“Huh? Did the door open because of the wind?”

Atia thought as she closed the slightly open door.

Being in the room all day made her feel sluggish.

She had to lie in bed all day because Casus forcibly took her to the councilor.

It would look strange if she moved actively despite saying she was sick.

She resolved to minimize any actions that might annoy him.

After all, the lord of this manor was Casus, and Atia herself was also entrusted to live here.

Listening to him would be the better option.

“Ah, so suffocating.”

Atia yawned and stretched.

Exercise should improve her health, so why did her body seem to be the opposite?

Just like a bottomless jar no matter how much water was poured in.

“Ha! At least my strength and stamina increased by a little.”

The body is honest.

Unused parts tend to weaken.

Much effort was needed to leave her prolonged reclusive life and go into the sun.

At first, walking to the restaurant was headspinningly difficult.

However, even that level of activity was now not a problem; it was a huge improvement.

If she overexerted during the day, she had to make sure to relax at night.

Otherwise, her body would quickly run out of energy.

Her appearance seemed no different from when she first possessed this body.

“I want to take a body profile photo…”

Since there was no one to take a body profile photo showing the results of her pre and postexercise, it was maddening.

Standing in front of the fulllength mirror, Atia rolled up her sleeves and flexed her arm muscles.

“Heeya!”

The muscles under her skin hardened, and her skin also tightened.

But that was it.

Her thin arms were as slender as twigs.

A sevenyearold child would likely have thicker and stronger arms when flexed.

In her previous life, she was Gang Jiha, an athlete who turned anchovies from all over the country into buff bodies, yet looking at her own body made her tonguetied.

“Is it not that I lose muscle fibers every time I vomit? How can I not gain muscles like this?”

Is this even possible?

Atia stroked her thin arms while pondering various thoughts.

Even when she tried to adjust her diet to gain weight, it was futile.

“Even if I bulk up, just reaching a normal weight is an achievement.”

People who can’t gain weight no matter how much they eat are often called ‘godgiven physiques’.

They eat all they want and still maintain their slim waists.

While others starve and exercise to lose weight, they comfortably stuff highcalorie desserts into their mouths.

Many would envy such a natural physique, but not Atia.

“To get muscles on this leaky vessel, I’d have to plug the leak first.”

Giving herself a selffatigue massage all over her body, Atia concluded her day.

(This is a time divider.)

The next day.

Having rested almost the entire day before, Atia woke up in fairly good condition.

She couldn’t act too lively today either.

If Casus found out she lied, it would be a problem.

Because she said she was sick.

“Could he have noticed? Ah, I don’t know!”

She had refused Casus’s straightforward suggestion to consummate the night using the excuse of sickness.

Though the councilor said there was nothing wrong, Casus looked frosty.

From Atia’s point of view, she had no choice.

“I did the best I could. I can’t really go through with it, can I?”

For a moment, Atia imagined spending the night with Casus.

His overwhelming height, broad shoulders, and impressive arm muscles.

What would it feel like when their skins touch and their body scents mix?

Would it be soft? Rough?

Or a mix of both?

Or neither?

“Uh…”

She remembered the time Casus lifted her up.

The touch of his large hand on her forehead also came to mind. Although he was just checking her temperature, he always had a faint and refreshing scent.

If that Casus were to remove the clothes he always wore and appear before her, what would it be like?

“Could I do it well?”
Ah, what nonsense!

Atia shook her head vigorously from side to side to rid herself of the delusion.

How could it be possible?

With that creaking pelvis of his?

He’s wounded in the lower body due to the war, as if he could do well. Ridiculous.

But one cannot make a judgement until one takes a closer look.

‘Will it hurt?’

Atia slapped her forehead with her palm.

‘No, what am I doing… constantly having these impure thoughts…’

So I have these thoughts because my time to die is nearing.

Atia chuckled to herself.

Knock knock.

That was when it happened.

The sound of knocking came, and Kesha entered.

She came in holding a tray with a teacup and a teapot.

“Ma’am! I’ve brought your morning tea!”

Kesha greeted her brightly in the morning.

Then, she looked at Atia’s flushed face and tilted her head.

“Why is your face so red? Are you still unwell?”

Kesha quickly put down the teacup and teapot on the table.

“Huh? Uh? What, what is…?”

“No, your face…”

Kesha gave Atia a sharp look.

Atia dodged her gaze and turned her neck here and there.