He grasped her chin, closed her parted lips, and whispered.

Eventually, he looked at Adel with eyes completely devoid of laughter.

Holding her cheeks with both hands, he gazed at her silently before embracing her with a sigh.

“Please be careful and come back safely.”

Adel realized his hands and voice were trembling faintly. Just like someone gripped by a profound anxiety.

He soon released Adel from his arms. And left the tent without looking back.

The magic Valentin left behind stimulated her magic well like a priming water.

Adel took off her bracelet after a long time and freely drew up magic.

At first, it was difficult to materialize even a sphere the size of a pinky nail, but gradually she could increase its size to half a fist.

‘Is it because the magic Valentin left is sufficient? Practice is going smoothly.’

The summoned magic bodies floated around her just like small fireflies.

As if knowing who had summoned them, they split into small clusters of light and quickly followed whenever Adel moved.

They were just like small birds or fish loyally following their owner.

“Your Highness. Are you inside?”

Sensing someone approaching the tent, Adel hurriedly dispersed the magic bodies. At the same time, the tent’s curtain was lifted.

“Your Highness? Oh my… Were you hot?”

Margaret, who entered carrying a tray with simple refreshments, looked startled.

Margaret, who had arrived late at dawn after being trapped in a carriage last night, seemed to be overflowing with energy thanks to resting well until morning.

“Why are you sweating so much… You said you were planning to visit the bustling area today. You haven’t fallen ill again, have you?”

“It’s not that. I was feeling a bit stuffy, so I exercised.”

“In here?”

Margaret asked dubiously, but soon composed her expression.

It seemed she judged it wasn’t something she should be curious about. Instead, she added some gentle advice.

“No matter how good exercise is for the body, suddenly increasing it is worse than not doing it at all. You’ll end up bedridden again if you overexert yourself like this.”

Adel smiled sheepishly as she brushed away the hair sticking to her face with sweat.

She had been so focused on practicing magic that she didn’t even realize she was sweating this much.

That it was this tiring… She felt completely drained, as if she had been flailing in deep water and barely rescued.

Margaret said, rolling up her sleeves:

“Please stay still. I’ll quickly prepare bath water for you.”

“Um, won’t that make us late? I said I’d return before the evening banquet…”

“If we start preparing now, it will take about an hour, so even if we depart then, we’ll arrive shortly after lunch. That should be enough time for you to take care of your business and return.”

“Then let’s do that.”

Adel nodded readily.

Soon Margaret returned with two servants carrying a large wooden bathtub.

Adel quickly undressed and washed her body and hair thoroughly with soap.

After drying off completely and changing into a new dress, Margaret brought her the reheated soup.

“While the carriage is being prepared, shall I bring you some more fruit?”

“Thank you, but this is enough. I’m not very hungry…”

It would be terrible if she got motion sickness from putting food in her sensitive stomach. Adel took a few spoonfuls out of consideration for Margaret’s thoughtfulness, but eventually pushed the tray away.

“Rather, I’d like to get some fresh air.”

“Then wear a shawl so you don’t get cold.”

Adel received Margaret’s meticulous care and lifted the tent’s curtain to step outside.

As soon as she did, the warmly shining sunlight hit her face directly, dazzling her eyes. She raised her head, shielding her eyes with the back of her hand.

The weather was exceptionally fine and the air was clear and cold. Whenever the wind blew, the bare tree branches clashed with a rustling sound.

“The carriage wheel is causing trouble, so we can depart once that’s replaced. By the way, Sir Donovan volunteered to be the escort today… but I don’t see him anywhere.”

“There’s still time, so it’s fine to take it slowly. I’ll take a short walk nearby then.”

“Will you?”

Margaret looked around with conflicted eyes, then said as if she had made up her mind.

“I’ll go back to the knights’ quarters for now. I’ll return as quickly as possible, so please don’t go too far.”

“Alright.”

Adel moved towards the boundary between the forest and the clearing, leaving Margaret’s worries behind.

Despite the numerous tents, there were few people wandering outside.

Except for a few servants busily preparing large cauldrons of boiling water and huge bonfires, there was hardly any sign of people.

Some noblewomen had moved to the emperor’s villa, and it seemed the rest had all gone hunting.

Adel walked along the boundary, thoroughly enjoying the scent of grass and the air.

‘This feels nice.’

She couldn’t remember the last time she felt this free since coming to the capital.

Ever since she fell ill once, it was clear that Valentin thought she would collapse from even the slightest cold breeze.

Or perhaps he thought all the terrifying creatures in the world were targeting only her.

‘Otherwise, there’s no reason he would be so wary of such trivial outings.’

He had always been obsessively concerned about her whereabouts, but since coming to the capital, it sometimes felt excessive.

Of course, she knew he was doing this out of worry for her, but sometimes it felt suffocating.

Adel let out a deep sigh and lowered her head, then opened her eyes wide. A small spring flower was blooming at her feet.

‘Ah, flowers already.’

Although the weather had warmed, the ground was still frozen in patches.

The bright yellow flower that had bravely bloomed in such conditions was both cute and fascinating. Just as she was crouching down to take a closer look, feeling touched:

“Adelheit?”

Startled by the sudden call of her name, Adel looked up with a start.

No sooner had she done so than a large shadow fell over her head.

“What are you doing here?”

The man wasn’t entirely unfamiliar to her.

In fact, to tell the truth, he was one of the more acquainted men she could meet in the imperial palace.

Crown Prince Mikhail. She had encountered him several times, no, quite often before her marriage, as Charlotte’s fiancé.

Adel hurriedly stood up, almost bumping her head into Mikhail’s face.

“Cr-Crown Prince Your Highness.”

As soon as the golden head shot up, the crown prince nimbly pulled his face back.

Thanks to this, Adel narrowly escaped the charge of causing irreparable damage to the crown prince’s sacred body.

Mikhail blinked, seemingly surprised by her excessive reaction, then burst into laughter.

“That’s quite an intense greeting.”

“A-Are you alright? I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were coming suddenly, so I was startled…”

“You were looking at the flower.”

He said, casting his gaze to where Adel had been sitting.

Following his gaze, Adel lowered her head and discovered the bright yellow petals miserably crushed.

In her panic and fluster, she had accidentally stepped on it.

Adel’s face subtly crumpled upon seeing this. But she quickly composed her expression.

“What brings Your Highness here?”

“How are you? I heard you were ill.”

He suddenly asked about her well-being. Adel slightly raised her gaze that had been fixed on the ground.

With the sunlight behind him, it was difficult to read Mikhail’s expression.

Was it concern? Or pretense? Whatever it was, the crown prince’s interest was merely an uncomfortable meddling for someone already married to another.

Adel lowered her gaze again politely.

“I’m sorry, but as soon as I came to the imperial palace, I ended up causing great trouble for the Grand Duke and His Majesty. It was my carelessness in managing my health.”

“Let me see your face. You seem to have lost weight.”

As he reached out his hand as if to grasp her chin, Adel reflexively blocked it as if pushing his hand away.

Finding himself suddenly rejected by her, Mikhail blinked before breaking into a bitter smile.

“There’s no need to be so guarded. The one I resent is your husband, not you.”

“…”

“I’m just glad to see your face like this. It’s been three years, hasn’t it?”

“…”

“We used to run into each other whenever I visited the Reichenau estate. Don’t you remember? I thought we were close enough for me to be concerned about you.”

“…Of course, I appreciate your concern.”

Adel barely swallowed the uncomfortable emotion that had risen like a protruding nail.

Mikhail’s one-sided favor always made her uneasy.

Even in the past, he didn’t hide his gaze towards her even in Charlotte’s presence. How should one describe that gaze?

As if licking a candy wrapper, or as if looking at something very regrettable…

If she hadn’t been married and he hadn’t been engaged to Charlotte, it might have been somewhat understandable.

Sometimes, those of high status would turn their attention to those of much lower status, like a special treat.

But while that might have been understandable a few years ago, now…

“By the way, it seems they’re preparing a carriage. Do you have somewhere to go?”

At Mikhail’s words, Adel gripped her skirt tightly, as if on guard.

“I have some personal business.”

“That’s perfect. I was just about to return to the imperial palace. Ride in my carriage.”

“…Aren’t you attending the hunting festival?”

“I’ve become busy because of your husband. I’d better be careful, lest I lose my fiancée right before my eyes.”

Lose his fiancée right before his eyes? At these incomprehensible words, Adel raised her head abruptly, and Mikhail covered his mouth with a troubled expression.

“Ah, perhaps you haven’t heard from the Grand Duke?”