“The fragrance is nice, isn’t it? Down there is a wide plain where they grow grapes to make wine. The wine made at that winery is probably the best on this continent.”

“Indeed it is. I’ve never had wine with such a rich aroma before.”

Roxiana decided to put aside her worries for a moment and focus on this banquet. She couldn’t miss this opportunity at a banquet she attended to win people’s hearts by thinking of other things.

Contrary to her worries about feeling awkward, everyone addressed a few words to Roxiana, leaving no room for boredom. Even Arsen approached Roxiana, saying, “The wolf has grown bigger.”

For the first time in a very long while, Roxiana genuinely enjoyed herself, forgetting the darkness surrounding her.

However, there was one thing that bothered her: Floyd’s attitude. Unlike other times when he would have been the most talkative, he remained silent, quietly observing Roxiana.

‘Why is he looking at me like that?’

Perhaps he had noticed her intentions.

Originally, Roxiana had planned to speak well with the knights and ask to be taken along on the subjugation. She intended to persuade them that having someone with the power to revive forests would be of at least some help.

But because of his persistent gaze, she couldn’t bring herself to speak up. She was afraid that if she mentioned it, he would flare up in anger as he always did. Moreover, he seemed to be in a particularly bad mood for some reason.

The night deepened without Roxiana having a chance to bring up the topic of subjugation. As it got quite late, Floyd abruptly stood up.

“We depart tomorrow, so drink moderately and head in. Anyone groaning from a hangover will be left behind.”

“Yes, sir!”

Hearing the knights’ resounding response, Floyd turned to Roxiana.

“Princess, let’s take a walk. Shan, you come along too.”

“Me too.”

As Hexten jumped up, Floyd silently glared at him. Hexten shrugged his shoulders.

“As you know, I’ve sworn an oath as a knight to the princess, and I’m staying in Torkan to protect her this time. So whatever you’re going to discuss, it would be better if I knew…”

“Do as you please.”

Floyd cut off Hexten’s rambling words. Hexten grinned and nodded slightly to Roxiana. She felt a little relieved at this.

It was reassuring to have a knight commander who spoke his mind accompanying them, even though his lord seemed to be in a very bad mood.

Floyd and Roxiana walked side by side, with Kirshan and Hexten following a little behind. Floyd remained silent as they left the training grounds and crossed the wide garden.

Eventually, Floyd and Roxiana sat side by side on a bench in front of a pond in the Lily Palace garden. Kirshan and Hexten stood at attention on either side of the bench.

Roxiana glanced at Floyd, who remained silent even after sitting on the bench. He seemed lost in deep thought, his ash-gray eyes fixed on the pond.

She felt uneasy, unable to discern what emotions were held in those eyes that shone quietly beneath his reddish-brown hair.

“The temple has sent troops to Kanta.”

Floyd suddenly began speaking. His gaze was still directed at the pond.

“Monsters pour out constantly from the newly formed rift. Even for holy knights, it won’t be easy to deal with such a large number of monsters. The temple will hold back until the holy knights return from finishing their work in Kanta.”

“Then we’ve bought a few months of time.”

“That’s right. Rumors about the mysterious woman who revived the forest will soon reach the Great Temple. But since the source of those rumors is Torkan, even the Great Temple won’t move carelessly. They’ll wait until enough troops return to face me.”

“Once the Kanta affair is settled and the holy knights have had enough rest, they’ll send an investigation team straight to Torkan, won’t they?”

“Of course, that investigation team won’t reach Torkan. I’ll find a way to ensure that.”

She had thought she would have to beg. To ask for help not to be captured by the temple, to offer something in return for such a favor.

She never expected him to say so easily that he would protect her.

Unsure how to respond to this inexplicable consideration, she whispered.

“I’m sorry, because of me…”

“No, let’s not say sorry. You returned a place to live for my people, and in return, I’m protecting you. There’s nothing for either of us to be sorry about.”

She turned to look at him as he spoke firmly. He still wore an unpleasant expression as he gazed at the pond.

‘Why is he so angry? Is it because an unnecessary war might break out because of me?’

Floyd felt her anxious gaze but couldn’t bring himself to look at her. He felt that if he saw her innocent eyes, he might not be able to suppress his rising anger and would rush off to Gania right away.

It was very troubling. Why wouldn’t this anger subside? Even getting angry wouldn’t change anything. It was just a past event that couldn’t be undone now. He should be focusing on what needed to be done going forward.

Why.

– “They killed their families! Threw them into the well! So they couldn’t even smell the scent of Adelia flowers! They threw them into the well and sealed it!”

Roxiana’s face as she screamed, her voice drenched in despair, clung to him and wouldn’t let go. That desperate cry, not fading despite the passage of time, continued to gnaw at Floyd’s heart.

Usually, no matter how angry he got, a cool beer would calm him down, but why didn’t he even feel like having a beer now?

Floyd spoke, suppressing his rising fury.

“I’m taking Kirshan on this subjugation because he needs to treat the injured. But throughout the journey, he’ll be researching ways to completely erase the brand. As soon as we return, we’ll get rid of that damn brand. Right, Kirshan?”

“Yes, my lord. I’ve already been considering various methods.”

“After that, I’ll give you a new identity, Princess. Perhaps changing your name and surname might also be a way to protect you from your enemies. So think about your new identity until I return.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Floyd roughly rubbed his face with both hands.

“Two months. I’ll finish the job and return in just two months. Without fail. During these two months, there shouldn’t be any problems in Torkan, but even if there are, Hexten will handle them. So don’t think about solving things yourself, rely on Hexten. He’s always going on about his knight’s oath, so he’ll protect you with his life.”

Hexten thumped his left chest with his fist as if to affirm this. As Floyd waved his hand, Hexten and Kirshan moved away. After they were sufficiently far, Floyd spoke.

“As I said earlier, as soon as I return, I’ll find a way to recover the remains of the Franche royal family.”

“It will be a difficult and dangerous task.”

“I know.”

“Will the knights agree? It could potentially pose a great danger to all of Torkan, yet so easily…”

“It wasn’t easy, Princess. This is enough. You’ve done enough, and I’ve thought about it enough. So please, stop doing things that make me anxious. Don’t do anything else that risks your life. Do you understand me?”

He truly looked anxious, and Roxiana couldn’t understand why he was so worried.

Roxiana was nothing to him, and he was nothing to her, so why was he acting as if there was ‘something’ between them?

Roxiana looked at his profile, which still seemed angry. Only then did he turn to look at her for the first time. After their gazes intertwined in the air, Roxiana realized that he wasn’t angry, but anxious.

The starlight in his gray eyes flickered unsteadily. Some emotion, both familiar and unfamiliar, resided in his eyes.

Roxiana suddenly wondered if a similar emotion was reflected in her own eyes.

Staring at Roxiana as if to devour her with his intense gaze, he said.

“I’m going to kiss you.”

“Pardon?”

“You still look like you might scatter away.”

She couldn’t avoid his face as it drew closer. No, she didn’t avoid it. For some reason, she didn’t feel like avoiding it.

His large hand gently cupped the back of Roxiana’s head, and his warm lips overlapped with hers. His scent, entering naturally between her parted lips, was sweet. Something hot and mellow rising from him enveloped Roxiana’s entire body delicately.

Roxiana felt like crying for some reason.

Not because she disliked it, but for some other reason. Because of some emotion that felt like it might burst from her heart.

Before she could realize what it was, his lips parted from hers. Seeing her reddened eyes, he slightly furrowed his brow. He gently wiped her eyes, which looked ready to spill tears at any moment, with his thumb.

“You probably don’t like it.”

Roxiana’s throat choked up, preventing her from saying that wasn’t the case. The thumb that had wiped away her welling tears now rubbed her lips.

“But I’ve decided to do this whenever you look like you might break. It seems to make you a little stronger.”

Though it wasn’t particularly meaningful content, his voice sounded like a terribly sweet temptation. His low voice stuck to Roxiana’s ears like honey.

“So please, Princess, don’t do anything reckless. Every time you do, I’ll think you want to kiss me.”

“Your Highness…”

Thinking that her trembling voice didn’t sound like her own, Roxiana asked.