Chapter 174
Lea dressed herself and returned to her own tent. Sitting at the small desk, she wrote a letter and then activated her bracelet. The letter on her hand disappeared with a soft sound.
The letter’s content was a request to investigate the current situation in the imperial palace and Bianca’s recent activities. She was also curious if the truth about the pregnancy had been revealed.
“Should I ask them to look into that person, too?”
If possible, she wished the guild run by the Empress would collapse during the war. She didn’t know exactly who had invested in the group when it was founded, but it seemed to be someone extremely wealthy, and that made her uneasy.
Still unable to sleep, she pondered these things and eventually fell asleep at her desk without realizing it. In the quiet room, where only her soft breathing could be heard, someone entered.
“So you came back here.”
The one who had come looking for her was none other than Calix. After returning to his own tent and seeing the empty bed, he had suddenly felt chilled.
Worried that someone sent by the Empress might have harmed her, he immediately used his power. He was able to find her location just from the sound of her breathing.
“Don’t disappear all of a sudden in the middle of the night. You’ll make people worry.”
After a short scolding to her sleeping form, he was reminded of the man whose hand had been cut off. Derek had interrogated that man afterward, though ‘interrogation’ hardly described it. Derek had easily extracted the information.
He didn’t know much, but it was certain the Empress had planted quite a few spies among the soldiers. If there was a silver lining, it was that most were low-ranked Espers.
But to call it a silver lining was ambiguous.
“She really is a ruthless woman. To send spies with the intention of killing her own daughter.”
If she had meant to harm Calix, she wouldn’t have sent such second-rate Espers.
“You don’t need to know about things like that. Just stay prettily by my side, like now.”
Calix gently lifted the sleeping Lea from the desk with the power of wind. Spinning her softly in the air, he cradled her in his arms and gazed down at her for a moment.
Sleeping so peacefully, Lea didn’t actually look gentle. Her eyes slanted up slightly, and if she had no expression, she could seem aloof.
But whenever she looked at him, her expression changed instantly. Those slanted eyes curved gently, and lips that had seemed emotionless softened.
She would never know how much that difference moved his heart.
Before dawn broke, Calix wanted to fill his eyes with Lea before heading out. He did not intend to include Guides in this sortie.
“I’ll be back as soon as I can. So wait quietly for me.”
* * *
Lea’s eyes fluttered open beneath a warm blanket.
“……?”
The bright sunlight filling the tent made it clear it was already past wake-up time.
As she got up, she tried to remember when she had lain down on the bed, but couldn’t recall. In any case, since Calix had disappeared at dawn, she assumed an order had come down and hurried outside.
“You’re awake?”
The Esper soldier standing guard in front of her tent greeted her cheerfully.
“…Good morning.”
“Yes, good morning.”
Lea quickly noticed that the atmosphere in the camp was different from usual. The soldier, seeing her puzzled look, quietly explained.
“At dawn, the entire unit deployed. His Highness ordered that they depart without letting the enemy prisoners or Guides know.”
“Then, does that mean only the prisoners and Guides are left here?”
“About ten soldiers have stayed behind to guard the camp, of course. There’s no need to worry. The barracks where the prisoners are held are under strict surveillance, too.”
“I see…”
“It’s cold, so please stay inside. I’ll bring you breakfast.”
“Yes, please do.”
At her polite reply, the soldier looked like he wanted to say something more, then blushed and left. Lea returned inside and sat on her bed.
Her feelings were complicated. She had thought Calix would wake her before he left.
“He could have gotten some guiding before going…”
She’d guided him plenty the night before, but she still worried about the coming battle. Even though she knew better than anyone how strong he was, she couldn’t help but feel anxious.
Lea prayed that today’s battle would end in safe victory.
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