Sigh~
Miller’s heavy sigh reverberated through the quiet room with pure exhaustion as he watched the dipping sun paint the horizon orange through the window.
“It’s far more exhausting than actually going to a physical battle, huh? Discussions with no end in sight, I mean,” Kenny commented with a sympathetic smile, finishing up tidying the thick stack of papers in the room.
“It’s significantly worse when the people at the table are actively looking to work against you. The vassals clearly want to force me to shift my loyalties away from the Third Prince and toward one of the other factions, since that looks like the easiest, laziest solution for them,” Miller replied, standing up and stretching his sore shoulders.
“Once the thought of surrendering clouds a soldier’s mind, they lose all judgment necessary for winning,” Kenny quoted with a grin. “I’d say your late uncle’s words can be applied to just about any situation, really.”
“He was indeed a decently wise man,” Miller murmured. He started walking toward the exit of the room when Kenny suddenly remembered something.
“Ah... that’s right, the Viscountess has returned to the castle. She should be heading to the dining room soon. Stella asked me to convey whether you would be joining her Ladyship tonight or not.”
Miller stopped dead in his footsteps, his mind instantly flashing back to the sweet morning forehead kiss and the quiet night they had spent wrapped in each other's arms. A deeply conflicted, almost pained expression crossed his face as he turned back to his friend. “Kenny... Do you really think it's right for someone like me to crave her love and affection?”
“Hmm? Where on earth is this coming from all of a sudden? Of course it is, her Ladyship is your wife,” Kenny replied matter-of-factly.
“No, I mean... I just—” Miller struggled to find the words, looking down at his large, scarred hands. “She told me that her ultimate ambition in life is simply to have a loving family and a happy existence. And I... I saw that as a chance to finally receive affection, because I have always secretly wanted to experience something like it. Is it really right for me to weaponize her desperate will to love someone just to satisfy my own selfish greed for warmth?”
“I honestly don’t get why you are making something so simple incredibly complicated for no reason,” Kenny laughed softly, stepping over to pat his commander roughly on the back. “Say, Do you even know how Stella and I actually came to be together?”
Miller simply shook his head. “I only know as much as everyone else does. One day, you two just casually announced to everyone that you were dating.”
Kenny nodded, his gaze softening as they began walking out into the corridor. “Just like you, I never received proper affection growing up. After all, I was thrown straight onto the brutal battlefields as an orphan, and it was the exact same case for Stella, of course.”
He looked ahead as they walked. “There was no fairytale-like spark that magically brought us together. It was just a mutual decision we made after surviving and working tightly together on the frontlines for a long time. I don’t know if the kind of love talked about in romance novels and theater plays actually exists in the real world, the kind where a sudden surge of raw emotion sparks perfect love in a single instant. But what I do know for a fact is, in any real relationship, a person has to make a conscious choice to start it.”
Miller stopped in his tracks, intently hanging onto every word as Kenny offered a warm smile.
“Stella told me the exact same thing when I panicked and asked her if being greedy for her love was wrong,” Kenny said, pausing right before the heavy doors of the family dining room. “Just like every single human being naturally craves to receive affection and attention... everyone is also actively seeking a safe place to pour their own affection and attention into someone else. So, it isn’t a sin to accept someone's affection when your presence is simultaneously satisfying a deep, beautiful need within them, too.”
He pushed the dining room door open, gesturing with his hand for Miller to enter. “Don’t get hung up on these useless, looping thoughts. Try to actually enjoy your life, your lordship, and...”
Miller walked past him into the warm room, still processing the words and not knowing exactly what to say, as Kenny delivered his final, parting advice.
“...and try your absolute best to fulfill her ambition. After all, somewhere deep in your heart, that ambition belongs to you as well.”
After dinner, in the comfort of the Viscountess’s bedroom, Francesca and Miller sat opposite each other, completely focused on a serious game of chess.
Miller carefully slid his piece into place and offered a warm smile. “I think I am finally starting to understand why you enjoy playing games so much. I'm actually having a wonderful time.”
Francesca analytically evaluated Miller’s new position, her eyes narrowing as she calculated her counter-move. Placing her piece down, she replied, “I can tell. After all, it was you who eagerly initiated to play a game tonight.”
He instantly countered her move, his fingers moving without a shred of hesitation. “Well... I was thinking about putting in a lot more effort into our relationship... you know?”
Francesca was completely taken aback by his uncharacteristic smoothness. A sudden, intense tingling sensation fluttered in her chest, causing her fingers to slip. She accidentally misplaced her knight, scrambling to correct it immediately. “That’s an invalid move... ahem.”
Miller smiled warmly, deeply enjoying the sight of Francesca getting so easily flustered. “I heard you went around the city today?” he asked softly, changing the subject. “How was it...?”
“I was trying to build a foundation of trust with the citizens,” Francesca replied, recovering her composure. “And I must say, I really like the people here.” With a sudden, confident smirk, she made a dramatic sweep across the board to capture Miller’s rook.
Miller's gaze sharpened as he began to strategize far more seriously. “Hmm, you are remarkably good at this, Francesca. But...” Moving his queen with absolute precision, he completely overturned her defense in a single move. “...I happen to have a bit more experience when it comes to the art of war.”
“Oh, come on!” Francesca groaned, realizing she had been completely defeated.
Miller let out a deep, victorious chuckle as she playfully vented her frustration by scattering the remaining pieces across the board. “Like I said,” he laughed, watching her pout, “I have come to truly enjoy this.”
Gently calming her down, Miller stepped over and placed a warm, soothing hand on her shoulder. “Shall we get some rest? It’s getting quite late.”
Francesca nodded softly. Miller scooped her up into his arms, effortlessly carrying her over and placing her gently onto the mattress before climbing in beside her. He wrapped his strong arms around her waist, pulling her close against his chest.
“At the theater today, the citizens were discussing building a communal coop to combat the threat of winter starvation,” Francesca murmured, settling into his embrace. “I suggested a structural method to make the entire system more fair and systematic. Everyone in the audience seemed to be in complete agreement that it was a fantastic idea.”
“Hmm,” Miller hummed, resting his chin on her hair as he listened.
Francesca continued, “Has starvation really been such a severe problem during the winter freezes here?”
“It was exceptionally bad last winter when I first took over the territory,” Miller replied solemnly. “It's a common struggle throughout the freezing North, but it is particularly devastating in our Viscounty due to our isolation. Are you thinking of turning this communal coop into an official government project?”
“No. It absolutely needs to remain a voluntary, community-led project,” Francesca explained. “The people already harbor deep distrust toward the nobility given how last winter turned out. If the castle tries to directly interfere and mandate it, what little good faith we've built might shatter completely. Currently, acting strictly in an advisory role is much better. It makes the public feel like they've achieved a victory on their own terms, which will exponentially boost their morale and long-term goodwill.”
Miller marveled at her psychological strategy. It was a stark, brilliant contrast to what his council of vassals would have suggested, as they always preferred heavy-handed mandates.
“So, about the infrastructure... has there been any actual progress regarding the road issue?” she asked, turning around in his embrace to look up into his face.