Chapter 9
The sound of small animals, like squirrels or flying squirrels, rustling through leaves echoed.
The wind, the crackle of sparks.
A woman’s breath melting into the primal sounds of nature.
Rihard, eyes closed and focusing on the sounds, slowly opened them.
Redria, sleeping beside him, was in a deep slumber, unaware of his lingering gaze.
“Alright, alright! I’ll die with you. So….”
He recalled her face, her silver hair falling away from her face, and her red eyes that blazed like fire.
At that moment, a shiver ran through Rihard’s chest, and he frowned, rubbing at his chest.
It was an uncomfortable, yet not unpleasant, sensation.
After calming slightly, he removed his hand from his chest and looked back at Redria.
“Without any information about this situation, I suppose I’ll just observe for now.”
Just because he had saved her once didn’t mean he could let his guard down. Even if she wasn’t baring her fangs now, there was no guarantee she wouldn’t in the future.
As he watched Redria sleeping for a while, a thought suddenly crossed his mind.
“If you’re going to keep talking nonsense, I’ll just sleep. You do whatever you want, Your Highness.”
He tilted his head, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
“…Perhaps your face isn’t to my taste.”
He had been serious about proposing marriage.
The powerful opinions of the temple.
The royal family, having lost public support due to a decadent and incompetent emperor.
Perhaps because of this, the faction supporting him wanted him to marry the saintess.
Delaying the marriage repeatedly could only work so many times; once he returned, excuses would no longer hold.
It would be ideal if they could hold the marriage here, before any unavoidable negotiations occurred after his return.
“Mm…”
At that moment, Redria curled up, wrapping her arms around herself.
Rihard carefully took off his jacket and draped it over her.
“Sleep well, my lady.”
Amid the crackling of sparks, a quiet voice spoke.
“Ah… I’m thirsty.”
Feeling a parching dryness in his throat, he opened his eyes.
A bluish dawn light filled the sky—perhaps the sun was just beginning to rise.
By now, the once-roaring campfire had burned out. Looking back at where the crown prince had been, no one remained.
“Where did he go?”
Judging by the lack of smoke and the cold ashes, it seemed the fire had been out for quite some time.
“I told you to wake me up…”
He must have felt a little guilty.
Since it had come to this, he decided to drink some water before looking for the crown prince and pulled a water bottle from his backpack.
He headed toward a pond to wash his face and crouched down.
Whoosh—!
A cold blade touched his neck.
“Why are you here?”
A chill ran down his spine at the voice.
He raised both hands and slowly straightened his posture.
Turning his head slightly as the blade grazed his nape, it pricked a little.
He confirmed that the sword had retreated slightly, then looked at the person pointing it at his neck.
“Duke Meufen…”
It was another male protagonist trapped in the zombie zone—Jaeger Meufen.
At that moment, the Jaeger called by his name scowled as if he were displeased.
‘No wonder.’
Redria had left a scar on that man’s eyebrow.
