Surprisingly, the meeting with the leadership of Canville went well.

  While yes, the fact that Marcus and Stella kept their identity hidden ruffled many feathers, Frederick and Peter both understood the two’s reasoning for keeping the White Watch anonymous. They were dealing with the Death God Cult after all, alongside its many, often high-ranking allies.

  As such, after a few rounds of negotiations, a mutual accord was struck between the White Watch and Canville. When they left the Nelson Palace, Frederick promised to the two that they would support the White Watch should they fight again within Canville against the cult.

  Using [Blink Step] and [Unseen Veil], the two later disappeared back into Pinkerton, casting off the White Watch’s identity. As a minor celebration, Marcus allowed Stella to drag him again into a bunch of restaurants she wanted to try out.

  The food was good, the drinks were good, and most importantly, by evening, Marcus’ belly was filled. While the two celebrated their easy victory, the rest of the city was still stiff.

  The news of the cult’s attack and the death of Marquis Hansa, alongside nearly three dozen soldiers and knights, who were all well-trained and well-equipped, scared many of the city’s citizens. Rumors about the White Watch and their achievements were also spreading.

  Marcus liked that. In his experience, while heroes usually sucked ass in true combat, they were a necessary part of any form of warfare. Back in the olden days, [Saints] and their respective ‘Hero’s Parties’ were at the forefront of Imperial wartime propaganda.

  Even fallen and failed [Saints] would be hailed as legendary, with popes and emperors creating outrageous lies and stories just to rile people up. It was no different here. Partly, the reason why he wanted the White Watch to become famous was because he knew he couldn’t fight a war alone.

  The citizenry of this kingdom seemed utterly demoralized already by the cult’s incessant attacks and terrorism. It was why it was important to give them hope. That was exactly what Stella and Marcus gave them yesterday.

  With hope, one would be better motivated to fight back. Even Marcus got tricked by that. He truly half-expected that the glorious expedition would work out well, all because of bastards selling lies about mankind’s strength.

  It was funny how he was partially doing the same thing now.

  “Sir Marcus,” Stella whined, as Marcus supported her with his shoulder. “You look so funny, hehehe…”

  “We should really retire for the night,” Marcus snorted. “At this rate, you’ll forget to keep up that disguise spell you have on.”

  “A-ah, but I want to visit a nearby place…”

  “Nope, nope. We’re going to the hotel. That's final.”

  “Aww…”

  Her face was utterly flushed red. She was also letting out cute burps uncontrollably. He warned her earlier not to drink alcohol, because even Marcus only drank two shots, but she wanted to play tough. In the end, it turned out she was still an absolute princess, and she couldn’t even survive a bottle of expensive wine.

  “Geez…” Marcus shook his head. “Next time, if we’re celebrating, there will be absolutely no alcohol.”

  “Hmph, you’re so mean. So mean!”

  “Alright, don’t cry on me. This is your fault, so don’t you dare complain.”

  He let her go briefly before kneeling on the road, presenting his back to her.

  “Go on. It’ll be faster this way,” Marcus dryly urged. “Just hold on tight.”

  “Y-you’ll carry me?”

  “You’re going to keel over any second now.”

  “Hmph, you’re lying. I would never…never…nwever…”

  “Shit.”

  And, she did keel over, collapsing as her consciousness died out. Marcus swiftly stood up and caught her. He cursed his luck. It would have looked less awkward if she were on his back.

  But she was too stubborn!

  Now, he’d have to bring her to the hotel on a princess carry. With her disguise spell dying out, he also had to hide her face with her cloak’s hood.

  She was light, though, and quite soft, so it wasn’t exactly a major issue. He simply accepted his fate at this point. He then picked up his pace and rushed to the hotel while carrying Stella in his arms.

  He did that while grumbling about the bastards who stared at him on the way there.

  “It didn’t happen, it didn’t happen, it didn’t happen!”

  Stella curled up into a ball inside her hotel room. She was currently alone in her bed as she tried to nurse the headache from her hangover. Worse, her face was utterly beet red.

  Yesterday, she wanted to celebrate their victory against both the Marquis and Archbishop Selena. Unfortunately, she had way too much fun with Marcus, and she went too far. She drank a lot of wine out of nowhere.

  And as a result…

  The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  Ah, I don’t even want to remember it!

  She sulked, hiding beneath the blankets. She said way too many embarrassing things to Marcus. Then, she walked in public like a drunkard while draped to his side.

  Worst of all, she even dared to fall to the effects of alcohol, forcing Marcus to carry her like some lovestruck maiden straight into the hotel. In public! It was fine if it was just the two of them when he used [Blink Step], but that was different.

  I want to disappear.

  Can I just disappear?

  She pouted a bit as she held her knees close. Maybe sleeping would let her escape for a while? No way, she promised Marcus earlier that she’d help him do magecraft.

  She couldn’t do that.

  But she felt like she couldn't go out and talk to him either.

  “...”

  A few minutes of silence passed in her room. The warm light of the morning sun gently filtered through the windows, and she was starting to finally feel its heat when it struck a small patch of her arm.

  She decided to take a look at her pendant, staring straight at its cracked ruby gem. She had never been this terrified, or well, embarrassed until now. In times like this, Stella usually called out her familiar.

  She truly, truly wanted to have a chat with the great spirit. Unfortunately, even after so many days since Marcus saved her, Lady Siris remained unresponsive. Make no mistake, she still felt Lady Siris inside the pendant, yes. She was alive, and their contract was active and well, but it was as if she was in an extended hibernation.

  And that always worried Stella.

  “I wish I could talk to you about Sir Marcus,” Stella whispered to the pendant. “...I’m sure you’ll know what I should do.”

  Lady Siris was Stella’s main guide in life. While Stella somewhat loved her parents, they were distant compared to her familiar. To them, Stella was just their youngest child, fit only for being married off to some elven nobleman in Sordale.

  Lady Siris, on the other hand, protected Stella and showed her the world, and she was Stella's main confidante. Quite frankly, only Marcus managed to get close enough to Stella’s heart that she considered him a close friend.

  But he was certainly nowhere near close to Lady Siris. There were still many things that Stella wouldn’t be comfortable bringing up to Marcus. That was why she wanted Lady Siris back.

  She began reminiscing about their old days. She was such a cute, fluffy fox when she was in her physical form, and she always floated around Stella to keep watch over her. Stella missed nuzzling her or petting her fur.

  She also missed having her perched on Stella’s head. It was always fun travelling with that furball around. She even imagined that Marcus would be quite amused by Lady Siris too.

  But for now, she was just silent, stuck in Stella’s pendant.

  “He promised to me that he’ll help me out by waking you up,” Stella softly said. “He’s such a kind person, Lady Siris. He always helps me out, even if he’s a bit cold and guarded. That’s why, I think, if you see him, you’ll think he’s a good boy too.”

  There was no reply.

  “I’m going to help him become a [Mage] soon. I truly wish you were here, you know? He’s going to be such a clueless guy about magic, and you know more about magic than I do. Maybe you can roleplay as a great sage again while explaining things to him.”

  Then, Stella smiled.

  “...We’ve finished his clean-up duty too.” Stella finally felt a bit excited. “So trust me, just a little bit more time, and we’ll get to Sordale. I’ll find what you need to bring you back, and then we can talk again, lots and lots. I really miss you, but I won’t disappoint you, Lady Siris!”

  Somehow, even without the great spirit replying to Stella, just talking to her managed to get Stella out of her embarrassed and flustered little shell. Soon, she finally mustered enough courage to step out of her bed and prepare for the day.

  “There she is. Miss ‘I Have a High Alcohol Tolerance’,” Marcus dryly greeted. “Good morning.”

  Stella’s innocent and bright smile was instantly broken, and she pouted at Marcus.

  “Sir Marcus, that’s not how you greet someone in the morning. Where did you pick up such an unpleasant habit?”

  “...My comrades usually looked like shit each morning.”

  “Please discard it then. I never ‘look like shit’ in the morning.” Stella raised her finger, shaking it like a teacher would. “What you should say is, ‘The sun really is bright today, no? I hope you’re having a wonderful morning.’”

  Marcus snorted a bit inside. That was insanely polite and safe. As expected of a sheltered princess. Quite frankly, every morning, that was usually how she greeted Marcus when she initiated things.

  On the other hand, whenever it was Marcus doing the initiating greeting, he would always say it in the driest manner possible. He supposed he was a pesky killjoy in that case. No wonder he has no friends nowadays, except for a goddamned [Saint].

  That truly must mean that he was a lost cause. Normal people wouldn’t even put up with his bullshit; he needed a [Saint] who could tolerate his antics with their endless virtue and patience.

  Shit. I have to try better instead of whining then.

  “Alright, alright.” Marcus tried to smile a bit. “Good morning. Say, have you had breakfast?”

  “Nope! And I’m glad you didn’t go and pick up food without me. I’m planning to visit a nearby confectionery shop with you.”

  “You’re just going to raid that place for cake again. I swear, my pockets are going to run dry at this rate.”

  “Hop on and pick up your pace, Sir Marcus! We’ve got a lot of things to do today!”

  He watched as Stella skipped away cheerfully. She sure seemed quite upbeat today, even after everything that happened last night.

  I swear, this woman will try her best to smile through everything.

  He supposed he could learn a thing or two from her. As he followed Stella, he tried to curl up his lips a bit, though his attempt felt pathetic. That was when the sun’s rays struck him after he exited the hotel.

  He looked around the city.

  People were milling around, many of them still trying to conduct their normal day-to-day lives even after the recent incident. It was peaceful, warm, and lively. And then, there was Stella, waving at Marcus for him to follow her.

  “Sir Marcus! We should really start early today,” Stella said. “Trust me, if you’re going to try forming a magic circle, you have to do it with a full belly, and you’ll probably have to work for it for a full day.”

  Yeah, right. No need for an unpleasant face all the time. This is the world you fought for, no?

  So smile a bit, will ya? Especially when you finally have a lot of things to smile about.

  And so, Marcus tried to lightly smile as he walked forward again, following Stella closely.

  “I guess I fancy a cake too today. I probably deserve one.”

  “Hmm, that’s new coming from you.” Stella placed a hand on her chin, furrowing her brows. Then, she closed her eyes and smiled. “Ah, whatever. I’m the same. I really want cake too!”