Rochefort's life had been unexpectedly fraught with turbulence. Then again, considering he was Mia's contemporary who'd solidly built his reputation as a war hero, it shouldn't have been surprising. What hardships must he have endured to achieve so much in such brief time?
Etienne proved more principled than Mia had imagined, his life shaped by conspiracies from those seeking to undermine the young hero. Though aware of her audacity, Mia felt faint pity - something unimaginable in her previous life.
"So that's why you enlisted? I thought you harbored grand ambitions..."
"How could I? I was practically driven into service before ambition could take root."
"But with primogeniture, wouldn't inheritance have gone to your eldest brother regardless?"
"True. But my brother sought to eliminate even the slimmest chance of me becoming family head. Every achievement of mine met his efforts to tarnish my reputation."
"Ah."
"Does Your Excellency understand such sentiments?"
Mia's lips twisted. She knew better than most how Rochefort's 'illustrious brother' had orchestrated events - no different from her own father's machinations. Having contributed to Rochefort's downfall in her past life, the irony wasn't lost on her.
Yet this awareness prevented honest confession. How could she resent others' schemes when complicit in his demise?
Mia shifted topics awkwardly but effectively. In light conversation, guilt served no purpose.
"Not 'Your Excellency.'"
"Pardon?"
"Call me Mia."
Etienne froze mid-breath, mouth agape like stranded fish.
"If we're to play lovers, familiarity's necessary," Mia added, smile lingering.
Truthfully, his agreement mattered less than diffusing tension. As Mia began retracting her request...
"Mia."
The name escaped like long-held secret, followed by disbelieving repetition. Witnessing Etienne's boyish delight, Mia couldn't rescind her suggestion.
"Ah, lastly..."
"Y-yes?"
Mia addressed the drowsing Etienne, his responses lagging like faulty clockwork.
"There'll be banquet upon arrival."
"...Naturally."
His slurred reply made sense - demanding provisions from surrendered cities being Etallion Army tradition. Terrified territories often preemptively prepared feasts.
But Mia's warning carried deeper purpose.
"Don't touch the lord's wine. Or any food."
"Understood."
"Not just Glen. Be wary of all provisions, Etienne."
"You imply poisoning?"
Mia's silence answered sufficiently.
"I'll alert officers at dawn."
"Unnecessary."
Etienne's ambiguous hum left his stance unclear - whether convinced or simply sleep-addled.
Mia's commander clearly shared her sleepless night. The man she'd last seen steeped in confusion likely still wrestled with their arrangement - that victory required romantic pretense. Even Mia found the logic tenuous upon reflection.
Yet explaining would mean confronting her guilt. Instead, she'd appealed to his trust in her political acumen, honed through years navigating viperous courts.
Etienne's morning disquiet surprised none. Whether regretful or contemplative mattered little - the pact stood.
"Mia."
Distracted by neighboring commotion, Mia jolted at her name.
Etienne's hand rested naturally on her shoulder. "Scouting ahead."
"Why tell me? Inform your vice-commander."
His low chuckle tickled her ear. "Shouldn't lovers know each other's whereabouts? To worry less."
Mia couldn't idle awaiting Etienne's return. Though having visited Glen in her first life, she'd dismissed it as non-strategic. Yet everything began crumbling from that very visit.
The town's excessive taverns and grocers suggested either decadence or...
A approaching figure confirmed her suspicions. The universe despised unanswered hypotheses.
"Renaud."
"Your casual address confuses me, Excellency. 'Vice-Commander' suffices."
"Formalities differ between us. This suffices."
Mia noted the forced laughter masking panic. She understood Renaud's inferiority complex from their last confrontation.
"Given your lack of campaign experience and divine gift, I expected...different conduct."
Thus began the litany - jealousy over disgraceful vanguard positions, outrage at divine disfavor, obsession with undermining her appointment.
"Your point?"
"Remarkable effrontery, even by repute."
His transparent malice amused more than offended. Mia had endured countless such envious mediocrities in political circles.
"Still complacent? Perhaps mistaking this for holiday?"
Despite honorifics, respect remained absent. Their previous clash with Etienne had clearly left impression.
Evidently, news of her divine power manifestation hadn't spread - whether through Etienne's discretion or Renaud's ignorance mattered little.
"Care to wager?"
"How long unqualified strategists survive military life?"
As vitriol continued, Mia concluded this farce.
"Enough."
A precise strike to Renaud's nape dropped him. Had he not been distracted by mockery, it might've failed.
The vice-commander struggled against invisible bonds - clear divine intervention. The crunch of breaking pride (or possibly collar bone) followed.
"My apologies." Mia smiled without remorse. "Still mastering divine power."
His pathetic sprawl proved more comical than insulting.
"What should I do with you?"
