It wasn’t difficult to get to the Enardi region. Other items were sent in advance, and the magician sent by the king transported her to the vicinity in an instant.

As soon as she arrived, she felt it was a bit cold.

Since the Jisen Kingdom is attached to the northwest border of the El Sion Kingdom, it was spring near the capital, but the weather was still cold here.

There was a moderately large building on a wide plot of land. It seemed to have been requisitioned from a small lord.

As she approached, soldiers checked her identity and opened the door.

“Hmm.”

Jade admired the excessively pointed ceiling. Perhaps because we’ve come so far north? The building style of the Enardi region was very different from Broen Castle.

“Hello.”

“Oh, it’s been a long time.”

As she had a long history with the subjugation squad, occasionally familiar people passed by and greeted her. Jade smiled and welcomed them back.

“Didn’t you say you just had a baby?”

“Haha, I guess I’ve been part of the subjugation squad for quite a while. That child is already two years old now. She’s got teeth!”

“I don’t know much, but I bet she’s as cute as a rabbit. You must have been reluctant to leave for the subjugation.”

“Indeed. I can still see her waving goodbye. I said I’d be back in two nights, but now this.”

Still, there were many more unfamiliar faces than usual.

That’s probably because we’ll be facing powerful monsters across the Jisen border this time. It felt like particularly experienced knights had gathered. The wrinkles etched on their faces were marks of their expertise.

The knight who had been exchanging greetings finally stopped bragging about his daughter and said with a hearty laugh,

“The command center should be that way. I’ll see you again soon!”

Jade thanked him and headed for the largest door in the hallway. The soldiers standing in front of it grabbed the doorknob and pulled it open for her.

Inside was a very spacious room. In the center of the vast space was a round table, with people standing around it. It was a good day, and strong beams of light poured in through the small high windows.

There were several people, but closest to the round table were those who were obviously knights by their build. They were exchanging opinions in low voices, but from the distance, it just sounded like a buzzing noise to Jade.

Her gaze naturally passed over the knights and found a familiar face in the corner. A magician with distinctive red hair, a magician Jade was close to. Blake.

Jade was about to approach the magician to greet him.

Suddenly feeling a sense of déjà vu, she quickly retraced her gaze. Towards someone’s back at the center of the gathered knights.

It was nothing special except for having a very fine body.

But the jet-black hair that seemed to absorb light rather than reflect it when illuminated, the long neckline behind it, and the shoulders spread at right angles. From the broad back that felt like a wall to the straight arms and legs.

It was just like Axel.

These days, she had reached a state where she naturally overlaid him on everything without suppressing her thoughts. So Jade calmly thought.

I’ve gone mad again. I’m overlaying him on someone’s back for no reason.

“What are you doing standing there? Has your eyesight gotten worse? Or have you been poisoned?”

Wanting to kick Rigel, who was worriedly or teasingly speaking in a familiar voice from behind, Jade took a step. And then froze like a stone again.

Because she came face to face with bright gray eyes that had turned at the noisy sound.

“Uh…?”

A stupid sound escaped between her lips.

She knew how foolish her face must look right now. Eyes wide open, cheeks flushed hot, lips parted stupidly. How ridiculous she must look to the man facing her.

Nevertheless, she had neither the composure to recover nor the leisure to look away.

His beauty, which instantly crossed the long distance, overwhelmed her. The image of Axel she had in her mind was not even half as splendid as the real thing.

Not just his appearance, but the aura he exuded was powerful.

The essence he couldn’t hide even in the forest finally shone here. The black armor and high-rising gloves transformed him into the perfect image of a knight.

While she was stumblingly recognizing him, he too did not take his eyes off her. It was an intense gaze.

It felt like a very fleeting moment. But it probably wasn’t.

“Lady Jade! Ah, you’ll have a hard time again this time. What on earth happened last time? Arlo was just crying his eyes out, saying it was all his fault.”

Someone spoke cheerfully. Jade, who had completely forgotten her surroundings, jumped in surprise as if struck by lightning. Even then, she kept her gaze fixed, afraid he might disappear if she looked away for a moment.

“Y-Yes?”

“You’ve been through a lot, yet you’ve come to the subjugation squad again. You’re still just the heir, not even the official head of the Broen family yet. His Majesty is being too harsh.”

“Y-Yes, that’s right….”

The eyebrows of the face she was facing raised crookedly. Jade’s mind was still frozen, so she didn’t know why.

No, but is what I’m seeing real?

She wanted to grab someone right away and ask if they could see that man. If they said they couldn’t see him, she’d hit her head hard, and if they said they could, she’d run to him right away.

Of course, she couldn’t do any of that. All Jade could do now was stare at that man. Praying inwardly that he wouldn’t disappear like a mirage.

“You can go sit over there. I hope we can move together this time too. We worked well together, didn’t we?”

A kind voice pushed Jade, but she still couldn’t move. The clear and beautiful gray eyes were still wrapping around her ankles like a spider’s web.

The woman who had spoken tilted her head curiously and walked towards the round table.

“Have you heard who the overall commander is this time?”

I hadn’t realized it, but Rigel was still nearby. He twisted his body beside her and asked.

“It wasn’t written on the list. It won’t be Lady Jade, right? Well, since you didn’t complete the mission last time, His Majesty probably wouldn’t appoint Lady Jade as the overall commander if he’s thinking straight.”

Finally, Axel, or the man who looked exactly like Axel, turned his head. Only then could Jade breathe properly.

“Lady Jade?”

“Huh? What?”

“I asked if you’ve heard about the overall commander.”

“No…. You.”

“You haven’t heard, right? With the schedule being this tight, I wonder if anything is being properly organized.”

Rigel grumbled and walked ahead of her. Jade followed him, still looking dazed.

Before she could properly come to her senses, the large space was suddenly teeming with people. Some of them naturally approached the round table and sat down. Jade was pulled by someone kind and seated.

In the blink of an eye, the round table was finally filled, leaving only one seat empty.

Then, last of all, ‘that man’ sat down opposite Jade. It was the most central seat, with the El Sion emblem set up behind it.

Ah, so it’s not an illusion. A seat was left for him.

Her heart, which she had barely managed to calm, started pounding again. Her ears were ringing, her lips were dry, and her fingertips were fidgeting nervously.

Could it really be Axel? If so, why had he left the forest and come here? No, how could he be here among the command of the subjugation squad?

She wished everyone around would disappear right now. So she could have time to talk with him alone.

Jade was about to go crazy with impatience.

But now that she confirmed that man was real, she didn’t have the courage to meet his eyes, even though earlier she couldn’t take her eyes off him.

If she looked into his eyes again, she would lose her mind again. Like that magician sitting a couple of seats over.

Jade kept her gaze only around the man’s shoulders, then turned her head completely to the person sitting on his right.

Now that she looked, the knight sitting on the ‘man’s’ right was someone Jade knew too. Of course, it was just one-sided recognition, but that knight was the ruler of a renowned northern family, who had inherited the title above viscount.

What was his name again? Was it Ives Greer? Viscount Greer. A renowned knight from the north.

She got a rough idea. The people sitting around the round table were the command of the western subjugation squad from a while ago and the command of the northern subjugation squad. Except for Axel.

The Jisen Kingdom bordered the northwest part of the El Sion Kingdom….

“Let’s start by sorting out this unfamiliar atmosphere. It seems His Majesty has mostly gathered people with experience in subjugation squads, but we seem unfamiliar with each other.”

The knight sitting to Axel’s left spoke first. That woman had firm eyes and a gentle mouth. She looked older than Jade, but her upturned eyes were charming.

“I’m Grace Tanner. I don’t have a territory, but I received a knighthood from His Majesty and mostly stayed in the north conducting subjugations.”

“So you belonged to the northern subjugation squad.”

“That’s right. I guess those who haven’t seen me mostly belonged to the western subjugation squad.”

The woman smiled and looked for the next person to lead the conversation.

No sooner had the woman finished speaking than many people looked at Jade. The reason would be that Jade had led the most recent western subjugation squad.

Of course, it ended with her falling into the Athanase Forest and being reported missing, but it was clearly Jade, the heir of the Broen family, whom the king had chosen at that time.

She was one of the magicians of the El Sion Kingdom with a very long history in subjugation squads. So she had been given the opportunity to lead others solely based on her position as heir.

Feeling everyone’s expectation—you speak first—Jade calmly slapped her own cheek. People looked at her as if she was crazy, but it finally brought her to her senses.

She steeled herself. For now, let’s not look at Axel. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be able to speak a single word properly!