Were you surprised to be caught? It was a short remark, but the power of those words was strong.
Anyone who wasn't an idiot could tell that Erna's words were bared with thorns. It was only natural. It would be even more problematic if she spoke kindly when her spouse was holding another person of the opposite sex right before her eyes.
At Erna's cold voice, Callion felt his heart sink.
“No, this is a misunderstanding...”
“I’m sorry. The atmosphere was good, so I came too early. I’m a bit clueless, aren’t I?”
Every single word seemed to emit a fierce, piercing light. Orpheus, standing behind Erna, and Cedric, standing behind Callion, mouthed words to communicate.
Wait, what's going on?
This is a real misunderstanding, a misunderstanding.
The accessories she was wearing were excessively flashy and completely out of fashion. Moreover, by Erna's standards, they were too revealing. Honestly, the woman's attire did not look particularly attractive in Erna's eyes.
'But... She looks cute.'
The youthful face characteristic of a young lady who had only recently come of age was cute and quite charming. She was probably easily swaying the hearts of the neighborhood's young men. And perhaps... she might even be able to sway Callion.
She recalled the attitude Callion had displayed in the bushes just moments ago. When she first saw him approach, she had assumed he would sternly scold her and send her away immediately, in accordance with the Knights' discipline. However, completely contrary to Erna's expectations, Callion called the woman closer and stared at her intently from head to toe.
At that sight, Erna suddenly felt a surge of heat welling up inside her. She unconsciously clenched her fist tightly.
At first, she was about to shout, "What are you doing?" But she soon realized that there was no reason for her to do so.
'Why me?'
Of course, as a married couple, she has the right to be angry and confront her husband about his infidelity. However, she and Callion were by no means a couple like others. They were partners bound by an unavoidable political marriage, now cooperating out of obligation to produce a child to avoid returning to their homeland. Wasn't their relationship exactly that limited?
Until recently, Erna had no interest in whether Callion met women or not. It was likely the same for Callion. And even now, to be honest, it was difficult to say anything about the fact that Callion was seeing another woman.
The laws of Hessengard did not punish a person for having an affair with another person while married. However, if the other party wanted a divorce, the person who had the affair would be considered the spouse at fault and would have their assets completely stripped away.
He might face moral condemnation if not legal punishment, but honestly, who would dare tell the Grand Duke, "Don't live like that"? And above all, she wasn't on good terms with Callion to part ways like that.
"Ha..."
Erna took a deep breath. She thought it would calm her down a bit, but far from doing so, she felt her anger well up even more.
However, she couldn't just grab Callion by the collar and shake him in front of everyone like this. Besides the Grand Duke's authority, if Callion were to say, "What does that have to do with you?", she felt like she would really kill him.
First, Erna desperately scraped together the remaining reason inside her and spoke to the village chief and the woman.
“This is a dangerous area. So return to the village immediately. I will assign wizards and knights to accompany you, so you won’t have to fear on your way back.”
Fortunately, the long years she had spent striving to live as a Grand Duke helped Erna feign a steady voice and a calm face. However, that did not mean her gaze was gentle.
“Yes, yup!”
At the sharp glare from Erna, the village chief hurriedly grabbed his daughter's wrist and pulled her along, bowing his head. However, Freya hesitated, unable to easily move her feet, gazing at Callion with eyes full of regret. Then, their eyes met. Even though no words had been spoken, Erna knew what Freya wanted to say to her.
If you hadn't come here, I would have had a good time today.
Erna's tightly clenched fist was now trembling.
Leaving the Grand Duke's castle, she rode on horseback, dragging Orpheus along, who seemed to be shouting, "Do we really have to go?" The road wasn't particularly rough, but that didn't make riding a horse an easy task. Moreover, perhaps because she had spent the night with Callion, pain still lingered in her body. Every time the horse leaped over a small puddle, Erna had to grit her teeth. Because with each leap, her lower body throbbed.
Still, the reason she rode over quickly on a horse rather than a carriage was that she was a little worried about him.
'Monsters could suddenly appear in large numbers like before.'
Erna had been anxious ever since she recalled the monsters that had poured out of the lake. If flying monsters were to pour out in the same numbers as they did back then, it was clear that even someone like Callion would be in danger.
But to think that the sight she saw after dragging her frail body here out of concern was like this. Erna turned her back on the village chief and Freya, who were being dragged away by the knights and mages as if half-dragged out. And on Callion as well.
Right now, she couldn't even stand the sight of Callion.
Footsteps. Erna walked alone through the Irgis Forest. To be precise, she wasn't alone. Callion was following about ten paces behind her.
After sending the village chief's party away, Erna smiled sweetly and told the knights and mages that she had only come because it was a place she had been curious about for a long time, and that she did not need escorts and would just go look around. However, to everyone's ears, those words sounded like, "I am boiling with anger and need to calm down on my own, so if you follow me, I will kill you."
Even Orpheus, who always followed her, kept her mouth shut, thinking it was dangerous now. Soon, Erna walked quickly into the forest. Just then, someone ignored Erna's warning and followed immediately. The knights and mages who tried to stop him fell silent when they saw that the person was Callion.
In fact, if a monster appeared in this situation, the ones in danger were themselves, not the two of them. They were the strongest mage and knight of Hessengard. Besides, it has long been said that one should never get involved in a marital dispute.
They had no choice but to let them go, simply hoping in their hearts that the two would resolve their misunderstandings and return safely.
After walking in silence for quite a while, Erna suddenly turned around and asked.
“Why are you following me?”
“...It’s a misunderstanding.”
At Erna's blade-like voice, Callion answered with a stern face.
“I know what you’re thinking, but it’s a misunderstanding. They came here without permission, and I have no interest in that woman whatsoever. Besides, our Knights Order strictly prohibits socializing at mission sites. As the Commander, there is no way I would violate that...”
“If there were no rules, you would have met, right?”
Even though she thought she should respond as rationally and calmly as possible, Erna could not suppress the sarcasm rising in her voice. She had hoped walking alone at night would calm her anger, but the fact that Callion was trailing behind her had only made her sharper. Yet, what she could not understand about herself was that if Callion hadn't followed her, she really wouldn't have let him get away with it.
“Why can’t you answer? And what do you mean you aren’t interested? You were staring at that woman intently.”
"That...!"
"Well, that's... well."
“That’s, well, just...”
As Erna shot back coldly, Callion suddenly flushed and turned his head, stammering. Then he muttered in a very low voice.
“...Because it's pretty.”
“...”
The moment she heard those words, the sound of her reason snapped right in Erna's ears, along with the devil's whisper.
Should I kill him? Should I just bury Callion here and become the sole Grand Duke of Hessengard?
It was absurd, but somehow, the thought occurred to him that it might be possible now. As Erna's face contorted menacingly, Callion realized his mistake.
“No, it’s the clothes! Because the clothes are pretty!"
“What does it matter to you if that woman’s clothes are pretty! Are you planning to wear them? Is that your taste?”
As Erna shouted, Callion tried to say that it wasn't that, but that he had looked at it because he thought it would suit her too. However, the words could not easily get past Callion throat.
He still hasn't been able to shake the habit of scoffing at her for ten years, calling her a pumpkin. Besides, isn't that something only lovers say? It wasn't something to say when you were only sleeping together out of obligation to make a baby.
Unable to find the right words to say, Callion just gripped the innocent sword handle tightly.
Callion ran his hand over his face. If they had been in bed, he probably would have just grabbed the clothes and quickly dressed her without needing to say a word. Though he would have taken them off again.
“To call that an excuse—what do you think of me? You might as well just go and bring that woman back. I won't mind. I'll even step aside so you can have a good time.”
While Callion stood at a loss for what to do, cold words flowed from Erna's lips. At those words, Callion, too, surged with anger. Did she really think of him as such a loose man?
As the Grand Duke of Hessengard and the Commander of the Knights, he has lived a life without a single blemish before heaven. He has never had a single romantic affair. In that case...
'You can trust me more than a woman you just met.'
Callion felt disappointed. He knew that the situation just moments ago was not pleasant for Erna to witness. He also admitted that it was a scene ripe for misunderstanding. Still, it would have been nice if she had trusted him even just a little bit...
But now, he is told to follow that woman whose name he can't even remember and bring her back. Feeling a complex mix of injustice, disappointment, and even annoyance, just as Callion was about to call out to Erna again, the howl of a monster was heard from above his head.
Kyaaaaaaak!
"...!”
Startled, the two immediately looked up. Thanks to the light lit at a campsite a short distance away, they could vaguely sense the location of the monsters, but they could not see them clearly. Just as Callion narrowed his eyes to confirm their position, a massive sphere of light rose into the sky. Erna had used magic.
The startled monster flew swiftly toward the ground to attack, aiming precisely at Erna. However, before it could get close, Erna's hand moved even faster and this time created a fireball.
And it, too, flew quickly toward the monster.
Pow pow!
She created an eerie fireworks display in the sky. Unaware that the Knights in the distance were gazing at the sky and muttering, "Surely that exploding over there isn't Grand Duke Callion...", Erna continued to move her hands to draw the magic formula.
She required something to pound on anyway, and to think it would appear just in time like this. Her personal grudge, which should have been directed elsewhere, flew toward and struck the flying monster.
Callion looked at Erna in disbelief at the magic, which seemed several times more powerful than usual and was filled with murderous intent. He should have been thanking her for not killing him until now. In the meantime, another monster crawled toward Erna from the ground. It seemed to have exploited the weakness of thinking that she would only appear from the sky. And, naturally, it was...
Kyaaaak!
As Callion rushed over and swung his sword with great force, the neck and body were thrown apart. It was when the two of them were slaughtering the monster to a degree that bordered on a one-sided massacre.
“Erna!”
Callion saw something strange appear right behind Erna. It wasn't a monster. That was definitely...
“Why is that showing up here now?”
The entrance to the ancient ruins was beginning to appear behind Erna.
Anyone who wasn't an idiot could tell that Erna's words were bared with thorns. It was only natural. It would be even more problematic if she spoke kindly when her spouse was holding another person of the opposite sex right before her eyes.
At Erna's cold voice, Callion felt his heart sink.
“No, this is a misunderstanding...”
“I’m sorry. The atmosphere was good, so I came too early. I’m a bit clueless, aren’t I?”
Every single word seemed to emit a fierce, piercing light. Orpheus, standing behind Erna, and Cedric, standing behind Callion, mouthed words to communicate.
Wait, what's going on?
This is a real misunderstanding, a misunderstanding.
Just as she was exchanging small talk with her masters, Erna’s gaze turned toward Freya.
'But... She looks cute.'
The youthful face characteristic of a young lady who had only recently come of age was cute and quite charming. She was probably easily swaying the hearts of the neighborhood's young men. And perhaps... she might even be able to sway Callion.
She recalled the attitude Callion had displayed in the bushes just moments ago. When she first saw him approach, she had assumed he would sternly scold her and send her away immediately, in accordance with the Knights' discipline. However, completely contrary to Erna's expectations, Callion called the woman closer and stared at her intently from head to toe.
At that sight, Erna suddenly felt a surge of heat welling up inside her. She unconsciously clenched her fist tightly.
At first, she was about to shout, "What are you doing?" But she soon realized that there was no reason for her to do so.
'Why me?'
Of course, as a married couple, she has the right to be angry and confront her husband about his infidelity. However, she and Callion were by no means a couple like others. They were partners bound by an unavoidable political marriage, now cooperating out of obligation to produce a child to avoid returning to their homeland. Wasn't their relationship exactly that limited?
Until recently, Erna had no interest in whether Callion met women or not. It was likely the same for Callion. And even now, to be honest, it was difficult to say anything about the fact that Callion was seeing another woman.
The laws of Hessengard did not punish a person for having an affair with another person while married. However, if the other party wanted a divorce, the person who had the affair would be considered the spouse at fault and would have their assets completely stripped away.
He might face moral condemnation if not legal punishment, but honestly, who would dare tell the Grand Duke, "Don't live like that"? And above all, she wasn't on good terms with Callion to part ways like that.
"Ha..."
Erna took a deep breath. She thought it would calm her down a bit, but far from doing so, she felt her anger well up even more.
However, she couldn't just grab Callion by the collar and shake him in front of everyone like this. Besides the Grand Duke's authority, if Callion were to say, "What does that have to do with you?", she felt like she would really kill him.
First, Erna desperately scraped together the remaining reason inside her and spoke to the village chief and the woman.
“This is a dangerous area. So return to the village immediately. I will assign wizards and knights to accompany you, so you won’t have to fear on your way back.”
Fortunately, the long years she had spent striving to live as a Grand Duke helped Erna feign a steady voice and a calm face. However, that did not mean her gaze was gentle.
“Yes, yup!”
At the sharp glare from Erna, the village chief hurriedly grabbed his daughter's wrist and pulled her along, bowing his head. However, Freya hesitated, unable to easily move her feet, gazing at Callion with eyes full of regret. Then, their eyes met. Even though no words had been spoken, Erna knew what Freya wanted to say to her.
If you hadn't come here, I would have had a good time today.
Erna's tightly clenched fist was now trembling.
Leaving the Grand Duke's castle, she rode on horseback, dragging Orpheus along, who seemed to be shouting, "Do we really have to go?" The road wasn't particularly rough, but that didn't make riding a horse an easy task. Moreover, perhaps because she had spent the night with Callion, pain still lingered in her body. Every time the horse leaped over a small puddle, Erna had to grit her teeth. Because with each leap, her lower body throbbed.
Still, the reason she rode over quickly on a horse rather than a carriage was that she was a little worried about him.
'Monsters could suddenly appear in large numbers like before.'
Erna had been anxious ever since she recalled the monsters that had poured out of the lake. If flying monsters were to pour out in the same numbers as they did back then, it was clear that even someone like Callion would be in danger.
But to think that the sight she saw after dragging her frail body here out of concern was like this. Erna turned her back on the village chief and Freya, who were being dragged away by the knights and mages as if half-dragged out. And on Callion as well.
Right now, she couldn't even stand the sight of Callion.
***
Footsteps. Erna walked alone through the Irgis Forest. To be precise, she wasn't alone. Callion was following about ten paces behind her.
After sending the village chief's party away, Erna smiled sweetly and told the knights and mages that she had only come because it was a place she had been curious about for a long time, and that she did not need escorts and would just go look around. However, to everyone's ears, those words sounded like, "I am boiling with anger and need to calm down on my own, so if you follow me, I will kill you."
Even Orpheus, who always followed her, kept her mouth shut, thinking it was dangerous now. Soon, Erna walked quickly into the forest. Just then, someone ignored Erna's warning and followed immediately. The knights and mages who tried to stop him fell silent when they saw that the person was Callion.
In fact, if a monster appeared in this situation, the ones in danger were themselves, not the two of them. They were the strongest mage and knight of Hessengard. Besides, it has long been said that one should never get involved in a marital dispute.
They had no choice but to let them go, simply hoping in their hearts that the two would resolve their misunderstandings and return safely.
After walking in silence for quite a while, Erna suddenly turned around and asked.
“Why are you following me?”
“...It’s a misunderstanding.”
At Erna's blade-like voice, Callion answered with a stern face.
“I know what you’re thinking, but it’s a misunderstanding. They came here without permission, and I have no interest in that woman whatsoever. Besides, our Knights Order strictly prohibits socializing at mission sites. As the Commander, there is no way I would violate that...”
“If there were no rules, you would have met, right?”
Even though she thought she should respond as rationally and calmly as possible, Erna could not suppress the sarcasm rising in her voice. She had hoped walking alone at night would calm her anger, but the fact that Callion was trailing behind her had only made her sharper. Yet, what she could not understand about herself was that if Callion hadn't followed her, she really wouldn't have let him get away with it.
“Why can’t you answer? And what do you mean you aren’t interested? You were staring at that woman intently.”
"That...!"
"Well, that's... well."
“That’s, well, just...”
As Erna shot back coldly, Callion suddenly flushed and turned his head, stammering. Then he muttered in a very low voice.
“...Because it's pretty.”
“...”
The moment she heard those words, the sound of her reason snapped right in Erna's ears, along with the devil's whisper.
Should I kill him? Should I just bury Callion here and become the sole Grand Duke of Hessengard?
It was absurd, but somehow, the thought occurred to him that it might be possible now. As Erna's face contorted menacingly, Callion realized his mistake.
“No, it’s the clothes! Because the clothes are pretty!"
“What does it matter to you if that woman’s clothes are pretty! Are you planning to wear them? Is that your taste?”
As Erna shouted, Callion tried to say that it wasn't that, but that he had looked at it because he thought it would suit her too. However, the words could not easily get past Callion throat.
He still hasn't been able to shake the habit of scoffing at her for ten years, calling her a pumpkin. Besides, isn't that something only lovers say? It wasn't something to say when you were only sleeping together out of obligation to make a baby.
Unable to find the right words to say, Callion just gripped the innocent sword handle tightly.
'I’d rather be in bed.'
“To call that an excuse—what do you think of me? You might as well just go and bring that woman back. I won't mind. I'll even step aside so you can have a good time.”
While Callion stood at a loss for what to do, cold words flowed from Erna's lips. At those words, Callion, too, surged with anger. Did she really think of him as such a loose man?
As the Grand Duke of Hessengard and the Commander of the Knights, he has lived a life without a single blemish before heaven. He has never had a single romantic affair. In that case...
'You can trust me more than a woman you just met.'
Callion felt disappointed. He knew that the situation just moments ago was not pleasant for Erna to witness. He also admitted that it was a scene ripe for misunderstanding. Still, it would have been nice if she had trusted him even just a little bit...
But now, he is told to follow that woman whose name he can't even remember and bring her back. Feeling a complex mix of injustice, disappointment, and even annoyance, just as Callion was about to call out to Erna again, the howl of a monster was heard from above his head.
Kyaaaaaaak!
"...!”
Startled, the two immediately looked up. Thanks to the light lit at a campsite a short distance away, they could vaguely sense the location of the monsters, but they could not see them clearly. Just as Callion narrowed his eyes to confirm their position, a massive sphere of light rose into the sky. Erna had used magic.
The startled monster flew swiftly toward the ground to attack, aiming precisely at Erna. However, before it could get close, Erna's hand moved even faster and this time created a fireball.
And it, too, flew quickly toward the monster.
Pow pow!
She created an eerie fireworks display in the sky. Unaware that the Knights in the distance were gazing at the sky and muttering, "Surely that exploding over there isn't Grand Duke Callion...", Erna continued to move her hands to draw the magic formula.
She required something to pound on anyway, and to think it would appear just in time like this. Her personal grudge, which should have been directed elsewhere, flew toward and struck the flying monster.
Callion looked at Erna in disbelief at the magic, which seemed several times more powerful than usual and was filled with murderous intent. He should have been thanking her for not killing him until now. In the meantime, another monster crawled toward Erna from the ground. It seemed to have exploited the weakness of thinking that she would only appear from the sky. And, naturally, it was...
Kyaaaak!
As Callion rushed over and swung his sword with great force, the neck and body were thrown apart. It was when the two of them were slaughtering the monster to a degree that bordered on a one-sided massacre.
“Erna!”
Callion saw something strange appear right behind Erna. It wasn't a monster. That was definitely...
“Why is that showing up here now?”
The entrance to the ancient ruins was beginning to appear behind Erna.
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