As I pondered how he could sleep well now, my head was occupied, and in the meantime, dishes began to arrive one by one.

“Wow, it’s porcini mushroom soup.”

The porcini mushroom soup, with its unique aroma and excellent taste, was one of my favorite dishes.

I scooped up a spoonful of soup and put it in my mouth.

Having spent a long time with Adelia and living in the duke’s mansion, the foods I ate here all seemed to suit my taste perfectly.

“It’s so delicious.”

Eating such tasty food lifted my mood, and a humming melody involuntarily escaped my lips.

“Please eat plenty.”

By the time I finished the soup, a fresh salad with salmon was served, followed by a slightly crispy and hot sirloin steak, with the smell of grilling wafting through the air.

Finally, the walnut cake I mentioned to him last time appeared as dessert.

‘What’s going on?’

How come only the foods I like are coming out?

Although I felt a bit puzzled, since Kaern showed no reaction and continued to eat without any indication, I just dismissed it as a coincidence.

“Oh, I’m so full.”

Just the fact that I was having a meal with him made me feel happy, and each dish that came out seemed to delight my taste buds, leading me to eat more than usual.

“Did you enjoy the meal?”

“Yes, it was really delicious. Strangely, they were all dishes I like.”
As I said that, I smiled broadly at Kaern, and he responded with a faint smile.

Just like I overindulged in food today, he also seemed to have indulged quite a bit, not with food but with wine. He had finished a whole bottle alone.

Indeed, every time I took a bite of food, he continued to sip on wine.

Perhaps because of that, his usual strict and composed demeanor was different, and his eyes were unusually relaxed as he stared at me intently.

Wow, this is the first time I’ve seen him like this.

My heart fluttered seeing this different side of him.

“Kaern, are you drunk?”

“No.”

He said no, but he seemed a bit intoxicated.

What can I say? His state was just too endearing, and I burst into laughter involuntarily.

“Are you sure you’re not drunk?”

“Well, maybe a little?”

“Really? Then let’s just say you are drunk.”

But again, he immediately nodded in agreement, and that smile of his never faded.

I wanted to keep watching that scene for hours, but perhaps due to the long dinner, it was already quite late at night.

“Kaern, it’s time to get up now. I’ll take you to your room.”

Saying that, I got up from my seat and approached him.

“It’s okay. I can go alone.”

Kaern, who stood up with me, swayed a bit.

“Oh, wait a moment.”

As I quickly supported him to prevent him from falling, I could feel his breath, mixed with the scent of wine, near my ear.

When the butler approached us, I gestured that everything was fine.
Then, with Kaern’s arm around my shoulder, I led him out of the dining room.

Honestly, I was worried about how to take someone larger than me up to the second floor, but it wasn’t as difficult as I thought.

It was because he didn’t lean on me like a drunken person; he just kept his body against mine, showing no signs of relying on me at all.

After a while, we arrived at Kaern’s room.

As the butler who followed us quickly opened the door, we entered inside.

With the sound of the door closing behind us, I guided Kaern to sit on the sofa.

“Well then, rest, and see you tomorrow.”

And when I turned around to leave, suddenly, Kaern grabbed my hand, and I couldn’t move any further.

When I turned my head, our eyes met.

“Harena.”

Kaern’s pleasant voice echoed in the room.

“Yes, Kaern. Do you have something to say to me?”

However, there was no more response from him.

He just stared at me in silence.

In turn, I also quietly closed my mouth and looked at him.

As we silently gazed into each other’s eyes, a strange atmosphere began to fill the surroundings.

Near my heart, a tingling sensation started, and my heartbeat became erratic. Unconsciously, I found myself captivated by him, just staring blankly.

Knock, knock.

Then suddenly, the sound of someone knocking on the door from outside made me snap back to reality.

“Milord, it’s Jace.”

The voice of a man I had heard before found Kaern.

“Come in.”
As soon as Kaern’s permission was granted with a slight frown, the door creaked open.

I quickly tried to pull my hand out of Kaern’s grip, but he didn’t let go.

So, with my hand still held by Kaern, I looked at the man with ashen hair entering the room.

It was Jace Haiten, one of Kaern’s subordinates.

“What’s going on?”

Seemingly surprised that Kaern wasn’t alone in the room, the subordinate hesitated for a moment, glancing with a slightly shaken look.

“Jace.”

A low voice called out to the man.

“Oh, I apologize.”

Only then did the subordinate regain his composure and hesitated to speak.

It seemed that he couldn’t speak freely with me present.

“I’ll go out.”

“No. From now on, you need to know these matters too, so stay and listen.”

As I tried to leave, Kaern blocked me from moving.

“Speak. What’s going on?”

Afterward, he asked the subordinate once again.

“Yes. I’ll tell you, then.”