Knowledge embedded in power, you say.

To someone who knows nothing, it would sound like nonsense, but not to Kalos, the ruler.

When the existing ruler perishes and a new ruler is born, they absorb the power and memories of the previous ruler, realizing what they must do going forward.

Kalos also went through that process to become the ruler.

So Abel’s hypothesis was quite plausible, but Kalos hoped it was wrong.

If Irene had really gained knowledge from her power, there was a high chance she had also learned about the underground world.

From a human perspective, if they found out they were living with the underground inhabitants who were no different from monsters, they would surely tremble in fear and try to run away.

Just like the women he had brought before.

“……”

Kalos’ jaw clenched as he compared Irene to the memories of the past.

At that moment, the shadow he had attached to Irene reacted, informing him that she had awakened.

A new flower had bloomed, so he thought she would wake up later than before, though not as late as previously. He didn’t expect her to wake up this quickly.

Kalos was both pleased and displeased by this fact.

As emotions that normally couldn’t coexist swirled in his heart, his feelings became even more complicated.

Let’s first confirm if Irene really gained knowledge embedded in her power.

Check if she’s in pain anywhere, and if so, call for a physician.

… If it’s a situation where I can call for a physician, that is.

“Jessie, it seems she has awakened…”

Kalos decided to entrust this role to Jessie.

Irene liked and followed Jessie relatively well, so he judged that even if Abel’s hypothesis turned out to be true, she could comfort her.

“… Can you do it?”

Jessie, entrusted with this crucial task, answered resolutely.

“Yes, I will definitely accomplish it.”

*

After Jessie left to carry out her important mission, a heavy silence fell over the small reception room.

“……”

Kalos had his eyes closed, as if he wouldn’t say a word until Jessie returned.

Dewey, standing behind him, watched Kalos nervously, fervently hoping that Jessie would return with good news.

Abel also watched Kalos carefully before cautiously asking.

“What if that woman, like the other women who came before, finds out your identity and tries to run away?”

“……”

When Kalos opened his eyes and stared silently, Abel laughed awkwardly and made excuses.

“I’m saying this in advance to avoid any strange misunderstandings, but I had no other intentions. It’s just that there’s a precedent, and that woman seems more tender-hearted than the women who came before… I’m just worried.”

Dewey glanced at Abel upon hearing this.

Kalos dismissed it.

“I’ll handle it myself, so don’t worry about unnecessary things.”

Abel pouted at the cold response, muttering that it was too harsh.

At that moment, the door connected to Kalos’ bedroom opened.

Has she returned already? Kalos looked at the door nervously.

But soon, seeing Jessie’s bright smile, the tightly wound tension loosened slightly.

Jessie approached Kalos and reported.

“Fortunately, the young lady doesn’t know anything. She doesn’t even know how she was able to read the runes.”

Dewey’s expression relaxed, just like Kalos’.

“Does the young lady really not know anything?”

Jessie nodded emphatically in response to the confirming question.

Kalos asked again.

“Is there a possibility she’s lying?”

“No. The young lady is the type whose face reveals when she’s lying, and more importantly, her eyes didn’t waver at all when looking at me.”

It’s said that the eyes are the windows to the soul.

Unless someone is skilled at hiding their emotions, most people can’t hide the feelings in their eyes.

Especially someone like Irene who is clumsy at hiding emotions.

This confirmed that Irene really didn’t know.

“That’s truly a relief.”

Though he didn’t say it, Dewey, who had been harboring the same worry as Abel, felt deeply relieved.

Kalos also seemed relieved, taking a deep breath and slowly opening and closing his eyes.

“Well, that’s great news.”

Abel even clapped his hands, congratulating Kalos.

Jessie continued speaking.

“So, about that, the young lady wants to meet the master.”

Surprised by the unexpected words, Kalos doubted his ears and asked again.

“Me?”

“Yes. She’s worried that you might be injured and wants to see if you’re alright…”

Come to think of it, she did see my hand being bitten by Yomi right in front of her.

Thinking about how the tender-hearted Irene must have been shocked by that sight left a bitter taste in his mouth.

Kalos stood up, intending to quickly show Irene that his hand was fine and reassure her.

Then Abel asked.

“You’re not thinking of showing that woman your perfectly fine hand, are you?”

“……”

When Kalos’ silence confirmed it, Abel clicked his tongue as if it was pathetic.

“If you have a brain, please try to use it, Kalos.”

Kalos’ eyebrows twitched at the sarcastic remark.

He was about to snap back at Abel for picking a fight.

“That woman thinks you’re human. What do you think she’ll think if she sees a hand that had flesh torn off to the bone completely healed in less than half a day?”

“……”

He closed his mouth again, unable to say anything to the additional comment.

Seeing Kalos hesitate, Abel chuckled and continued.

“If you don’t want to be suspected, at least wrap a bandage around your hand before you go. Otherwise, you’ll be constantly questioned about it.”

Although Abel’s expression and laughter were irritating and made Kalos not want to do as he said, he couldn’t deny that every word was correct.

Kalos let out a short sigh and asked Dewey.

“Where’s the first aid kit we brought earlier?”

*

As Kalos, with his hand bandaged, and Jessie went to meet Irene, Abel and Dewey left the reception room.

Dewey, who had been silently following Abel, spoke up as Abel was about to descend the central staircase.

“How do you know?”

Abel stopped abruptly and turned his head to look at Dewey.

“Know what?”

“The personalities of the women the master brought before. How do you know that the current curse’s sacrifice is more tender-hearted than those women?”

“Oh, that.”

Abel smirked.

“Of course I know because I saw them.”

Dewey, on the other hand, frowned.

“When did you meet those women?”

As far as Dewey remembered, Abel had never met the women brought before.

Ah, he might have briefly seen the second woman who came.

However, that alone wouldn’t be enough to grasp that woman’s personality, and the fact remained that he hadn’t met the other women.

So it was puzzling how he knew.

“……”

Abel’s expression turned serious as he approached right in front of Dewey.

“Do I have to report every little thing to you?”

“……”

“To a mere aide?”

Just meeting those flickering purple eyes sent chills down Dewey’s spine, making his legs tremble.

Even Dewey, as Kalos’ direct aide, barely managed to hold on; an ordinary person would have fainted and collapsed.

Dewey felt as if someone was strangling him, struggling and unable to speak, but he forced out his voice.

“… If you don’t want to tell me, you can tell the master.”

At that, the corners of Abel’s lips curved up crookedly.

“I’m sorry.”

Abel smiled as if he had never been serious.

“I felt like I was being interrogated for no reason, so I got annoyed and lashed out without meaning to.”

Then he patted down Dewey’s crumpled collar.

“I didn’t meet those women directly, I secretly peeked. To be precise, I was worried about how Kalos was doing and tried to check, and ended up seeing those women as well.”

“……”

“By the way, this is a secret from Kalos. If he finds out, he’ll surely make a fuss about me being a stalker.”

Abel shuddered as if the mere thought disgusted him, then patted Dewey’s shoulder and urged again.

“So please don’t tell Kalos. I’m begging you.”

*

Kalos not only bandaged his uninjured hand but also applied makeup to make it look slightly painful.

“……”

Although he had come fully prepared to leave no room for Irene’s suspicion, she was sound asleep, oblivious to the world.

It seemed she had dozed off while waiting for Kalos.

“I’ll wake her up right away.”

“No need. You can go now.”

After sending Jessie away, Kalos stood by the bedside, watching the peacefully sleeping Irene, and placed his hand on her forehead.

No fever.

I think she felt a bit hot when I brought her earlier.

I was worried she might get very sick like before since a new flower had bloomed, but this is a relief.

Well, she woke up quickly, and Jessie, who talked to Irene directly, said she was fine, so there’s probably no need to worry.

“Worry, huh.”

Somehow that word felt unfamiliar, so Kalos muttered it over and over like a cow chewing its cud.

He had worried about someone before, but it was the first time the object of his concern was a human woman.

… And kissing her was a first for him, among both humans and underground inhabitants.

“……”

Kalos’ gaze fell on Irene’s slightly parted lips.

The moment his lips had touched those moist lips came vividly to mind, and he felt the urge to kiss her again.

Kalos chuckled and ran his hand through his hair.

“I must be out of my mind.”

If Irene knew his feelings, she would probably be terrified and run away.

And Kalos felt the same way.

He wanted to ruthlessly cast aside these unidentifiable emotions and run away.

It seemed like that would make him feel more at ease.

… Is feeling at ease the right thing?

“Mmm.”

Kalos, who had been wavering with indescribable emotions, flinched and looked at Irene as she stirred.

Her long eyelashes trembled and slowly curled up.

Soon, golden eyes, hazy with sleep, were revealed.

Looking into those eyes made him feel strangely guilty, so Kalos cleared his throat and asked.

“Are you awake?”

The golden eyes that had been searching aimlessly finally focused on Kalos.

Though still unfocused, Irene seemed to recognize Kalos and blinked slowly.

“Is your hand… alright?”

“It’s fine.”

Kalos answered, showing her his bandaged hand.

He showed it to reassure her that it was completely healed and not to worry, but to his surprise, tears began to well up in Irene’s eyes.

Having not expected her to cry at all, Kalos was flustered and wiped away her tears.

Belatedly realizing it was his bandaged hand, he tried to quickly withdraw it, but Irene grabbed it.

She held it very gently, as if worried he might be in pain, but strangely, Kalos found himself unable to pull his hand away.

“I’m sorry.”

Kalos’ gaze slid down following the tears that were falling in drops.

Her tear-moistened lips glistened as if tempting him.

“Because I said I wanted to raise Yomi… I’m really sorry.”

The impulse that had just subsided swelled up again, causing an intense thirst.

Kalos grasped Irene’s hand in return and devoured the moist lips he had been craving.