head.

“Don’t go. Can’t… can’t someone else handle it?”

“I cannot disobey a royal command.”

At his firm words, Lucilia lost her will to argue.

Disobedience was equivalent to treason.

And treason ended with the extinction of not just the individual but their entire family.

Unable to think of a response, she gnawed on her lower lip with her teeth, prompting Aaron to lift her chin.

He used his thumb to free her lip from her teeth and pressed his forehead against hers.

“To quell the anxiety caused by war, we must eliminate its source. People have started calling me the ‘Black Fog.’ I will live up to their expectations and return.”

“…”

“After I come back, I won’t leave your side again.”

“Aaron…”

“That’s why I’m handing over the Knight Commander position to Rombon. Though he doesn’t know it yet.”

Finally, Lucilia’s lips stretched into a pleased smile.

Aaron couldn’t wait and once again delved deeply into her with passion.

* * *

After finishing breakfast with Lucilia, Aaron took a large bite of an apple.

The crisp sound of him chewing the fruit spread refreshingly through the air.

He spoke with quite a triumphant tone.

“I kept my promise, didn’t I? The promise to return safely.”

“Yes. Thank you for coming back quickly, before I lost my sense of reality.”

“I’m glad you don’t have to question whether we truly shared marital affection.”

They had talked about this before.

That if he returned late, she would become increasingly confused until it seemed like nothing had happened between them. That’s why she had told him to return safely.

For that reason, she had hastily given him that certificate.

“After sharing our marital affection all day yesterday, there’s no chance of forgetting, is there?”

“Aaron…”

He seemed to not even notice the servants attending to their meal.

Lucilia puffed her cheeks full of air, then exhaled a warm breath with a flutter.

Unable to look at Aaron as he licked his juice-covered lips and smiled suggestively, she changed the subject.

“What will you do first now?”

“I need to deal with him. You said he’s well-kept in the firewood storage, right?”

“Are you going to kill the priest?”

“Slitting his throat would be easy, but believe it or not, I can distinguish between situations. I can’t just throw away a valuable card.”

“Should I come with you?”

“I’d prefer you only see beautiful things.”

Is he becoming more and more of a romantic?

Though he used embarrassingly affectionate expressions so casually, Aaron’s expression remained composed. In contrast, Lucilia was quite flustered as heat rose to her face.

As she fanned herself, trying to cool her flushed face, Aaron gestured with his chin toward the servants.

‘Get out, all of you.’

Everyone quickly withdrew at the unspoken dismissal.

Though his intention was to spare her embarrassment, the fact that they would be alone made Lucilia even more awkward.

Aaron suddenly rose from his seat.

Screech—

The sound of the chair scraping the floor disturbed the quiet air.

He smiled at Lucilia, whose eyes had widened in surprise, then approached her from across the long dining table.

Holding the apple with his lips curved upward, he looked incredibly seductive.

Fearing he might initiate lovemaking right there in the dining room, Lucilia hastily brought up another topic.

“I-I have one concern.”

“What is it?”

She carefully moved her lips without looking at him as he contentedly munched on his apple like someone anticipating a picnic.

“Is this okay for us?”

“What could possibly be off-limits between husband and wife?”

“What I mean is… You were pretending to only desire my body without truly cherishing me. But now you’re so openly affectionate that I’m worried.”

“That was all to deceive the Pope. But I haven’t been just playing around all this time… I’ve been steadily gathering tools to hunt the beast. Quite a lot of them, in fact.”

“You mean evidence to catch the Pope?”

But it seemed insufficient to prove the Pope’s crimes.

Even if they interrogated the priest, the Pope could simply cut ties with him, and they still hadn’t found the secret room.

There seemed no reason for confidence, but Aaron wasn’t one to boast without cause, which left her confused.

Reading the doubt creeping up within her, he offered her a bite of his apple as if to say not to worry.

Taking a bite without thinking, the refreshing juice spread pleasantly in her mouth.

It gave her a feeling that the imminent future might be just as fresh and pleasant.

Lucilia quickly erased her serious expression.

Aaron then stroked her cheek with the back of his hand and winked at her.

“It means we no longer need to be mindful of the Pope. So I’m going to do as I please. If you’re beautiful, I’ll cherish you; if I’m aroused, I’ll embrace you anytime.”

If a voice could have viscosity, it wouldn’t be as sticky as this.

After biting her earlobe with his lips and releasing it, he whispered softly.

“I won’t kill him, just verbally rough him up, so don’t worry and wait.”

It was actually the priest she was worried about.

Since Aaron said he wouldn’t take his life, surely he would just have a conversation with him, right?

* * *

The priest, sitting with his back against a log meant for firewood, blinked several times to confirm that the person who thr*st his face close to his was indeed Aaron.

He should be in the midst of war right now…

Perhaps the epidemic hadn’t spread yet.

Or had he already achieved victory?

It didn’t make sense.

“Stop racking your brain. It’s not like using that poor excuse for a head will yield any clever solutions.”

“Listen here, Baron! Do you know why I’m suffering this humiliation?”

Aaron bowed his head deeply.

As he ran his fingers through his black hair as if suppressing irritation, the priest gulped nervously.

A gloomy tone settled at the priest’s feet.

“Should I just kill you?”

“W-what?”

“I think I made a promise to my wife too early.”

Aaron, who had drawn a dagger from somewhere, casually scratched at the dirt floor.

“Baron, I mean, my lord. I-I think you’ve misunder…stood.”

“Shut your trap. Before I stab you with this knife.”

The tip of the blade pressed against the corner of the priest’s mouth.

At that moment, the priest’s body stiffened completely.

Afraid that even the slightest movement would split his mouth, he couldn’t even breathe.

As he stupidly blinked his eyes, Aaron swept the inside of his own mouth with his tongue. His displeasure was evident in that brief action.

“Some bastards run away to save their own skin, while others commit s*icide out of fear of punishment.”

The one who ran away was indeed the priest himself, but who had committed s*icide?

“S*icide… what do you mean?”

“Two nuns have died. Sister Bonizella killed herself overnight when we tried to investigate whether she was in league with you, and Sister Mannea harbored a grudge against the Marquis and tried to kill my wife. As soon as I appeared at the scene, she slit her own throat. They’re all such cowards, aren’t they?”