Arsen sat on the bed with his head bowed, and Lydia fidgeted with the blanket.

Just then, a knock broke the silence, startling Lydia. At the same time, Arsen quickly buttoned his shirt and prepared to jump out the window at any moment.

“Who is it?”

“It’s Anna, Miss.”

“Anna?”

Lydia opened the door slightly, and Anna stood there with a troubled expression.

“Sir Kedrick is urgently looking for the count. He says it’s very urgent.”

“I understand. Tell him he’ll be out soon.”

After closing the door, she saw that Arsen had already finished preparing to leave. As she wondered what to say, Arsen spoke first.

“I should go.”

“Be careful.”

Why did this usual greeting feel so awkward? Was it because Arsen was walking out through the door instead of the window? Or because there was no regret on his face as he left?

After he left, Lydia leaned against the door and let out a very deep sigh.

Meanwhile, Arsen’s steps slowed as he left Lydia’s bedroom. The impression that he showed no regret was Lydia’s misperception.

Arsen was someone who wanted to be with Lydia even in that suffocating silence.

‘We met after so long, and I made a mistake.’

Arsen exhaled weakly and roughly combed his disheveled hair. The fact that Lydia had risked danger because of him made him angry.

Not only had he failed to protect her, but he had also let her walk into a life-threatening situation—could there be a more pathetic man in the world?

Yet he felt wretched for not being able to let her go. He should have asked first if she was hurt, if she was scared. Why did these thoughts only come to him afterward?

What held back Arsen’s feet when he wanted to run to Lydia wasn’t the urgent war situation or Kedrick waiting impatiently for him.

It was Lydia’s expression—rigid and seeming to want to be alone. That’s what bound Arsen’s feet.

* * *

The front lines moved urgently. Richard, who had only recently ascended the throne, hadn’t fully gained the trust of the local nobles. They didn’t fight with full force against the Kingdom of Quecini, which had put forward the Fourth Prince. What lord would want war on their own land?

They made a show of siege warfare before surrendering when the gates opened. They had fought, thus following the emperor’s orders, but by fighting half-heartedly and opening the way, they ensured they wouldn’t face repercussions if the Fourth Prince won.

Though Richard knew their intention to play both sides, there was nothing he could do.

The imperial army leadership, replaced after the coup, couldn’t properly deploy troops, and to make matters worse, the Fourth Prince challenged Richard to a duel.

He proposed they fight one-on-one rather than killing innocent soldiers. The longer this dragged on, the more the Fourth Prince would appear as a wise ruler who valued his people’s lives, while Richard would be branded a coward hiding behind his subjects. Finally, Richard decided to march out with Arsen.

“Your Majesty knows the imperial army better than the current general, and now that Sir Arsen has arrived, you absolutely won’t lose.”

“That Fourth Prince must fear Arsen too.”

Richard sneered at Giselle’s words that were meant to encourage him.

“You don’t like Sir Arsen because of the oracle, do you? But he is still Your Majesty’s sword. Without an owner to wield it, it’s useless.”

But Giselle continued undeterred, whispering as she adjusted his uniform.

“Show them who the master is in this opportunity. Don’t worry about things here.”

During Richard’s absence, Empress Giselle would take over his duties.

“I’m counting on you, Empress.”

At this moment, Richard was thankful he had taken such an intelligent woman as his empress.

* * *

Richard’s departure was swift. Having completed preparations even before Arsen arrived, he didn’t give Arsen even two days to rest.

Arsen was dragged to the departure ceremony without resolving the small quarrel with Lydia from the previous night. He asked Richard for time, but Richard, still sulking about granting him a grand ducal title, flatly refused his request.

“……”

The emperor’s departure proceeded in a solemn atmosphere. Richard was on edge, trying not to show any weakness in front of the many people who had come to see him.

Behind him, Arsen, dressed in a black uniform, looked straight ahead with a face colder than ever.

He wanted to run to Lydia, but if he did, Richard might come at him in a “you die, I die” manner. The grand ducal title didn’t tempt him at all, but if it was something Lydia had worked hard to obtain, that was different. He absolutely couldn’t treat it carelessly.

People lined both sides of the road, throwing flowers on the ground to wish for the emperor’s victory. Among them were families of departing soldiers, and occasionally there were those who wept.

“……Lydia?”

When he spotted those lovely pink locks among the crowd, a flash of light appeared in Arsen’s previously lifeless eyes.

Lydia, thinking Arsen hadn’t noticed her, just stared at him, and as he passed by, she threw a flower that resembled her.

The thought of Lydia’s flower being trampled under military boots was unbearable. Even a single flower was special if it had touched Lydia.

“Sir Arsen.”

Just as Arsen was about to jump down from his horse, Richard’s frost-like voice fell.

“You’re not thinking of going to Lydia, are you?”

“……”

“You might end up never seeing Lydia again if you do.”

Arsen gritted his teeth. Richard thought Arsen was displeased because he couldn’t run to Lydia, but that wasn’t it. Well, that was part of it.

More than that, Arsen was displeased with something else.

‘How did he spot Lydia instantly among that huge crowd?’

Why did he recognize another man’s woman so easily?

* * *

‘I didn’t consider Sir Arsen’s feelings. He must have felt hurt.’

If Arsen had risked his life without Lydia knowing, she would have felt very hurt too.

‘But it wasn’t the wrong approach.’

She had no regrets. From the moment she heard Arsen’s preposterous declaration about becoming a holy knight, Lydia didn’t regret her actions.

Live as a saintess and holy knight forever? Talk sense!

As a saintess and holy knight, yes, they could be together. Literally just ‘be’ together. They could look but not touch.

They might exchange longing glances, but Lydia wanted more than glances—she wanted passionate kisses.

‘Since it turned out well, I just need to soothe his hurt feelings.’

Lydia prayed every day for Arsen’s safe return. This war hadn’t happened in her previous life. Not knowing the outcome made her anxious and uneasy.

‘I shouldn’t have sent him into exile.’

She had sent the Fourth Prince into exile to prevent his rebellion, but instead, he started a war.

She hadn’t expected the Fourth Prince to be so capable. Lydia spent all day in the prayer room praying for Arsen’s safety.

With barely enough time to pray and write letters to Arsen, someone else was bothering Lydia.

It was Giselle, who played emperor in Richard’s absence. While the emperor was away, Giselle flaunted her abilities freely.

‘The brilliant Empress is proving that the Empire would have no problems even if the emperor died right now, at least until Prince Michael comes of age.’

Tsk, seeing Giselle like a fish in water was quite annoying. Moreover, hearing that Richard and Giselle’s relationship had improved since the war began irritated Lydia.

Some people were separated by war, yet those two had grown closer?

‘I won’t let that stand.’

Lydia responded to Giselle’s letters—which kept summoning her to the imperial palace for unnecessary prayers—by secretly inviting Giselle to the temple, saying she had something private to discuss.

She wondered if Giselle would come, given how high and mighty she’d been lately, but when Lydia mentioned Ludger’s disease and the oracle, the busy empress rushed over.

“Here, under Anastasia’s roof, there’s no status or lies, right, Lydia?”

Late at night, Giselle quietly visited the temple.

“Let’s not beat around the bush and try to guess each other’s intentions. I’m quite busy.”

“So am I, Your Majesty.”

“Drop that insincere courtesy. I’m here unofficially, not as empress.”

Giselle looked confident but urgent. She didn’t care about Richard’s illness, but Michael’s was very important to her. Watching Richard’s condition, Giselle grew fearful of the future.

Seeing the once-rational Richard raging madly over trivial matters, she understood why Ludger’s disease was called a curse. And imagining her son eventually raging like that made her blood run cold.

Would an aged Giselle even be able to dodge properly if he swung a sword at her, not recognizing his own mother?

“You wouldn’t reveal your true intentions if I asked first, would you? Then I’ll ask first. Can you keep making the cure for Ludger’s disease?”

She was quite direct. Lydia liked that.

“That depends on what His Majesty does. What I want is for Sir Arsen to receive his grand ducal title without incident. Not like last time where the substance was removed and only the shell given—I want a guarantee of a complete grand ducal title.”

“So that means my Michael can catch Ludger’s disease early. Good. I’ll do my best to prevent His Majesty from getting any foolish ideas.”

You should, Giselle. If you don’t want to see Michael raging mad.