Tilda looked at him with a serious expression.

"Nox, you know… after last time," she said, a bit hesitant.

"I think I'm pregnant."

---

Tilda's words echoed in Nox's mind. He had prepared himself for all kinds of news—but not for this.

Nox stared at her, stunned.

"How many months?" he asked, his heart pounding wildly.

Tilda smiled.

"Almost five months," she said. "I only found out after two months. I wanted to come tell you, but you know… it's very complicated, and I couldn't contact you without coming here. And if I'm here this time, it's because my mother helped me convince my father."

Nox looked at her, his thoughts racing. He couldn't believe Tilda was pregnant.

In Kyralia, marriage was simple: before the union, the woman's parents tested the man's courage. If they found him brave and strong, they could entrust their daughter to him without worry. Otherwise, the wedding was postponed. And once the woman reached adulthood, getting pregnant before or after marriage mattered little.

However, things were different in the Empire of Erian. There, it was inappropriate for a woman to become pregnant before marriage. And to marry her, the man first had to receive approval from the bride's entire family. Then came the engagement, then the wedding, and only after that the pregnancy.

But Tilda and Nox had skipped every step. That could cause problems, especially because she was an imperial princess.

Nox was extremely nervous.

"Do your parents know? What did they say?" he asked, a bead of sweat sliding down his forehead.

"Only my mother knows. I begged her not to tell my father until I had spoken to you. You know, marriage in our empire is very… formal," she replied, watching Nox's reactions closely.

"Yes, I know…"

"What am I supposed to do now?" he asked, glancing at Tilda's stomach, which didn't look like that of a pregnant woman at all.

"First, go see my parents to discuss it… You get what I mean, right?"

"Yes. I'll do it after this mission…"

Tilda smiled at his answer.

"Nox, you don't doubt my words?" she asked.

"Why should I doubt you? Are you cheating on me? Is this all a joke?"

"No, it's not a joke," she said, shaking her head. "I was just a little afraid that you would…"

"That I wouldn't take responsibility?" Nox smiled as he moved closer to her, resisting the urge to wrap an arm around her waist since they weren't alone.

"Y… yes," Tilda whispered in a small, muffled voice, nodding slightly, flustered.

"So cute…" Nox thought as he looked at her.

Even though Tilda could seem strict and too serious from the outside, she wasn't like that at all. Once truly known, she was a woman like any other: kind, brave, loyal, and warm-hearted.

The Tilda Nox knew—the one he was in love with—was certainly no manipulator. She was an honest and loyal person.

Besides, on the day he had taken her first time, he remembered clearly how she had begun panicking afterward, because it wasn't a safe day for her.

Nox smiled as the memory resurfaced.

"Why are you smiling?"

"I was just thinking about that little accident that day."

"Hahaha, the ice princess getting poisoned with an aphrodisiac-based poison. Now that I think about it… if it had been someone other than me…"

"Stop thinking about that kind of thing. If it hadn't been you, I would have found a way out of it anyway," she said, frowning, knowing exactly what Nox was implying.

"Yes, yes. So that means you loved me even before the incident, hm?" he teased.

Tilda's face grew impossibly red.

"Nox, even if you put up a sound barrier, people can still see us, you know…" she managed to say, trying to change the subject.

But something had just caught Nox's attention.

"Uh… why isn't your stomach as big as that of a pregnant woman?"

"Well… that's because I compressed it so the pregnancy wouldn't be noticeable. Would you rather see me with a rounded belly?"

"I don't have a preference as long as it doesn't harm the baby, that's fine. Although…"

"Yes?"

"I kinda want to see your belly rounded," he said with a laugh.

Seeing him so cheerful and teasing reassured Tilda, but she remained worried for him—especially regarding his mission.

"Nox, isn't this mission too dangerous? I don't know what the two emperors are planning but…"

"Don't worry, everything will be fine."

After finishing their conversation, Nox and Tilda rejoined Johan and Tiffa, who had been watching them for nearly fifteen minutes.

---

"Johan, you know that today is the day we enter the portal, right?"

"Indeed, we were informed upon our arrival."

"I see. Then I suggest you rest after this trip. Tonight, let's meet at the citadel to discuss the operational details before the launch."

"Understood," Johan replied.

After giving a few instructions to some members of his unit, Nox left the imperial palace. He needed to rest and sort out all the information he had just received.

He had just learned he was going to be a father.

He was certain the emperor, one way or another, bore a grudge against him. He sighed as he recalled the guardians he had met in the imperial garden.

A mere thirty people could never handle several S+ rank portals. They would need reinforcements, but he knew the emperor would never send any.

"I need to prepare a plan in case things go wrong. I'm sure we're being used as sacrifices. And I refuse to die before seeing my child born," he murmured, determined, as he walked through the city toward an unknown destination.

---

That night, in the citadel of the Empire of Kyralia, one of the most serious meetings was being held.

Valiant guardians were about to risk their lives to close large-scale portals. All were already fully prepared for their mission.

Before the thirty guardians he was meant to lead, Nox delivered his final advice and directives.

"…and don't forget: the mission is to close the portals, not to take unnecessary risks," Nox declared, his gaze sweeping across the room filled with determined guardians. "We know that the monsters on the other side are powerful, but we've been trained for situations like this. We'll work as a team, support each other, and we will succeed."

The guardians nodded, their determination clear.

Nox could feel their energy and motivation.

"So, we will divide into three groups," Nox continued. "This way, the groups can rotate between offense and support roles. We can't afford to have everyone vulnerable at the same time. We'll have to synchronize perfectly to avoid unpleasant surprises."

He paused, letting his eyes briefly settle on Tilda, who stood at a distance, her expression both determined and worried.

She was one of the best guardians he had ever met, but she couldn't take part in this mission: not only was she an imperial princess, she was pregnant.

Nox could not put her in danger.

"Tilda, you shouldn't be here. This mission is too dangerous. Return to the imperial palace with Tiffa," he ordered.

"But Nox…"

"Let's go, Princess," Tiffa said, escorting her out of the citadel.

Despite all the reasons she had given to accompany him, Nox had refused and entrusted her to Tiffa, her personal guard.

"Come back safely to me," Tilda whispered as a carriage awaited her, ready to return to the imperial palace of Kyralia.

---

It was time to leave. Nox stood up, adjusted his equipment, and headed toward the exit.

His men were already waiting, ready to depart.

"Let's go," Nox said with a nod. "It's time to show what we're capable of."

The guardians moved toward the citadel gates.

Nox followed, his heart racing—not only from fear, but also from excitement and curiosity. His emotions were at war with one another.

As they walked toward the portals, Nox looked at Johan and smiled:

"You know they selected us for this mission to get rid of us, right?"

A glimmer sparked in Johan's eyes.

"Oh, you knew?"

"No, just assumptions," he replied.

When they reached the citadel gates, Nox ordered the groups to stop.

A large formation circle took shape before them.

"Prepare yourselves," Johan said before they all vanished at once.

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