I should stop being a temporary pair. Beside him, I keep having unnecessary wishes.

There are many excuses I can use. I can say we don’t seem to be a good match, or that he doesn’t seem to need a mage.

The moment I thought ‘he doesn’t need me’, my face flushed red as if it was burning. Even though no one was looking, Jade pulled the blanket over and buried her face in it.

Oh my, swordsmanship.

It was fortunate that Blake quickly drove Bellita away. I didn’t want to reveal my sinking feeling and embarrassment.

So, while Axel was dealing with monsters, there must not have been a single moment when he needed Jade. Since he can use swordsmanship, other mages who are better at defensive magic would have been preferable to her, who tends to use magic to increase attack power.

Of course, Jade could also use flames to make monsters falter or drive them away, but she was lacking defensively compared to other mages who could create physical barriers.

What happened at the lakeside of Atanase Forest came to mind. Running down the dark path to use magic, not knowing if she could do it. She had cheered for him. Feeling joy at being able to help him.

“So, I actually interfered… with what he was handling well on his own.”

Out of shame, her feet started kicking furiously on their own.

After struggling on the bed for a while, Jade lay sprawled out in exhaustion. As her lips parted, a deranged laugh flowed out.

“Haha… whew…”

Sometimes she had thought that even though they were just a temporary pair, they matched so well that it was a shame to call it temporary. That her magic seemed to flow into him without any waste, that’s how well they matched.

Others had also evaluated them that way, so she didn’t doubt it. No, she didn’t want to doubt it. Because she liked Axel, she wanted to believe they really were a good match.

But if he was skilled enough in the flow of magic to be able to wield swordsmanship, he would have also known well how to use the power Jade overlaid on him without waste. Even if he didn’t know, he probably would have reacted instinctively.

“It wasn’t that we were a good match, it was natural for him…”

Only a hollow laugh filled the small space.

As always, Axel didn’t need Jade. Not at all.

It was always Jade Broen who was curious about and needed Axel.

It was the perfect day to end everything. In a rational sense.

As Blake had advised, taking a sip of the medicine every time she woke up, Jade’s condition was much better the next morning.

But separately from that, for the first time in a very long time, she had a nightmare. The hands of people pressing down on her body from dozens of places, squeezing.

“I don’t know if I should say it was fortunate that thanks to it, I woke up and took the medicine well on time.”

Shrugging her shoulders as if it was nothing, she quickly sat up, curious about what conclusion had been reached about Leon Vince’s swordsmanship.

As soon as she washed up and tidied herself, she went out. Thinking that there would be many people near the meeting room inside Callen’s castle, she turned her body in that direction.

“Eek, what the!”

“Ah, greetings…”

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Genersan hiding with a gloomy face.

Startled, Jade screeched.

“Wh-what are you doing there?”

“I… I don’t deserve to stand in the sunlight…”

Jade rolled her eyes and nodded.

“Yes. Then stay there.”

“You are too much. You could at least offer a word of comfort!”

“Why would I do that? Just stay there in the shade.”

As she spoke coldly, Genersan instead got up and started following her around. And he began drearily pouring out his gloom and its cause that she hadn’t even asked about.

“I am too foolish. What’s the use of being tight-lipped if I can’t lie properly and it shows through? When someone asks me what I know, my heart pounds, the flesh near my beard flushes red, and my tongue st-stammers…”

“Oh, how fascinating.”

Jade roughly nodded with disinterested eyes, but Genersan didn’t seem to notice at all.

“Isn’t it similar to wielding a sword? The moment you vividly feel the blood flowing through your veins. But I don’t get that nervous when using a sword, so why when I have to lie!”

“How about doing it a lot?”

“What’s good about having many occasions to lie?”

Clicking her tongue, Jade looked at Genersan with slumped shoulders.

“You’re not the eldest son, right?”

“I’m the third…”

“Are you set to inherit the household?”

“No.”

“Then just live like that. But don’t get involved in business. Ah, and don’t go to the gambling house either.”

So he couldn’t lie. Then it was the truth that Axel could use swordsmanship.

Jade inwardly assured herself that last night, except for her, there wouldn’t have been a single knight or mage who had properly fallen asleep.

That’s how big of a deal it was. The mages would have been surprised that a knight who didn’t need a mage pair at all had appeared, and the knights would have felt a sense of self-reproach as they actually faced a knight who had become able to use magic while they had fallen into indolence.

In the distance, the entrance leading to Callen’s castle could be seen.

Now that the reconstruction was picking up speed, the entrance where iron bars had been missing was neat, and the soldiers were standing in formation, in their own way.

Jade walked calmly with Genersan annoyingly continuing to follow her.

What should I say if Axel talks to me? Of course, I have to pretend it’s nothing, but I really need to say it’s better to stop being temporary pairs. He’ll definitely ask why, right? There are many excuses, but what should I say to make it sound most natural?

And the moment she was about to fall into deep thought, the terrifyingly fast sound of horse hooves struck her ears, and a horse ran across in front of them.

The flag attached to the back of the thin and small-framed rider was…

“Golden?”

“Oh my, it’s His Majesty’s coat of arms. It’s the King’s flag!”

Then that was a messenger sent by the King of El Cion. Leaving behind the fussing Genersan, Jade quickly ran after it.

Entering Callen’s castle and heading to the large space on the first floor that was often used as a meeting room, people were already milling about.

Blake, whose red hair seemed even more buoyant today, spotted Jade and shouted.

“Jade! Are you feeling better?”

“Yeah. I’m fine. Just now the messenger…”

“That’s right. Duke Leon received a letter from His Majesty.”

Everyone around was clearly tense. Using a messenger instead of a pigeon post, and even sending a person directly across the border. It must be important content.

Far away, Axel could be seen standing. He was looking down at the paper with calm eyes. His large hand crumpled the rustling paper a few times.

Only a noisy silence filled the surroundings. Finally, his well-shaped lips slowly parted.

“Sending infinite and complete trust to Duke Leon Vince, the commander-in-chief leading the subjugation force.”

Jade thought the beginning of the letter sent by the King was surprising. No one who had led the subjugation force would have ever received such an intimate introduction.

“Commending the efforts of the subjugation force.”

At that moment, Jade’s eyes met Axel’s. His gaze was stained with things she couldn’t understand the meaning of, so she couldn’t comprehend it. It was ambiguous whether it was positive or negative.

“Now that the objective has been achieved, lead them and return.”

Cheers erupted from all the subjugation force members surrounding them.

Because the end of the mission hadn’t been properly set, no one knew how long the schedule would be extended, but now the return was finally determined. Joy burst out from those who had to leave their families behind.

Even in the midst of such a commotion, Axel’s gaze didn’t leave her. It was the same for Jade.

The gaze of only looking at each other, standing at a distance with many people in between, had a peculiar edge.

But the one who turned her body first was Jade.

She walked away, tap-tap. She was thinking of slowly packing her luggage back in the borrowed room.

There was no need to say let’s stop being temporary pairs. It’s really the end now.

She tried hard to suppress the stupid regret deep into the innermost part of her heart. She thought she had sorted it all out yesterday, but that wasn’t the case. She just repeatedly told herself in her head.

It was bound to happen. It’s no big deal. It’s just going back to the way it was.

When I go back, I’ll pick a decent-looking knight and have an engagement ceremony right away. Hank Melling was a strong candidate, but there might be someone else.

I’ll have my coming-of-age ceremony and become the family head. I’ll seize everything my parents left me. Then I’ll really be able to do as I please.

But the moment she recalled the vines winding around the walls of the manor, her breath became stuffy and she stopped walking. Staring down at the leather-wrapped tips of her feet, Jade took several deep breaths.

It’s because my throat is swollen from the cold and my airway is narrow. That’s what it is…

“Jade Broen!”

Then a familiar voice was heard from behind. Low, resonant, and at some point, a gentle intimacy had seeped in.

The sound of footsteps that seemed deliberately made so as not to startle her had a very constant interval.

Her breathing was still stuffy. Jade didn’t raise her head.

“Jade.”

That person was very close behind her back. Close enough to feel body heat.

She was still wiggling her toes inside her leather shoes. She was slowly moving her tongue inside her mouth, hoping her voice would be very clear.

“Why are you out here like this? Can you come out in this state? You had a low fever, has it gone down a bit?”

Still not answering, she communicated with herself. Fortunately, there were hardly any people around. Only a few passing residents of Lund’s territory could be seen occasionally looking with curious eyes.

It seemed that the El Cion subjugation force had gathered together to share the joy of returning home.

Slowly, she turned her body around. She craned her head up and met his gaze.

What emotion could be glimpsed in those eyes? Worry? Or joy? She couldn’t read his eyes today.

“I know how to rest. Why wouldn’t I?”

Axel, who had been quietly examining her face, tilted his head slightly.

“Are you angry?”