Liser looked at Kristina and smiled slightly.
"Oh? Big Sister, what graces us with your presence today?"
Kristina leaned back and gave him a contemptuous look.
"This sister came to see her little disobedient brother. Joining the Duke's camp? Doesn't this little brother know the consequences?"
Liser shook his head helplessly.
"What could I do, Ji? It happened so suddenly. To protect you, I had no choice."
Kristina rolled her eyes.
"I'm grateful for that, but it's still dangerous. You're standing on the front line now. I could've handled it myself."
"At least I've found a breakthrough," Liser replied. "Before this, my situation was completely stagnant. This alliance is a high-stakes gamble."
Kristina remained silent for a moment.
Seeing the atmosphere grow heavy, Liser changed the subject.
"It's been a long time since we spent time together."
A trace of longing appeared in Kristina's eyes.
"Yeah. It's been a long time. Across two lives, this is the first time I can be with you as your fiancée."
A complicated emotion flashed through Liser's eyes.
"Anyway, I'm stuck for now. The only thing I can do is squeeze whatever value I can out of that cheap grandfather."
Kristina chuckled.
"You'll need help. As a virtuous lady, I've built a few connections myself. Today's visit was actually to introduce you to some of them."
Liser stood up.
"Then let's get going."
Inside the carriage, they sat side by side.
This time, they had brought the vice commander of the guards with them. Understanding his role well, he sat at the front, giving them privacy.
The two leaned against each other and exchanged stories about their lives after arriving in this world.
"This Rozia girl seems a little naïve, doesn't she?" Kristina asked.
Liser sighed.
"She lacks experience. Reincarnating at eighteen means she never had the chance to understand noble society properly. But she's the only piece I have available right now."
"So what's your plan for her?"
"I'll have her build a business empire for me. She's naïve, but her execution ability is surprisingly good. She just needs time."
Kristina narrowed her eyes.
"Just don't even think about building a harem because this is an aristocratic world."
Liser smiled helplessly.
"I would never. My heart only has room for you, and it's already full."
"It better be."
Liser didn't answer.
Instead, he gently stroked her long, golden-brown hair. It was as smooth as silk.
Kristina's lips curved into a brilliant smile.
For a moment, Liser found himself staring.
Whether in their previous life or this one, she had always been breathtakingly beautiful. Her smile alone could make a man lose his senses.
He knew that from personal experience.
This beautiful woman, who still called him little brother, filled him with immense pride.
Even if he was technically the younger one.
What did it matter?
"I love you."
Kristina suddenly spoke.
The sudden confession caught Liser completely off guard.
A warm smile appeared on his face.
"I love you too."
After some time, the carriage arrived at one of the capital's finest restaurants.
Nobles flocked here to dine. Even a baron could boast for years about eating here once.
Not that it mattered to them.
He was a prince.
She was the daughter of a marquis.
They chose a table beside a window overlooking a lake.
The capital, Florania, was a massive city rivaling modern-day New York in size. Half of it was occupied by the noble district, filled with beautiful lakes, gardens, and parks.
After they sat down, a waiter presented the menu.
Like a proper gentleman, Liser pushed it toward Kristina.
"I'll have whatever you're having."
Liser sighed inwardly.
Girls really were all the same.
Turning to the waiter, he said,
"Four pieces of saffron bread, the signature soup without fish, swan meat fry, honey cake, and black pudding for dessert."
After the waiter left, Kristina smiled.
"You ordered quite a lot."
"Well, I don't come here often. It'd be a waste not to enjoy the dice I've rolled."
Kristina laughed before patting his head.
"My little brother still remembers that I'm allergic to fish. What a thoughtful boy."
Liser refused to accept defeat.
He grabbed her hand and gently kissed the back of it.
"It seems my lady has quite the nerve. Have you forgotten what happened last time?"
Kristina immediately shivered and pulled her hand back.
Of course, she remembered.
Back in their previous world, after teasing him too much, she had paid the price.
She hadn't even been able to leave the bed the next day.
This man possessed the stamina of a monster.
After lunch, they wandered through the streets.
Eventually, Liser led her into a high-end boutique.
The owner immediately noticed their noble clothing and extraordinary bearing. She personally brought them a catalog.
Liser found the concept surprisingly novel.
Kristina, meanwhile, flipped through it as though she had memorized every page.
"What do you like?" Liser asked. "I'll buy it for you."
A mischievous smile appeared on Kristina's face.
She pointed at a dress.
The moment Liser saw the price, his eyes nearly popped out.
"Four hundred gold yun?!"
He stared at the number.
"What is this thing made of? Gold?"
Kristina's smile faded.
"No."
Her expression became unusually serious.
"But nearly ninety percent of the dresses here are dyed with arsenic."
Liser froze.
Kristina looked directly into his eyes.
"I didn't know at first either. Once I found out, I threw all my dresses away."
She paused.
"Honey, your clothes aren't any different."
The realization struck him instantly.
Now he understood why she had insisted on visiting the boutique.
It wasn't for herself.
It was for him.
Warmth spread through his chest.
Before he could enjoy the feeling, Kristina pinched his waist.
"Ouch!"
"Don't get the wrong idea."
She glared at him, though her eyes remained soft.
"I just don't want you dying early."
Watching her, Liser couldn't stop smiling.
Nearby, the shopkeeper stood frozen.
She was both astonished and horrified.
Public displays of affection weren't unusual.
The problem was their age.
All she saw was a thirteen-year-old girl acting lovey-dovey with an eleven-year-old boy.
She had no way of knowing that those young bodies housed the souls of two lovers who had waited across two lifetimes to finally be together.