Chapter 153
Lea felt herself becoming anxious at the way things were progressing differently from the past.
“His Highness must have some other plan in mind.”
Every day, Calix would go out somewhere and return, having spent a considerable amount of energy. That’s why every night, she had no choice but to share a blanket with him.
To be honest, even though she could guide him just fine without having to physically touch, Lea liked being close to him, so she didn’t particularly stop him.
“He’ll be back soon.”
Lea hadn’t spent the whole day just sitting idly either. Since bad weather could lower the soldiers’ morale, she made sure to keep them active in various ways.
She had them set up traps in preselected locations, go into the nearby forest to gather firewood, and help the chef sort out perishable supplies. As she expected, some light work kept everyone mentally healthy.
And to help Calix, she had made a list of the Espers, noting not only their abilities but also their personal specialties, just in case.
While she passed the time like that, it soon became dark. Lea put on her robe and went outside her tent.
The allied camp looked so peaceful that it was hard to believe a war was going on. Passing by the soldiers gathered around the campfires chatting among themselves, she headed toward the direction Calix always returned from.
So much had changed from the past. Back then, everyone was sensitive and worn out, and they all avoided her.
Maybe it was because their Commander-in-Chief, Calix, had despised her, or after Lucy showed up and became the point of comparison, everyone shunned her even more.
You know, there are things so dirty that people don’t even want to touch them.
The more she stayed in this present that was both similar to and so different from the past, the stranger she felt. She silently prayed the outcome of the war would not change as she stood absentmindedly watching the snow fall harder and harder.
“Why are you out here?”
Without a sound, Calix appeared in front of her, scolding her, but pulled her into a warm embrace with a bright smile.
“See, your cheeks are already cold.”
His ungloved hands were warm. Without thinking, Lea pressed her cheek into his palm, rubbing against it gently. A soft laugh fell over the top of her head.
He lowered his head so that the hoods of their robes touched, rubbing his forehead gently against hers as he whispered, making sure no one else could hear.
“My lovely fox.”
She didn’t know why just those few words sounded so sweet. Lea thought again how lucky she was to have come back to life.
To see the gentle smile she had longed for so much, up close like this.
As if bewitched, she stared into his red eyes. But just then, Derek appeared from another direction with his squad.
“Commander!”
Derek rushed over and signaled behind him as he reported,
“We’ve captured a suspicious person.”
He also glanced at Lea with a strange look. Noticing this, Lea saw one of Derek’s men carrying someone over his shoulder.
The limp body suggested something was wrong. Worried, Lea tensed when she spotted the white hair slipping out from the robe.
“Does the person look like a soldier who slipped out of the enemy camp?”
“That’s the strange thing, she’s wearing a dress. Doesn’t seem like a soldier, but we can’t be sure. She might be trying something.”
“For now, lock her up with the other prisoners.”
“Yes!”
Calix wanted to wrap things up quickly and be alone with Lea. After giving his orders, he tried to take her hand and leave, but Lea didn’t move.
She stood there with her head lowered, looking as if she was hesitating about something. The only reason Calix could pick up on this was because they had spent so much time together that he could naturally sense her mood.
“Lea?”
“…Could I check that person’s face?”
“No. Even if she’s unconscious, you shouldn’t touch someone suspicious carelessly—”
“Please, Your Highness.”
Lea rarely asked for favors, so Calix felt a surge of jealousy toward this stranger he hadn’t even seen. But thinking there must be another reason, he agreed.
“Bring that person over here.”
At his order, the squad member carrying the mysterious figure brought her over to Calix and Lea. With a tense expression, he set the rabbit werebeast down.
In the process, the robe’s hood naturally fell back. Lea saw the girl’s face and went completely pale.
Images of Lucy from the past flashed before her, followed by the memory of encountering her in the back alley.
What was Lucy’s real identity? Was the person she knew the real one? Or was the fierce side she saw in the back alley the true Lucy?
With a confused expression, Lea knelt down and approached her. Then, without thinking, she grabbed Lucy’s bare hand.
“Lea!”
“My Lady!”
Startled, both Calix and Derek shouted, but Lea had to check for herself.
Was Lucy an Esper, a Guide, or did she have some other secret she didn’t know about?
If she could be a potential threat to Calix, Lea had to be sure.
As she tightly grasped Lucy’s small hand, Lea’s own palm began to sweat.
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