Even in the midst of war, love blossoms and children are born. This was true even on the front lines.

There were plenty of men in the army who held Marian in their hearts. On the front lines, Marian was undoubtedly the most beautiful woman. Even in situations where it was difficult to bathe and wear clean clothes, she always shone brightly.

Anyone who had stood back-to-back with her even once couldn’t help but know that this was due not only to her outward appearance but also to her brilliantly shining inner self.

Today’s rations were miserable again. It was fortunate that a water attribute user always distributed clean water, preventing epidemics.

As they tried to make the shriveled turnips somehow palatable, one of the knights spoke with a determined expression, holding his ration of food.

“When the war ends, I’m going to propose to the princess.”

At his words, everyone’s gaze instantly turned towards him. The man standing closest to him chuckled and smacked him on the head.

“Get lost, man. If you’re going to propose, take a number and wait in line.”

Then, one by one, others chimed in with their own comments.

“That’s right. I haven’t even confessed yet, what makes you think you can?”

“You should yield to this elder brother who’s closer to marriageable age.”

There wasn’t a single unpleasant comment about the beautiful woman. Not one person here hadn’t owed their life to Marian. Many even admired her beyond mere affection.

As talk of Marian arose, the atmosphere naturally brightened. Some had left wives or fiancées back home, so excited chatter broke out for a while.

I’ll get married as soon as I return. Send me an invitation. I want to get married soon too, and so on.

As such talk began to subside, one man muttered with a bitter smile.

“Once we return, we won’t have a chance to see the princess again, will we?”

“That’s right.”

Although they had come out due to mandatory service regulations for the battlefield, the state also allowed proxy service, so most of those on the front lines were of low status. Originally, they wouldn’t have been able to face the princess so comfortably in the same space.

When the war ends, everyone will return to their own places. Realizing this fact, someone grumbled in a small voice, feeling disappointed.

“For the first time, I find myself wishing the war wouldn’t end. Although I’m sick of the war… it was nice to be able to see the princess.”

“Don’t say such crazy things.”

“I’m just saying!”

Once again, the topic naturally flowed to Marian. How dedicated she was, how brave on the battlefield, how she cared for others…

“Even if I’m sure to be rejected, I’ll still confess. That alone will be enough.”

“Don’t do that, let’s really set an order. This might turn into a guessing game at this rate.”

The one who poured cold water on the excited atmosphere was Espen. Quietly listening to their conversation, Espen suddenly stood up and scolded everyone in a cold voice.

“You’re all too leisurely. Can you win the war with such a mindset? Remember, even the confessions you’re all babbling about are only possible after we’ve won.”

“That guy is showing off again.”

Everyone jeered at Espen’s back, calling him a mood killer. Espen turned away without paying any attention. There were already plenty of people who disliked Espen for being not just cold, but even rude to Marian.

But no one knew the real reason why he was particularly hostile towards Marian. Leaving the others behind, Espen, now alone in the deep forest, punched a tree.

‘They can even think about proposing. I can’t even dream of it.’

Those guys might prattle on about loving Marian, but it’s not sincere. If it were sincere, they couldn’t say such things.

Proposing when it’s obvious they’ll be rejected? Can they handle the heartbreak in that moment?

[For the first time, I find myself wishing the war wouldn’t end.]

Among the foolish words those idiots were spouting, this was the only one Espen could sympathize with.

Espen desperately wished for the war to last even a little longer. Otherwise, he would never be able to see her again.

‘But I don’t want her to suffer.’

Originally, rather than rolling around on the battlefield covered in dirt, she should have been staying in the palace, wearing a beautiful dress with her pink hair adorned with flowers.

Surely that sight would be dreamlike in its beauty too.

His desire to see her like that and his wish to stay close to her for even a little longer clashed confusingly.

And then an event occurred that nearly snapped Espen’s reason.

On the night before the final battle of the war they had almost won.

[When I return, I’ll probably get married right away. I’ve kept my fiancé waiting for too long.]

Marian’s words drove Espen mad. There was a complete difference between the vague idea of her living married to someone else beyond his reach, and her having concrete plans to marry an already decided fiancé.

‘I didn’t know I had such clingy emotions inside me.’

Rather than seeing her become someone else’s, he just wanted to die. Such emotions caused an error, and he eventually got caught up in mana overload.

And she unhesitatingly reached out her hand to him in that state.

As if to say she would die with him.

I always treated her curtly. While everyone else called her name once in a while, pretending it was a mistake, I never even uttered it once.

“Marian.”

At Espen’s call, she who had come before him again across 100 years, raised her eyes.

Espen found himself grinning like an idiot without realizing it. Even knowing how unseemly it was, his facial muscles moved on their own. It couldn’t be helped. How could he control his expression when the person he had been dreaming of was sitting right in front of him?

Espen carefully pushed out the confession he had lacked the courage to utter long ago.

“Marry me.”

Just saying those words made his nose tingle and tears well up.

He, truly, had wanted to say this.

[This is the timeline separator]

“Marry me.”

I couldn’t believe my ears. What? Marriage?

“…Are you crazy?”

At my retort, Espen’s eyes widened briefly before narrowing.

“I knew you’d react like that.”

No matter how I thought about it, it wasn’t something that should be said between us. After blinking for a moment, I asked this.

“Or are you mocking me?”

This was the best I could think of it. At my question, Espen let out a hollow laugh.

“Have you been mocked a lot? Who proposed to you? Was it that fiancé you mentioned back then?”

“Espen.”

The conversation I wanted to have wasn’t about marriage right now. I called his name to mean he was crossing a line, but he suddenly smiled brightly.

“Yes. That’s my name. Call my name. No, would you prefer Prince Saedel? I like the situation where you use formal speech with me too.”

To me, it was just disgusting. I folded my arms and sneered.

“Then you should have called me nicely.”

“You’re not someone who comes when called nicely. Why weren’t there any reports about you from the North in the first place?”

I kept my mouth shut because I was the one who had intercepted the reports. Saedel grinned.

“Did you want to surprise me?”

“Ha.”

Where did he learn to think so positively?

‘We need to be able to communicate to talk.’

I didn’t know where to start the conversation.

Espen pushed a plate towards me as I was feeling irritated.

“Eat this quickly.”

“What should I trust about you?”

“I’m just suggesting we have a tea time. Why so negative? Too much suspicion is no good.”

The overly familiar tone was even more uncomfortable. As he said, there were only things I liked on the table, but strangely, I couldn’t bring myself to eat. When Espen’s eyes narrowed seeing me not eating, it happened.

“That’s enough.”

As a heavy voice interjected between us, someone stood in front of me protectively. It was Hadel.

Espen’s expression became even more annoyed. Yet his voice flowed smoothly.

“It’s been a while, elder brother.”

Hadel spoke to Espen without lowering his guard.

“It hasn’t been that long. You came to the North yourself just recently.”

“Yes, until then, elder brother was still struggling to properly control the flames. But you look quite composed now.”

“Now my flames are no longer overwhelming.”

“Hmm.”

At the mention of Hadel being able to control his flames well, Espen openly showed his displeasure.

Then he provocatively reached out towards me.

“That’s interesting, but what I’m interested in is over here.”

“Get that away.”

Hadel struck Espen’s hand away with a thud. As their attributes were completely opposite, even though they barely touched, there was a hissing sound of steam evaporating.

“Oh!”

Even the servants who had been pretending not to see were visibly shocked to see the brothers clash like this.

Espen, who still needed to manage his image, gestured to the servants to withdraw first.

“Everyone, withdraw.”

The servants hurried away as if fleeing, lest they get caught in the crossfire. Espen then sneered at Hadel as well.

“Elder brother, would you step aside too? I’d like to talk with a woman I haven’t seen in a long time.”

Hadel retorted, not backing down.

“Shouldn’t you stop using the term ‘elder brother’ now? You’re not my younger brother Saedel.”

“Haha, that’s true.”

With no one else watching, Espen immediately showed his true colors.

“It was making me cringe to keep calling such a young brat ‘elder brother’ anyway.”

Hadel’s face hardened, looking somewhat shocked. He asked in a deeply sunken voice.

“…Since when? Where did my brother go?”