After spending dinner time with Reus for the first time in a while, we decided to take a light walk around the castle. Since there was hardly any physical contact or expressions of affection between us, this was a way to show that our relationship remained unchanged.

I was worried if this would be enough, but strangely, it worked quite well with the people of the grand ducal castle.

According to Drwin, it seemed that before I came here, Reus had always been cooped up in his office.

[“A walk? That’s something we couldn’t even imagine. His Highness hasn’t set foot in the western garden for quite some time.”]

To the extent that there were still servants who marveled at the fact that we shared the same bedroom, even without taking the time to be seen together…

With just this level of acting, everyone was bound to be fooled.

‘No. Come to think of it, Reus is truly a natural when it comes to acting skills.’

When there were eyes watching, Reus was truly pitiful.

Perhaps because he usually had an expressionless face, even a slight smile would make the butler look at him with a satisfied expression.

‘In fact, he’s worse than others.’

I was more accustomed to seeing Reus with an indifferent expression. As soon as I thought that, Reus looked at me with an expression that had long been natural to me.

“I have something to tell you.”

It had been so long since we had a conversation with a real purpose, not just empty talk for the sake of acting, that I waited for his next words with a serious attitude.

However, the words that flowed from Reus’ mouth were too unrealistic.

“A deployment order has been issued.”

Reus, who said that, still had an indifferent face. He was like someone delivering news that an invitation had suddenly arrived from a certain family and he had to respond to it.

Thanks to that, I reacted slowly, pondering stupidly for a while, just like when I received a marriage proposal.

“Deployment… What is this all of a sudden…”

“I apologize for disrupting the plan.”

“Pardon?”

“It won’t take too long.”

I was already dazed enough by the sudden talk of deployment, but what was this man saying now?

Reus stopped walking for a moment as if waiting for my answer.

I tried to calmly organize my thoughts. So, the disruption to the plan meant the matter of embezzling the Yvelle Count’s assets… Was he apologizing for delaying that a little?

‘The reason for that is going on a deployment by imperial order?’

Even after sorting it out, it still didn’t make sense, but judging by Reus’ reaction, it seemed that I had accurately summarized it.

It hadn’t even been a month since Reus and I got married. That meant there was still plenty of time left to carry out the plan.

Besides, the one-year timeframe was just something I had asked out of caution. Knowing that it wasn’t a matter where the deadline could be strictly kept, I had never specified an exact date in the contract.

‘Anyway, I’m in a position where I can leave at any time.’

I simply couldn’t believe the fact that Reus was going to be at the forefront of subjugating monsters. And…

‘Because this didn’t happen in the original story.’

After perfectly witnessing the original story being twisted on the day of Iris’ birth celebration, I had decided to let go of my obsession with the novel.

But this was a matter I couldn’t just overlook. This was really…

‘It feels like it’s my fault…’

No, it was my fault.

Although mentioning the broken engagement to Casien was indeed done in anger, everything after that was my choice.

However, while making such choices, I had never once considered the consequences. Even if I did, I only occasionally thought about the harm that might come to me.

But I had no idea that things would get twisted in this way. Even if it wasn’t intentional, my heart felt complicated.

‘Because of me, Reus is…’

I didn’t know what to say in response.

I couldn’t tell someone leaving for monster subjugation to have a good trip, and saying “come back safely” also seemed like words that weren’t allowed for me.

As I remained unable to continue speaking for a long time, Reus called out to me.

“Roel.”

“Yes… Reus.”

“I understand your disappointment, but the plan won’t be delayed indefinitely. I plan to return as quickly as possible, so…”

“Disappointment…! It’s not like that.”

Reus’ eyes changed as if asking why my expression was like that then.

“If it’s about the Yvelle Count matter… I don’t mind. Because you said Theron would help with it too. What I’m worried about… is Your Highness.”

At my words, the light in Reus’ eyes intensified with dissatisfaction. After silently staring at my face, Reus finally opened his mouth.

“It’s something that has always happened. It’s not something to worry about at all.”

“But…!”

“Even if that’s the case, it has nothing to do with you.”

Many things were implied in that one sentence. The rejection of my concern, the distance between us, and the invisible but clearly drawn line.

Reus was telling me not to cross over any further.

In the end, I swallowed all the words I wanted to say.

“Still… don’t get hurt and come back safely.”

“I will return without delay.”

And just like that, Reus left the grand ducal castle early the next morning.

* * *

I didn’t usually have conversations with Reus after waking up. Rather, most days passed without any words exchanged at all, and even if we did talk occasionally, it was just basic conversation.

For example, it would be better for people to see us having breakfast together, or that there would be something to call Drwin for a moment…

That was all, just one or two words exchanged.

‘I can’t believe I feel so empty with just one person missing.’

Even though I thought every day that it was uncomfortable and difficult, it seemed that I had somehow adapted to life with Reus to some extent. I stared blankly at the empty spot next to me for no reason.

‘…I’m worried.’

Even if he said he would be back in a week at the latest, it wasn’t easy to erase the concern. That was because it wasn’t a simple outing, but going to the battlefield…

Of course, Reus left at dawn without even receiving a send-off, as if he didn’t want that either.

When I found out about it yesterday morning and was a little disheartened, Drwin offered me consolation that wasn’t really consolation.

[“His Highness has never once been defeated in war. Whether the opponent is a monster or a human. So there’s no need to worry too much. His Highness will return safely, for sure.”]

There was no exaggeration in Drwin’s words, which flowed from unconditional trust.

Reus Rochester was the living history of the Asilith Empire.

It was a sentence that any imperial citizen would nod their head to.

When Reus first went on a deployment, it was in the winter when he turned from 15 to 16 years old, during the period when a war broke out with the Hellarion Kingdom.

It was a big war where even the sons of nobles in the empire, especially in the capital, were conscripted to a considerable extent.

At that time, people unanimously said that Reus Rochester would undoubtedly follow in the footsteps of his parents on the battlefield.

It wasn’t a conclusion reached based on any grounds, but simply because the previous grand duke, Ricassen Rochester, was not very talented in physical activities and was skilled in mental tasks.

Moreover, misfortune had befallen that family. It was pitiful.

Although everyone said it with the intention of concern, in reality, they were each enjoying the series of misfortunes that had occurred in the Rochester Grand Ducal House in their own way.

However, even in a situation where everyone was predicting his death, Reus returned alive, defiantly.

Not just at the level of simply preserving his life, but even achieving great merit in his first war at the young age of 16.

After that, no long explanation was needed. Sometimes answering the emperor’s call, and sometimes by Reus’ own will, he went to the battlefield and each time, Reus accomplished brilliant feats.

The battlefield was a place where even skilled knights unexpectedly died and returned as corpses.

But Reus was busy exerting his prestige wherever his feet touched, so people now made predictions whenever the Grand Duke of Rochester was to be deployed.

Not about whether he would live or die, but about how quickly he would bring the empire to victory.

When I was among the nobles discussing that story, it was just someone else’s business.

It was a time when I had no good feelings for Reus at all, and if you think about it, we were on worse terms than others.

So why would I care if a man I only resented died or not?

But not now.

The vague prejudices I had were long gone. A real person, not just a character in print, who was neither as bad nor as simply kind as I thought.

The one I saved with my own hands, and because of that, whether we liked it or not, we were in the same boat.

Even if Reus didn’t want it, there were so many words filling the space between us now.

But Reus was the one most affected by the development I had twisted. And in a very negative way.

A sense of guilt that no one would acknowledge weighed heavily on my heart. I consciously pictured Reus’ appearance. The appearance I used to see from a distance when we had no relationship at all.

When the golden sun was more scorching than ever, the hero of the empire who led the return of the imperial army from the vanguard.

The silver hair that shone as if wearing splendor, the armor from which sublimity flowed. The loud cheers and applause.

Things like the appearance of moving forward, looking only ahead even amidst the scattering flower petals…

‘He will return safely…’

As always, Reus would seize the upper hand and return safely.

As if repeating those words would make it happen, I kept recalling the Reus of that day.