Chapter 204

Chapter 204

“Iona?”

“We only need the culprit that brought this situation. There’s no reason for others to suffer because of them.”

There was silence in the office. I felt it and looked up and two of them were staring at me.

“W, what?”

“No, I just thought that saintess is your natural job even though you don’t like it.”

“I also feel that way.”

They were speaking to nonchalantly that I was flustered.

“W, what are you talking about! I just want to avoid wasting time. Soon the moon will come together and winter will come.”

As I rambled on, Ridrian scoffed and lifted his finger.

“One week.”

“Pardon?”

“I’ll end this war in a week.”

“Rian?”

I was so surprised that I called his nickname. Raven also seemed surprised that he kept fixing his glasses.

“Your Majesty, it’ll take three days just to switch horses and go at full speed.”

“Even an estate has a magic cirlcle, you don’t think their capital wouldn’t?”

“Ah!”

I exclaimed at his claim. I didn’t even think about that. Who would’ve thought that we would use the magic circle within their own land? The name of saintess and its acknowledged savior’s influence was astronomical.

“It’ll take time to defuse their defense magic.”

“That’s on you. I’ll give you until the conference is over. We’ll advance the moment the conference is over.”

I could see in real time how Raven’s face was getting darker. Even though I wasn’t too familiar with magic, I could tell it wasn’t easy work.

It seemed like Rian’s image of tyrant wasn’t just because he was strict. I felt it while I was working as a secretary, but Ridrian’s work style was ‘I’m going, you need to follow somehow.’

‘That’s why the turnover is so high.’

“T, three days is a little….”

“The saintess wants to return as quickly as possible. I also hate winter.”

“I never said that!”

I shouted as I wasn’t wrongfully accused.

Raven seemed like he was in a bit of panic for a moment. But he soon regained his composure as this wasn’t the first time something like this has happened. He even looked determined.

“Will do. I’ll prepare accordingly.”

The next day, main officers from capital arrived with immense amount of resources, and the next the officers from Lucretia arrived. Then the next time, the most useless conference took its place.

Of course the result was no agreement.

***

It was the dawn of the day we decided to advance. The dawn air was noticeably colder.

“…. Rian?”

I realized Rian was awake. He was leaning against the head of the bed while thinking.

His eyes curved and smiled as he heard my voice. I could feel the warmth of his eyes.

“Did I wake you? Go back to bed.”

“It’s ok. You’re advancing today.”

I rubbed the sleep off my eyes and got off the bed sluggishly.

“What were you thinking about?”

“It’s nothing.”

He flinched at my question and then looked away. Usually I’d be the one who wouldn’t finish my sentence, so I was curious when Ridrian did it.

“Why, is it something I shouldn’t know? You used to tell all the top secret stuff.”

As I pretended to be upset to see his reaction, Ridrian was very flustered.

“T, that’s!”

“That’s?”

As I latched onto his words, his ears went red. What is it? Why is he reacting like this? Wasn’t it because he just wanted to chat?

He hesitated for a bit and admitted the truth.

“… You seemed like a real doll.”

“Pardon?”

“I was testing whether you’re a live person. It felt like you wouldn’t react to this.”

“Pardon?”

I kept asking as I wasn’t sure if I heard him right.  He told me all those cruel secrets while I was acting like a doll just do see my reaction? I wasn’t sure whether I should be happy or angry.

“I wasn’t hiding it on purpose. It’s just…”

He sighed for a moment and then started talking.

“I was just worried about leaving you with men while I’m not here.”

“Pardon?”

He was frowning. He started complaining as if he really didn’t like it.

“Like that stupid crusader and Ravis, and even the lord of Vanmon they all look rather good… Iona, you said you like me because of my handsome face.”

I was wondering what he was talking about. I was stunned for a moment and then started chuckling because he was cute.

“You were worried about that?”

“Yes, you can laugh at me all you want. I never thought I had to worry about something like this.”

“What do you mean laugh at you? I’m laughing because I’m happy.”

I looked at him and smiled.

“You don’t have to worry. There’s no one more handsome than you in this world.”

“… Really?”

His ears went completely red as he was happy to hear that I like him the most in this world.

‘Rian is this world’s main character. Of course Rian would be the most handsome in this world.’

It seemed like it was more of a smitten reaction than fact but whatever. I was happy about his worry so I walked towards my locker while humming.

‘Would he like it?’

I gave him what I made past few days with Lina’s guidance.

“… Iona, this is?”

He took the odd looking doll I gave him. It was a doll that I made of myself with me poking my fingers dozens of times.

‘Instead of a picture.’

I heard that there’s a magical object that can put in a video, but it was hard to find it during a war. So I thought hard and this was the solution I came up with.

“You asked me to give you something I made.”