To prepare for the possibility of Rian's rescue, the Duke swiftly dispatched a missive to the Empire. The request was simple: protect the man if found.
Knowing the Empire wouldn't bother searching for a mere commoner, the Duke subtly spread the lie that Rian was his son.
Given these facts, there was no need for them to loudly denounce Rian as a traitor. Doing so risked antagonizing the Duke's house.
Yet they were furious, blinded by rage—all because of Noah.
She ignored any insults directed at her, but she would not tolerate a single slight against Rian. Naturally, those who disliked her turned their resentment toward him, spewing all manner of insults.
...After nearly being killed by Noah, they stopped openly cursing Rian, but their fury remained unquenched.
The revelation that the White Mask was 'Rian'—the man Noah protected so fiercely—was the perfect leverage to drag her down. She, who had dominated the battlefield with flawless precision.
The nobles pounced, raising their voices to tear Noah down.
"Let's sever his head and put it on display!"
"Oh! A splendid idea. It will crush the enemy's morale!"
They spoke of severing Rian's cooling head and displaying it for the enemy to see, their faces alight with cruel delight.
Not everyone agreed with such extreme measures.
"He may have been under the influence of Black Magic. Like the enemy soldiers."
"We risk antagonizing the Duke. We must not forget she could rush here at any moment."
Some argued Rian might be an innocent victim; others feared the wrath of the Duke's house. The nobles cleared their throats and changed the subject.
The commander watched the chaotic bickering in silence before speaking heavily.
"We know nothing for certain. Let us begin with an investigation first."
Faced with the commander's grave gaze, the nobles grumbled a few words before reluctantly nodding.
As their meeting drew to a close, Noah stared blankly at Rian's corpse. Then, she whipped her head around to look at the person beside her.
Rian, with black hair, stood there, looking down at his own motionless body with a serious expression.
Noah reached out with trembling hands and carefully covered the back of Rian's hand. Rian's gaze, which had been fixed on his own body, shifted softly toward her.
Unaccustomed to such skinship, Rian blushed and tentatively held Noah's hand. He lacked the courage to interlace his fingers just yet.
"I'll be back to normal soon. Don't worry."
"..Mm..."
Though his atmosphere and face were different, the way he spoke and his small habits were exactly the Rian she knew. Her anxiety hadn't vanished completely, but she was no longer drowning in despair.
Noah looked down at the hand Rian was holding and fidgeted with her free hand. Without realizing it, she stared intently at Rian's wrist.
Visions of handcuffs covered in soft fur floated in her mind. Seeing Noah lost in thought, looking relatively stable, Rian turned his gaze back to his own body.
It felt absurd to worry when his original body was right in front of him, but a subtle, lingering anxiety held him back, preventing him from attempting to return to it.
It was like being lost in a thick fog. Everything felt familiar yet alien, and he was gripped by the fear that taking a single step would pull him deeper into the mist.
'Why, exactly?'
He searched his mind, trying to trace where this fear began, but couldn't find even a single clue.
Just as Rian was lost in thought, the sound of fabric fluttering at the tent entrance reached his ears.
He turned to see white hems entering his field of vision. The people who strode into Noah's quarters were Priests clad in pristine white vestments.
They walked in as if they owned the place, striding toward Rian and Noah.
"Everyone, get out."
The moment the blonde-haired Priest in the lead spoke, the three Priests standing behind him quickly approached Rian's pale corpse.
"..! What are you doing!"
As they moved to take Rian's body, Noah stepped in, her expression fierce enough to suggest she was about to draw her sword. Rian just rolled his eyes, wondering what on earth was happening.
"I shall explain."
Someone who had been hidden by the Priests stepped forward. It was one of the nobles who had been shouting that Noah was a traitor.
"From now on, the corpse of the White Mask is under the jurisdiction of the High Priest of the Temple of Light. Do not come anywhere near this place again."
"What is the meaning of—"
Noah tried to protest, but the noble cut her off.
"The White Mask, though dead, is suspected to be a high-ranking officer of the Demon King's army. He may have faked his death with wicked Black Magic, so it is only right that the High Priest manages him."
He continued with a sneer.
"This is not a recommendation; it is an order. If you approach the White Mask without the High Priest's permission, you will be treated exactly like him."
His gaze shifted to the corpse of the White Mask—to Rian's body.
"Unless you wish to be called a 'traitor' who betrayed humanity to join the Demon King's army, I suggest you be careful."
"..! Rian is not a traitor..!"
"Huh? Are you defending the White Mask who slaughtered the Imperial soldiers?"
Due to the 'Gag Filter' remaining on his body, the soldiers injured by the fake Rian only suffered superficial wounds that looked painful; not a single one had been killed or critically injured.
The rumor that the White Mask did not 'kill' had spread among the higher-ups.
Had Noah known this, she could have retorted with confidence, but she was, after all, a 'commoner,' and lacked the information.
She understood logically that defending the White Mask would indeed earn her the title of 'traitor to humanity,' but her heart could not accept it.
Her anger boiled over, and Noah was deeply incensed.
Just as Noah was about to fall for the provocation and act rashly, Rian stepped in front of her.
"Understood. We will be careful."
"Hmm?"
The noble, who hadn't paid Rian any mind, finally registered the black-haired, black-eyed man.
Rian's decadent yet dangerous aura made him seem closer to 'evil' than a champion of justice, causing the noble to flinch. He spat out a curse and averted his gaze from Rian, as if looking at something filthy.
Rian immediately grabbed Noah's hand and pulled her out of the tent.
"Wait..! Rian!"
She tried to call him back, but she was forced to be dragged along by his firm grip. She bit her lip, glancing back repeatedly. Two Holy Knights were already guarding the entrance with cold expressions.
Glances full of wariness followed Rian. They were wary of him simply because he had 'black hair,' despite him having done nothing.
Noticing this keenly, Noah felt an urge to draw her sword immediately.
Squeeze.
As if to stop her, or perhaps to comfort her, a firm yet warm hand gripped hers tightly, pulling it down. The sensation of his fingers gently stroking her palm snapped Noah, whose mind was a mess of rage, back to reality.
A shiver ran through her, and her mind went blank.
Rian led Noah to a place where others' gazes could not reach.
***
After walking for about 10 minutes, Rian stopped in a spot slightly removed from the Imperial encampment. Noah immediately voiced the question she had been suppressing.
"Rian, why—"
Before the words could even take shape in her mouth,
Thud!
The sound of feet kicking off the ground echoed, and something red lunged at Rian.
"Ugh...!"
Because he possessed a body that was weak as anything, Rian was knocked backward by Jess's body slam, as if she were meeting a master who had returned after a week.
Fortunately, Noah, who was standing behind him, caught Rian as he fell.
"Heeheehee!"
Jess laughed adorably and rubbed her face against Rian's neck. Rian, having learned how stimulating pheromones could be, had removed his pheromone glands while being transported in the palanquin.
Thanks to that, no scent came from his neck, but Jess habitually rubbed her cheek against the spot where the pheromones used to flow.