“Ah…!”

After being in the dark, it was painfully bright coming suddenly into the light. Squinting and closing my eyes tightly, I slowly opened them to survey my surroundings.

The place still seemed like a subterranean structure, but it was brightly lit as if it were noon, thanks to the magicmade lamps installed on every wall.

Clank clank clank!

Howl! Howl!

Grrrr…!

Behind me, the howls of the wolves could still be heard. Grayan, holding me in his arms, turned to look back. My gaze naturally followed his.

The massive iron gate from which we had just escaped was still wide open, but the wolves were lingering, as if something invisible was blocking their way at the threshold.

‘Why aren’t they pursuing us further?’

Puzzled, I blinked rapidly and examined the vicinity of the gate.

Upon closer inspection… Magic symbols and characters were densely inscribed on the threshold.

‘Could it be because of this…?’

It was a mere conjecture, but it seemed almost certain. The only peculiar thing in this space was the symbols and characters stretched out like masking tape on the floor.

Just then, Grayan started to explain, as if to confirm my conjecture.

“The threshold of this chamber is enchanted with a magic that prevents wolves from crossing. So, you can rest easy from here on.”

Grayan, wearing a faint smile, looked down at me with soft eyes. My heart sank at his captivating gaze, and I hastily averted my eyes and stammered.

“Then, could you, um, put me down now? I can walk on my own from now on.”

“….”

For some reason, Grayan did not respond, but just stared at me. I, who had been glancing at him, didn’t dare to meet his gaze and pretended to look at the floor.

My heart was beating rapidly. The pounding was so strong that I wished it were a misconception.

It took a while for Grayan to finally open his mouth.

“I’m fine as it is, but are you uncomfortable?”

By the time, the iron gate closed with a thud, and the figures of the wolves were no longer visible. Grayan, who was still holding me, started to move towards what appeared to be the exit.

“It’s not that I’m uncomfortable, but…”

I hesitated, unsure how to describe my condition. ‘I’m being charmed by your gaze and your voice, and I don’t know why. So, I’m confused?’

‘…That sounds like someone in unrequited love.’

Am I, am I crazy…?! Is it possible that I’m really charmed by Grayan? Like Gloria in the original work?

‘No! That can’t happen!’

I want to avoid getting flustered from liking Grayan. Unrequited love that’s not in my fate, absolutely rejected!

Having made up my mind, I spoke in a serious tone.

“You don’t have to be so nice to me. Even though we are married, it’s a strategic alliance…”

“Our beginning was strategic, but aren’t we a married couple regardless?”

“Well, yes, but, to call us a real couple, we haven’t yet…”

Just then, conscious of April, I quickly closed my mouth.

Talking about the wedding night was not something to be said in front of a little rabbit!

“Cough! Anyway, I think you don’t need to care about me too much. It’s troublesome to always do so.”

He had been overly kind. Looking back, he had been since the beginning, even knowing the notorious reputation of Gloria Ainstern.

“…I can’t do that.”

Grayan, who replied a beat later, smiled and looked down at me. Despite his gaze not being focused straight ahead, he was walking steadily.

“Even if I try not to care, I find myself caring.”

“….”

What, what’s that…? That sounds ominous. Excuse me, father of the original heroine? Please stop speaking so casually and affectionately. It makes me deluded!

“I keep being interested. In you.”

“….!”

“I want to know who you are, what you think, what secrets you’re hiding… all of it.”

“….”

“Is that not allowed?”

It was an assertion that seemed to stab my heart.

He was really… saying that he was interested in me.

Probably, as a man…

‘That… that’s a lie. It can’t be.’

Knowing how wicked Gloria is. Even after seeing firsthand the atrocities committed by Gloria in the past…

He… is interested in me?

“Believing my frivolous claim that ‘the person changed 180 degrees after losing their memory’?”

‘…This person, has he been used for something? Was I not the only one who was possessed?’

In the midst of my confusion, my mouth only moved, and I couldn’t bring up any story.

Grayan did not continue the conversation any longer and remained silent. From time to time, he would just gently gaze down at me.

Whenever that happened, I awkwardly avoided his gaze. Against my will, I tried to calm my throbbing heart.

“……”

April, who was in my arms, looked at Grayan and me alternately with strange eyes. …Well, it was a difficult gaze to interpret. But April was always like that.

It wasn’t until quite a while later that we arrived at the ground floor. I didn’t snap back to reality until the familiar scenery of the corridor came into view.

And then I realized. Grayan had been carrying me up the stairs from the basement!

‘I’m crazy!’