“To me, it looks like you’re not ready to bend that frying pan yet.”

Atia bit her lip.

It was a scratch on her pride.

However, Casus was genuinely concerned for her.

“Promise me, you won’t use the frying pan as a training tool.”

“What if Duke Hart folds it?”

Atia, who had felt intense anger and stubbornness toward the unyielding frying pan, still hadn’t calmed down.

Casus sensed that if he left Atia as she was, she’d do something strange again.

“Fine. Then refrain from other dangerous tools as well.”

“Okay.”

“Swear it to the sky.”

“The sky? Alright, I swear.”

As soon as Atia finished speaking, Casus bent the frying pan with a stoic face.

Seeing this, Atia opened her mouth.

‘…What? That was incredibly easy…’

Casus, who had successfully bent the frying pan, folded it once more while raising an eyebrow.

The frying pan was now unrecognizable.

Atia coughed awkwardly.

“Wow, you’re stronger than you look…”

“What? Than I look?”

“No, you look strong too. I misspoke.”

Atia hurriedly corrected herself with a sheepish smile.

“So, learn the basics from me step by step.”

“Is your lower body somewhat better?”

“What?”

“If your lower body is fine, we can work out or do something together.”

“It has improved a lot.”

Casus felt that his lower body had improved significantly, possibly due to the methods Atia had casually mentioned.

She had spoken about massaging the area and even stretching and taking breaks during work.

‘Warm compresses to the painful area and maybe you could try following me for flexibility?’

‘Avoid lying prone or twisting your legs and ankles. That’s the worst you could do.’

Each time they met, Atia’s passing words came to mind.

Even when they occasionally crossed paths in the training field,

‘Bend your knees just a little more.’

‘These small habits build up and ruin your body.’

Atia, who never hesitated to offer unsolicited advice.

That had probably interfered with his training.

But he remembered every word she had said.

“It seems to me that you’ve improved… but also maybe not.”

Atia inspected Casus’s lower body as she spoke.

“Yes, thanks to you, it’s much better.”

“That’s good to hear.”

“But what does that ‘3 by 500’ mean?”

“Oh. Simply put… it’s the weight you can lift. Since we don’t have Svende here, what could I use as an example?”

“Svende?”

“Squat, bench press, and deadlift. These are called the ‘big three,’ and 500 means the total weight of all three, 500 kilograms.”

Casus tilted his head, looking even more clueless.

Atia circled her index finger as she spoke.
“To put it simply, I want to try lifting a carriage.”

“A carriage?”

“Yes, if possible, I’d like to try lifting Horus as well.”

Atia spoke, imagining Horus, the horse famous for being Casus’s steed.

He was big and muscular, easily weighing at least 600 kilograms.

“As long as he doesn’t kick me.”

“You’re quite peculiar.”

“Huh? You asked what the three burdens were, so I just explained it in simpler terms.”

Even after Atia’s explanation, Casus had difficulty understanding what a ‘three burden’ was.

But he thought he understood one thing.

“Alright, you like to lift things. So…”

After contemplating, Casus opened his mouth.

“Tell me something you can lift right now.”

“Um… Is there something like a heavy rock that you need all your strength to barely lift?”

“Try lifting me.”

“What?”

“Lift me.”

Atia narrowed her eyebrows and stared at Casus.

“Lift… Your Grace?”

Casus nodded his head.

“Yes, it seems to meet the conditions you mentioned.”

“Will you really be lifted?”

“Yes. Otherwise, would it be fake?”

Confirming his sincerity, Atia got close to him and wrapped her arms around his body.

The moment Atia’s soft skin made contact with Casus’s firm body.

“No, wait!”

Startled, Casus quickly moved back.

“Uh… where are you putting your hands?”

Atia, who had stuck her arms between Casus’s legs, showed a bewildered expression.

“Ah, I apologize. I was focused solely on lifting.”

Casus shuddered and broke into a cold sweat.

Atia looked at Casus’s large frame, contemplating the most efficient way to lift him.

‘Should I try lifting him like a princess?’

Going under his legs seemed obviously unfeasible.

His body was so firm, it would require skill.

Atia placed one arm behind his back and the other behind his thighs.

“Your Grace, let’s try this once. Could you lie back? Think of leaning on my arms…”

The moment Atia’s arms touched his thighs, Casus felt an odd sensation.

He wondered how long he could endure this ticklish feeling.

But Atia, whether she knew about Casus’s feelings or not, shouted.

“Now, Your Grace! Trust me and lie back!”

Casus somewhat loosened his body and leaned as Atia wanted him to.

However, he only pretended to lie back, so his muscular thighs tensed up.

Casus had no intention of actually lying down.

If he did, and Atia got crushed, it would be serious.

Nevertheless, Atia planned to use all her strength to lift Casus.

“Hooya!”

An old manlike yell filled the room.

Realizing that Casus hadn’t completely let go, Atia pulled out her arm from under his thigh.

Then she pushed back his upper chest and made him lie on her arms.

And once again, with all her might, even that of a nursing infant.

Their steps tangled and Atia ended up falling on top of Casus instead.

Thud!

Casus was lying on the floor.

Atia was on top of him, her arms touching the floor.

“…”

“…”

A pair of blue eyes framed by thick, black eyebrows met.

Atia’s reflection shimmered in Casus’s blue eyes.

They were so close, their breaths touched each other’s ears.

No, this is…

‘It’s a scene I’ve only seen in movies or dramas.’

Atia’s long eyelashes quivered.

For what felt like an eternity in just one second.

Looking down at the handsome man beneath her, Atia lowered her eyes in embarrassment.

‘He looks good even from this angle.’

Her admiration was brief.

Her heart was pounding like crazy.

Both were just swallowing saliva.

Suddenly finding Atia on top of him, Casus forgot even to breathe.

A sensation of swelling kept surging, making his whole body feel hot.

“Haah….”

Silently, he stared at her lips.

Aware of Casus’s gaze, Atia completely closed her eyes.

He then pulled her head down by the nape of her neck.