They had predicted this situation for quite some time and hadn’t left the castle empty-handed. Though they weren’t certain if they would actually need these things.

At that moment, someone perked up their ears. It was Tatiana, who for some reason took more pride in her tent-building skills than in her excellent swordsmanship.

She inserted herself among the assassins as if it were natural. However, the assassins wore somewhat troubled expressions. Though Tatiana’s hammering was flawless—in fact, at an expert level—they were confused whether it was appropriate for the prince’s consort to be doing this.

People naturally looked to Gideon for an answer, and his face showed disbelief. Her skill was so good that it was rather bewildering.

However, he couldn’t openly dissuade Tatiana either. First, she was approaching the task with such a serious attitude, and second, when he thought about how she had developed such a talent, he recalled their history of marital arguments.

Connie was perceptive enough to quickly detect the awkward atmosphere. Thinking it didn’t look good to let the prince’s consort work alone, she stepped forward to help. However, she was immediately chased away by Tatiana, who told her not to be a nuisance.

After that, no one could interfere with the tent-building princess consort.

In the blink of an eye, Tatiana completed a small tent with quick movements and stepped back to observe her handiwork.

Practice and reality were different, so it wasn’t as perfect as before. Considering they were on the run, this was the best she could do.

Tatiana took Scarlet’s hand as she sat huddled on a rock and led her into the tent. Then she tucked in the animal fur blankets and said,

“I’ll build a fire nearby. The assassins will stand guard, so don’t worry about it spreading. Just get some rest without any concerns.”

After seeing to Scarlet’s bedding, she slipped out of the tent.

She was about to tell the assassins to gather more branches when she noticed Connie crouching nearby. Her once vibrant face was gone, replaced by dark circles under her eyes. In just two days, she looked terrible.

Finding her pitiful and feeling sorry, Tatiana said “Come here too” and led Connie into the tent. Then she asked Scarlet, who gave her a puzzled look,

“Is it okay if she sleeps here with you?”

“Of course, of course.”

Scarlet lifted the animal fur blanket, gladly making room for Connie, who had once been her lady’s maid.

Tatiana whispered to Connie,

“Tonight, you’ll be Her Highness’s human heater.”

Scarlet exclaimed that they would be each other’s heaters! Tatiana responded with “Yes, yes, everything Your Highness says is right” and withdrew. Then she came outside and quickly approached the assassins.

Gideon’s gaze continuously followed Tatiana.

She sought opinions from Kay and gave instructions, then finally sat down in front of the bonfire as if taking a breather. Assassins seeking rest were seated around her.

Gideon’s expression probably became subtle from that moment. He looked at the cramped tent once, then turned his eyes back to Tatiana and asked,

“What about you, Titi?”

“Pardon?”

“Where are you going to sleep?”

Well… She hadn’t thought about that deeply. But if forced to answer, she planned to stay just like this. How much rest would they get, and how much sleep? She thought it might actually be more comfortable to stay awake.

However, Gideon thought differently. He couldn’t understand why his wife should stand guard with the assassins when his pregnant sister and even a lady’s maid were sleeping in the tent.

It wasn’t about survival skills, swordsmanship, or magical power. His wife was also a precious person.

Tatiana noticed the space between Gideon’s eyebrows gradually narrowing and sensed something ominous. She realized she had unintentionally stepped on a booby trap. She tried to remove her foot belatedly and escape this dangerous situation, but…….

“Don’t you care about your own body?”

Before she could react, the booby trap exploded.

Tatiana rose quietly from her seat at Gideon’s harsh words. Kay, who was sitting beside her, stood up as well. She gave Kay a silent look.

‘His Highness is angry. You know we can never win a verbal fight at times like this.’

‘……’

‘You know what we need to do now, right?’

Kay certainly knew well. He began building another temporary tent for the prince’s consort with the assassins.

Meanwhile, Tatiana took refuge in Scarlet’s tent to prevent any unnecessary sparks from flying.

Scarlet had pulled the animal fur up to the bridge of her nose, revealing only her wide-awake eyes. Connie must have been very tired as she was already asleep and snoring.

Tatiana sat at the edge of the tent with only her upper body inside.

“Will you sleep with me too?”

Scarlet lifted the edge of the blanket opposite to the sleeping Connie, as if inviting her. But Tatiana shook her head.

“No, it’s too cramped.”

She could probably squeeze in somehow, but she didn’t really want to. That might cause all three of them to lie awake uncomfortably.

Scarlet gave her a puzzled look, wondering why she had come here then, and Tatiana whispered,

“His Highness. He’s angry.”

“Why?”

“I said I would sleep outside and got thoroughly scolded.”

Tatiana made horn shapes with her fingers above her head, then furrowed her brow intensely. It didn’t look similar at all, but it was an imitation of her husband.

Scarlet burst out laughing as if she understood completely. In truth, she had anticipated this from the moment Tatiana was hammering with stones. Perhaps everyone had known except Tatiana herself, who had been too busy tying ropes to make a tent that wouldn’t blow away in strong winds to notice her husband’s expression.

“Sister-in-law, honestly, isn’t living with Gideon a bit tiring?”

“No, well, I wouldn’t say that……”

Oh my, she’s denying it? Still in the honeymoon phase? Scarlet pursed her lips as if finding it ridiculous, then quietly sat up. She took out a silk pouch that she had once seen in the luggage.

When Scarlet produced a few flowers with a flourish, Tatiana opened her eyes wide.

“Flowers in this weather?”

“They were blooming inside the magic tower. I brought them to give to you when we reached the principality. You’re almost out of the dye for your nails, right? Whew, but that place had everything.”

Tatiana burst into sympathetic laughter, knowing the situation there very well.

The history of the magic tower is ancient, and to ordinary people, mages are like stars. When imagining the dwelling of such mages, most would picture a mysterious and magnificent space.

In reality, such aspects did exist. However, if one looked closely at the corners of the research labs, the place was just a general store. They had everything, and sometimes it was even a bit shabby.

The two women dyed their nails with flower pigment again, continuing from last time. However, in the middle of the night, and in such a serious situation, they couldn’t do anything too elaborate and had to be satisfied with just their pinky nails.

At that moment, Gideon approached the tent.

“……What are you doing here?”

He looked somewhat embarrassed. He knew that he had spoken harshly to his innocent wife earlier. He felt like he had only shown his bad temper to someone who was already tired.

Tatiana pretended not to notice and teased him.

“Hey, honey?”

“……”

“Do I look any different?”

Gideon found that the once purely pleasant “honey” was starting to become slightly frightening. She’s suddenly asking if anything had changed about her. How many minutes had it been since she fled to the tent to escape him?

Though he was an extremely sensitive and perceptive person, he couldn’t detect anything at the moment.

Gideon looked at Tatiana with complicated eyes, then said to his sister,

“Don’t dye my wife with strange liquids.”

Scarlet made an expression of disbelief, saying, “Oh my, this is ridiculous.” She had never dyed her brother’s wife with anything strange. She had only dyed her fingernails. They would have a beautiful color by tomorrow.

Regardless, Gideon, who had no interest in his sister’s grievances, gestured for Tatiana to come out. When that wasn’t enough, he eventually took her hand and pulled her up himself.

The two entered the temporary shelter built by the assassins.

Gideon used luggage as a pillow for Tatiana’s head and covered her body with several layers of thick clothing. Nevertheless, the bedding felt infinitely shabby. It wasn’t much better than sitting in front of the bonfire earlier.

“Aren’t you cold?”

Tatiana read the apologetic look on his face and smiled faintly.

Honestly, yes, she was cold. How could she not be in this season? And with the north just ahead.

Unable to lie outright, she just smiled as if everything was fine.

Gideon spread his arms as if offering his embrace.

“Come here. I tend to have a higher body temperature.”

Tatiana knew surprisingly well that he ran hot. When they were at the castle, he would sleep without even wearing a shirt.

But even if his body temperature hadn’t been high, would she have refused his embrace? Even if he had been as cold as ice, they would have embraced each other.

Tatiana nuzzled her nose against Gideon’s chest and burrowed in. She intended to close her eyes for just a brief moment.

* * *

Tatiana dreamed. But simultaneously, she thought this might not be a dream. Don’t people generally fail to recognize they’re dreaming until they wake up?

She was very clearly aware that this wasn’t real.

Before her stood her adoptive father, or rather, Duke Muller. Behind him spread a familiar backdrop—the dome stadium where royal martial arts tournaments used to be held.