The group soon decided to keep moving, the women all went back inside the carriage as Albert manned the horses alone, inside the carriage, Shinku kept staring daggers at Astarotia who was enjoying the now asleep Zeno on her lap while the other women only kept silent in order not to disturb the sleep of their captain, it was a silent ride for everyone.

The sun was starting to set when they stopped in a clearing, there were no forest nor villages nearby. Albert, Melphis, and Meldy set up the tents while Shinku and Astarotia kept watch. Brunhilde and Reina gathered woods for the fire, they managed to collect nothing and in the end, just used dried up grass and some spare woods tied behind the carriage, they all roasted some meat skewers for dinner. They wanted their captain to eat with them but surprisingly, he was still asleep, so after eating, Albert, with the help of Brunhilde and Shinku, carried the heavily armored captain to his and Albert's tent

In the middle of the night, Brunhilde couldn't sleep so she went out of her and Reina's tent to enjoy the night sky. She kept contemplating about their captain's behavior, him being so gloomy for the first time, she didn't what to do. How to cheer him up? what would make him happy? it was these questions that made her doubt if she really knew Zeno, and to be honest, she has no idea about him at all, only that he is strong and kind

"Can't sleep?" Brunhilde heard a voice from behind, she looked back and discovered Astarotia, holding a mug filled with hot tea

"How did you even brew that?" She asked

"I'm a fire mage remember?" Astarotia chuckled as she sat beside her and sipped her tea

"Hey, you like Zeno right?" Brunhilde asked Astarotia

"Yeah" Astarotia replied

"Then, tell me, what do you know about the man you like" Brunhilde asked

"To be honest, I haven't even seen his face" Astarotia chuckled

"Well at least tell me how you came to like him"

"Well, when I first saw him, I was curious, his armor, his weapon, everything about him was different from the rest but with interaction, I noticed that he seemed a bit of a soldier"

"What do you mean a soldier?"

"Have you seen soldiers?"

"Of course I have"

"Then what can you say about them?"

"They're people who trained to protect the city and its people from harm"

"That is correct but Zeno? when he fought, I felt similar determination coming from him, only, it was like he was desperate"

"Desperate?"

"Yes, he always wanted to win, to not lose, that is something I can see as a flaw"

"I kind of... don't see it that way" Brunhilde replied as she thought to herself 'Astarotia was correct that Zeno is desperate but the reason is different'

"Oh? how so?"

"You say that he doesn't want to lose correct? is it because of the saying you can never win without losing? or is it the saying that failure is the mother of success. Either way, I only think that Zeno has already failed and lost so many things that he no longer wants to lose anymore" Brunhilde gave Astarotia a piece of her mind

"I see... if you put it that way, it does make sense... Umu, it seems I was wrong about you after all, tell me, did he show you his face?"

"Uhmm that..." Brunhilde paused as she thought of a reason but before she can even reply, Astarotia followed up

"It's okay, it must really mean he trusts you, I too am curious as to what he looks like but I'll be happier if he shows it to me himself" Astarotia smiled

"You know, if you weren't being so difficult..." Brunhilde murmured

"What was that?" Astarotia asked

"Nothing, nothing at all"

"*sigh* if he were to accept me, I'd rather show him who I am so that when he accepts me, I'll know that he's accepted me"

"You thought this through" Brunhilde stated

"What does that suppose to mean, muscle-headed ex-Royal Guard captain"

"Nothing at all miss analyzer and seducer of the 13 council"

"Well, it's about time we head back to sleep, we still have a lot of stuff to do tomorrow" Brunhilde stood up

"You mean sitting around the carriage right?" Astarotia patted her rear

"It's hard work you know"

"Indeed it is" Astarotia replied as the two women headed off different directions

♠♠♠

I woke up at 5 am, the usual time. I kept moping yesterday but I feel much better now, I talked with Cynthia last night and she kept asking me what the problem was, she was my soon to be bride and we've been together for so long so I told her a bit of my past involving Vicereine, she understood what Alissa and I felt and she cheered me up. I am grateful to her for doing so.

It was only half a days journey till we reach Arcadia kingdom, I walked out of my tent and stretched.

"Oh, not feeling gloomy anymore I see" I heard Astarotia comment

"Yeah, thanks for cheering me up yesterday" I replied

"You don't have to thank me for anything, I did it because I wanted to" She smiled sweetly

"I don't know how to respond to that" I honestly don't

"Then, come and love me" She opened up her arms and kept beckoning me for an embrace

"Hahaha" I laughed before monotonously saying

"No"

"No fair~" Astarotia puffed her cheeks

"So early" I heard someone yawn, I looked and saw Lea

"Morning" I called out to her

"Oh hey, mornin, it's so early in the morning and your already arguing?" Lea stated as she rubbed her eyes

"Lover's quarrel~" Fujo peeked out from his and Rick's tent and happily commented

"Nope, I'm already engaged sooo" I looked at Astarotia before continuing with a grin

"I can't be with Astarotia"

"No!!" Astarotia had her hands on her head and shouted out