She was stunned by the fact that she had simply clung to her fiancé—not as a ruler, but as an ordinary woman.
She stammered, struggling to find her voice.
She tried to explain herself, but her lips were dry, her mouth parched.
Unable to meet his eyes, she turned away, flustered.
Michael smiled gently, as if he understood everything.
Without a word, he gazed at her reddened face and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead.
The knights and soldiers exchanged glances, then discreetly turned their eyes elsewhere.
Some pretended to fidget with the hilts of their swords, others adjusted their armor, and a few tilted their heads toward the sky as if counting stars.
"Ahem. The stars are unusually bright tonight," one soldier said loudly, forcing a conversation.
"Indeed," another chimed in quickly. "I can't remember the last time I saw such a clear night sky."
"Once this war is over, I imagine we'll have more time to stargaze," said a third.
They carried on their casual chatter with practiced ease, all while deliberately avoiding looking at the couple—feigning ignorance with almost comical sincerity.
Just then, Marcus turned to look at Miaomiao with a baffled expression, his large golden eyes filled with confusion.
[Sister, there are clouds everywhere tonight. I can't see a single star. Are there... special stars I don't know about?]
Miaomiao sighed, pressing a paw to her forehead.
[Oh, you poor fool. Can't you tell they're trying to help Michael and Astrid save face?]
She puffed up proudly, clearly pleased with herself.
Marcus let out a long sigh.
Human behavior was beyond comprehension.
Though they tried to speak quietly, Marcus and Miaomiao's voices still echoed clearly across the garden in front of the palace.
Astrid's face turned from red to crimson, on the verge of combusting.
She shrank back slightly, her eyes fixed on the ground.
She tried to act like nothing had happened, but the burning warmth in her cheeks betrayed her every emotion.
Michael gently caressed her flushed cheek.
Startled, Astrid lifted her head.
He simply looked at her, his gaze deep and tender.
The spontaneous hug, the shy reaction afterward—everything about her was breathtakingly beautiful.
Taking a quiet breath, Michael met her eyes.
Bathed in moonlight, her blue irises sparkled like a still lake under the stars.
Then he spoke softly.
"I just returned from inspecting the training grounds and the supply depot."
As soon as those words left his lips, Astrid's expression shifted.
A brief moment of tension flickered across her face, soon replaced by anticipation.
Her hands clasped together in front of her almost instinctively.
Michael immediately noticed how hard she was trying to maintain her composure.
Her voice was cautious, yet laced with quiet confidence.
She had given her all in the preparations—leaving no room for error.
She had meticulously inspected the weapons and supplies, refined the troops' organization, and did everything possible to minimize casualties.
"I did my best to make sure everything was in order."
Michael smiled as he looked at her.
She was truly beautiful.
Her radiant golden hair shimmered under the moonlight, casting a gentle glow.
But it wasn't her appearance alone that made her shine.
It was her unwavering will, her devotion to her people, and her profound sense of duty that made her radiant.
At that moment, Michael felt it again—just how blessed he truly was.
'Beautiful, brilliant, and brave. Is there any man in this world more blessed than me?'
Michael looked at Astrid with eyes that were both soft and warm.
"You've done well. I couldn't find anything more to improve."
Astrid beamed, unable to hide her joy. She clapped her hands lightly and smiled brightly.
Step by step, everything she had dreamed of since childhood was coming true.
Her eyes sparkled with pride and anticipation, and her expression as she looked at Michael reflected both relief and happiness.
Behind her, a gentle gaze rested on the pair.
Duke Capone, standing a step back, watched them with a fond smile.
Deep wrinkles carved into his face only enhanced the kindness in his expression.
Michael quickly straightened up and greeted him with respect.
"Apologies for the delayed greeting. The preparations were impeccable."
His words were filled with genuine sincerity.
As he inspected the training grounds and storage facilities, it became clear—these preparations far surpassed anything from the past.
Supplies were carefully sorted, calculations exact, and resources plentiful.
Everything was in optimal condition.
It was evident that this was thanks to the hard work of both Princess Astrid and Duke Capone.
Sensing the reason behind Michael's surprise, Duke Capone let out a dry chuckle.
"There's no need for thanks. We simply did what had to be done."
Though his voice was calm, a subtle edge of sarcasm and firm resolve ran beneath it.
He paused briefly, stroking his long, trailing beard once before speaking again, this time with a wry smile.
"And... we had to clear out some grain weevils that had infested the barracks. No matter how many we got rid of, more kept popping up. Fortunately, we managed to eradicate them all."
Ah... the grain weevils.
Michael's expression relaxed.
He remembered the Queen's relatives who had infested every position of power worth exploiting.
They wore officers' ranks without training, stole from military supplies, and abused their subordinates while leading lives of utter indulgence.
They had no real experience on the battlefield, yet barked orders as if they were generals, treating soldiers like personal servants.
Their existence was not mere incompetence—they were parasites slowly rotting the army from within.
But no one could touch them.
Shielded by Queen Marguerite and King Charles V, they treated the military as their personal playground for years.
They siphoned national resources under the guise of war preparations, bloating themselves on corruption while remaining untouchable under royal protection.
Princess Astrid had made a bold and resolute decision—one she didn't hesitate over for even a moment.
She knew leaving such people in place would endanger the country and the war effort.
Even knowing her mother would fiercely oppose it, she purged them without flinching.