IYAMD: Episode 34

How much time had passed?

Jaha stirred from sleep, sensing something moving near his face.

“Oh dear, did I wake you?”

A warm palm cupped his cheek, but the drowsiness weighing him down was too strong—he couldn’t even open his eyes.

“Sleep well, Jaha. See you tomorrow.”

The man whispered softly and withdrew his hand.

Jaha, feeling him pull away, reached out with difficulty and grabbed his sleeve. With a small tug, Marsilia ended up perching back on the bed.

Sleep here.

Jaha curled up to make more space and patted the empty spot beside him.

Even without words, Marsilia likely understood his intent.

The bed was spacious enough for one but slightly cramped for two.

Still, it was probably more comforting than sleeping alone.

Jaha turned fully toward the tent wall, pressing himself against it, and closed his eyes again.

He had done all he could—now, he simply had to fall asleep.

His breathing soon deepened, and without even noticing when Marsilia lay down beside him, Jaha quickly drifted off again.

—

But something kept tickling his ear.

It felt damp, like breath—or perhaps speech.

And it was warm.

Maybe it was an insect.

Jaha curled up to avoid it, waving a hand blindly and even pulling the thin blanket over his head.

Somewhere nearby, he thought he heard a quiet chuckle.

For some reason, frustration welled up inside him.

With a final, forceful swing of his arm, he clung to the blanket and fell back into slumber.

—

Though summer had deepened, the morning air was still a little chilly.

The parts of him outside the blanket—his head and feet—felt cool.

He wiggled his toes against the air, and as warmth spread through them, his eyes fluttered open.

It was too hot.

Everywhere except his exposed extremities was unbearably warm.

His back, in particular, felt uncomfortably hot.

Frowning, Jaha squinted and stirred, only to find himself trapped by something large.

What…?

As he rubbed his eyes in an attempt to wake up, he noticed the thick arm draped across his chest.

Turning his head, he was met with Marsilia’s sleeping face.

Why is he sleeping here?

Didn’t he say I could have the bed to myself?

He had no memory of what he’d done in his sleep.

Annoyed, Jaha frowned and tried to remove the arm.

But the moment he did, it returned—Marsilia, still asleep, instinctively pulled him closer.

Jaha sighed and resigned himself to lying back down.

At that, Marsilia hummed in contentment and curled up.

Wrapped entirely in the large man’s embrace, Jaha took a moment to adjust, exhaling the tension in his body.

But as soon as he relaxed, long limbs tightened around him again.

It was suffocating.

Too hot, too warm, and his breath tickled Jaha’s ear.

Even as he struggled to pry himself free, Marsilia clung to him as if he were some precious treasure.

Turning his head to wake him, Jaha froze—Marsilia’s face was too close.

His breath brushed against Jaha’s nose, carrying a faint, subtle scent.

At that moment, Malek’s voice rang from outside the tent.

“Your Majesty, are you awake? It’s time to prepare for departure.”

As Malek lifted the tent flap and stepped inside, his eyes met Jaha’s.

“Ah—! My apologies!”

With a startled expression, Malek quickly withdrew before Jaha could even ask for help.

Left with no choice, Jaha let out a resigned sigh and settled back down.

Just when is this man planning to wake up?

Each time Marsilia’s slow, deep breaths brushed against his ear, Jaha grew more and more flustered.

But waking him up… might not be the best idea.

Marsilia had been unable to rest properly for days, all while continuously using his power.

Even if the blessing he performed each morning wasn’t particularly draining, he had still been expending his strength for a long time.

And Jaha was part of the reason why.

So he couldn’t say anything—just waited for Marsilia to wake up on his own.

Sweat began to bead along his back from the heat radiating between them.

As time passed, even his face grew warm, and a thin sheen of sweat dampened his forehead.

He exhaled, unknowingly gasping slightly—

Only to be startled by a soft chuckle.

Marsilia, still half-asleep, opened his languid green eyes.

With a deep sigh, he murmured in a husky, sleep-laden voice,

“Did you sleep well, Jaha?”

Then, as if unable to resist the pull of sleep, he buried his face against Jaha’s shoulder, letting out a drowsy hum.

His arms tightened again.

The pressure squeezed a small breath out of Jaha.

Hearing it, Marsilia chuckled once more before finally loosening his hold.

Jaha wasted no time.

Practically launching himself out of bed, he landed on the floor with a thud.

Still lying on the bed, Marsilia—his tunic hanging loosely off his frame—ran a hand through his tousled hair and closed his eyes again, as if ready to go right back to sleep.

Frustration surged.

Jaha turned, lifted a foot—

Then, at the last moment, instead of kicking Marsilia’s back, he stomped against the side of the wooden bed frame and stormed out of the tent.

—

The difference in temperature between inside and outside the tent was noticeable.

Taking in the cool air, Jaha finally wiped the sweat from his forehead and looked around for Malek.

Standing at a distance, Malek averted his gaze the moment their eyes met, bowing deeply.

He was avoiding looking at him.

Jaha approached and gestured toward the tent—letting him know that the emperor was awake.

“Has His Majesty risen?”

Jaha nodded.

Malek picked up a prepared water jug and entered the tent.

Once Marsilia washed his face, he’d finally be fully awake.

—

Morning came early in the military camp.

Most of the soldiers were already up, cleaning their tents.

A few were preparing breakfast.

Scanning the camp, Jaha spotted Gerald sitting near a campfire and approached him.

Gerald, still groggy, rubbed the sleep from his eyes before shifting slightly to make room.

“Did you sleep well?”

Because there were many knights around, Gerald asked in the common Western Continent tongue.

Jaha nodded.

One of the knights preparing breakfast poured tea into a wooden cup and handed it to him.

“I didn’t expect the march to be this grueling. I thought I was quite used to riding, but… I feel like my whole body is falling apart.”

Gerald groaned as he accepted his tea, looking utterly exhausted. Even though Jaha didn’t respond, Gerald continued chatting on his own.

Because the emperor had entrusted the army’s provisions and supplies to Gerald’s merchant guild, he had been struggling to arrange shipments in each territory they passed through. Apparently, even the vanguard’s supplies had come from his caravan.

“Our guild will be bringing the rest of the rations and supplies. His Majesty seems to be planning to stay for over a month, which worries me.”

A month.

Would it be fine to fight for that long?

Jaha had never seen Marsilia in battle, so he simply listened in silence.

Then, as Marsilia emerged from the tent, a question surfaced in Jaha’s mind.

Why doesn’t he ask for my help?

Surely, Marsilia knew.

That Jaha’s martial prowess surpassed that of the knights.

Even if Jaha himself didn’t remember it, he had attacked the palace guards upon his arrival—Marsilia must have figured it out.

Yet, Marsilia never once asked him to join the fight.

Even in a situation where every extra hand would be valuable.

The only thing Marsilia wanted was for Jaha to stay by his side.

In other words, to not run away. That was all.

Jaha brushed his damp hair back as the man approached.

He wanted to ask—Why don’t you ask for my help?

And at the same time, he reflected on his own thoughts.

Had he been expecting to fight alongside him?

Was he… disappointed that Marsilia hadn’t asked?

As Marsilia drew near, he took the teacup from Jaha’s hands.

A soft light flickered between his fingers as he purified it before drinking the remaining tea in one gulp.

Jaha, robbed of his tea without warning, shot him a glare.

Instead of returning the cup, Marsilia crouched down beside him and asked,

“Did you wash your face?”

The question was so mundane that it irritated Jaha.

He wanted to ask—Is that really all you have to say?

But no sound came out.

Despite the frustration churning inside him, his throat remained tightly sealed.

Feeling suffocated, Jaha pressed his fist against his chest in agitation.

Immediately, Marsilia covered his hand, his palm resting exactly over the spot Jaha had struck.

The small motion drew the attention of those around them.

Marsilia, of course, didn’t seem to care.

Jaha, however, was very aware of their gazes.

And when Gerald, unable to ignore it any longer, let out an awkward cough—

“You’ll hurt yourself.”

Marsilia’s calm voice made Jaha grit his teeth.

With a sharp glare, Jaha yanked the man’s hand away from his chest.

He was unbearably irritating.

Everything this man had done since this morning—

Had made Jaha’s face burn.