CHAPTER 4

As calmly as she could, Tessa collected her discarded belt and pursued him. She felt more grounded with her knife pressed against her back once more, but her sense of relief from getting through the challenge was swiftly replaced by uncertainty. Tessa decided against feeling the emotion and instead opted to be angry. The jackass hadn't even given her a chance to regain her breath after shooting several dozen arrows at her!

I have pressing business, Colonel.

Then, Lieutenant, follow. Jothan interrupted her without pausing in his stride.

among all the haughty brutes! To prevent herself from cursing, Tessa sealed her lips. Please be patient. As they ascended the second flight of stairs, the throbbing in her chest subsided. She was so wary as a result of the skirmish this morning and Jothan's brief archery demonstration that her muscles hurt. Where in Gaia was he actually taking her?

The sound is "Ding. Ding. Ding. They were awakened by the marking bell's clang in the courtyard beyond. It served as a cue for the guards to switch shifts. While the policemen had a break and the princess had her daily meeting with the King, the trainees would be leaving for an endurance run. Tessa needed time to debrief Captain Leo before she had to supervise new-guard training at the armoury at the next bell. Diyu, blood.

While moving through the halls, the servants bobbed curtsies and giggled behind cupped hands. Court ladies assumed the most innocent of tasks while holding their heads in dramatic stances while clad head to toe in beautiful silks. From where did they all originate? It appeared as though Colonel Jothan was about to pass through, as announced by the sound of a trumpet.

A woman in an emerald green dress dropped her handkerchief as they neared a path turn. She had coloured her lips crimson with berry juice and used quartz powder to draw pink circles on her cheeks, following the dubious example of Princess Mira. Tessa let out a snort before closing her eyes, hoping Jothan hadn't heard. He made no move to indicate his intentions and simply stooped over to gracefully fetch the woman's handkerchief.

I appreciate it, Colonel. As she retrieved her object, the woman sighed, and her fingertips lightly touched his hand.

Thank you, Lady Hera. Happy day. Tessa was glad to be moving again as Jothan gave a little bow. Another woman dropped her handkerchief inadvertently, and they went into a wonderfully vacant hallway.

Women are often very stupid. Tessa overheard Jothan murmuring.

The question is, "And men can't? Before she could stop herself, she had already made the remark.

Jothan paused to turn around and check behind him. Like she frequently did when their eyes met, she experienced an unusual feeling of bewilderment. Why could he only gaze at her in that manner? It was as if he didn't notice her scar, as if he were blind to the hue of her hair and the peculiarity of her eyes. There was no flinching, contempt, or sympathy.

Despite the fact that his visage was blank, his voice was amused. "Lt., why do you keep following me around? I asked.

He received a tight-lipped smile from Tessa. "You haven't felt it necessary to inform me of our destination, sir." She was confident he would catch her sarcasm. Despite the fact that he had just thrown a tonne of arrows at her, she was aware that she needed to show greater respect.

Jothan continued to look at her for a bit before breaking into a boyish grin. "I take your point, Lieutenant. I apologise for keeping you in the dark. Please accept my apology. He offered her a faux bow before pointing at the door on their left. "We've made it."

"I wasn't intending to." Tessa was about to object after becoming flustered by his mocking bow when she noticed the blue door he was pointing at. The treatment rooms? What brings us here?

"Lieutenant," Jothan said, pushing her in the direction of the door. "Exactly for this reason, I kept you in the dark. You have a terrible tendency to ignore your wounds.

What damage? Tessa made a brief halt. The graze on her arm couldn't possibly be his intention. "Lieutenant," said the colonel, "I really don't have time for this. Instantaneously, Jonathan's tone shifted. The person who had been beaming with a smile had vanished, and in his place stood the Warrior Kingdom Colonel, whose commands were never to be questioned.

After stifling a furious reaction, Tessa followed him through the blue door. Herbs and brewed potions could be scented in the small hallway that led to the healing quarters' main room. The empty area was packed with shelves stacked with medical equipment she couldn't identify and cabinets full of medications with foreign substances.

"Walem?" Jothan greeted everyone with the Healer greeting while gazing across the room at the three closed doors leading into the recovery chambers from the empty sick bed at the opposite end of the room. A healer who appeared worn out emerged from the door on the left.

The healer wore the long green garb of her people and was about as tall as a warrior but much leaner. Long gold hoops hung from her ear lobes, healing stones dangled from her wrists, and her hair was covered in artistically woven materials of the same colour. Warrior of Salem I apologise for the delay; I was distracted by the other healers who went outside to prepare medicine. She lowered both palms after raising them to cover her face in greeting. She grinned at Jothan with big brown eyes rimmed with black coal before noticing Tessa standing behind him. Ah, Lieutenant, have you returned to see how Warrior Berk is doing? His wound is healed, and I've put him to sleep. He'll be as good as new after I finish my work on him in a short while.

So, healer, don't let us hold you. Before Jothan could finish, Tessa spoke. It was clear from the expression on his face that he had many inquiries.

The healer said, "Temha," and smiled, stretching the flower-patterned dot tattoos on her cheekbones. She paused as she turned to face the recovery room. "Unfortunately, Lieutenant, we were unable to remove his fingers from your coat. Even while sleeping, he is holding onto it.

Tessa quickly said, "Let him keep it. Berk once grabbed her blood-stained clothing like it was his lifeline while he was in delirium. He had shown no further symptoms of terror from the time they rode into combat until he passed out from blood loss. He did a good job.

Jothan only murmured, "Report," as the door to the recovery chamber was shut once more.

Tessa spoke out swiftly: "There was an ambush during early delivery. Before the single waggon emerged from the woods, several dozen No-Landers attacked it."

Jothan remained mute, perhaps trying to make sense of the absurd. He would be aware that neither food nor medicine were included in the early delivery.

This isn't No-Lander idiocy, she swiftly interrupted. The majority of warriors genuinely believed in the insanity of the tribes that controlled the central regions of the Four Kingdoms. The erroneous presumption could be used to rationalise away almost anything.

Jothan briefly maintained her gaze before turning to look at the cupboards behind him. Do you have a hypothesis? Over his shoulder, he questioned

"Yes."

He combed through various jars on the shelf while it was silent. I asked, "Why didn't you tell me about the jacket?"

The abrupt shift in subject caused Tessa to blink. Why did he bring up the jacket at this time? "It didn't seem like it was necessary."

"You weren't at fault for the reprimand, but it didn't seem necessary." Jothan frowned as he turned around. He was holding a bottle of transparent liquid and some cotton.

Tessa struggled to keep her irritation from coming through in her voice as she replied, "Yes. Why was he wasting time on things that weren't important?

Jothan pointed to the vacant hospital bed while pretending not to have heard. Say, "Sit over there. He raised an incisive brow when he realised she was ready to object. "Lieutenant, this is an order. Sit. And pull your shirt over your head.

Tessa walked awkwardly. He preferred to attend to a minor injury than learn about the ambush. He must have reasoned that Nolan Landers was just being crazy and stupid. Even hearing what she had to say didn't interest him! Fine. Tessa sat down after throwing the offensive material on the edge of the bed and unbuttoning her shirt with clipped motions. She was only wearing a leather corset, and the chill spread across her exposed skin, giving her toned arms goosebumps. She didn't give a damn; all she wanted was for this out-of-character act of kindness to end.

"Stubborn." As he examined the wound on her arm, Jothan mumbled. It isn't overly deep. After briefly catching her gaze, he poured the liquid over some cotton. For now, I'll just clean it.

Tessa observed him start applying pressure to the wound. The cut hurt, but Jothan's worried glance that flitted up to her was far more upsetting than the burn. Tessa turned her head away, clinched her teeth, and tried to ignore the odd sensation that was beginning to build in the pit of her stomach.

"Do you frequently do that? Jothan quietly questioned her while keeping a close eye on her injury.

Say what? Tessa was having trouble focusing. Why was he such a mystery? He must have enjoyed torturing her. What was that prior incident when someone complimented her in front of recruits?

"Accept blame even when you've done nothing wrong. When he saw her flinch, he paused. Now, she was confronted by eyes that were filled with worry.

The final straw was that.

When the surge of agony forced Tessa's awareness to return, she grabbed the bottle from his hand and soaked her arm, feeling relieved. While shaking off the excess liquor and shoving her arms back into her shirt, she set the bottle down while avoiding looking at Jothan.

She took a step back before turning to face him after pressing the final button. "Sir, are we done now?"

Jothan thought about her while leaning back on the bed. Do I frighten you, Lieutenant?"

Tessa bit her teeth, her eyes getting smaller. "No, Sir."

He exhaled after arching an amused brow. "All right, you can go."

Tessa turned towards the door as she stomped her feet collectively.

to retrieve your extra jacket.

"Sir?" She turned, her eyes reflecting her confusion.

Lazily getting up from the bed, Jonathan Unless you wish to present yourself to the Council in that manner,

What body? What was he implying?

You went this morning even though you weren't supposed to be providing delivery escort, and there just so happened to be an ambush. Jothan walked over to her and crossed his arms across his big chest. You certainly anticipated that happening, so you know why No-Lander techniques appear to have diverged from the usual.

"You noticed it, too? Tessa spoke before biting her lip. Of course he had noticed—this was Colonel Jothan of the House of Gold, one of the greatest soldiers ever to have lived.

"Your distraction on the practice pitch, coupled with your impending departure..." He knelt down until their faces were barely apart and their eyes were level. Was I mistaken in thinking you were prepared to present your theory to the council?

Tessa was immobile. She was unable to breathe. Why was he so very near, and how did he know all of that? She suppressed the inclination to hide her scar.

Lieutenant, I'll call the Council to order. Jothan smiled as he stood up straight. So don a jacket and head over to the council's meeting space.

Tessa swiftly nodded and left the room, torn between anger and thankfulness.