Chapter 150: Within the War God’s World

Chapter 150: Chapter 150: Within the War God’s World

Elysia drew a quiet breath.

For a moment, she remained seated, her fingers resting lightly on the tiffin carrier beside her.

She had told herself this was merely a trip to deliver medicine.

Yet now that she was actually here, her heart seemed determined to betray her.

She straightened her skirts and stepped down from the carriage. Bertha followed close behind, while two of the manor guards accompanied them.

The army camp stretched across the open grounds beyond Caelvyr, its rows of tents and temporary structures arranged with strict order.

Soldiers moved between them carrying supplies, speaking in low voices, or hurrying towards their assigned duties. The morning sun had climbed higher, casting long shadows beneath the tents and making the metal buckles of the soldiers’ uniforms gleam.

The familiar sounds of a military camp surrounded her—the clatter of weapons, the steady commands of officers, and the footsteps of soldiers moving with purpose.

Elysia had seen military camps before. Her family had been a military one, after all.

When she was little, her father, brother, and uncles would occasionally take her along when they visited the troops. She remembered following them through the camps, listening to the soldiers’ conversations and watching the training grounds with wide, curious eyes.

She had been particularly fascinated by the war horses.

Once, after watching her father ride out with a group of soldiers, little Elysia had proudly declared that she would ride into battle with him when she grew older.

Her father had laughed and told her that the battlefield was no place for a little girl.

That had only strengthened her resolve.

She had spent years believing that one day she would be old enough to ride beside them.

The memory brought a faint smile to her lips.

She had once dreamed of being part of this world.

Still, this camp felt different.

Perhaps because this was where Cassiel spent most of his days.

She adjusted her grip on the tiffin carrier and walked towards the entrance.

The guards stationed at the gate immediately recognised the carriage bearing the crest of Draevenor Manor.

The golden insignia of Draevenor.

One of the guards exchanged a quick glance with his companion before stepping forward, while the other hurried inside, presumably to report her arrival.

The crest was unmistakable.

The carriage belonged to Draevenor Manor.

And there was only one person who would arrive at the army camp in a carriage bearing that crest.

The Duchess of Draevenor.

The guard immediately approached and bowed.

"Your Grace."

Elysia nodded politely.

"Please, this way. His Grace is inside."

There was no need for her to announce herself or explain her purpose. The soldiers had clearly been instructed to guide her straight to him if she visited.

Elysia glanced towards the command tents.

"Is His Grace in the command tent?"

"Yes, Your Grace. The military council is currently in session."

Before she could say anything further, a familiar voice came from nearby.

"What are you doing here?"

Elysia turned.

Vaelen stood outside the command tent, a sealed letter in one hand.

His expression darkened when he saw her.

"This is a military camp," he said. "You will only get in the way."

Elysia’s expression remained composed.

"I come from a military family. I have visited camps more often than you have."

Vaelen’s face stiffened.

His gaze briefly fell to the tiffin carrier in her hands.

"You travelled all the way here for that?"

Elysia glanced at the carrier.

"His Grace’s medicine."

Vaelen’s brows drew together.

"Uncle is currently in a strategy meeting. He does not even have time to see me. You would do better to wait outside like everyone else."

There was an unmistakable edge to his words.

Elysia had no desire to argue with him.

She had not come to the camp to speak with Vaelen, nor did she intend to let him spoil the purpose of her visit.

She glanced at the guard leading her from the main entrance.

He immediately said, "You may enter directly, Your Grace."

A faint smile touched Elysia’s lips.

"Thank you."

She took another step forward.

Behind her, Vaelen’s expression was dumbfounded. He turned towards the guard.

"What did you just say?"

The guard bowed and spoke succinctly.

"His Grace’s orders are clear, Your Highness."

Vaelen frowned.

The guard continued respectfully, "The military council is currently in session. No one is permitted to enter unless authorised."

His gaze shifted towards Elysia.

"His Grace specifically instructed us that, aside from His Majesty and the Duchess of Draevenor, all other non-essential persons are to be kept outside."

Silence fell.

Vaelen stared at the guard.

Then at Elysia.

Then back at the command tent.

His fingers tightened around the letter.

"Are you sure?"

The guard lowered his head.

"My apologies, Your Highness. Those were His Grace’s explicit instructions."

A strange expression crossed Vaelen’s face.

He had not expected this.

He had not expected his cold and aloof uncle to give that much importance to his nominal wife.

Elysia, however, felt a small warmth spread through her chest.

Cassiel had apparently made these arrangements long before she ever considered visiting the camp.

She nodded at the guard and proceeded towards the command tent.

Vaelen’s gaze burned into the back of her head, but she paid it no mind.

He watched her disappear through the entrance.

His jaw tightened.

Only after Elysia had gone inside did the guard speak again.

"Your Highness, if you have a message for His Grace, I can arrange for it to be delivered."

Vaelen looked down at the sealed missive in his hand.

"No."

His voice was colder now.

"I will wait."

---

Inside the command tent, the atmosphere was entirely different.

Maps covered the central table. Several military officers stood around it, discussing routes, supply lines, and troop movements. Markers had been placed along several roads, while notes had been written beside important towns and crossings.

Cassiel sat at the head of the table.

His expression was serious, his attention fixed on the map before him.

He was listening to one of the commanders when a soldier approached and whispered something into his ear.

Cassiel’s gaze lifted.

"The Duchess?"

"Yes, Your Grace. She has brought your medicine."

For the briefest moment, the sternness in Cassiel’s eyes disappeared.

Then it returned.

"Bring her in."

The soldier immediately bowed.

"Yes, Your Grace."

The other officers exchanged brief glances but said nothing.

Shortly after, the tent flap opened.

Elysia stepped inside.

Her eyes first found Cassiel.

And then she stopped.

He was dressed in his military uniform, his dark hair slightly dishevelled from the long morning. His posture remained straight despite the injury to his leg, but she could tell from the faint tension around his mouth that he was not entirely comfortable.

Seeing him like this made something in her chest flutter.

She had seen him countless times at the manor.

Yet here, surrounded by maps, soldiers, and military reports, he seemed like an entirely different man.

The Duke of Draevenor.

The undefeated war god.

The man whose name could quiet an entire room.

And yet this was also the same man who had tenderly applied salve to her injuries and massaged her pain away.

Elysia quickly looked away.

"I brought your medicine."

Cassiel’s lips curved faintly.

"You came yourself?"

Elysia lifted the tiffin carrier.

"Doctor Grey was complaining that you had not returned and might miss the proper time."

"I see."

His gaze remained on her.

Her cheeks warmed.

She cleared her throat and pushed the medicine towards Cassiel.

"Drink it before it gets cold."

Cassiel looked at the carrier in her hand, then back at her.

"You came all this way just to make certain I take it?"

Elysia folded her arms.

"Do you intend to delay it further?"

"No."

His smile deepened.

"I wouldn’t dare."

Elysia looked away before he could see the smile threatening to appear on her own lips.

She had come here for medicine. She reminded herself.

That was all.

Elysia looked around the table.

There was hardly anywhere to set down the carrier. Maps covered almost every inch of the surface, along with letters, inkwells, and quills.

She hesitated, reluctant to disturb anything.

Cassiel noticed.

Without a word, he swept a stack of maps aside, clearing a space before him.

Elysia placed the tiffin carrier there.

The officers around the table went still.

Not long before the Duchess had arrived, Cassiel had warned them to handle those maps with care. They contained detailed military information and were so valuable, he had told them, that they ought to treat them as more precious than their own lives.

And now, without hesitation, he had pushed several of them aside to make room for the carrier she had brought.

The officers exchanged quick glances.

No one was foolish enough to comment though.

Elysia opened the carrier and handed the medicine bowl to Cassiel.

Cassiel took it from her, his broad hand brushing against hers. Elysia immediately withdrew her hand, her cheeks burning.

Cassiel examined the sealed jar for a moment.

"How are your knees?"

The question caught her off guard.

"They are fine."

"And your arm?"

She instinctively glanced down at the linen covering her forearm.

"It is almost healed."

Cassiel’s expression softened slightly.

"Good."

There was no teasing in his voice this time.

Only genuine concern.

Elysia suddenly remembered the white porcelain jar in his hand the previous night and the care with which he had applied the precious salve.

Her heart gave an inconvenient little flutter.

She quickly looked towards the maps instead.

Cassiel’s lips curved.

One of the commanders lowered his head, clearly fighting a smile.

Her face grew even warmer.

Cassiel seemed entirely unbothered.

He lifted the medicine bowl and gulped down the entire medicine in one go.

Elysia watched until he finished.

Only then did she relax.

"Now I can leave."

Cassiel raised his eyes.

"You came all this way and intend to leave immediately?"

Elysia hesitated.

She had not expected him to ask her to stay.

"Would you like me to wait for you?"

"If you have nothing else to take care of, then we can leave once I wind things up here."

Cassiel’s gaze remained on her for a moment.

Then she nodded.

"Very well."

Cassiel asked one of the guards to direct her to the waiting area.

Then she proceeded to step out of the tent.

Outside the command tent, Vaelen was still waiting.

And he had begun to realise that whatever place Elysia now held in Cassiel’s world was far more significant than he had imagined.