The Gap Between You and Me - Chapter 143

That’s pretty good.

Edwin read the letter that had just arrived this morning and thought with a grim smile.

He thought that if they can’t win the battle, they’re definitely going to win the war.

Despite the many children the King of Velicia gave, Bernard was the legitimate son. Edwin found it a little strange that the capital didn’t send reinforcements even though Bernard was cornered.

Only then did Edwin realize why Bernard had led him here.

Bernard must have wanted to stall time. In the meantime, this will allow the allied forces to attack Kustan.

Edwin crumpled the letter he was holding in his hand.

No wonder Bernard seemed to be full of confidence when Edwin faced him on the battlefield.

“This can’t be.”

Theodore, who had brought the letter to Edwin, murmured angrily.

“The high ground is just around the corner, and they want us to come back now? It is nonsense.”

“The central government couldn’t help it either. The castle is on the verge of being captured, and all the troops capable of stopping the allied forces are here.”

Lionelli, standing together with them in the barracks, defended the central government.

“Isn’t there an old saying? Extinguish the most urgent fire first.”

“But in just a little more time, we should be able to capture the capital of Velicia!”

Theodore expressed his dissatisfaction in a fit of anger.

“If only I could capture that Prince hiding like a rat in that fortress.”

“What if you catch him?”

Lionelli asked, frowning.

“Does catching him change anything, Sir Theodore?”

“Well. For example, we could make a deal with the king of Velicia by using him as a hostage.”

“A deal? You don’t know what kind of person that Prince is?”

Lionelli sneered at Theodore’s suggestion.

“He is the Prince with the reputation as the biggest nuisance of the royal family of Velicia. Even though he was born into the direct line, he did not inherit the rightful heir position. Under these circumstances, how much do you think Velicia will bend for him?”

“That’s something you won’t know until you try.”

The two knights started bickering and arguing. Edwin, lost in thought for a moment, quietly raised his hand to stop them.

“I’m sorry, Lord.”

“Lord. Go ahead and give us orders.”

As if the two never even quarreled, they turned to Edwin and politely bowed. They don’t know about other places, but in the military, they had to obey their superiors absolutely.

Heavy silence fell in the barracks. Edwin stared blankly at the crumpled letter in his hand for a while. Then, he quietly opened his mouth.

“The orders of the superior are absolute.”

The voice was nonchalant and monotonous, like reciting doctrines that were in the heart.

Edwin slowly opened his palm and dropped the letter he was holding onto the floor. It was an important letter stamped with the pattern of the Kustan royal family, but now it was just a useless piece of paper to him.

“Tell the entire army to return home as soon as dawn breaks.”

* * *

Behind the barracks was a wide, flat rock. The time was past midnight and approaching dawn. Edwin sat alone on the rock, looking up at the night sky.

The night was clear without a single cloud and the moon was shining exceptionally bright. An endless blue sky. On top of it, there were innumerable stars that glittered like jewels.

Is it because it’s late? There was no sound except for the occasional roar of the wind.

A night of breathtaking silence. A disturbingly peaceful night.

If they hadn’t known anything, they wouldn’t have easily believed that a fierce battle had taken place here just a few days ago.

Rustle.

The sound of a person breaking the thick silence came from behind. Even though the person was wearing military boots, the sound of footsteps was a bit fast and light.

Edwin did not look back. He didn’t have to look to see who it belonged to.

“Lord. It’s late, but you’re still awake.”

The bushes parted and a knight of Kustan, Lionelli, appeared. She was not too surprised to see Edwin, perhaps knowing that he would be here.

“The days seem to be getting warmer. It really feels like spring has arrived.”

“…….”

“Do you mind if I stay by your side for a while?”

“…….”

Edwin answered Lionelli’s cautious request with silence. Knowing that silence means acceptance, she sneaked closer to him.

Lionelli stopped three or four steps from the rock where Edwin was sitting while raising his head. Then she followed his gaze and looked up at the sky he was looking at.

A clear night sky and bright twinkling stars.

Was he looking for a constellation?

Lionelli questioned herself inside. She knew that Edwin often spent the late nights alone looking up at the sky.

What a strange thing, Lionelli always thought. Her superior was a man who was cold as ice and had a dry sensibility like a desert. But he has a hobby of looking up at the night sky like a sentimental adolescent girl. Who would have imagined that?

“Are you preparing to go back?”

Edwin broke the silence and asked Lionelli a question.

“It’s all finished. I’ll bring as many items as possible, but I think we’ll have to leave large items like siege weapons here in order to move quickly.”

“I see.”

“Well, that doesn’t mean the situation is all that bad. When we come back later, we’ll be able to use them again. We can see it as an advantage not having to drag those heavy things around.”

Lionelli laughed lightly as she made a joke. She knew very well that those things would not be left where they were in the distant future, which may be years or even decades later.

A cool wind blew. Lionelli brushed back her soft, flowing hair.

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