Chapter 12
“You’re saying it could be misunderstood? I find it difficult to understand your intentions.”
“If you don’t get it, that’s fine. Just don’t make it sound like I was thinking about Rochefort even in my sleep. How long was I out?”
“It wasn’t so much sleeping as… Your Excellency seemed to be in a deep fever. To answer your question, you were lying in that state for about three days.”
“Ha, again…”
Three days. If that’s the case, it’s hard to believe she lost consciousness simply due to fatigue. Perhaps it was ‘that illness’ flaring up again.
How many years had it been since she last suffered a sudden fever like this? Even counting from the final moments of her past life, it had been at least ten years since the symptoms had resurfaced. Mia let out a habitual, childish complaint.
But unlike her childhood, Mia couldn’t finish her sentence this time. Now, the only person in front of her to hear her complaints was the stern-faced lieutenant of the Holy Corps—or rather, a lower-ranking officer.
“…”
Mia sighed and changed the subject.
“Since you’re here, could you fetch my medicine? It should be in the top drawer.”
Pavel, perceptive as ever, promptly brought back the right medicine. Without a change in his expression, he asked Mia bluntly.
“From the way you said ‘again,’ it seems this isn’t the first time this has happened. Am I right?”
“Yes, you’re right. I often had similar fevers when I was younger.”
Pavel’s unchanging expression somehow seemed more foreboding than before. Had he concluded that her health condition made her unfit to remain on the battlefield? Mia, growing anxious, hastily added:
“But it’s fine. These episodes all happened before I turned twenty, and it’s been over a decade since anything like this occurred. Aside from the high fever on the first day, the symptoms aren’t severe, and I don’t need any nursing. It won’t hinder me on the battlefield.”
Pavel shook his head.
“That’s not what I meant. It’s just… Hmm. How should I put this?”
“Go on.”
“The symptoms Your Excellency displayed over the past three days bear a strong resemblance to the fever that priests or knights with divine power experience when they first manifest their abilities…”
“…”
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“So, are you saying… that I might have truly manifested divine power?”
“Was that not the case? From what I heard from the Commander—”
“I don’t know. I… I mean, I…”
The night before she collapsed flashed through Mia’s mind. She had been so overjoyed, thinking that the goddess’s blessing had descended upon her, only to hear a denial close to a definitive refusal.
The doubts she harbored about her abilities, stirred by Rochefort, resurfaced easily with Pavel’s words.
Mia realized for the first time how easily she could be swayed by the words of others.
‘Whichever is true, I’ll have to investigate further…’
Still, she wanted to believe Pavel’s words.
She had endured so much pain from lacking divine power—wanting to believe in this possibility was only natural.
“We’ll discuss that later. Was there anything I should know in the meantime?”
“I’m not sure what happened that day, but the Commander seemed out of sorts all night.”
Hmm… I’m not sure what that’s about either. Mia pondered for a moment, then asked again.
“Anything else of note?”
“Ah, a messenger came by three days ago, looking for Your Excellency. He mentioned his name was Charles… Do you know him?”
Mia’s face turned pale.
If someone like Charles had to leave his post and come all the way to the border, it meant there had been a significant shift in the political situation back home.
And the fact that he didn’t wait for Mia meant the situation must have been urgent.
Given the current timing, if it was indeed an ‘urgent situation,’ then it must be…
Mia’s expression hardened.
She should have realized this as soon as she heard three days had passed. Since her return, she had been losing focus, letting important things slip. It felt as though someone had interfered.
“We need to leave immediately. To Glen.”
***
“Sir, I have something urgent to discuss.”
“Yes, let’s move to a different location.”
“No, I’d like you to come to my room this evening.”
The added remark implied clearly what she meant.
The greatest challenge during the march wasn’t the long travel times but securing accommodation. What were the chances of finding buildings that could discreetly house a large group while traveling along hidden paths? It was nearly miraculous that the Holy Corps didn’t have to sleep on bare ground that night.
It wasn’t surprising that the inn they found was incredibly cramped. However, given the circumstances, no soldier was foolish enough to complain openly.
Even in such harsh conditions, the commander and his strategic officer, like a few other high-ranking officers, were assigned their own rooms. Yet Mia was ready to give up her room for the vice-commander of the Holy Corps.
It was a small inconvenience worth enduring for this “urgent discussion” and, more importantly, for the successful realization of her “plan.”
Moreover, factors like the inn’s size or the luxury of its furnishings didn’t hold much weight for Mia.
Unlike a few years ago, when she couldn’t shed her noble lady’s airs, the present Mia Elise Blanchard—though her combat skills might not have improved over time—had become someone who could sleep with just a blanket, even in the harshest conditions.
***
Mia sat Etienne on her bed. Since a room meant for a single occupant wouldn’t have multiple beds, it also meant she was volunteering to sleep on the floor. It was a very unusual gesture for Mia, who had never made such concessions in her life, regardless of rank.
Etienne, however, declined the bed and sat beside Mia. He spoke first.
“So, what is this urgent matter you mentioned?”
“Sir, you want to win, right?”
It was an obvious question. Perhaps a foot soldier might not care as much, but someone like a commander would never wish to retreat in disgrace. Etienne nodded reluctantly.
“And you would do whatever it takes to win?”
Etienne nodded again.
That was all she needed. If it was victory he desired—if that was all Etienne Rochefort wanted—
Mia could certainly grant it to him.
It was fortunate for Mia. If he had desired more than victory, or if his wishes had been entirely different, helping him achieve them would not have been as easy.
A faint smile curved Mia’s lips.
“Alright. Then you’ll have to cooperate with me.”
“What do you mean?”
“From the moment we leave this inn, we’re going to be a couple.”
“…Excuse me?”
“Trust me. There’s no better cover for a man and a woman traveling together.”
“Do we really have to be together for this?”
“I have something to investigate.”
“You could leave that to the soldiers.”
Mia softly repeated her words.
Trust me.
The confident voice of a capable person has a way of reassuring others. Those who had endured the war clinging to such voices and words knew this well.
So Etienne decided to trust Mia once more.
“There’s a condition.”
“Let’s hear it.”
“If the purpose of us being ‘a couple’ is to maintain a convincing cover, wouldn’t it be more effective if we made it public?”
Mia pressed her lips together. It wasn’t a wrong point, nor was it something she hadn’t considered.
‘Yet, seeing him suggest it so readily… It’s disconcerting…’
While Mia was lost in thought, Etienne spoke again, a faint smile playing on his lips.
“So, wouldn’t you confess your feelings in front of everyone? So that they know you’re my ‘partner’?”
What kind of proposal was this? Mia, not expecting the commander to counter with such a bold suggestion, was left speechless, staring at him for a long time.
To Mia, Etienne Rochefort was a difficult person. He was hard to understand, and therefore, hard to handle. Specifically, his impeccable smile, natural kindness, the playful manner that never crossed the line, and his overly considerate gestures were all challenging for her to deal with. The fact that she had never experienced such things in her past life only made it harder.
If she had a logical explanation, it might be different. But Mia wasn’t someone who had grown up accepting unexpected acts of kindness easily.
So, if this was kindness with a reason… if it was playing the role of a partner without unreasonable emotions involved, Mia could understand it. She hoped Etienne would maintain just this much distance from her.
In her past life, there had been things she couldn’t achieve. If she could serve as a tool to fulfill those goals now, Mia’s role seemed just about right.
Mia continued to watch Etienne, who still seemed bewildered, and spoke up again.
“That said, if we’re going to act like a couple while undercover, I’ll need to know more about you.”
“About me?”
“As a couple, it wouldn’t make sense if I didn’t know how you’ve lived or what you’ve experienced, would it?”
“…”
“Sir, I want to know what’s been on your mind all this time.”
Etienne’s eyelashes fluttered slightly. Mia stared at the subtle movement in his gaze for a while.
In truth, even this flimsy excuse of curiosity was a way to ease her guilt. When Etienne died, she hadn’t understood why he made such a choice. That inexplicable sacrifice left Mia feeling deeply unsettled.
It was like so many other things she couldn’t understand. It was her mistake, and perhaps, her weakness. It was a mistake she couldn’t afford to repeat.
To prevent that, she needed to know. Who Etienne Rochefort really was. What kind of thoughts he held as he lived his life.
“Ah… You might end up disappointed.”
Etienne, who had no way of knowing Mia’s inner thoughts, seemed a little awkward. He wasn’t used to receiving this kind of interest.
“How could I be disappointed when I’m the one who’s curious?”
Mia smiled warmly. It was the most intentional display of kindness she could manage.
—
Read More at – GENZNOVEL.COM!!
PLEASE JOIN OUR DISCORD AND SUBSCRIBE THE ROLE TO RECEIVE LATEST NOTIFICATIONS!!
Click here -> https://discord.gg/S8c2kGVr2g
Comment