Irene knew she was safe, and she was well aware of it through the shadow that had been attached to her.

So, she thought there was no need to worry.

“…….”

Carlos was running towards Esper Castle, where Irene was.

Moving through shadows was fast, but it consumed a lot of energy, and parts of the body could become semi-transparent, as before. Therefore, Carlos chose not to use his powers, running directly with his two legs, as inevitably, he might need Irene’s help.

‘Look at this.’

I am confident enough to afford such leisure.

But why is she running?

What could be the reason she wants to see Irene safe with her own eyes, not just through the shadows?

While Carlos was searching for answers to his questions, his legs faithfully carried him, and he arrived at the bathroom where Irene was.

“My, my lord?”

Jesse, who was waiting for Irene to finish bathing at the entrance of the bathroom, was surprised and looked at Carlos.

Without giving a single glance to Jesse, Carlos swung open the bathroom door.

“Wait a moment…!”

Although Jesse tried to stop Carlos in surprise, Carlos’ actions were faster.

As the door made of semi-transparent glass opened, a hazy steam filled with warm heat rushed out.

“…….”

Seeing Irene standing still like a goddess in the mist, Carlos felt an indescribable sense of relief when he looked at her directly with his own eyes.

“Haah.”

Carlos finally exhaled the held breath and brushed off his disheveled hair.

Even if the person who came in through the bathroom door was Jesse, it would have been surprising, but Carlos.

“…….”

Irene, who was too surprised, forgot the fact that she was not wearing anything and stared blankly at Carlos.

Carlos, also without saying a word, looked at her, and they looked at each other as if they were the only ones in this place. However, there was one more person.

“Um…….”

It was Jesse.

Even if Irene recently opened her heart to Carlos, it wasn’t open enough to let him intrude during her bath.

If she did something like that, her open heart might close again.

So, she thought she had to stop Carlos somehow.

When Carlos opened the bathroom door, it seemed like it was all over.

“…….”

Looking at Irene’s reaction, it seemed like it was his bluff.

Carlos’s reaction… I don’t know.

I didn’t want to know.

Jesse, looking at Carlos with trembling eyes, quietly stepped back.

When the cold air flowing in through the wide-open door touched her skin, Irene woke up with goosebumps.

“……!”

Wait a minute. I’m not wearing anything right now!

Realizing that fact belatedly, Irene hastily wrapped herself in a towel.

The large towel covered her body adequately, but it was still embarrassing.
Irene felt uneasy not knowing when the towel might come off.

So, Irene, who was about to ask Carlos to please leave, widened her eyes when she discovered his face and the scattered bloodstains on his white shirt.

Bloodstains. Could he be injured?

Irene’s face turned pale.

She had been so focused on confirming that he was safe that she had neglected to pay attention to his condition. Belatedly realizing this was quite perplexing.

I should apologize and leave right away.

“…….”

Approaching Irene fearlessly, even when she had only a towel wrapped around her, Carlos hurriedly turned his head.

Focusing only on the fact that she needed to confirm he was safe, Irene, in her state with just a towel, approached him boldly.

However, Carlos, who suddenly felt Irene approaching, couldn’t turn away due to her grabbing his arm.

Unable to turn away, he glanced sideways, and golden eyes looked at him with concern.

“How badly are you hurt?”

…Am I hurt?

Unable to understand Irene’s words, Carlos furrowed his eyebrows. Deep wrinkles formed on Irene’s forehead as she thought he must be in pain.

“I’ll call a doctor.”

As Irene tried to leave, Carlos, unusually flustered, grabbed her arm.

Thump, his large hand wrapped around her wet arm.

“Where are you going in that condition?”

In that condition, what…

“!”

Right, I’m only wearing a towel.

In this state, she boldly approached Carlos without fear.

It wasn’t just ordinary madness.

In a hurry, Irene quickly pushed Carlos away, but her foot slipped on the wet floor.

Unexpectedly, she lost her balance, swayed, and fell towards Carlos.

Carlos embraced her with his whole body.

Thud!

A heavy sound echoed in the bathroom.

“…….”

“…….”

The distance between them was so close that they could feel each other’s breath.

The scent penetrated deeply into the lungs with every breath, and the smell reached deep into the lungs.

Irene, who was surprised in a different way than before, was frozen like a statue.

Carlos brushed off the wet hair flowing down like a curtain.

When his hand touched her cheek, Irene’s long eyelashes trembled.

“…….”

Although she had lived in seclusion all her life and was unfamiliar with the ways of the world, she wasn’t so immature as to not understand the current situation.