We were just about to reach the flood-prone area after crossing over the rocky mountains.
“The sun is setting.”
“If we enter the jungle at night, we’re likely to get lost. Royal Princess, what will you do?”
Acella immediately made a judgment and issued a command.
“Set up camp. We’ll camp here.”
Following the order, the knights began to erect tents.
Since we were in the southern region, the temperature didn’t drop much even at night. A few campfires were enough.
Seeing the Moonlight Palace Knights efficiently manage enemy surveillance, provisions, and camping preparation even in such remote areas, I felt their training was truly commendable.
Even in this environment, Acella had the head maid preparing a bath and a place to sleep for her. It’s only natural for royalty.
“Doctor!”
As I was preparing for the night sitting in front of the campfire, Lishe’s face suddenly came into view.
“Aren’t you joining the Royal Princess?”
Lishe plopped down beside me.
“I’ll tend to her health before she sleeps. There’s a manual for external activities.”
“Impressive. You’re the attending physician, right? Just for the Royal Princess?”
“Exactly. I manage her health personally.”
Lishe clapped her hands together.
“How fortunate! The Royal Princess must feel secure. By the way, who helps you?”
“I have to take care of myself.”
“Really? Ah, then can I help you sleep well at night? I’m good at putting cows to sleep.”
“Suddenly?”
“Ah, um… since you’re such an elegant person, I thought this sleeping arrangement might not be to your liking.”
“Haha.”
“Uh, was that rude…?”
Lishe’s free-spirited ideas were amusing.
In the future, I felt more familiar with her after we rolled through the mud together. But here, perhaps I looked like a noble, making her feel some distance.
“I’d like to know how to help with a good night’s sleep.”
“Hmm… like this.”
Without a warning, Lishe moved close and wrapped her arms around me. She opened her palm and gently patted my back.
“Well done, well done.”
Her warm body heat spread through my back.
Certainly, raising body temperature helps with sleep. It’s why drinking warm tea or taking a hot shower to relax muscles is often recommended before bed.
“How about it?”
Snore.
“Hey, don’t joke around.”
“Cows sleep like this?”
“Absolutely.”
Lishe sparkled with innocent enthusiasm.
I smiled and said, “It’s okay. I can sleep well even on the bare ground.”
“Really? Hmm, I was wondering if I should help you since I’ve been receiving so much assistance….”
“The important roles, I’ll ask for later. Only the hero can draw the Holy Sword.”
“You mentioned that. I still don’t know why I’m the hero, but leave it to me. I’ll do my best to help others like you, Teacher!”
I could feel Lishe’s enthusiasm bubbling over.
“Lars.”
Then I heard a voice as cold as ice calling me.
When I turned my head, Acella was crossing her arms, looking down at Lishe and me.
“Yes, Royal Princess.”
Acella’s eyes glanced toward Lishe with mild annoyance before tilting her chin up.
“The sleeping arrangements are ready. How long are you planning to make me wait?”
“Sleeping arrangements? Do you plan to sleep together?”
“Of course, that’s obvious.”
Acella leaned down and gently brushed her fingertips against my chin.
“We’re betrothed, after all.”
“Still, you said you wouldn’t sleep together for a while…”
“Come if I call.”
Acella succinctly stated what she had to say and turned to enter the tent.
I have to follow the orders, after all. I lightly greeted Lishe and then followed Acella inside.
*
“Huff.”
Once inside the tent, Acella clicked her tongue in nervousness.
Hero, ever since Lishe came, the plan had gone awry, and nothing was going as it should.
Of course, the plan was about Lars.
‘I wasn’t even thinking of doing this today.’
After confessing to him, Acella had been actively appealing her feminine charm to Lars.
If she had to compare herself to an image, it would be like a proud leopard.
Though they were betrothed, he was someone she didn’t want to be easily obtained; more than anything, she wanted to be seen that way by Lars.
That direction hadn’t even occurred to her by herself; it was thanks to Tanya’s advice.
It was unimaginable for a princess of the Empire to shamelessly tempt a man first—something she had never even imagined doing in her life.
Yet she wanted him so much that she had decided to set her sights lower.
The strategy was somewhat working. Lars’s reactions were becoming more varied than before.
Until that annoying hero appeared.
‘Lars befriending the hero will happen in no time.’
Acella was well aware of that possibility.
Every time she used her Clairvoyance, the two of them appeared closer than any party member could be in the hero’s party.
No, they might be more than just mere comrades.
Acella believed there was no friendship between men and women.
Although they were still using formal language toward each other, she couldn’t let her guard down.
Had it not been for the Emperor’s command, she would have considered keeping Lars away from the hero altogether.
“Ugh.”
She couldn’t help but sigh at the thought of them shoulder to shoulder, supporting each other.
Then she unwittingly became anxious and her heart grew frantic.
She forgot about the aloof image she wanted to project to Lars.
‘…At this rate.’
Wouldn’t she seem like a fool, desperately clinging on?
People generally don’t desire what easily comes into their hands.
It’s only when something dangles just out of reach that one becomes desperate.
Acella had been adept at navigating such psychology when dealing with nobles.
Having already confessed, she felt as if she had been defeated once by Lars.
Acella didn’t want an answer from him. She needed to make him confess properly to her.
She believed that was the only way she could be loved.
“Royal Princess.”
Perhaps lost in thought, Acella hadn’t even noticed the sound of footsteps approaching the tent.
She took a deep breath and replied.
“…Come in.”
Lars pulled back the fabric and stepped inside.
He looked slightly worried.
“I have arrived. The sounds inside won’t leak outside, right?”
“The soundproofing magic is in place. Why?”
“Since you mentioned something you hadn’t planned, I was wondering if there was something you wanted to keep secret from outside. Like, perhaps you weren’t feeling well.”
Acella’s jealousy melted away at his concern.
His usual dedicated attitude as the attending physician was quite… what should she say? Consistent to the point of eliciting a grin.
At the same time, she confirmed that he had no feelings for the hero as a romantic interest.
She didn’t even think for a second that she was feeling jealous of the hero.
“I need to handle this wisely. Just as I am as the Royal Princess,” she thought, her eyes narrowing slightly.
“It’s as you think. It’s not a secret, but it wouldn’t be good if it got out. I suppose I’m tired from the mountain hike; my arms and legs hurt.”
“I apologize for not noticing. The master’s weaknesses can decrease the unit’s morale, after all. It was a correct judgment. If you sit down, I’ll check on you.”
Acella flopped on the makeshift bed, lifting her slender arm. Lars naturally sat beside her, gently stretching and pressing her arm.
“Does it hurt here?”
“A little.”
“Seems like you’ve used muscles you’re not accustomed to. Let’s put on some patches and use some Healing Spells.”
“Um… can you give me a massage too?”
Lars tilted his head, surprised at the unexpected request.
“A massage? Where did you hear that?”
“Where is there a place my ears don’t reach? Lauga has been getting that ‘dieting procedure’ often, you know.”
Acella had heard the rumors as well.
Lauga was the VIP in the Inner Palace of the Moonlight Palace faction; she would spend lavishly on all sorts of procedures and supplements that promised beauty.
“Indeed. However, massage procedures are usually handled by nurses.”
“You know how to do it too.”
Acella unbuttoned the top two buttons of her nightgown, slightly exposing her shoulders and back, and leaned over the bed like a seductive beast just before sleep.
“Hurry.”
“Of course, if you need it, I should help.”
Lars quickly prepared a warm, wet towel.
He gently wiped Acella’s back and shoulders, arranging her shining golden hair to the side.
In that moment, Acella felt an odd sensation as if her hair was tingling.
Every touch from Lars made every cell in her body extraordinarily sensitive.
‘…What a shame.’
How did she, who should be ruling the Empire, slip into such an inefficient feeling?
Even right at this moment.
…She felt she might burst if she looked directly at his face.
Leaning back was indeed a wise choice, Acella sighed in relief.
“If it hurts, please let me know.”
Lars’s firm grip transmitted warmth through the towel.
As he pressed her shoulders and back, he made her muscles pleasantly relax.
Even her arms, which she had faked pain in, received his thorough attention.
As Acella nearly dozed off, she fought hard to keep her eyes open.
‘…Ah.’
When his hands touched the back of her neck.
“Eek.”
Strangely, an odd sensation tickled her ear, causing Acella to involuntarily hunch her shoulders.
“Oh no, did that hurt? There’s no injury, but you could be experiencing early symptoms of a herniated disc since you read so many books. We’ll need to do a detailed examination later.”
“…Let’s get some sleep.”
“Yes. Since we must move early again tomorrow, it’s best to sleep.”
Acella couldn’t bear to lift her head and pointed to the floor with her finger.
“Sleep there.”
“Very well.”
Lars prepared his towel and clothes and gently covered Acella with a blanket.
He then spread his blanket on the floor and added one parting comment.
“Royal Princess, I’ve wanted to tell you this for a while.”
“What is it?”
“Your ears are cute.”
Acella buried her head into her pillow.
*
The next morning, an early-rising Acella stepped out of the tent to survey the camp.
Thanks to the thorough training, the Moonlight Palace was excellent. There were no gaps in the sentry, including those on night watch, and the attendants were already preparing breakfast for the knights.
“Oh, Royal Princess! Good morning!”
However, it seemed the hero Lishe was mixed among the attendants, cooking away.
Acella approached curiously, puzzled by the unusual sight.
A good aroma wafted up from the stew pot that Lishe was stirring, enticing her nose.
“Did you make this?”
“Yes! Please have a taste.”
Lishe scooped a bit of stew into a tasting bowl and handed it to Acella.
Acella found herself speechless at Lishe’s easy-going innocence. No matter how heroic she was, wasn’t it a bit rude to display such ease when facing the princess of a nation?
“Why did you cook?”
“Huh? Oh, since everyone was busy working hard from early morning. I thought I’d help.”
Someone in a higher position should make the lower ones serve them. There was no reason to step in to help them.
Acella could not comprehend Lishe’s actions based on her logic.
‘But somehow, she doesn’t seem unpleasant.’
Perhaps this was part of the reason she was chosen as a hero and why she had become close to Lars, Acella mused.
Acella took the bowl and lightly moistened the tip of her mouth. The head maid gasped at her action.
With a light snort, Acella expressed her thoughts.
“It’s warm.”
“Right?”
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