On the way back to the Ferbache Imperial Mansion after work.
Inside the carriage, Francia leaned her face against Yohan’s shoulder and let out a sigh.
“I can’t believe I won’t be able to see you for a week because of my mission starting tomorrow…”
Her eyes drooped, giving her a sullen expression.
Yohan chuckled lightly and ruffled Francia’s hair.
“A week will pass quickly.”
“Still…”
Francia puffed her cheeks and held Yohan’s face in her hands, forcing him to meet her gaze.
“It’s not just me who’s going to miss you, right?”
“Of course not. I don’t want to be apart from you either.”
“Then should I come along?”
“I’m the only one designated for this special mission, so that won’t be possible.”
“Ugh…”
Her shoulders slumped, following the droop of her eyes.
Despite that, her lips were still pushed out, clearly revealing her feelings.
Yohan spoke in a low voice.
“Actually, it could be quite dangerous. It’s better for me to go alone and come back quickly. Sanburg is an enemy state, and who knows what the Crown Prince might do.”
It was a well-known fact in social circles that the Crown Prince had his eye on Francia.
She was certainly aware of that.
But she had Yohan as her lover.
The jealousy-ridden Crown Prince was in the perfect situation to cause trouble, especially with her crossing the border into enemy territory.
“But there won’t be any major incidents. Lady Bismark is going to Sanburg as an envoy.”
Francia tilted her head.
“Lady Bismark, the Crown Prince’s fiancée? Is she the one going as an envoy?”
“That’s right.”
“Hmm…”
Yohan continued as he watched Francia frown while stroking her chin.
“With Lady Bismark there, the Crown Prince won’t dare to act out. After all, she’s a key figure in maintaining his position.”
The head of what could be called the Crown Prince’s faction among the nobility was the Bismark family.
Her family was quite beneficial to the Crown Prince, so he wouldn’t want to cut ties with her.
If the Crown Prince were to try to eliminate both Rudella Bismark and Yohan at the same time, that would truly be a foolish move.
Or perhaps he would be thinking with his lower half.
“You don’t need to worry too much.”
Yohan smiled softly.
Francia narrowed her eyes and poked Yohan’s cheeks playfully.
“Don’t tell me you’re planning to seduce Rudella Bismark too?”
“…Seduce? What are you talking about?”
Yohan tilted his head, his eyebrows knitting together.
He genuinely couldn’t understand what Francia was saying.
“You charmed First-Class Magician Ratalen beautifully, right? That woman was glaring at you with the intent to devour you.”
“That wasn’t intentional…”
“It’s understandable to smile in social situations, but you always seem to have a magical allure that draws women in, so be careful.”
“Violet Latalen was completely captivated by your smile and fell right for you, right? Make sure Rudella Bismark doesn’t fall for you the same way.”
Yohan smiled awkwardly.
“Surely a woman engaged to the Crown Prince wouldn’t look at someone else.”
“You never know. Just look at how the Latalen lady was so smitten with you, leaving the Duke of Renokhonan behind.”
“Huh? How did you know that the Latalen lady had feelings for the Duke of Renokhonan?”
Francia’s eyes widened as she hurriedly waved her hands.
“Well, it’s famous in social circles!”
“…Was it?”
It likely hadn’t spread that widely yet.
Yohan felt a moment of confusion but didn’t dig deeper since his memory was a bit hazy.
“Anyway, Yohan needs to be careful with women. You have this natural charm that enchants noble ladies. Do you know how hard I had to work to keep the Latalen lady away from you?”
Francia’s serious gaze made it clear she wasn’t joking.
“…I will be careful.”
“Hehe, good.”
Though Yohan determined it was unlikely, he simply nodded in agreement.
Could Rudella Bismark possibly take an interest in him like Violet Latalen?
He thought the possibility was zero.
She was completely devoted to the Crown Prince.
Of course, that didn’t mean she genuinely loved him.
‘An unfortunate example of gaslighting.’
She had been groomed since childhood to become the Crown Prince’s consort and had been taught to love him.
Her feelings were twisted in some way.
“I always love this time.”
Francia, resting her face on Yohan’s shoulder, smiled brightly.
“I want to leisurely leave work with you, arrive at the mansion, and share a meal facing each other. I wish we could always have moments like this.”
“I feel the same way. I enjoy quiet times.”
“Exactly. I want to quickly sort everything out and, once the situation stabilizes, live quietly with you in the Ferbache Mansion.”
Francia’s red eyes darkened.
There was a hint of resolve in her expression.
“But good times can’t last forever.”
“I’ll do my best. So I can be with you.”
Yohan wasn’t sure what she meant by doing her best, but he nodded and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
“It will work out. Whatever it is.”
As Yohan chuckled softly, Francia smiled and nestled closer to him.
“I need to recharge my Yohan power since I won’t see you for a week.”
“Go ahead and do that.”
The two, gazing into each other’s eyes, shared a small laugh.
It was not long until Yohan would enter his mission.
The next day.
Yohan entered the palace, not as a civil servant but as an escort for Rudella Bismark.
He had to depart with her since he was tasked with protecting her from the palace onward.
“Oh my.”
“Wow…”
As soon as he entered the palace, the servants, composed solely of nobles, covered their mouths with their hands, unable to take their eyes off Yohan.
He didn’t feel burdened or bothered by it. He was used to it, after all.
Anyway.
As he crossed the royal hallway and arrived at the reception room where Rudella Bismark was, a family knight gave a slight bow.
“Miss, First-Class Magician Harssen has arrived.”
Right.
Without delay, Rudella Bismark emerged from the reception room.
The black empire dress flowed beautifully with her snowy white hair.
Even the veil of the black Edwardian hat she wore couldn’t conceal Rudella’s beauty.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, First-Class Magician Harssen.”
Her clear sky-blue eyes gazed up at Yohan.
“It’s an honor to meet you. I am Yohan Harssen, Second-Class Civil Servant and First-Class Magician.”
Yohan gently took Rudella’s outstretched hand and kissed the back of it.
“I look forward to working with you until we return to the palace.”
“Yes.”
Yohan naturally followed as Rudella led the way.
Several knights trailed behind, all exuding the aura of First-Class knights capable of using mana blades.
“Do you know the details of the mission?”
With a flick, Rudella opened the black fan in her hand and asked.
Her silver hair sparkled softly in the sunlight.
“I understand that Lady Bismark is to be escorted until she returns from Sanburg.”
“Correct. From now on, you are responsible for my safety.”
Clack.
As Rudella descended the palace stairs, she suddenly stopped and turned to look at Yohan.
Her sky-blue eyes glimmered, but they held a gaze that was difficult to interpret.
“Will you be able to protect me, no matter what happens during the mission?”
“Of course. That’s my duty and what I’m supposed to do.”
“…I see.”
Rudella nodded, but there was no change in her expression.
The corners of her mouth seemed to lift slightly, but it must have been an illusion.
“The road to Sanburg is quite rough since it’s not paved. I hope you can bear with the fatigue.”
“I understand, but is Lady Bismark going to be okay?”
“What do you mean?”
“I just thought she might be tired.”
“Hmm.”
With a flick, the black fan closed again.
Rudella tilted her head slightly, seeming to think for a moment before stepping forward and speaking.
“This is the role entrusted to me, and it’s my duty, so it’s something I must endure. Didn’t you just say that? That it’s your mission and what you must do.”
It meant that once entrusted with a task, one should take responsibility without complaining.
“…I understand.”
“That’s right.”
Tap, tap.
Her steps halted.
A carriage decorated with the imperial emblem awaited them.
Behind it was a cart loaded with gifts the empire was sending to Sanburg.
“Let’s go.”
Yohan naturally moved to hold Rudella’s hand as she climbed into the carriage.
Escorting her.
Once she had safely boarded the carriage, Yohan turned to mount his horse again.
“Where are you going?”
Rudella called out to him.
“I’m going to ride my horse.”
“Get in the carriage. Your horse isn’t prepared.”
“Was this part of the plan from the start?”
“Yes. You will travel by carriage with me.”
Not understanding the reason, Yohan nodded and boarded the carriage.
Since there were not only knights but also detection-type magicians as escorts, it should be fine.
“We’ll be setting off!”
Clack.
The wheels of the carriage began to turn.
Rudella sat with her legs crossed, exposing her white shins as she arrogantly raised her head.
“I believe we’re not meeting for the first time.”
“That’s right. We’ve met at social parties.”
“Indeed.”
The corners of Rudella’s mouth lifted slightly.
“Would you share your story with me? I’ve been quite curious about you. Who would dare to go against the Crown Prince’s mood?”
At the social party, Yohan had drunkenly gone against the Crown Prince’s mood.
He had interrupted him and taken Francia away.
“I don’t have any special stories. At that time, I was just trying to protect my lover.”
“Weren’t you afraid?”
“If I were afraid of the Crown Prince’s wrath, I wouldn’t have been able to become Francia’s lover.”
“Hmm.”
Rudella, hiding her mouth behind the black fan, slowly nodded her head.
A faint smile lingered at the corners of her mouth, visible through the fan.
“I hear you graduated from the Rogino Academy.”
“Yes, in the social sciences.”
“You were my senior then.”
Rudella Bismark was twenty.
She was the same age as Francia and a year younger than Yohan.
Even though they were alumni, they were in different grades, so they had no interactions.
There was no special connection.
“I hope to see you often. If you need protection or have special matters in the future, I’ll be sure to call you frequently.”
“Is that for public or private reasons?”
When Yohan asked, Rudella tilted her head slightly and slowly blinked.
“I would say it’s both. I don’t have any special feelings for you, but I feel a strange sense of familiarity and comfort, so whether it’s public or private, I will always call you.”
“…I see.”
Though it didn’t show outwardly, Yohan felt quite confused.
She was significantly different from the Rudella Bismark he knew.
It wasn’t just about her personality or speech.
He wasn’t referring to simple elements like that.
‘Why is she interested in me?’
Other than the Crown Prince, she had no interest in anything other than elevating her family’s status.
This was even the first time they were having a proper conversation and facing each other directly.
Had she been deeply impressed by the brief impression he left at the social party?
He wasn’t sure.
“Please share your story. Any trivial matters from the academy or stories from your childhood would be fine.”
Rudella gazed at Yohan as she awaited his answer.
“…Understood.”
On the road to Sanburg, Yohan shared trivial past stories with Rudella, stories he hadn’t even revealed to Francia.
As the carriage carrying Rudella and Yohan just left the imperial capital, dark figures draped in black robes followed stealthily behind the carriage.
They kept a distance just enough to avoid detection magic, close enough to pursue directly.
The shadow leading the group spoke.
“The opponent is an advanced magician capable of close combat. We should avoid conflict to not leave any evidence and handle both perfectly.”
The shadows nodded in unison.
It was bright daylight, yet no one could see their figures.
“The operation will begin just before the carriage crosses the border into the Sanburg territory. We plan to blow up the bridge, so be prepared.”
The dark figures followed closely behind the carriage.