“Kasha! Are you coming to your senses?”

Daril rushed to the bedside as if rolling. Kasha looked at her half-brother with a slightly bewildered expression. Weren’t they just distant acquaintances not too long ago?

‘He’s so worried about me just because he’s been nice for a few weeks.’

Indeed, this brother is too simple-minded.

‘I wonder if he manages not to get scammed out there.’

Kasha nodded with a complicated expression.

“I’m… fine. Thanks to Lord Leon.”

She saw Leon’s broad back flinch in front of her. He must be worried about how much of their conversation she had heard.

She noticed that her body felt completely refreshed.

‘Is this the power of holy energy?’

Even the back pain she always had from sitting for long periods was gone.

‘But how did he use holy energy… That means he must have made contact with my body.’

Kasha stared at his sturdy back with narrowed eyes. That’s when Daril spoke again.

“Thank goodness, Kasha. I was really worried. Don’t worry about anything now. Oh, and Lord Leon.”

His voice instantly went from hot to cold.

Daril turned to Leon with a chilly tone and said,

“Would you please leave now? I believe you understood everything I told you.”

“Brother.”

At the sudden sound of Kasha’s firm voice, Daril glanced at her.

“What is it?”

“Please don’t… treat Lord Leon like that.”

‘If you chase him away, all my plans will be ruined.’

Kasha blinked her eyes earnestly at Daril as if asking for help, but he didn’t catch on at all and instead raised his voice.

“What do you mean don’t treat Lord Leon like that… What are you saying? You, you didn’t really have something going on with Lord Leon, did you? What about Simon, that b… I mean, that man?”

For a moment, Daril was taken aback when he saw Kasha’s face turn colder than the northern snow mountains as soon as he uttered the three syllables ‘Simon’.

Looking straight at him, Kasha spoke deliberately, as if suppressing something.

“Brother. Simon, that guy is a very, very… bad person. From now on, please never, ever… let him set foot in our mansion.”

At her words, Leon, standing at a distance, was seen slowly turning around.

Noticing that Kasha’s pink eyes had darkened with anger, Daril lowered his voice in response.

“What? A bad person? Did that bastard do something to you?”

“That… I’ll tell you later. Anyway, today, if it weren’t for Lord Leon… I would have been in real trouble.”

“Well, that… Sigh. Alright. I’m grateful for that, I’ll thank Lord Leon separately.”

“That won’t be necessary.”

Leon’s quiet voice was heard from behind, but Daril continued speaking even louder, as if to be heard.

“Anyway, I’ll take care of that, so you just lie down now. I’ve brought a healer here, so there’s no reason for Lord Leon to stay any longer.”

“Uh, well, I’m not sure. I might have more to do…”

The healer scratched his head awkwardly, but when Daril glared at him, he hesitantly approached Kasha.

Kasha tried to persuade Daril with a troubled face.

“Brother, please don’t do this… Just leave for a moment. I have something important to discuss with Lord Leon…”

“No!”

At Daril’s sudden booming shout, Kasha, Leon, the healer, and Sena all flinched simultaneously.

“You are a lady of the Lyuschino family. You have the right to be respected and cherished by everyone. If anyone dares to let your name be tossed around on someone’s tongue, no matter who they are! I won’t stand for it.”

Realizing that Daril’s tone and gaze were sincere, Kasha rolled her eyes.

‘It seems he won’t let this go easily. What should I do? If Lord Leon leaves right now, who knows when I’ll have another chance to meet him…’

From the conversation she overheard as soon as she regained consciousness, she could fully understand what Daril was worried about.

On one hand, it was somewhat touching. That he cared for her to this extent.

The problem was that Leon had no reason to stay and endure such insults.

Feeling urgent, Kasha racked her brain.

“Um, brother. Actually, I’m making… something, and Lord Leon said he would introduce me to a blacksmith he knows well…”

“What? A blacksmith? Why are you getting an introduction from Lord Leon? We have a blacksmith who deals with our family. He supplies weapons to the Red Bull of Lyuschino, so his skills are beyond question. I’ll, I’ll introduce you tomorrow right away.”

“…”

Watching Daril boast confidently, Kasha felt at a loss.

“Brother. Please don’t.”

“Absolutely not, Kasha. You’re a noble lady of marriageable age. You must not spend time alone with any man without my permission.”

Ab. So. Lute. Ly.

Daril turned around and added that, looking at Leon’s face.

That’s when it happened.

Leon, who had been silent until then, stepped forward.

“Then, how about this?”

At his low and composed voice, Daril straightened his shoulders as if not to be intimidated and asked back.

“What do you mean?”

“If your sister and I were in a formal courtship.”

“…What did you say?”

As if he had heard something unbelievable, Daril jumped to his feet.

He approached Leon with heavy steps and thrust his face close to Leon’s, as if picking a fight.

“What did you just say, my lord?”

“I wish to formally court the Viscount’s sister.”

“What on earth…”

Cold purple eyes and fiery green eyes clashed, sparks flying.

In the intimidating atmosphere created by the two large men, everyone in the room held their breath.

“Are you joking right now?”

“Of course not.”

“I told you earlier. I’m sure you heard. Grand Duke Osilote and Duke Tyrot are exchanging marriage proposals.”

“It’s a marriage proposal being discussed without my consent, and I will convey my exact intentions to my father today.”

“Ha. This is such nonsense…”

Daril snorted.

“……”

However, Leon continued to stare at Daril without moving a muscle.

Realizing that his expression was serious, Daril frowned deeply.

“You want to court my sister, Kasha? Formally?”

“…That’s right.”

At Leon’s slow but precise answer, everyone held their breath.

Sena’s eyes sparkled as she clasped her hands together, and the healer looked back and forth between Leon, Daril, and Kasha with wide eyes.

After a moment, Daril regained his composure and turned around.

“Kasha. This… Do you also know about what Lord Leon is saying? Is this guy spouting nonsense with your agreement?”

Despite the harsh words, Leon didn’t even bat an eye.

Kasha stared at Leon for a moment before slowly opening her mouth.

“Yes. That’s right. It’s something we agreed upon.”

To be precise, it was a contract I proposed first.

The sound of Sena muffling a cheer could be heard.

And Kasha inwardly heaved a great sigh of relief.

That tired and weary beast has finally walked into my territory.

After chasing away Daril, the healer, and even Sena who had been making a fuss for a while longer, the bedroom became eerily quiet.

“……”

Kasha calmly offered Leon a chair. As he slowly approached and sat down, he spoke first.

“Alright. Let’s proceed with that contract as you wish.”

“You mean, you’ll enter into a contract relationship with me?”

“That’s right.”

“…Thank you.”

Her expression looked so relieved as she replied that Leon momentarily forgot what he was about to say.

He had intended to warn her that this didn’t mean he had removed his suspicions about her, that he would always be watching her every move.

But Kasha’s face, looking more transparent and clear after her illness, with her shoulders relaxed, seemed so defenseless.

He couldn’t bring himself to speak, as the thought that she was a woman plotting something terrible simply wouldn’t come to mind.

Kasha’s eyes sparkled as she spoke.

“Then, I’ll start looking for a way to break the curse right away. Even tomorrow, I could visit the Grand Duke’s residence… After all, it’s highly likely to be hidden in ordinary items in personal spaces like Leon’s bedroom.”

Kasha, you hardly stuttered just now.

Leon thought to himself.

It was the first time since meeting her that he had heard her speak such a long sentence clearly.

He was displeased with himself for thinking that her lively appearance was somehow pleasing to see.

He quickly gathered his thoughts.

“Tomorrow would be a bit difficult.”

“Why?”

“If I tell my father today to withdraw the marriage talks with the Tyrot family, the atmosphere in the mansion will likely be tense for a while. He’ll try to persuade me somehow, with fire in his eyes.”

The position of Leon’s father, Grand Duke Osilote, was already precarious. There was a reason he was pushing for the marriage without even asking for Leon’s opinion.

His father wouldn’t easily give up on the lifeline that was the Tyrot family.

“Will it be, alright?”

For some reason stuttering again, Kasha asked. Just as he was about to say something more while looking at her, it happened.

Bang!

With the aggressive sound of the door opening, Daril appeared again.

After quickly confirming the bewildered looks of the two, Daril seemed relieved that they weren’t making any particular physical contact.

However, he soon walked towards them resolutely, waving something in his hand.

“Brother. What is it… ‘this time’?”

At Kasha’s pointed question, Daril hesitated a little but still squared his shoulders proudly. Then he held out the paper in his hand to Leon.

“…What is this.”

“An invitation to a hunting competition.”

“Hunting competition?”

“You surely aren’t unaware that a royal hunting competition is about to be held.”

“I’m asking why you’re giving this to me.”

“You said you wanted formal permission to court, but if you truly wish to court my sister sincerely, you must first silence those loose lips in high society.”

Hearing his words, Leon raised one golden eyebrow.

“How?”

“Attend the hunting competition as my sister’s official partner.”

Leon’s eyes widened. So did Kasha’s.

“In front of everyone, present your hunt to my sister.”

“……!”

In other words, it was a request for Leon to make a public courtship to Kasha in front of all of high society.

“Then I’ll believe you. Your sincerity.”

Daril smiled, lifting the corner of his mouth.

He looked like a bear proudly showing off an unexpected trick.