CH 39

A week has passed since the progression. 

The Roheneim army, led by Valhayle, made it to the castles surrounding the capital in 7 days. 

The progression was incredibly rapid and the army claimed victory after victory. 

Valhayle visited Zelle every night to report to her about the progress.

Zelle was discontent that he still wouldn’t let her leave the tent.

“We drove the Granoir troops out of the Redbrick castle and began the restoration.”

Valhayle reported formally. 

“We’ve lost about 30 men from this battle. It’s not that big of a loss but many were injured when Granoir knocked over the castle walls as their final resort. We will have to repair the walls as well.”

Zelle asked. 

“So which castle are we headed to now?”

Valhayle stared at her shortly and set his eyes back on the map.

“…The castle wall repairs will be funded and aided by the Central region and the Eastern region and later from the Western region when the taxes are–”

Hah, Ignored. AGAIN.

He always did this when Zelle asked about future plans. 

Zelle glared at him, swallowing the swear words on her tongue.

‘#%$%^%^@#…’

Valhayle didn’t bother and continued speaking.

“The lords of the Eastern region were not so pleased about that but Voymont is with us so it should be fine.”

“H-Hold on.”

Zelle interrupted. 

She couldn’t believe what she just heard. 

“Are you managing the budget and the administration of the nobles, yourself?”

Valhayle nodded.

“Yes. There is no other person currently high enough in rank to do this.”

“Alone?”

“I’ve shared some of the work with the executives of the Lumares family ever since the recapturing of the Central region began.”

“….”

Zelle was lost for words. 

She finally knew why Valhayle always stayed up at night. He was dealing with the responsibility of the King.

He is overburdened?!

“So that’s why you had that many documents every night…”

Valhayle looked at her again with suspicion.

“Anything wrong?”

“N-no. Nothing.”

After a moment, Vahayle moved on to the next topic.

“Lopecce fought a total of 28 battles–”

Zelle quickly lost interest in this pointless and uninvolving report.

So, she studied Valhayle slowly.

‘Isn’t he tired…..’

This advancement has been going on for 5 days straight. 

Free times like these only came after setting camp for the night.

And when day broke, they had to be on the move again.

Valhayle even took on the job of accompanying her during the day. And undoubtedly did a great job of keeping her inside the tent at night. 

Doing all this while participating in military counsels, fighting battles, and managing paperwork?

Is he human?

Zelle looked at Valhayle in disbelief until something caught her eye. 

She interrupted Valhayle mid-sentence and spoke.

“Sir, are you injured?”

Valhayle reflexively looked at his wound.

“How did it…”

Zelle unconsciously reached towards his wound and–

‘Ah.’

Quickly withdrew her hand.

‘Right. I as a human never interacted with him before the war…’

When Zelle withdrew her hand, Valhayle pulled away from her too.

He tugged his cloak and hid the wound on his shoulder.

“It’s no big deal.”

‘Of course, you’d say that.’

Zelle recalled the things he said before melancholy.

‘This wound is nothing.’

‘Why are you making such a face? It’s not that severe.’

She couldn’t bear to look at his face without thinking about the conversations they had before when she was a bird.

Zelle dropped her head.

“…Are you alright?”

Valhayle answered dismissingly.

“The victories we are achieving are all thanks to Your Highness. We have no complaints.”

‘Complaint?’

Zelle felt a lump in her throat as soon as she heard that word.

“I’m not talking about ‘complaints’. How even is expressing one’s pain considered complaining?”

Valhayle quickly responded, wanting to end the discussion on this topic. 

“I apologize for causing your concern. I’ll make sure to make my wounds stay properly hidden from your sight.”

“…..”

Zelle was somehow infuriated.

It wasn’t like the anger she felt from him hiding everything from her.

She knew that this was how her relationship with Valhayle has always been.

That they had more than none between them. But still…

I can’t help but worry for you.

Yet you try to keep me from worrying and even act like I don’t even have the rights to worry.

She knew this was in fact normal for Valhayle.

And that she shouldn’t want any affinity between them.

Since as human Zelleine, it would be of no good for her to be acquainted with the head of the Lumares family. But even so, Zelle was infuriated by his attitude.

She didn’t mean that the wound bothered her but he seemed to have taken it that way. 

“….”

Zelle remained silent for the rest of the time until Valhayle finished his report and left. 

*･ﾟ:༻✦༺･ﾟ:*

Later that night on the way back after reporting to the princess, Valhayle looked up at the dark sky. 

The bird that flew fearlessly even on dark nights like this still remained unconscious.

But instead of the bird, it was the princess that occupied his mind.

“….”

Why did she look so bothered?

He wondered.

The princess expressed her displeasure with his suspicions oftentimes. But the displeasure she showed today was different. 

Valhayle recalled her reaching toward his wound and clenched his jaw.

When he saw her hand, his effort of trying to hide his emotions in front of the princess was almost done in vain.

‘I was distancing myself from her on purpose because of this.’

He closed his eyes and sighed.

None of the suspicions of the princess were completely cleared yet. While the suspicions remained, only one thing-his confusion-, deepened.

The tears of the princess he saw on her coming-of-age banquet.

And the joy he somehow felt when he rescued the princess. 

These made Valhayle difficult to treat the princess.

And to remain logical between this emotion and the suspicion, he purposely remained cold towards the princess.

But why do you seem so displeased about my injury? I mean nothing to you.

He didn’t even go near the princess unless necessary.

Valhayle recalled the time he rode with the princess.

The image of her hands gripping the saddle securely with much proficiency and her shining hazel brown hair swaying as the horse galloped passed his mind. 

He looked down at his arm that was wrapped around the princess.

“….”

Her figure was so petite that it didn’t fit in this one arm….

Valhayle stopped abruptly.

What am I thinking. 

Valhayle scurried to the back of his tent and poured a bucket of water over his head.

The autumn frost on the water ran down his body.

Not even feeling the cold, Valhayle returned to his tent. 

*･ﾟ:༻✦༺･ﾟ:*

As usual, Zelle got ready to board the horse early in the morning before the soldiers could see.

She rubbed her eyes to wake herself and stood in front of the horse.

Valhayle held her waist to help her up the horse.

She wouldn’t need such help if it were her horse but Valhayle’s horse was quite huge.

Zelle was used to riding on thin, short horses so getting up a horse large enough to knock a man out just with its hooves was tasking.

Valhayle skillfully lifted her up on the horse.

Zelle looked at Valhayle’s face under the cold pale light of dawn.

He must have stayed up all night again…

Then a realization struck her.

‘Right.’

She stopped Valhayle from getting up on the horse.

“H, hold on.”

Valhayle stared up at her.

“What’s wrong?”

Zelle cleared her throat and declared.

“I’ll sit behind you.”

Valhayle’s face stiffened immediately.

“No. It’d be safer for me to hold the reins.”

“I can hold them well too.”

“Your highness’s life equates to Roymonde’s life.”

“I know the importance of my life. I’ll hold on tightly.”

Obviously dissatisfied with the sudden argument, Valhayle questioned.

“Why are you insisting so much?”

Zelle chewed her lips before answering.

“Well… You’re hurt. If I sit in front, you’ll have to put more power into your arms to secure me so it would hurt you even more.”

Valhayle replied sternly.

“You only have to mind your own safety.”

“….”

Having argued with him before, Zelle decided to use another method.

“I’m sitting in the back.”

Valhayle answered coldly.

“If it is because of me, it’s unnecessary.”

Haah. This is impossible. 

Zelle glared at him and declared once again.

“Just get along with it. I’m not backing away this time.”

‘You’re so disagreeable but you’re my owner– No, my nation’s commander-in-chief so I’ll keep you safe!’

Valhayle glared into Zelle’s eyes.

Zelle used the final card.

“It’s an order.”

“….”

And finally, Valhayle yielded.

“Alright then.”

He then tied his cloak on top of Zelle’s cloak.

“You’ll be more noticeable when you’re sitting behind me.”

“So you think this will make me appear like your back?”

“I hope so.”

Anyway, Zelle achieved her goal so she wore Valhayle’s cloak without any complaints and watched Valhayle sit in front of her contently.

“Hold on tight.”

Instead of answering, Zelle wrapped her arms around Valhayle’s waist. She felt his back twitch a little.

Valhayle signed the horse to move and the horse moved forward.