Movira said nothing, yet she used her spoon to transfer a piece of soft, tender meat from her own bowl into Seraphina’s.
Seraphina froze for a moment and looked up at Movira.
The other had already turned her head away, as if nothing had happened, and continued drinking the soup in her bowl.
Is this… also an indirect kiss?
She thought this in her heart, then immediately felt relieved.
After all, it no longer mattered. Who could resist eating the meat that was already in front of them?
So she silently ate it.
The taste seemed different from the rest… a little sweeter?
Perhaps because the temperature outside could no longer be improved much by the bonfire, everyone tacitly finished eating quickly.
The knights arranged the night watch. The others also returned to their tents to rest one after another.
Seraphina and Movira returned to their carriage.
The interior had been rearranged. After the original seats were lowered and covered with thick blankets, it had practically become a spacious bed that occupied half the carriage. This was enough for the two of them to lie down comfortably.
“Conditions are limited. This is the best we can do.” Movira checked the carriage door and windows, then used magic to lock them from the inside, ensuring the cold wind outside would be completely blocked.
Seraphina looked at this “bed.” Although it could not compare to a real bed, under the current circumstances it was already quite luxurious. She said, “It’s already very good.”
The two of them tidied up simply and prepared to rest.
Seraphina dawdled as she changed into a soft nightdress and stood somewhat awkwardly beside the “bed.” She had previously declared that Movira was not allowed to touch her from now on…
“What’s wrong? It’s cold outside. Hurry and come in.” Movira lifted one side of the blanket and spoke.
“Alright.” Seraphina blew out the magical lamp inside the carriage, leaving only the faint glow of bright moonlight that filtered through the gaps in the curtains.
She fumbled her way onto the “bed” and lay down beside Movira, but deliberately kept some distance between them.
This action left Movira both amused and exasperated.
She had of course thought of Seraphina’s earlier complaint and warning, but she simply pretended not to know. “What’s wrong now? Hurry over here.”
But Seraphina still did not move.
Movira was not in a hurry either. She would just wait. After all, Movira did not have much need for sleep.
After a long while, the nighttime chill gradually seeped into the carriage. Seraphina unconsciously curled up a little.
The wilderness was ultimately no match for an indoor space. Even covered by a thick blanket, Seraphina still felt a bit cold.
Under one blanket, the situation had become polarized. Her side was completely glacier-cold, while Movira’s side was a pure furnace. She did not know whether this was a good thing or a bad thing.
Seraphina realized she was becoming more and more dependent on Movira. Especially after the battle on the snowfield, she had developed many latent health issues. For example, this cold constitution made her very uncomfortable.
After hesitating for a moment, the physical cold still overcame her declaration of “don’t touch me.”
She inched bit by bit toward the heat source beside her until she was pressed against Movira’s warm body.
Almost instantly, an arm came around and rested on her waist, pulling her into an embrace. Warmth instantly enveloped her.
A light, amused voice sounded above her head. “Hmm? Didn’t someone say I wasn’t allowed to touch her from now on?”
Seraphina’s ears instantly burned. Shame and anger mixed together, yet she could not immediately think of a reason to refute.
She buried her face deeper into Movira’s embrace. Her muffled voice carried a hint of coquettishness as she muttered, “…This definitely doesn’t count! I was the one who took the initiative… I moved closer on my own… It doesn’t count as you touching me!”
After saying this self-justifying sentence, even Seraphina herself felt it had no persuasive power. Her cheeks burned alarmingly.
“Alright, alright. You took the initiative. It doesn’t count as me touching you.” Movira chuckled softly. A slight vibration came from her chest. However, she only tightened her arm and held Seraphina’s icy body even closer.
Seraphina muttered incoherently, “You must be freezing. Why didn’t you come over earlier?… I… I thought I could manage on my own…” She was not even clear about what she herself was saying anymore.
And at that moment, she felt a warm breath approach. A gentle kiss landed unexpectedly on her forehead.
“Alright. Don’t force yourself next time. Good night.”
This sudden good-night kiss made Seraphina’s mind even more chaotic. That soft touch stirred up a thousand waves in her heart. She wanted to say something, whether in protest or refusal, but in the end it only turned into a faint, trembling response. “Good… good night.”
Wrapped in this reassuring embrace and breathing in the cool fragrance so close at hand, Seraphina quickly sank into dreamland.
This day had allowed Movira to fully understand Seraphina’s limits.
At the same time, inside another carriage.
“We seem to have gone a long time without sharing a bed.” Dekalorin looked at the carriage ceiling and spoke to Saint Eustacia beside her.
“Mm… After all, I’m not a child anymore.” Saint Eustacia responded softly. Her tone had completely lost the cold sternness of her usual self.
“By the way, teacher, you now… I mean…” Her next words came out haltingly, as if there was something difficult to say.
Dekalorin turned her head to look into her eyes. “What’s wrong? Just say it directly. Is there anything we can’t talk about between us?”
“Say it! It’s just… teacher, I feel like your side is really cold. Why don’t… you move a little closer? After all, you just went through all that… If you catch another chill, your injuries might worsen.” After speaking, Saint Eustacia quickly turned her head away, avoiding Dekalorin’s gaze, and kept coughing to cover up her inner panic.
After all… she rarely said such intimate words.
“Hmm? Is that so?” Dekalorin thought for a moment.
Saint Eustacia had thought she would be rejected, but the other woman’s next words surprised her. “Since you don’t mind… then I won’t stand on ceremony.”
Saint Eustacia only felt a slightly cool body lean over. Although it did not press tightly against her, she could still feel the chill emanating from her teacher.
“I… how could I possibly mind you, teacher…”
“That’s good.” Dekalorin adjusted her position beside her.
Occasional skin contact occurred, each time causing Saint Eustacia’s body to tremble slightly.
“You… be careful not to pull on your wound.”
The two of them lay side by side like this. Dekalorin’s expression remained natural as she continued looking at the carriage “ceiling,” while Saint Eustacia was not nearly as composed. Although she was also lying flat, she turned her head to the side.
This “Little Eustacia” made Saint Eustacia’s body stiffen.
“Come to think of it, Little Eustacia has finally grown up. She can even be my support now.” Dekalorin spoke softly.
“Cough cough… Let’s sleep, teacher.” Saint Eustacia did not respond to this topic.