In fact, Kiara had planned to allocate only 30 minutes to Shuria before returning straight to her office. She intended to use the remaining free time to review the agenda for tonight’s cabinet meeting once more.

But her feet were reluctant to leave. She wanted to help this small, soft, round, and precious life a little more.

So Kiara decided to slightly alter her set schedule. For someone who meticulously followed her plans down to the second, this was something that might happen once in a hundred years.

Kiara leaned forward towards Shuria. Her face was softened to a degree that would have shocked anyone who knew her well.

Although it was so subtle that a stranger wouldn’t have noticed at all.

Kiara spoke in an intentionally gentle voice.

“I would be delighted to accept your invitation to dine. Is there anything else you’re curious about?”

“Curious about?”

“Anything you’re curious about. Or any difficulties or inconveniences in your life at Roakin.”

Shuria blinked her eyes rapidly.

Kiara was so kindly inquiring after my well-being? And in the midst of her busy schedule.

Since she had been described as cold and indifferent to worldly affairs in , I had been a bit intimidated until now…

‘It turns out she’s actually a really nice person!’

Shuria asked carefully, her eyes sparkling brightly.

“Am I taking up too much of your time?”

“I have some free time now, so it’s fine. And please, just call me Kiara.”

“Okay, Kiara!”

Shuria readily accepted Kiara’s offer. A beaming smile. Kiara quietly gripped the hem of her dress. It was too… cute.

Unaware of the impact she had on Kiara, Shuria comfortably shared what had been on her mind. She had been wanting to get advice from someone.

“There’s nothing difficult. Everyone is really kind and helps a lot. It’s just that I feel like I’m not doing my job well… That’s what I’m worried about.”

“You’re not doing your job well?”

“I want to raise the moonlight wolf pups well and make the lord happy, but somehow I keep messing up in front of him. So I feel like he’s not very pleased with me…”

For a moment, Kiara was speechless. Not pleased? The lord? With Lady Shuria?

That couldn’t be.

Kiara calmly asked.

“Has the lord expressed anger?”

“No! It’s not that, but his expression was not good. Quite a lot…”

Hearing this, Kiara immediately understood the situation. I see what the problem was.

Kiara comforted the dejected Shuria in a low, reassuring voice.

“The lord is very satisfied with having brought Lady Shuria in as his subject. Don’t worry.”

“…Really?”

“Yes. Lady Shuria, you are doing sufficiently well. And the lord naturally always has an unpleasant expression. That’s why it’s not easy to gauge his thoughts.”

Remembering the wrinkles seemingly permanently etched between Aspeiran’s brows, Shuria giggled. It was a laugh that made even the observer feel cheerful.

Kiara unconsciously smiled faintly and said.

“After serving the lord closely for a few more years, you’ll become skilled at reading his intentions. But since you’re having difficulties right now… Shall I give you some advice?”

“I’d be grateful to hear it!”

“Well, first… Sometimes the lord smiles with just one corner of his mouth raised, as if mocking the other person. That’s a smile he makes when he’s very pleased.”

A scary smirk. There was a face that immediately came to mind. To think that was him being pleased. Shuria was in for a cultural shock.

Kiara’s advice continued.

“And there are times when he excessively wrinkles his face, that’s when he’s flustered.”

Kiara also explained that when Aspeiran is truly angry, he completely wipes all expression from his face. When he finds something ridiculous, one eyebrow rises while the corners of his mouth turn down, among other things.

Shuria listened with great interest and then asked.

“Do you think I could become an excellent subject like you, Kiara, able to perfectly read all of the lord’s intentions?”

Kiara looked into Shuria’s eyes, sparkling like stars. Eyes filled with pure affection and respect for the lord she serves.

It must be because of these eyes that the lord opened his heart to Lady Shuria.

Kiara answered without a moment’s hesitation.

“Of course.”

Lastly, Kiara informed her that Aspeiran wouldn’t be able to come for their regular meeting tomorrow before returning to her work area.

So, at two o’clock the next afternoon, which had become free. I decided to go to the library to return the books I had finished reading.

“A bone with meat on it, buried by the pond. The next day I came, not a trace to be found. Ah, ah, ah, when will I dig it all up…”

I hummed a strange self-composed song as I walked. I was in a good mood, and a tune naturally flowed out.

‘Heh. Yesterday was a very productive time.’

I learned about Elros currency. And got a lecture on reading Aspeiran’s expressions.

‘Plus, I became friends with Kiara too!’

With this, I’ve become close with all three of the inner circle. Now all that’s left is our lord.

“Let’s live diligently!”

Soon, I’ll have to drag the researchers out too. Drag them out to help me study.

I walked, swinging my arms cheerfully.

That’s when it happened.

“Um, excuse me! Lady Shuria…!”

I heard a young, hesitant voice calling me. Who could it be? I stopped and turned around.

There were two girls there. Somehow familiar faces.

I’m sure I’ve met them somewhere before…

“Ah!”

I remembered. It’s those kids! The two young maids I met in the corridor behind Kronen Palace when I wasn’t yet Aspeiran’s subject, facing off against Awesome.

I didn’t expect to meet them again like this. I approached them happily and greeted them.

“You’re the ones I met in the corridor about a month ago, right?”

“Y-yes! We received help from you in the corridor that time, Lady Shuria! Um, sorry for the late greeting. I’m Nina.”

“I’m Lulu.”

Nina and Lulu bowed their heads. Their flustered actions clearly showed their youth.

These kids… They might be even younger than I thought. Even though they’re a bit taller than me.

‘I wasn’t that short in Korea…’

While I briefly savored the bitterness of life, the two friends stood close together, their faces bright red as they fidgeted. Then suddenly, they bowed deeply.

“We should have come to thank you earlier, we’re so sorry!”

“We’re so ashamed!”

“Huh?! No, it’s okay! I didn’t do much!”

I waved my hands in panic. But the children shook their heads vigorously and exclaimed.

“That’s not true! It was an enormous help to us. We were really scared… If it weren’t for you, Lady Shuria, something terrible might have happened.”

“Thanks to your help, we were able to be safe.”

W-when you put it like that. Aish, how embarrassing. I laughed awkwardly while rubbing my heated cheeks.

“I’m glad if I was able to help, but really, there’s no need to be so apologetic or formal. And please don’t add ‘-nim’ to my name. It’s embarrassing.”

“But… You’re our benefactor…”

“Please? Okay?”

Finally, the children nodded reluctantly. Then, with slightly relaxed faces, they held out a package.

“Um, this is… a thank-you gift we prepared. It’s not much, but…”

“We hope you’ll accept it!”

Overwhelmed by their enthusiasm, I ended up accepting the package. The young friends’ eyes were twinkling too brightly to refuse.

In the end, I carefully hugged the package to my chest.

“Thank you. I’ll accept it gratefully.”

“…!”

“Yes!”

The children’s faces lit up. I told the cute kids to make sure to greet me whenever we met in the future, and then casually asked something I had been curious about.

“By the way, how old are you?”

“We turned 13 this year.”

…

Oh.

They really were babies.

“The young friends of Roakin are amazing.”

Their word choice is sophisticated. And they’re so mature. When I was that age, I was running around everywhere, acting like a puppy in its monkey phase.

Lost in self-reflection, I found myself at the breeding grounds before I knew it.

Sam-mem-meo was sound asleep on a sunny platform. As if knowing I had arrived, it wagged its tail once.

‘How cute.’

I carefully walked on the pergola so as not to wake the sleeping children, and sat down. My hands were itching with curiosity about what those young friends had prepared with their tiny hands.

I carefully untied the ribbon that was beautifully tied so as not to damage the wrapping, and removed the cloth. And when I checked the contents, I let out an exclamation.

“Wow!”

Neatly wrapped in the cloth were all sorts of snacks.

Cookies that looked homemade, pretty rock candy in glass jars, dried fruits and nuts like peanuts and walnuts.

The children’s thoughtfulness and sincerity could be felt everywhere.

“Oh, how adorable and praiseworthy.”

With a happy heart, I took out a walnut from the nut pouch. It was the plumpest one I had ever seen.

This, this, I can’t just let it go as an adult with dignity.

“I should prepare something for them too.”

Hmm. What would be good? Should I make pouches they can hang inside their skirts? Or should I borrow the kitchen and make something delicious for them too?

As I was considering various options, I naturally applied force to the hand holding the walnut. I had been cracking walnuts like this for convenience until now.

“…?”

But it didn’t crack.

“What’s this? Is the walnut too hard?”

This time, I tried using both hands to apply force again. But it was useless. Far from cracking, there wasn’t even the slightest deformation.

“…I can’t crack a walnut?”

Me, who was called the strongest in our school for 12 years from elementary to high school, never lost once in arm wrestling, and boasts a grip strength of 47?

“No way.”

Snorting, I applied force to my hand once more. But still, not even a scratch on the walnut.

Pop, I heard the sound of my pride shattering in my ears.

I gritted my teeth. Alright, let’s see. Today, I’m going to eat this walnut no matter what.

At that time, at the knights’ training ground.

The training ground, stained with the blood and sweat of Roakin’s knights, was unusually crowded with new faces today.

Young faces with a certain naivety about them. They were none other than the apprentice knights training at Belroy Castle.

The knights’ training ground deep within Belroy Castle is usually a place that strictly prohibits access to outsiders.

But today was an exception, as it was the day of the quarterly achievement evaluation. On evaluation days, apprentice knights were called here to undergo a long test under the observation of the lord and formal knights.

The apprentice knights waiting for their turn were all extremely tense. If they were lucky enough to catch the lord’s eye today, they could be immediately knighted.

This was a rare opportunity. Determination burned in the faces of the boys and girls dreaming of becoming knights.

Meanwhile, Aspeiran, our lord who was the cause of the thick tension in the training ground…

‘Is she feeling upset?’

…was thinking about the appointment he had canceled today with a displeased expression.