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Fritz responded to Nozette, who greeted him with those words, with a relieved smile.

“I’m home.” (Fritz)

Entering the house, he placed the package on the living room table.

“Hmm? What kind of luggage is that?” (Nozette)

“Is the food ready?” (Fritz)

Ignoring Nozette’s question, Fritz asked, and Nosette, perhaps sensing something,

“It’s ready. I’ll reheat it now, so play with Muzette in the meantime.” (Nozette)

She said with a forced smile. Muzette, who had been sitting on a chair, stood up and ran over.

“Otou-san! You know, today I want you to hold me…” (Muzette)

For the usually energetic Muzette, it was a slightly strange request.

“Sure. Come here.” (Fritz)

Fritz sat on the sofa and patted his knee. Muzette climbed onto his knee from the side, and looking up at her father,

“Otou-san, is your work tough?” (Muzette)

She asked an unusual question.

“Not really, it’s not tough. Do I look tired?” (Fritz)

“You seem like you’re not very cheerful.”  (Muzette)

“I see…” (Fritz)

Fritz was not a commander in the military, nor had he ever trained soldiers. However, he had knowledge that could be considered common sense for a soldier. So, while he couldn’t be called a novice, he wasn’t an expert either. His job was more about creating favorable conditions at a strategic level before a battle, rather than commanding on the battlefield.

However, that didn’t mean he didn’t have to go to the battlefield. In the case of a large-scale battle, where all forces clashed, situations might arise on-site that required Fritz’s judgment. Fritz had only recently taken up the position and did not have subordinates to whom he could delegate full authority for such matters, as Fritz did in the Orasem administration. Therefore, Fritz had to depart tomorrow and head to the battlefield.

“No, Otou-san is fine.” (Fritz)

Though he was indeed tired, he didn’t want to worry Musette.

“That’s a lie…” (Muzette))

“It’s not a lie. Seeing you made me feel better.”  (Fritz)

“Hmm…” (Muzette)

Muttering, Muzette suppressed her happiness and formed a small smile. It was an adorably heartwarming smile that seemed to melt Fritz’s tense heart.

“Then, shall we play a game?” (Muzette)

“A game?” (Fritz)

“You know, I was playing with Okaa-san. It’s a game where you win if you line up four pieces.” (Muzette)

Muzette directed her gaze to the edge of the table. There was a board for a popular game there.

It wasn’t a fancy ivory one, but a cheap wooden one. The board was divided into squares, and the pieces were painted black and white. It wasn’t the original way to play, but Fritz guessed the game was won by whoever lined up four pieces of either color.

“Sure. Let’s play.” (Fritz)

Fritz said as he brought the board and pieces closer to him, within reach.

—

“She must be tired from playing. She fell asleep.” (Nozette)

Nozette said. Muzette had gotten more excited than expected during the game and kept chatting even while Fritz was eating, but now she had fallen asleep on the sofa.

“I’ll carry her to the bedroom.” (Fritz)

Fritz said, picking up Muzette and carrying her to the bedroom.

As he was about to lay her on the bed that he and Nozette shared, she stirred in his arms and opened her eyes slightly.

“Otou-san…?” (Muzette)

“Goodnight, Muzette.” (Fritz)

As he gently laid her down and slowly covered her with the blanket, Muzette closed her slightly opened eyes, surrendered to sleepiness, and seemed to fall asleep. Thinking back, she had always been good at falling asleep, even as a baby. Fritz stroked Muzette’s soft cheek once and then stepped away from the bed. When he returned to the living room, Nozette was sitting in a chair, pouring tea.

“Nozette.” (Fritz)

Fritz opened the luggage he had brought and took out a wooden box from inside, then opened the lid.

“Yeah, well, I figured as much.” (Nozette)

“Just in case.” (Fritz)

Inside the wooden box, Kshapeni gold coins were neatly arranged, with padding between them to prevent them from clinking.

“What’s this supposed to mean?” (Nozette)

“It’s just in case. In case something happens to me.” (Fritz)

“I really hate that about men.” (Nozette)

Nozette said, her face showing a trace of disgust. Perhaps she looked sad as well.

“Is this your way of taking responsibility? Leaving money behind is not the way to take responsibility for me or Muzette. It’s coming back here safely. You’re a father, after all.” (Nozette)

“…In the battlefield, you never know what might happen. It’s just in case.” (Fritz)

“Then, stop going to war. I’ve said it many times, but there’s nothing more important than your family and your own life.” (Nozette)

“I’ve said it many times too, but that’s not possible. Winning the war is also about protecting you all.” (Fritz)

“We’re going around in circles…” (Nozette)

Nozette lowered her head. She seemed to regret repeating the same conversation they had had several times before.

“Have I ever told you that I never wanted to be the wife of a soldier?” (Nozette)

“…I don’t think so.” (Fritz)

Fritz remembered all his conversations with Nozette, but he didn’t recall hearing this.

“The wives who say they’re proud when their soldier husbands die—you see them often, right? I really hate that. If you truly love someone, there’s no way you’d be proud of a husband who died leaving his family behind. I want the person I love to die even one second after me. I don’t want to feel lonely.” (Nozette)

As she spoke, Nozette wiped away the tears that had started to spill over. Fritz had no words to respond.

“If I’m such a lonely person, I probably shouldn’t have fallen in love with someone who’s married… But it couldn’t be helped. I fell in love. I never thought, *sob*, that it would come to this.” (Fritz)

“Nozette, I have things I want to protect besides you and our daughter. They aren’t more important than you or our daughter, but I think I can protect them without sacrificing my life. I don’t think I have to give up everything to deserve your love, do I?” (Fritz)

“Then why give me something like this… Just come back safely… *sob*.” (Nozette)

“That’s why it’s just in case. Honestly, our forces are nearly twice as large. We can’t lose.” (Fritz)

Fritz had prepared such things by liquidating assets because Gertrude’s words had cast a dark shadow over his heart. No matter how big the numerical advantage, it was best not to become overconfident.

The impression Fritz got from meeting and talking with Yuri Hou in person also seemed to support Gertrude’s concerns. Although Yuri had a youthful appearance that seemed caught between boyhood and manhood, his words were not the immature, naive talk that matched his looks. He had the roughness of a confident general who tried to solve problems through force rather than politics, but he also possessed the cunning of someone concerned with political legitimacy and post-war governance. A person like that wouldn’t simply rush a numerically inferior army into a doomed attack.

However, the fact that their numbers were twice as large was still a significant advantage. Fritz didn’t want to die, and he would retreat if necessary. The kind of scenario where death was highly likely, as Nozette feared, seemed unlikely.

This time, unlike two years ago, they weren’t deeply invading enemy territory, so retreating wasn’t a difficult option.

“I’ll come back alive, I promise.” (Fritz)

“You’d better…” (Nozette)

“I will.” (Fritz)

“And you’re staying here for tonight.” (Nozette)

“I planned on it from the start.” (Fritz)

Fritz stood up, approached Nozette, whose face still bore traces of tears, and brought his face close to hers. After a light kiss, Fritz wrapped his arm around her shoulder, and the two headed to the bed.

—

The next morning, Fritz left Nozette’s house early, returned to his own home, and prepared to depart. Since he wasn’t a soldier, he didn’t wear armor, which would restrict his movement, but he was dressed in a high-collared uniform-like outfit.

His other wife, Marjorie, was helping him with his attire as part of her duty as a wife. She fastened the last buttons, tightened the high collar, and finally secured the buttons on his sleeves, giving the fabric of his arms a sharp tug to smooth it out.

“That looks wonderful on you. Please take care, Fritz-sama.” (Marjorie)

“Yeah, I’ll be back.” (Fritz)

As a finishing touch to his appearance befitting the battlefield, Fritz threaded a slender sword through his sword belt. Though he had no experience in handling a sword, it served as more than just a weight. Without it, he would feel awkward on the battlefield, as he wouldn’t be considered a combatant.

“May God’s blessings be with you. Hallelujah.” (Marjorie)

Marjorie knelt down, offered a prayer. Then, she took Fritz’s hand and kissed it. Surprisingly, Fritz didn’t mind the ritual. In fact, having received a blessing made him feel a bit more at ease. In battle, one could never have too much luck.

“Thank you. I’ll be on my way.” (Fritz)

“Yes.” (Marjorie)

Marjorie bowed and saw Fritz off. Carrying a bag with minimal belongings, Fritz left the house, boarded the carriage, and headed toward the battlefield.

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