Chapter 154

(1)

1.

Southeast border of the Rubens Empire.

This place, where the Arpen Duchy borders the huge canyon, is famously known as a military zone where civilians are forbidden to enter.

“Hmm.”

Major Bright Melun, commanding the border guard, had a troubled expression as he looked at the two people before him— a youthful girl and a muscular man.

According to the report he just received, they apparently tried to cross the border without a care in the world.

Surprisingly, they also managed to break through all the encirclements. However, upon hearing that there would be a nationwide search order if they fled, they obediently returned to the post.

‘…One thing is for sure.’

They had the skill to break the border guard’s encirclement. Bright’s face hardened with tension.

So as soon as he received the detailed report, he summoned all available troops to the post. Just in case.

“Huh.”

Letting out a brief sigh.

He opened his mouth, which had been shut.

“…First, let me introduce myself. I am Bright Melun, Baron, and I have been ordered by His Great Majesty the Emperor to defend this border.”

“I’m Ulan Bator.”

“I’m Noa Darshen.”

After a brief self-introduction.

Bright requested their identification documents.

He said anything that could prove their identity would be fine. Then Noa handed over an item she had seemingly prepared.

“Will this work?”

“This is…”

“It’s a seal I received from someone I know.”

Noa smiled brightly.

Ulan, who had been staring blankly, seemed to recall something and rummaged through his pocket.

“Ah, I have something similar.”

A special pass issued to him by Ivella.

This too should suffice to prove his identity, as the seal of the Count Deorg family was intricately carved.

Meanwhile, Bright’s eyes widened in shock as he took in the items. The seal and the family that issued the pass registered in his mind.

“…?!”

Seoric Al Gorphant.

Istan El Deorg.

Two of the Empire’s greatest swordsmen.

The seal and the pass with the family’s emblem boldly engraved. In that moment of realization, he couldn’t help but swallow dryly.

“S-so…”

Flustered and restless, Bright inquired carefully.

“If it’s not too much trouble, may I ask what your relationship is with those two families?”

“Of course.”

With a gentle smile.

Noa’s answer soon followed.

“First of all, Marquis Gorphant is our guardian. And Count Deorg is…”

“He’s my friend.”

Ulan suddenly interrupted.

Noa was momentarily taken aback by the abrupt response but quickly regained her composure.

It wasn’t an inaccurate statement.

“W-well then, what’s the reason for crossing the border…”

“I cannot disclose that.”

Ulan shook his head.

He wouldn’t be believed anyway.

“However, I can say for certain that this is a matter more important than anything else.”

His eyes shone seriously.

Bright instinctively shrank his shoulders from an unexplainable sense of pressure.

At that moment.

“C-commander!”

Someone rushed in breathlessly.

A pale-faced man. Bright’s lieutenant, who had been waiting outside the post.

He hurriedly approached and whispered something only Bright could hear. After a moment, as the report ended, Bright’s eyes widened.

“Is that really true?”

“Yes! I just confirmed it.”

The lieutenant nodded fervently.

Bright’s eyes were shaken with astonishment as he looked at Ulan. He then recalled what he had just learned from his lieutenant.

The lieutenant pointed at Ulan and said.

“Level 0 Administrative Subject.”

A being under the management of the Military Department and the Imperial Family.

Not to mention, he had the seal of the Gorphant family and a special pass issued by the Deorg family.

‘Just thinking about it…’

He was no ordinary person.

Bright fervently racked his brain.

Trying to guess the reasons Ulan and Noa were trying to cross the border. Before long, he came up with a plausible guess.

‘Could it be a top-secret military operation?’

It certainly made sense that they approached the border via a route not frequented by civilians. After finishing his deliberation, Bright made his decision.

“…Open the border gateway.”

“Yes! Understood.”

The lieutenant saluted and dashed off.

An unusual tension enveloped the post. Bright turned to Ulan and Noa.

“I understand the situation completely.”

“Huh? What situation?”

“You don’t have to pretend. I’ve encountered something similar a few times before.”

It was clear that a military operation unknown to him was being carried out in secret. The Empire had often been involved in similar covert operations in the past.

Having unilaterally pieced together the situation.

Bright said with a grave expression.

“If there’s anything you need for your mission, feel free to ask. I’ll cooperate as much as possible.”

“…?”

Mission? Cooperation?

Noa tilted her head in confusion.

But given that they were being offered cooperation, there was no reason to refuse. So, she immediately thought of her needs and listed them out loud.

“Ah, then could we have some water and food? And maybe sleeping bags too?”

“I’ll arrange that right away.”

A prompt response followed.

Shortly after.

Bright and the border guard gathered not only the requested supplies but also various other provisions.

Finally, once all preparations were complete.

Ulan and Noa crossed the Empire’s border with a fervent send-off from the guards. Their destination was the mountainous kingdom beyond the canyon.

The Arpen Duchy.

2.

Meanwhile, at that moment.

In the late night when everyone was asleep.

The Count Deorg Mansion in the southern part of the Rubens Empire still glowed brightly.

Just then.

“Huh.”

Suddenly, a small sigh was heard.

A girl with light blonde hair sat sideways by the window.

Her turquoise eyes reflected the moonlight as she gazed vacantly at the sky.

“Haa.”

Another sigh escaped her lips shortly after.

Ivella Elea’ad had returned to the Deorg estate a few days ago for the break.

“This is so strange.”

With a frustrated expression.

She glanced at the calendar hanging on the wall.

“It’s about time.”

The person Ivella was eagerly waiting for.

Was none other than Ulan.

As she thought of him, she recalled the academic calendar of the academy.

‘The re-exam for the final exam is on Friday.’

Yet today is Sunday.

No, to be precise, it’s technically Monday since it’s past midnight.

‘If he passed the exam…’

He should have already arrived at the Count’s estate. So why is there still no news?

Just as she was deep in thought with a troubled expression.

An ominous speculation suddenly crossed her mind.

“Could it be he failed the re-exam?”

As she mumbled with a doubtful face, she burst out laughing.

There’s no way that could happen.

After all, Ulan was the top student.

He had excelled in his grades to the extent that he had delivered a speech as the representative of the freshmen at the entrance ceremony.

‘So…’

He was probably on his way right now.

Ivella believed that firmly.

Even so, unable to sleep, she silently gazed at the moon when—

Knock knock!

Suddenly, there was a knocking sound.

Who could it be? There shouldn’t be anyone coming by.

Just as she tilted her head in confusion, the door opened slightly. Soon, a familiar voice reached her.

“Ivella.”

Upon hearing that clear voice, her expression brightened a little.

The unexpected visitor was none other than her mother, Idelin Elea’ad.

“Do you have a moment?”

“Yeah, I have time, but why?”

“I’m just not feeling sleepy tonight, so if it’s okay, can you keep me company for a bit?”

That was no trouble at all. She wasn’t sleepy either.

Ivella nodded willingly.

Before she could hear the rest of Idelin’s words.

“With the Count.”

The moment her response finished.

A golden-haired man appeared through the half-open door. Istan El Deorg, the lord of the Count’s Mansion and Ivella’s father.

“…”

The moment she spotted him.

Ivella’s face hardened like stone.

His expression was cold, as if he was never smiling at all. In the atmosphere laden with chill, Idelin stepped closer, crossing her arms.

“I’ve prepared everything, so let’s go. Okay?”

Idelin tugged at her arm.

Ivella wanted to firmly refuse, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it. She was particularly weak against Idelin.

“…Then just for a moment.”

“Yeah, just a moment will be fine.”

Idelin smiled with satisfaction.

A little while later, after a brief time, the three of them arrived on the terrace. Various types of snacks and steaming tea were laid out.

A truly midnight tea time.

Of course, this was very much against noble etiquette, but no one here seemed to care about that.

Clink!

Amidst the serene atmosphere, Ivella took a sip of the warm tea.

“Huh.”

The warmth spread through her body.

Her previously rigid expression relaxed a bit.

Then the Count, who had been observing Ivella, opened his mouth as if he had waited for this moment.

“Sometimes, this kind of gathering is nice.”

“……”

Of course, Ivella remained unresponsive.

However, the Count’s awkward expression led him to try to continue speaking. But then, Idelin, who had been silent, intervened in the conversation.

“It’s not occasionally.”

“Huh?”

“This is the first time, right? Especially drinking tea with me and Ivella together.”

“Well, that is true…”

“Isn’t it the first time?”

“…I apologize.”

The Count eventually bowed his head.

He had sins to atone for.

During his years on the battlefield, he neglected both mother and daughter, forcing them to live in pain.

“If you’re sorry, just do better in the future.”

“I will do so. I swear it on the family name.”

“You don’t have to swear on the family name.”

Idelin shook her head.

She seemed to care little for the family name.

She continued to speak.

“Promise me as Ivella’s father.”

“……”

In that moment, the Count was at a loss for words.

For two reasons.

One was that it was an utterly unexpected request, and the other was he questioned whether he possessed the qualifications to do so.

After letting out a short sigh.

The Count spoke seriously.

“…To be honest, I’m not sure if I still qualify as a father, but if I do, I will gladly swear that I will fulfill my responsibilities as your husband and Ivella’s father from now on.”

Whispering softly, he said in a calm tone.

Just as his oath concluded, Idelin looked at Ivella with a bright, smiling face. As if asking, ‘What do you think?’

“……”

Ivella remained unresponsive.

However, this wasn’t completely unresponsive. When the Count was making his vow, there was a fleeting moment when her gaze was definitely fixated on him.

The wall built over time.

It seemed like something harder than anything was crumbling just a little.

After sipping tea for a while.

Suddenly, Idelin spoke up.

“By the way, you’re quite late.”

“Late? Late for what?”

“About the boyfriend you mentioned in your letter.”

“Ah, he’s not my boyfriend yet!?”

Ivella shouted in surprise.

Of course, she had written in the letter that she liked someone, but she had never referred to him as a boyfriend. Meanwhile, Idelin remained unfazed by Ivella’s intense reaction.

“What do you mean he’s not? When two grown-ups spend the night together at a hotel, that’s basically it.”

“That’s not wrong but…”

Could it be that she was recalling that time?

Ivella’s ears gradually reddened.

But just for a moment, she shook her head and firmly replied.

“But nothing happened!”

“……”

Idelin squinted her eyes as she looked at Ivella. Her gaze didn’t waver at all. She didn’t seem to appear like she was lying.

So perhaps?

With a serious expression, she asked.

“Just to check.”

“Check what?”

“Does your boyfriend have any issues down there?”

“Mom!”

Ivella shouted in shock.

Her face had turned beet red.

Meanwhile, Idelin remained serious.

“Isn’t that the case? If two young people spent the night together, there should be some action, right?”

“W-well, Ulan is a gentleman, that’s why.”

“Oh really? You believe that?”

“Yeah, I can trust Ulan.”

Ivella replied with conviction.

However, Idelin’s reaction was indifferent.

“Then you’ll be betrayed soon.”

“H-how do you know that? You’ve never even met Ulan…!”

“I can tell without seeing. Men are all the same.”

Cutting off her retort sharply.

Idelin wore a mysterious smile.

“And it just so happens that I’ve had similar experiences too.”

“Similar experiences?”

“Yes, the most gentlemanly person I knew turned into a completely different person at night.”

With a reminiscent expression as if recalling memories.

After a while, Idelin smiled brightly at the Count.

“Right?”

“W-what are you talking about?”

“Oh my, don’t you remember?”

“Erm, I’m not sure.”

“There’s no helping it. Then I’ll vividly explain what happened that night…”

“…I’m sorry.”

The Count immediately backed down.

He was known for rarely bowing to anyone except for the Emperor, but it was utterly useless in front of Idelin.

Looking like an ordinary couple.

Ivella couldn’t help but wear a subtle smile. Of course, as soon as she realized she was smiling, she returned to her original expression.

At that moment.

“Ivella.”

Suddenly, the Count called her name.

Ivella reflexively furrowed her brow, but she didn’t avert her gaze. Soon, the Count revealed the purpose of calling her.

“I would like to ask you something.”

“…What is it?”

“Did you properly give the pass I gave you to Ulan?”

She silently nodded.

Remembering clearly that she had handed it over before getting on the carriage after leaving the academy.

Meanwhile, upon Ivella’s response, the Count had an awkward expression. Curious now, Idelin suddenly spoke up.

“But why are you asking that all of a sudden?”

“Um, it’s not that, but I just received a report that the pass was used.”

“……!”

Ivella’s eyes widened.

The use of the pass meant that Ulan was on his way here. But the Count still wore an awkward expression.

“However, it’s quite an unexpected location…”

“W-where is it?”

“Southeast border area.”

Huh? The border?

Ivella was bewildered by the unexpected answer. But as the next words followed, her expression quickly hardened.

“It’s the closest place to Arpen Duchy, do you have any ideas what’s going on?”

The moment the Count’s question ended.

Her heart sank.

It was understandable. Upon hearing Arpen Duchy, only one thought crossed her mind.

‘No way…’

It can’t be. It must not be.

A feeling of unease washed over her, and she began to chew on her lips.

But the confusion wouldn’t settle down.

With the sense of something stuck in her chest, Ivella turned her gaze out of the window.

‘Ulan, why…’

Thoughts began swirling in her head.

Her turquoise eyes flickered like a candle’s flame reflected in tea.

Among all the various emotions flooding in—such as anxiety, embarrassment, confusion, and anger—one feeling burned the brightest.

It was none other than jealousy.

Chapter 37. Rescue