TTMLPTWW ~ Chapter 152

“……I missed you. I hope you felt the same.”

It was a restrained statement, befitting a soldier, but his shadowed eyes and scarred face spoke of the trials and tribulations he had endured.

Yet, as he smiled calmly, as if to say he was alright, the lukewarm tears welled up again and began to fall.

“I did too. I missed you so much that I felt like I could see you even with my eyes closed, and I dreamed about you. I thought of you when I ate, when I slept, when I showered……”

“Why when you shower……?”

For some reason, he looked flustered, and suddenly picked me up in his arms.

“You know, thinking about someone in a steamy bathroom, that kind of thing.”

Sulking with a troubled face while getting hit by the shower water in the bathtub.

I was trying to explain that lonely feeling, but Masera deliberately only said what he wanted to say.

“The Organization must have called for reinforcements; they’re surrounding the castle.”

With that, he started running busily somewhere, still holding me in his arms.

I carefully examined the two guns he had slung over his back and was startled.

‘He even brought a shotgun that can take down a bear in one shot? How badly is he planning to punish them?’

“Did you come alone?”

“I advanced alone first, and my men will be here soon. Brigadier General Steve and Grand Princess Charlotte have come with troops to support us.”

He said it as if reporting, then lowered his posture and entered through the back gate, saying,

“You worked hard to get out, but we have to go back inside the castle walls. There are more enemies outside.”

Oh.

I sighed, having barely escaped after enduring a humiliating ordeal.

* * *

“Most of the enemies inside the castle have been taken care of.”

As they entered, Masera shielded Cynthia’s eyes, who flinched at the sight of the Organization member’s corpse.

Of course, Cynthia, who had worked as a rescuer in her past life, wouldn’t be surprised to see a dead person. Rather, she was amazed by Masera’s skills.

‘He took them all out with just a sniper rifle? I guess there’s a reason why they say one sniper can wipe out an entire unit…….’

Cynthia recalled the Organization members who had sided with her and asked in a worried voice.

“You didn’t get rid of everyone, did you? There are Organization members who promised to quit the Organization and become my subordinates.”

“I’ve already identified friend from foe.”

He saw everything from afar and identified friend from foe? How good is his eyesight? Anyway, that was a relief.

The two of them entered the south tower, not the central citadel.

The tower overlooking the main gate was the front line for preventing invaders, making it the perfect place for Masera, who had excellent sniping skills.

He finally put Cynthia down after entering a room.

Bang-!

At that moment, a huge explosion echoed from the foot of the mountain beyond the castle walls.

The aftermath caused the windows to rattle. The vibrations traveled up my legs, which were planted on the floor.

Masera wrapped his arms around Cynthia protectively, who flinched in surprise. Thanks to training, she was somewhat better with gunshots, but explosions were another matter, and he was worried she might panic.

Cynthia, who had buried her face in his chest, peeked up.

“I’m okay. I think I’ve become desensitized after experiencing so much.”

“Don’t worry too much. It must be Brigadier General Steve.”

At his words, meant to reassure her, Cynthia looked bewildered.

“You’re saying it’s okay because Brigadier General Steve exploded?”

“Brigadier General Steve is an explosives expert and was in the artillery branch during the war. He seems to be having fun throwing bombs to his heart’s content for the first time in a while.”

Ah, the mad bomber is enjoying his own party.

Cynthia, who was listening to the plan that Grand Princess Charlotte and Brigadier General Steve would defend the outside, while Masera and his men would defend the inside of the castle, discovered something and widened her eyes.

It was none other than the rank insignia on his uniform.

“You got promoted to Lieutenant General while I was gone?”

I heard that the higher-ups hadn’t approved the operation, so did he quickly get promoted in the meantime and take over the command……?

“I’m not a soldier anymore.”

He dropped the bombshell with an indifferent expression.

“Huh? You’re not a soldier?”

Masera nodded, still with a calm face.

“I even stole a Lieutenant General’s uniform through insubordination.”

“Wait, you beat up a Lieutenant General and stripped him of his clothes……?”

He stared at her, who was bewildered.

“I couldn’t go to see you in a prison uniform. You said you liked the uniform, didn’t you?”

Prison uniform??

What on earth had happened in the meantime!

“Then you won’t have ammunition or supplies, will you? I destroyed this military facility……”

“Helene Queensguard provided weapons.”

“There’s an armory at the address written on the note. All the new guns, bombs, machine guns, and armored vehicles that I bought to become a VIP in the Organization are stored there.”

Helene had enough weapons to easily blow up a city.

“There won’t be any repercussions. It was bought with the Duke family’s funds anyway. I hope you, a war hero, will find them useful.”

Masera was glad that she had turned to their side. Otherwise, he would have had to face her, a terrifying city destroyer, as an enemy.

Unlike his nonchalant attitude, Cynthia’s face was turning pale.

“T-That’s incredible……”

“I just protested because they wouldn’t approve the operation.”

“You protested a little too much……”

This was practically armed rebellion. It was at least a death sentence…….

Cynthia never imagined that Masera would cause an accident beyond imagination to save her.

“No, it’s okay. It was worth protesting.”

Cynthia patted the small bag containing important documents and sighed in relief.

She had a 20-year veteran of theft in the Organization bring along documents of corruption in the military.

“But Helene? You met Helene?”

Cynthia, who felt a sense of incongruity as she reviewed the past conversation, widened her eyes.

Masera, who was taking cover by the wall next to the window and watching the front, turned to her.

“Yes, I met her.”

She didn’t run away to a foreign country?

“Did you send her back to prison? Or maybe……”

“I left her alone. Because that seemed to be your wish.”

He turned his body completely to face Cynthia.

“She confessed that she wasn’t royalty.”

Helene told him everything?

Cynthia scratched her cheek with an awkward expression, then cautiously approached him and grabbed his sleeve.

“H-How should I explain this.”

I pretended to be fake and married him, but it turns out I’m real, but I still pretended anyway…….

Masera already knew what she wanted to say.

“I understand. I knew from the beginning that you were the real princess.”

“Huh? From the beginning?”

“We met when we were young. You may not remember.”

‘Turns out we met when we were young.’ A cliché has been applied?

Cynthia drooped her shoulders, feeling a sense of futility.

She recalled the dream she had had before, of a woman running away with her and a child who resembled Masera.

It wasn’t a dream, it was real.

“I don’t resent you. Or Princess Margarita either.”

His mysterious eyes were shining strongly.

“You were the one who saved me, who was only driven by anger.”

At that, Cynthia slowly sank down as if ice was melting.

It was because all the tension, fear, and worries that she had always carried with her had melted away.

Just then, Masera’s men were seen entering the castle walls beyond the window.

Masera bent his knees to meet Cynthia’s eyes, who was sitting on the floor.

“I think I should go now.”

“Where to?”

“Brigadier General Steve and Major Rodriguez will be arriving at the main gate soon. You can leave with them.”

“You’re not coming with me? Why……”

She asked the reason, but Cynthia’s eyes, who already knew Masera’s intentions, trembled slightly.

“As a commander, I can’t leave behind the men who risked their lives to follow me.”

Masera held Cynthia’s cold hand.

“It is solely my responsibility to break the chain of hatred. So please, trust me.”

No, I don’t want to. Don’t leave me.

But considering Masera’s beliefs and the people who had only trusted and followed him, she couldn’t bring herself to say the words.

“…….”

He kissed Cynthia on the forehead and slipped something onto her slender finger.

Starlight entered Cynthia’s red eyes as she looked at the ring that had fallen like a star on her hand and sparkled.

It was the wedding ring that she had given to the Village Chief to let Masera know her location.

“I’ve become stronger. I no longer panic from trauma, I’m not afraid of losing loved ones, and I’m able to save someone. It’s thanks to the thought that I’m no longer alone.”

Cynthia, who had struggled to hold back her tears, kissed him on the cheek.

“So, please come back safely.”

Masera, who rubbed his cheek with an embarrassed face, stood up.

And he stood straight and saluted her.

“I promise.”