Chapter 20: I Support You

Chapter 20: I Support You

Arthur, who wanted to say more, silently sighed upon hearing Airael’s remarks.

Seeing Arthur like this, Airael withdrew her playful smile and said, “Arthur, you really don’t need to worry so much. Before you have the power to change things, overthinking is just adding to your troubles!”

“If we don’t resolve this issue properly, then Malong Fortress will surely remain unbreached!”

This was his first time leading troops into battle, and Arthur didn’t want things to wrap up so hastily.

Call it selfish or whatever, but it was just the way things were.

“Then let it remain unbreached; we just need to do our best.”

Airael comforted the somewhat agitated Arthur.

“Besides, nothing is set in stone yet; anything could happen.”

“Ailia, what do you mean by that?”

Arthur looked at Airael and asked.

Airael smiled faintly, explaining, “Arthur, don’t you think General Komit wants to resolve the current situation too?”

“Of course he does, but even he might find it difficult to fix the problem we’re facing now.”

Though Komit was highly experienced, some people weren’t that far behind him.

Noticing Arthur’s pessimism, Airael gently furrowed her brows and inquired, “So what exactly is the issue?”

“Well, Ailia, General Komit wants to change our original plan—shifting from a multi-front assault to a concentrated effort on a key breakthrough.”

Airael nodded; that didn’t seem too problematic.

Today’s battle hadn’t gone well, so changing the strategy was quite normal.

“People haven’t said much about this, but the real problem lies ahead.”

“What’s that?”

Airael asked.

“If we’re going for a key breakthrough, we need a main attacker, in addition to someone to distract and draw fire for them…”

Hearing this, Airael began to grasp what he meant.

The problem most likely lay in choosing the main attacker and the supporting role.

The supporting role was clearly a thankless task—whoever was given that job wouldn’t want it.

Although the main attacker would also bear great pressure, it was clear that if they succeeded, the rewards would be substantial.

Winning meant both fame and fortune.

Moreover, as the main attacker, they would definitely acquire more resources in the upcoming allocation.

In other words, this had turned into an internal power struggle.

After Arthur finished speaking, things aligned perfectly with what Airael had expected.

“So, Arthur, do you want to be the main attacker or the supporting role?”

Airael looked at him and asked.

“If I can be the main attacker, then of course I want that,” Arthur answered decisively.

“Great, then I support you,” Airael said with a smile.

Arthur looked at her smile, revealing a faint grin of his own, “Ailia, thank you.”

This gratitude was not merely for her verbal support but for the inner encouragement she offered him.

“So what do you plan to give me in return?”

Airael unexpectedly took the chance to make a request, leaving Arthur momentarily stunned.

Then he began to ponder deeply.

Airael, with her big eyes, watched him eagerly.

After some time, Arthur looked back at her and asked, “Ailia, what do you want?”

Upon hearing this, Airael felt a twinge of disappointment.

She shouldn’t have had overly high hopes for something like this.

This guy really lacked any romantic genes.

While she didn’t possess many either, that didn’t mean she couldn’t dream of romance.

If given the chance, she still wanted a sprinkle of romance.

In this life and the next, this was her first time, and perhaps her last, falling in love.

So, the gift wasn’t what mattered the most to her.

She didn’t lack many things; what was truly important was the sentiment behind it.

Yet, at that moment, Airael was at a loss for words.

She indeed had things she wanted, and Arthur could certainly give them to her, but she just couldn’t bring herself to say it!

Besides, even if she expressed her desires, it wasn’t guaranteed they could be fulfilled.

If she had to say what she wanted most from Arthur right now, it would naturally be something to bear him an heir.

Unfortunately, she had already asked for that quite a few times with no satisfaction.

Now, it was Arthur’s turn to wait for Airael to speak.

He too felt a slight disappointment.

He realized he was quite a failure, unable to come up with a good gift, and now he had to ask the person directly.

While that might get him what she wanted, it completely changed the nature of things.

With that burning question left unspoken and other ideas refusing to come, Airael lightly furrowed her brows.

Arthur’s heart raced alongside hers.

After a little while, Airael suddenly relaxed her brows and looked at Arthur, saying, “How about this? You could give me a massage!”

“A massage?”

“Uh-huh!”

Airael nodded.

“How do I do that?”

Arthur felt a bit flustered all of a sudden.

This kind of thing he had only heard about; some men often went to places seeking massages.

“You don’t know how?”

“Nope.”

Arthur shook his head.

“Have you ever seen one?”

“Just heard about it.”

Airael found herself at a loss for words.

Should she say he was truly “pure”?

Though she hadn’t done a massage herself, she had at least seen it!

“How about this—just do whatever I say?”

After a moment’s thought, Airael decided not to let Arthur off so easily.

Thinking about how she was about to take away Arthur’s “first” made her feel quite accomplished.

“Alright.”

Arthur nodded, then stood still, waiting for her instructions.

Airael looked at Arthur still clad in his armor and said, “First, take off your armor. My little body can’t handle all that iron clanking around!”

“Uh—!”

Arthur was taken aback but obediently began to remove his armor.

Airael helped him on the side.

Before long, Arthur had shed his armor, leaving only a set of close-fitting clothes that concealed his well-built body.

As she gazed at him, a hint of envy sparkled in Airael’s eyes.

This guy really had a great physique!

In every sense of the word!

“Ailia, what’s next?”

Seeing Ailia lost in thought, Arthur asked.

Snapped back to reality, Airael’s face flushed a stunning red.

“Why don’t we eat dinner first?”

She feared she’d lose control later on.

Once ignited, it’s tough to extinguish!