Proof of Love

Before she could even ask again, Lucian’s solid arm hooked firmly around Shana’s waist.

His body heat rushed in, and his low breath brushed teasingly against her ear.

“Lucian, are you really planning to get through this with nothing but acting?”

Was he seriously thinking that this kind of suggestive atmosphere alone would be enough to pass inspection?

Worry crept into Shana’s voice.

Instead of answering, Lucian flashed a sly smile and pulled something out from inside his coat.

It was an identification card, made with impressive precision.

On it was a portrait identical to Lucian’s transformed appearance.

“Shasha, don’t worry.

Luckily, I already have a forged ID, so we can enter pretending to be citizens of Phthalin.”

He added it casually.

Shana grabbed his sleeve tightly, dumbfounded.

“A forged ID?”

Lucian handed his identification card to Shana.

It was another finely crafted card, bearing the same portrait of his transformed self.

‘There’s no way he had time to get this issued now… which means—’

“…You’ve been carrying this around regularly?”

Lucian pressed his index finger to his lips and chuckled softly.

“Shh.”

“I don’t have one for you, Shasha, but if I say you’re my wife, they’ll let us through easily.”

‘So I was worried for nothing.’

With something like this, there probably wasn’t much to be concerned about.

“Still, the most important thing is how much we look like a perfectly loving couple. This is a religion where love comes first, after all.”

As he spoke, Lucian leaned closer to Shana.

His lips were close enough to brush her cheek.

Shana pushed him away with her palm and said,

“Lucian, we haven’t even arrived yet. Isn’t it a little early to start pretending we’re married?”

“Shh, Shasha. There’s someone over there. A guard.”

‘Unbelievable. Is he really going to make us kiss…?’

But Shana’s belief that nothing too outrageous would happen shattered the moment she saw the Kallis border guards up close.

Dozens of tents were arranged in a circular formation across the borderland.

White-cloth-covered tents reflected the sunlight, gleaming silver.

And just as many people stood rigidly in formation among them.

Shana swallowed instinctively.

‘W-What is this?’

Muscular men wearing nothing but leather garments that barely covered their thighs stood lined up like statues, unmoving.

Their bodies were covered in tattoos symbolizing love and union.

‘T-These are Kallis believers? No one said they dressed like this!’

Shana swallowed again.

While she stood frozen by the believers’ extraordinary appearance, Lucian calmly presented the forged ID as if this were all familiar territory.

The man blocking their path, his massive arm muscles twitching, glanced briefly at the card and asked,

“…Do you know the Way?”

“What?”

Shana stared blankly, unsure where to rest her eyes, mouth slightly open.

“The Way of Kallis. Do you know it?”

Without realizing it, Shana’s gaze drifted back to their bodies.

Each muscle looked alive, rippling like fish beneath the skin.

‘I’m not staring. I’m absolutely not staring.’

“Shasha, what are you looking at?”

“I-I was. Looking at the words.”

She nearly said “horse thighs” by accident.

“We are people of Phthalin. We came to learn about the teachings of Kallis.

We heard anyone may participate in the rituals.”

Lucian spoke smoothly.

‘When did he even practice a southern accent?’

He was deliberately using a dialect closer to Phthalin’s. His linguistic ability was unsettling.

As if to confirm, the man turned his attention to Shana and asked again,

“Is that correct?”

“Yes.”

“And what is your relationship?”

Still clinging to Lucian’s arm, Shana rose slightly on her toes and answered,

“We’re married.”

The moment she said it, Lucian’s lips twitched into a grin he couldn’t suppress.

But the guard said nothing, only stared straight through them.

‘…What? Why isn’t he moving?’

His gaze lingered stubbornly on their linked arms, their touching shoulders, their faces.

As the silence stretched on, cold sweat trickled down Shana’s spine.

‘Don’t tell me… words aren’t enough? Does he want proof?’

She glanced sideways at Lucian, who was smiling with infuriating composure.

He looked more entertained than inclined to help.

Finally, unable to endure the suffocating standoff any longer, Shana grabbed Lucian by the collar.

“Mm—?”

Before Lucian could react, Shana pressed her lips firmly to his and pulled away.

It was brief, but Lucian’s hot breath rushed between their lips.

Caught completely off guard, Lucian’s eyes shook violently.

Shana turned her head away, cheeks burning, and only then did the guard nod.

“You do appear to be lovers.”

“…Yes.”

Lucian answered while barely holding back laughter, wrapping an arm around Shana’s stiff shoulders.

“…Give us a moment to consider.”

When the man still didn’t give a definitive response, Lucian finally spoke up.

“Are you aware that monsters have begun appearing in the area?
We could take care of them without disrupting your rituals—”

Lucian moved straight to persuasion.

But the man frowned instead.

“Monsters? Then you still have much to learn of the Way.

Monsters are beings to be embraced with love, not eliminated or despised.”

‘What?’

To Shana, that way of thinking was unimaginable.

She smoothed her furrowed brow and asked,

“I understand that, but wouldn’t it be dangerous if monsters harm people?”

“Monsters cannot truly harm us. Not at the root of things.

Perhaps imperial citizens lacking love would think otherwise…”

The man spoke as if entranced.

Unable to hold back, Shana asked,

“Why is that? What principle is that based on?”

Then, so as not to sound suspicious, she added,

“I want to learn more about the teachings.”

At her words, other believers began to gather.

One whispered something into the man’s ear, and he suddenly made a proposal.

“…If you participate in our ritual, we can show you that principle.”

He looked Lucian and Shana over from head to toe.

“Will you participate? As a married couple?

If you are willing to take part in all of our rites, we will allow you entry.”

Lucian only glared at him, eyes burning, saying nothing.

So Shana answered quickly.

“…We will.”

***

“We only came for medicine, and they even gave us a tent.”

Shana looked around.

The inside of the tent had sleeping space and simple furniture.

It was surprisingly livable.

“…So what. They’re insane. Shasha, Shasha. Can’t I kill them?”

Lucian muttered, barely restraining his rage.

Shana grabbed his head as he started toward the tent entrance.

“Lucian, no.
They’re just following their doctrine.”

“I don’t know any doctrine that involves stealing another man’s wife.
Even if it exists, shouldn’t it be wiped out?”

“I’m not even your real wife……”

“They tried to take you from me.”

He wasn’t wrong.

When they agreed to participate in the ritual, the believers initially tried to lead them to separate tents.

“That’s the weird part.
If we’re married, why separate tents?
And why were those half-naked men escorting you?”

“It was strange.
But it looked like there were other women in those tents too.”

The women’s clothing wasn’t as revealing as the men’s.

But the sides were open, covered only by loosely draped cloth that looked like it would fall off if tugged.

‘That might actually be worse.’

Only after Lucian protested that he couldn’t be separated from Shana did they relent and lead them together.

‘Probably because he kept resting his hand on his sword hilt.’

“Weren’t you worried about being separated from me?”

“Well, you put a protection spell on me.”

Shana replied calmly.

No matter what happened, she had the bracelet Lucian gave her.

And as far as she knew, the Kallis faith had no history of sexual violence.

[‘Love is not coercion.’]

A believer had even said that while stopping Lucian from insisting they share a room.

Lucian, visibly moved, said,

“Shasha…You trusted the bracelet I gave you?”

“You said it would block all attacks.”

“I did.”

Lucian grinned again, clearly pleased.

“Shasha, I should tell you now. That wasn’t just a simple protection spell.”

“Then what was it?”

“When it activates, I get notified too. Meaning you can call me anytime you need me.”

“…Wait. You layered spells on it? Tracking magic too?”

Layering spells on a single item wasn’t just twice as difficult. It was more than ten times harder.

“…You wasted that much mana?”

Shana looked horrified.

“That’s not wasteful. It’s the most meaningful thing I could do.

I can protect you, and I can return to you whenever I need to.”

As he spoke, Lucian gently brushed her hair aside.

“If something happens, smash the bracelet with a rock. Got it?”

“That… makes sense, but— wait. I can’t take this bracelet off at will.”

“Yeah. Of course.”

“Then does that mean…You’re constantly tracking me?”

“Obviously. If it were up to me, I’d carry you so your feet would never touch the ground.”

‘He’s completely lost it.’