Elisvaria looked at each knight standing upright before her.
Their bodies were perfectly straight, shoulders squared, chins lifted with respectful composure. Only moments earlier, they had been locked in a life-and-death battle against dozens of armed bandits.
Yet not a single one displayed exhaustion openly.
That discipline had been instilled in them long before they were accepted as official knights.
Since their recruitment days, when they were still inexperienced recruits, until they were forged into trained soldiers, they endured harsh daily training. Not only physical strength and combat techniques, but also mental discipline, obedience to command, and unwavering morality toward their leader and the people they protected.
Those principles were what shaped them into what they were now.
Unshakable conviction.
Absolute loyalty.
All directed toward one name.
Duke Velmora.
Elisvaria was aware of her knights' gazes.
They were fierce.
Not the gaze of men who had just survived death.
There was no regret.
No fear.
Instead, a spark still burned in their eyes, a fire not yet extinguished, as if demanding further release.
Still not enough?
Satisfaction had not fully settled in their hearts.
She could tell from the way they scanned their surroundings.
As if they hoped another enemy would suddenly emerge from behind the trees, from the brush, or from the silent snow-covered hills.
To slash.
To stab.
To destroy.
Their battle instincts, honed over years, now felt like pressure ready to explode at any moment.
And Elisvaria felt satisfied seeing it.
The satisfaction of a leader.
That the strict education given by senior knight instructors had not been in vain.
That the force she commanded was not merely soldiers, but living blades ready to be wielded at any time.
Her gaze then shifted to the side.
Nyra stood beside her.
The woman still carried the tension of battle in her aura, yet her eyes remained sharp and focused.
A faint smile formed on Elisvaria's lips.
The same smile she often gave her.
"Continue the command. Lead and coordinate with the knights. Clear the battlefield… and burn all the bodies without leaving anything behind."
"Understood."
Nyra stepped forward and faced the knights. Her gaze was firm, carrying the authority of a field commander accustomed to standing in the middle of battle.
"Move immediately according to Her Grace's order!"
"Yes!"
All the knights answered in unison, their loud and resolute voices echoing among the snow-covered trees, carrying a strong atmosphere of military discipline.
***
"You defeated him without seriously injuring him?"
"It wasn't difficult."
Sasuke's reply was flat, as if it were simply a fact that required no further explanation.
Elisvaria drew a short breath.
Her eyes examined Sasuke more carefully, observing even the smallest detail, searching for hidden wounds, blood, or signs of fatigue that might escape notice.
Precisely because Sasuke was very strong, she felt the need to be more cautious.
Even strong people could still be injured.
She stepped closer.
Her hand lifted naturally, adjusting the collar of Sasuke's clothing that had shifted slightly from his earlier movements.
"It seems my concern was excessive. I'm relieved you're not hurt."
"You're getting better at teasing, Duke."
"I was worried about you. Is sarcasm really necessary?"
"I'm fine."
After confirming there was nothing wrong, she withdrew her hand from his collar and stepped back two paces.
Elisvaria's gaze then shifted to the man lying unconscious beside Sasuke. Gunnar's chest rose and fell slowly, indicating he had merely lost consciousness.
Noticing the direction of her gaze, Sasuke asked briefly.
"Do you want me to wake him?"
"Leave him."
Elisvaria then turned toward her carriage's private chamber. Her steps were graceful, yet subtle fatigue showed now that the tension of battle had faded.
However, before fully leaving, she paused.
She looked back, not at Sasuke, but at the unconscious man lying nearby.
"If you're certain he won't wake up… come here."
Her tone softened more than usual.
"I'm tired… and I need you to guard me."
"...Alright."
Yet behind that brief response, Sasuke remained still for a moment without taking a single step.
His gaze was still fixed on the unconscious man lying on the snow.
He made sure there was no change in the man's breathing, pulse, or even the slightest muscle movement that might indicate returning consciousness.
Earlier, he had cast a sufficiently strong genjutsu.
In theory, the man would not wake anytime soon.
So the concern he felt now was, in truth, excessive.
Of course, he understood that unpredictable variables could sometimes appear. Miracles, sudden surges of willpower, or hidden abilities awakening under extreme conditions. Such things were not impossible.
However, confidence in his own strength gradually dismissed those unnecessary thoughts.
Caution was necessary.
It was part of strategy, whether in defense or attack.
Even toward an ally, carelessness could turn into disaster when the situation seemed firmly under control.
He had learned that long ago.
After confirming there were no significant changes and realizing his concern was merely instinctive reflex, he finally turned and followed Elisvaria toward the carriage chamber.
***
The tension that had wrapped around Elisvaria slowly melted when Roderic and Vaelor returned.
Their footsteps sounded heavy against the snow, yet remained steady.
Neither of them came back unscathed.
There was a cut along Roderic's arm and dried blood staining the side of Vaelor's armor.
But most importantly, there were no life-threatening injuries.
Elisvaria exhaled softly, the relief she had been holding back finally releasing bit by bit.
According to Roderic, he had faced a fairly formidable opponent.
An experienced aura practitioner who had not been easy to defeat.
He lowered his head and apologized for failing to capture the man alive. The battlefield situation had developed beyond control, and the most rational choice at that moment had been to kill the enemy before the tide turned against him.
For Elisvaria, that detail was not important at all.
Returning alive was more than enough.
In fact, she felt relieved that Roderic had not forced himself to restrain his attacks just to subdue the enemy alive. In real combat, even the slightest hesitation could become the cause of death.
Yet her concern leaned more toward Vaelor.
He was her adjutant and the knight closest to her aside from Nyra.
That closeness was not merely structural within the chain of command, but part of daily life.
Vaelor was always a few steps behind her, watching, ensuring, and ready to sacrifice himself without hesitation.
And recently, Elisvaria had realized something that made her heart feel heavier than usual.
Vaelor's romantic interest in Nyra.
The feeling was not entirely hidden.
As a leader accustomed to reading others, she could see it clearly.
She had long regarded Nyra as a younger sister.
She did not want the woman to suffer.
Especially if that sorrow came because the man who harbored feelings for her was gravely injured… or worse, lost his life.
The thought tightened her chest slightly.
As a Duke, she was required to remain firm and rational in every decision. Doubt was a luxury she could not afford in front of her knights and her people.
But as an ordinary human being, she could not completely detach herself from emotional bonds with those around her.
That emotional burden was precisely what made every battle feel far heavier than it appeared on the surface.
"Take over command once the battlefield is cleared," she ordered while shifting her gaze to the old man's corpse lying upon an ice sword not far away.
She continued her instructions to Roderic in a calmer, more controlled tone.
"Bury him with honor. Allow the knights to rest for half an hour before we resume our journey."
"Yes, Your Grace."
Elisvaria then walked back toward her carriage chamber. But before fully entering, she stopped and looked at Roderic once more.
"I leave the selection of tonight's campsite to you. It's already nearing late afternoon. Do not disturb me afterward. You and the others need full rest. Come to me only when it is time for dinner."
That decision was not made lightly.
There was not enough time to exit the White Taigan Forest today. Forcing the march would only worsen the condition of troops who had just endured a bloody incident.
Finding a safe place to stay overnight was the wisest choice so they could recover their strength and steady their minds.
"I understand."
Roderic bowed respectfully before leaving to carry out the Duke's order.
Elisvaria closed the carriage chamber door.
The space was not large, but it was comfortable, with warm wooden interiors and a faint lingering scent of noble perfume in the air.
She sat beside Sasuke.
Without many words, she rested her head against his shoulder.
The movement felt natural.
As if it were her right.
As if the habit had existed for a long time, even though it had not.
She longed for calm after the chaos of battle.
And somehow, at the side of this man, she found a peace she could not easily explain.
Even though the gesture was somewhat surprising given the circumstances, Sasuke remained silent.
He was stiff by nature, accustomed to maintaining distance, always composed in any situation.
His expression did not change in the slightest.
But he did not move away.
The silence between them finally broke when Elisvaria spoke first.
"Sasuke. Why did you accept my offer? Someone like you should have refused to stand at my side."
"Maybe because of the gold coins."
His tone was flat, without emphasis.
"Your answer sounds ambiguous and uncertain."
Elisvaria did not believe that reason at all.
Although she had not known him long, her observations of Sasuke at the mansion had led her to a firm conclusion.
This man was not interested in luxury.
Not in power.
Nor in worldly pleasures.
He lived apart from all of it.
Then why did he agree to accept her?
The question continued to linger in her mind.
Especially since Lyanna's earlier words still left a trace of discomfort in her heart.
"It's not important, Duke. Why do you want to know my decision?"
"I'm only curious. Besides, is it wrong for such a question to come from me?"
"No. It's your right."
Elisvaria fell silent for a moment, then asked again in a lighter tone, though something subtle was hidden beneath it.
"What about a lover? I don't want to burden you and steal your time from someone waiting for you."
"Hah."
Sasuke let out a short sound, almost like a breath.
"I'm not obligated to answer."
The response was cold.
Elisvaria unconsciously pursed her lips, forming a faint pout she rarely showed in front of others.
As a Duke, she was rarely refused in conversation.
Especially not in such an icy tone.
Yet in front of this man, she often lost control of the direction of their exchanges. It was as if every question she threw at him ended against a thick wall she could not penetrate.
Strangely, she did not hate it at all.
Instead, there was a certain enjoyment in facing that rigid attitude. To her, Sasuke's coldness was like a solid wall challenging her to break it down.
A challenge that stirred her curiosity.
She began to imagine possibilities she had never considered before.
What would happen if she managed to cross that boundary?
If one day that cold demeanor melted, would the man beside her become warm and honest each time he answered her questions?
Or would nothing change at all, no matter how hard she tried to tear down his defenses?
Another thought emerged.
Pushing too hard might only make Sasuke withdraw further and close himself off even more.
That was clearly not the result she wanted.
She needed to be patient.
There was no need to add unnecessary weight to the conversation. Sometimes forcing something would only cloud the atmosphere and create an invisible distance.
She did not want new tension to arise between them.
Enough.
I just need to rest and take this chance to lean on him.
Being this close is already more than enough without many words.
The atmosphere inside the narrow chamber returned to silence.
Only the sound of their breathing could be heard, warm and steady, slowly driving away the cold that crept through the carriage cabin.
***
Sasuke glanced at the woman beside him.
At first, it was brief.
But without realizing it, his gaze lingered longer than it should have.
His eyes settled on her neatly closed silver lashes. The lines of her face appeared far softer when she was not leading troops or issuing firm commands.
He had to admit one thing.
This woman was very beautiful.
Over the past few days, he had never truly looked at her this closely. Their interactions had always been filled with short exchanges, orders, or tense situations.
But now, at this distance, without any distractions, he became aware of just how striking the figure leaning against his shoulder was.
A small, straight nose.
Clear, pale skin.
Soft pink lips pressed gently together.
Without noticing, a strange feeling began to surface within him.
A sensation he could not clearly define.
His gaze seemed drawn by the faint fragrance emanating from the Duke's body. It was subtle, not overwhelming, yet enough to remind him that this woman was real and so close.
Instinctively, his eyes traced her face again.
From lips that resembled ripe cherries, then slowly downward.
Sasuke stiffened.
He immediately pulled his gaze away as if he had just done something inappropriate.
What am I doing?
He felt careless.
If she opened her eyes and realized he had been looking at her like that, she would certainly mock him without mercy.
Highly improper.
Undignified.
He felt as if he had taken advantage of someone who trusted him to stand guard.
The trust given to him to protect her had nearly been betrayed by a gaze he himself considered unworthy.
Sasuke exhaled briefly.
Then he closed his eyes.
He needed to calm himself.
His heartbeat had to return to its normal rhythm.
Right now, what he needed was composure.
Until the woman awakened from her rest.
And until his own thoughts returned to their usual control.
Elisvaria opened her eyes for a brief moment. She felt a subtle tremor from the man's body, but soon closed her heavy eyelids again. She did not know what had startled him for an instant. She felt no need to know. After all, Sasuke would not tell her even if she forced him.