As the horses quickened their pace, Terminus soon fell behind. However, persistent Terminus quickly caught up with us.

“Why? Is it embarrassing to talk to Cecilia? Haha, Idrish, you should have just stayed silent if you felt that way in the first place.”

“What did you say? Am I the only one not talking?”

At my urging, Terminus looked back and forth between me and Idrish. Idrish shot him a stern look.

“Haha, Idrish told me not to talk, so I won’t.”

Saying that, Terminus turned his reins and retreated.

What’s this? Can’t we just go without talking! The most frustrating things in the world are, first, holding back words while speaking and second…

Rather than trying to call Terminus again, I turned my head back abruptly.

Instead of doing that, I should ask Idrish.

“What did he say?”

“It’s nothing special.”

“So tell me what it is. I’ll decide whether it’s special or not.”

However, Idrish kept his mouth shut and seemed to have no intention of speaking.

“If you don’t speak quickly, I’ll get off and ride with Ternya.”

“Cecilia Erijoh explained why she has to accompany this journey.”

With my feeble threat, Idrish smoothly responded.

“Why? Did she talk about ‘that’ by any chance?”

Since the curse is Idrish’s weakness, we shouldn’t let anyone know about it and must take it to the grave with us.

“She said it wouldn’t work without you. She can’t endure a single moment without you.”

Ah, if she didn’t talk about the curse, it should be fine… or not?

“What did you say? W-What if you say that in front of everyone!”

A hot energy rose from my throat. Did I really say that in front of all these men?

“But it’s the truth.”

“Of course, it would sound natural if you know about ‘that,’ but those people don’t know. It sounds strange to them.”

“Strange?”

“So, it seems like you’re crazy about a woman.”

“It’s not a woman; it’s you.”

“No, I mean…”

I was at a loss for words.

“That’s the truth.”

Why does he say such embarrassing things as if it’s nothing? Was he always like that?

I looked at Idrish with a face that seemed about to explode, but his face remained quiet and calm, like someone saying, “Tonight’s menu is beef stew.”

“Anyway, everyone knows that Idrish is traveling with me because he can’t live without me, right?”

I finally understood why Terminus laughed so cheerfully a while ago.

I don’t know.

I just closed my eyes.

As Artigrado’s territory approached, the road became a mess.

The traces of people gradually diminished, and the railroad that once had trains passing by was covered with weeds and completely ruined. In the desolate scenery without warmth, I felt a sense of solitude.

The road was the same. Some places had fallen trees blocking the path, forcing us to detour for a while.
Thanks to the delay in our journey, we ended up camping in the field.

We set up tents, boiled ingredients we brought, and prepared a meal. The taste was mediocre, but just the warmth was enough to make it somewhat edible.

“Cecilia, please have some of this.”

“Oh, thank you. Some melon. I happen to be a bit hungry. Oh, it’s hot.”

“Haha, I just took it off the fire, so be careful and enjoy.”

As I opened the steaming potatoes, the aroma filled the air. I nodded quickly at Somerone, the leader of the Rat Clan, and quickly put it in my mouth. With a full stomach, the cold that had bothered me all day momentarily disappeared.

After a short meal, we prepared to go straight to bed. There was nothing else to do, and everyone was tired.

Idrish transformed into a white tiger. Just in case I might shiver in the cold all night, he seemed to want to put me to sleep with his warmth.

Knights who were not yet accustomed to Idrish’s tiger form were surprised and quickly stepped back.

“Haha, don’t worry. He won’t bite. He’s a good tiger.”

I swept his broad nose.

“Um… if it’s not rude, may I touch it?”

Asked Talpinus, a mole-type Beastman, who was far away.

“Of course! It’s so fluffy. It’s okay, right, Idrish?”

Idrish revealed his dissatisfaction but seemed to allow it.

“Idrish is fine with it too.”

I quickly covered his mouth and gave permission to Talpinus.

Talpinus cautiously approached and reached out to touch Idrish’s back. When his sweetly trembling hand touched the snow-white fur, his face brightened.

“I thought it would be similar to a cat’s fur, but it’s much fluffier.”

“I, I want to touch it too.”

Hands reached out from all around.

“Come on, line up and touch it. Our good and fluffy white tiger. If not today, there won’t be another chance!”

I shouted with the most excitement.

It would be a tremendous thing if everyone could dispel their fears of the white tiger through this opportunity!

After experiencing petting the white tiger, I nestled into Idrish’s rich and soft embrace. Feeling Idrish’s chest rising and falling, I quickly fell asleep.

And I woke up in the early morning.

“I need to go to the bathroom…”

It seemed I had drunk too much warm soup before going to bed.