* * *
The reason was simple: any missing supplies could just be brought in from the nearby city.
Anyway, this wasn’t so much a real operation as it was a bit of make-believe.
A tent had been set up where the Count and Countess were staying, and the people nearby sparkled with excitement, as if they’d discovered a new game.
‘Not like I’ve been through this often myself.’
Even so, the twist in his chest was unmistakable—probably because he didn’t like the current situation.
To keep any needless spite from spilling out, he diverted his attention to the stew in front of him, focusing all his energy on eating.
The food had done nothing wrong. It deserved to be enjoyed.
Just as he was finishing the stew, a few knights sat down in front of them.
One of them was the knight who had assisted Klen earlier.
“How about some wine?”
“Haha! Truth is, I brought it hoping to sneak a sip after the tournament.”
They held bottles of wine and goblets in hand.
As the wine poured freely in front of them, a fresh, fruity scent wafted through the air.
Goblets were soon passed to them.
The knights radiated a friendliness so strong it was almost overwhelming.
Without the slightest suspicion, he moved his empty bowl aside and took a sip.
The lingering aftertaste in his mouth was sweet.
Maybe it wasn’t the finest vintage, but it was definitely good enough to be worth showing off.
Klen lifted the bottle and topped off his glass.
“Looking at you two like this, you really do seem like a married couple.”
‘Not “seem like”—we are. We swore an oath before God.’
He offered a vague smile and wet his throat with more wine.
Still delicious.
Just as he was about to ask which region it came from, a hand suddenly landed on his shoulder.
“…?!”
And then he was abruptly yanked to the side.
“What? Jealous?”
Still trying to grasp what had just happened, he stared blankly down at his wine.
But when he looked up, his eyes met a grinning face—beaming as if tipsy from a single drink.
The corners of Klen’s eyes curved further, his gaze so sweet it could’ve dripped honey.
It felt unfamiliar.
Then Klen tilted his head up and—thump—his chin came down lightly on the crown of Adrian’s head.
“…!”
It didn’t hurt, but felt like a soft weight settling down.
A ticklish sensation started at the top of his head and spread across his whole body.
Even though he was now completely wrapped in Klen’s embrace—in front of the knights, no less—he didn’t feel like pushing him away.
The warmth was comforting.
At some point, the goblet had disappeared from his hand.
“Well. As long as you’re doing fine, that’s a relief.”
“I was worried at first, honestly.”
“Hahaha, right? I wasn’t sure how things would go in the beginning.”
Even though he was putting on an act, there were knights who genuinely trusted and worried about Klen.
Klen, too, seemed a bit more at ease in front of them.
Not that he stopped acting, though.
Just as he was about to lean forward to speak with them more, a hand gently pressed against the back of his head and pulled him closer again.
His nose was squished firmly against Klen’s chest.
“Adrian, are you sleepy?”
Looking down at him, Klen gently shifted so Adrian could lean back more comfortably.
His grip didn’t loosen, but the voice falling from above was incredibly gentle.
‘I’m not sleepy…’
He was ready to say as much.
But—
“Oh, that’s right. Didn’t you say the lady was frail?”
“Still, she held up well today.”
“To capture Gawi with such a body! As expected of Caldrich—ah, I mean, Valuncio now, wasn’t it? Haha!”
“But surely her strength has run out now?”
“…”
The tension in his shoulders eased.
Right now, he had to be the most fragile person here.
That was the role he needed to play.
Better to meet expectations than to seem too well.
Drawing on all his acting experience, he let his whole body go limp and leaned into Klen.
Klen, too, wrapped him tightly in his arms, and at some point, he had pulled a blanket—where did he even get that?—around them.
Klen held him close, like a child hugging a teddy bear.
“Oh dear!”
“Well then, my lady, please rest~”
“The intruders shall now vanish!”
The knights leapt up with exaggerated motion and retreated with hearty laughter.
After they left, Klen’s hands guided him again with gentle care.
Trusting that touch, Adrian let himself be moved, ending up lying down with his head in Klen’s lap.
‘Does he really think I’m asleep?’
He cracked his eyes open slightly and looked up.
“…”
Klen’s expression had quieted.
It was a completely different atmosphere from the smiling fool of a moment ago.
His gaze was fixed on the carefully secured prize in the distance—Levatein.
‘So he’s not without desire after all?’
Now that the sword was almost within reach yet slipping away like sand, perhaps his true greed was starting to rise.
A soft chuckle escaped Adrian’s lips. He was welcome to be greedy.
And once it was in his hands, he could treasure it as much as he wanted.
By tomorrow, the sword would surely belong to him.
The urge to reassure him rose to his lips.
But before he could say it, his eyelids drifted shut.
He hadn’t expected Klen’s warmth, or his gentle touch, to make him feel so safe.
Of all the people gathered here, the only place Adrian could fall asleep without worry… was at Klen’s side.
*
When he opened his eyes, morning light had already filled the sky.
And his position hadn’t changed much from the night before.
His head was still resting on Klen’s thigh.
Carefully, Adrian rolled his eyes upward.
“…”
Klen was staring at the campfire, lost in thought.
Had he stayed up all night?
Or had he fallen asleep sitting up?
Adrian’s head must have weighed heavily on his leg the entire time—surely it had gone numb.
Yet Klen’s face remained completely calm.
Maybe he couldn’t feel it anymore.
Only when Adrian moved his head would blood return and the pain begin?
“….”
To minimize the damage, Adrian slowly began to lift his head.
“You’re awake?”
Klen’s voice came as he checked Adrian’s face.
He should have been grimacing now, as the blood rushed back into his leg, as the tingling pain struck.
But not even a twitch of his brow.
“Your leg… is it okay?”
“My leg?”
Klen stood as if nothing were wrong.
Tilting his head, as though trying to understand Adrian’s question, he suddenly swayed.
Too slow. If it really hurt, he would’ve reacted sooner—Adrian was certain of it.
“Klen!”
But even knowing that, Adrian rushed to catch him.
If he didn’t, Klen would go full method actor and throw himself dramatically to the ground.
He’d probably collapse right onto the rough, rocky dirt.
“What’s the matter?”
“Are you all right?!”
“Oops.”
The approaching knights came to a sudden halt.
By the time they arrived, Klen had already fallen, and Adrian had tried to catch him—only to end up underneath him.
Now they were tangled in a full embrace on the ground.
Or was it that he was hugging Klen?
Either way, it looked like two people clinging to each other tightly after a fall.
* * *
