Yernia stayed up all night embroidering a handkerchief for Cassian.
It was exhausting to treat the injured people in the morning and afternoon so she only embroidered during her spare time at night.
âTake it easy, Yernia.â
Cassian hugged her from behind, his hand gently clasping her fingers while she held the needle and cloth.
Yernia settled them on the table.
âYou surprised me. Donât hug me out of nowhere, Cassian.â
âI want to hug you even more.â
âJust go away for a while. I have to make a handkerchief.â
âIs it mine?â
When Cassian sat next to Yernia, the bed went down slightly and the cheap spring creaked.
âYes. Iâm making it so you donât get hurt.â
âOh. Is this a wifeâs farewell gift to her husband who is going to war so that he wonât come back anymore?â
âWhat? No. A wife would give this to her husband who is going to war so that he can leave safely.â
âNo. The wife was telling her husband not to come back.â
âReally? Why would she do that?â
âI donât know why. Iâm just kidding.â
Yernia wished she could just hit Cassian once but then, she heard someone approach the barracks.
A shadow fluttered between the curtains.
âMajor! Weâre going to grill some meat so donât come out!â
That voice sounded like Rick.
âLetâs go, Yernia. You need to eat.â
Cassian, who was glaring at Rickâs shadow for interfering in their sweet moment, held Yerniaâs hand.
Since they had to stock a lot of food, their diet at the battlefield usually consisted of bread and potatoes.
The soldiers only devoured meat when they were about to go into a long battle.
âOh, itâs delicious!â
Cassian cut more meat for her as Yernia bit a drumstick she just hovered in the bonfire.
As soon as she put it in her mouth, her face changed.
The glorious taste must have sent her to heaven.
âIs it good?â
âYes.â
âEat more, Yernia. We still have a lot for you to eat.â
âNo, you eat it. You have to regain more strength to fight.â
Yernia picked up the lean meat and put it in Cassianâs open mouth.
She was too lazy to tell Cassian to eat on his own since the delicious food had made up for her drowsiness and fatigue.
She also didnât think he would like to be told to do it alone.
Also, she wanted to feed him herself and today, Yernia decided not to think about their future.
âSing a song! Sing a song!â
âNo.â
âWhy? Do it for me, Cassian. Iâve never heard you sing and it makes me curious.â
As more meat and wine came in, the excitement heightened up.
The troops sang enthusiastically as they surrounded the campfire and her curiosity over Cassianâs singing skills increased.
âIâll sing next time.â
âIf you sing, Iâll do it, too.â
âYou? Go ahead. No. Never mind. Donât. Donât let anyone hear it other than me.â
Yernia was a bit disappointed but she didnât want to keep asking him if he hated it so much.
âIâll sing a song!â
Felix stood up, moving everyoneâs attention away from Cassian.
Rickâs singing abilities appalled her but because of Felix, who refused to stop at just one song, people were sneaking away from the campfire one by one.
Yernia secretly grabbed Cassianâs hand and ran towards the barracks with him.
âOh. Tonight was fun!â
As always, she settled down to sleep beside him and closed her eyes.
âDo you want me to sing you a lullaby?â Cassian asked.
What was he talking about all of a sudden?
A lullaby?
Yernia, who completely forgot what she had asked him to sing earlier, nodded.
âSing for me. Iâll listen to it before I sleep.â
Cassian was silent for a moment.
Even if he didnât like it, he still sang her a lullaby.
Cassianâs mellow voice brought Yernia to sleep while his large hand patted her shoulder to soothe her.
By the time she almost fell asleep, she realized she had asked Cassian to sing a song earlier.
Although Cassian refused to do it from the start, it appeared like he still cared enough about her request.
After the lullaby, Cassian whispered to Yerniaâs ear. âGood night, Yernia.â
Yernia fell asleep after he said that.
***
The camp was cool despite the bonfire.
Yernia moved in her sleep, searching for that warmth.
As warmth touched her hands and cheeks, she couldnât feel the presence that should have been next to her.
There was warmth, but she couldnât feel the owner whom it belonged to.
Opening her eyes, she got up and glance around.
âHey, Cassian.â She called her husband while rubbing her half-open eyes.
Not far from her, she could see the back of Cassianâs head.
When Cassian slightly turned to the side, she saw his handsome face.
However, he seemed different from usual.
âWhy did you wake up?â
He had smeared shaving cream on the lower part of his face and he also had a blade on his jawline.
Cassian was shaving and Yernia felt a little strange.
It was the first time she saw him doing it.
âItâs cold.â
Yernia swept her arm up and down from the icy chill.