“Conversation?”
Yohan narrowed his eyes. The woman who had been avoiding him recently was suddenly asking for a conversation… It was quite suspicious.
“…I have something I want to say.”
Violet’s voice trembled softly. She was lightly clasping her hands together, and her green eyes were slightly shaking.
“May I come in?”
“Go ahead.”
She entered the tent cautiously and sat down carefully. In the silent space, Violet’s breathing was the only sound that could be heard.
“Speak.”
She lowered her head slightly and whispered.
“…I want to apologize.”
“Apologize…?”
Yohan’s eyes narrowed slightly. She fidgeted with her fingertips and calmly continued.
“Right now, you can’t say that things between us are good… because of my rude behavior.”
Perhaps due to her nervousness, Violet’s voice cracked as she spoke.
“So you do know.”
“Yes. After everything ended the way it did, it’s impossible not to know.”
Yohan, who had been silent, stared at her with intense, heavy eyes. Violet still kept her head lowered.
“Then, why apologize now? I thought you and Duke Renokhonan were on the same side.”
Yohan’s voice, cold as ice, filled the tent. The hyena attack at the social party had likely been ordered by Cassis, but it was hard to believe Violet wasn’t involved.
“…The matter with Duke Renokhonan targeting your life has nothing to do with me. There was nothing I could do about it.”
Violet met Yohan’s gaze. Her green eyes trembled slightly.
It was an injustice to her. She had merely joined forces with him to gain Yohan’s favor, but it was Cassis who had crossed the line without her consent.
“…You don’t believe me?”
When no answer came, Violet glanced at him. Yohan’s face remained cold, his expression full of suspicion.
“Isn’t it strange to believe? I think it’s only natural that I don’t trust you.”
Yohan spoke in a low voice. There was no reason for him to trust Violet. She was someone he had to be wary of from the start.
“I didn’t want things to get this bad. When I realized what Duke Renokhonan was plotting, I hurriedly searched the party to warn you. Though, it was already too late.”
Violet bitterly smiled as she continued. Yohan silently listened to her words without interrupting.
“I’m not stupid enough to play games with the Duke of Ferbaché. I know that if I make a mistake, my head would be on the chopping block.”
The Duke of Ferbaché was one of the four noble families. While the Marquis of Latalen was no less significant, touching a Duke’s family was a different matter altogether.
“…So, you want me to overlook everything?”
His voice was cold and sharp. Violet couldn’t continue and looked away. The air in the room grew heavy.
“What do you want from this apology? There must be a purpose.”
Yohan asked, and Violet answered, seemingly embarrassed, furrowing her delicate brows.
“…I want to restore our relationship.”
“Why?”
“If things continue like this, there will never be another chance.”
Violet said quietly, lowering her gaze. She still had lingering feelings for Yohan.
“…….”
The tent fell into a heavy silence. Yohan wasn’t quiet because he didn’t understand what she was saying.
Should he accept her apology? Restoring his relationship with Violet would be a good option for him as well. It would mean she wouldn’t cause any trouble.
However… he wasn’t keen on it. Honestly, who would want to maintain a good relationship with a woman who saw him as a tool?
‘Still, thinking about the future, it would be better to accept her apology, restore the relationship, and keep an ambiguous position.’
He would continue to reject her, but wouldn’t completely shut the door, leaving some room. Then Violet’s attention would be focused on him.
He didn’t like the idea of gaining a relational advantage by hiding his lack of romantic interest—it felt like leading her on—but…
‘Violet started this.’
She had made the first move. It was her who approached him with impure intentions, trying to court him.
And Yohan no longer wanted to deal with other women. Just a few days ago, there had been a confrontation with Rudella.
“…Alright. I’ll accept your apology.”
After calculating everything in his mind, Yohan stiffened his expression and responded.
“…Thank you.”
Violet raised her head for the first time, a small smile on her lips, as if relieved.
Though he couldn’t understand her true intentions, Yohan decided not to try to figure them out. It was best to keep an appropriate distance and leave some ambiguity.
“Is that all you wanted to say?”
“…Yes. That’s everything.”
“I see. Understood.”
Yohan nodded slowly, and Violet, having finished her business, turned to leave. As she lifted the tent flap, she spoke.
“…I’ll see you next time.”
“Yes.”
With those final words, Violet left the tent. The cold air brushed against her skin as she stepped outside.
The torches set around the base camp provided warmth, but Violet couldn’t fully feel their heat.
‘…That’s done.’
Although there was still some wariness in Yohan, it didn’t matter. The immediate danger was over.
The reason she had taken the risk of approaching Yohan, even after being threatened by the Duke of Ferbaché, was clear: to sever all ties with Cassis Renokhonan.
Now, she had lost all her rights and privileges after committing a crime close to treason.
Although her actions had been serious enough to warrant execution, she had been spared due to the name of the Renokhonan family and her past contributions.
If things went wrong, she could be branded a criminal, just like him. That was why she had used the apology as an excuse to approach him.
She had to prove that she was no longer connected to Cassis Renokhonan.
…And now, she had to make sure she wasn’t involved with him anymore.
It was hard to believe that Cassis Renokhonan had been blinded by the Duke of Ferbaché’s daughter and made such a foolish choice, but considering his usual behavior, it was understandable.
All he could do was wield a sword on the battlefield, and the only redeeming qualities about him were his handsome face and his family’s power.
“Sigh…”
Violet let out a deep breath as she returned to her tent.
The humiliation she had endured at the hands of the Duke’s daughter was still fresh, but there was nothing she could do about it.
The only person who could have helped her, Cassis Renokhonan, had fallen.
***
The march continued without stopping.
Fighting broke out at the front lines, and there were occasional ambushes targeting medical personnel, but they didn’t pose much of a problem.
The organizational strength and power of the Imperial Officers were overwhelming, and the difference in the skill levels of the knights and mages was clear.
After all, Sanburg had been just a small kingdom to begin with. They were no match for the empire, especially one that had committed all its Imperial Officers and pledged to end the war within a week.
Furthermore, since the empire’s territory was right next to Sanburg, it didn’t take long to reach key strategic locations.
It was a distance that could easily be covered in a week by carriage, at a relaxed pace.
The outcome of this war was already decided.
And there was little time left until the end.
“Ugh…!”
Francia, riding a horse, let out a groan. The discomfort in her posture caused a sharp pain in her lower back.
“Are you feeling very exhausted?” Yohan asked, following behind her.
“Yes… I think it’s worse because the road is so rough.”
Francia’s voice was strained, her breath hitching. The winding mountain paths, curving like a camel’s back, pressed down on both her body and mind.
The march route was designed to reach Sanburg’s key stronghold as quickly as possible.
As a result, there were many treacherous mountain paths and unmaintained roads.
It was no surprise that it was exhausting.
“Still, once we reach the next stronghold, the second Imperial Officer will be waiting, so we just need to hold on a little longer.”
The silver lining was that Sanburg’s remaining forces were few, meaning the war could be finished with just the first Imperial Officer and the knights and soldiers supporting him.
The second Imperial Officer’s role was to set up a base at the next stronghold to be captured.
“I’ll keep going.”
At Yohan’s encouragement, Francia took a deep breath and brightened her eyes.
If she thought back to the things she had gone through before her regression, this kind of march seemed trivial.
In truth, when the war had suddenly broken out, she had been quite flustered, but now, with the changes in causality, it seemed like a natural event.
Her previous life, where she had simply been helpless, had changed drastically because of Yohan.
The situation was going well now, and it was entirely thanks to him.
“Heh.”
Francia smiled contentedly. She always felt grateful to him. Before the regression and after it.
If Yohan hadn’t been there… Francia would have had to face a terrible future.
“…Why are you suddenly laughing?”
“I’m happy.” She simply said.
“Hmm.”
Yohan, glancing around, flashed a mischievous smile.
“Wasn’t it you who told me to refrain from showing affection in a place like this?”
“Ah.”
Francia, feeling embarrassed for no reason, turned her gaze away, correcting her neck instinctively. She had accidentally blurted out that she liked him.
“It’s just a joke. I don’t mind at all, so feel free to do as you wish.”
Yohan chuckled lightly. His smile was refreshing, making her feel automatically uplifted.
“I think Yohan looks really good when he smiles.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, it’s like a halo around you…”
It was just a metaphor, but at least, that’s how she felt.
“I’m glad you think so.”
“Hm, is that all you have to say about it?”
“What do you mean?”
Francia, gazing into the air, continued.
“I thought you would throw out a joke, Yohan.”
“Ah-ha.”
Yohan shrugged his shoulders.
“From now on, I’ll refrain from smiling.”
“Why?”
“Because I don’t want Francia to go blind.”
“Pfft…”
As expected, she burst into laughter at his response.
“Isn’t this what you were hoping for?”
“Exactly, this is what I had in mind.”
“Actually, I thought it was a bit too much, so I’ve been intentionally holding back…”
Francia smiled slyly, enjoying his casual joking.
She liked how, even in such circumstances, he still tried to reassure her.
“Hehe, it’s fine since it’s my preference.”
“…Then I’m glad.”
Just then, as they were chuckling and continuing their march, they heard a sharp voice.
“─ENEMY ATTACK!!”
Suddenly, the voice of Lieutenant Ricard pierced through the air. At that moment, the sound of the air being torn apart rang out, and the sky turned red.
“…..!”
Yohan’s gaze sharpened. Dozens, even hundreds, of flaming arrows rained down from the sky like a torrential storm.
“All units, defensive posture!”