“I… understand.”

Upon hearing Leon’s words, Kasha thought she had received the best possible answer she could have expected from him.

In fact, it was only natural for him to be suspicious of her in this situation, and now that he was free from the curse, she had outlived her usefulness to him. It wouldn’t have been surprising if he had immediately broken off the contract, detained her, and demanded she tell the truth.

If it were someone like Simon, he probably would have changed his demeanor on the spot and trampled all over her.

‘But you’re not that kind of person.’

Leon was an honorable man who valued trust, so he wouldn’t try to break a contract that had already begun. Kasha calmly nodded her head.

Looking down at her with dark eyes, Leon continued, “It would be difficult to cancel the vacation two weeks from now at this point. Unless there’s some special reason.”

He finished his sentence and looked directly at Kasha’s face. As if to say, if there was something she needed to say, she should say it now.

Kasha bit her lip, feeling frustrated.

She had to stop him. She had to prevent him and Eve from going to that villa in Elor.

‘Because there, Eve will be kidnapped and murdered.’

Just remembering that fact made her heart clench in fear. Kasha’s eyelashes trembled as she looked up at Leon with a suffocating feeling.

Kasha remembered all the stories Leon had told her at the abandoned temple before her return.

Among them, there was one person he had mentioned with the saddest expression. His youngest sister Eve, who was brutally murdered by a serial killer through no fault of her own.

It was an event that marked the beginning of the Osilote Grand Ducal family’s real tragedy.

It was also the event that brought widespread attention to the existence of a terrible serial killer who targeted and kidnapped only helpless young children, murdered them, and dumped their bodies.

This summer, Eve would be kidnapped by that very serial killer, murdered, and her body would be discovered. At that very villa in Elor.

‘No. I can’t let Eve go there under any circumstances.’

Kasha anxiously licked her dry lips.

‘I have to find a way to stop Leon and Eve from going there.’

Kasha’s desperation stemmed from more than just her growing affection for Eve.

‘Those children, they’re the sacrifices for the third demon stone.’

Kaylum, one of the demon stones. The curse of that stone, which granted immortal life, required a sacrifice of a pure soul once a month.

It was also one of the biggest reasons Kasha had been called a villainess before her return. Because the demon stone she had unsealed claimed the lives of innocent young children.

‘Save my poor child! You devil who deserves to be torn to pieces!’

The most painful of the curses she had heard in prison were the resentment of parents who had lost their children.

So she had to stop this man from kidnapping Eve at all costs. No matter what.

But it wasn’t easy to find an excuse to interfere with not just Leon’s, but the entire Grand Ducal family’s summer vacation.

It was then, as if reading her mind, that Leon spoke again.

“The vacation at the Elor villa is a kind of privilege granted only to royalty, and my father is not one to give that up. As you saw earlier, my relationship with my father is at its worst right now. He’ll probably continue to interfere with our public courtship as well.”

“……”

“So I intend to properly break through that issue on this vacation.”

Kasha, who had been listening intently with an anxious feeling, tilted her head as his words took an unexpected turn.

Didn’t it sound like Leon was saying he would confront his father to get permission for his relationship with Kasha?

“Is that really necessary…?”

“I’m sick of being jerked around any longer.”

“Leon.”

“I can’t fully trust you yet, and you’re still full of secrets. But for now, I’ve decided to continue this relationship with you, so I’m going to do my best in this relationship from now on.”

Kasha wanted to point out that the word “contract” was missing before “relationship,” but he called out to her before she could.

“Kasha. So, how about coming with me?”

Kasha was taken aback by the out-of-the-blue suggestion.

“What? Where to?”

“Elor.”

“…?”

“Didn’t you say that you might need me for something during those two weeks? If that really happens, I’ll let you use me to your heart’s content, so come with me. Kasha.”

“……”

“I don’t know what you’re thinking, but one thing’s for sure, I feel like I’ll be anxious if you’re not in front of my eyes.”

Kasha stared at Leon, forgetting to reply. The sunset had already begun outside the window, and his eyes, catching the setting sun, rippled in a deep purple. Not the red of lust, but eyes filled with a pure and intense determination.

“Kasha, what are you thinking so hard about? Are you listening to me?”

At the voice coming from beside her, Kasha came to her senses with a start.

“…Margaret.”

Seeing Kasha blinking and responding, Margaret smiled.

“Did I talk too much about useless things? Sorry. You must be tired.”

“No, it’s not that. I was just… thinking about something for a moment. I’m sorry.”

Kasha hurriedly apologized.

Kasha and Margaret were having tea time sitting in the garden of the Lyuschino estate.

As she was listening intently to Margaret’s story, the moment she suddenly looked at the clusters of deep purple orchids swaying in the garden, her mind went blank.

‘One thing’s for sure, I feel like I’ll be anxious if you’re not in front of my eyes.’

The image of Leon looking at her with eyes that seemed to devour her as he said those words that day had come to mind.

‘Why would he say such strange things?’

Kasha shook her head to rid herself of his lingering image and said to Margaret, “Go on, keep talking. You were talking about the Marquis Baron, right?”

When Kasha brought up the earlier topic again, Margaret nodded her head gloomily.

“Yeah. These days, he’s practically commuting to our house every other day. I snuck out today too, because the baron said he’d be coming over.”

Kasha had also encountered the persistent face of Marquis Baron several times while frequently spending time with Margaret. Even if the rumors about him being a playboy pervert weren’t true, he gave off a sufficiently unpleasant vibe.

“Still, are you okay? What do your parents say?”

“Well, it’s a mess now. They’re trying to proceed with the marriage talks with that man even though I said I’d rather die than marry him. It’s really driving me crazy.”

Margaret sighed as she stirred her teacup with her chin resting on her hand.

Kasha’s face also became serious.

Because Daril’s letter about receiving the inheritance early had not yet received a reply from Count Lyuschino, Daril had not yet been able to proceed with the marriage talks with the Yonder family.

Margaret was holding out as much as possible, but in the meantime, Viscount Yonder and Marquis Baron were rapidly advancing the situation.

Because of that, Daril was currently under an explosive amount of stress.

‘If Father’s letter doesn’t arrive within a week, I’ll have to go and get his permission myself!’

Kasha calmly met Margaret’s anxious eyes.

“Absolutely not. That will never happen.”

At the firm reply, Margaret blushed slightly and smiled.

“What? When you say it like that, I really start to believe it. I almost teared up.”

“Huh?”

Seeing Kasha tilting her head in confusion, Margaret burst out laughing. After laughing for a while, she wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and shook her head.

“Phew. But it’s good to be able to laugh like this thanks to you. Oh right. You said you’re leaving for Elor in two days?”

“Yeah.”

“I’m surprised Daril allowed it so easily. When you first said you were going to follow the Grand Ducal family’s vacation, he threw a fit.”

“…He did.”

Kasha recalled Daril shouting his adamant opposition, saying something like ‘over my dead body…’, and shook her head slowly.

In the end, she had no choice but to pull out her trump card to get his permission.

‘I’ll provide the funds needed to proceed with the marriage talks with the Yonder family for now.’

‘What? How will you manage that?’

‘I’ve received a few orders for magic tool production. Since the last hunting tournament, a lot of requests have been coming in. There are quite a few money-making requests, not just for lethal magic tools.’

‘Why did you take on such work without discussing it with me… Anyway, I appreciate the sentiment, but it’s fine. I can’t use the money you earned for my business.’

Daril shook his head firmly. However, at Kasha’s next words, which she continued as if she hadn’t heard him, that firmness didn’t last long.

‘I’m not saying I’ll provide the funds for free…’

‘…Huh?’

‘You have to bring Margaret into our family, no matter what. Otherwise, I’ll… demand you cough up triple the funds.’

It was too bold for something said to the family heir, but Daril looked touched instead.

‘Kasha……’

However, that touch didn’t last long either.

‘In return, don’t interfere with my love life either.’

‘What?’

‘Of course, it’s for the sake of my friend… but I helped you too, so even if you can’t help me, at least… don’t interfere.’

‘Kasha, you really…! How on earth did that Leon guy bewitch you!’

“It was very tiring.”

At Kasha’s words recalling her confrontation with Daril, Margaret laughed again.

“I can imagine. His beloved little sister going on vacation with a man.”

“It’s not like I’m going alone with Lord Leon. I was just… invited to the Grand Ducal family’s vacation.”

At Kasha’s serious protest, Margaret winked.

“I know, I know. Anyway, I approve, Kasha.”

“…Approve of what?”

“Lord Leon. He’s a flawless man. So handsome, capable, and from an excellent family. Of course, there have been a lot of rumors lately that he’s become a bit gloomy, but……”

Margaret trailed off, gauging Kasha’s reaction.

“Ah, that. That should be fine now. The problem has been resolved.”

When Kasha replied nonchalantly, Margaret tilted her head.

“Really? But that’s a bit disappointing in its own way.”

“What is?”

“What else? That kind of dangerous vibe, it’s kind of attractive, you know. In fact, the number of young ladies secretly in love with Lord Leon has increased compared to before when he was always so serious.”

“…I didn’t know that.”

“Don’t worry. From what I can see, Lord Leon seems to have completely fallen for you.”

“What? That’s not true.”

“It is. Anyone can see it.”

At Margaret’s confident words, Kasha could only blink, unable to find a response.

‘It’s really not like that. We’re just in a contract relationship.’

‘If that really happens, I’ll let you use me to your heart’s content, so come with me. Kasha.’

Trying hard to shake off Leon’s voice that suddenly came to mind.