“Yuriella…..”

Frost struggled to untangle his wife’s arms that were tightly wrapped around his neck, and softly called her name as if pleading.

“I won’t divorce you.”

The red eyes that held flames gazed at him with a deep light.

Frost knew this gaze.

The tenacious gaze of a hunter that never leaves its prey.

The persistent and firm gaze he often encountered through the helmet when he traversed battlefields with Solas, the owner of the holy sword Flama.

Whenever she had that gaze, the undefeated warrior Solas Moretti, his wife, never let the enemies she pursued live.

“I’m afraid that because of me, you will cry.”

“Same here. I’m also scared that I won’t be able to save you, Your Grace.”

“Keeping you by my side is just my selfishness. If you stay with me, you’ll only experience hardships and danger.”

In this life, I want you to smile. I want you to not get hurt or be in pain.

“It’s the path I chose. You are the person I chose, Your Grace.”

“But what if I say I will divorce you?”

“Hmm. You absolutely cannot divorce me, Your Grace. I already got introduced to the most capable legal advisor in the empire by the chief secretary.”

Yuriella smiled brightly, the corners of her lips curving up.

Frost was captivated by that bright smile, but somehow felt a chill throughout his body.

“I also bribed the head maid and head butler. The servants of the Northern Duke and the people working here all promised to testify that Your Grace’s divorce request is unjust. Ah! Leo also promised to take my side if you file for divorce. The Angelus Knights are all on my side too.”

Yuriella declared her ultimate victory, straightening her shoulders.

“Give up on the divorce, Frost Ielheim. You absolutely cannot divorce me.”

Frost shook his head with a dazed expression, looking at his wife who was strutting with a victor’s smile on her lips.

He had hurried to finish the high noble council meeting early to have lunch with Yuriella.

Until the divorce, he at least wanted to have meals together no matter what. He wanted to indulge in that much selfishness.

But upon hearing that Carina had come to see his wife, thoughts of lunch flew far away.

The moment his wife took in the drops of rain on his face like a thirsty deer. His brain froze on the spot.

He never imagined that while he was away from home, his wife would meticulously win over his subordinates and servants as her collaborators.

He also didn’t think she would wield the tactic of making him let his guard down by using his concern for her safety, and then attack his weakness.

Why was she going this far?

Frost recalled the Knight of Flames who unflinchingly watched over the final moments of his dying subordinates in Collina Rosa till the end.

Although the face hidden under the helmet was not visible, the deep sorrow enveloping the blood-stained black armor was conveyed to him, making even his heart watching ache as if it would be cut.

Because he was also experiencing the same horrific pain Solas felt there.

So he couldn’t truly hate the enemy commander.

‘Am I also a comrade, the same meaning to you?’

Separate from his heart that didn’t want to show her his worst side no matter what. She must also have a heart that doesn’t want to let him go, regardless of what state he’s in.

“Your Grace. Please withdraw your divorce request.”

Frost decided to heed the call of his wife who did not take her eyes off him.

“Alright.”

Yuriella nodded, looking satisfied.

“I will stay by Your Grace’s side.”

Even while knowing well it was a time-limited promise with the caveat of ‘until the demonic poison is cured’, Frost declared his unconditional surrender in this war.

“Alright.”

“You absolutely cannot chase me away.”

Meaning she would leave of her own accord.

“Alright. Anything, as you wish.”

Frost nodded and gently stroked Yuriella’s hair.

“Whether you stay by my side or leave. Whether you kill me or let me live. Do as you wish.”

The large hand with calluses dug into Yuriella’s luscious hair.

It was a match where the loser was already determined.

From the moment he took her into his eyes and engraved her in his heart.

He was the absolute underdog.

Frost thought of the legend about the ice dragon, the spirit of his holy sword, that if its eyes were pierced, its heart would burst and be annihilated.

Although he never had the chance to meet the ice dragon and talk, in this moment, Frost felt he could well understand the ice dragon’s heart even without directly hearing it.

Why the ice dragon hid after the death of its first owner and didn’t reveal itself even to the owners it personally chose. What it feared so much.

From the moment he engraved his wife in his heart, his heart was no longer his own. If he lost this love, his heart might burst and he could die.

But if he ever met the ice dragon, he wanted to tell it for sure.

That despite this, love is worth having. No, that one must love.

Perhaps that is the only meaning life has.

*

Perched on top of Nikon’s head, eavesdropping on the ducal couple’s conversation through the wind’s communication channel, Airy angrily stomped her feet.

[Stupid Yuriella! Spineless Duke! It was the perfect chance to get divorced!]

A fierce wind carrying Airy’s anger began to blow across the Smeralda Plains as night fell.

The horse Nikon was riding neighed and staggered, unable to withstand the strong wind.

“Lady Airy. Eavesdropping is illegal. It’s also rude to the commander who is in a passionate newlywed phase.”

The former elite knight of the royal knights unit politely reprimanded the heavenly wind spirit for crossing the line set by law and morality.

Airy loudly snorted and cut off the communication.

[It’s a boring newlywed couple with no passionate nights even if you eavesdrop anyway! They’re not even a real couple!]

“Just as children grow differently from yesterday to today, a couple’s circumstances can also differ from yesterday to today.”

[That’s why! They should divorce before truly falling in love!]

“Didn’t the two already love each other?”

[No! Yuriella only loves Airy!]

“You are also quite obsessive, Lady Airy. But honestly, I feel a bit sorry for His Grace the Duke.”

Nikon clicked his tongue, pulling the reins of the horse swaying in the wind.

“Our commander is a scary lion who relentlessly goes all-in once fixated, with no regard for circumstances. If His Grace falls for the pretty exterior, he really won’t be able to gather his bones.”

[Hey, dimwit! Whose side are you on?]

“Of course I’m on the commander’s side! I hope the commander smiles and is happy a lot in this life she gained again. As long as the commander is smiling, who cares if His Grace gets bitten by fierce teeth or rolls around? Didn’t he willingly walk into the lion’s den?”

[Stupid. Lions don’t live in narrow dens. They live in wide plains or forests.]

Although scolding Nikon, Airy’s vigor deflated.

Because Airy also wished the same, for Yuriella to smile and be happy a lot in the life she gained again.

Airy sighed deeply, looking at the Ampio River majestically flowing beyond the vast grain fields to the east.

[Dimwit. Do you think Yuriella has already forgotten me because she loves the Duke?]

“You already heard ‘I love you’ excessively from the commander today. Was it fourteen times?”

[Twelve times.]

Airy primly corrected him.

“The commander even drew big hearts with her hands for the last three times.”

Airy, whose small eyes were brimming with tears, looked at the west sky where the capital was.

[What do you know about love? No matter how much you hear it, ‘I love you’ is never enough.]

Nikon adjusted his posture so the small spirit sitting on his head wouldn’t sway, and grinned.

“You are so cute, Lady Airy. I was worried the spirit of a holy sword would be really noble and difficult to deal with. I’m so glad that’s not the case at all.”

[What?]

“I saw Lord Flama manifest as a phoenix quite a few times on the battlefield. Wow. The overpowering aura he exuded was so incredible that I couldn’t even dare to look at him.”

Unfortunately, Nikon ended up plucking Airy’s most painful nose hair that he should never touch.

“Ahhh!”

And as punishment, he had to be blown by the wind to where the Profondo River, another lifeline of the east, met the Ampio River and fall in with a splash.

[I’m difficult too! I’m a difficult spirit! My overwhelming aura is greater than Flama’s!]

Airy swiftly flew like a bee and fiercely yanked the hair of Nikon who was stretched out like seaweed.

[Surrender! Lady Airy! I was wrong! Ahhh! Surrender!]

Nikon, whose family had lacked hair for generations, screamed and flailed more out of fear that his hair would significantly decrease than the terror of possibly drowning in the deep river.

[I’m stronger than Flama! I’m prettier than Flama!]

But it seemed the wind spirit who was saddened from being separated from her beloved owner didn’t hear him at all.

“T-to quickly return to the commander, we need to hurry and find your holy sword, Lady Airy! We shouldn’t waste time like this!”

Perhaps his brain rotated faster after his hair was plucked out, as Nikon accurately attacked Airy’s weak point.

Airy let go of Nikon’s hair, grabbed the back of his neck, and swiftly flew to the riverbank.

[Dimwit! We wasted time because of you! Let’s go find my sword quickly!]

Airy brought a large leaf, saying Nikon was dirty and damp so it was icky, placed it on top of Nikon’s head, and sat on it to urge him on.

The drenched Nikon got on the horse again and spurred it on.

Their first destination was the site of the old temple where Angelo Roinas, Airy’s owner from 500 years ago, had resided.

The wind that had swept the deep blue crops of the Smeralda Plains softly enveloped Airy’s fluffy hair and passed.

The familiar scent of the fields brought back the face of her old owner that was not forgotten even amid the weathering of time.

[The person has disappeared without a trace, but this place remains the same……]

The spirit’s desolate recitation scattered with the summer wind.

*

Yuriella’s blood ran cold at the news from the gatekeeper who came running out of breath that the emperor had visited the ducal residence.

What could be the reason for visiting her while the Duke was away?

With a heavy heart, Yuriella was descending the main building’s stairs when she paused for a moment at the familiar sound of a horse’s neigh.

Neigh. Neigh.

Across the garden where the scent of greenery was thick after the rain had passed, a dazzlingly white horse with a lush mane was running toward her.

The face that had been frowning deeply to greet the uninvited guest who had visited the residence without notice bloomed brightly.

‘Blanca……!’

Glossy skin and slender legs. A mane softer than silk.

Blanca, just as Yuriella remembered, ran straight to her without getting lost.

Yuriella’s steps descending the stairs also quickened.

Although a span smaller than the Duke’s prized horse Mars, with a body of taut muscles faster and with better endurance, she had secretly boasted that her baby was better – her beloved horse.

Neigh. Neigh.

Blanca’s large eyes, having approached right in front of her, took in Yuriella at a glance and softened gently.

Blanca lowered her head and rubbed her damp nose bridge against Yuriella’s hand, acting cute.

“Blanca……”

As Yuriella gently stroked the lush mane and head, Blanca shook her head as if complaining why she hadn’t come to find her all this time.

“Do you like her, Duchess?”

Justin Della Ponti, who had followed Blanca, jumped off the horse and smiled brightly.

“…..Greetings to Your Majesty the Emperor.”

Yuriella, her complexion stiffening, grabbed the hem of her dress and bent her waist.

“I apologize for not being prepared to receive a guest as you came suddenly without notice.”

Although she glared at him with eyes clearly conveying the meaning ‘You came rudely without manners, so don’t expect to be treated like a guest and get lost!’,

“What guest. Between us.”

Justin kissed the back of Yuriella’s hand, sweetly curving his jewel-like blue eyes.

“I’m afraid it would be presumptuous, but as the Duke is away attending the high noble council meeting, could you not visit another day with a set appointment?”

Even wrinkling her face to clearly show the implication ‘My husband is busy with national affairs, so why is the so-called emperor here? Get lost!’,

“The Duke can handle national affairs. Yuriella, I came because I have a favor to ask of you.”

With a face looking like he couldn’t help loving even her frowning face, Justin grabbed Blanca’s reins and held them out to Yuriella.

“Blanca is a pitiful horse who lost her owner. She cried so much, burying her face in the owner’s cloak until it became rags.”

Yuriella stood still, glaring at the emperor. Flames rose in her red eyes.

That son of a bitch. He’s really shameless. Because of whom did Blanca lose her owner!

“My guess was right. I thought the Duchess would be an owner Blanca would accept. Please, will you take in Blanca?”

The head butler and Commander Leo who were standing behind Yuriella stepped forward to her side and lightly shook their heads.

Yuriella deeply bowed her head to the emperor.

“May Goddess Yustera bless Your Majesty. Impudently, I will gratefully accept.”

Yuriella received the reins the emperor held out and glared at Justin as if she would stab him to death.

“If you’re grateful, will you go horseback riding with me? There’s a forest path Blanca used to like.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Gladly.”