The next day, early morning.
Duke Ferbache’s mansion in the Imperial Capital.
The room was silent.
No one spoke.
Only the sound of breathing could be heard.
Yohan, Francia, the family doctor, and healers were gathered, observing Duke Ferbache’s condition.
On the bed, Duke Ferbache remained deeply asleep, his eyes still closed. Francia, her hands clasped tightly, looked at her father with an anxious expression. He was supposed to wake up yesterday, but he still had his eyes closed.
“His breathing is stable, and his pulse is normal. It seems he’s just asleep right now.”
The doctor’s calm voice filled the room.
“He just seems to be in a deep sleep right now.”
Even with those words, Francia’s anxiety didn’t disappear.
“Wasn’t he supposed to wake up last night?”
Her voice trembled slightly. The binding was released. But Duke Ferbache was still asleep. Francia was worried about that.
“He must have been very fatigued. Just last week, he was busy with the subjugation mission in the North.”
The doctor smiled gently.
“Still…”
As Francia pouted with a worried expression, Yohan gently stroked her shoulder.
“He’ll be fine. I don’t sense any binding either. He just seems to be asleep.”
Duke Ferbache had accumulated a lot of fatigue from subjugating the Demon Nest in the North, and then he was attacked by the Tower Master.
Although he wasn’t seriously injured thanks to Francia’s assistance, his Magical Power consumption must have been extreme. Sleep would come naturally.
“We have confirmed the Tower Master’s death. You don’t have to worry too much.”
“…Yes.”
Francia smiled awkwardly, trying to shake off her worries. She could only wait for her father to wake up. There was nothing she could do here that would change anything.
“Then you should go and rest, Lady. I will come to check on the Duke’s condition every hour, so you don’t have to worry too much.”
The doctor smiled slightly and took out some documents from his bag. He seemed to be thinking of Francia, as he intended to continue taking care of the Duke.
“…Thank you.”
Francia bit her lip and nodded. She knew that the doctor was worried about her anxiety, so she didn’t stubbornly insist on staying.
“Let’s go then, Francia.”
“Yes…”
Yohan took Francia out and led her into the room where they had been living together.
Everything was the same.
A neatly organized and cozy space.
“Father-in-law is currently recovering his Magical Power and mental strength, so I think he will wake up after lunch today.”
Yohan said once again to reassure Francia.
“I don’t have to worry, right…?”
“Of course. Trust me.”
As she looked up at him with trembling eyes, Yohan smiled gently and nodded.
“Don’t worry too much. The Tower Master has clearly met his death.”
“Ah, it’s not that I don’t trust Yohan. It’s just…”
Francia lowered her gaze. Her lips moved repeatedly. She couldn’t bring herself to speak. Nor should she.
Before her regression, her father had died. The world knew it as an accident, but Francia couldn’t possibly be unaware of the truth. He was assassinated by those four men.
The situation was much better now, but she couldn’t help but recall that time when she blamed herself for everything and her mind collapsed.
“It’s nothing.”
Francia smiled awkwardly.
She couldn’t meet his gaze.
“…”
Yohan noticed that Francia was hiding something, but he didn’t press her. Even between lovers, even between those who were about to marry, there would be things they wanted to hide.
“By the way, haven’t you been able to sleep since yesterday? Rest comfortably. I’ll tell them to bring you some warm tea.”
He changed the subject.
Francia shook her head and smiled bitterly.
“It’s okay. I’ll just lie down for a bit.”
“If that’s what makes you comfortable.”
She laid down on the bed and slowly closed her eyes. The fatigue from staying up all night seemed to wash over her.
“You have to wake me up around lunchtime…?”
“I know. Sleep comfortably.”
Francia smiled faintly and closed her eyes. A moment later, the sound of regular breathing could be heard. She fell asleep quickly.
And as time passed, around lunchtime.
Fortunately, Duke Ferbache woke up.
It seemed he really was just fatigued, as the doctor had said.
“I’m sorry for making you worry.”
Duke Ferbache smiled awkwardly and looked at Francia. She was trying to hold back tears, her face looking like she was about to cry at any moment.
“I thought you wouldn’t wake up…”
“Haha, there’s no way that would happen.”
“Hic, I’m so glad…”
As Francia hugged the Duke and sobbed, his hand stroked the back of her head a few times.
The Duke looked at Yohan and said.
“By the way, our son-in-law. I received a lot of help this time.”
“It was my duty, of course.”
“You’re humble too.”
The Duke laughed heartily.
“Fighting and winning against the Archmage, a transcendent being called the strongest on the continent, is a remarkable feat. As much as it will never happen again.”
Duke Ferbache smiled slightly and continued. His voice was somewhat hoarse, probably because he had just woken up.
“So, I would like to express my gratitude here. Duke Rahardt, and Ferbache’s son-in-law, Yohan Rahardt. I received great help from you. Thank you very much.”
He bowed his head. Yohan smiled awkwardly. It would be impolite to be startled and say that there was no need.
“I will always step forward if Duke and Francia are in danger. Even if it costs me my life.”
So he said what he could say now. He meant it. Because they were family now.
“But…”
The Duke stroked his chin as if lost in thought for a moment, then asked Yohan.
“Have you met with Baron Harsen?”
“I haven’t seen him since I greeted him back then.”
Yohan smiled bitterly and continued.
“We don’t have a very good relationship. Well, it’s not like it’s bad either.”
Baron Harsen, his father, didn’t have a deep bond with him. The same went for his mother. His parents wanted a daughter as their third child.
Of course, he received a minimum amount of love. But he was treated worse than his older brothers. It was more accurate to say that he had been practically neglected.
It was just a typical noble family. If he had been a girl, the result might have been different. But Yohan was born a man. It couldn’t be helped.
So Yohan hadn’t visited them since he left home.
“I see. That’s something you have to take care of. We may be related by marriage now, but I can’t interfere with that.”
The Duke nodded as if he understood. Honestly, it was unexpected. He thought he would tell him to visit his parents. He seemed to have an open mind, unlike what he looked like.
“Francia, you have about two months left in your service, right?”
“Yes, I’m preparing to be discharged now.”
“Then we can start preparing for the wedding soon.”
He turned his gaze back to Yohan.
“When is the purification schedule for the Demon Nest in the North?”
“I think it will be after I take a break.”
“Then it seems like we just have to wait for Francia to be discharged.”
“That’s right.”
Two months until Francia’s discharge. And the purification work in the North that would take place in the meantime.
Once everything was over, Yohan and his lovers would go down to the territory.
‘I should meet Rudbeckia too.’
The vacation period had been extended because things had gone wrong. Well, the purification squad’s officers would be happy about it.
“Okay, I think I need to rest a little more. You guys can go back now.”
Francia replied.
“Yes? But I think it’s better if I stay with you…”
“I’m fine now. I’m as healthy as can be.”
The Duke clenched his fist and raised it. He was a magician who had reached the realm of transcendence, maintaining his youthful appearance even in his forties. As long as he woke up, there was nothing to worry about.
“And Francia, you need to rest too. There’s nothing more foolish than getting sick from worrying.”
“Yes… I understand.”
“Good, that’s my daughter.”
The Duke smiled contentedly.
“Then go back now. Our son-in-law, please take good care of Francia.”
“Leave it to me.”
Francia got up from her seat.
“You have to send me a letter right away if anything happens?”
“Hahaha, I know. Don’t worry too much.”
“Yes…”
She smiled slightly and left the room with Yohan.
On the way out of the Ferbache mansion.
Walking down the hallway, Francia quietly took Yohan’s hand.
As Yohan turned his head, she wore a quiet smile.
“Thank you so much, Yohan.”
“I don’t know how many times you’ve said that now.”
Yohan smiled playfully.
She had said thank you at least ten times so far.
“Still. I would have been unhappy if it weren’t for Yohan.”
Her voice was calm, but her eyes were still shaking.
Before her regression, the result of not having Yohan.
It was so terrible that she didn’t even want to remember it.
“Thank you so much, Yohan.”
Francia raised her heels and kissed him on the cheek.
“I love you.”
* * *
The purification squad’s vacation period.
Rudbeckia wandered around the house.
She felt suffocated.
How many days had it been since she had seen him?
In the quiet house, her footsteps lightly echoed on the floor. Rudbeckia’s mind was filled with only one person.
It wasn’t just because she selfishly wanted to see him. Of course, she desperately wanted to see him too.
‘Is Yohan safe?’
But she couldn’t see him in person. Rudbeckia unconsciously fidgeted with her fingertips. Her anxious heart was conveyed to her fingertips.
‘I can’t rest assured until I see him in person.’
She looked up at the sky through the window. The morning sun was high in the sky. And she made a decision.
‘Okay, let’s go find Yohan right away.’
Rudbeckia hurriedly opened the closet.
Her hand automatically slid over the fabrics. Clothes that Yohan would like. A dress that was a little more elegant, yet naturally revealed her femininity.
A dress that subtly flowed along the lines of her chest and accentuated the curve of her waist. It was Yohan’s favorite style.
If his gaze could linger on her for a little longer. The moment she had that thought, her heart fluttered.
She put on the dress right away.
Looking in the mirror, she neatly styled her hair. If she was just going to find Yohan because she was worried about him, she wouldn’t have been so meticulous.
She wanted to see him.
She wanted to get a little closer to him.
And today, there was something she had to say.
‘I have to apologize.’
If the Tower Master’s memories had returned as she regressed, and Rain Adriche had targeted Yohan, then she couldn’t say that she had no responsibility at all.
But was that all?
Um, not at all.
‘And… I’m going to narrow the distance even further.’
She had to approach him one step at a time.
It would be difficult to see results right now.
But so that he could look at her, so that she could not be erased from his life.
Quietly.
She opened the door and took a step forward.
Towards him.