Yuna took advantage of the situation for her own sake.

She slowly crouched beside the bed where Ethan lay, leaning her face slightly closer to his.

Her breathing was careful, measured, as if she were afraid even the sound of air moving might wake him.

"This is the camp area," she whispered to herself.

The surveillance cameras aren’t pointed here.

They won’t know.

You won’t know either.

A moment later, Yuna pressed her lips gently against Ethan’s.

There was no movement in response. No shift of his mouth, no reaction from his body. Ethan remained completely still, lying flat on his back, deeply asleep.

Yuna lingered there, her lips touching his longer than she had planned.

This was something she had wanted to do for a very long time.

Again and again, she had failed. Ethan’s loyalty to his wife had always been an unbreakable wall.

No matter how close she stood to him, no matter how many moments they shared, he had never crossed that line.

But now, with Ethan asleep, Yuna believed she could finally do the one thing she had always restrained herself from doing.

She opened her eyes and slowly pulled back.

Her expression changed instantly, shock flooding her face.

"E... Ethan?"

Without her realizing it, Ethan had awakened.

His sensitivity was unusually high. Even the slightest unfamiliar contact could pull him from sleep in an instant.

His eyes opened and immediately focused on Yuna’s beautiful face, which was now filled with panic, anxiety, and fear.

She was afraid.

Afraid that Ethan would punish her for her recklessness.

"I... I’m sorry, Ethan," Yuna said hurriedly.

"I’ll go to"

Before she could finish, Ethan’s hand caught her arm.

He sat up in one swift motion and pulled Yuna back toward him. She stumbled and fell into his embrace, their faces ending up dangerously close, their eyes meeting for a brief but intense moment.

"Guard the outside, Lyodra!"

[Mode: Aggressive Soul Servant]

[1. Lyodra Vulkanis | Lv. 10 | S Rank | Passive: Aggressive | 2500 MP]

Lyodra’s chibi body glowed with a bright red light. In the next instant, she transformed into an adult woman clad in a flowing dress of fire, a lava sword forming in her grasp.

"No one is allowed to come near my tent," Ethan ordered calmly.

Lyodra responded with a silent nod before flying out of the tent to stand guard outside.

Yuna was completely confused.

"Why did you tell Lyodra to"

She never finished her sentence.

Ethan wrapped an arm around her neck and pressed his lips against hers.

Yuna froze.

Her eyes widened in disbelief as Ethan’s lips moved with intention, his presence overwhelming her senses.

She did not understand what was happening, nor how she was supposed to react.

Ethan’s strong hand moved from the back of her neck down her back, his touch slow and deliberate.

A shiver ran through Yuna’s body, sending both tension and warmth through her at the same time.

Gradually, the stiffness in her body faded.

Her hands, which had been ready to push him away, relaxed instead. She no longer resisted him. She allowed Ethan to guide the moment, surrendering herself to his lead.

Her lips parted.

Their breaths mingled, and the world outside the tent seemed to disappear entirely.

There was an unfamiliar sensation between them, something strange and intense, yet neither of them wanted it to stop.

Clothing was removed piece by piece, without urgency, without words.

That midnight, they remained wrapped in each other’s arms, bare skin pressed together for warmth.

The heat inside Ethan’s tent rivaled the warmth of the celebration fires burning outside in the camp.

Sweat mixed with sweat.

The wooden bed creaked softly beneath them, while Yuna’s arms extended forward, looping around Ethan’s neck as she followed his movements. She let him lead completely.

If he wanted her to move, she moved.

If he wanted her to stay still, she stayed still.

Everything she did came from admiration.

And from her feelings for Ethan.

Ethan’s wife was not here.

Yuna’s husband was not here either.

For this brief moment, they allowed themselves to exist together without fear of suspicion.

The night stretched on.

From midnight until dawn, they did not stop.

A few people attempted to approach Ethan’s tent during that time, only to be turned away by Lyodra. They had no choice but to obey the servant’s command and leave.

By the time morning light began to seep in, Yuna lay exhausted on the bed, her body heavy, the sheets damp with sweat.

Ethan sat on the tent floor, leaning against the edge of the bed.

He summoned a bottle of wine and drank from it slowly, giving Yuna time to steady her breathing.

"They would kill us if they knew about this," Yuna said weakly.

"Then don’t let them know," Ethan replied simply.

Yuna nodded. She leaned forward and wrapped her arms around him from behind.

"I never thought you would do this with me," she murmured.

"You’re the one who started it," Ethan replied. "Why should I be the only one blamed?"

"You’re right," Yuna said softly.

She leaned closer and whispered into his ear, "Your wife, Ashley, must be very satisfied, right?"

"Don’t talk about her."

Ethan removed Yuna’s arms from around him and placed the wine bottle on the bedside table.

Yuna pouted slightly.

She had shared a night with Ethan, but that did not mean she had captured his heart.

It was clear to her that Ethan had only used this moment to release his physical and mental exhaustion. Still, Yuna did not complain.

She felt satisfied.

Ethan dressed himself immediately, putting on his full LionArk uniform. Yuna did the same, then picked up the wine bottle Ethan had used and took a slow sip.

"I’m satisfied," Yuna said calmly. "I won’t talk about her again."

Just before Ethan stepped out of the tent, he stopped. He turned his body and looked back at Yuna.

"We’re going home today," he said. "I’ve changed my mind. It would help me greatly if Sacred Hall is willing to hand over your core crystals."

Yuna smiled and nodded without hesitation.

"Of course. We’ll give them to you."

"Thank you, Yuna."

Ethan left the tent and headed toward the main camp tent, where Gerrard and the other unit commanders usually gathered.

As the tent curtain opened, everyone inside turned their attention toward him. Smiles appeared as they greeted Ethan.

"What’s going on?" Ethan asked.

"Nothing at all, Sir Ethan," one of them replied. "We were just talking."

One of the unit commanders present was Nathan. Ethan turned to him and instructed him to immediately prepare the LionArk unit at the eastern gate of the camp.

"What are you planning to do?" Gerrard asked.

Ethan looked directly at him.

"The war is over. LionArk and I will return to Lion City and rest there until the event ends."

"After all units return to their respective cities, dismantle this camp."

"Do you understand, Gerrard?"

Gerrard nodded firmly.

"Of course," he said. "I fully understand your orders, Sir Ethan."