Chapter 3.2

Leaving the capital early was worth it.

The reconnaissance team arrived at the forest entrance before lunch as planned.

After eating the packed lunch and taking a short break, Muriel went to find Elexion.

For safety, it was a rule to enter the forest with a knight, but the cabin she needed to check was deep in the woods.

“Mu, it’s too far to go on foot. We should ride.”

“Separately? Or together?”

“I’ll put a double saddle on Storm.”

“Alright.”

Storm, Elexion’s horse, was a warhorse 1.5 times the size of a regular horse. Strong and enduring, it could easily carry two adults.

Muriel gathered the necessary items, put them in a small leather bag, and tied it to her body with long straps hanging from both sides. She wore a dagger at her waist and leather gloves before mounting Storm first.

The palace servants watching from afar recalled old memories.

“She reminds me of the late Duchess.”

“She was frail, but that made her love horseback riding even more.”

The Duchess, a treasured daughter of a prestigious marquis family, was so weak from birth that a breeze could blow her away. The doctor said it would be a miracle if she lived to twenty.

Perhaps because she grew up hearing that her life would be short, the Duchess decided to do everything she wanted since she would die early anyway! She learned many things.

In the previous generation, there was no Princess, so she worked as a close maid to the Queen during her unmarried days.

And she accepted the proposal of Duke Fredior, who was the second Prince at the time, with the astonishing response, “Before I die, why not fall in love with a Prince?”

The Duchess lived longer than the doctor predicted and even succeeded in childbirth, which was said to be impossible.

However, her body became strained, and after giving birth to Elexion, it became difficult for her to enjoy horseback riding alone.

So the Duke prepared several double saddles and always rode with his wife in front.

Just like Muriel and Elexion were doing now.

“Lady Lake is a healthy young lady, fortunately.”

“She can lift and carry five heavy books at once.”

“She hasn’t caught a single cold while serving as a close maid.”

“She’s sociable and, even though she’s not married yet, has already started managing part of the Duke’s household.”

While the palace servants chatted in low voices, Elexion, who had attached a bundle to Storm’s saddle, mounted behind Muriel.

“Deputy Commander, you’re in charge while I’m away.”

“Understood. If you don’t return by 3 PM, I’ll consider it a security issue and send out a search party.”

Since his superior was a collateral royal with a claim to the throne, Elexion’s subordinate had predetermined actions to take in an emergency.

“If it’s better not to have a search party, use a signal flare or the communication crystal.”

“Then, just in case, I’ll give Lady Lake a signal flare. It’s a red flare indicating an injured person; use it in the worst case.”

“Yes.”

The signal flare, about the size of a baby’s fist, was threaded onto a leather necklace to prevent loss.

Muriel took the flare, hung it around her neck, and tucked it inside her clothes to avoid interference.

“Storm, let’s go.”

The intelligent horse, sensing its master’s intention, trotted into the forest with a clip-clop sound.

***

“Xion, the weather is really nice today. The sky is clear.”

“It’s perfect for an outing. Such a shame.”

Even at a slow pace, the horse’s stride was so large that it was faster than a person running. Muriel leaned against Elexion’s chest and enjoyed the forest scenery for a moment.

She saw a squirrel’s tail swaying between the branches. The wind brushing her skin felt refreshing.

When Muriel, feeling happy, looked up and smiled, Elexion gently kissed her white cheek.

He couldn’t help himself, as her eyes sparkled beautifully in the sunlight.

“We’ve been riding nonstop. I feel sorry for not letting Storm rest.”

“Just give him plenty of carrots later.”

As soon as the words were out, Storm neighed loudly, as if knowing a generous reward awaited.

In the midst of their brief conversation, they arrived at the cabin.

Elexion, who dismounted first, helped Muriel down. While he put Storm in the stable, Muriel searched for the key.

“Where did I put the key? Ah!”

She took the key from her pocket and inserted it into the cabin’s handle, turning it. With a clunk, the door opened, revealing the interior.

“It’s clean and spacious.”

“Xion, it’s your first time here, right?”

“It’s a women-only cabin. I’ve never seen the inside, though the men’s cabin isn’t far.”

Bathroom, toilet, kitchen, bed.

Muriel meticulously checked every corner of the house.

“The faucet works well, and nothing’s missing. The medicines in the first aid kit are still within their expiration date, so no need to replace them.”

“Mu, what’s this door?”

“Oh, that’s the storage. Xion, could you check if there’s enough firewood?”

Opening the small storage next to the kitchen revealed several bundles of dry firewood. Elexion counted the stacks with his eyes and said,

“It’s enough for a day or two, but not for long. If we need to heat bathwater with firewood, it’s hopeless.”

“More firewood needed. Ugh, this place is so old-fashioned because it was built ages ago. It’d be nice to renovate it to use mana stones.”

“A cabin used once a year. As long as it doesn’t collapse, it should be fine.”

Watching Muriel busily move around, Elexion tapped the cabin wall with his fist. It was solid with no cracks, built to last.

“It’ll last at least another 30 years.”

It seemed Muriel’s wish wouldn’t come true anytime soon.

20 minutes later, her work was finished.  

“Come on, let’s go back now!”  

“Okay.”  

Muriel, who had put her work notebook in her bag, patted Elexion on the back.

***

They were riding side by side on the horse, just like when they came, when suddenly it got dark all around.  

Elexion frowned at the sky full of dark clouds.  

‘The air is humid. Is it going to rain?’  

The weather had been clear since morning, so they hadn’t brought anything for the rain.  

If he were alone, a passing shower wouldn’t bother him, but today Muriel was in his arms.  

With many obstacles, he couldn’t speed up, making Elexion anxious.  

They still had a long way to go to get out of the forest when suddenly, raindrops began to fall.  

“Oh, it’s raining.”  

A drizzle would have been nice, but unfortunately, it was quite a heavy rain. The unpaved dirt road quickly became muddy.  

“Muriel, get off the horse! Let’s go to the hut.”  

“Okay!”  

“Be careful not to slip.”  

The forest in the rain was dangerous. Especially this hunting forest, which tended to get foggy when humid, making it hard to find direction.  

Elexion chose to return to the safety of the hut rather than forcibly exit the forest.  

Fallen leaves, stones, moss. Everything became slippery when wet, making footing uncertain.  

The two of them pressed down hard with each step and managed to escape to the hut.

***

Elexion was still worried.  

Caught in the rain without a chance to avoid it.  

Muriel’s white shirt, turned transparent from the rain, clung to her chest.  

With the eyesight and observation skills of a swordsman, he couldn’t miss the curves of Muriel’s rising chest.  

He worried that her n*pples might show through the tightly fastened underwear.  

“It’ll be cold.”  

On the way, he wrapped his black cloak around her.  

“It was really a close call.”  

But now they were in a hut where they could avoid the rain.  

Unaware of anything, Muriel smiled brightly and took off the cloak he had put on her. Her shirt clung tightly to her chest curves.  

Elexion’s eyes darkened.  

Every time Muriel moved, he remembered holding her with strength, burying his face in that chest, and what shameless things he had done afterward.  

“Xion, thanks for the cloak. Thanks to you, I got less wet, but you….”  

“It’s fine to take it off.”  

In such a situation, what…. To cool the heat rising from his core, Elexion also took off his soaked shirt.  

“Oh, right.”  

Muriel turned away, blushing.  

Though she had seen his body many times, she blushed at his light undressing, which he found cute and thought to tease her lightly.  

That was Elexion’s intention.  

“You should take it off too.”  

“What?”  

He untied the thin shirt string. Without giving her a chance to say, “I’ll take it off,” he buried his face in Muriel’s chest, which bulged over her underwear.  

The chest against his cheek was as soft as cream and smelled so good.  

“Xion!”  

“Come to think of it, it’s a bit cold.”  

Even among the Five Knight Orders and his father, Duke Fredior, no one would believe such nonsense, yet Muriel gently embraced his head.  

Muriel stroked Elexion’s head, as if he were a cute puppy, with his face buried in her soft cleavage.