"What do you mean by a misleading story? It's hard to understand your intentions."
"If you don't know, then forget it. Just don't talk as if I was conscious of Rochefort even in my sleep."
"How long was I asleep?"
"It wasn’t just sleep... Your Excellency seemed to be seriously ill. To answer your question, you were in that state for about three days."
"...Sigh, again."
"Three days. If that’s the case, it’s hard to believe her loss of consciousness was simply due to fatigue. It might have been that ‘illness’ flaring up again."
"How many years had it been since she last had such a sudden fever? Even by her past life’s standards, it had been at least a decade since the symptoms last appeared. Mia habitually complained with childish petulance."
"But unlike her childhood, Mia couldn’t finish her complaint. Now, the only ones before her were the Holy Legion’s cold-faced adjutant—no, a lower-ranking officer—leaving no one to indulge her whims."
"..."
"Mia sighed and changed the subject."
"Since you’re here, could you fetch my medicine? It should be in the cabinet’s first drawer."
"Faber, perceptive as ever, retrieved the correct medicine instantly. His expression remained rigid as he addressed her."
"'Again,' you said. This seems recurrent. Am I correct?"
"Correct. I often had similar fevers as a child."
"Faber’s stoic face somehow felt more ominous now. Had he deemed her unfit for battle? Flustered, Mia hastily added:"
"But it’s manageable! All episodes occurred before I turned twenty, and it’s been over a decade since the last incident. Beyond the initial high fever, symptoms are mild. No nursing required. It won’t hinder my duties."
"Faber shook his head."
"That wasn’t my concern. Rather... Hmm. How to phrase this?"
"Speak plainly."
"Your Excellency’s symptoms closely resemble the holy fever when priests or knights first manifest divine power..."
"..."
"Why that look?"
"Are you suggesting... I might have awakened holy power? Or not? The Legion Commander told me—"
"...I don’t know. I... That is..."
"The night before her collapse resurfaced—her joy at presumed divine blessing, shattered by Rochefort’s denial. Faber’s words revived those doubts."
"For the first time, Mia realized how easily others’ words swayed her."
"...Further investigation is needed. Yet she wanted to believe Faber."
"After enduring so much without divine gifts, this hope felt natural."
"Let’s discuss this later. Any urgent matters?"
"While unclear what occurred that day, the Legion Commander seemed... distraught all night."
"Hmm... I don’t know why either." After a pause, Mia pressed:
"Other developments?"
"Ah, a messenger came three days prior seeking you. A Charles... Do you know him?"
"Mia paled."
"If Charles abandoned his post for the border, it signaled grave political shifts."
"His failure to wait implied catastrophic urgency."
"...And given current circumstances..." Mia’s expression hardened.
"She should’ve realized sooner. Since returning, her repeated unconsciousness felt orchestrated—as if manipulated."
"We depart immediately. To Glen."
"Commander, we need to talk privately."
"Shall we relocate?"
"No. Come to my room tonight."
"You should give your room to Faber. The subtext was clear."
"The march’s true challenge wasn’t duration but lodging. Finding covert shelters for troops bordered on miraculous."
"Unsurprisingly, their found inn was cramped. No soldier complained—none were fools."
"Even here, the Legion Commander and staff retained private quarters. Yet Mia prepared to surrender hers to the Holy Legion’s deputy commander."
"For crucial discussions—and their plan’s success—such inconveniences were necessary."
"Moreover, Mia no longer cared about cramped spaces or poor furnishings."
"Unlike her pampered past, Mia Blancherd now could sleep wrapped in a cloak anywhere—even if her combat skills remained unchanged."
"Mia seated Etienne on her bed—her only bed, forcing her to sleep on floors. Unprecedented deference from someone who’d never yielded comfort."
"Etienne bypassed the bed entirely, sitting beside her."
"Your urgent matter?"
"You want victory, yes?"
"A needless question. What commander wouldn’t? Etienne nodded grimly."
"You’d do anything for it?"
"Another nod."
"Good. If victory is all Etienne Rochefort desires, Mia could deliver it."
"A relief. Had he sought more, complications would’ve followed."
"Mia’s lips curved faintly."
"Then cooperate. From departure, we’ll be lovers."
"...Pardon?"
"Trust me. No better disguise than a couple traveling together."
"Must we... travel together?"
"There’s something I must investigate personally."
"Couldn’t soldiers handle this?"
"Trust me."
"Her authoritative tone carried wartime credibility. Etienne, who’d relied on that voice before, acquiesced."
"One condition."
"Name it."
"If this ‘lover’ act requires authenticity, shouldn’t we formalize it publicly?"
"Mia stiffened. Logically sound, yet..."
"Therefore," Etienne continued, amusement tinging his voice, "you should confess publicly. Let everyone know you’re my ‘beloved.’"
"Mia gaped. Rochefort remained incomprehensible—his polished smiles, calculated kindness, and now this audacity."
"Unlike her past life’s memories, this version overwhelmed her. She preferred pragmatic alliances over unexplained affection."
"If this ‘relationship’ had strategic purpose... If it involved no true sentiment... Mia could accept that."
"Her role as a tool for rectifying past failures suited her."
"Studying his expectant face, Mia countered:"
"As ‘lovers,’ I need to know you better."
"My... background?"
"How you’ve lived, your experiences... Shouldn’t lovers know such things?"
"..."
"Commander. I want to understand your motivations."
"Etienne’s lashes fluttered. Mia watched the tremor in his pupils."
"This feigned curiosity masked guilt. She’d never understood why he’d sacrificed himself last life—that irrational act haunted her."
"To prevent repeating such fatal errors, she needed to comprehend Etienne Rochefort entirely."
"...You’ll be disappointed."
"Unaware of her thoughts, Etienne looked uneasy—unaccustomed to personal scrutiny."
"How could I? I asked first."
"Mia smiled her most deliberate smile."
