In the following days, Jenaro was busy preparing for the expedition while also engaging in a tug-of-war with Isidoro. Despite being overwhelmed with tasks, he still made time every day to accompany Serena in the Caelius Hall, uttering sweet words to her.

Needless to say, during the night, they indulged in each other's company, savoring the pleasures together.

Serena couldn't help but imagine how agonizing it would be if the current 'Serena' were not herself but the original persona infatuated with Jenaro.

Previously, when Jenaro was with Corina, she couldn't help but feel guilty and uneasy—while Serena was gravely injured and on the brink of death, he was entangled with a substitute. Now that Serena was alive, he seemed to have cast off all pretenses and didn't even bother to conceal his satisfaction.

His conversations with Serena became increasingly straightforward. One day, he gently caressed her hand and tenderly murmured, "Sere, when I return from the expedition and your health has recovered, how should I compensate for making you wait so long?

Once you are able to tend to me, I will never lay a finger on another woman. Sere, my heart belongs to you alone. I love only you!" he vowed solemnly. Such was the love of a king.

Serena smiled shyly and tenderly in response, "Take care of yourself when you're away. While defeating evil is crucial, your safety is paramount.

As long as we have a safe retreat, we need not fear any dangers. And do not entrust your back to Isidoro; he is not to be trusted."

Jenaro sighed with relief, "With a wife like you, what more could a husband ask for? These past few days have been truly exhausting—Ivana keeps crying and begging me not to go to battle, while Corina knows nothing and asks about everything, causing me headaches every day. Sere, you are truly the best."

Serena lowered her head, smiling lightly, seeing through his ploy. While it seemed like he was belittling other women, he was actually subtly manipulating her to gradually accept their existence as normal.

Next, he would use their qualities to suppress her, fueling her jealousy and self-doubt, ultimately asserting his dominance over her. Such men were all too familiar to her.

"I will take good care of myself. Don't worry about me; focus on your battles and come home soon. After you leave, I will stay at the National Temple for a few days to pray for you," Serena assured him.

"Sere," Jenaro was genuinely moved, "you are truly the best."

Serena smiled radiantly.

The next day, the war drums beneath the royal city gate echoed heavily, shattering the usual calmness and filling the entire city with solemnity. Jenaro's departure was imminent.

Standing at the city gate tower, Serena waved goodbye as the army departed. Jenaro and Isidoro left the royal city with only a few hundred men accompanying them.

They rode on Cloud Beasts with snow-white fur, their black armor adorned with crimson cloaks fluttering in the wind. The two leaders were particularly outstanding.

Watching them leave, Serena breathed a sigh of relief and leaned softly against Aunt Sandra's arm. Aunt Sandra, however, was fuming like a pufferfish. She had just discovered that Jenaro had taken Corina with him, disguised as a royal guard.

"Princess, aren't you angry?" Aunt Sandra grumbled indignantly. "Do you really believe his nonsense, that he only needs that woman to detoxify? What a joke!"

"Aunt Sandra, there's no need to be angry," Serena said calmly. "He wronged me first. They leave, and we'll return to Achillea right behind them! If he wants to cause trouble, we'll pin him with malicious intent—harboring the Three Evils, attempting to replace Serena. Such intentions deserve punishment!"

Aunt Sandra was shocked, her mouth agape. After a moment, she burst into laughter, covering her mouth with her hand, tears streaming down her face.

"Princess, have you truly let go this time? Fighting over a man like that with other women? Sorry, but she's the daughter of Achillea King, she doesn't need to keep fish in her mind to make a living.

This time, without Achillea's sneak attacks from behind, Jenaro and Isidoro will likely smooth over the demonic troubles easily. By the time they return, his affection for Corina should have deepened even further. It's best to lock them down and prevent them from harming others."

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"There's nothing to bring with us," Serena surveyed the Caelius Hall and found herself not attached to anything inside. Her voice was calm as she instructed Aunt Sandra and forty-eight Achillea guards.

"Perfect, we'll travel lightly, with nothing to bring, to avoid arousing suspicion," she pointed to the map in front of her. "We'll leave the royal city at dawn tomorrow, and by morning, we should arrive at the southern city of Meishui, a trading hub where we can replenish supplies."

"We'll depart from Meishui at noon, without stopping for the night. By morning the next day, we'll pass through the first heavily guarded town, Kuren. Although we can use the credentials you obtained to pass through, the news will surely reach Jenaro. Therefore, we must wait outside the town until noon, when Jenaro reaches the western border and engages in battle with the underworld demons, achieving his first victory."

"At that time, he will be too preoccupied to notice us. We'll exit the town then. By the time Jenaro receives news of his victory, we'll already be beyond Kuren and will reach the border town of Jurong after another night's journey."

Aunt Sandra couldn't help but furrow her brows. "But by then, Belleria King will surely have issued orders, and Jurong won't let us pass."

"That's why we're not setting out until tomorrow," Serena smiled mysteriously. "Later, I will contact Father and Brother and have them lead the army to the outskirts of Jurong to meet us. If Jurong refuses to let us pass, we'll capture it!"

The look Aunt Sandra gave her was one of astonishment. Serena had subtly guided Jenaro into discussing various matters concerning Belleria and the war over the past few days, not to flatter him, but to prepare for their departure!

After Serena finished speaking, she turned around and found Aunt Sandra and the forty-eight guards teary-eyed, but resolute.

"We pledge to protect the princess with our lives!"

Serena's eyes warmed, and she calmly said, "Let's prepare ourselves."

After dismissing the others, she nervously took out the jade slip. An alliance between two countries was no trivial matter. If Achillea King couldn't send troops, she would have to find another way. Nevertheless, she had made up her mind.

To Serena's surprise, Aunt Sandra had already reported everything that had happened over the past few days to Achillea. Achillea was just waiting for her word.

As Serena was halfway through her message, she heard Achillea King's thunderous roar—

"Jurong, what Jurong?

I'll muster the troops now! While Jenaro's brat is away, I'll march straight to Belleria Capital and bring my daughter back home!"

Headache.

Fortunately, there was Senon, who was clever and rational.

"Father is too impulsive; it's not feasible. Sister's plan is better, but just capturing Jurong might give that brat Jenaro too much advantage. Why not go straight to Kuren? It'll save Sister a few hours in the woods."

She had just managed to convince the father and son pair to only gather troops at Jurong and not attack immediately.

What a headache.

Just as they resolved this, Jenaro's jade slip lit up.

"Sere, when you're feeling better, I'll take you out of the city for a stroll. I've reached the Western Desert now. The moon in the desert is exceptionally large and round; it's a bit hot during the day, but the view is excellent, and it lifts one's spirits. Sere, I'm already starting to miss you."

Serena responded lightly, her thoughts already flying out of the ornate wooden window, toward the vastness of Achillea to the south.

A woman's cry suddenly startled her back to reality.

She froze for a moment, wondering if there were eavesdroppers in the hall.

Then she heard Jenaro's voice, tinged with impatience, "What's wrong again?"

The woman laughed and replied, "Nothing, I almost bumped into you! Riding on the Cloud Beasts is so much fun! I'm going to run ahead again!"

It was Corina.

A sardonic smile played at Serena's lips.

"Is your face concealed?" she asked calmly. "I wouldn't want to hear any gossip about the daughter of Achillea King losing her composure in public."

Jenaro's voice was embarrassed, "I've disguised myself; no one will gossip about you."

Silence.

After a while, Jenaro said, "This woman, I have something to attend to. We'll talk later."

Until Serena's departure, Jenaro's jade slip remained silent.

Serena couldn't help but wonder, if her original self were still here, would she be holding onto the jade slip, waiting eagerly until dawn? She didn't dare disturb him, afraid that he was busy with important matters, but he had another woman by his side, daring, noisy, and shameless.

How pitiful it must be to be the one waiting.

Fortunately, that wasn't her.

Serena's convoy left the royal city smoothly.

As the lord went to war, the lady went to pray for him at the southern temple. This matter had been arranged by Serena while Jenaro was still in the royal city.

After traveling more than twenty miles, Serena looked back and saw the dark and oppressive Belleria Capital squatting on the ground, like a prison, yet also like a ferocious beast.

Serena let out a sigh of relief.

The journey had been unexpectedly smooth.

After replenishing their supplies in Meishui, they successfully passed through the first heavily guarded town, Kuren.

Once past Kuren, Serena threw all of Jenaro's jade slips into the ditch beside the official road.

The moon within Belleria's borders was also round that night.

Through the carriage window, Serena gazed at the bright moon.

By the time dawn broke, her father and brother would be besieging the city to assist her in passing through the checkpoint.

"Princess, rest early. It may take some effort to break through the checkpoint tomorrow," Aunt Sandra advised.

Serena smiled, "You all should rest well; I'm just a tagalong with nothing to do."

Aunt Sandra shook her head, smiling, closed the carriage windows and doors, and withdrew to discuss how to protect the princess through the checkpoint.

Serena thought she might have trouble falling asleep, but she soon fell into a deep slumber.

She dreamed of a snake.

A slender snake, as thick as a finger, slithered across her face.

She struggled to open her eyes, only to find herself falling from one nightmare into another.

Beside her bed sat a ghostly figure, with dark eyes, meticulously tracing her features with his fingers.