* * *
Eren draped it over his shoulders.
Predictably, the hem dragged on the ground, and the sleeves were so long his hands disappeared.
He expected it to be big, but not this big.
Ashard lifted the robe slightly and muttered,
“Well, you’ll be riding on my horse the whole time anyway, so I guess it’s fine.”
Eren, nodding absentmindedly, suddenly realized what he’d just said—and looked up in shock.
“Wait, riding your horse…?!”
As far as he knew, Ashard Friedit was a duke of Trovien and also the military commander—meaning he’d be at the front of the battlefield.
‘What?!’
“Epentel might’ve kept you in the rear, but Trovien’s formation isn’t as safe. Even if you were in the back, if your country attacks from behind, it could still get dangerous.”
That… was true.
Eren had spent the last two months on the battlefield since transmigrating into this world, so he knew what Ashard said made sense.
But still—being in the middle of the battlefield, on the lead horse, was a whole different story.
Reading the worry on Eren’s face, Ashard pulled the robe’s hood over his head and gently patted him.
“Don’t make that face. I haven’t forgotten our deal from yesterday.”
But that didn’t make him feel any safer.
Eren didn’t know exactly how skilled Ashard was, but no one could be more overpowered than the main characters in a novel.
At least, he was sure of that.
He’d seen what the protagonist and sub-leads were capable of—overpowered beyond reason, thanks to the author’s favoritism.
Eren had experienced their terrifying skills firsthand over the last two months on the battlefield.
And now he was being dragged into the middle of all that chaos?
‘This is absolutely insane!!’
—but by the time he realized it, it was already too late.
A whistle echoed in the distance, signaling the approach of Trovien’s army.
The battle was starting earlier than Ashard had anticipated.
“Let’s go.”
Ashard exited the tent first, but when he noticed Eren wasn’t following, he came back in.
“What are you spacing out for?”
“…”
Even then, Eren’s mind was still too stunned to respond.
Ashard sighed as if he had no choice—then scooped Eren up in his arms.
Only when his feet left the ground did Eren snap back to reality.
“If you wanted me to hold you like this, you should’ve just said so.”
“W-What are you—?!”
Before he could argue, he was already seated on the horse.
Cradled in Ashard’s arms like a runaway bride, Eren tugged his hood down as low as it would go.
At this point, all he could do was hide.
Hide as best he could from the likes of Carlyle or Julius.
Clang—!
The sharp sound of clashing metal rang out from all around.
Unlike yesterday, when the ride had been calm, today the battlefield was chaotic, and Eren’s delicate body was being tossed around mercilessly.
“Ah!”
He was so light that he fluttered like a balloon at a festival.
If not for Ashard’s arm wrapped firmly around his waist, he would’ve fallen off the horse long ago.
Not wanting to hinder Ashard, who was using one hand to hold him and the other to wield his sword, Eren quietly clung to his arm as not to be a burden.
At that moment—
“The safety of Count Nefendis comes first! Find the Count immediately!”
A familiar voice boomed across the field.
Realizing who it belonged to, Eren lowered his head even further.
If they were looking for him here, someone must have seen Ashard take him away yesterday.
“They seem quite desperate to find you back in Epentel.”
“……”
Though it would’ve been reasonable for Ashard to find Eren’s reaction strange, he didn’t press the matter.
Instead, his arm tightened around Eren’s waist as if he had no intention of letting him go.
Before long, a loud clashing noise echoed overhead.
Ashard’s sword must have collided with someone else’s.
“Looks like that’s Duke Fridit over there.”
Hearing Carlyle’s voice right beside him, Eren curled up even more.
Please don’t recognize me. Please don’t pay attention to me.
He muttered those words desperately in his head over and over again—
“What, is Trovien bringing women to the battlefield now?”
Carlyle’s hand reached out toward Eren’s hood.
As it began to slip off, Ashard swiftly knocked Carlyle’s hand away.
“You’ve got time to ogle now? You’re quite confident, aren’t you.”
Whether it was fortunate or not, thanks to Ashard’s quick reaction, Eren’s identity wasn’t revealed.
But as a result, he ended up pressed tightly against Ashard’s chest.
Feeling the firm muscles beneath the fabric, Eren’s pale cheeks flushed pink.
Despite the ongoing war and the clear lack of a chance to bathe, the scent coming from Ashard was surprisingly clean and fresh.
“I bear no grudge against Trovien. I’m only here for Count Nefendis. Cooperate, and we’ll leave without bloodshed.”
“…Just like that?”
Ashard’s brow twitched at the suspiciously strange proposal.
He had his doubts—but what happened next left him no choice but to believe it.
“Everyone, sheath your swords.”
With just that single command, all of Epentel’s knights on the battlefield lowered their weapons.
The knights of Trovien, who had been locked in combat, were left with confused expressions, clearly unsure what was going on.
“Not a bad proposal, really.”
If it meant avoiding needless loss of life, then there was no reason to refuse.
As the commander of an empire, Ashard’s hesitation was brief.
When he raised his hand as a signal to cease combat, not a single sword remained drawn.
“I don’t know why you’re looking for Eren Nefendis here, but… I’ll accept your offer.”
At that moment of agreement, Eren flinched ever so slightly.
We just made a deal yesterday—how can he betray me so easily…?
“Search as you wish.”
Ashard moved his horse to open the way into the Trovien camp.
Carlyle crossed it without hesitation, and Julius, who had been following close behind, stopped right as he passed Ashard.
“You look like you’re wondering why we made that offer.”
“……”
Joining the war had been a direct order from the Emperor.
To retreat now would be an act of insubordination.
And besides, Epentel’s current ruler was widely known as a tyrant—Ashard’s confusion was understandable.
Ashard stared silently, and Julius gave him a small, effortless smile, as if to say there was nothing odd about it.
“It’s simple. If Count Nefendis isn’t in Epentel, it’s no different than the human heart missing from the body.”
“You’d break imperial command just because a young commander isn’t there?”
“The Emperor’s orders mean nothing. Do you think any of the knights here joined this war just because of the ramblings of a dying man?”
Ashard’s gaze demanded an explanation, and Julius continued,
“Joining the war is the only way we could be with Eren Nefendis.”
The smile on Julius’s lips carried a strange, unsettling undercurrent.
It had only flickered across his face for a moment, but Ashard caught it.
And with that, he started to understand—maybe just a little—why Eren hadn’t resisted him the night before.
Soon, Carlyle returned, having completed the search of the camp.
“He’s not here. We’re withdrawing.”
He kept his word.
Ashard looked at him, surprised by the integrity.
As sunlight poured over them, a breeze of unknown origin blew gently through their midst.
At that moment, Carlyle turned his gaze—to Eren, still nestled in Ashard’s arms.
“I need to confirm who you’re holding. Remove the cloak.”
“I’m not in the habit of showing off what’s mine.”
* * *
