The first argument

«Are you nuts?»

Ah?

«Ignis, what's the matter?» I ask. «What's the problem now?»

«You came out of the carriage during a battle! That's something you shouldn't do, ever!»

His voice is loud, his face is red with fury. As if I offended him or something.

«Who are you to tell me what I should or shouldn't do?» I scream in response.

Now, bit by bit, I'm getting angry too.

Who does he think he is? Even my father wouldn't dare to scold me like this. Moreover, I didn't get hurt nor make trouble for them. Why does he react like this?

«I am your husband: that's who I am!» he replies.

«What?» I moan. «So, this is what you think. So what if you're my husband? You can't order me around. If I want to get hurt, I will get hurt. If I want to fight, I'll do it... You can't forbid me to do anything!»

In the middle of the forest, we're having our first argument. Not even when we were children have we ever screamed at each other.

«Fighting? You call that fighting?» he snickers. «You can't expect that swirling a sword left and right will save you every time...»

Does he have eyes?

I might not be confident in my looks and education. I might prefer to hide my magic not to cause incidents.

However, if there is something I believe I'm good at, it's fighting! Moreover, in case of need, I can throw a spell to protect myself and my people. I'm not that useless that I need saving.

Also, I came out to help him. I even circled around the carriage to reach Ignis while Tobin was fighting with more people!

This ungrateful brat. Does he think he has any right to tell me off?

«I can protect myself, you moron! You're not as irreplaceable as you like to think...»

«Ah, is that so?» he murmurs, taking a couple of threatening steps in my direction. He grabs my shoulder, pulling me closer. «You can protect yourself?»

I don't react immediately, as I don't feel much threatened by Ignis. No matter how stern his expression is, nor how cold his tone of voice sounds, he's still Ignis.

He seems to realise that I'm not afraid, so he lets go of my shoulder and just hugs me.

«Don't put yourself in danger,» he whispers. «All right?»

His hand pressed on my back is quite burning. His voice is firm, but his arms are reassuring. He's embracing me on a battlefield, for goodness. Becoming a knight must be tough.

«I already am in danger, Ignis. You can't lock me in a room or ask me to wait for you in a carriage when I could help.»

«Can't I?»

«You may try, but you wouldn't be any different from that tyrant.»

His muscles stiffen, and he takes a step back.

«Do you think you can be of help? The best way is to stay put and wait for us to clean the field,» he says.

Oh, damn it. Again?

I just thought we were over that topic.

«You know it better than anyone else, Ignis. I don't only have a sword but also other ways to protect myself.»

Come on, I have magic. And I can run fast.

«Oh, you don't know a thing, Veronica. Come here, let's go back.»

«I know enough, though.»

«Don't be stubborn...»

«I'm not the one being stubborn, Ignis. You are!»

«The exact words a stubborn person would say.»

«I'm very reasonable, instead. I just want you to realise that I'm my own person. If I wanted to follow anyone's orders and play the part of a doll, I would have stayed in the Palace and wed the tyrant.»

«Is that why you did all of this? Just to escape?»

«Yes, of course. I thought it was clear.»

«Even marrying me?»

«I needed a reason to reject the King without the need to involve my family. We agreed, Ignis. You were the one coming up with this plan. Why are you changing your mind now?»

Oh, he's so unreasonable. Why is he so unhappy now?

«You don't need to worry, though. I won't drag you into it any further,» I sigh.

«What do you mean?»

«What you heard. I will protect you from the King's fury if it comes to that, but you don't need to risk your life any further. That's what I mean.»

«Are you throwing me away?»

Again with that. Why does he keep using that word?

«You're not my possession. I can't throw you away, Ignis.»

It's so bothersome. Neither of us is the other's thing. We're just married, partners for life.

Or until we annul the marriage.

«We both agreed to sign the marriage,» I remind him. «So, you can't complain now. Also, I already told you I won't cling to you when this is all over. And I'll compensate for all the losses you had dealing with me. From your lost position as a guard to the time that you wasted accompanying me home.»

«Veronica, I... I didn't mean it this way.»

«What did you mean, then? Just tell me what's the matter, and I'll do my best to solve it.»

«I was worried. I spoke too much because of that. I have no intention of locking you in a room nor stopping you from anything. But you shouldn't jump into danger just like that.»

«What about you? You also fought alone. Isn't that dangerous?»

«It's different for me.»

«Different in what way, exactly? Why is your life less valuable than mine?»

«Because I don't want you to get hurt. I want you to be happy, that's all.»

«Don't you think I'll be unhappy if you're hurt?»

Oh, it's over. We're finally reaching the end of this dumb discussion.

«Sorry for yelling at you. I shouldn't have done that.»

«It's all right,» I chuckle. «Apologies accepted.»

He's indeed headstrong, but he knows when to give up. We wouldn't have reached an agreement either way.

I know he didn't change his mind. He's just pretending.

Yet, for this once, I'll let it slide. We can't fight all the time over stupid matters.