Chapter 42
Chapter 42
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: Fortress
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A few days after sharing our first kiss with Luna.
The northern reclamation had begun.
Thanks to that, I'd spent the past several days riding on horseback.
For days on end, all I could see were snow-covered plains.
The cold wind and near-freezing temperatures were one thing, but with thick fur layered inside my armor...
Actually, I was sweating so much it felt sticky and gross.
-Pruuuh...
Hearing the horse's whinny, I replayed recent events in my mind.
"From now on, you have to bear the weight of my lips too. Got it?"
Those were her words as she kissed me that day.
I couldn't quite grasp what she meant.
The weight of her lips... Did it mean she wanted me by her side forever?
Was it about our lord-vassal relationship... or had our bond shifted into something like lovers? I had no clue.
Any normal woman would obviously mean the latter, but unfortunately, Luna wasn't a normal woman.
"No idea."
"Pardon? What don't you know, sir?"
I gave a vague answer to Jin, who was riding beside me.
"Just... women's hearts seem awfully complicated."
Jin smirked, jumping to his own conclusion from my words.
"Thinking about that lover back at the Grand Duchess's palace?"
Not the palace... I glanced sideways at Luna, leading the procession at the front.
"Something like that."
I'd barely seen Luna since that kiss.
She'd been swamped with reclamation prep at the palace, and on the march, meetings were the only time our paths crossed.
"Heh heh, Secretary Aiden's such a romantic? Ahem... Being romantic is fine for a man, but getting tied down to one woman isn't ideal."
I was dumbfounded by Jin's cheeky grin.
"You have to date one woman properly. Not like you, hopping from one to another."
"But I can't disappoint all the women who like me, can I?"
"Huh?"
Jin usually would've blushed at that, but instead, he looked dead serious.
"If they love me but can't be with me, how tragic is that? Instead of handing them that heartbreak, isn't it better if I accept their love?"
"Uh... is that how it works?"
His words were almost convincingly profound, and I found myself listening.
"Besides, playing the field makes the one you truly love jealous, so she tries even harder."
"R-Really?"
Jealous and trying harder? Luna?
"In that spirit, maybe you should meet some other ladies while we're at it?"
But Luna's venomous glare flashed in my mind, and I shook my head.
"Nah. Don't want to complicate things."
"What a shame. All the women pining for you will be heartbroken."
"Wait, women pining for me?"
I was genuinely curious, so I pressed him...
Jin went quiet for a moment before forcing out a response.
"Uh... probably just one or two, right?"
Watching his lack of confidence, I thought to myself.
Yeah, figures. As if anyone would like me.
"Enough nonsense... When do we see the fortress? Weren't we arriving today?"
It had already taken over two weeks to get here.
I figured things would get busy once we arrived.
Luna had boldly declared we'd succeed within a month.
She probably meant excluding travel time, but driving out the different-species race from that vast territory wouldn’t be quick or easy.
I had no idea how she'd pull it off, but as supply officer, my workload was about to explode.
"Heard from my master we'd arrive by evening."
Jin's master was Sir Charles.
I hadn't seen him much lately, so it had been a while since I heard the name.
"How's Sir Charles doing?"
"Same as always."
As Jin and I chatted idly,
"Oh? There's the fortress."
I turned forward at his words...
And spotted a tall-walled castle that wasn't overly large.
"Huh? Not as huge as I thought."
"Yeah, fortresses are for defense, so they don't build them sprawling. Doesn't need a massive garrison either."
Its height rivaled Vain's walls, and I could make out various towers.
"Good thing we get beds inside tonight."
"Ugh... Best part is ditching the horse."
Maybe from riding so long, but my butt felt raw.
Even with thick leather padding under my armor.
Jin looked at me with pity.
"First long ride on horseback for you, right, sir?"
"Yeah... feels like sensation's leaving my butt."
Used to modern cars, I was learning the hard way how awful a horse's ride was.
The first full day, I felt vibrations even after dismounting.
-Kreeeak!
The fortress gates swung open with a massive groan.
"Oh? Guess we're heading in."
We entered, and right away...
We were summoned to a meeting hosted by Luna.
Seated at the head, Luna's red eyes gleamed as she scanned the papers before her.
"I'll now assign your duties."
-Yes!
The knights' spirited voices filled the room.
"Charles will command the 2nd Army and mercenaries, occupying areas breached by the 1st Army and supporting them. Esio, lead the 3rd Army to secure the workers' safety and escort them to the objective. Joseph..."
She doled out missions to knights and generals.
"...will stay here and defend the fortress. Secretary Aiden..."
Luna paused, gazing at me calmly.
"I'll assign Squire Jin to you, so deliver daily supplies to each army."
Supply duty was planned from the start, so no surprise there.
"Additionally, the secretaries will summarize key reports from Vain and submit by morning."
This wasn't on the plan?
My face paled at the thought of paperwork right after arriving, but I hid it.
"Understood."
As the secretaries replied, Luna eyed us coldly.
"Anyone else with something to say?"
Silence hung briefly.
"Meeting adjourned. Knights and generals, strategy session in five minutes—prepare."
No reason for secretaries at strategy, so we all filed out, me included.
Not really a meeting... more like task delegation?
"Sir... we pulling an all-nighter tonight?"
Jin asked wanly, and I nodded solemnly, sharing his pain.
"Yeah... overtime it is."
Had to catch up on backlog.
"Haa... this sucks."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The next morning, in Luna's room.
-Knock knock.
I knocked, and her voice came.
-Come in.
-Creak.
Opening the door, I saw Luna at a large desk, frowning over maps and documents.
"Oh? Aiden? Report done already?"
Her face lit up, and I nodded.
"Yes, but... did you get any sleep?"
She had faint dark circles.
Pulled an all-nighter?
But she brushed it off casually.
"Gotta wrap this up fast—no time for sleep."
"Dark circles look heavy."
"Ahem... r-really?"
She sneaked a glance at the desk mirror.
Her cheeks flushed slightly.
"Here's the report. Take a look."
I placed the all-nighter summary on the desk; she scanned it, face still pink.
-Rustle...
She flipped pages slowly.
"Lots of new migrants this time?"
"Yes, rumor is a guild wants to build docks at the Grand Duchy port and make ships."
The Grand Duchy skewed north, but had an ice-free port and vast forests nearby.
With manpower, shipbuilding had real potential.
Low taxes made it competitive, so their bold shipyard plan got approved...
She beamed, raising both arms.
"Cut taxes, and this many people flock in—amazing! This is a real revolution!"
Seeing her so happy made me smile unwittingly.
"Come on, it's all thanks to Your Highness's keen insight."
She nodded slightly.
"True. I have a good eye for talent—that's why I snagged you."
Her glowing red eyes embarrassed me.
Don't hype me up like that...
I felt a bit shy from the praise.
"Heh..."
Finished with the report, Luna stood.
"Good work, Aiden. But..."
"Yes?"
She hugged me, eyes soft and affectionate.
Her playful face drew closer.
Her hand wrapped my neck...
And soft lips met mine.
Something rough slipped into my mouth.
-Slurp...
Luna explored my lips.
As her sweet scent clouded my reason,
She pulled back, cheeks rosy; the clear thread between our lips snapped.
"I'm leaving this afternoon, right?"
Sudden kiss, sudden words—I couldn't read her.
"Yes."
"Won't see each other for a month."
"Right."
"Next secretary arrives in 30 minutes?"
"Uh... yeah?"
She gripped my collar, eyes gleaming mischievously.
"So, just once? Please?"
She undid my buttons; I smiled nervously.
"W-Why here? In the sacred office?!"
She had a schedule after. Leaving the fortress this afternoon too.
"C'mon~ Just once? We'll be apart so long."
She pouted, cheeks puffed.
Her eyes turned predatory, like a beast eyeing prey, closing in.
"If someone walks in... Whoa!"
15 minutes later...
"You said just once!"
"Hey! Still got time?!"
That day, Luna got me twice in 30 minutes.