Clop-clop, clop-clop-

About a dozen carriages carrying Veronia, Killian, and soldiers were racing quickly along the forest path of Atour. Following behind were carriages carrying priests and priestesses, including Evangelina.

“Is the ride uncomfortable?”

“No, it’s fine.”

Veronia smiled gently at Killian’s worried question. Although it wasn’t as comfortable as the luxury carriage she rode daily, being a military carriage, she didn’t want to show any discomfort.

It would take a week to ride by horse to the south. However, due to the critical situation in the south, they decided to use teleportation tunnels to shorten the travel time.

The carriages they rode were all magic carriages drawn by magicians, for the safe transportation of nearly a hundred people.

The teleportation tunnel in Atour Forest connected directly to Cotang Forest in the south, but it was still 3 hours away from Eidenbenz County Castle.

When the party that left the imperial palace early in the morning arrived at Eidenbenz County Castle, it was almost midnight.

Though the surroundings were pitch black, the county castle had lights on brightly from the first floor to the top floor, warmly welcoming the guests from the capital.

“You must be tired from the long journey, Holy Maiden and Chancellor.”

“Thank you for not forgetting our south and extending a helping hand like this.”

The Count and Countess of Eidenbenz bowed politely to greet everyone. Killian extended his hand for a handshake and spoke.

“Thank you for graciously agreeing to accommodate all these people at the county castle. We look forward to working with you.”

“Of course, you came to help our south. We will do our best to assist you without any inconvenience, Your Excellency.”

The entire county castle was bustling with activity. As the priests, priestesses, and soldiers were all assigned rooms in groups, late dinners were delivered to each room.

Killian and other high-ranking officials were guided to a separate table prepared in the reception room.

The table was full of various foods that were visibly luxurious and high-class at a glance. It was like a small banquet scene. The Count of Eidenbenz shrugged his shoulders with a rather satisfied expression.

“Our chef put in some effort for all of you who came a long way. I hope it suits your taste.”

“But Count.”

Killian spoke cautiously, showing a troubled expression.

“I heard that various situations in the south are heading towards the worst. I heard the food situation is the same.”

“Ah…”

“I’m very grateful for the Count’s welcoming heart, but I don’t want to waste food. I believe everyone here thinks the same as me.”

As Killian spoke looking at everyone gathered at the table, they nodded in agreement. The Count of Eidenbenz blushed and bowed his head.

“… I was short-sighted, Your Excellency. I thought I should properly entertain such important guests…”

“I understand. I know that feeling very well. But given the timing, shouldn’t we be careful and restrained?”

“You’re right.”

“Then let’s do this. Take out half of the food here and send it back. And how about bringing it out again tomorrow morning?”

“… Yes, I’ll do that.”

A look of embarrassment flashed across the Count’s face for a moment before disappearing. At the Count’s gesture, the maids standing nearby quickly approached and began removing plates of food.

“Well, it’s done. Please sit down now.”

“Thank you.”

When the table was about half empty, everyone finally sat down and picked up their forks and knives.

Having only satisfied their hunger with some snacks in the carriage all day, everyone seemed hungry and quietly focused on the food. Although half of the pre-prepared food had been removed from the table, it was enough to fill everyone’s stomachs.

Evangelina smiled at the Count and Countess and said.

“Every time I eat it, I feel that the food in the south has a unique flavor that’s excellent.”

“I’m so glad it suits the Holy Maiden’s taste. Lady Nia, this is your first time with southern food, right?”

At the Countess’s question, Veronia slowly nodded.

“Yes, it’s my first time. But it suits my taste well too. I knew that the south was famous for its distinctive cooking methods, but now that I’ve tasted it myself, I understand why it’s famous.”

“It could be awkward if it’s your first time tasting it, so thank you for looking at it favorably.”

As it was the first meal together, the atmosphere was warm and friendly. Perhaps because they couldn’t be this comfortable from tomorrow on, everyone seemed to be careful while being considerate of each other.

When the meal was over, the Count and Countess personally guided them to their rooms. Pointing to the room that appeared as soon as they entered the third-floor corridor, the Countess said.

“Chancellor and Lady Nia, you can use this room.”

“What?”

Veronia was startled at the words that they had to use one room together. The Countess seemed even more surprised by her reaction.

“Ah, that’s… since your wedding is close, and La-Lady Nia is already at Dre-Drea’s mansion…”

The one who helped the Countess, who was stuttering badly in embarrassment, was Killian. He quickly spoke up while wrapping his arm around Veronia’s shoulders.

“That’s fine. Of course. To assign rooms to a large number of people, it’s more efficient in many ways to assign us two to one room. Isn’t that right, Nia?”

“…”

Killian’s affectionate gaze turned towards Veronia. It was a look that desperately wanted a positive answer, but she couldn’t nod right away.

Even so, this is too much. The thought that they had to stay in one room during such an official schedule when they weren’t even officially married yet seemed absurd at first.

But if you think about it carefully, what the Countess and Killian said wasn’t wrong.

‘People must have seen Killian and me that way since the day I entered the Duke’s mansion. I hadn’t thought about that part. Moreover, it must have been difficult to assign rooms for over 100 people.’

Veronia nodded slightly and smiled gently.

“Of course. Thank you, Countess.”

“… Are you sure, Lady Nia? Even now, we could…”

The Countess seemed to be a very kind person. She seemed worried that Veronia might be forcing herself. So Veronia deliberately smiled even more brightly.

“Really, I’m rather glad. It’s hard to sleep comfortably in a strange place, but I think it’ll be much better with this person by my side.”

Veronia grinned while looking at Killian. Only then did the Countess seem relieved.

“Then we’ll go in now. Everyone, have a good rest.”

Embarrassed, Veronia rushed into the bedroom, missing the sight of Evangelina and a few others smiling warmly at the two of them.

They seemed to find it amusing to have glimpsed the fresh and cute appearance of the newlyweds, each covering their mouths with their hands and chuckling.

It was when Veronia, who had just finished bathing, was sitting in front of the mirror combing her hair. The bedroom door opened and Killian entered.

“Is the meeting over?”

“Yes. I heard a brief situation report.”

“What was it about?”

“It wasn’t much different from what we heard from Onyx yesterday.”

Killian, who had approached her side before she knew it, took the comb from her hand and started combing her hair instead.

Veronia put down her hands that had lost their place and smiled gently at Killian reflected in the mirror. His expression as he continued combing slowly was so serious that it was rather funny.

“You’re quite skillful. You must have done this a lot?”

“I practiced a lot. In my head.”

“In your head?”

“Imagining the moment I’d meet you again… I practiced a lot.”

“…”

Again. It seemed like he was trying to make another ticklish confession. If she kept listening, either her face or her heart might burst. She took the comb from Killian’s hand and said.

“Go wash up quickly. I’ll leave drying my hair to the wind for a while.”

“It’s cold outside.”

Killian nagged worriedly as he watched Veronia heading towards the balcony. But she didn’t listen.

“It’s fine for a while, it’ll help cool me down too. So go quickly.”

“… Alright. I’ll wash up and come back soon.”

Though his expression was still concerned, Killian nodded instead of nagging again and headed straight for the bathroom.

‘He really listens well.’

Killian, who was originally kind, was becoming kinder day by day. Maybe that’s why she was falling for him more and more as days passed.

‘If it’s too sweet… it might not be good for my heart…’

Veronia, who had claimed the sofa on the balcony, absentmindedly stared at Killian’s back while facing the blowing wind.

The inverted triangle of his upper body dropping from his broad shoulders to his lean waist was impressive. His sturdy legs stretching forward in long strides were the same.

‘This person will soon be my husband…’

The corners of her mouth curled up into a smile involuntarily. The area around her heart tickled pleasantly.

“Yawn…”

As she sat still in the wind, a yawn erupted. Well, it was understandable to be sleepy. It was already well past her usual bedtime, and fatigue had accumulated from enduring the shaking carriage all day.

Veronia’s sitting posture gradually loosened, and before she knew it, she was lying sideways on the long sofa.

‘Just for a moment… if I close my eyes for just a very short while, Killian will come and wake me up, right?’

The movement of her eyelids blinking over her eyes gradually slowed down and soon stopped, tightly closed. A moment later, when Killian returned after finishing his bath, she was already in deep sleep.

“Nia?”

Killian paused for a moment when he discovered Veronia who had fallen asleep right there on the balcony sofa.

“Oh dear… I was too late.”

He slowly approached her.