After returning to Even Bahur, Scathach was forced to live in the admiral’s quarters. It was under the pretext of being the personal physician to the injured admiral.

The emperor Attila no longer stayed at the admiral’s quarters.

It was because he had gone back to Corvus, furious at Admiral Blahnath, who had summarily executed Ezra’s mercenaries without a word.

In fact, the admiral had the authority to execute a spy on the spot, but Emperor Attila realized that it was not the admiral who had killed the rebels, but anger at Scathach’s interference.

So, Scathach had also heard the emperor’s angry voice shouting through the opened entrance of the quarters, “Do as you wish, you damn dog!”

The only thing Scathach had done in the past few days, under the pretense of being a physician, was to fix his injured shoulder with a bandage in the early mornings and help him dress in his uniform since his arm was inconvenient.

What kind of physician wears such a luxurious blouse and satin skirt? Moreover, a physician without a medical license at that.

As everyone, including Scathach, knew, being a physician was just an excuse. But as Cassard had said, people thought he was obsessed with Scathach, yet they did not criticize his decision.

The admiral seemed merely distressed after barely saving his lover from drowning.

During the day, she stayed alone in his quarters reading books, and at night, she fell asleep in his arms. That was Scathach’s daily routine lately.

He was sometimes away at night for meetings or strategy, and then he would call Eriu to be with Scathach.

“If you were alive, I wanted you to run far away.”

Eriu said with a bitter smile.

“I thought it would be a big problem if you came back since His Majesty doubted you.”

Scathach knew that the nurses who had shared her lodging had been taken away for interrogation.

When she was taken to the isolation ward, her first conversation with Lakan mentioned the testimony of a nurse who saw that she had a gun.

The meaningful conversation could not happen because Cassard came in and shot the rebel before she could be properly interrogated.

“Eriu……. I’m sorry.”

Thinking that Eriu might not want to be with her if he had also suffered because of her, Scathach began by apologizing.

“I’m fine. Are you…… okay?”

Is it okay to live like this?

Is it okay to live like this by the admiral’s side forever?

Words that Eriu could not bring himself to say were conveyed through his eyes. Scathach did not answer that question.

Her fellow nurses were still wearing stiff nursing uniforms, massaging Burton’s hands, and busy working in the field hospital. She knew it wasn’t something to be proud of, spending time in the admiral’s quarters, dressed in highquality fabric that unraveled at the slightest scratch.

“……Thank you, Eriu.”

Scathach spent her time arranging the belongings Eriu had brought from her lodging. There was nothing special, but inside the simple luggage was a promissory note she had received from Cassard.

It was money she had originally planned to return to him with contempt when leaving Even Bahur.

But now she had changed her mind. With this, she could leave his side at any moment and settle wherever she wanted.

(This is a time separator.)

During the time in Cassard’s quarters, he occasionally kissed Scathach against her will, but never humiliated her by forcing himself on her.

All he did was hold her small body as if to apologize when she fell asleep at night.

In the daytime, he brought Nix to the quarters and watched Scathach hugging Nix or playing with Nix for a long time before going out.

And then this morning.

As she had been doing lately, Scathach emotionlessly unwrapped the bandage that had been fixed on Cassard’s shoulder.

“You don’t need to wear the bandage anymore.”

“Scathach.”

“Don’t call me by my name.”

“You still don’t want to talk to me?”

“……. ”

“What can I do to make you forgive me?”
“……Please return the necklace. Stop with the absurd requests like some kind of caretaker, and send me back to my quarters.”

At Scathach’s request, he let out a chuckle. It was not a laugh of joy.

“It seems you don’t want to calm down, but rather leave.”

“It’s natural to leave after the army is disbanded, whether or not I’m angry. There’s no need to explain further on this issue, as you know.”

Seeing Scathach respond as though it were not an issue worth considering, his scornful laugh faded away.

Frustrated, Cassard tousled his hair and suddenly embraced Scathach.

“Please, Scathach.”

Scathach did not resist at all. No, she did not show any reaction.

When he embraced her, her arms hung down, and she simply stayed still. He knew all too well that it frustrated him more…

Cassard pressed his lips to Scathach’s unresponsive lips, as if pleading.

“You know, without you, I…”

“Your Majesty, it’s Lakan.”

At the sound coming from the front of the tent, he let out a long sigh and released Scathach. Cassard, who had intended to say a few more words, gave up and admitted Lakan into the tent.