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As Johan and Rudella neared the end of their week-long journey toward Sanburgh, the Imperial family sensed something amiss and hurriedly dispatched Public Affairs Officers and Knights.

They had sent several letters, but all communication had been cut off from that side.

Thus, the scouting party was formed.

The new Second Public Affairs Officer’s Deputy Head, Ricard, along with many others, was part of this initiative, volunteering to rescue Johan.

“Root, this should be the right place, but it’s troubling.”

Ricard, riding at the forefront and scanning the surroundings, spoke up. The heavy rains of the past few days had erased all traces of movement.

“For now, let’s proceed. We’re getting closer to Sanburgh, crossing the border. If communication has ceased, something must be going on.”

At the words of the Public Affairs Officer beside him, Ricard nodded and refocused on the search.

However, there was no significant result. Not even the sensing-type Wizards could find anything.

Just then.

Clop clop!

A Knight who had gone ahead to scout the way returned.

“Deputy Head, the bridge connecting the cliffs has been blown up.”

“The bridge has been blown up?”

Ricard’s expression hardened. A sense of foreboding crawled up his neck.

“Move out! All troops! Charge at full speed to the bridge!”

– Yes!

With each gallop, the armor and helmet clanged fiercely. Above was a golden flag flapping, indicating they hailed from the Rogino Empire.

Upon arriving at the bridge, Ricard stared grimly at the cliffs. The traces of the explosion were vividly evident.

“It seems likely they fell below.”

“That’s correct.”

“Hmm.”

Ricard stroked his chin. To be honest, the chances of survival were close to zero. How many people could survive being caught in an explosion and falling off this cliff?

No matter how skilled Johan Harsen was as an Archmage, surviving here was nearly impossible.

Although he hoped for a survivor, that too was just a faint possibility.

“Let’s investigate below.”

At that moment, a woman with a cold expression voiced her opinion. It was Fransia.

“…That makes sense. We had to recover the remains anyway.”

Ricard didn’t think the people who went to Sanburgh would have survived, but Fransia thought differently.

‘Johan must be alive.’

As for Rudella Bismarck, who knows, but he absolutely wouldn’t die here. That was because of the Ruby Gem.

An artifact that helps evade death up to seven times. With that, even if caught in an explosion and falling off a cliff, he would ‘luckily’ survive.

“Spread out! Find a way down to the bottom of the cliff!”

– Yes!

The Public Affairs Officers and Knights moved quickly in response to Ricard’s orders.

*

At this point, Johan had made the judgment that it was time and had come out from the cave below the cliff to check outside.

It had been six days since he left the Imperial Palace, so the rescue team should be arriving soon.

“Should I launch a big spell?”

As Johan stared blankly at the sky, he quietly murmured. The best way to signal his location was to burst magic into the sky.

If he created a strong enough wave, sensing-type Wizards would easily find him, and it would visually indicate his position.

“Let’s shoot a Point of Rupture.”

As Johan raised his fingertip, a black sphere emerged, vibrating violently. The sphere rocketed into the sky.

Boom!

The black sphere shot into the sky and exploded brilliantly. The remnants of the magical energy scattered like sparks, painting the heavens.

‘This should let them know my location.’

There was still a possibility that the assassins who blew up the bridge were around, but since they had not appeared even after leaving traces of magical energy, it could be said they were likely gone.

Johan returned to the cave. Rudella was quietly kneeling inside, hugging her knees and softly dozing.

“Lady Bismarck.”

“…Umm.”

Rudella rubbed her sleepy eyes as she lifted her head. Johan pointed towards the cave entrance.

“It’s time to go out.”

“Is it time to return….”

Rudella let out a small sigh as she rose. She seemed a little regretful about leaving, or maybe that was just her imagination?

“It’s exactly five days since we came to this cave today. Now that I’ve signaled our location, the rescue team will come soon.”

“Is that so….”

She nodded slowly, moving closer to Johan. While doing so, she discreetly held his hand but didn’t seem overly concerned.

Rudella’s anxiety was growing, so there was no choice but to steady herself in this manner.

Johan and Rudella went to the spot where the Point of Rupture had been launched. Finding a smooth rock to sit on, they had just settled when—

“I found them!”

They encountered the Public Affairs Officers who had descended below the cliff.

*

With the help of the Public Affairs Officers, Johan and Rudella were able to safely ascend back to the top of the cliff.

As he revealed himself among the gathered Public Affairs Officers, Fransia’s eyes widened and she rushed toward him.

“Johan!”

“Fransia.”

Fransia, who had dashed over, fell into Johan’s arms. At that moment, all the tension she had been holding melted away. She buried her face in his chest and whispered with a trembling voice.

“I’m so glad. Really.”

Although there was something oddly fragrant like lilies, the warmth of his embrace and her familiar voice made her realize he was alive. She fought back tears that felt like they could spill at any moment.

Johan awkwardly ruffled her hair.

“That smells.”

“No, it doesn’t at all…”

Even after days without washing and being drenched in rain, Fransia did not part from Johan’s embrace.

“Blood….”

Only then did Fransia notice the blood on Johan and, with trembling eyes, asked.

“Where are you hurt?”

“Just a bit on my side….”

“Let me check it right away.”

Fransia wasted no time in unbuttoning his shirt as if she were accustomed to it, and peeled away the hem of the black dress that was wrapped around his waist.

“Oh my god.”

There was a large wound on Johan’s side. It wasn’t deep enough for any organs to protrude, but he must have lost quite a bit of blood.

“I’ll heal it immediately.”

Fransia’s hands came together, emanating a warm magical energy. It was a healing magic rarely seen in the entire world.

The wound began to heal rapidly.

Is this what they call a heroine?

Her ability was substantial.

“Your face is pale.”

“I’ll feel better after some rest.”

“Really….”

Fransia buried her face back into Johan’s chest, rubbing her cheek against him.

“I’m so glad you’re safe.”

“I’m just as glad to see you again, Fransia.”

Johan’s responses had been blunt and lacked enthusiasm from earlier. Sensing this, Fransia locked eyes with him.

His eyes looked dull and he appeared quite fatigued.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize I was holding on for so long.”

Just then, as Fransia helped Johan to the carriage, Rudella Bismarck called out to him.

“Harsen Archmage.”

Rudella looked fairly well compared to Johan, who appeared to be faltering. She seemed a bit haggard but not overly so.

“Oh, Lady Bismarck. What brings you here?”

Johan looked at her with a swaying body. Rudella seemed to have something to say but only moved her lips without voicing her thoughts.

“Um….”

Rudella averted her gaze, rubbing her wrist. Her reddened ears seemed to betray her feelings.

“…Can I call you that again?”

It was a brave thing to say, even though she couldn’t express everything she wanted to. The intent was conveyed. Rudella couldn’t conceal her anxious demeanor as she pressed her wrist tightly.

“Of course. You didn’t forget I told you to be clever about it, did you?”

At that, Rudella’s eyes widened slightly. She looked at Johan and quickly replied in panic.

“Y-yes, of course.”

“Then go ahead. I’ll be waiting.”

At Johan’s light smile, Rudella swallowed nervously, placing a hand on her chest.

The small trembling she had tried to suppress transmitted through her fingertips, surprising her.

Within Rudella’s heart, an unknown desire and longing slowly bloomed.

“…”

Fransia, sensing that the atmosphere was a bit off, narrowed her eyes and glanced back and forth between the two. This was clearly strange.

In Rudella’s gaze directed at Johan, sweet emotions swelled within her. It was a feeling only another woman could understand, a rational liking.

“What’s going on…?”

Her voice dropped to a cold whisper. Johan tilted his head, his face softened.

“What do you mean?”

“About Lady Bismarck… no, never mind.”

But Fransia shook her head and bit back her words. Given Johan’s condition, there was no time for trivial chatter.

“Let’s get to the carriage quickly.”

Johan took Fransia’s assistance and climbed into the carriage that the Public Affairs Officers had brought. Since it was the carriage for the injured, it was different from a regular one.

“Rest comfortably.”

“Thank you, Fransia.”

“It’s nothing.”

After Fransia departed, Johan, now lying down, finally relaxed his tense body. Sleepiness overwhelmed him, and his eyelids naturally closed.

“…”

Beside him, Rudella unconsciously gazed at Johan’s face, her expression hardening.

The way his tired eyelids slowly drooped and the gentle curve of his lips captivated her gaze.

‘A romantic relationship….’

The image of Princess Ferbache, who had just been in his arms, flickered before her eyes. To be honest, she felt envy towards being in a relationship with a man like Johan.

‘I want to take him for myself.’

Fransia’s quiet resolve startled her, and she took a sudden breath. A desire that felt suffocating surged within her heart, but she suppressed that thought with cold rationality.

‘That can’t be right.’

The confines of being a Crown Princess and a Bismarck, coupled with the fact that he was Princess Ferbache’s man, were deeply ingrained in her. Reality firmly bound her.

“Are you not tired?”

At that moment, Johan turned to glance at her. The unguarded, lazy look in his eyes made Rudella swallow hard again.

There was an oddly decadent charm peeking through Johan’s drowsy expression that shook her rationality.

“…What would I have to be tired about? You’ve done everything for me.”

“Protecting Lady Bismarck is something that should be done, naturally.”

His casual remark shattered her heart. Rudella felt the heat rise to her face and hugged her knees, hiding her flushed cheeks behind her silver bangs.

Johan continued.

“Stress-related fatigue must be there, although. Now that we’re safe, you should rest comfortably.”

“Yeah, I suppose you’re right….”

As she watched Johan close his eyes again, Rudella pressed her racing heart with her hand.

No matter how much she tried to suppress her feelings, it was hard to hide her desires when looking at his face.

Gulp.

She felt the heaviness in her throat.

Rudella experienced an impulse as if her rationality was crumbling to dust.

If she weren’t a Bismarck, could she have been with him?

What if she called off her engagement to the Crown Prince and severed ties with her family right now?

Would she be able to live a life alongside Johan Harsen?

As such reckless questions floated in her mind, longing and anxiety surged simultaneously within her heart.

“…I can’t.”

However, after deeming it a foolish thought, Rudella shook her head.

It was a forbidden feeling that she shouldn’t even allow herself to imagine.

Because she was the Crown Princess.

Because he had a beloved partner.

The scene of Princess Ferbache facing Johan popped up in her mind.

The solid trust between them and the unwavering affection he showed towards Fransia.

Everything felt like a reality unreachable to Rudella. A thirsting jealousy bubbled up from deep inside.

She envied Princess Ferbache.

She envied her so much.

She was madly jealous.

This was the most intense desire she had ever felt.

Even when the Crown Prince was rolling around in bed with another woman, she might’ve felt shock but not jealousy…

‘…I must be going insane.’

Having spent about a week with Johan seemed to have warped her mind.

Rudella concealed her feelings.

Swallowing down and suppressing emotions is something she was used to.

But.

But, as he said, couldn’t it be possible to spend some time together cleverly occasionally?

For the first time, Rudella found herself growing greedy. It wouldn’t be crossing a line; just for a moment, it would be fine. She reassured herself as she gazed at his face.

In moments spent solely with him, Rudella whispered her true desires.

“Rest well, Johan.”

Rudella slowly closed her eyes, wishing that the fleeting impulse wouldn’t turn into an eternal longing.