Arms crossed, he stared intently at one spot as if he was about to set out for a hunt.

“Are you talking about that red-haired man?”

Sensing Carson’s unusual atmosphere, Noah narrowed his eyes. It was true that the man standing in front of Ines looked familiar.

“I think I’ve seen him, but… I’m not sure.”

“No, it’s definitely a face I know.”

The two opposite each other exchanged various stories for a while. Ines was consistently smiling.

“Judging by his clothes, he seems to be preparing to become a priest.”

“Are you saying that because you think I don’t know?”

“So, what I’m saying is… whoever it is, he’s going to be a priest.”

“And?”

“A priest won’t form a family.”

“Did I ask that?”

Noah nodded and immediately closed his mouth. He felt that this was the better choice for now. Then the man who had been standing in front of Ines moved closer to her. Noah felt like he was walking on thin ice.

However, as if it were someone else’s problem, Noah observed that the two looked quite natural together.

Ines used to smile as if she wanted to die.

Now, the woman who had learned to smile comfortably showed no signs of caution towards the man. As if they had not met here.

Then, a fallen leaf landed on Ines’s head. The leaf, which dropped silently, found its place on her golden hair without any sense of weight.

The man could not fully look at this and blushed.

“So, priests don’t form families?”

This time, Noah wisely added nothing.

The red-haired man carefully moved his hand toward Ines’s head. At that moment, Noah surreptitiously noticed Carson’s fingertips trembling.

Fortunately, Ines noticed his action first. Smiling so as not to make him feel bad, she tilted her head slightly to dodge his hand.

Stealing a glance, Carson took a deep breath and closed his eyes, a satisfied smile on his lips.

Noah’s heartbeat also continued at a comfortable pace.

Even after everyone had entered the building, Carson remained there.

“Will you stay here?”

“Why, are your legs tired?”

Of course, standing continuously was tiring.

“Then sit down. Think of it as a vacation, the weather is good.”

Sitting next to his superior, let alone a royalty and a grand duke, and considering it a vacation was very difficult. But this arrogant man would never understand that.

“Yes, thank you.”

Noah obediently sat next to him. Carson seemed to have been shadowing his future fiancée all day.

As the midday sun inclined a little more, people started pouring out of the training hall. Noah adjusted his previously relaxed posture and stood up.

He was supposed to meet her after this time was over. But the expressions of the people were unusual.

The murmurings and nodding indicated something had happened inside. Moreover, Ines did not show herself even after everyone had left the building. The problem was, it was not only her who didn’t appear.

“I will go in and check.”

“No, let’s go in together.”

The man who had been sitting motionless stood up. Exhaling deeply, Noah followed him, hoping nothing had happened.

When the tightly closed door opened, a spacious lecture hall was revealed.

Only three people were left in the training hall. Charlotte, Ines, and the red-haired man.

He had taken off his priest-to-be robe, and it was draped over Ines’s head. Charlotte was pacing, unable to get up from her seat, and the man was holding her wrist, catching his breath.
In an instant, Carson grasped what had happened.

“Ines!”

As he shouted, Ines, who had been hidden in her clothes, suddenly sat up. He leapt towards her, one hand on a desk for support. It took only a moment for him to reach her with his long legs.

Just as Carson’s hand caught hold of the man’s clothing, Ines’s body was turned around. It seemed as if she had disappeared into his embrace.

“Everyone out!”

At his sharp command, people quickly scattered. A man with red hair courteously bowed towards Carson in the brief moment.

The figure seemed vaguely familiar, but he couldn’t make a judgment at that point.

Upon examining his arms, Ines was found to have her frail neck bent back, her eyes rolled up.

“Ines.”

When he called her name again, the grip on Carson’s lapel tightened. The wheezing breaths reminded him of something from a past hunt.

With a ‘thud,’ the door closed and Ines looked up at him with unfocused eyes.

But only for a moment, the pupils in her green eyes quickly sharpened. Relief and astonishment were both hanging on her sparkling eyes.

“My lord…”

“Yes, it’s me.”

“My lord? Is it really you?”

“Yes, so come to your senses, Ines.”

“Really… it’s you.”

Carson meticulously examined Ines’s face while continually responding to her calls. Your lord is right here.

A little time passed, and she even managed a fleeting smile.

“It’s really amazing. I can’t believe it. Truly…”

He gently rubbed Ines’s flushed cheeks, waiting for her breathing to steady.

“I’m fine now. I feel absolutely normal.”

But he simply examined her body and gave no response. Ines softly overlaid her hand onto his, which was touching her cheek. At that, Carson’s movements came to a halt.