In the early dawn, where only a part of the sky was painted in a bluish hue, Euphemia carefully sat down on her bed and gazed out the window.
It had been four days since Ferzen said he would return soon, yet he had not done so.
Even for Euphemia, who didn't know much and was intentionally kept in the dark, she could sense that the chilling specter of war was slowly creeping into the bustling capital.
'What if...'
No, conjecturing what might happen would be meaningless. It was clear that if war broke out, Ferzen would undoubtedly be away from her side.
He had Brutein blood running through his veins and was an Apollyon-level warlock; it would be odd if he wasn't drafted.
Euphemia kept reminding herself that there was little to no chance of him dying because he was a talented and capable man, but... in war, survival was not guaranteed.
The purpose of her entire life had become centered on being his wife.
If that were to crumble, what would be the meaning of her existence?
A clock hand with no numbers to point to would have no significance at all.
"..."
Of course, a new meaning of life was waiting for her thanks to the child growing in her womb.
However, she doubted that this new meaning could completely fill the void she would feel if Ferzen were to die.
Euphemia noticed that even though she was only imagining it, the scales of her emotions were still fluctuating.
A sad expression crossed Euphemia's face as she gently massaged her belly.
"I am..."
Truly a bad mother.
However, as she prepared herself to embrace even this ugly side warmly, the sun rose in the sky, bathing Euphemia in its brilliant light.
Creak-!!
At that very moment, the door to the quiet bedroom opened.
Step-!!
From beyond the door, Ferzen, his face worn and weary, entered the room.
"Ah..."
"I'm back, Euphemia."
Euphemia turned her head toward the door and quickly hugged her lower abdomen, lifting herself up.
Startle-!!
However, as she got closer to Ferzen, the strong smell of tobacco assaulted her nose, making Euphemia instinctively flinch.
Her flinch was more than just a reaction to the tobacco smell. It was a defense mechanism arising from the maternal instincts of a pregnant woman.
Seeing her reaction, Ferzen let out a bitter laugh at his own lack of consideration.
He should have taken a bath before coming in. The fact that he hadn't even thought of it meant that he was truly out of his mind due to all the recent turmoil.
"I'm sorry."
Euphemia remained silent.
"I couldn't keep my promise to you."
As Ferzen apologized, he took a few steps away from her. However, Euphemia closed the distance again without realizing it and wrapped her arms around his body.
Her body strongly rejected the smell of tobacco mixed with his body odor.
But for some reason,
Euphemia couldn't bring herself to hate it.
"It's okay."
"..."
"I'm actually glad. Now I have you to nag at me."
The fact that Ferzen had quit smoking with just one promise was truly remarkable.
Euphemia had secretly hoped to catch him sneaking a smoke when she wasn't around or at work.
But he had kept his promise flawlessly, making him seem almost superhuman in her eyes.
That's why Euphemia found herself feeling even more affection for him when she saw him break his promise just this once.
"Shall we go… to the bathroom?"
"Are you sure?"
"Hn."
There were so many things she wanted to say to him.
She wanted to ask him to stay by her side and not go to war.
But she knew that it was an impossible request, something that couldn't and shouldn't happen.
So, she kept those words to herself.
After all, she didn't want to make him uncomfortable.
As someone who couldn't participate in the war, this was the most she could do for her husband who would soon be heading off to battle.
After Euphemia and Ferzen had a warm bath together and returned to their bed, she found solace in his arms.
She took his hands and placed them on her stomach, trying to convey the sense of a routine that didn't align with the current state of the Empire.
She wanted to make it seem as if the impending war was just a lie, to give Ferzen a taste of a peaceful daily life.
Ferzen, too, understood what she was doing.
Yet, he couldn't resist the comfort of this tranquil routine.
He knew he couldn't afford to be lulled into complacency, but the serenity that seeped into his mind temporarily pushed aside his worries, allowing him to drift into a peaceful slumber.
On the other hand, Euphemia watched Ferzen as he breathed evenly, her face nestled in his chest as she closed her eyes.
'Please... come back to me safely.'
Euphemia still hadn't heard the reason why he loved her.
For that reason, she hoped that he wouldn't disappear, leaving that reason as an eternal secret.
She held Ferzen's hand and silently pleaded for his safe return.
* * * * *
"..."
Ferzen's eyes, which had been tightly shut, slowly opened.
What met his gaze was not the bright noon sunlight but the reddish glow of the setting sun. He couldn't determine how long he had been asleep, but his entire body felt stiff.
Yet, in his mind, there was a sense of renewed clarity. The complex thoughts that had plagued him earlier had now settled.
Rustle-!!
Turning his head, he saw that Euphemia still slumbered soundly, her grip on his left arm undisturbed.
As he recalled a similar experience with Yuriel at the Imperial Palace, a small smile played on his lips.
'That's right...'
Though the memory brought a smile, Ferzen had another matter to discuss with Yuriel.
Carefully disentangling his left arm from Euphemia's grasp, he slipped out of bed.
After straightening his attire, he left the room, closing the door as quietly as possible to avoid waking up Euphemia, and made his way to the hallway.
Before long, he found Yuriel giving instructions to her maids.
It appeared they were preparing the mansion for a long period of vacancy due to the impending war.
"Yuriel."
"Ah…."
Yuriel turned to him when he softly called her, and her maids also paused their work.
"You… are awake?"
"Let's go somewhere. I have something to tell you."
Yuriel hesitated briefly but ultimately nodded and began to follow Ferzen as he walked ahead.
In the mansion's backyard, Ferzen observed the garden Euphemia had tirelessly cultivated before he began to speak.
"The war will begin soon."
"...I've heard about it from my grandfather's servant."
"Is that so?"
"Yes."
She had heard more than just that, but Yuriel opted not to mention the other details. There was no point in adding unnecessary words to a situation that could no longer be changed.
"You are taking your time to tell me, unlike your usual self."
"..."
"It's not that I'm not afraid of war. But, you once said it with your own mouth."
"..."
"The safest place in this world is by your side."
Yuriel Wayne Dana Alfred.
She was a young woman who had achieved Euclid-level mastery in elemental magic.
Her talent was beyond a shadow of a doubt, and it would be foolish not to draft her into the war, given the nation's high stakes.
"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't afraid… But, as long as I'm with you, I'll be fine."
Contrary to popular belief, the corpses controlled by warlocks didn't tire. Their nature made them ideal for rear troops tasked with supplying front-line soldiers.
However, the front line, a place where countless corpses piled up, was where warlocks could truly demonstrate their might.
As such, only low-ranking warlocks or those with influential connections were assigned to the rear.
In Ferzen's case, particularly considering his lineage as the descendant of Brutein, the likelihood of him being assigned to the rear was exceedingly low.
'...I'm rather glad.'
Most elemental wizards with immense firepower were part of the Imperial Magic Corps and were usually sent to the front lines, which meant, even if it was perilous, Yuriel could stay in the same vicinity as Ferzen.
"Yuriel."
However, Ferzen delivered a statement that completely upended her expectations.
"You've been assigned to the rear supply unit."
"What… What are you talking about…?"
"No one will be able to contest this decision."
Not even Yuriel herself.
"What are you talking about? Why?"
Flustered, Yuriel tried to inquire who had made this decision, her voice trembling. But, in reality, she knew better than anyone.
It was clear that he had personally arranged for her to be stationed at the rear.
"Don't be ridiculous… Don't fuck with me..."
Yuriel raised her voice, clutching the hem of her skirt tightly.
Rumble-!!
Simultaneously, an enormous curtain of flames spread across the sky, unmistakably displaying what an Euclid-class elemental wizard was capable of.
Since it was magic fueled by a staggering amount of mana, the curtain's size was vast enough to shroud the sky above the mansion.
"D-Don't underestimate me..."
"..."
"Just because I've been affectionate and dependent on you in your arms doesn't mean I'm weak enough to warrant this kind of consideration."
She wished for him to see her not as Yuriel, his wife, but as Yuriel, the elemental wizard.
As she spoke these words, she exhaled with fury.
"You saw it, didn't you?"
Even when she just wanted a brief respite, she couldn't contain herself.
"My sister… You saw how she died! If you fall on the battlefield… How do you think my family will treat me for not bearing your child? So please, don't do this.
Where is the man who once declared that being in his vicinity was the safest place one could be and that he would shield his wives from all the dangers of the world?
As if he might die on the battlefield as if he couldn't even protect his beloved wives! Don't reveal your vulnerability by underestimating not only me but yourself as well."
In the course of her protracted speech, Yuriel finally quivered with teary eyes and lowered her head.
On the other hand, Ferzen, who had been silently observing her, finally opened his lips to respond.
"I'm not underestimating you or me, Yuriel."
"Then why?"
People often likened war to a game of chess. However, if they truly did so, they should modify the rules of chess.
A pawn, which could be considered just an ordinary soldier, could only capture another pawn.
Knights, Bishops, and the rest… depending on the situation, should be capable of capturing numerous chess pieces at once.
Hence, regardless of how strategic one side's move might be, there was always the chance that the other side would counter with their own move.
That's right if the rules were changed into that.
The person who would inevitably face Gremory Eldin Ishtar Elmark would be him.
This meant the most dangerous place on the battlefield was around him.
Once that happened, Ferzen didn't have the confidence to continue the fight while caring for Yuriel.
She was not actually weak.
She wouldn't die from being hit by a stray arrow.
However, what if she was targeted by the enemy's magician?
Gremory Elden Ishtar Elmark might set her as a target before facing him.
Making her worry about such a thing might not be of any use.
So he could only continue his pretense by telling lies that were pleasant to hear, but…
Ferzen was certain he would consider all these variables.
His focus was not on winning the war; it was the survival of a woman named Yuriel.
That's why,
"If you are around me… I will become infinitely weaker, Yuriel."
Because he was afraid of losing her.
"Rather than being helpful to me on the battlefield, you will become a heavy burden."
It might come off as selfish and cruel.
However, Ferzen continued his words calmly.
"You just said that you want me to see you, not as my wife but as an elemental wizard."
That's why
Yuriel.
No,
Yuriel Wayne Dana Luerg.
"I want you to not see me as Brutein's legitimate son and an Apollyon-class warlock… Look at me as your husband."
"..."
"As your husband, I… I am not as strong as you think."
"..."
"I'm just a weak coward who trembles in fear of losing you."
So, could you please overlook this coward's cowardice?
Yes, Ferzen was 'asking' Yuriel for the first time.
Having known him for a long time, Yuriel was able to hear his true intentions…
Flinch-!
Step by step, she walked towards him and hit his chest with her delicate arms.
"You're cowardly…! Bastard…! Moron…!"
"..."
From his words, she heard this:
How could you be more stubborn?
Yuriel could only feel resentful toward Ferzen, who blocked her retreat and made her unable to move.
"You should be ashamed…! Ferzen! Ferzen von Schweig Louerg…!"
As she shed more tears, Yuriel clutched Ferzen's collar and shook his shoulders.
Ferzen then took her into his arms without saying a word.
At first, Yuriel struggled roughly to resist it…
But before long, he was left with nothing but a woman letting out her pitiful cry.
And as if to soothe her, Ferzen's hand started to brush Yuriel's long black hair softly.
Whenever he looked at the woman who had made him consider his every move, he felt a range of emotions that he could not quite put into words…
At least, one thing was certain.
Ferzen did not regret being such a coward.