Chapter 13 : Why did you meet me, why do you only hurt me (3)

Perhaps it was because she had been wrestling with paperwork in her office for half a day.

To loosen her mind, which had become stiff like a rock, Wolfgang grabbed a cigarette from her uniform, which was hanging on the chair.

It had already been a month and a half since the hearing ended.

Even though the Empire’s early summer, which began with July, forced Wolfgang, who stubbornly dressed in men’s clothing, to start undressing herself.

Whether it was out of pride as a man or not, she didn’t want to show her feminine side to others.

That’s why she had insisted on wearing restrictive men’s clothing.

But in the end, it wasn’t the clouds but the sun’s heat that forced the traveler to take off their clothes.

And not even Wolfgang Leonhardt, the war hero who saved the Empire, could be an exception.

Her upper body was only clad in military undergarments, a black bra-like top that barely covered her navel, and even that failed to fully conceal her ample chest.

Her body was, indeed, the epitome of an ideal female figure.

Thanks to her rigorous training as a soldier, her waist was slender like an ant’s, and she had firm abs on her toned stomach.

Sweat dripped down between her abs due to the heat, resembling a waterfall.

Though she was currently showing off the exposure she disliked, she didn’t care.

What did it matter?

There was no one here.

Instead, she thoroughly enjoyed this small act of rebellion.

But even this small, precious rebellion couldn’t free her from the mountain of paperwork.

The Eastern Defense Command, which she oversaw, was the headquarters for the Eastern Defense Forces.

Simply put, it was the brain and heart of the Eastern Defense Forces.

It handled everything from training plans for the subordinate troops, the introduction of new weapons, personnel evaluations, and more.

It was a place where the workload never seemed to end.

Moreover, the Eastern Defense Forces were considered some of the most elite troops in the Empire.

Even excluding the Vendetta Legion, which led the Empire to victory in the Winter War, it housed other units like the Eagle Legion and the 7th Steel Brigade, all known for their significant roles in the war.

[“I want Sir Leonhardt to recognize my abilities.”]

[“If I do my best, Sir Leonhardt will surely notice.”]

[“Someday, I must stand by her side…!!”]

The problem was that these skilled individuals all revered Wolfgang.

To gain the recognition of someone they respected, they worked tirelessly, burning with passion.

And the passionate efforts of these talented people inevitably became more paperwork for Wolfgang.

As a result, there was never a day when her desk was free from documents.

Her waist-length silver hair was as rough as a wild animal’s, and her one remaining golden eye, not covered by her eyepatch, had long surpassed frustration and entered a state of resignation.

“…So, Lana Frost, was it?”

Sitting slouched in her chair, smoking her cigarette, Wolfgang muttered to herself.

That name had come up quite often, not just during the hearing.

The strange rumors that spread earlier, the mention of the name at the hearing—it would be impossible for any sane person not to be curious.

‘Come to think of it, I had Galina look into it before, but she said it was strangely difficult to gather information.’

As if someone was deliberately erasing the information.

By this point, even a fool would sense that it was time to investigate Lana Frost further.

‘There’s definitely a connection between this body and Lana Frost, but with no immediate way to find out, what should I do…?’

Knock, knock.

“Commander~ May I come in?”

“Is that Galina? Come in.”

Hearing the knock from outside, Wolfgang gave Galina permission to enter.

The moment Galina entered, a sudden nosebleed burst from her face.

“What, what’s going on? Is there a problem?”

“It’s nothing! Commander!”

“Still…”

“I’m really fine! Please let me stay here! I’ll even lick your shoes if I have to!”

“Alright, alright. Just don’t lick my shoes.”

Barely managing to stop Galina, who seemed ready to actually crawl over and lick her shoes, Wolfgang finally got around to hearing the reason for Galina’s visit.

“A delegation has been sent from the Kingdom?”

“Yes, for the past month. It seems the Empire and the Kingdom have been engaged in intense negotiations.”

“The Empire receiving a delegation from the Kingdom? The sun must be rising in the west tomorrow.”

The Kingdom of Minesse was located southeast of the Empire’s capital, Herot, and shared a border with the Eastern Defense Forces’ territory.

In other words, the Empire had classified the Kingdom as a potential enemy.

In fact, right after the Winter War ended, the Empire had immediately deployed its main forces to the Eastern Front.

“So, what’s the issue with the delegation?”

“Since it’s an official delegation, Duke Ifrit, the head of the noble faction, suggested that someone from the Vendetta Legion greet them.”

“We owe the Duke quite a bit. And he’s not wrong.”

Remembering the favors she owed Duke Ifrit, Wolfgang nodded.

She thought she could send one of the soldiers who were idling about to handle the reception.

That was, until she received the delegation’s list of names from Galina.

Among the names, one stood out that she couldn’t ignore: Theodore von Frost.

‘The same last name as Lana Frost.’

From the same kingdom and sharing the same last name.

Could this be brushed off as mere coincidence?

Of course not. Wolfgang immediately stood up.

“Who should we send?”

“I’ll go myself.”

“…?!”

The opportunity to finally learn more about Lana Frost had arrived right in front of her.

And she was not the type to miss such a chance.

Of course.

Things weren’t going to go that smoothly.

As he stumbled, almost thrown from his horse, Zaide thought.

He had spent the last month and a half negotiating with the Empire, trying to improve relations.

And, somehow, he had managed to send a delegation.

The Empire had initially refused, but after endless supplications, they finally allowed the visit.

Whether it was because they didn’t want to keep ignoring such efforts or because they had their own ulterior motives, it was hard to say.

In any case, after a month and a half of persistence, the Empire had granted permission for the Kingdom’s visit.

This was a matter of survival for the Kingdom.

[“Please, be careful. The Empire’s roads aren’t as forgiving as those in the Kingdom.”]

‘I thought that was just something people said.

But it turns out it was true.’

The Kingdom’s future hinged on this.

If they failed to improve relations with the Empire, darkness would soon fall over the Kingdom’s fate.

There was no way the delegation from Lurani would be hastily prepared.

It was the elite knight order that the Kingdom of Mines was proud of.

Moreover, even the next head of the Grand Duchy of Frost was present.

Zaide thought that with this level of strength, they could rival the famous Imperial Vendetta Corps. However, that was a misjudgment.

Being attacked by monsters was fairly common.

Zaide, the capable crown prince, knew that.

However, the fact that the elite knights of the royal family were being pushed back by the monsters was an experience that could never be called common.

When an unbelievable situation unfolds in front of you, the culprit panics and can’t do anything.

But Zaide’s extraordinary mind was able to easily find the cause of the current situation.

‘It’s because of the Winter of the Apocalypse.

These monsters, having adapted to the harsh environment for 100 years, have become several times stronger than the monsters we know.’

The Winter of the Apocalypse did not only affect humans.

Not only beasts but also the monsters that inhabited the empire were affected. Most of them lost their lives to the cold.

However, quite a few monsters managed to adapt and survive, clenching their teeth.

And to survive the harsh Winter of the Apocalypse, they had no choice but to grow stronger.

A monster with scales and an appearance like a dragon from legend.

However, it had no wings and crawled on the ground with four legs. A drake charged toward Zaide.

Swoosh!!!

But before the drake’s fierce fangs could tear into Zaide’s neck, fortunately, a man intervened, cleanly cutting the drake’s body in half.

The man’s white hair, dyed white like snow, and his upright posture, as strong as steel, spoke of his determination.

However, his golden eyes held no sign of life, like a corpse.

“Your Highness, are you alright?”

“Thanks to you, Sir Frost.”

“From now on, leave this to me.”

Zaide nodded. Sir Frost, that is, Theodore, was one of the elite knights competing for the title of the strongest in the kingdom.

And the kingdom’s strongest was at a level that even the empire would recognize.

Larger than the drake, with strength and speed more than twice as great.

Moreover, there were many of them, so it was understandable that the kingdom’s elite had a hard time.

‘It’s manageable.’

Theodore calmly cut down the drakes with his sword while assessing the situation.

Yet, every time, it felt as though a nail was being driven into his heart.

An unbearable pain began to torment him.

With those frail hands and feet.

Had they walked this terrible path?

How cold must it have been? How painful must it have been?

Thinking about how that child had walked such a path, his heart felt like it was being torn apart, and he couldn’t bear it.

Although young in age, that child was more mature and kind than anyone.

[I can never allow it. The northern empire is truly a land of death…………!!]

[Brother, right now, there is no one outside who isn’t criticizing the Grand Duchy of Frost.]

[Ignore them. Who would dare oppose the Grand Duchy of Frost?]

[But we will lose the people’s trust.]

[······.]

[Public sentiment is the heart of the heavens. A noble who loses the people’s trust cannot last long. Don’t you understand that?]

In any other country, it might be different.

But Mines was a kingdom of knights.

A noble who lost their honor would no longer be treated as one.

For the family they belonged to, for their family, that child disappeared alone.

How could they have slipped out of the Grand Duchy alone?

Who helped that child?

No.

In the end, it’s all an excuse.

For the past ten years, life had been painted with regret.

If only I had guarded the door myself back then.

No, if I had just stayed by that child’s side.

If I had understood that child’s heart directly…

‘Would you not have disappeared?’

Even with dozens of drakes in front of him, strangely, he did not feel fear.

Perhaps, he had hoped to die here.

But at the moment when death approached.

Whoosh!

A rain of fire fell from the sky and swept away all the drakes.

The drakes, who had given the kingdom’s elite such a hard time, couldn’t even resist and turned into ashes.

Instinctively, Theodore’s gaze turned to the sky.

Soon, he easily spotted a woman descending from the sky.

Although she was dressed in men’s clothing, he immediately noticed she was a woman.

No, even if others didn’t know, Theodore had to recognize her.

He had longed for and regretted her for ten years.

Although many years had passed.

Although her appearance had changed.

The sister he had longed for even in his dreams.

“Is everyone alright?”

Lana Frost.

The sister he thought he had lost appeared before Theodore.