Pellerhar did not avoid Erdene’s gaze, which seemed to be closing in sharply.

However, it didn’t seem like he was trying to engage in a battle of wills with her either.

Pellerhar blinked once with his wide, clear eyes and said with a slight smile:

“Actually, I managed to parry Her Majesty’s sword once at that time.”

“What did you say?”

“I staggered, but just as you were about to strike my neck, an arrow flew by. One of Blatchford’s archers, while fleeing, shot his bow. I saw the arrow graze Your Majesty’s ear as it passed. Right here.”

Pellerhar reached out his hand towards Erdene’s ear.

It was an unconscious, involuntary action, but Erdene tilted her head to avoid his touch just from seeing his shoulder move slightly.

Pellerhar blinked and chuckled softly.

“I apologize for my rudeness.”

“You should say ‘I was extremely impertinent’ at times like this.”

However, Erdene wasn’t truly angry either.

Avoiding his hand was merely a reflexive action; even if Pellerhar had suddenly brandished a dagger instead of his hand, she wouldn’t have batted an eye.

Though it would be a bolt from the blue for Arkan, who unexpectedly had to hold a funeral for his only cousin.

Erdene, who had been looking at Pellerhar for a moment, suddenly threw her head back and laughed loudly.

She touched her scarred ear and let out a shallow sigh, seemingly quite amused.

“That’s quite a coincidence, isn’t it?”

“I suppose so. After parrying Her Majesty’s sword once, I fell and bruised my back on a rock, so I had to walk with a cane for almost ten days.”

Pellerhar grinned. Whether it was a joke or the truth, Erdene chuckled, touching her forehead at the thought.

“Good heavens. Were you there as a spectator rather than a mercenary? I suppose you didn’t even have a leather breastplate?”

“Well, I did have one, but as Her Majesty said, I was in the mindset of being just a spectator.”

“You must have found the war quite amusing.”

There was a slight edge to Erdene’s last words.

Though he keenly sensed the change in atmosphere, Pellerhar maintained his relaxed demeanor.

“Not at all. Rather, I joined in so as not to take it lightly. If the King of Blatchford had known this fact, wouldn’t he have fainted in shock?”

“We don’t need to go as far as Blatchford.”

The implication was that Arkan would also faint in shock if he knew this fact.

Pellerhar said:

“Please keep it a secret. I beg you.”

Erdene didn’t answer and deliberately turned her head. She had thought that since he was Arkan’s cousin, his personality and behavior would be similar, but it wasn’t, which was both amusing and somewhat surprising.

Just as she herself didn’t realize how different her temperament was from her twin brother’s, as different as heaven and earth.

At that moment, Pellerhar spoke again.

“If there’s an opportunity next time, I’d like you to teach me a thing or two.”

Erdene’s gaze turned to him. The wariness had now disappeared from her eyes.

Instead, curiosity and joy at an interesting turn of events arose.

She was still sizing up her counterpart, but both Erdene herself and Pellerhar subtly felt that the wall between them had significantly lowered.

“Alright. I don’t refuse such things. But this time, you’d better prepare thoroughly.”

“I’m thinking of rummaging through the castle’s storehouse to see if there’s any armor made by dwarves.”

The two burst out laughing together. By the time they finished their tea, they were chatting comfortably like good friends who got along well.

The topics were unclear, and their opinions fluctuated between agreement and disagreement, but Erdene was thoroughly enjoying herself.

After Pellerhar left, while Anne was clearing the table, Erdene came out of the reception room with Sophia.

As she was about to return to the living room, she suddenly turned to Sophia as if she had just remembered something.

“By the way, Sophia, what was the name of that man who’s been troubling you?”

“It’s the Knight Commander, Bellen Wizard, Your Majesty.”

“You asked me to have a duel with him. I haven’t forgotten.”

Sophia smiled brightly. Erdene’s gaze turned to the window.

She could see several children sitting and learning to play instruments. They seemed to be practicing to become members of the palace orchestra.

“In the Empire, whenever I looked out the window, I always heard the sound of clashing weapons. Swinging swords and climbing onto sand-filled platforms to fight each other. This place is like a different world.”

As Erdene said this, she glanced at Sophia.

“Shall I guide you to a place where you can see a more familiar scene? At the same time, Your Majesty can take a look at the person who might become my husband.”

When Sophia asked, Erdene grinned with a very pleased expression.

“I really like you, Sophia. A good aide should always be quick-witted, that’s what makes my life easier.”

Sophia’s statement that the military camp was quite far away was only half true.

The distance itself wasn’t too far from the royal castle, but there was a small forest in between. It didn’t seem to be made for strolling, as there were traces of people passing through, but the path was quite rough.

Unlike the cautious Sophia, Erdene strode confidently over the path tangled with stones, tree roots, and damp earth in the shade.

As they emerged from the forest, a wide-open training ground appeared.

There were buildings that seemed to be where the soldiers stayed, and lines drawn here and there, perhaps used for training.

The gate leading to the stables was left open. Shields, wooden swords, and spears were lined up along one wall.

Erdene felt elated as if she had returned to her hometown after a long time, but it was short-lived.

Although it was a military camp, there weren’t many soldiers dedicated to training.

Only a few of them, perhaps new recruits, were learning how to apply glue to bowstrings.

An officer, noticing the two entering the training ground, hurried over.

He appeared to be neither young nor old, with a sturdy build but a posture that wasn’t particularly upright. At least that’s how Erdene saw it.

“Your Majesty, what brings you here?”

His attitude was polite, but not particularly welcoming, as if trying to push them away.

Sophia said:

“Is Commander Wizard here?”

“Are you looking for the Commander?”

“Yes.”

The officer looked back and forth between Erdene and Sophia’s faces for a moment, then said:

“Please wait a moment. There’s no suitable place for you to sit, so I’ll prepare one first.”

“That won’t be necessary. This is supposed to be a military camp. We didn’t come here to sit delicately under a shade and sip tea.”

Erdene spoke for the first time.

Sophia noticed that her tone had changed slightly from when she was in the palace.

Erdene herself probably didn’t realize this change.

The officer, seemingly intimidated by Erdene’s unexpectedly stern attitude, made a slight bow.

“Then I’ll be back quickly.”

He ran towards the inner part of the camp, somewhat flustered. Sophia said:

“It seems Commander Wizard is in the camp. I’m glad we didn’t come in vain. Although he’s the Knight Commander, he sometimes guards His Majesty’s side as well.”

“Whether he’s the Knight Commander or the Captain of the Royal Guards, he should stick to one job, tsk… That’s why it’s like this.”

Erdene clicked her tongue in disapproval.

“It’s because there’s no one who can match Commander Wizard’s skills.”

“Then they should cultivate skills to match him. But Sophia, you should see this too. How can they train soldiers like this? Even though Betor is relatively safe, being located in the middle of the inland, if the day comes when alliances break, won’t everything collapse at once?”

Sophia didn’t add that Arkan believed in the strength of the alliance.

Erdene would undoubtedly react by saying that Arkan was carelessly complacent.

However, Sophia, who knew more about the situation of the inland kingdoms, had to side with Arkan rather than Erdene this time.

The inland kingdoms were very tightly bound together, centered around Betor. This was because they had a common enemy.

‘The alliance probably won’t break until the Hirschsten Empire fades into history. Although a peace treaty has been signed between the inland and the Empire with the marriage of His Majesty and Her Majesty, who knows how long it will last.’

Sophia didn’t trust Emperor Tenek, who was said to have newly ascended to the throne, any more than Erdene did.

“Even if we don’t consider the breaking of the inland alliance, why don’t they understand that other threats exist? I don’t know if they’re unaware or pretending to be unaware.”

Erdene muttered as if talking to herself. When Sophia gave her a slightly surprised look, she frowned and added:

“Don’t you think so too? Human greed is boundless by nature.”

“I don’t think it’s a topic I should dare to comment on, Your Majesty.”

“No, Sophia. Why do you think that? Because Emperor Tenek is my brother? We were indeed born on the same day and at the same time. That’s why I know him so well it makes me sick. He’s utterly useless when it comes to physical tasks, but he’s as cunning as an old wolf. If you don’t think ahead, you’ll end up in big trouble.”

“If you speak to His Majesty…”

“Would he even listen to me?”

Erdene said with a wrinkled nose, as if chiding.

“Although he’s wise and knowledgeable, His Majesty views people too generously. Well, I suppose that’s how people who grew up in peaceful places tend to be.”