Uncomfortable Tea Time

“Crazy bitch.”

The captain’s eyes widened at the rough words that came from Anna’s small, pretty lips.

“Ah, um… I apologize.”

Anna belatedly realized her slip of the tongue and shut her mouth, but that didn’t last long.

It was because the captain, who had been sitting, pushed off his knees and stood up.

“You should sit down.”

“It’s alright.”

Staggering as he rose, the captain slowly headed out of the tent.

Anna followed behind him, grabbing the hem of his clothes, ready to pull him back if he looked like he was about to fall.

“Captain!”

“Captain.”

“Oh, you look alright?”

As he exited the tent, various voices greeted him.

The members, who had been sitting in a circle around the bonfire, stood up and flocked to him.

“Keep your distance. The captain needs rest right now.”

“Oh, Anna. You’re protecting the captain so well, like a wife~”

As Anna, who was standing behind, stepped forward to block their approach, a voice was heard from the crowd.

“W-Who is it!”

Anna’s face flushed red like the bonfire at the joke that clearly echoed through the camp.

She huffed and tried to find the culprit, but everyone seemed to be in on it, teasing her with smiling faces.

“Don’t make remarks that undermine the discipline of the unit.”

In the end, Anna’s failure to identify the culprit ended with her barking like a toothless beast.

“Don’t make wemarks that undewmine the discipwine of the unit.”

“Which son of a bitch!!”

No, it wasn’t.

As Anna suddenly dashed out, a man hidden in the crowd began to run with fierce momentum.

Looking at his face, it was the man who had come into the tent earlier and handed the captain the letter.

“Yohan, you crazy bastard.”

“He always picks on Anna.”

“But wasn’t he behind the captain until just now? When did he come over to our side?”

“I don’t know.”

Leaving behind the man and woman who had started circling the camp like a game of tag, the captain slowly scanned the people gathered before him.

“Captain, is something wrong?”

Agnes, a woman with chestnut hair, said to the captain.

“Just… is this everyone?”

“Excluding the five on guard duty, this is everyone. Gilbert, Hissen, Dorian, Kane, and Lina are currently on guard duty.”

“I see.”

The captain nodded and walked towards the bonfire. The members parted to the sides, making way for him.

“Any injuries?”

“Only minor ones. There was a seriously injured person, but he’s standing right in front of me now.”

Agnes gave a refreshing smile, and the captain also chuckled.

As he walked towards the bonfire that radiated warmth, the members whispered among themselves.

“Wow, to see the captain smile. The sun will rise in the west tomorrow.”

“You idiot, the sun always rises in the west.”

“Huh? Isn’t it east? I got confused.”

“You idiot, it’s east. You’re showing off how little education you have.”

“Don’t touch my education.”

“If there are no special circumstances, we will go to sleep.”

The captain’s voice fell upon the members who were chattering away.

“Yes!”

The scattered chatter disappeared as if it had never happened.

They quickly covered themselves with blankets and lay down.

“Aren’t you sleeping, Captain?”

Someone asked.

“…I have something to think about.”

The captain sat down in front of the bonfire.

He closed his eyes, feeling the warmth spread throughout his body.

“Haha! You’re slow, so slow!”

Anna’s panting, still unable to catch Yohan, was heard from afar.

As dawn broke, the camp became busy.

“No special circumstances during guard duty.”

The captain nodded after hearing the report.

The last watch of the night patrol circled the camp and returned, and the members who had slept on the hard ground began to rise one by one and prepare breakfast.

The member in charge of feeding the horses scattered the grass appropriately and placed it in front of the horses.

“I want to wash up, is there a suitable place nearby?”

The captain asked Anna, who brought a bowl of soup in a wooden bowl.

“I believe there is a suitable stream nearby. But may I ask why you suddenly want to wash up?”

It was rare for the cavalry to wash up when they were on an expedition.

“Because I have to meet the Emperor in the afternoon.”

“…Are you really going to meet the Emperor?”

“The Emperor knows the location of the camp. Moreover, he is close enough to deliver a letter with an arrow, and he could have attacked this place if he wanted to.”

“That is true, but…”

Anna trailed off, as if she had a lot to say.

“What kind of person do you think the Emperor is, Vice-Captain? I would appreciate it if you could answer without personal feelings.”

“…He is a person who keeps the words he speaks.”

“If I spend time with the Emperor, the members can have more rest. Of course, we must keep the worst-case scenario in mind. Rest, but be ready to flee at any time.”

“…I will relay that to the members.”

Anna nodded after thinking for a moment.

“Thank you.”

“Captain. May I accompany you to that tea party?”

Anna, who had been hesitating, mustered her courage and said to the captain.

“I was actually going to ask you.”

Unexpectedly, the captain readily allowed her to accompany him.

After preparing for a possible attack, the captain and Anna left the camp.

Two horses slowly crossed the forest.

Anna thought that the way the captain was riding the horse seemed a little different, but she quickly dismissed the thought.

She thought it was a useless distraction.

As they approached the entrance of the forest, Anna swallowed.

Like the trees densely packed in the forest, soldiers could be seen standing outside.

Fortunately, the Emperor’s words seemed to be true, as a man who appeared to be the commander of the enemy greeted him and Anna.

“I will guide you.”

The commander with a stern face said only one word and led the way.

With the soldiers of the Empire trailing behind them, they entered the Empire’s military camp.

‘The number of soldiers…’

The number of soldiers walking around inside the camp was, at a rough estimate, several dozen times that of the cavalry.

Anna’s hand, which was holding the reins, tightened.

As if they were looking at a strange animal, the soldiers inside the camp glanced at the captain and Anna.

The gazes contained more hostility than curiosity.

Their steps stopped in front of a splendid and huge tent.

Anna knew who was inside this tent without needing an explanation.

“The Emperor is waiting for you.”

The captain, who had dismounted, entered the tent without hesitation, and Anna followed behind him.

The Black-Clad Princess. That was the princess’s nickname before she became the Emperor.

“I’ve been waiting. It took you longer than I thought.”

The Emperor rose from her seat with a bright smile on her face.

She looked like she loved the man in front of her to death.

The Emperor’s ebony hair swayed, emitting a sweet fragrance.

“Fortunately, you seem to be alright. I’m glad you weren’t seriously injured.”

The Emperor scanned the man from head to toe and sat down, saying.

The Emperor pointed to a chair with her hand. It was an invitation to sit.

As the captain sat down in the chair, maids placed refreshments on the table.

Anna stood behind the captain, like the back of the chair.

The Emperor, who had been resting her chin on her hand and smiling brightly, frowned when she saw the woman in her sight.

She tried to ignore her, but it was constantly annoying to see her.

“Kang In-ho, you must be suffering as well.”

Just as the captain was about to express his doubts at the Emperor’s words, the Emperor continued.

“To have someone who doesn’t know her place as your vice-captain.”

The Emperor glanced behind him.

The captain was only looking at the teacup placed in front of him.

“As a subordinate, I must accompany my respected captain as he walks into the snake’s mouth.”

“Hoo… a snake?”

“Yes. A snake with black skin, who doesn’t know her place and hisses.”

Anna said, looking straight into the Emperor’s eyes.

“You should be careful. Those snakes have deadly poison.”

The Emperor lifted the teacup, closed her eyes, and took a small sip of tea.

“Thank you for your concern, Empress of the Empire. But you don’t have to worry. No matter how venomous a snake is, it’s just a crawling creature. I think we can easily catch it with a few snake charmers.”

At Anna’s confident words, the Emperor opened one eye.

“I want to pluck out that impudent tongue.”

The Emperor put down the teacup and said with a smile,

“Would you like to try?”

Anna replied coolly.