Lenisha’s pink eyes sparkled with vitality.

The licking of her lips and the small and cute tongue that brushed over them captured his attention.

Casius took a deep breath in and out.

‘First, become a couple.’

You said that mutual understanding of the heart is important, you beast.

Casius blamed himself and crossed his arms.

He stopped his hand from reaching out to Lenisha unknowingly.

“The Duke… the Duke released them. He said that even if they were used for Hientri by coercion, they would betray eventually since they are people of Perisen.”

“…It seems I truly am my father’s daughter.”

“And he also said that killing the innocent wouldn’t end the war.”

“That sounds like something my father would say. He always said we should avoid unnecessary sacrifices. This land is not just for Hientri, but for all creatures of the world, so we must know how to share.”

Lenisha seemed to know why Casius had brought up this topic.

He thought of Duke Rotera while looking at Lenisha.

It was a grateful thing.

Lenisha had grown up watching Duke Rotera and his wife since childhood.

That she resembled them meant that they were still alive within her.

Lenisha smiled.

“Thank you, Casius, for telling me such a story. It’s a story of my parents that I couldn’t hear anywhere else.”

“…Isn’t it uncomfortable?”

“It hurts my heart. Surely they would have accomplished more great things if they were alive. But, I’m not uncomfortable. I still love them. You told me, didn’t you? My parents loved me until the end.”

Lenisha’s eyes sparkled. Her smile deepened.

Casius gazed at her as if enchanted.

“That’s enough. They will live forever within me.”

Lenisha reached out to Casius.

It would have been one day on their journey to Hiloshain.

A particularly cold and chilly morning.

Lenisha huddled, struggling to fall asleep.

It was an unfamiliar day, and for some reason, her mind was restless.

My parents passed away in such a cold land.

When Lenisha was staying in a warm place, they were in this bare land…

As she thought about it over and over, her chest felt stuffy, and her eyes seemed to blaze with fire.

Casius hesitated and wrapped his arms around the sleepless Lenisha.

He pressed her hips to his firm belly and tightly hugged her back.

As if to melt the chilled Lenisha.
‘If I couldn’t sleep, I used to count the stars on the battlefield. And I thought to myself. There might come a day when I can’t count those stars, so let’s be thankful for today. I’m comfortable now. I don’t have to worry about tomorrow’s death. But Lenisha might be uncomfortable.’

Lenisha only blinked at the sound of Casius’s breath brushing against her ear.

Casius rolled over, placing Lenisha on top of him.

Lenisha, who was startled and trying to get up, was forcefully embraced by Casius.

‘That discomfort, I will bear it, so please sleep comfortably tonight, Lenisha. We have a longer journey tomorrow.’

‘Casius, I…’

‘The Duke of Rotera used to hold his duchess’s hand tightly and gaze into the distance on cold days. He used to take off his cloak and put it over the Duchess’s shoulders. And then he’d say, unhappiness, discomfort, and fear are things he can’t prevent, but he wishes the Duchess could at least escape from the present cold. I’m just doing what I learned, Lenisha.’

Lenisha was able to close her eyes, avoiding the chill coming from the ground, thanks to Casius pretending to be asleep.

Memories of that day flooded back.

The memories pulled Lenisha back to that day.

The hot body temperature, the smell of dirt and wind, that she felt beneath her.

Lenisha found serenity in the middle of the forest.

She was drawn to a baseless sense of relief that Casius would protect her.

No thoughts occurred to her in his embrace.

Now she wanted to feel that embrace again.

Lenisha’s pale face turned a poisonous red, and she parted her lips.

“Hold me, Casius.”

Casius’s eyes widened.

“Don’t just stand there; come to me and hold me.”

Lenisha spread her arms like a child. It felt cold once she realized it.

Casius’s arms dropped.

“Hurry and embrace me….”

All the vows of that day to avoid Casius were futilely scattered.

Casius grabbed Lenisha’s wrist.

Led by an intense force, Lenisha embraced Casius.

The panting breath, the hot body temperature, and even the breath spilling over Lenisha’s head.

Everything was the same.

Just as Lenisha had felt.

Lenisha buried her head in Casius’s chest.

Was she perhaps lonely facing Sollein alone?

Did she want to see Casius, who had shielded her from the cold?

Lenisha sighed.

“I was a fool.”

She should have guessed that once she tasted something, she couldn’t give it up.

She had never been addicted to anything, so she was careless.

Lenisha muttered in a voice mixed with wind.

“Shall we go to the bedroom?”