Just as I thought, I should have sex every day.

I stretched, starting my morning with such profound thoughts.

I figured it was around 5:30 AM. Time to go break some stones.

I adjusted the pants properly around my waist. These leather pants had always been a problem for me. I’d adjusted well at the beginning of my second life in this world... but once I got my own armor made of solenite, I’d never worn these leather ones again. Must’ve lost touch with them.

I missed my solenite armor. It took the shape of its owner, fitting to the body size perfectly and comfortably. It blocked most physical attacks, repelled external mana, and helped the owner’s mana flow more efficiently. The only flaw is it did jack shit against aura... but just layer some aura around yourself and you were good to go.

But of course, solenite was so expensive that even a meter of that fabric cost at least a viscount’s entire treasury. And I was currently broke, so I might as well stop daydreaming.

I climbed back onto the bed. I slowly slid my hand over to Sera and tapped her hand lightly.

Her face was so peaceful as she inhaled and exhaled in a slow, steady rhythm. Her eyelashes fluttered twice before her eyes slowly opened.

Her ocean blue eyes found my golden ones.

"Rune..." she said softly, her voice still heavy with sleep.

"Time to get to work," I said, flicking her forehead gently.

"Oww..." Sera groaned cutely, her hand shooting up to her forehead as she sulked.

I grinned and got off the bed.

"It’s time already?" Sera asked as she sat up against the headrest. Her silver hair cascaded down over her shoulders in gentle arches with her movement.

She looked down at her exposed self and immediately pulled the blanket up to cover herself, as if she hadn’t let me suck on them just a few hours ago.

Semantics.

"Yeah, we need to be in the carriage by seven. We should get ready," I said, pulling up my shirt.

It had been thrown too far away. Must’ve been in a real hurry when I’d pulled it off last night.

I found it on the couch near the window.

"Yeah..." Sera said, rubbing her eyes. She was definitely a sleepyhead, not a morning person at all.

I quickly brushed my teeth and had a quick bath before Sera even managed to get herself out of bed.

"You’re done already?" she asked, now dressed in her nighttime pajamas, still rubbing her eyes sleepily.

"Yup. Your turn. Find me after you’re done," I said, grabbing the new pair of clothes I’d been given yesterday.

This must be the prisoner’s outfit.

It was totally orange from top to bottom, an orange short-sleeve leather shirt and orange leather pants. The boots were sturdy and brown.

All in all, I was now officially a prisoner of the place where I used to be second-in-command.

Just awesome!

I opened the door to my room, hoping I wouldn’t see the same three figures standing there waiting for me.

And I didn’t.

I smirked to myself as I stepped out and closed the door behind me.

"Good morning."

God damnit!

"Good morning to you too, Ilya. I didn’t know you were a morning person," I said, smiling as innocently as I could manage.

But Ilya’s eyes narrowed as she looked into mine, studying me carefully. Her lips pressed together in suspicion.

My eyes darted away without my permission.

"You’re going to do something sneaky, aren’t you?" she asked, now studying me even more intently. Her glasses reflected the early morning light.

"Who? Me?" I said, turning back and forth as if checking whether she was speaking to someone behind me.

"You are definitely doing something sneaky!" Ilya declared, adjusting her glasses with one hand.

Shit!

"Well, you can kiss that thought goodbye, because your carriage is being guided by none other than him ," she said, her thumb jerking backward to point at a man in shining armor standing behind her.

Oh. Was that guy someone important?

I’d thought he was just a regular guard behind Ilya.

To my surprise, he did possess intermediate-level aura.

"He is the General of the combined units from the outer bailey, Sir Kloxhan," Ilya introduced.

Kloc... what?

Never heard of him. We used to have a general for the outer bailey? I’d been there for over a year in my past life, but I’d never even seen him take command or oversee our training. It had always been our drill commanders who’d helped us with pointers and support.

"Look at him. He’s not even giving his respects," the Kloc-something guy frowned, his lips curling downward in disapproval.

Now that I thought about it, he did hold the same position as Kael, general. Except his influence was significantly lower than hers since he was only general of the outer bailey.

I put my arm to my heart and bowed slightly.

"Good morning, General," I said politely.

"Tsk."

Did he just click his tongue at my good morning?

The world had gotten toxic.

"Go join your kind near the gatehouse," he said, his tone strict and clipped. His jaw was tight as he spoke.

"I was tasked to oversee your squad. Don’t try anything funny," he warned.

Well, I didn’t plan to anyway.

"Why am I given this task instead of some inquisitor or jailer?" the general muttered as I walked past him.

"I’ll take over once we get to the site. I have to stay with the architects along the way," Ilya replied, her tone seeming a bit on edge when she spoke to him.

Maybe she wasn’t as much of a morning person as I’d thought.

I deliberately walked slowly after the turn. If the general walked the other direction, I’d sneak away before going to the gatehouse.

"I wouldn’t burden such a fine lady as yourself with dealing with such criminals, my lady. Please leave them to me," the general said.

Did he... did he just call Ilya " my lady "?

It took every bit of my nerve to stop myself from laughing out loud.

[And he called you a heinous criminal.]

’He said "criminal," and that wasn’t relevant right now.’

"Let’s stick to protocol, Sir General," Ilya said coolly. "You hand them over to me once we get there. And I don’t consider tasks from Her Grace a burden."

Damn, she was cold!

"You are such a diligent worker, Lady Ilya," the general said, his tone syrupy.

Why was this dude buttering her up? Did he think she’d push his name for promotions? The only position he could be promoted to was Lieutenant General of the main unit, and the current dude in that position would wipe the floor with this guy.

That is why most of the commanders from the outer bailey prefer transfer over promotion. Once you get to high enough position in outer bailey you will suddenly find yourself waiting in line with veterans from inner bailey for promotion to a common post, which needless to say will only go to the ones from inner bailey because of their superior training methods guided by Kael herself.

"I hope you, too, will be just as diligent, Sir General. If you’ll excuse me, I think you should be tailing that troublemaker number-one who just walked away. He’s your responsibility until we get there, and if I were you, I wouldn’t be brave enough to let him off my sight."

Did she just trash-talk me behind my back?

"Ah... right... Let’s talk at the site, Lady Ilya." the general said, his footsteps hurrying toward me.

Guess I’d have to postpone meeting Commander Rose, huh?

I was excited to see her too. Guess another day, then.

I quickly left my spot before I got chewed out by the general.