"Is it uncomfortable?"

At Ardiana’s question, Tie nodded from under the blanket.

"Yes! It’s really nice!"

A faint smile appeared on Ardiana’s lips.

'So now it’s clear.'

She had begun to suspect the identity of the King of the Dead from their very first meeting.

That was why, after growing closer to Tesetan, she had questioned him about the King of the Dead more than once.

But Tesetan almost never answered.

'Wouldn’t it be better to ask the person directly?'

'...Really? I didn’t think you were that good at keeping your mouth shut.'

'That’s unfair. I’m originally a very restrained and serious person.'

If he had simply dodged the questions skillfully each time, that would have been one thing.

Watching Tesetan shake his head behind Astie, Ardiana recalled the past ten days.

'You handle a sword well. Did you train somewhere?'

'A little, when I was young.'

'Just a little, and at this level. Impressive.'

'...Why have you been acting like this for several days? Are you trying to make me angry again today?'

'No. Though, to be honest, I like it when you get angry. I’ve always dreamed of living under the strict control of a woman worthy of admiration.'

'Hah, you have peculiar tastes.'

'Does that mean you think I’m special? Thank you.'

He was clearly hiding his face behind a mask.

And yet Tesetan always acted as if he could see straight through Ardiana.

What was even more amusing was that Ardiana herself was drawn to him.

Her gaze kept returning to him, and his teasing made her ears flush.

How long had this tense tug of war continued?

A few days ago, when a surge of magical beasts forced them to take shelter in an abandoned wing—

that was when something happened that changed their relationship.

"...Hey, Deputy Commander. Are you okay?"

"I’m fine. Don’t worry."

That day, it couldn’t be helped.

The rift had suddenly expanded, and the number of creatures had become unbearable.

From the moment they took refuge in the crack between the palace stones, Tesetan’s face turned pale.

Though he said he was fine, his forehead was covered in cold sweat.

Listening to his increasingly uneven breathing, Ardiana thought—

'Could it be...'

She knew his past—how at the age of four he had been taken into the order and a seal of restriction placed on his heart.

Moreover, as a child, she herself had visited the main temple of the central continent.

And so she knew very well.

'...Poor thing.'

In the underground chambers of the main temple, there was a place called the “room of purification.”

Back then, the high priest had shown it to her, saying she should consider it an honor.

But in Ardiana’s memory, that place remained terrifyingly dark.

There were shackles everywhere, enough to bind people.

Chains and strange devices lay scattered across the floor.

And worst of all, it was so cramped that it was hard to breathe.

Just like here, among the rubble of the ruined wing.

"...Deputy Commander. Look at me."

Ardiana cupped his face in her hands, forcing him to meet her gaze.

But the fear filling his eyes only deepened.

And his body, drenched in sweat, ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) turned ice-cold.

"...Tesetan!"

But he didn’t respond.

His gaze was losing focus.

Ardiana’s anxiety grew.

She began rubbing his hands over and over.

And at some point, she did something she herself couldn’t explain.

Her lips pressed against his pale lips.

"..."

Even through the mask, warmth slowly passed between them.

And around then, his gaze began to clear.

Flustered beyond measure, Ardiana stammered.

"...I, um. I..."

At that moment, his fingers touched the tip of her ear.

Why didn’t she stop him afterward?

When his fingers brushed the ties of the mask.

Even when the mask finally fell onto her lap—she still did nothing.

"I saw."

At the softly spoken words, time seemed to stop.

Even the roars of the creatures outside faded away.

Tesetan’s gaze slowly traced her face.

"I saw. At the imperial palace."

He looked as though he had sunk into deep thought.

"It was you back then too."

Another memory slipped into his voice.

Fides’s coming-of-age ceremony.

That reception where a small number of nobles and members of the imperial family mingled in a relaxed atmosphere.

That day, Ardiana wore a plain light-green dress.

'Light green is the color of jesters, drifters, or women caught in forbidden affairs...'

But she couldn’t refuse to wear the dress gifted by the Empress.

So she attended the reception in it.

Of course, she never once stepped into the light that night.

Back then, she felt like stagnant, rotting water.

And that if there was the darkest place in that vast palace—it was where she stood.

But at that moment, for the first time, someone approached her and spoke.

'Foolish tradition.'

He had been fourteen then.

The youngest son of the Luminel family—Theseos.

'That there are colors only the imperial family can wear. And colors that must not be worn at all.'

Ardiana still remembered how he stood beside her in silence for a while.

And then—

'Theseos? Your clothes...'

He suddenly turned his uniform inside out and walked toward the Duke and Duchess Luminel.

The lining, full of seams, was gray.

The color of mourning.

The faces of Fides and Lavenia darkened instantly.

But Tesetan acted as if he hadn’t noticed and remained that way until the end of the reception.

And not just that.

He spoke calmly with various people.

It was absurd.

Watching him, Ardiana found courage as well.

It didn’t matter if the Empress punished her later.

It didn’t matter if her father scolded her.

She found the courage to leave the reception and return to her own palace.

"Why."

The face of that boy overlapped with Tesetan’s.

"...I hoped I was wrong."

He looked at her with trembling eyes.

As if it hurt him that it really was her.

As if he had finally understood her position.

After that, she remembered almost nothing.

Only that the second kiss was much longer.

And that Tesetan was extremely careful.

His touch was as though he feared breaking fragile glass.

That night, she and Tesetan rejoined the squad much later than expected.

Allerik and Ribia scolded them, but Tesetan simply ran a hand through his hair without a word.

In the carriage, he held her hand beneath his cloak.

'...I should push him away.'

But Ardiana couldn’t.

She had to admit it.

The truth she had denied since the moment they met in the square.

She, too, desperately wanted Tesetan.

Ardiana silently looked at Tesetan behind Astie.

Not long ago—

Tesetan had come to her tent late at night.

He already knew that assassins sent by Fides were after her.

'I can sleep sitting, Madam Chairman.'

'Really?'

'...Fine, I’ll be honest. I’m worried. Wouldn’t it be better if I stayed here instead of you being alone?'

But—

'...Ardiana.'

'You were the one who came in first.'

As soon as the flap closed, Ardiana pulled him toward her.

He was surprised, but did not push her away.

The light went out.

They awkwardly embraced and moved toward the bed.

And just as Ardiana lay back—

'Squad Leader! Madam Chairman!'

Astie burst in, and everything stopped.

"Hehe. It’s nice to sleep together!"

Looking at the laughing Astie, Ardiana eventually smiled as well.

'She really is a child.'

A child who says she should sleep alone.

That it might be scary for two, so she’ll sleep with them.

No adult would ever say such things.

Especially not while barging into a man and woman’s bedroom at that moment.

'The King of the Dead has not a trace of ill intent.'

Remembering Adeline’s words, Ardiana quietly laughed.

And at that moment, her eyes met Tesetan’s.

"Mm..."

It seemed Astie had already fallen asleep—her drowsy mumbling could be heard.

"Hah."

Tesetan let out a quiet chuckle.

And as if on cue, Ardiana couldn’t hold back either.

"Pff."

She quickly covered her mouth with her hand.

That night, in the darkness, they looked at each other for a long time.

Both with gentle smiles on their faces.