“You fool! What are you doing crawling in here? Why are you making such a reckless fuss!”

I slapped the round head of my former subordinate, who was kneeling, with my palm.

But Nikon Nivera’s short wheat-colored hair only fluttered up and down. He showed no signs of pain. Only my hand that had struck his hard head throbbed as if it would burst.

I massaged my small, soft hand that was crying out in pain while checking Nikon’s condition.

The handsome green eyes that had stolen the hearts of the imperial maids were now hollow with only malice remaining, and the gallant appearance that had made him the undisputed most coveted knight in the imperial knighthood was nowhere to be seen. He looked exactly like a street beggar.

His once smooth cheeks were sunken, and his gently curling thyme-colored hair had lost its luster and looked like straw.

“Hey. Are you eating properly?”

“Is it really you, Captain Solas?”

Nikon looked up at me with a bewildered expression.

It seemed he found it harder to believe that I was Captain Solas than the fact that he had flown from Falco Fortress to this forest clearing in the blink of an eye.

“Do you need more convincing?”

When I infused Lady Adelia’s famous sword gifted by the Grand Duke with a wind aura and twirled it around, Nikon glanced at the wounds on his forearms and thighs and quickly shook his head.

“No! No! But it’s such an incredible thing…”

“I find your current state and appearance even more incredible.”

“…I’m sorry.”

“You should apologize to yourself. You should be ashamed!”

“…I’m sorry.”

A loud clicking of the tongue descended upon the head of the former imperial knight Nikon Nivera, who had his head bowed low.

Nikon let out a soft sigh as he recalled the moment he had infiltrated the Grand Duke couple’s bedchamber on the second floor of Falco Fortress an hour ago.

.

.

.

Nikon had obtained information from the information guild that the Grand Duke couple would stop by Falco Fortress before visiting Colina Rosa, their honeymoon destination.

After Captain Solas Moretti and his comrades were executed on the high walls of the imperial castle, Nikon, who had become a wanted fugitive, fled north to evade pursuit.

He had come to the north with the intention of eliminating Grand Duke Frost Ielheim to avenge the unjustly deceased captain.

For reasons unknown, despite having the opportunity to kill the Grand Duke, the captain had shown mercy and withdrawn his sword at the last moment.

Because of that, he had incurred the emperor’s wrath and even died bearing the false charge of treason.

Meanwhile, the real mastermind of the rebellion had held a grand wedding celebration in the north. It was said that the emperor had even traveled all the way to the distant north to offer congratulations. There must have been some dirty dealings going on among the high-ranking officials.

It’s always like this. Only people like us end up dying.

‘But I can’t die alone out of resentment.’

The person he wanted to kill the most was the emperor, but as a former imperial knight, he knew better than anyone how strict the security at the imperial palace was. That’s why he had chosen the Grand Duke as his next target.

Nikon had been lying in wait at Falco Fortress even before the Grand Duke’s party arrived.

The security was more lax than he had expected.

Perhaps it was natural, given that the Grand Duke himself was a monster who could wipe out a hundred, no, a thousand opponents single-handedly.

Nikon slightly opened the window of the bedchamber and peeked inside.

A blonde woman with a rosy complexion was sprawled on the bed, rolling around.

‘So the monster of the north really did get married.’

He had heard the news that the lord of the north had married the illegitimate daughter of Duke Grande, but it was hard to believe.

He had seen the Grand Duke slice through demons and barbarians like cutting cake on the battlefield numerous times before, but back then, as an ally, it had actually allowed him to fight with reassurance.

But it was only when he became an enemy of the Grand Duke in Colina Rosa and saw his comrades being mercilessly cut down by the Grand Duke’s sword and falling into pools of blood that he finally understood why he had been given the nickname “War Demon”.

He had thought the woman who became the companion of such a monster must be pitiful, but…

As he watched the woman suddenly sit up and pace around the room, pulling at her hair, the bride seemed a bit scary.

‘Has she gone mad from fear of her husband? Or was she originally an insane woman?’

Whatever the case, it worked out well. She looked vulnerable, perfect for taking hostage.

If he used that woman as a shield, it might not be entirely impossible to behead the Grand Duke.

If Duke Grande’s daughter died, the marriage alliance would be broken as well. As long as he got his hands on the woman, the Grand Duke wouldn’t be able to recklessly draw out the holy sword Iello. If he seized that opportunity, he might have a chance!

Nikon smiled with satisfaction as he carefully examined the woman.

The woman looked small and thin, appearing very fragile.

Nikon furrowed his brow.

‘I’ll have to grab her gently. If I accidentally break a bone, it’ll be troublesome even if I take her hostage.’

Nikon leaped through the window and in an instant pressed the tip of his sword against the woman’s neck.

The woman’s eyes widened as much as they could, and her mouth fell open.

But how strange.

What rose in those eyes was not fear.

A reaction completely unsuited to the current situation.

‘What? Why is she smiling with teary eyes? Is she actually happy to see me?’

And what burst out of the woman’s mouth after it had opened and closed a few times was his name!

“Nikon Nivera!”

“…!”

“Nikon, is it really you? How are you here…!”

“Shh!”

Nikon pressed the tip of his sword closer to the woman’s neck as if to stab it and frowned.

“How do you know my name?”

“Put the sword down, Nikon.”

Nikon grabbed the woman’s arm, restraining her slender body with one arm and pressing the blade of his sword against her neck.

A little blood trickled down the woman’s neck where it had been grazed by the well-sharpened blade.

“It’s good that you’re not letting your guard down just because your opponent is a woman. But you’re full of openings everywhere!”

“Ugh! Gah! Argh!”

In the blink of an eye, sharp pain struck his side, abdomen, and even his precious area. Nikon found himself pinned under the woman and his eyes widened in shock.

The woman’s scabbard was now pressing down on his neck.

“You… you’re not the Grand Duchess, but the Grand Duke’s bodyguard?”

Judging by her nimble movements, it was clear that she was a bodyguard disguised as the Grand Duchess.

“And you’re not Nikon Nivera, but Nikon the Idiot? For someone who’s supposed to be an elite imperial knight! Even a blind dog would be better than you!”

“What! But why do you keep acting like you know me? Who are you really?”

“Solas Moretti. Your captain!”

“Are you crazy! There are better people to impersonate!”

Nikon twisted his body to push Yuriella away and quickly stood up. He picked up his longsword that had been thrown to the floor, gripped it with both hands, and gritted his teeth.

“I don’t know who you are, but I know one thing. You’re going to die by my hands today! Any last words?”

“Not last words, but I do have a first order for you. Go to Jedo, Nikon. Go there, do as I tell you, and wait for me there.”

“Hmph. You go to the imperial capital. But it won’t be your body going, it’ll be your soul. Because you’re going to die here today!”

Nikon swung his sword widely. It was a clean and sharp attack, typical of the imperial knighthood’s swordsmanship.

Yuriella dodged Nikon’s sword as if predicting its trajectory, gently moving her body back and twisting her waist.

“Too slow.”

This time, Yuriella went on the offensive.

Yuriella’s indoor dress fluttered lightly, and her indoor slippers with flower tassels took a light step forward. A beautiful famous sword emerged from its scabbard, covered in a green aura, and drew a large circle in the air, grazing Nikon’s forearm as it passed.

It was the same swordsmanship as Nikon’s, but much faster and simpler.

“You! Did you just use our imperial knighthood’s swordsmanship?”

Yuriella immediately launched her next attack.

“Your defense is dull! Your attack is sluggish!”

Yuriella’s sword lightly sliced Nikon’s thigh as it passed.

Nikon’s eyes widened in shock.

It was an impeccably clean and efficient use of the sword. If the woman hadn’t been holding back, his arms and legs would now be separated from his body, rolling on the floor.

Even though he had become a fugitive and had to hide, he had never neglected his training for a single day. What on earth…!

Astonishingly, the woman also used the unconventional swordsmanship that the captain had used when he was alive. The short, strong, and chillingly concise offensive technique said to be used only by mercenaries specialized in killing…!

Moreover, what was that green aura?

Although it seemed weak, it was clearly similar to the aura that had flowed through the holy sword Flama.

No way.

“What’s that green thing?”

Nikon glared at Yuriella while pressing his bleeding forearm.

Yuriella shrugged her shoulders and withdrew the green aura enveloping her sword.

“This isn’t cheating. Because this body is weak, I only drew out a tiny bit of aura.”

“Aura…! Don’t tell me that sword is a holy sword?”

[No! The holy sword Aery is much prettier than that sword!]

Aery flew in like an arrow, plucking out a handful of Nikon’s hair.

“Argh!”

[Aery is strong! I can tear the earth and split the sea. That aura from earlier is not even a speck of dust compared to my power. Take back what you said right now before I blow you away to the icy sea!]

The woman stopped the fierce spirit, who seemed intent on attacking again, with just a flick of her index finger.

“Aery. You shouldn’t just go around plucking people’s hair. Nikon comes from a family where both his father and grandfather lack hair. He’s barely presentable with what hair he has, so stop it.”

Nikon’s mouth fell open.

How did this woman know about his family’s hereditary lack of hair?

Moreover, how did she know that the captain used to annoy him by using the expression “lack of hair” instead of “bald” out of consideration?

“You fool. Go back to your hometown and elope with Lady Riana. Don’t try to play assassin when it doesn’t suit you.”

Nikon no longer had the energy left to be surprised.

His secret romance with Riana was something only the captain knew about. The reason he had desperately tried to achieve military merits was to receive even a temporary noble title and proudly propose to Riana, the daughter of a baron…

“…Captain?”

Even as he called out, Nikon made a tearful face, overwhelmed and unable to believe it.

“Shh!”

Yuriella suddenly covered Nikon’s mouth and sensitively reacted to the presence around the forest.

“Aery. Help me. The Grand Duke is coming.”

Yuriella requested help from Aery, who was fluttering in the air.

[Is the Grand Duke number one for Yuriella, or is Aery number one?]

“I love you, Aery.”

A wise answer to a foolish question.

Aery stretched out her small arms and instantly created the softest and most discreet sphere of wind she could produce.

The wind, refined with green energy so that the Grand Duke couldn’t easily find them, was transparent and intricate like a giant soap bubble.

Before the Grand Duke could approach, Aery transported the group back to the inner chamber without leaving any trace.

Exhausted from using too much power, Aery draped herself over Yuriella’s shoulder like a wet towel and quickly fell asleep.

How did the captain come to control such a strange spirit? Is that small, fierce spirit really the spirit of the holy sword Aery? Has the captain become the owner of the holy sword again?

But an even more urgent curiosity had been bothering Nikon from earlier.

“Captain. But why have you become… a woman?”

“I was originally a woman.”

“…!”

He thought there couldn’t be anything more surprising, but there was.

“And from now on, Grand Duke Frost Ielheim is my lord. I have sworn to dedicate my new life to him.”

There was more.

“I’m going to strike down Justin Della Ponti. He deceived us and made us stain our hands with innocent blood. He… he must pay the price for that blood.”

“Ah…!”

A great sigh escaped Nikon’s lips.

He had already exceeded the limit of what his mind could comprehend.

“How, no, what is all this, what exactly am I supposed to…”

Yuriella gazed at Nikon quietly with a smile.

While dealing with Nikon who had burst into the bedroom swinging his sword earlier, Yuriella had briefly struggled. What should I do with this guy?

‘Should I knock him out and dump him on some deserted island? Or should I reveal my identity?’

The deliberation didn’t last long.

Even if she knocked him down ten times, Nikon was the type who wouldn’t give up trying to avenge his superior, playing the ill-suited role of an assassin.

‘I can’t just leave him wandering around the north looking like a beggar.’

Yuriella’s eyes deepened as she looked at her loyal former subordinate whom she had met again.

“Thank you. For staying alive.”

“Captain.”

“Thank you. For believing it’s me.”

“…. No, that’s not the important thing−”

“It’s important to me. I really… missed you so, so much.”

Yuriella’s small hand gently stroked Nikon Nivera’s wheat-colored thyme hair.

“Captain…”

Tears fell from Nikon’s eyes. Surely, this was the captain’s touch.

When he was tired and struggling. When he was exhausted and at a loss. That touch that would uncannily sense it and casually stroke his head…

“You can go back to your hometown if you want. Or you can stay by my side. The choice is yours.”

“Once a subordinate, always a subordinate. I’ll stay by your side, Captain.”

“Then go to Jedo. Trust me, just one more time. This time, I promise, I’ll truly act like your proper captain.”

The voice of the captain, whom he had encountered in an unfamiliar form after a long time, sinks in.

The two fists of his former subordinate clench tightly.

Once again, hope has arisen.

*

The Grand Duchess has returned!

Her Highness, who had disappeared leaving bloodstains and made the Grand Duke turn deathly pale, had miraculously returned safely to the bedchamber.

However, the knights of Angelus and the Grand Duke’s servants who had been searching every inch of the fortress couldn’t simply rejoice.

The Grand Duke was furious.

He had always been a cautious and fearsome person, carrying a cold and sharp aura, but seeing the Grand Duke truly angry made them realize that his previous demeanor had been as sweet as an ice candy in comparison.

“You said you couldn’t speak?”

Frost, sitting on the edge of the bed in the bedchamber where the blood had been cleaned, looked up at Yuriella.

“Yes.”

“Not that you wouldn’t speak?”

“…Let me correct that. I won’t speak.”

Clear and transparent red eyes calmly met deep winter sea-like blue eyes.

The wine glass Frost had been holding shattered into an unrecognizable form in his large hand.

“Oh! You’re bleeding…”

Yuriella approached in surprise, but Frost raised his hand to coldly stop her.

“You must be tired, rest.”

Frost stood up and left the room without looking back.

Bang!

The sound of the closing door landed heavily… on Yuriella’s heart.