episode_0052

“Conversation?”

John narrowed his eyes. She had been avoiding him lately, so why was she suddenly talking to him? It was quite suspicious.

“…I have something to tell you.”

Violet’s voice trembled softly. She held her hands together gently, and her green eyes shook slightly.

“Can I come in?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

She entered the barracks and carefully sat down. Violet’s breathing could be heard faintly in the silent space.

“Please speak.”

She bowed her head slightly and whispered.

“…I want to apologize.”

“Apple…?”

John’s eyes narrowed slightly. She continued speaking calmly, fidgeting with her fingertips.

“You can’t say that things are going well between me and John right now…? Because I committed such a rude act.”

Was it because she was nervous? Violet’s voice cracked.

“You know that.”

“Yes. The ending was like that, so how could I not know?”

The silent John looked at her intently with sunken eyes. Violet still had her head down.

“Why are you apologizing now? I believe you and Prince Lenokhonen share the same views.”

John’s voice, as cold as ice, filled the barracks.

The hyena attack at the social party earlier was likely ordered by Cassis, but it was hard to see Violet as having nothing to do with it.

“…It had nothing to do with me that Prince Lenokhonen attempted to take your life. It was not something I could do anything about.”

Violet met John’s gaze. Her green eyes were trembling slightly.

It was unfair to her. She had simply joined hands to get John, but Cassis had crossed the line without permission.

“…Don’t you believe it?”

When there was no reply, Violet looked around. Johan’s face was cold. His expression was filled with suspicion.

“Isn’t it strange to believe? It seems natural for me not to trust you.”

John spoke in a low voice. There was absolutely no reason to trust Violet. She was someone I had to be wary of in the first place.

“I didn’t want things to get that big. When I realized that Prince Lenokhonen was up to something, I hurriedly looked around the party hall to tell you. It was already too late.”

Violet smiled bitterly and continued speaking. Johan listened to what she had to say without opening his mouth.

“I’m not stupid enough to play a prank on the Duke of Pervace. I know that if I get caught, my head will be cut off.”

The Perbace Dukes are one of the four great families. The influence of the Marquis of Latalen is not something to be ignored, but it was a different story to mess with the Dukes.

“…So, you want to get over it all?”

His voice was cold and sharp. Violet couldn’t continue speaking and looked away. The air in the room became heavy.

“What do you want from the apology? There must be some purpose.”

When John asked, Violet frowned and answered, as if embarrassed to say it directly.

“…I want to get our relationship back.”

“Why?”

“If the current situation continues, there will never be another chance.”

Violet, who had said that, quietly lowered her gaze. She still had feelings for Johan.

“… … .”

The barracks were filled with silence. It wasn’t because they didn’t understand Violet’s words that they were keeping quiet.

Should I accept the apology? Reconciling with Violet was a good choice for Johan, too. She wouldn’t be making a fool of herself.

However… I didn’t feel like it. To be honest, who would want to have a good relationship with a woman who sees them as a tool?

‘But if you think about the future, it’s right to accept the apology, restore the relationship, and then continue with an ambiguous stance.’

He continues to reject her, but leaves room for her to reject him completely. Then Violet’s gaze will be focused on him.

I don’t like the idea of hiding the lack of romantic interest to gain the upper hand in a relationship, because it feels like fishing…

‘Violet was the first to start.’

It was Violet who struck first. She was the one who approached him with impure intentions and wooed him.

And John didn’t want to worry about another woman anymore, because he had been in conflict with Rudella just a few days ago.

“…Okay. I accept your apology.”

After finishing the calculations in his head, John answered with a hardened expression.

“…Thank you.”

Violet finally raised her head, which had been bowed down. A small smile appeared on her lips, as if her mind had been at ease.

Her intentions were unknown, but John decided not to try to guess her intentions. It was best to just keep a reasonable distance and leave room for ambiguity.

“Is there anything you want to say?”

“…Yes. That’s all.”

“I see. Okay, I understand.”

As John slowly nodded, Violet turned around, having finished her business. She opened the tent of the barracks and spoke.

“…See you next time.”

“Yes.”

With those words, Violet left the barracks. As she stepped outside, the cold air brushed against her skin.

The torches placed throughout the base camp provided warmth, but Violet did not receive all of that warmth.

‘…This is it.’

Judging from the atmosphere, there was still some wariness toward John, but it didn’t matter. The urgent fire was put out for now.

There was only one reason why she approached Johan despite the threats from Princess Perbace.

It is to explicitly cut ties with Cassis Lenokhonen.

He is currently in a situation where he has lost all authority and rights due to committing a crime close to treason.

Although he was spared the death penalty due to the name of the Grand Duke Lenokhonen and his past activities, the severity of his crime did not change.

She could easily be accused of being a sinner like him, so she approached him under the pretext of apologizing to avoid that possibility.

To prove that he had no clear relationship with Cassis Lenokhonen.

‘…I shouldn’t have anything to do with this guy anymore.’

It’s hard to believe that Cassis Lenokhonen was so blinded by Princess Perbace that he made such a foolish choice, but given his usual behavior, it makes sense.

All he could do was swing his sword on the battlefield, and the only thing he could look upon favorably was Lenokhonen’s glow and handsome face.

“Haa…”

Violet sighed deeply and returned to her barracks.

The humiliation she received from Princess Perbache was still vivid in her mind, but there was nothing she could do.

Because Cassis Lenokhonen, the only one who could carry out her will, collapsed.

* * *

The march continued without stopping.

There was fighting on the front lines, and occasional raids targeting medical personnel, but this did not pose much of a problem.

Because the organization and power of the civil servants were overwhelming, and the difference in level between individual knights and magicians was also clear.

To begin with, Sanburg was only a small kingdom. It was no match for them. It was even more so when it came to an empire that had mobilized all its civil servants and vowed to end the war within a week.

Moreover, since it was located right next to the empire’s territory, it didn’t take long to reach the key strategic point.

A distance that can be reached in a week if you take a leisurely carriage ride.

The outcome of this war was predetermined.

There isn’t much time left until the end.

“Ugh…!”

Francia groaned as she rode her horse. Pain shot into her lower back as her posture became uncomfortable.

“Are you having a hard time?”

John, who was following behind, asked.

“Yeah… It’s harder because the road is rough.”

Francia’s voice was mixed with her breath. The mountain path that curved like a camel weighed down both her body and mind.

The march route was designed to reach the key strategic point of Sandburg as quickly as possible.

Because of that, there were many rough mountain paths or completely unpaved roads.

Of course it has to be difficult.

“Still, if you go to the next strategic point, the second public official will be waiting, so let’s hold out for a little while longer.”

The only fortunate thing was that, since there was not much remaining power in Sanburg, the war could be ended only with the knights and soldiers who assisted the First Civil Service Officer.

The second officer’s role was to establish a stronghold in the next strategic point to be conquered.

“I’ll try my best.”

Francia took a deep breath and her eyes lit up at John’s encouragement. Considering what she had experienced before returning, this kind of march was nothing special.

In fact, I was very confused when the war suddenly broke out, but it was natural when I thought about the fact that history can also change as causal relationships change.

Because my life, which used to be just helpless, changed a lot because of John.

It was entirely thanks to John that things were going so well for him now.

“Hoohoo.”

Francia smiled happily.

I was always grateful to him. Before and after the regression.

If it weren’t for John… Francia would have faced a miserable future.

“…Why are you laughing all of a sudden?”

“I just like it.”

“Hmm.”

Yohan looked around and smiled with a mischievous smile.

“Wasn’t it Francia who told us to refrain from showing affection in places like this?”

“Oops.”

Francia turned her gaze away, fixing her neck that wasn’t ticklish for no reason. Out of habit, she said she liked it.

“Just kidding. I’m fine with it anytime, so feel free to do whatever you want.”

John smiled lightly. It was a refreshing smile that made me feel good.

“I think John has a really nice smile.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. Should I say there’s a halo…”

It was just a metaphor, but at least that’s how she felt.

“I’m glad you like it.”

“Hmm, is that all you’re responding to?”

“What do you mean?”

Francia continued, looking into space.

“I thought John would know how to joke.”

“Aha.”

John shrugged.

“I will refrain from smiling from now on.”

“Huh? Why?”

“Because Francia can’t go blind.”

“Phew…”

When the reaction she had expected came out, she burst out laughing.

“Isn’t this what you wanted?”

“That’s right. That’s what I thought.”

“Actually, I didn’t think this was very good, so I intentionally didn’t do it…”

Francia liked the way he smiled slyly and cracked silly jokes.

I liked how he tried to reassure himself in this situation.

“Hehe, it’s okay because it’s my taste.”

“…Then that’s fortunate.”

At that moment, the two people continued to march, giggling.

“─It’s the enemy!!”

Suddenly, Vice-Chief Richard’s voice rang out sharply. At that moment, the sky turned red with the sound of the air being torn apart.

“…!”

John’s gaze flashed. Dozens and hundreds of blazing arrows were pouring down from the sky like a heavy rain.

“All defenses in place!”