"So?"
Reian hurriedly cut in, worried that if this kept going, Silverna and Marlin might really end up pointing spears and swords at each other under the pretense of sparring.
"What's the reason you haven't sent a letter?"
At his question, Silverna glanced at him and let out a sigh.
She didn't like having to explain it herself, but she figured that saying it now would stop people from bothering her about it any further.
"If I start sending letters… I think I won't be able to stop."
"..."
"..."
The Leviath siblings shot her sharp looks, but Silverna was actually being serious.
"You know how letters kind of make you say all the things you normally can't? I'm afraid I'll say too much, so I've been avoiding it on purpose."
"..."
"..."
To be completely honest—
It was also because she missed him so much that exchanging letters might make it unbearable.
But that part, Silverna didn't say out loud.
In any case, Reian tilted his head after hearing her explanation.
"Should I say that's good self-control… or a lack of it?"
Since she said once she started writing, she wouldn't be able to stop, maybe calling it self-control was more accurate.
"Well then, should I include this in the letter I'm sending to Count Logan? He seems to be waiting for your reply."
"Huh? Really?"
At the mention of someone waiting for her, a bright smile spread across Silverna's face.
She found herself too easily pleased by such simple words, but given how far apart they were, she figured this much was fine.
Just then—
"Young lady—!"
Her closest friend, comrade, and self-proclaimed romance mentor, Anna, came running up.
"Oh, Anna."
"Hey there."
Reian didn't know, but Silverna, Anna, and even Marlin had become surprisingly close.
The reason? Anna's collection of beloved romance novels.
Silverna had eagerly read them to study romance, and Marlin had used them to learn how to express emotions more richly.
Of course, in all honesty, it wasn't just for the sake of learning.
After all, the North was the frontlines, and there wasn't much else to do here.
Even while being drenched daily in the blood of rampaging beasts, reading about love in novels would make their hearts flutter. That's what it meant to be a woman.
"The Leviath siblings? I thought you'd be sleeping since your shift was over."
"We were just chatting."
"Anna, can I borrow Volume 3 of 'Promise on the Blade'?"
"You finished it already, Marlin? Hold on! I'll bring it right away!"
Seeing Marlin blaze through her favorite books made Anna feel like she was raising a promising junior.
"Hey, what are you doing? You called for me."
Silverna, who had been listening, poked Anna's side with her finger and sighed.
Only then did Anna snap back to attention and turn to Silverna.
"The Margrave asked you to come quickly! He looked really upset—he seemed really mad!"
"Father's angry?"
It was rare—extremely rare—for Uldren Caldias to get angry.
Especially while he was stationed in the North doing his duty like now.
'Did something serious happen?'
'Could it be another large colony like last time?'
If so, it wasn't just a big problem.
Without a proper wall, there was no way to stop a colony-level beast offensive.
Even if they managed to stop it, the damage would be devastating.
They could lose all the progress they'd made on the fortifications just like that.
Silverna entered the large command tent.
The warmth inside touched her skin, and she gave a little shiver as she stepped in front of Uldren.
"You called for me?"
"…What's the situation outside? Did you stand your shift today?"
"I'm about to go now."
Silverna was a bit confused by the out-of-the-blue question.
'What's going on?'
Even Selene Caldias, standing behind, was smirking.
'…Wait. Why is Mother in this tent?'
This was the operations tent, usually used for military matters.
'Is this some kind of family talk?'
Silverna glanced at Uldren, wondering if she'd misunderstood by coming as a soldier instead of a daughter.
His demeanor didn't feel like the Margrave's—it felt like that of a father.
"Have you eaten?"
"It's almost lunch. Of course I haven't."
Even though he had called her here, it was obvious he was intentionally avoiding the main topic by talking about something else.
"What's going on? If you have something to say, just say it. I need to get to my shift."
Urged by Silverna, Uldren's expression darkened even more. In the end, Selene, who was standing behind him, gently placed her hand over his large one and smiled.
"I'm pregnant."
It was hard for Silverna to fully grasp what she had just heard.
Pregnant? So, in other words—
"You're going to have a younger sibling."
Selene said it shyly, her cheeks slightly flushed, but Silverna couldn't see this as a good thing at all.
Only one thought filled her mind.
"…How, exactly?"
She wanted to ask how something like that could happen in the middle of this chaos.
Honestly, she had no desire to know anything about her parents' nighttime activities, but this felt like something she needed to confirm.
"Everyone's so busy right now, so how is something like that even possible? Father kept saying he was tired. That he just wanted one day to rest."
"That's exactly why I said—"
Uldren tried to speak, but Selene jabbed him in the side to shut him up, then answered with a composed smile.
"Being busy doesn't really matter when it comes to time between husband and wife."
"…What is that supposed to mean?"
"In love, things like circumstance or position don't really matter."
"…."
This was torture.
Why did she have to be subjected to such an unfiltered view of her parents' romance?
Silverna furrowed her brow, clearly uncomfortable, and Selene, smiling playfully, teased her.
"Oh my, why are you reacting like that? Isn't it a good thing? You're getting a younger sibling."
"I'm not a five-year-old, you know. I'm not at an age where having a sibling is something to celebrate. And honestly, I'll probably be the one taking care of the kid more than Mom will…"
In reality, Silverna would probably be more involved than her own mother.
Watching Silverna grumble, Uldren showed a strange, complex emotion that even she didn't notice.
Selene, meanwhile, covered her mouth with a hand and let out a small laugh, finding her daughter's innocence endearing.
"Silverna, if…"
Uldren hesitated for a moment.
It was clearly humiliating to say this himself, but under the firm gaze of his wife, he had no choice.
"If this child is a boy… then he will succeed the Caldias family, not you."
"He might be a bit young, but that's only natural. Still, we don't even know for sure if the child is a boy yet. Isn't it too early to talk about this?"
Silverna looked baffled.
To talk about heirs and succession when the baby was barely growing in the womb felt like grasping at clouds.
Then Selene added more explanation.
"Silverna, we're a noble family. We want to prevent any pointless competition or conflict over the position of family head before it happens."
Naturally, Helmut came to mind, and Silverna gave a shrug.
"I'm not that attached to the family head position anyway."
"Yes, I know. But the world might not see it that way. That's why we'd like you to be open to the possibility."
"…Possibility?"
Silverna felt an excess of warmth in Selene's tone.
And that warmth stirred her heart, making it beat louder.
Uldren let out another deep sigh, then plainly told his oblivious daughter:
"If the child is a boy… we'll need to find a noble man who could marry you and be accepted into our family."
"And on top of that—"
Selene added with a playful wink.
"He should be handsome, strong, respectful of the North, and at least a count…"
—Wouldn't it be perfect if he were someone you love?
As she listened, Silverna's eyes widened.
Up until now, she had lived entirely for the North since childhood.
But she had never once expected any reward from it. That life had always been her duty, and more than that, it was her honor—something she could never abandon.
But now…
It felt like the North was whispering to her.
—Thank you.
—So take a break.
"…Ah."
Letting out a short gasp, Silverna looked up. Selene smiled at her and said:
"Take a little trip to the capital. Try to find someone. You might be surprised how hard that is."
"So—"
Uldren, folding his arms, nodded as if it pained him.
"I'll understand if it takes a while."
Hearing that she wouldn't have to return to the North for a while, Silverna's eyes widened again.
"For a while—?"
Unconsciously, a bright smile spread across her face as she nodded.
"It's probably going to take a while."