“A while ago, Kaern asked me not to visit the Duke’s mansion for a while.”

“There were reasons for that.”

“Yes. I know the reasons, so you don’t have to say it. I behaved the same way as Kaern.”

“How… did you find out?”

In response, Kaern stared at me with eyes that seemed a bit less emotional.

“I was on my way home that day, got lost in my thoughts, and ended up overhearing what the subordinates were talking about.”

Gradually, Kaern was looking at me with a completely calm expression.

Perhaps he had already grasped what had happened.

“How much did you hear?”

“That Kaern’s injury wasn’t a simple accident and that the words were poisoned. So, he ordered surveillance on Adeleia and me, fearing potential threats.”

I recounted to Kaern the information I had heard at that time.

“Really? Kaern’s injury was the result of someone deliberately setting a trap?”

Kaern stared at me intently and slowly nodded in response.

“Yes.”

“Sigh. If that’s the truth.”

Having heard it directly from him rather than through someone else, the sense of despair intensified.

Moreover, if I had returned to the mansion immediately after hearing Kaern’s words, I might never have seen him again, ignorant of everything.
As those thoughts began to rush in like waves, it felt like tears could pour out at any moment.

“Calm down.”

Now is not the time to waste time crying like this.

I struggled to control my emotions and tightly clenched my fists to regain composure.

“Hearing such a story, how can I comfortably go abroad for my studies? How can I…”

How can I live my life pretending not to know you?

Even if it’s unrequited love, and my feelings go unanswered, he has always been the most important to me.

“Then, about that personal matter…”

“Yes. That’s right. Although I called it a personal matter, in reality, I investigated to find out who did such a thing to Kaern. I thought if I told Kaern that I knew, it might prevent him from doing something, and I also kept it a secret in case he would worry more.”

“Harena. Doing such a dangerous thing alone…”

In response to my words, Kaern let out a troubled sigh.

“But I can’t forgive it. Kaern, it could have ended not only with injuries.”

“Why?”

“What?”

His sudden question about the reason made me visibly flinch.

“My exposure to danger is not a recent development; it’s not just from yesterday or today.”

Upon his words, I quickly turned over in my mind how to respond.
“I’ve told you before, haven’t I? Kaern is someone precious to me. Even if he doesn’t know, I couldn’t just sit still after finding out the truth.”

I looked at him, trying to push away my embarrassment.

“Then, if something like this happens again, would you act the same way?”

“Yes. That’s right.”

A brief silence passed between us.

Kaern and I just stared at each other without saying a word.

What could he be thinking right now?

Every time I mentioned that he was precious to me, he would make an expression with an unclear meaning.

And that was still the case now, making it difficult to read his mood or thoughts.

“But the next target of the culprit could be you.”

“I don’t care. As long as I can catch the culprit, I’ll do anything…”

“I care.”

Interrupting my words, Kaern spoke firmly.

“Kaern, I…”

“I care, so don’t interfere with this matter anymore. Did I say you were precious to me? It’s the same for me.”

“What? What are you saying now…?”

It felt like my mind went blank for a moment after hearing what he said.

“What did you just say…?”

I wanted to hear those words he just said again.

“You are also precious to me. I couldn’t help it when I didn’t know, but now, I can’t allow you to get involved in dangerous situations anymore.”
He was explaining how dangerous my actions were, but it didn’t register in my ears anymore.

Precious person.

He definitely said that.

Kaern echoed my words back to me.

A precious person.

I truly didn’t know he regarded me so highly.

Of course, being Adelia’s friend and fiancé, there would naturally be a sense of connection compared to others.

Moreover, considering our long history, starting from our parents’ relationship, I thought he was angry today because he was concerned about me, given our relationship.

However, he had an even greater emotion toward me.

It couldn’t be love.

It shouldn’t be.

I already knew the fact that he didn’t like me in that way, so I didn’t expect anything more than that.

Nevertheless…

Even if it wasn’t love, it was fine.

Just the fact that he valued me so much made me incredibly happy, as if I could fly.

“…Am I a precious person to Kaern too?”

I asked him in a voice that felt like I was dreaming.

“Yeah.”

He answered quite plainly, but what he said next was far from that.

“So don’t recklessly put yourself in danger to save me. Let me protect you.”

“Kaern…”

Deeply moved by his words, I couldn’t say anything for a while.

At this moment, no rational judgment mattered.

It couldn’t be helped.
How can one think properly after hearing the words “You are my precious person” from someone they like? So, I continued to be immersed in the dream, and it was Kaern’s voice, full of suspicion, that pulled me out of it.

“But I have one curious thing.”

“…Yes?”

“You said earlier that you went to see Viscount Warren for personal reasons. However, if those personal reasons are related to me, why did you go to the Viscount’s mansion? Is he involved in this incident?”

Caught off guard by his sharp observation, I quickly regained my composure. Fortunately, I already had a prepared answer.

After organizing my thoughts once again, I spoke.

“Strictly speaking, when I first met Viscount, it had nothing to do with this matter. But from the second meeting onward, it was related.”

“What does that mean?”

“When I went to the academy to submit my study abroad application, I happened to meet Viscount Warren. At that time, he mentioned that he wanted to have a casual conversation with me before going abroad. I visited him when he came to fulfill that promise.”

“Viscount Warren said such a thing to you?”

Kaern narrowed his eyes as if he didn’t like something.

“Yes. He visited me, and during that visit, I discovered a crucial clue. So, I had no choice but to meet Viscount Warren once again.”

“What is it?”

“Before that, there’s something I want to ask.”
Kaern nodded, encouraging me to continue speaking.

“Have you found out what poison was used in the words?” I asked.

“No, not yet.”

“I found out what the poison is.”

“How did you know when we haven’t even figured out what poison was used?”

“That’s why I had to go back to Viscount Warren.”

Starting with that statement, I detailed everything to Kaern, from infiltrating the viscount’s mansion secretly, examining the words, to the peculiar fragrance I detected.

“I already noticed that Adelia often uses the secret passage.”

“You knew?”

No wonder he didn’t seem surprised when I mentioned the secret passage. He knew.

“Yeah. But did you say there was a fragrance in the words?”

“Yes. To be precise, it was a floral scent. Is the body of the horse still there?”

“I left it as it was.”

“Then be sure to check. You’ll smell the floral fragrance from its nose and ears.”

“Is that so? Is it related to the poison?”

“Yes, it is. And I also smelled that fragrance in another place recently.”

“Another place?”

“Yes, when I visited Viscount Warren, I smelled the same fragrance in the tea he served me.”

“Did you drink it?”

Kaern asked me with a voice full of concern.