“Ah, is it Mia or Ellie you’re referring to? I’ll call her. Please wait a moment.”
The nobleman’s face clearly showed displeasure. As if he no longer wished to deal with the ‘servant,’ he waved his hand dismissively and strode toward where Mia stood.
‘I was already feeling embarrassed listening to this, but this works out well.’
Mia thought silently as she glanced at Etienne.
“Greetings, Marquis An. You must have had a long journey. My apologies for the inconvenience.”
Even a formal welcome has its proper time and place. After being received by someone who couldn’t even speak the language of their own country properly, it was hardly an appropriate moment. The approaching nobleman, Marquis An, seemed even more irritated by Mia’s calm tone.
“Yes, I came a long way to see you. It seems my efforts were laughable in your eyes.”
“I deeply apologize for my subordinate’s rudeness. He, but today his handling ofian was pitiful.”
“ away with just an apology, be taken.”
“Of course plan to arrange a dinner soon introduce to Veridian, would be beneficial. We intended Mia remembered about Marquis An from was that he was a restless—especially Grenier.
She merely poked at that point, little had changed in this be even better if we could a personal rapport. No need in two days. We forced a smile as he replied would be an honor.”
times a day was nearly aAfter spending hours coaxing and let her discomfort show.
mood was none other than Deputy He leaned against the wall, catered to the vain sigh. It was infuri entirely at fault.
‘It wasn’t even someone to play politics...’
“ softly as she approached him today’s events?”
Her gaze pierced through him.
“ as long as it went.”
“...”
“The responsibility.”
“I apologize. It teeth as he replied. indeed his doing. He wasn disasters he caused, but or the strategist left to further was pointless.
“Your the reason for your disappointing from the military? Or did the Marquis who once took pride I do besides apologizing? To take proper responsibility in beyond your capabilities?”
Renard turned red.
“If me now, the Deputy Commander to burden the Commander alone begun?”
“Whether the Commander concern, Renard.”
Et, who had seemed unlikely.
“So the aftermath of Mia and placed a hand on shoulder.
“Besides, the unit to replace you as a dry expression. She Renard but never dared hope it would be herself.
The calculation was that giving her more authority wouldn’t benefit Etienne after she had already killed him once before. However, revealing that this arrangement hadn’t been agreed upon wasn’t exactly ideal either.
Renard let out a bitter laugh.
“Ha, so even the Commander was on your side from the start. Aren’t you afraid of the Goddess?”
“Whether I fear the Goddess or not is none of your concern either, Renard.”
Etienne’s reply remained cold as Renard struggled futilely before being dragged away.
Given that he knew all sorts of military secrets—and had even sold out the army in his past life—it was too risky to simply release him onto Veridian’s streets. Thus Room 502 of Louisnal’s guest quarters became Renard’s temporary prison cell.
“Since things have come this far, why don’t you rest up? Think of it like a vacation.”
A mocking laugh laced with venom stabbed into Renard’s back like a dagger.
“For now, it’d be best for us to stay together in this room.”
Mia said, opening the door. Since they’d publicly declared themselves lovers, it was important to show this naturally to the soldiers. Etienne nodded in agreement, smiling faintly without objection.
Mia set down her luggage and walked slowly through the long corridor toward the bed.
Perhaps because they were people of Grenier, the room was unnecessarily large. Though accustomed to luxury, Mia was more familiar with cramped offices and endless paperwork—this felt annoyingly excessive.
‘And yet there’s only one bed. How ridiculous.’
Still, she couldn’t share a bed with the Commander. Last time, she’d been given the bed, so returning the favor was the right thing to do.
“Should I sleep over there?”
Mia pointed toward the window as she asked.
Etienne shook his head.
“No, it’s better to sleep together. How could I let you sleep on the floor?”
Despite several attempts to convince Etienne to sleep alone, he remained stubborn in strange ways. Had this stubbornness been directed at opposing her plans, it would’ve been easier to understand. Eventually, Mia had no choice but to raise the white flag.
“Don’t tell me you have terrible sleeping habits, Etienne.”
Mia sighed as she asked.
“I spent eight years as a cadet and six more in the military. I’ve been in group living since boyhood but was never once criticized. I’m very well-behaved, indeed.”
Well, of course. Who would dare criticize the son of Rochefort over such trivial matters? Thinking this, Mia reluctantly nodded and lay down beside him. Fortunately, the bed was spacious enough for both.
Morning sunlight streamed through the windows. Mia woke feeling suffocated, as if something heavy pressed on her. In her dreams, fleeting scenes—whether memories of her past life or unknown visions—had flashed by.
Then she realized: she was nestled snugly in Etienne’s arms.
His arm wrapped around her waist. Mia’s heart raced. She’d never experienced such closeness, even with her parents.
“Rochefort.”
At her stern call, Etienne flinched but showed no signs of waking.
“Wake up, Rochefort.”
Mia shook him.
“...Uhn... Told you to call me Etienne, didn’t you?”
He mumbled, burying his face in the nape of her neck. His arm around her back tightened.
“...You agreed to call me that, didn’t you, Mia?”
