Elia’s expression immediately brightened. Just being able to remove these stifling bandages would make her feel like she owned the world.

“Really? When, when can they be removed?”

“It’s better to be cautious…… let’s remove them in a month.”

“A month……”

Compared to the time she had spent deprived of bodily freedom, it was nothing.

At one point, hadn’t she even had her entire leg tied to the bed?

In comparison, now she could move around in her chair and go for walks, so she felt confident she could easily endure a month.

“Yes. If you have no further questions……”

“No. You may withdraw.”

Elia sent Alec off with a smile.

He respectfully bowed and headed to the reception room where Hannah was waiting. After finishing Elia’s examination, the head lady-in-waiting always inquired about the results, creating a heartwarming scene like a parent checking on their child.

“Well, let’s focus first on standing on my own feet.”

What did it matter if she limped? It would hurt her heart, but it would still be better than sitting like this for the rest of her life.

“The human heart is strange.”

Originally, when Cecilia died, she resented herself for not dying with her. She hated living more than death itself.

But now, beyond matters of life and death, she wanted to stand up, and even developed a desire to walk straight.

“My lady, I’m coming in.”

Marienne’s composed voice rang out. Though only a week had passed, those who had served the emperor adapted quickly and worked so smoothly that they were a great help.

“Lady Elaine is currently receiving detailed explanations from the imperial physician, so I’ve brought tea. But first, you must take your tonic.”

Elaine was Hannah’s surname. Contrary to concerns, the newcomers neither discriminated based on status nor acted territorial; they respected the existing staff and treated them with dignity, putting Elia’s mind at ease.

“I know the tonic is bitter and difficult to drink. So I’ve specially prepared a sweeter tea, please drink it for your recovery.”

Elia was the type whose emotions showed plainly on her face. Marienne found it quite adorable how Elia pouted her lips, reluctant to drink the bitter tonic.

Having spent many years in the imperial palace, she had never met someone as honest and straightforward as Elia, which made her all the more endearing.

“Alright, I’ll drink it……”

Despite her strict appearance, Marienne had a gentle personality. Naturally, both Elia and Hannah gradually grew to like her.

“Ugh.”

After barely emptying the cup containing the tonic, Elia frowned, and Marienne quickly offered her a cup of sweet tea.

“I’ve added milk and honey. I also put in some mint, so it will refresh your mouth.”

“Mmm…… it’s delicious.”

“The princess also liked this tea before. She suffered from colds every year and had to take bitter medicine then too.”

Elia thought of the original owner of these quarters. Seeing Marienne speak with a nostalgic expression, the princess must have been a very good person.

“Is there still no news about the princess’s return?”

“No.”

Hmm, Elia made a thoughtful sound.

“Since His Majesty has departed for the expedition, the princess will surely return.”

Since Rockfort was willing to make sacrifices for this, it was right to believe it would certainly happen.

“With no senior members of the imperial family in the palace right now, what if I prepare to welcome the princess?”

Marienne nodded with a warm smile.

“If you would do so, it would set an example for all palace people and convey greater joy to the princess upon her return to her homeland.”

She was merely trying to welcome the original owner of these quarters, but hearing Marienne’s words made it sound too grand. However, as mentioned, with no senior members in the imperial palace and the emperor having departed for war, all matters great and small had to go through Elia.

“I’ll have to think about what’s needed.”

It was a strange and somewhat bitter afternoon, feeling more support and power now as acting empress than when she had been the actual empress.

* * *

Sleep wouldn’t come today. It had already been a week since Rockfort’s departure, but besides news of favorable progress in the war, there had been no other communication.

—I will always think of you.

His purple eyes as he said those words were still vivid in her mind.

—Not occasionally, not daily, but always, I will think of your well-being.

If Rockfort’s words were true, was he thinking about Elia’s well-being even now?

Had he done so yesterday, and the day before?

“He wouldn’t have such leisure on the battlefield.”

Elia deliberately reasoned with herself. It wasn’t long ago that she had resolved not to trust or depend on anyone, knowing that people’s hearts change like seasons.

Yet here she was, pathetically tossing and turning, constantly recalling his single sentence.

—I will always think of you.

Still, when she closed her eyes, she could almost hear that low voice. During peaceful afternoons and pitch-black nights…… it was actually Elia who constantly wondered about his well-being.

“This is why…… I hate it.”

Elia buried her face in her pillow and muttered.

He was gone, yet the moment he had kissed her on this bed remained vivid. Each time she remembered, she found herself blushing alone, which somehow made her feel resentful.

“It’s so noisy I can’t sleep.”

Rockfort’s purple eyes, his deep voice, his warm body temperature, the sensation of his lips that had made her dizzy—all of these rampaged loudly and tumultuously through Elia’s mind and heart.

As he had said, not occasionally, not daily, but always.

* * *

Despite the late hour, light leaked from the emperor’s tent. Jayden, having finished organizing the knights, entered the emperor’s tent and paid his respects.

Though aware of his entrance, Rockfort remained focused on writing something at a makeshift table.

“Your Majesty, we must begin battle at dawn tomorrow. You should get some rest to maintain your health.”

“I am still perfectly fine.”

The twenty-four-year-old emperor had trained himself since childhood, crossing swords with Jayden.

Though the initial motivation had been purely for survival, since his ascension to the throne, he had earned a solid reputation as a conqueror who personally roamed the battlefield.

“Fortunately, they seem to be remnants from the previous war, so their forces haven’t fully recovered.”

“A trivial battle.”

Rockfort wasn’t waging war; he was annihilating. The power difference was so great that it was closer to one-sided execution than combat.

“It’s infuriating that I came all this way just to cut down such rabble.”

“They are indeed enemies far beneath Your Majesty’s dignity.”

Only then did Rockfort raise his eyes to look at Jayden.

“The remnants in areas where imperial defense forces were stationed have been almost completely eradicated, but the Grand Duchy…… didn’t fulfill its duty from the beginning.”

There are things even an emperor can only know by seeing with his own eyes. This battlefield was such a case.

The Grand Duchy had merely placed decorative defense outposts without actively eliminating the remnants. As a result, the remnants were concentrated only in the Grand Duchy’s territory.

“Yet they’re the ruler of a country, and they lied to us, their allies…… it’s so pathetic it makes me angry.”

His handsome eyebrows furrowed. If the Grand Duchy had properly handled their assigned area as promised, he wouldn’t have had to depart for war again.

“Jayden, properly collect evidence that the Grand Duchy neglected its alliance obligations.”

“Yes, I’ve already ordered the knights to do so.”

“Record even the most trivial evidence, and collect samples.”

Rockfort apparently had no intention of forgiving the Grand Duchy of Ern.

It was a natural response, as they had effectively disrespected the Holy Petrion Empire, which held absolute hegemony on this continent.

“The Grand Duke of Ern dared to make my sister unhappy and mistreated her. But if I punish them for that reason, they’ll protest the lack of fairness. Their methods are predictable.”

“But even a Grand Duke cannot deny evidence of failing to fulfill alliance obligations. How wise of you.”

“Is the reconnaissance team not back yet?”

“No. The remnants have burrowed so deeply into the ravine area…… I’m concerned that despite their small numbers, the eradication period will be prolonged.”

Rockfort let out a long sigh at those words.

Though the imperial army was far superior in strength, the enemy remnants, familiar with the geographical advantages of the area, had hidden deep in the ravines, making it time-consuming to track them down.

“Do you think we can return before the year ends?”

“At present…… we haven’t fully identified the remnants, so I cannot say. I apologize.”

“We already have more than enough combat troops, so divert some to reinforce the reconnaissance team. Information gathering takes priority now.”

Rockfort possessed innate battle instincts. Like his father Emperor Reyan, he could instinctively read the winds of the battlefield, and with his exceptionally robust physique, he had once swung his sword to cut down three men at once.

“Prolonging time on this battlefield is wasteful. Once the reconnaissance team identifies the hidden remnants, I’ll split the army and send them simultaneously to different locations. The main force with me will be sufficient.”

Normally, the emperor’s safety was the top priority on the battlefield, but like the bloodline of the Petrion imperial family throughout generations, Rockfort was also known as a war god on the battlefield.

Jayden dared not worry about or oppose Rockfort’s decision.

“It’s getting late. You should retire now.”

Jayden indirectly expressed his concern. In response, Rockfort tapped his finger on the letter he had been examining.

“Looking at this rubbish, even sleep eludes me.”

“Are you still reading the letter from the empress dowager?”

“The more I read it, the more absurd it becomes……”

Just earlier, a knight from the information unit managing carrier pigeons had presented a letter from the empress dowager to the emperor. Since then, Rockfort had been in this low mood.