Engagement - Prelude
Lena, Leo, the soldiers, and the warriors left Avril Castle, heavily armed.
From the distant castle, the sounds of horns and drums echoed like thunder. Leo looked back, a strange feeling washing over him, and Lena, by his side, wore a wistful expression.
"When do you think we can return?"
"Well..."
The war would continue until at least summer. The end was nowhere in sight.
The warriors and soldiers marched for a month, following the knight leading them.
The march was truly grueling. Despite the cool weather, the soldiers, laden with heavy equipment, were drenched in sweat, their feet swollen and blistered.
As night fell, the march halted, and they were given a late dinner and time to rest. The soldiers, shedding their gear, limped towards their rations.
Lena was no exception.
"Ugh, my feet are killing me."
"I told you to take your boots off."
Lena's feet were covered in blisters.
Not just Lena, but all the warriors who lacked marching experience were sitting around, groaning in pain.
Most of the warriors simply popped their blisters, but Leo went to the cooking area and brought back boiling water.
"Give me your foot."
He dipped Lena's foot in the hot water.
After soaking in the hot water for a while, the blisters burst on their own. It was much more hygienic than popping them directly and also helped soothe her tired feet.
Back in the army, they used to pierce blisters with needles and thread them with string. The string, soaked by the water, would slowly dry, draining the blister. It was a way to get rid of blisters with minimal puncture, but since he didn't have a needle now, he chose the next best thing.
"Ah... That feels much better. Leo, how are your feet fine?"
"You get blisters because you keep your boots on when your feet hurt. If you walk carefully, you won't get any."
He had experience marching from his time in the military. A Sergeant in the Republic of Korea Army rarely got blisters.
"Wait here. I'll set up the tent."
Leaving Lena, Leo went to fetch a tent.
At night, the soldiers would unload tents from the wagons following them and sleep. It was nothing fancy, just a large, thick cloth propped up with branches.
Three people were supposed to share one tent, but Lena and Leo used one by themselves. The soldiers didn't share quarters with the warriors, and the Einar tribesmen, aware of their relationship, didn't intrude.
Lena limped into the tent. As they lay down side by side to rest, Lena turned to face him.
"This already feels like we're married."
"I wouldn't want to live in a place like this, but I guess it's more than enough for a honeymoon suite?"
They exchanged bright smiles.
Lena gazed at Leo with loving eyes.
He looked so handsome bathed in the moonlight. This was her man, who followed her even to the battlefield.
And he was taking such good care of her during the march... She loved him even more now.
"Leo, want to?"
"Want to what?"
"You know..."
"You want to do it while we're all dirty and haven't washed up?"
Lena pouted.
"Ugh, you're no fun. The girls told me guys go crazy when you say that."
Leo found her antics adorable and flicked her forehead.
"Ow! You jerk!"
"Just go to sleep. I'm exhausted."
“You weakling of a man. Can’t even get it up, can you? My fate is completely twisted. Marrying a eunuch.”
"Keep provoking me, and you'll regret it."
"What? What are you going to do about it?"
"Seriously, what's gotten into you today? Did you lick some bellflower sap?"
Bellflower sap was used as a poultice. It was a tip his father had given him, saying it was good for relieving tired legs after a long march, so he had brought plenty.
However, the extracted sap of bellflower was also used as an aphrodisiac.
"I did not!"
They bickered late into the night.
* * *
We arrived at a small city after a month of marching.
However, this was only the halfway point. The soldiers who departed from Avril Castle joined forces with troops mobilized from other locations and began marching again.
Now a sizable force, we could no longer see the end of the line when we looked back.
As the size of the troops grew, temporary commanders were assigned to lead each unit. The Einar tribe warriors were grouped into a single unit under the command of a captain.
The captain, a man with a grumpy demeanor and a habit of sniffing his bulbous nose, approached Lena and Leo on the first day of encampment, picking on them.
"Why are you two the only ones sharing a tent? This is a mess. Are you two on a little romantic getaway or something?"
Lena was flustered and at a loss for words, but Leo knew the solution in such situations.
"I apologize, Captain. We're engaged... We are sorry for acting inappropriately."
As he spoke, he discreetly gestured with his hand, making sure only the captain could see. A silver coin subtly came into view.
"Oh? Hmm, well, it wouldn't be right to force another warrior to squeeze in with you two lovebirds. I understand."
Pretending to be understanding, the captain walked away.
Bribes were useful even in the military. With a little bit of money, they could avoid minor inconveniences. If he went to the captain later and slipped him a few more silver coins, he wouldn't bother them anymore.
Leo felt a sense of pride for effectively utilizing {Initial Funds} and {Rules of Back Alley}.
Lena, oblivious, fluttered around, sighing in relief.
"What? I thought we were going to get in huge trouble! That was close."
"Right? He's a very considerate man."
Leo said with a sly grin.
He hoped she would remain unaware of these trivial realities for as long as possible.