When Jessie’s expression became serious, Dewey tilted his head.

“Why so serious? I meant it as a joke.”

As if you could laugh at something like that.

Jessie was about to say something, but instead changed the subject.

“At least it’s fortunate that not only bad things happened.”

Dewey nodded his head vigorously in agreement.

“Indeed. Who would have thought a flower would bloom because of Master saving her?”

“I thought it might happen.”

Jessie said confidently, putting her hands on her hips.

“The lady would need a big catalyst to open her heart to Master. And what could be more appropriate than saving a princess?”

“If that were the case, shouldn’t a flower have bloomed when they first met? Master saved the lady when she was about to be executed.”

“Hmm…”

At a loss for words, Jessie scratched her cheek and tried to change the subject, then waved her hand dismissively.

“Oh well, what’s important now is that we’ve found a clue to break the seal, so let’s forget about the minor details.”

“My goodness, if you can’t even argue properly.”

Dewey shook his head as if he couldn’t help it.

Jessie smiled brightly and said to Kalos,

“Anyway, congratulations on blooming a flower, Master.”

“Congratulations, Master.”

Dewey also offered his congratulations, not wanting to be outdone.

Even in the midst of the chaos and exhaustion from dealing with the aftermath of the rampaging magical beast, they were smiling brightly and offering congratulations. The blooming of a flower on the flower branch tattoo was indeed a joyous occasion.

“…”

But for some reason, Kalos didn’t feel happy at all.

Rather, feeling confused, he silently gazed at the peacefully sleeping Irene.

Although Kalos tended to be unexpressive with his emotions, they thought he would show at least a little joy for this long-awaited event.

But instead of being happy, he wore a complicated expression, causing Dewey and Jessie to look at each other in bewilderment.

“Is something wrong?”

When Dewey asked worriedly, Kalos rubbed his face with his hands and answered.

“It’s nothing. More importantly, watch what you say in front of her. Even if she’s unconscious, her ears are still open.”

“My apologies.”

Kalos turned to look at Jessie, who was bowing her head like Dewey, and asked.

“Did the physician say there was nothing wrong?”

Jessie answered with her head still lowered.

“Yes. The physician said that everything – the lady’s pulse, breathing, body temperature – was normal. The wound isn’t too deep either, and it’s healing well, so there’s no worry about scarring.”

“But they couldn’t figure out why she hasn’t woken up for over two days?”

“Yes. They examined her thoroughly in case there was another issue, but said they couldn’t find anything no matter how hard they looked.”

That’s right. The reason Irene can’t wake up from her deep sleep is probably related to the fourth flower blooming.

Even though he knew that a human doctor who didn’t even know about the flower’s existence couldn’t possibly figure it out, he asked just in case, but the result was still the same.

Jessie continued speaking.

“So the physician said that if Master wishes, they could try using a magic potion to forcibly wake the lady… What should we do?”

Kalos’s gaze turned to Irene.

Just looking at her, one might mistake her for dead, as Irene lay completely still without the slightest movement.

That’s why he kept worrying about what if she didn’t wake up.

It was also the reason Kalos came to see her whenever he had time.

The unfamiliar worry felt uncomfortable, like a thorn stuck in his throat.

“Never mind. If there’s nothing wrong with her body, let’s leave her be. She’ll wake up on her own.”

As much as he wanted to remove the thorn as soon as possible, the magic potion the physician mentioned might not even work.

It might do more harm than good, so Kalos rejected the physician’s proposal.

But… I’m uneasy.

As his handsome face contorted with worry, Dewey said,

“The lady will wake up soon, so you don’t need to worry too much, Master.”

Jessie chimed in.

“That’s right. Even the previous person suffered greatly from the aftereffects of the flower blooming, but they soon got up as if nothing had happened.”

Come to think of it, there was such an incident.

Kalos traced back to the faded old memory.

But he only remembered receiving a report that the woman was sick, not how much she suffered.

Well, he hadn’t been interested in anything other than making the flower bloom on the flower branch tattoo.

When Kalos received the report that the woman was sick, he only ordered to save her somehow, without going to see her in person.

So why did he come to see Irene in person?

What’s the difference between that woman and this one?

“…”

Suddenly questioning himself, Kalos looked down at Irene again.

However, he couldn’t find any differences from that woman back then.

The same human, woman, and… yet why was he so concerned?

Because he saw her suffering in person?

Or because he was determined to succeed this time?

‘I don’t know.’

His head throbbed as he pondered the question that yielded no answer.

The thorn that had been stuck in his throat seemed to have moved down, as the area around his chest was now stinging.

Uncomfortable and disturbed by the unfamiliar emotion, Kalos frowned and turned away.

Staying here any longer would be unlike him.

“Report to me as soon as she wakes up.”

Vowing not to visit her again until Irene woke up, Kalos left the bedroom.

*

After Kalos left, a quiet stillness fell over Irene’s bedroom.

Staring at the firmly closed door without saying a word, Jessie muttered as if talking to herself.

“Don’t you think Master is acting a bit strange?”

Dewey, who was also staring at the tightly shut door, agreed.

“You’re right. In the past, he wouldn’t have cared whether someone was sick or not… Is it because he’s feeling rushed with not much time left?”

Jessie raised her eyebrows and asked in a somewhat fierce voice,

“Do you really think that’s why Master is worried about the lady?”

Dewey looked at Jessie in bewilderment.

“You mean it’s not?”

“Of course…!”

Jessie was about to burst out shouting in frustration, but realizing Irene was there, she closed her mouth.

Then, after taking a deep breath to calm her agitated emotions, she spoke quietly so that only Dewey could hear.

“It’s clear that Master thinks of the lady as someone special.”

Dewey nodded.

“Of course he would. The lady is an essential person for Master.”

“No, not in that sense… Oh, how frustrating!”

As Jessie pounded her chest with her fist, Dewey looked at her strangely.

“If not in that sense, then what? If you have something to say, say it clearly.”

Jessie stared at Dewey’s dumb face for a moment before waving her hand dismissively.

“Never mind. Even if you understood, it would only confuse you and wouldn’t help one bit, so I’ll just keep quiet.”

*

“What about that woman? I asked the physician, and they said she’s fine now. Is that true?”

Kalos raised an eyebrow and looked at Jerdin in response to the barrage of questions.

“You couldn’t wait and went to ask the physician?”

Sensing Kalos’s discomfort, Jerdin awkwardly smiled and took a step back.

“Well, she’s my cousin now, so I was worried…”

“Cousin?”

“No, second cousin? Third cousin?”

Jerdin quickly tried to calculate his relationship to Irene but ultimately failed to find an answer and glossed over it.

“Anyway, she’s family now, so I was worried and asked. Besides, if something happens to her, it would be a big problem for you too, Master.”

“…”

Instead of answering, Kalos turned his head away.

Jerdin followed him into the office, continuing to ask,

“So, is she really alright now?”

“Yes.”

Although Kalos didn’t want to answer, he knew Jerdin would persistently keep asking if he didn’t, so he reluctantly replied.

“Is that all you know?”

He also had something he wanted to confirm.

Jerdin blinked his eyes wide and asked back,

“Is there something else?”

“No.”

He doesn’t know about the flower that bloomed on the flower branch tattoo.

Well, I told the physician never to show Irene’s back, so of course he wouldn’t.

Although Jerdin was one of the few people who knew about the existence of the flower branch tattoo, Kalos had no intention of informing him about its progress.

It wasn’t that he didn’t trust Jerdin.

He just didn’t trust the circumstances around him.

Jerdin narrowed his eyes and looked at Kalos.

“No, I think there is something.”

“That’s enough pointless talk.”

Kalos took out a wax-sealed letter from the desk drawer and handed it to Jerdin.

“Deliver this to the Emperor.”

“…You’re telling me to return to the palace now, aren’t you?”

Kalos expressed his affirmation through silence.

Jerdin received the letter with a bitter smile.

“I guess it can’t be helped. It would be an inconvenience for me to stay here any longer in this situation, so I’ll head back now. I’ll deliver the letter to His Majesty the Emperor as you asked, Master.”

“I appreciate it.”

“Before that, there’s one thing I’d like to ask.”

Kalos nodded, signaling his permission.

Jerdin spoke with a serious face, all traces of humor gone.

“Is there any chance… that Her Majesty the Empress is involved in this incident?”

*

Since it was unclear when Irene would wake up, and her condition could worsen again, Jessie stayed by her side constantly, even taking short naps on the sofa in the bedroom.

“Ah, I need to use the bathroom.”

But there were times when she had to leave her post due to unavoidable physiological needs.

“I should hurry back.”

Deciding it was better to quickly go and return rather than waste time hesitating, Jessie hastily left the bedroom.

Click, the closed door opened again not long after.

The light that had seeped into the dark room was obscured by a large shadow.

The intruder approached the bed silently, muffling their footsteps on the plush carpet.

Even in the dim room, purple eyes that hadn’t lost their light took in the sight of Irene lying motionless.

Kalos reached out his hand and held it near her nose.

He could feel her breathing, faint but steady.

“…”

Only then did Kalos feel relieved, but he let out a mirthless laugh at himself for being relieved by such a thing.

He also found it amusing that he had come to see her in secret, not wanting Jessie or others to catch him like this, after vowing not to visit until she woke up, and less than a day had passed.

He had never been so indecisive before.

Even as he chuckled, his calm purple eyes remained fixed on Irene.

“Wake up soon.”

So that she could see the fireworks she had been so eager to watch.

“Mmm…”

As if she had heard Kalos’s words, Irene stirred slightly.

His long fingers, which had been held near her nose, curled reflexively.

His slightly trembling purple eyes examined Irene’s face.

“…”

Fortunately, she hadn’t woken up.

No, should it be fortunate if she had woken up?

Amidst his swaying thoughts that couldn’t quite find their bearings, Kalos silently gazed at Irene before stretching out his fingers again.

The skin that touched his fingertips was hot.