TOPWL 248

“…Ah.”

Before Yudit could say a word, Khalid wiped the spilled porridge away with a napkin. Khalid acted with such casual, emotionless efficiency that Yudit felt disappointed. Khalid noticed his reaction and asked with a confused expression.

“What is it?”

“…Are we not going to do it?”

Khalid’s spoon faltered at Yudit’s question.

“Do you want to?”

“It is not exactly that… I simply wish to stay close to you.”

“You have become quite honest.”

Khalid smiled as if he were in a pleasant mood. He scraped the bowl clean and fed the final spoonful to Yudit.

“We will not do it today.”

“…Why?”

“I want to spend every remaining moment ensuring you are fed and well-rested.”

Khalid wiped Yudit’s mouth with the napkin and then personally brought water for him to rinse his mouth. Once the task was finished, he held Yudit’s hands and led him in three slow circles around the room before guiding him back to the bed. A warm water bottle had been placed inside, making the sheets cozy and hot. To Yudit’s own surprise, a wave of drowsiness washed over him again.

“I do not wish to sleep….”

Yudit spoke as he struggled to keep his heavy eyelids open beneath the covers. Khalid ignored Yudit’s attempt to pull the blanket down. He tucked the fabric back up to Yudit’s chin and patted his gently chest.

“You will sleep today. All through the day.”

“I must wait until the soldiers assemble. I can rest then.”

“I am saying this because I know you will not rest then.”

Khalid flicked gently Yudit’s forehead.

“To be honest, I want to tell you to prioritize your own body above all else, soldiers be damned. But I know you will not listen.”

Khalid brushed Yudit’s hair aside and delicately touched his long eyelashes with his fingertips.

“So, I will ensure you sleep soundly at least while you are with me.”

“But when I wake… you will not be here, Khalid.”

It felt like a waste to spend time sleeping when he could be with Khalid, especially since Khalid was ​Read on​heading toward a battlefield.

“Perhaps I should just go with you.”

“We must travel separately regardless. You know this.”

Khalid had decided to depart first for the capital with two thousand elite knights. They would ride through the night and eat meager meals on the move. Their pace would naturally differ from Yudit, who had to lead the infantry and transport supplies.

The child in Yudit’s womb was healthy, but he could not afford to push himself by riding day and night. It was logical for Khalid to lead the advance party while Yudit led the main force to the capital. Even though Yudit understood the reasoning, he simply did not want to be apart.

“You must not get hurt. Never.”

Yudit pleaded, his hand gripping Khalid’s finger.

“I promise. I will not die, and I will not get hurt.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

Khalid hugged Yudit and kissed his forehead.

“We will meet again soon. And the next time we see each other, it will be the day you become Emperor.”

“Will such a day come?”

“It is right before us.”

Khalid spoke in a gentle voice as he smoothed Yudit’s hair.

“So, sleep even a little. You will be far busier after you take the throne.”

Yudit eventually succumbed to Khalid’s schemes, lulled by the rhythmic patting and the sweet words. His eyelids grew heavier until he finally drifted into sleep.

“Before you leave… you must wake me. Understood…?”

“As you command.”

Yudit fell deep into the clutches of sleep the moment he heard that confirmation.

***

Yudit woke only after Khalid had finished all his preparations. Perhaps because he had slept soundly for a few hours, his condition had visibly improved. However, when he saw Khalid fully armed and wearing his gauntlets, he regretted falling asleep.

“Why that expression again?”

“…I simply feel the sting of parting.”

“Don’t be sad. We will see each other again soon.”

When Yudit looked dejected, Khalid sighed and pulled something from his vest.

“This is a treasure of mine. I will lend it to you for a while, so keep it safe.”

Khalid handed him a handkerchief. It was embroidered with Khalid’s name. The pattern of the embroidery felt strangely familiar. Yudit squinted to examine the cloth and realized it was a gift he had given Khalid in the past.

“Is this the one… I gave you?”

“Indeed. I use it quite well. For many purposes.”

“Many purposes?”

“Well, I use it to wipe away sweat, and I use it when I miss you.”

Yudit understood the implication a moment later and his face turned bright red. His reaction made Khalid chuckle.

“It is my most precious possession. Hold onto it and return it to me later.”

Yudit clutched the handkerchief and caught its scent. Even though it had been washed clean, a trace of Khalid’s fragrance remained, proving he used it often. Yudit nodded as he held the cloth.

“I will certainly return it.”

“Good. Don’t come outside. It is cold.”

Yudit completely ignored Khalid’s advice and pulled on a thick robe. The garment was heavy and effectively hid his growing stomach, which made it one of his favorite items of late.

Most of the preparations were complete by the time he stepped outside. Khalid, having finished his final inspection, turned his gaze toward Yudit. Khalid’s eyes lingered for a moment on Yudit’s hair fluttering in the wind, his eyes, the tip of his nose, his lips, and finally the rounded curve of his belly. Yudit also took his time scanning Khalid’s forehead, the bridge of his nose, his firm jaw, and his armored body. They engraved each other’s image into their minds.

“I will follow you shortly.”

“Don’t push yourself. You are with child and your time is near.”

Feeling uneasy, Khalid earnestly instructed. Yudit nodded in understanding. Just before the departure, he took a careful step toward Khalid. The latter reached out, cradled the back of Yudit’s head, and pressed their lips together. It was a brief kiss.

“We move out.”

In response to Khalid’s command, the knights skillfully urged their horses forward. They had only just departed, yet Yudit watched for a long time as they shrank into dots in the darkness.

***

The soldiers began to arrive at a terrifying speed starting the day after Khalid left. Their numbers reached approximately seven thousand. Seeing the density of the crowd, Yudit felt relieved that they had secured a victory before this point.

“Shall we conclude today’s meeting here?”

Noban spoke in a concerned voice, having noticed Yudit’s visible exhaustion.

“I have not yet heard all the reports.”

“I will submit written reports separately. The hour is already quite late.”

Yudit looked outside and saw a bright full moon hanging in the sky. He nodded.

“Very well. Let’s stop here for today. You all worked hard.”

“Rest well, Commander.”

The men rose from their seats simultaneously at Yudit’s word. He stayed behind for a moment. He watched their retreating backs and noticed them stretching and yawning. It seemed these men, who were used to roaming battlefields, found the constant review of documents quite tedious. As the number of soldiers grew, even simple tasks required mountains of paperwork. This was a tiring ordeal for Yudit as well.

“Commander.”

Yudit turned his head at the call to find Noban looking at him with a worried expression.

“Are you feeling unwell?”

“No, I am fine.”

“Your month is near, yet you seem to be overexerting yourself. It would be better to let the captains handle most matters while you rest.”

“I am alright. But do I look… that tired?”

If Noban, who rarely intruded, was saying this, Yudit must have looked visit our site significantly fatigued. Noban, a man incapable of lying, awkwardly nodded.

“It worries me to see you push yourself so hard when you are so far along in your pregnancy.”

“That is why I am traveling by carriage instead of a horse. It is quite embarrassing for a commander.”

Because his due date was approaching, the court physician had judged that traveling by horse for several days was impossible. Consequently, Yudit could not lead from the front. He had to travel in the middle of the procession with the other carriages. That made him feel quite sheepish.

“Commander, you have already led this army magnificently. You achieved incredible results for your first campaign. You have absolutely no reason to feel ashamed.”

Noban spoke with a serious voice. Yudit had meant his comment lightly, so Noban’s grave response made him feel slightly flustered.

“I did not expect you to think so highly of me….”

“Your Highness, here you are.”

Darham’s voice echoed from across the hallway. Dressed in his royal attire, Darham looked more dignified than usual.

“It seems all preparations will be finished by this evening. You should be able to depart tomorrow morning.”