Leon’s platinum hair sparkled uniquely under the sunlight. Each and every strand radiated a dazzling light like the most precious gold thread.

The loose shirt he wore with his uniform unbuttoned revealed two or three undone buttons at the collar, and every time the sea breeze blew, the shirt fluttered wildly, giving a glimpse of the firm muscles carved on his neck and abdomen.

Perhaps it was because he was finally freed from the curse of the demon stone.

He was always as beautiful as a male god sculpted in a temple, but today he was exceptionally vibrant and radiant with a healthy beauty. To the point where no one could take their eyes off him.

“Your Highness, the Crown Prince. Your Highness, the Princess Consort.”

As Leon finally approached them and bowed, Nigel grinned widely, revealing an even set of teeth in a casual manner.

“This is why I love summer vacations. You get to see all the pleasant faces together in one place.”

“You look healthy.”

“As do you. I heard the Holy Knights Order increased their training regimen again? The head of the knights was lamenting that at this rate, there won’t be any novice knights left. Take it easy. It’s not like there’s going to be a war any time soon.”

“Yes, sir.”

In contrast to Nigel’s friendly remarks, Leon’s curt responses made him seem quite unfriendly. However, Nigel didn’t seem to mind at all as he patted Leon’s shoulder and turned to look at Kasha.

“Ah, right. You invited Lady Lyuschino to the villa, didn’t you?”

“…That’s correct.”

“And you two have become a public couple?”

“Yes.”

“Well, well, life is full of surprises. To see you, Leon, in a relationship. Ah, of course, I mean that in a good way.”

Nigel, who had been speaking playfully, winked at Kasha with his last sentence. As if to reassure her.

“Yes, sir.”

“……”

However, even in a situation where an ordinary young lady would have blushed profusely, Kasha only responded bluntly. Realizing that Kasha’s sociability was also not something to boast about, Nigel quickly changed the subject.

“…Ah, right. How about both of you visit my villa today? I’ve invited a singer from the Kingdom of Kazim to hold a concert. Jasmine seems to be suffering from homesickness.”

As Nigel said that and smiled at Jasmine beside him, her aloof impression crumbled in an instant, taking on a coquettish light.

“Homesickness? Wherever His Highness the Crown Prince is, that’s my home.”

The moment Nigel looked at Jasmine lovingly, a strong wind blew, ruffling Jasmine’s hair wildly.

Kasha expected Nigel to engage in a ticklish act like brushing Jasmine’s hair aside.

Although she had only seen them twice at the wedding and the reception, Nigel had a tendency to engage in excessive skinship, similar to Simon.

Of course, it was true that the Crown Prince was an attractive man beyond comparison to Simon, but it was still an overwhelming attitude from Kasha’s perspective.

However, Nigel’s actions completely defied expectations.

Even as he watched Jasmine’s hair being blown into a mess and hitting her face head-on, he turned a blind eye to it. That unnatural and heartless attitude was completely different from his usual easygoing demeanor.

It seemed that Kasha wasn’t the only one who thought so. The nobles, including Jasmine, also awkwardly averted their gazes, taken aback.

Jasmine irritably swept her tangled hair away, and her maids looked at her nervously. When the atmosphere enveloping everyone became awkward, Leon, who had been silently observing them, opened his mouth.

“I appreciate the invitation, but Lady Lyuschino has only just arrived at the villa today. She must be tired from the long journey, so I intend to allow her to rest sufficiently.”

Upon hearing Leon’s refusal, the nobles murmured with dissatisfied faces.

His Highness the Crown Prince had generously extended an invitation after much consideration, yet he refuses.

As expected, the Grand Ducal family is shameless.

With that level of shamelessness, it’s no wonder they can still hold their heads high in front of His Highness the Crown Prince even after ‘that incident’.

His Highness the Crown Prince is too kind-hearted. Still, he takes care of his cousin like this.

As they were close associates of the Crown Prince, there was a clear difference in how the general nobles viewed Leon compared to the somewhat complacent and naive perspective.

However, Nigel himself simply smiled refreshingly, regardless of the surrounding atmosphere.

“Is that so? That makes sense. Then make sure to take good care of Lady Lyuschino. Be sure to drop by later.”

Leaving a farewell, Nigel elegantly turned around.

At that moment, Jasmine naturally extended her arm towards him, as if expecting him to escort her.

However, Nigel began to walk naturally as if he had forgotten about her, and Jasmine was left alone in an instant.

Perhaps her hand trembled, as Jasmine’s fan fell with a thud.

As everyone around her watched anxiously, they all simultaneously reached out to pick up the fan, but the person who picked it up first was an unexpected figure.

Kasha picked up the fan that had fallen on the sand and slowly stood up.

She had been focusing on the fan the entire time, so when it fell, she was able to reach for it the fastest. Surprised by her uncharacteristically swift movement, Leon’s platinum eyebrows twitched slightly.

Kasha pretended to dust off the sand on the fan while closely examining its shape.

“……”

A round design with bird feathers densely connected to fixed wooden ribs. Unlike the folding fans commonly used by the nobles of the Empire, it was made in a way that made it impossible to grip and unfold.

Noticing this, Kasha’s face darkened slightly, but she quickly composed herself and held out the fan to Jasmine.

“Your Highness the Princess Consort, you use a unique fan…”

However, Jasmine, who was in a bad mood due to the earlier incident, only stared at the fan expressionlessly. It was the maid beside Jasmine who reached out and took it. It was also that maid who responded to Kasha’s question.

“It’s a traditional fan from the Kingdom of Kazim. Thank you for picking it up.”

The tone implied that there was no need for much gratitude. As if to say, how dare you hand something that fell on the ground to our Princess Consort.

“Oh my, we were actually curious about it too. The shape is quite unique, does it provide a cooler breeze?”

“Yes. Since the weather in the Kingdom of Kazim is hotter than here, this type of fan is more useful than folding fans.”

The noble ladies, having found a suitable topic, chattered excitedly and began to walk surrounding Jasmine. Left behind, Kasha pondered as she listened to their conversation.

‘Two clues left by the mastermind. Perfume and folding fans. Among them, Jasmine introduced perfume to this country, but she doesn’t enjoy using folding fans.’

Perfume and folding fans. Simon Blanche. Demon stones. Magical tools. The Holy War. The mastermind’s next target. Eve.

Various clues scattered and gathered in Kasha’s mind, drawing a dizzying trajectory.

In the meantime, the Crown Prince’s entourage moved further away.

She stood there blankly under the intense afternoon sun, feeling a sense of helplessness, remoteness, and confusion. She lost track of how much time had passed.

Then, suddenly, a large shadow poured over her head.

The intense heat of the sunlight that had been spinning her head disappeared in an instant.

Kasha slowly raised her head. She saw a man who had approached her closely and spread his palm over her forehead to create a shade.

Leon, who had somehow come close to Kasha, lowered his eyes as if avoiding her gaze when she looked up at him blankly.

“The sunlight here is particularly strong. It’s better to wear a hat.”

Even though the sunlight no longer reached her due to his large build, he didn’t lower his hand-made shade. As if he was displeased with leaving her standing under the scorching sun.

As she looked up at his face in a daze, she suddenly remembered one more clue she had forgotten.

‘The relationship between the mastermind and Leon.’

Why did the mastermind choose Leon of all people as the target of the curse?

Moreover, Leon’s sister Eve was also the third victim of the demon stone. That was probably not a coincidence.

The reason why Leon or the Grand Ducal family was chosen as a sacrifice.

‘Perhaps this might be a more accurate clue.’

Suddenly, the thoughts that had been drawing a dizzying trajectory began to settle calmly and gain connectivity.

Just then, a strong sea breeze blew, and Kasha’s dark blue hair fluttered wildly.

Leon stood tall between Kasha and the sea, as if to block even that wind. The gesture was so natural that if a stranger had seen them, they would have mistaken them for a real couple.

Kasha glanced at Leon’s broad shoulders against the backdrop of the sea, tidied her hair, and took out a hat from her bag and put it on. Only then did Leon slowly lower his hand and look at her.

Kasha looked at Leon with eyes freed from the glare of the sunlight.

“Leon.”

Kasha called out to him in a slightly hoarse voice.

“Thank you for coming down here to meet me…”

Upon hearing those words, the corners of Leon’s mouth rose in a long, loose curve. It was a bitter smile.

“At times like this, you shouldn’t be grateful, but angry. I invited a guest and not only failed to welcome her properly but made her wander around the beach.”

Ah. Was that so?

Kasha, who had forgotten about the atmosphere in the mansion while spending time with Eve, became embarrassed.

“Speaking of which, where’s Eve…?”

“I sent Eve back to the villa with her tutor.”

Leon quietly looked at her blinking eyes.

“Your face is flushed. It seems the sunlight was too hot.”

At Leon’s concerned words, Kasha slowly shook her head.

“Rather, I enjoyed it. Since it’s my first time seeing the sea… Just sitting here was fascinating and new to me.”

Hearing her words, Leon finally looked at the sea. As if he had only now realized it was there.

“Would you like to look around more? Or…”

“I want to go inside now. Oh, can I… go in now?”

At her cautious question, Leon’s face darkened with bitterness and guilt.

“Of course. Father is out.”

“Ah, I see.”

Kasha nodded and tried to take a step but hesitated.

She was still barefoot, and the sandy beach was even hotter than before under the scorching afternoon sun.

‘It would be difficult to walk in shoes. I wonder how Eve went back.’

Just as Kasha was about to put her foot into the shoes she had taken off beside her, Leon’s voice resonated softly in her ear.

“…If it’s alright with you, may I carry you?”

Kasha raised her head with a puzzled look.

“Pardon?”

“It would be difficult to walk in those shoes. And… you look very tired. So, please excuse me for a moment.”

With those words, Leon’s face suddenly came close.

As Kasha froze with her eyes wide open like a startled rabbit, Leon lifted her arm with a disciplined motion and placed it around his neck. Then, he easily lifted Kasha and hugged her tightly to his chest.

She vaguely remembered reading in a book that this posture was called a “princess carry.”

Kasha remained stiff in his arms, foolishly recalling such trivial facts.