The long, long Northern War has finally ended.

And today.

Deon Blackwood returns.

The space before the castle gates was packed with people.

Everyone was waiting for the return of the victorious hero.

I was no different.

He was my husband, whom I hadn't seen in a year.

The sound of galloping hooves echoed from afar.

Soon after, the knights came into view.

Cheers erupted from the crowd.

But.

My gaze was fixed on the one person at the very front.

Deon.

You've returned safely.

The relief that washed over me was short-lived.

I froze where I stood.

On Deon's horse, a woman I had never seen before was held in his arms.

With a doll-like face and long silver hair, she leaned against his chest, half-wrapped inside Deon's cloak.

My heart sank heavily.

Deon stopped his horse in front of me.

And quite naturally.

He held the woman's waist and helped her down from the horse.

The surrounding crowd began to murmur at the sight.

Deon didn't care about those stares.

In fact, he even held onto her to make sure she wouldn't fall.

The woman bowed her head slightly.

"Thank you..."

A small, fragile voice.

I stared at the woman for a long time before looking up at Deon.

"...Who is she?"

A moment of silence.

Deon looked at the woman once before speaking.

"This is Serena."

It was a name I had never heard before.

"We met on the battlefield."

A calm voice.

A face devoid of emotion, as always.

"She is the person who saved my life."

I couldn't say anything.

At that moment.

The woman lowered her head.

"Your Grace..."

A face that looked as if it would burst into tears at any second.

Deon looked at her and said briefly.

"It's alright."

Then he looked back at me.

"She has no family and nowhere to go now."

His gaze kept drifting back to that woman.

As if he were looking at someone who needed protection.

And then.

Deon spoke with a face that took everything for granted.

"She will be staying with us from now on."