The peaceful daily routine flowed without any deviation from the plan.
Occasionally, when passing through an alley, the memory of lips meeting his and the accompanying flush of heat would envelop my entire body, but that was all.
The stirring emotions quickly found calm and moved on leisurely.
Today too, without fail, the daily routine continued uninterrupted.
After writing project reports at the Magic Tower, completing minor administrative tasks, and finishing reports to be submitted to the Imperial Palace.
As I absently looked up at the sky, I saw a crowd of people bustling in the distance.
Most of them were murmuring while looking at something.
My senior, who was among them, saw something and entered the building with a dark expression, taking large strides.
‘What’s going on?’
As I got up from my seat and stepped outside, my senior, who had already entered the building, approached with quick steps.
The deep wrinkles above his brow made me instantly sense that something had happened.
“What’s the matter?”
He sighed deeply and handed me a private daily newspaper.
The contents written in bold letters caught my eye quickly.
My hand holding the newspaper began to tremble.
‘War…’
Judging by the new royal family’s stance in the Nortons Kingdom, this was a predictable course of events.
However, I had hoped it wouldn’t happen, and even if it did, I expected it would simply end, but…
The content of the article was heading towards the worst-case scenario I had imagined.
With the trade routes in the disputed Nortons area cut off, numerous supplies had already been halted, throwing the Merchants’ Association into chaos, and some local lords were submitting petitions.
“It seems the conflict might be prolonged.”
If trade is cut off, many imperial citizens will have to worry about their livelihoods.
The unsettled atmosphere was immediately understandable.
The Nortons Gorge issue had a different meaning from the conflict with the Hart Empire.
If the main trade route is cut off and all supply of goods is halted, it will cause great chaos in the empire.
The key was how quickly this situation could be suppressed.
For each day this state continues, the damage to the empire will increase exponentially.
“So it seems the Blanchet family will directly intervene in the conflict area.”
My senior looked at me intently as he slightly pushed up his glasses.
Even without asking, things quickly fell into place.
In this situation, there were only a few people who should set out for a quick resolution.
That man flickered in my mind, rising like a mirage.
Over that, my senior’s voice calmly settled.
“I heard the Imperial family has dispatched Duke Blanchet.”
“…”
“From what I heard this morning, His Majesty personally bestowed a holy sword…”
My senior’s voice buzzed unrealistically in my ears.
It wasn’t surprising that a Blanchet with blood on their hands would oversee such conflicts, as it had often happened before.
Above all, there’s no one more fitting than a Blanchet, inheriting the blood of the entire family, to play the role of crushing the morale of the Nortons army, so it’s only natural.
However, for His Majesty the Emperor to even bestow a holy sword…
While it may seem like a simple gesture, the meaning contained within was far from simple.
It was customary for a family that received a holy sword, practically an imperial treasure, to directly participate in battle.
An expensive gift was, in reality, just a seemingly precious item that required risking one’s life.
“Then, is His Excellency Deviron participating?”
“No. From what I just saw of the situation, it seems young lord Cassian will be participating.”
“Ah…”
My heart clamored noisily at that man’s name.
“That young lord hasn’t shown himself publicly much, so he’s probably using this opportunity to solidify his position.”
My senior’s words made sense.
Usually, the heir to a duke’s family would use such achievements as a foundation to elevate their honor and gain recognition.
Of course, separately from that, there were many nobles who easily solved everything and moved forward.
The Blanchets had a reputation unparalleled by any other family, plus the symbolism of being descendants of a prophetic family, so they always acted directly.
Perhaps this war arising from the conflict will conclude with the empire’s victory.
Yes. As all speculators say, that’s how it will end.
However, as with all wars, there will be sacrifices, and conclusions cannot be drawn hastily.
Maybe this will be the last time I see that man.
Sometimes it seems all too fitting for that man to have a blood-stained face and cut someone down, but at other times it feels completely out of place.
My heart pounded loudly once again.
He was a man I wanted to escape from, and I had decided never to see him again if he left.
He was just someone who gave me what I needed, nothing more, nothing less, and shouldn’t be anything else, but my heart beat violently.
Over that, the image of that man kissing me roughly, as if angry, overlapped.
That flickering afterimage, confusingly undulating, ignited the anxiety deep in my heart.
The ashen image of myself reflected in the mirror on the opposite side was just laughable.
How ridiculous it is to wish for his safety while hating him so much.
It was an utterly detestable emotion.
[This is the timeline separator]On the way out of the Imperial Palace, given the situation, people with serious expressions were striding about everywhere.
Every one of them was holding today’s daily newspaper.
The situation was becoming more serious by the moment, and extra editions were frequently being published.
Today’s newly published extra edition was plastered with another headline.
As my fingers tensed, once again the newspaper crumpled miserably.
Still not believing it, I read the last sentence over and over again.
‘He already left for battle?’
Finding it absurd that he left without a word, I read that article again and again.
Of course, I knew.
That he had no reason to report to me.
He had no reason or obligation to do so to me, who was neither his lover nor anyone significant to him.
But…
That passionate kiss and the face full of anger flashed through my mind once again.
My heart sank low in an instant, as if a stone had been placed on it.
It hit me again that I was just that much of an existence to him.
Stupidly, the sense of reality returned a beat late.
All I should be worried about is what I haven’t received.
How ridiculous it was to worry about that man.
If that conflict drags on.
If he left without taking any measures…
The remaining medicine for mother hasn’t been placed in my hands yet.
My steps moved aimlessly towards somewhere.
I stopped abruptly in a narrow alley where the Blanchet mansion was visible.
Standing there with no lights, the grand facade of the building came into view impressively.
Why did I come here?
That man isn’t even here.
Then, ah, I belatedly realized I had come looking for even that article.
That article, of course, was nowhere to be seen.
How ridiculous. To have expected he wouldn’t take an escort to the conflict area.
Only after the cold wind whipped across my face did my mind, which had been swaying as if drunk, return.
Just as I was about to turn around, I saw a huge carriage that had stopped there with a thud.
The moment I spotted the seal engraved in the center of the carriage, my body froze.
‘…!’
[This is the timeline separator]The sound of thousands of hooves strongly shook the ground.
The movement of the Blanchet knights advancing with tight discipline was overflowing with precision.
The knights’ trust in Tiobe, who had been directly managing the order until now, was sky-high, and at the foundation of that trust and loyalty was Cassian.
At the center of the army was a muscular white horse and its owner, Cassian, with Tiobe guarding the side.
The wind fluttered over the rapidly advancing horse, scattering Cassian’s characteristic golden hair.
Below that, he drove the horse forward with an indifferent face.
The news of the conflict first reached Blanchet, where all information arrives first, a few days ago.
Even amidst the urgently unfolding situation, His Majesty the Emperor, who had been dawdling and delaying as much as possible, was so carefree.
Only when the situation was pushed to the extreme did he summon Blanchet with a pale face.
Should we say it’s fortunate that he at least knew the situation needed to be suppressed?
The setting sun spreads over the grand sound of hooves.
That woman overlaps with it.
Along with the moment of our last kiss.
Every time I pull the reins, that woman rises more intensely.
Her breath, the hot heat that envelops like a curse, vibrates through my entire body.
Whether it’s because of the horse’s hooves or because of this damned imagination, I can’t distinguish anymore.
Perhaps that woman learned about the war news only through the daily newspaper, knowing nothing.
News of my departure as well.
If we were normal lovers, we should have exchanged at least one affectionate letter.
Most of the knights following behind left detailed final letters to their lovers or families.
Even while looking at those that might become wills, I didn’t move.
There was time. It was my choice not to leave anything behind.
The thought that there was no need to do so covered everything else.
Why bother when you would rather rejoice at my disappearance?
That damn smile is only right to wear in front of me, so I wanted you to be anxious in the time without me.
Like a petty bastard.
Yes. I’m a madman who doesn’t understand myself, acting like this now when I once craved that woman’s smile so much.
But thinking about it, it’s only natural.
That woman’s smile should only be worn in front of me.
‘Are you looking for me now?’
‘Or are you anxiously fretting about not receiving the medicine?’
Ah, is it the same context?
The reason that woman looks for me was always because of that damn purpose.
If it weren’t for that medicine, you would have had no reason to stay by my side.
So I hope you waver precariously as much as my precarious time.
In that time without me.
While those things crushed with such dark thoughts piled up and accumulated, the horse galloped endlessly.
Male lead is a Destined Young Husband (Female-dominant)
One-sentence summary: Wife-master, listen to my explanation!
Li Ruantang, a young lady from a prestigious family, stumbled and fell. When she woke up, she saw a noble and beautiful young man sitting by her bedside, wiping away tears.
The young master had slightly reddened eyes, and his every move exuded charm.
The sight made Li Ruantang’s eyes hot and her heart flutter. After all, she had made a bet with the young master Meng from the neighboring family. If she couldn’t marry a husband before the end of the year, she would have to admit defeat and give up the jade she had worked so hard to obtain.
Outside the window, the flowers were in full bloom.
Rather than losing the bet, the jade, and her face, Li Ruantang calculated that it would be better to seek marriage with the young master in front of her, killing three birds with one stone.
…
Meng Jun never thought that an accident during a spring outing would lead to them rolling down a cliff and into a river, yet still survive.
Now they were trapped in an unknown village, and Meng Jun had overheard that the family who had rescued them had their own intentions.
After all, it was Li Ruantang who had lost her mind and sought marriage first. He was only trying to protect himself!
Glancing at Li Ruantang, who was listing her own merits, the young husband’s voice softened, and he blushed as he lied, “W-wife-master, Wife-master, don’t you remember me?”
The young husband’s voice was clear and handsome, coaxing Li Ruantang’s heart to be soft and sweet, and she spared no effort to protect him.
It wasn’t until they returned to the capital that Li Ruantang suddenly remembered.
When they had fallen off the cliff, in order not to implicate Wei Yunruo, whom he secretly admired, the young husband had instead pulled her, who was slightly farther away, down the cliff with him…
Short summary by Yuushi L: Initially, the male lead (ML) liked another girl, while the female lead (FL) liked the ML. Both fell off a cliff. The FL temporarily lost her memory, and the ML, fearing others might take advantage of him, claimed FL was his wife while they were staying in a village. Later, when they returned home, the FL regained her memories and remembered that the ML liked someone else, so she kept her distance from him. However, during their time living together in the countryside, the ML’s view of the FL had completely changed. From this point, his pursuit of the FL begins.
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