Veronia’s rhythmic breathing as she slept made her look like a baby bird. Killian, who had been staring at her for a while, snapped back to reality when a cold wind brushed his forehead. If he left her sleeping like this, she might catch a cold.

“Nia, I’m moving you to the bed.”

Killian’s soft voice didn’t wake Veronia from her deep sleep. He gently lifted her into his arms. Even with the large movement, she remained sound asleep.

“You must have been very tired.”

A look of concern crossed Killian’s face as he gazed at Veronia’s sleeping face. Not wanting to disturb her sweet rest, Killian walked as carefully as possible.

Finally reaching the bed, he slowly laid Veronia down.

Killian, regretting that there were two separate beds, straightened up to go to his own bed beside hers. Just then, he felt a tug on his collar. Veronia had tightly grasped his collar in her sleep.

“My, my… You must have been holding on tight, afraid of falling.”

Thinking that the sleeping Veronia really was like a baby bird, Killian grinned. He took hold of her hand clutching his collar. At first, he naturally intended to remove her hand, but soon changed his mind.

“Nia, you’re the one who won’t let go of me. It’s not what I wanted, but what you wanted.”

Killian lay down next to Veronia with a playful smile.

“Sleep well.”

After lightly kissing her forehead, he closed his eyes tightly and tried to sleep. Breathing in the fragrant scent of her skin, he soon fell into a peaceful slumber.

Veronia’s eyes fluttered open as she awoke from her deep sleep. She was momentarily startled by the unfamiliar ceiling, but soon realized this wasn’t her bedroom but the Idenvents’ mansion, and felt relieved. But that was short-lived.

‘Wait… Why am I…?’

Veronia was surprised again to find herself in Killian’s arms. Thump thump, her heart began to race. Then she remembered falling asleep on the balcony sofa last night.

‘Killian must have moved me.’

As she looked at his peacefully sleeping face, another question popped into her mind.

‘Wait… There were definitely two beds in this room, so why are we sleeping in the same bed?’

Veronia’s eyes narrowed immediately, but she didn’t want to wake him up to question him about it. After all, she liked things just as they were.

Veronia stared intently at Killian. His sleeping face looked much younger than his actual age, curiously boyish.

‘He’s handsome even while sleeping.’

His thick eyebrows were cleanly arched, and his straight nose bridge was perfectly symmetrical. His lips, connected to his distinct philtrum, were a vivid red.

‘He’s handsome overall, but even each feature is handsome on its own.’

Hehe, looking at Killian’s face naturally brought a fond smile to her lips. Suddenly feeling like she was being too smitten, Veronia pouted and tried to rationalize to herself.

‘Well, what of it? He really is handsome.’

This handsome and kind man was to be her husband. With a bright smile on her face, Veronia snuggled into Killian’s embrace. This was the safest and most comfortable place in the world.

How much time had passed?

Chirp chirp chirp, the unfamiliar sound of mountain birds singing naturally woke Killian. The dazzling morning sunlight filling the bedroom made it difficult to open his eyes.

When he finally managed to open them, Killian discovered Veronia snuggled up in his arms, fast asleep.

‘Veronia…!’

With an inexplicably full heart, Killian gently embraced her small, bird-like body.

Though he closed his eyes again, her afterimage remained imprinted on his retina. He could hear her steady, soft breathing, and the fragrant scent of her skin still tickled his nose. The touch of her skin against his hand was as smooth as silk.

‘At this point… I’m curious what she would taste like too.’

Realizing he could then savor her presence with all five senses, he found himself a bit ridiculous. And just as he was making the determined plan to kiss her as soon as she opened her eyes…

“Mmm…”

The wait wasn’t long. Veronia began to stir.

“Nia? It’s morning. Time to wake up.”

“…”

“We have a lot to do today. We need to get up now.”

“…Alright.”

A soft voice tinged with a sigh was heard, but her eyes remained tightly shut. Killian froze for a moment, finding her struggle against sleepiness too adorable.

‘Oh!’

Remembering the determined plan he had just made, Killian planted a kiss on her forehead. Surprised, she finally opened her eyes.

But Killian’s kisses continued. His lips briefly touched her cheeks, eyes, nose bridge, and lips, then pulled away, repeating the process.

“…It tickles. I’m fully awake now, so please stop.”

“I wasn’t trying to wake you up, but to satisfy my own desires.”

“What?”

“I wanted to taste you.”

“…”

Veronia’s face flushed hot at the sweet whisper flying at her first thing in the morning. For a while after that, Veronia had to endure the ticklish kisses. It was the sweetest morning the couple had ever had.

The priests, priestesses, and soldiers who had finished their preparations were waiting in the front yard of the mansion.

They were given helmet-shaped and glove-shaped magical devices. It was said to be a minimal precaution due to the possibility of infection through skin contact or respiratory tract.

“Never forget that your health and safety are important assets not only for the South but for our entire Aesneodum Empire. While completing the mission is important, knowing how to take care of oneself first is what makes a true talent. Understood?”

“Yes, we understand! Your Excellency!”

“Yes! Your Excellency!”

Everyone responded loudly to Killian’s admonition.

The group decided to move in two large teams. Most of the soldiers would go with Killian and Evangelina to the Cotang Forest to investigate the magical beasts and the contamination situation.

And most of the priests and priestesses would go with Veronia to the treatment facility to care for the patients.

“Oh, my goodness… The state of the forest… is terrible. How could this happen…!”

Evangelina exclaimed in an almost tearful voice as she looked around the forest. The priestesses following her shivered, hunching their shoulders as if feeling chills.

Killian and the soldiers were also at a loss for words at the sight of the blackened, withered trees and undergrowth. Even the soil on the ground seemed to be drying up and dying, cracking and twisting.

“I’ll start the purification work from over there.”

Evangelina said, pointing to a giant tree. It was thicker than the combined arm spans of 10 grown men, and while half of it was already blackened and rotting, fortunately, the other half still had green leaves remaining.

“Yes, understood. Then we’ll explore the surroundings a bit more.”

Killian left five soldiers to guard Evangelina and headed deeper into the forest. Count Idenvents, familiar with the forest’s geography, accompanied Killian.

As dozens of soldiers disappeared, the surroundings soon became quiet. Evangelina, taking slow deep breaths, approached the giant tree. Placing both hands on the tree, she closed her eyes and quietly recited a prayer.

“Merciful God, please look upon this humble land with compassion. We are nothing without Your grace. Therefore…”

As the prayer continued, the faint light emanating from her hands grew brighter and brighter. Wherever the holy light touched, the trees and undergrowth gradually regained their original color and life.

Not only the soldiers left behind for guard duty, but also the priestesses assisting Evangelina right beside her, couldn’t help but marvel at the sight of the forest being purified so quickly.

Meanwhile, Killian’s group moved quickly to reach even deeper into the forest.

“We’ve already secured enough magical beast corpses, so our goal is to capture them alive. Apply anesthetic solution to your weapons.”

“Understood, Your Excellency!”

“Split into groups of five and spread out to search.”

As soon as Killian’s order was given, the soldiers divided themselves into groups, determined their areas on the map, and quickly set out to their assigned locations.

The section assigned to Killian’s group was the deepest part of the forest. He took the lead, followed by his aide Windler, Count Idenvents, and two soldiers. They moved at an almost running pace.

As they had been walking for quite some time, Killian suddenly gave a hand signal to stop. It was because of an ominous sound coming from ahead.

Thump thump, thump thump-

It was the sound of heavy animal footsteps. The problem was that these weren’t just one or two, but several. And judging by the footsteps, they seemed to be medium-sized or larger magical beasts. Killian ordered in a low voice.

“There are magical beasts ahead. More than five. Fire a signal flare and everyone prepare for battle!”

“Understood, Your Excellency.”