“Thank you so much, Yeongae. I will never forget this favor and will repay it.”

Reneve swallowed a sigh inwardly.

‘Surely, this isn’t Icarus’s scheme, right?’

It meant entrusting the duties of the empress in advance to make her the empress.

Usually, from the time of engagement with the crown prince, preparations to become the empress begin.

Not only the duties of the empress in the future, but also how to deal with nobles, speech, etiquette, and so on.

It was almost like being born anew, discarding everything existing.

Therefore, it was customary for the crown prince’s fiancée to be decided early. It’s better to receive education as the empress from an early age.

But Reneve was not born and raised in Vasker, and she had never received education like an empress.

Of course, before the regression, she received empress education as her attribute.

“Thank you so much, Yeongae. Yeongae is my savior!”

After receiving thanks from Dehan several times, Reneve could finally sit down at her desk and start her morning tasks.

‘I hope Icarus is doing well.’

As always, the battlefield was brutal. The makeshift barracks used as a medical station were filled with soldiers injured in yesterday’s battle, lying on makeshift beds, and medical soldiers taking turns to care for the wounded.

Icarus checked the situation of the dead and wounded with the medical soldiers and left the barracks that smelled of death.

“It seems quiet today.”

Icarus looked at the Solti camp in the distance. Bain also nodded, looking at the same place as Icarus.

“Since yesterday’s battle was fierce, it seems like they want to stay quiet today. Take a break during this time, Your Majesty.”

Icarus returned to his personal barracks, ate a little dried meat and tough biscuits, and quenched his dry throat with wine.

Eating too much would hinder combat, so he had to eat just enough not to die and sleep just enough not to collapse.

Of course, that was possible only when there was no enemy attack.

Similarly, Bain, who had finished his share of the meal, looked at Icarus with a gaze mixed with concern.

“Your Majesty, how about taking a short nap? I also plan to rest a little.”

Insomnia, which was only troublesome in the palace, turned out to be an advantage on the battlefield.

Thanks to the robust body that did not feel much fatigue without sleep, Icarus could quickly respond to Solti’s attacks as the commander of Vasker’s army.

But as with anything, if it goes too far, it can be poisonous. It seemed better to indulge in a bit of sleep, even if it was a battlefield.

His head was slightly numb, and there was a faint ringing in his ears.

“Instruct the soldiers to take turns resting.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Bain, who bowed his waist, left the barracks.
Icarus quickly washed and returned to the barracks, changing into clean clothes.

The bed was so hard that it couldn’t be compared to the bedroom in the palace.

But as soon as he lay down, his eyelids became heavy.

Icarus blinked, turning his head slightly to look beside him.

Even in the dim darkness, a small ornament with a faint light could be seen.

It was a birthday present from Reneve.

In other cultures, it served a similar purpose as a dream catcher, and recently, Icarus developed a habit of looking at Reneve’s gift by the bedside before falling asleep.

It seemed easy to fall asleep today as well.

During the war, when alone, Icarus often imagined the post-ceasefire with Solti.

Reneve, who became the empress, and their beautiful daughter who resembled her.

It didn’t feel real beyond imagination. What exactly would it feel like to have a family?

But when thinking about it, the nerves that became extremely sensitive seemed to relax a bit.

“Sigh…”

Thinking of Reneve, the desperate desire to end the war and return to the palace arose.

Again, his body reacted naturally. Despite being exhausted to the point where even moving a finger was difficult.

It was the same today.

Icarus had to calm the surging fever.

The chirping sound from the birds brought the mind back from beneath sleep.

With just a little sleep, his mind cleared, and the faint ringing in his ears disappeared.

Realizing the importance of sleep again, Icarus got up from the bed.

The reflection of his face in the mirror also showed signs of regained vitality.

“I should shave.”

There was no one to impress on the battlefield, but maintaining the appearance of a neat commander did indeed boost the morale of other soldiers.

Icarus slid the razor along the jawline, lathered with foam.

At that moment, the fragrant smell of the crisp morning air wafted in. Thanks to the restful day yesterday, the cooking skills of the cooks seemed to be at work.

It was a moment when he thought he could have a proper meal after a few days.

“…?”

Outside, the sound of a beast’s howl could be heard.

Startled, his sharp razor scratched his skin.

Blood droplets lightly seeped onto the white foam. The soapy bubbles seeped into the wounded area.

Feeling a stinging sensation, Icarus’ brow furrowed slightly.

Icarus wiped away the foam with a clean towel and pressed Bain’s skin firmly to stop the bleeding.

As he stepped outside the barracks, a soldier was seen running somewhere with a drawn sword.

“What’s going on?”

“Your Majesty! It seems a pack of wolves is gathering, attracted by the smell of food.”

“Over there?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Icarus drew the sword he was carrying and ran toward where the soldiers were heading.

“There are quite a few.”

The cooks fought in their own ways to protect the carefully prepared dishes, while the combat soldiers fought in various ways to prevent greater damage from the wolf pack.

“Your Majesty!”

Bain, who had heard the news and rushed over, blocked Icarus and several Imperial Knights surrounded Icarus as if protecting him.

“Your Majesty, are you okay?”

At the inquiry of the Imperial Knights’ commander, Icarus snorted.

‘Just a few beasts showing up, and they make such a fuss.’