In reality, Tatiana was in the midst of intense self-reflection.

After perfecting her father’s swordsmanship and gaining magical power, she had thought she had achieved a certain level of her goals. But now she realized how complacent and pathetic this mindset had been.

Masters were hidden throughout the world, new talents emerged every day, and her companions were steadily growing like this.

Even her husband, who was closest to her, was the same.

Indeed, there is no room for complacency on the path of a swordsman. Only dedication and more dedication.

Tatiana jumped back into battle and swung her sword widely. Then she chanted a spell more vigorously than ever before.

“You who wander at the threshold of twilight! You who have walked with a sick mule! There is no time to grieve. Life is inherently harsh. Stop your tears and move forward. Pour everything into your steps!”

In that moment, Tatiana’s sword blazed bright blue.

She slammed the sword into the ground with a thud, and from there, a net spread across the earth, constricting and burning the monsters’ bodies like a snare. It was a spell that selectively attacked only targets showing magical reactions.

People who had been dealing with monsters individually froze at this sight they had never witnessed before.

However, while the assassins were impressed, they couldn’t hide their bewilderment and asked Kay,

“Why use such an advanced technique……”

It seems sufficient to just cut them with our swords. Is she irritated because our schedule keeps getting delayed? But she’s not the type to get annoyed over something like this.

The assassins felt embarrassed, wondering if they appeared to be dawdling in the princess consort’s eyes.

Meanwhile, Tatiana was busy solidifying her identity as a magic swordsman. A technique that only she could implement. A world completed by her hands.

She swung her sword without stopping. The magic spells flowing from her mouth were now beyond magnificent—they were almost tragic. Just listening to the spells, one might think she was carrying the fate of humanity on her shoulders.

Gideon kept letting out hollow laughs. Then at some point, he realized that the principality’s soldiers were glancing at him.

‘But Your Highness, are we really safe?’

Their expressions sought confirmation or a calming of the situation.

While eliminating the monsters was good, they questioned whether they themselves would be alright.

Usually after getting married, when people have business with the wife, they look at the husband, and when they have something to tell the husband, they look at the wife.

Sometimes it’s absurd, and you might wonder, “Can’t I just ask directly?” But there’s no other reason. It’s simply to avoid misunderstandings by going through the closest person.

Of course, the question of whether they dared use the First Prince as a communication channel continuously troubled them at this moment.

But the principality’s people had no choice. Currently, they didn’t dare approach the princess consort. The lion they knew wasn’t such a terrifying creature.

And Gideon didn’t dislike this situation at all. In fact, he was rather satisfied. When someone had business with Tatiana…

‘It’s right to go through me. She’s my wife.’

Gideon approached Tatiana, who had almost entered a state of enlightenment, from behind.

“Titi.”

And Tatiana was quite good at listening to her husband. Despite being in a trance-like state, she immediately responded to Gideon’s low voice.

“What?”

“I don’t want to interfere, but……”

“……”

“If you continue, there will be an avalanche.”

Tatiana stopped at those words and stared down at the ground she was standing on.

The frozen earth had cracked open. The trees along the path, startled by this tectonic movement, had shed all the snow that had accumulated on their branches.

“Of course, I could quickly grab you and run away.”

“……”

“But I’m afraid you might cough up blood again.”

The mere thought of her suddenly spitting up blood on this white snow field was terrifying.

So he coaxed her in a very gentle voice, saying that they should stop here despite the regret, and that they needed to conserve energy since they hadn’t even reached the stronghold yet. What was funny was that he kept smirking between his words.

Tatiana stirred the snow with her toe and replied with a blank face.

“……I’m controlling it well enough.”

By now, the situation Gideon was worried about was unlikely to happen. She had long adapted to this magical power and was making it her own with each passing day. However, it was true that she had gone a bit overboard just now due to her burning enthusiasm.

Tatiana lowered the tip of her sword discreetly. Then she looked at the assassins and jerked her chin. It meant that she had done this much, so they should handle the rest.

However, the assassins became even more confused than before. What exactly were they supposed to handle?

There were… almost no monsters showing life signs in front of them.

The group rode through the snow field for quite some time before stopping. This time it was to have a light snack.

If someone had seen this scene, they might have wondered, How can food go into your mouth in this situation?

But in truth, the soldiers didn’t really want to eat either. This was merely an action taken to survive.

The bitterly cold winter wind of the north became even fiercer as they approached the foothills. Consuming food at times like this helps maintain body temperature. This was how northern soldiers responded to the cold—their own know-how.

The soldiers diligently gathered branches and began to make a fire. However, whether due to frozen hands, the wind, or the wood being wet with snow, even this proved difficult.

“Let me help for a moment.”

Tatiana created a spark while chanting a brief spell.

The soldiers were simply grateful, but she let out a hollow laugh. She was reminded of the anecdote about a mage who used a strength enhancement spell, depleted his magical power, and collapsed.

If you’re eating food to replenish your strength, but you have to use magical power and physical strength for that purpose, what’s the point of this action? It felt like pulling out the bottom stone to support the top one.

However, since eating food was something done together, not a selfish act, she didn’t complain.

The soldiers first melted snow to make drinking water. Then they served it to the First Prince and his wife first.

While Gideon merely held the cup to warm his hands, Tatiana wanted to moisten her throat.

Despite having vividly witnessed the process by which this water came before them, Gideon reprimanded Kay.

“And you call yourself my wife’s guard?”

He meant that someone should have tasted it first.

Even though they were in the same boat as the principality’s people, they weren’t Gideon’s inner circle. It wouldn’t hurt to develop a habit of caution.

Kay knew that the First Prince’s point was valid. However, he wasn’t entirely without a response.

“Her Highness already has resistance……”

Tatiana, who had been about to drink the water regardless of what her husband said, suddenly flinched.

‘No, what is he trying to say right now?’

As they say, the quiet ones cause the biggest problems—this was a past event that shouldn’t be revealed. Gideon wouldn’t simply find it amusing as a childhood story of his wife.

Of course, Tatiana had firmly established the value of always being truthful to her spouse after marriage. Trying to deceive only makes problems spiral out of control. But did that mean she needed to tell her husband every little detail about such things?

‘Is it really necessary?’

She glared at Kay as if to say she wouldn’t let this slide if he said one more word. However, Kay, who seemed to hesitate slightly, soon became expressionless.

The words had slipped out unintentionally, but he didn’t particularly feel guilty. After all, reporting to the prince about every move and all personal matters of the princess consort was also one of Kay’s duties.

And this momentary exchange of glances between Tatiana and Kay became the starting point of suspicion for Gideon.

He detected the ambiguous atmosphere and realized he had just heard a word that couldn’t be ignored.

“Resistance?”

“……”

“What kind of resistance?”

Gideon tilted his head slightly.

Watching him, Tatiana strangely felt a chill run down her spine. She had an ominous feeling. Despite holding a cup of warm water, she felt colder than before.

And from that moment on, Gideon began to act like an inspector, like someone piecing together a fragmented puzzle.

“Don’t tell me you’ve tasted it before?”

“……”

“Poison?”

What’s this, I guess it’s true? Faced with a fact he had been completely unaware of, Gideon laughed, “Ha? Haa?” Then he hardened his expression and pressed further. Somewhere along the line, his eyes had slightly rolled again.

“Which bastard would do such a thing……”

“……”

His tone was merciless, as if he would capture and kill them all.

However, Tatiana couldn’t bring herself to answer and lowered her head. That bastard… is me.