Isolde's eyes snapped open. Her pupils dilated instantly, swallowing the red iris.
"W-Wife?" she stammered, her face flushing a deep, beautiful crimson.
"That's right," Kaelen teased, enjoying her reaction.
"A dutiful loving wife accompanying her husband on a dangerous business trip. Can you handle that?"
Isolde trembled in his arms. The idea seemed to short-circuit her brain.
The Grand Duchess, the Vampire Queen, the spy-master... reduced to a blushing mess by the word 'wife'.
"Yes..." she breathed, nodding frantically.
"Yes, Master! I mean... Yes, Husband! I will be the best wife! I will cling to you and look pretty and..."
"Hahaha... That's too much... Just follow my lead," Kaelen chuckled.
"And keep the vampire aura in check. It's leaking all over"
"Understood," she said, biting her lip to suppress a squeal of delight.
Getting down the mountain took less than ten minutes. They emerged from the treeline onto the main road leading to the village entrance.
Kaelen adjusted his coat trying to look like a weary but wealthy traveler. Isolde hooked her arm through his, resting her head on his shoulder perfectly playing the part of the exhausted spouse.
As they approached the blockade, bright white beams of tactical flashlights hit them. It was blindingly bright.
"Halt!" a rough voice shouted.
Kaelen shielded his eyes with one hand, stopping in his tracks.
Four soldiers stepped out from behind the barricades. They were armed with mana-rifles— sleek, magitech weapons that could punch a hole through steel.
"State your business!" the lead soldier barked, keeping his rifle raised.
Kaelen put on his best harmless smile. He raised his free hand, keeping the other wrapped possessively around Isolde's waist.
"Easy, gentlemen, easy," Kaelen called out, his voice smooth.
"We are just a pair of travelers. Noticed the commotion and the lights. We're merchants, dealing in mana stones. Heard you boys might be digging up some quality product here."
The soldiers didn't lower their weapons.
They looked suspicious.
"This is a restricted zone," the guard snapped.
"Civilian entry is prohibited so Turn around."
"Come on now," Kaelen pressed, taking a slow step forward.
"We've traveled a long way. I'm sure your Commander wouldn't mind selling a few stones off the books? I pay in gold. Upfront."
He patted his pocket, making a clinking sound.
The mention of gold made the soldiers hesitate. They glanced at each other.
"We need to see some identification," the lead guard said, stepping closer.
"Merchant License and travel permits. Now." Kaelen froze.
License...
He blinked.
He had the gold. He had the disguise. He had the cover story.
He did not have a fake merchant license.
"Ah," Kaelen said, his smile freezing in place.
He patted his pockets again, pretending to search for something he definitely didn't have.
"Right. The license. It's, uh... funny story, actually..."
The guards tensed up immediately. Safety catches clicked off on the rifles.
"Hands where I can see them!" the guard shouted.
"No sudden moves!"
"Shit," Kaelen muttered under his breath.
[✿ Wow, ✿] Evelyn's voice drawled in his head, dripping with sarcasm.
[✿ Did your vampire 'wife' suck out your IQ along with your white cream, Nii-san? Going into a military checkpoint without papers? Truly genius✿]
Kaelen ignored the voice, his mind racing for a backup plan.
He was about to summon the Demon Sword and just slaughter them, stealth can be damned...
But Isolde moved.
She stepped out from behind Kaelen.
The change was instant.
Gone was the clingy wife. In a split second, her posture straightened.
Her chin lifted. The adoration in her eyes vanished replaced by a cold and imperious gaze that could freeze water.
She looked at the soldiers like they were bugs she was deciding whether or not to step on.
"Is there a problem here?" she asked.
Her voice was calm, elegant and laced with an authority that made the soldiers flinch instinctively.
"Ma'am, we need identification," the guard said, though his voice wavered slightly under her stare.
"Identification," Isolde repeated, sounding bored.
She reached into the bodice of her dress. The soldiers watched mesmerized as her pale hand disappeared into her cleavage and pulled out a sleek black metal card etched with silver roses.
She didn't hand it to them. she simply held it up, letting the light catch the silver etching.
"We are representatives of the Rosemoon Guild," Isolde stated coldly.
"We came here to negotiate a direct contract with your Commander regarding the ore distribution."
The guard's eyes widened as he saw the card.
"Rosemoon?" he muttered.
He quickly pulled a small scanner from his belt and aimed a red laser beam at the card from a distance.
The scanner beeped once. A green light flashed.
Authorized. High Priority.
The guard's face went pale. He lowered his rifle immediately, slapping the arm of the soldier next to him to do the same.
"My apologies!" the guard stammered, saluting clumsily.
"I... I didn't realize. The scanner confirmed it. Rosemoon Executive clearance."
Kaelen stood there, blinking. He looked at Isolde, then back at the guards.
"Rosemoon is... working with you guys?" Kaelen asked, playing along.
"We have contracts with all major suppliers," Isolde said smoothly, not breaking character.
She turned her cold gaze to Kaelen, raising a perfectly manicured eyebrow.
"My husband sometimes forgets the paperwork. Men are so... forgetful."
She turned back to the guards.
"Open the gate. We do not like to be kept waiting."
"Yes, Ma'am! Right away!"
The soldiers scrambled to move the heavy barricade.
As the path opened up, Isolde turned back to Kaelen. She slipped her arm through his again.
The moment her back was to the soldiers, the cold mask shattered.
She looked up at him, her face flushing pink, a mischievous and reassured smile playing on her lips. She gave his arm a little squeeze, as if asking,
'Did I do good?'
Kaelen let out a long sigh, shaking his head with a grin.
"Of course," he whispered.
Isolde giggled softly, pressing her chest against him as they walked past the saluting guards and into the belly of the enemy camp.