"A-Airen... ma’am...?"

    I was stunned.

    The words tumbled clumsily out of my mouth before I could stop them.

    The outfits I was used to seeing her in were always composed—armor lightly fastened over her chest, the attire of a disciplined knight.

    Even when we’d been at the mansion, her clothes had been modest and never too provocative. Well, not that it made a difference—Airen’s figure alone overflowed with femininity regardless of what she wore...

    "...D-Does it look weird?"

    This outfit—this overt declaration of “I’m a woman”—was a night-and-day contrast to what I was used to.

    A neatly tailored dress, the kind nobility might wear for an outing.

    Of course, “neatly tailored” was only the impression it gave at first glance.

    The neckline, open to reveal the deep line of her chest, boldly asserted that the dress was designed to draw attention to her feminine charms.

    The real problem was—Airen’s chest was... massive beyond words.

    Even in regular clothes, her figure was hard to ignore.

    But in something specifically made to emphasize it, the sheer power of it was devastating.

    "Swen?"

    "Ah—yes, yes! Lady Airen."

    I’d been completely spaced out, forgetting to respond.

    Airen, blushing furiously, asked again in confusion.

    "I asked if it looked strange... is it really that strange?"

    "Huh? No, no! Not at all. It’s great. It really suits you. Where did you even find an outfit like this?"

    "Well... I told Reika I’d be spending time with you today, and she dragged me out shopping..."

    Ever since leaving Eingart Castle, I’d been living separately from Lady Airen and Reika.

    While traveling, I’d sleep on the road or in temporary quarters at castles—places that, naturally, kept strict gender separation.

    I thought we’d grown quite close by now, but... had they gotten to the point of recommending each other clothes?

    "Come to think of it, how have the two of you been getting along?"

    "Reika doesn’t have any specific assignments right now, and I was granted time off by our lord as well."

    Unlike me or Lady Airen, Reika didn’t have any official duties outside of combat as a mage.

    She’d worked as a librarian at the Great Library of Eingart, but that was only during periods when she was stationed inside the castle.

    Still, she received her stipend regularly—it was practically a reward for simply being able to use magic.

    "I suggested the three of us come together, but she insisted, ‘The two of you have to meet alone.’ ...Swen, do you have any idea why Reika would say something like that?"

    "...No clue."

    I kind of did, but the thought made me embarrassed, so I just shook my head.

    I couldn’t hide the awkwardness on my face. This kind of consideration... well, I didn’t need it...

    No—honestly, I was grateful.

    "Anyway, Swen. Thank you for inviting me. But... what’s the occasion?"

    "Oh, nothing much... It’s just—this is Valharat Castle, you know?"

    I glanced around lightly as I spoke.

    --

    "Do you remember this place?"

    "Isn’t this the plaza we always passed through on the way to the royal hall?"

    "Exactly. One of our old haunts. Since we’re here again after so long, I thought we could walk around some of the places we used to visit."

    "I see."

    After we escaped from Arnel Castle together, Lady Airen and I had lived under the same roof thanks to Yuri’s... generous hospitality.

    Now that I think about it, it wasn’t until we joined Serpina’s army that our living arrangements actually reflected our own will.

    The first time had been because of Lyn’s harassment.

    The second was Yuri’s meddling.

    But it had been a blessing in disguise.

    Because of that, I got to know Lady Airen—and grew closer to her than anyone else.

    If I ever had to entrust my back to just one person, I wouldn’t hesitate to choose Lady Airen.

    "Shall we go, then?"

    "Mm."

    After a brief moment of hesitation, I figured—this much was fine.

    I held out my hand to her.

    "...!"

    This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

    She looked startled, her face flushing deep red.

    It was so cute I almost gasped aloud—but making a fuss would’ve ruined the moment.

    After a second of hesitation, she silently extended her hand and placed it in mine.

    Rough.

    It was a rough hand—calloused from gripping weapons, worn from battle.

    I didn’t know why, but something about that made my chest tighten.

    I squeezed her hand firmly and started walking.

    ***

    Spending time with her was truly enjoyable.

    Valharat Castle had changed a great deal since we’d lived here, but many of the places filled with our memories—like the tea shop Airen frequented—remained untouched, and we were able to enjoy a meaningful day together.

    And there was one other place that had remained just as we left it—

    "Well if it isn’t Lord Swen! It’s been ages!"

    "Hello. Have you been well?"

    The Nighhardt family mansion—surprisingly—was still standing right where it had always been.

    Back when I served under Yuri, I’d spent more time here than I ever did in the royal hall.

    Thinking back on it now, Yuri had never once used me as a proper combat officer.

    If not for Jinor, I’d have never had the chance to achieve anything under her.

    "Is Lord Jinor not here?"

    "No, he isn’t."

    I’d heard they tried to sell the mansion for a bargain price but couldn’t find a buyer, so they handed over full ownership of the land and house to the servants as part of their retirement package.

    A kind of severance pay, I suppose.

    "And Lady Reika...? She’s well, I hope?"

    "Of course. I’ll tell her to stop by sometime."

    After exchanging a few more pleasantries, we stepped back outside—and that’s when Lady Airen finally asked,

    "Would it have been better if we’d brought Reika along?"

    "No. We’ve got plenty of time. I’m sure we’ll be able to visit her too."

    "You must’ve spent most of your time there, didn’t you?"

    "Yeah. I taught Reika a bit about magic. Though... honestly, I didn’t really teach her anything."

    "I see."

    Airen looked like she was ? Nоvеlιght ? (Read the full story) about to say something, hesitating—then, as if making up her mind, carefully parted her lips.

    "The talk about marriage... that must’ve come up during that time too, right?"

    "...?"

    I glanced at her face.

    She really was still thinking about that, huh.

    Rather than making her worry more with unnecessary explanations, I just wanted to reassure her.

    "You don’t need to overthink it. Like I said—I want to take things slowly, in the proper order."

    Airen didn’t reply right away.

    But eventually, she smiled brightly and gave a quiet nod.

    "Okay, Swen. I trust you."

    I gently patted her head.

    She leaned into it like a cat, completely unbothered by the touch.

    "Ah—remember that place? The one that sold those cookies that paired perfectly with tea?"

    "Of course I remember. You mean the place that sold those cookies we used to snack on?"

    "Let’s stop by."

    "...Yes!"

    And so, Lady Airen and I spent the rest of the day visiting all our old spots around Valharat Castle.

    For me, it was healing—a time away from battles, efficiency, and all the complications of war.

    ***

    Later that night, Airen and I found ourselves walking down a road that was very familiar to the both of us.

    "This path... it’s been a while. This is the way home, isn’t it?"

    "Yes. After finishing work at the barracks, we always used this road."

    Turn right here, through the small alley, then go over there and...

    "We’re here."

    The house Yuri once gave us—our old home—came into view.

    "It’s... gotten pretty worn down, hasn’t it?"

    "It was brand new when we first moved in."

    There must’ve been no one to maintain it. Vines were crawling up the walls.

    There was no light coming from the windows either.

    It felt abandoned... maybe no one had lived here in a long time?

    Without thinking, I grabbed the doorknob.

    Creeaak—

    "...Huh?"

    "It opens?"

    "Apparently so?"

    I paused, feeling a bit awkward for some reason.

    Then carefully opened the door and stepped inside.

    With the help of the moonlight pouring in from the windows, I lit a torch—

    And—

    "Wow... nothing’s changed."

    The table we’d used, the furniture—it was all still there, exactly as we’d left it.

    It didn’t seem like anyone had stayed here since.

    "Even the tea leaves are still here."

    "Planning to take them with you?"

    "Of course. Some of these can’t be found at Eingart Castle—they only grow in this region."

    Unlike our well-prepared departure from Arnel Castle, we’d fled from Valharat Castle in a hurry.

    There’d been no time to pack.

    Not that it mattered much to me—I wasn’t the type to hoard things.

    But for Lady Airen... it must’ve been hard to leave certain things behind.

    "It’s kind of amazing. All of this... it’s just the same. It feels like time stopped in this room."

    I brushed off the dust glittering under the moonlight on the table.

    Right... I remembered now.

    The training dummy in the corner.

    The bed we used to sleep in.

    It was all exactly the same—as if we were still serving under Yuri.

    "Lady Airen, look. Even the bed’s just like we left it."

    "..."

    She didn’t respond.

    I turned toward her.

    "Lady Airen?"

    ...Huh?

    "..."

    Just moments ago, she’d been casually gathering tea leaves—

    Now, her face was beet red, her head lowered.

    She suddenly realized I was watching her and began stammering, just like Reika often did.

    "Uh, uh? A-Ah... y-yes. It’s just... t-time seems to have really stopped here, huh. Hahaha..."

    And only then did it hit me.

    Right now, Lady Airen and I were—

    Alone.

    In a sealed room.

    Beneath the dark night sky.