Diana turned her head to the eerie sound.

‘Who is it?’

A long, thin shadow flickered beyond the white curtains.

‘Could it be the rebels?’

Diana, her face turning pale, held her breath and extinguished the oil lamp on the bedside table.

Knock, knock, knock.

Whoever had infiltrated the balcony, she had no confidence in fighting and winning barehanded.

Terrified, Diana quickly got up and stepped out of bed.

As she was staring at the balcony and slowly backing away, the balcony windows opened their mouth and a fierce sea breeze blew into the room.

“Ugh…!”

I can’t see in front! At that moment when her hair was fluttering messily and her vision darkened,

a hand that popped out of the darkness covered her lips and a slender arm wrapped around her waist.

“Mmph?”

A strange moan burst from her startled lips. Diana struggled violently, trying to escape from the grasp.

“It’s me. Lady Diana.”

However, after hearing the familiar voice, she soon stopped moving.

Diana opened her eyes wide, lowered her raised elbow, then reached down to feel the stranger’s silhouette.

The texture of the cotton that felt nothing rough, the waistline that fell softly without a corset.

“…Is it really you?”

As Diana asked blankly in a daze, the hand covering her lips naturally fell away.

“You don’t think an assassin would knock, do you? I tried to be polite but only caused unnecessary misunderstanding.”

The person who snuck in through the balcony was none other than Dilaia. Diana quickly turned around to confirm the face revealed under the moonlight.

‘It really is Her Ladyship!’

Dilaia put a finger to her lips, signaling to lower their voices.

“It’s tiresome to get involved with the nobles. They’re so eager to receive revelations ever since Father discovered the magicite mine.”

Diana nodded silently and asked,

“More importantly, what brings you here? At this late hour.”

“…Let’s sit down and talk. I think the story will be long.”

Diana swallowed her saliva with an ominous premonition and nodded with a serious expression.

The two, sitting across from each other with a tea table between them, had a long, serious conversation.

Dilaia conveyed the contents of the revelation that came down not long ago and pointed to Sebastian standing outside the door.

“Meow.”

“Take him with you. He will replace my role as Her Ladyship when you go far away.”

Diana put Sebastian on her lap, stroked his fur, and asked,

“So you’re telling me to board the ship as a sailor?”

“Yes. In the revelation I saw, you were in disguise. A completely different appearance from usual.”

Diana fiddled with her flowing hair and muttered in a puzzled voice,

“You mean I have to dress as a man.”

“The concept of a female sailor doesn’t exist in the first place.”

“But what about my voice even if I disguise myself?”

“You must not speak. Your voice is thin, so your identity will be quickly exposed. There are many who have lost their voices due to torture within the rebel forces, so they won’t find it strange.”

“Yes…”

“The departure is on the night of the returning winter’s red moon. I will give you a definite word then, so please prepare yourself.”

“I understand what you mean. And I have something to tell you too. Should I call it a request…?”

Diana paused with a somewhat reluctant expression.

“Please speak comfortably. Didn’t I promise not to spare any support as well?”

“Then I will speak comfortably. I’m worried about the people who will remain in the castle after I leave. Especially Angela and Biché, they’re like family to me. So that they can live happily without being pursued by the rebels… I hope the Duchy of Homern will take them in.”

Dilaia stroked her chin and said,

“We can accept them. We can also hide them in the Holy Kingdom for a few years to avoid the rebels’ eyes. However, you must erase their personnel records. If records remain of four people disappearing at the same time, there’s a high possibility of being tracked. If you don’t plan to live in the Holy Kingdom forever, completely erasing the personnel records themselves is the safest method.”

“I’ll take care of that before leaving the castle. As for arson… I have a spectacular history.”

Diana smiled wryly, recalling the memory of setting fire to the annex long ago.

After reaching their desired conclusion, the two wished for each other’s safety and parted.

“Well then, I’ll be counting on you.”

“Likewise.”

Dilaia bowed her head and got on Sebastian’s back.

Sebastian, transformed into a sturdy knight escort, carried Dilaia on his back and leaped off the balcony.

Only when she saw the cat lying next to her the following morning did Diana realize last night was not a dream.

The time left until departure was at most two seasons.

With anticipation and worries about her new life as motivation, Diana once again started a vigorous morning.

In the dark night, inside an old commercial building with the scent of medicinal herbs, two people standing closely together were having a worried argument.

“No.”

“So why not?”

Diana asked, feeling frustrated. Raoul shook his head firmly and dissuaded Diana.

“If you board the ship as a sailor, you have to do one person’s share. You don’t even have experience being on a ship. On the rocking waves, stabbing monsters to death, and if necessary, even rowing. There’s no way I can entrust you with a job that even people who have trained their stamina for a long time easily die from.”

“Stamina and physique can be increased or decreased with potions. What’s the problem?”

“Magic that forcibly transforms the body is followed by side effects. You think I’ve only seen one or two soldiers suffering from the aftereffects? No, don’t be stubborn anymore.”

“…Don’t be stubborn? I was trying to discuss it with you, not ask for permission.”

Diana felt suffocated.

Stubbornness! Pigheadedness! A master at changing words! She didn’t expect Raoul to oppose so strongly like this.

She thought at least Raoul would always be on Diana’s side no matter what and think about ways to resolve it together. But to unconditionally tell her not to go.

Diana grabbed Raoul’s collar and muttered in a lowered voice,

“You could have thought about it together instead of just saying no. Can’t you help me achieve my task instead of just opposing it?”

“…”

When she spoke in a hurtful voice, he also consoled Diana in a now subdued manner.

“What’s your reason for trying to accomplish that task? It’s for our future. How do you expect me to live if you get hurt for that future?”

Raoul kissed her forehead and caressed her furrowed brows with a gentle touch.

However, Diana turned away even from the warm touch and tightly closed her lips.

“…”

“I have to leave tonight. I won’t feel at ease if we part like this.”

“…You can be like that.”

As Diana timidly pushed away his chest, Raoul took a step closer and put Diana inside his cloak.

“…What are you doing?”

“I want to kidnap you.”

“Trying to reconcile this way?”

“I’m sorry if I acted like your superior. But that wasn’t my intention. You’re my one and only life partner, so I can’t help but react sensitively to your safety. You know that too.”

“Can the person who went to war at thirteen without a word say that…?”

“Now I understand your feelings. So don’t worry like me and live safely and happily in the castle. So that I can return to you.”

Diana rubbed her face against his warm chest and pinched his hateful waist several times.

No matter how tightly she pinched, there was only thin skin over the firm muscles wrapping his upper body, but…

Perhaps ticklish from that touch, Raoul shuddered and pulled Diana out from his cloak.

Diana, nestled in his arms with only her face peeking out, looked up at Raoul’s face.

With her eyes drooping innocently like a puppy, she stared at him resentfully, the area around her eyes red.

Just like an embarrassed person.

“In this situation… what are you thinking…”

Ah, Raoul in love was honest in both body and mind.

Diana quickly escaped from his large embrace and went inside the counter of the medicinal shop.

“…Where are you going?”

His cute behavior of following closely made her heart waver, but she pulled herself together.

‘No matter how much you plead, I will proceed according to my plan.’

Of course, she had no intention of telling the truth to the worried Raoul.