“Oh my. Look at this. The puppy’s belly is so round. You’re really gentle and cute.”

If only she had stopped there… Lizbeth put her nose against the plump belly.

“Look at this. So round. It looks like it’s about to burst.”

Lizbeth giggled while Sesenia watched, unable to laugh.

And the puppy looked off into the distance with an expression as if it had lost something precious, as if it had lost the whole world.

If only it had ended there, but Lizbeth put her nose to the puppy’s hind legs and sniffed, sniff sniff.

“It smells so nice! I’ve always wanted to do this. Mom said we absolutely can’t bring animals in, that we shouldn’t do things we can’t take responsibility for, so I couldn’t… Ah. This is so nice.”

“Lizbeth… We don’t know whose puppy this is, let’s put it down. The owner might show up… And, the puppy might scratch you.”

“I suppose so… Sigh.”

As she said this, Lizbeth looked the puppy up and down regretfully.

“I wonder if we’ll see each other again.”

“…”

“Look at this. How can it make such a silly and blank expression? Oh my, I think it’s a boy. It’s so small and cute.”

“…Stop. Lizbeth, put it down.”

The belly and feet. And then… that part. Sesenia, who knew all too well who was inside, could only blame herself for not firmly stopping this sooner.

“Ah… I’m sorry. I’ll put it down. Goodbye, puppy.”

“…”

The puppy, seemingly in great shock, stood blankly for a moment before belatedly turning its head with a huff and walking away.

“Do you think we’ll see it again?”

“…If it’s meant to be, we’ll see it again.”

We’ll see it soon.

Sesenia smiled awkwardly.

“But look, it’s only going that far and not turning back. I think it likes us.”

“It might have other intentions.”

“How can a puppy have intentions?”

“I’m just saying…”

“But that puppy is strange, young lady.”

Finally noticed? Sesenia looked at Lizbeth with wide eyes as she sharply pointed out the strangeness.

“Yes. It is strange.”

“Yes. It looks familiar somehow.”

At those words, the puppy suddenly started barking as if it had choked on something.

“Young lady! I think the puppy is sick.”

“Leave it be. It must be startled.”

“St-startled? The puppy…?”

“It happens. By the way, Lizbeth. You’re quite sensitive, aren’t you?”

“Yes…?”

“Never mind. Let’s go.”

Of course, Tedel, who had been watching this whole situation from a step behind, glared at the puppy with a very displeased expression.

As if he was about to rush at the puppy at any moment.

“Teddy. Don’t pick a fight with the puppy.”

“…That… No…”

Tedel was already glaring as if he had realized who the puppy was. Sesenia quickly grabbed his arm.

“Let’s protect Lizbeth.”

“…You already knew, didn’t you, young lady?”

“Yes, that’s why I didn’t touch it.”

Sesenia spoke in a voice that only Tedel could hear. Only then did Tedel nod with an understanding expression.

“I see.”

“Yes. So I’m acting in self-defense.”

She didn’t understand why she had to explain this to Tedel like this.

But Sesenia appealed her innocence as if drawn by something.

“I really had no thoughts.”

“…”

“Really.”

Like a cat wagging its tail gently, Tedel nodded with a slight smile.

“I believe you.”

“Really?”

“Yes. It’s just that my master was giving me such a desperate look, so I didn’t say anything. Actually, I wasn’t bothered at all. I was just a little jealous.”

Seeing him smile so brightly that his cheeks dimpled, Sesenia burst out laughing too.

“Why be jealous?”

“Actually, I shouldn’t be jealous… I crossed the line. I’m sorry.”

“No, that’s not what I meant. Why be jealous of that puppy when we’re nothing to each other? I told you, Teddy. You’re my most precious card. Very precious. So you don’t need to worry.”

“Thank you.”

“Well then, let’s go now. To explore the market. I’ve never properly explored a market before.”

Sesenia, who had been speaking quietly all along, spoke loudly, and Lizbeth raised her hand.

“I’ve been here many times! I’ll introduce you!”

“Great. Then let’s go, Teddy.”

“…Yes!”

Sesenia held out her hand to him.

Tedel, who had been hesitating as if worried whether he could dare to hold that precious hand, finally took it.

The person who always reaches out to him.

To Tedel, Sesenia was the salvation that pulled him out of hell, his god, and his world.

The only person who allowed him to exist as himself, to live like a human being.

‘My master. I want to live as your servant.’

It didn’t matter who he was anymore. He looked at Sesenia walking ahead.

Her night-sky-like hair reminded him of her every evening. When night came, it was as warm as if she had arrived.

Her red eyes were like the faint sunrise in the east. Every moment, every hour of the day made him think of her.

That’s why he was afraid. He was afraid of what would happen after Sesenia, who kept trying to find out what kind of life he had lived.

Afraid that she might abandon him. Afraid that his everything might let go of him. So he tightened his grip on Sesenia’s hand that was holding him firmly.

“May I dare to hold your hand?”

“Yes. Isn’t this safer? Protect me, Teddy. Always, anytime, anywhere.”

“Yes.”

“Well then, let’s get going!”

Lizbeth, who had been quietly watching the two, walked ahead with a pleasant smile.

The market was a much more complicated place than expected.

Not only were there imperial citizens, but people from nearby countries also formed a sea of humanity to buy and sell goods in the empire, making Sesenia and Tedel feel like they were losing their minds.

The roads were also complicated. After passing through streets where carriages could pass, there were numerous street stalls that prevented carriages from entering.

Lizbeth navigated the complicated streets so well that it was only after nearly losing her several times that they arrived at a somewhat less crowded place.

All roads seemed to start from the fountain, with eight paths stretching refreshingly towards the square where the fountain was located.

Only after arriving there did Sesenia heave a deep sigh.

“The market is a very tiring place.”

Sesenia leaned back in her chair near the fountain.

It was quite an unbecoming posture for a noble lady, but Sesenia, who had already exhausted her energy, didn’t care about others’ gazes.

“No, it’s just especially crowded today.”

“Is that so? Still, it’s relaxing here.”

Children running around near the fountain. Parents catching them. Merchants who had been driven out of the main alleys and set up stalls here.

The fountain, which made sounds as it rose up from time to time, gave a strangely comforting feeling.

“Is that so?”

It was then.

A flower seller caught Sesenia’s eye.

Suddenly, she remembered what had happened today. Ian, who had tried to catch her attention by holding out flowers.

‘It’s annoying how that image of him, so confident in his love for me, keeps coming to mind.’

Why should she ruin this relaxing and enjoyable moment because of a useless person?

Perhaps sensing her uncomfortable expression, Tedel blocked her view at just the right moment.

“Teddy.”

“Yes, my master.”

“Will you give me a gift?”

“A gift?”

“Yes. Just give me one flower as a gift.”

Sesenia handed him a single coin.

“A flower?”

“Yes. I received a flower gift today. A very large, splendid, and enormous one. Ah, I also received an expensive and precious flower.”

“But why… The flower I give will be insignificant…”

Tedel looked at Sesenia with quite a gloomy expression.

“No. With flower gifts, who gives it is more important. I want to receive it from you. That way, I think I’ll feel better about receiving a gift and not hate an innocent flower. I think I’ll be able to not hate the innocent flower.”

What more needs to be said when she puts it like that?

Tedel moved without hesitation to buy a flower.

The tens of thousands of flowers there. He had never been so free in his life. He had never lived like an ordinary person in his life.

To him, his master gave him an ordinary life.

“Are you buying flowers?”

“Yes. A flower for someone I love.”

“Oh my… How cute.”

As he said this, Tedel’s face turned red. To say ‘someone I love’.

“Is it unrequited love?”

“Is it… that obvious?”

Tedel hung his head with a gloomy expression.

“The expression that you don’t know what to do because you like them so much is written all over your face.”

“Ah…”

Somehow it felt like his feelings had been exposed, but he didn’t dislike it.

A strange feeling came over Tedel. It was ticklish yet warm.

The gaze looking at him was incomprehensibly kind.

In this unfamiliar situation, he held out the single coin.

“Um… But I don’t have any money…”

“That’s perfect.”

“It’s perfect?”

What could be perfect about this?

“I happen to have the noblest flower here. Tell the person you’re giving it to to always keep this flower.”

It was an orangish flower.

“This flower?”

The flower, neatly wrapped in pale yellow paper, was as fresh as could be.

“Yes.”

“It’s a flower that will last for a very long time. With your feelings in it.”

“Ah…”

“And if danger approaches the one who has this flower, the petals will fall one by one.”

“That… Isn’t that extremely precious?”

Tedel couldn’t understand giving such a flower for just one coin. It seemed like something that should cost a whole purse full of coins, not just one.

‘Is this… a scam?’

Otherwise, there’s no way they would give such a precious flower to him just from hearing the explanation.

It was then. As if sensing Tedel’s thoughts, the flower shop owner smiled gently.

“It’s not a scam, and I’m not just giving it away. Things with heart in them are quite precious. Especially the emotion of pure, unblemished love.”