### Chapter 341
Kraush returned safely to Rahern Academy.
Before he knew it, January had passed, and February was just around the corner.
Rahern Academy was currently in its break period.
Of course, there were no classes, but students were busy training.
Recently, the situation in the world felt strange.
The world’s strongest nation, the Empire, was being invaded by the World Eroders.
Naturally, the entire world was now under a state of war alert.
Rahern Academy had many students from noble families.
As a result, the students were naturally influenced by this situation.
There was an unspoken thought among them that after graduating from Rahern Academy, they might face the World Eroders.
Amidst everyone’s intense training,
Kraush found himself quietly kneeling in front of a woman.
Sitting across from him was a girl with long, white hair.
With a noticeable hairpin in her hair and a ring on her finger, she quietly looked down at Kraush.
Really, who could have imagined Kraush kneeling before anyone?
Even Kraush never thought it would come to this.
But today, he absolutely had to kneel.
“About Haring…”
Bianca opened her mouth.
At those words, Kraush lowered his head even more.
The two had recently gotten married.
So they were very much in that newlywed phase.
Of course, having spent time together,
being newlyweds didn’t mean they were doing something particularly special.
After all, the flow of the world didn’t exactly allow for it.
Bianca was well aware of this.
Yet, in the midst of their honeymoon phase,
Kraush had just informed her about his relationship with Haring.
And after that, he had to deal with the affairs related to the Poseus Kingdom and now finally faced Bianca.
How should Bianca interpret this situation?
Naturally, it was a scenario that would understandably make her furious.
“Am I not enough for you, Kraush?”
Bianca asked expressionlessly.
Her expression today was impossible to read.
“…That’s not true.”
Kraush firmly refuted Bianca’s words.
He certainly didn’t feel inadequate with Bianca.
Upon hearing Kraush’s words, Bianca fell silent for a moment.
That silence made Kraush feel quite tense.
“I won’t say much about it now since I brought this on myself.”
Bianca stood up from her seat.
Then she threw herself into Kraush’s arms, where he was still kneeling.
As Kraush caught her, she leaned her head against his chest.
“I just wanted to be a bit petulant.”
But hey, she’s still his wife.
With Bianca fulfilling her role as a wife, Kraush couldn’t help but smile wryly.
“I’m sorry.”
“You don’t have to apologize. I know you’re doing your best.”
Kraush had pushed everyone else away for Bianca.
In reality, until Bianca gave her consent, he had repeatedly pushed them away.
Bianca had observed that process closely.
If he had wanted her to be the sole focus, he would have rejected Haring this time too.
Kraush always prioritized his own intentions.
Knowing that, Bianca allowed his relationship with others.
“Kraush, as I said before, I want you to have many people by your side.”
The world Kraush was involved in was becoming increasingly dangerous.
And he would need many people around him to face that danger.
Kraush willingly walked into danger.
Thus, he needed those who could support him against it.
It was heartbreaking, but Bianca understood that on her own, she wouldn’t be enough.
“And I learned that nothing can get as deep as love.”
Bianca spoke from her heart because she loved Kraush.
Nothing could match the depth of commitment one could offer for the one they loved.
“Those surrounding you love you in their own ways.”
Bianca could feel the love of those around him because they loved Kraush the most.
They didn’t ask for much.
Even while being greedy, they prioritized Kraush above all else.
Knowing that, Bianca could allow others to get close to Kraush just like herself.
Those who gravitated toward Kraush would surely support him.
And she knew Kraush would ensure none of them felt left out.
“So I hope those people continue to stay by your side.”
Love cannot be one-sided and last forever.
In the end, someone who only gives will wear out eventually.
Bianca didn’t want them to leave Kraush’s side like that.
“I’m all for Haring. Well done.”
Haring would be a great help to Kraush in the future.
The profound love Haring held for Kraush would never betray him, no matter what happened.
Bianca understood that and welcomed the relationship with Haring.
“I talked to Haring while you were away. She kept apologizing, and I told her it was fine.”
Had that been the case?
Kraush, who hadn’t been aware of that part, pulled Bianca in for a hug.
Feeling her soft hair and body against him, Kraush felt something warm inside.
“Thank you. Bianca, meeting you is my fortune.”
“Sure is.”
Bianca raised her nose proudly.
Then she looked up and kissed Kraush.
“So please treasure me. As long as I have you, I’m fine.”
Treasure her?
As Kraush nuzzled her cheek, Bianca grinned widely.
Regardless of everything else, marrying her was the best decision he’d ever made.
Kraush could brag about that to anyone.
After that, Kraush spent an entire day with Bianca.
Even though they were newlyweds, he hadn’t done much for her, so he thought he should at least spend a day together.
Bianca showered him with affection she usually wouldn’t.
Kraush gladly accepted it all.
The next day, as Kraush was being seen off by Bianca,
he had to leave Rahern Academy once more.
Even Kraush thought this attendance record was pitiful.
But heading to the exploration group, Sephira, Kraush’s head felt a bit hazy.
It was because he was reminded of what Bianca had said while nestled in his arms at night.
“Well, other than that, I want to have children first.”
Children.
It was a topic he had never even considered.
Kraush scratched the back of his head.
He hadn’t really thought about the future after withstanding ruin.
He was too busy saving the world.
There just wasn’t time to think about what was next.
But now that he had heard Bianca’s words,
Kraush briefly envisioned a future after he had faced ruin.
Could such a world really come to be?
As of now, he didn’t know.
To Kraush, the destruction of the world was a trauma.
He had never been able to see beyond that future.
‘Then I need to make it visible.’
Kraush clenched his fist.
It was something his wife desired.
He had to make it happen, no matter what.
“You’re in a hurry. You’re going to come say hi to your fiancée, right?”
At that moment, Kraush saw someone appear on his path.
With sea-colored hair and amber eyes,
Kraush immediately thought of her name.
The Empire’s fourth princess, Sigrid Ephania.
The fiancée whom the Empire and Holy Royal Family had carelessly arranged.
Faced with Sigrid, Kraush wore an awkward expression.
It was because he couldn’t help but remember when she had unexpectedly shoved her lips at him.
“You.”
Sigrid smiled at Kraush, lightly pressing her lips together.
“What’s it that you want again?”
Kraush felt the urge to give her a playful slap on the head.
“If you want, I’ll do it a hundred times. But let’s save it for when you actually want it.”
Sigrid walked up to Kraush.
“You’re thinking of heading to Sephira?”
“Yeah.”
Having already gathered some intel, Kraush nodded.
Seeing this, Sigrid rummaged through her pockets.
“I have a good bargaining chip with Princess Seirang Sephira. I’m here to share that with you, so take it.”
Then Sigrid pulled out an envelope.
Kraush blinked in surprise, and then he accepted the letter.
As he glanced down at the letter, he slyly asked Sigrid,
“Is this the story from Seirang’s novel?”
“Huh? You knew?”
At Kraush’s words, Sigrid looked surprised.
Of course he knew.
He’d already traded information based on it.
Sigrid didn’t expect him to know and looked a bit disappointed.
“I thought it’d be nifty information that you’d find useful. Since you already know, I guess it’s of no use now.”
But considering she brought it here for him, Kraush felt a bit thankful.
“It would have been useful information otherwise.”
“Yeah, who would’ve guessed that the princess of Sephira was the author of the erotic novel ‘Regret, Obsession, Deprivation.’”
Thud!
At that moment, Kraush’s pocket suddenly went haywire.
Sigrid turned to look at it too, startled by the turmoil in his pocket.
Seeing this, Kraush reached in to investigate.
There was a dead rat at the bottom of his pocket.
The corpse rat from Ebelasque.
“Squeak, squeak…”
The dead rat trembled as it stood up slowly.
“Ebelasque?”
When Kraush called her name, the rat looked up at him and wailed.
“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?!”
Kraush winced at the yelling from the rat.
How the heck could a dead rat produce such a loud cry?
As Kraush frowned at the rat, it continued to tremble.
“The author of ‘Regret, Obsession, Deprivation’ is the princess of Sephira?!…”
Suddenly it made sense; Ebelasque was an avid fan.
She was particularly fond of reading erotic novels.
And one of those novels she liked happened to have Seirang as the author.
Her shocked expression showed she was deeply affected by the realization.
“I knew she was a woman, but… I loved reading it so much…”
[ Tsk, tsk, you keep going on about erotic novels and wonder why your ‘erotic pocket’ keeps getting bigger. You could just experience it for yourself. ]
Kraush ignored the playful harassment from Crimson Garden.
“Ebelasque, why not just meet her and have a conversation?”
It’s not like he hadn’t told her outright.
Since he was about to meet Seirang, he suggested she have a direct chat with her.
At that, the rat froze like it had been hit by lightning.
“Ah, ah, meet the author?!”
Seeing the rat acting all overly dramatic, Kraush casually shoved it back into his pocket.
“I’ll be back.”
“See ya, have a good trip.”
Sigrid waved as she saw Kraush off.
It was time to head toward Sephira.
