Matian paid his respects to the emperor and exchanged brief greetings with a few high-ranking nobles before naturally leaving the banquet hall to find where Rukna was.

He didn’t forget to bring a few grapes and put them into her mouth without anyone noticing.

Seeing Rukna chewing the grapes with cheeks puffed out like a squirrel, he felt regret.

If he had known, he would have brought more.

‘Should I go back and get more?’

Matian scanned the banquet hall entrance from afar and frowned upon seeing the women loitering there.

‘It’s Count Yansen’s wife and her entourage, known for their love of gossip.’

They were from a family that had accumulated wealth in the black market before coming into the light, entering high society with their somewhat crude but entertaining conversational skills as their weapon.

They were also the family of Hans, who had followed Rukna during their military academy days.

There were rumors that Count Yansen was quite troubled because his only son was always doing good deeds.

Just then, the Golden siblings, who were about to leave the banquet hall, were caught by them and couldn’t move their feet.

Knowing that he would also be caught if he went there, Matian gave up on going back.

‘If only my hands were bigger, I could have brought more.’

His hands were already about one finger joint longer than others, but in this situation, he couldn’t help but lament. Then, as a habit, he tasted the finger that had wiped Rukna’s lips.

“You’re crazy, really!” Rukna stopped him upon seeing that.

“W-why are you licking that?”

“Because it’s sweet.”

When he tried to put his finger to his lips again, Rukna grabbed his wrist.

He had said he would make her uncomfortable, and it seemed he was determined to do so. His tone and actions made her heart flutter.

“Stop it. It’s dirty.”

“Dirty? It’s from the holy priestess, so it must be sacred.”

“You really!”

“I was already hungry, but tasting the sweetness has quelled my hunger.”

Matian smiled softly as if he had drunk honey water.

Rukna, who was about to add a word, finally realized that Matian had left the party as soon as the banquet began.

Even though he was hungry himself, he had brought grapes for her. Anyway, she couldn’t hate this man.

‘I can’t spit back what was in my mouth.’

If she had known, she would have put one in his mouth, she thought, when his voice was heard in her ear.

“May I taste a little more?”

His body had already come close to her. Surprised, Rukna looked around.

Fortunately, Jodro, who had been next to her, had been away for a while, so no one was watching.

“What… mmph.”

As she opened her mouth to ask what he was going to taste, his lips covered hers.

Even when she tried to pull her head back, his hand wrapped around her head and stopped her. She stepped back, but he came closer.

Her back hit the hard castle wall. As her escape route disappeared, she lost all strength like a defeated soldier.

Matian supported Rukna’s collapsing waist and removed his lips. His face that had been savoring her slowly moved away.

It seemed like the expression a starving beast would have when faced with a feast.

“You, you!”

Damn weapon master. He knew how to relentlessly attack the opponent without giving them a chance, even at times like this.

‘If the kiss had been longer, I could have confidently complained. But it had to end at the most unsatisfying moment…’

No, no. What are you thinking right now! Rukna couldn’t bring herself to look at Matian and lowered her gaze.

As soon as she returned to the temple, she would have to grab Jerome and confess first. At this rate, far from becoming a devout priestess, she would become a lewd demon.

“Was the priestess also unsatisfied?”

Matian asked, wiping her glossy lips.

Was it that obvious? She was about to deny it first, but his words were faster.

“I couldn’t help it. I had no confidence in restraining myself.”

As if blaming Rukna for losing strength in her body, Matian said she had given him control without knowing what he would do. And outdoors like this, at that.

“Anyway, the priestess is too sweet.”

That’s why pests like him get attached.

“A-am I some kind of candy?”

Rukna spat out a childish line and felt embarrassed. Constantly calling her sweet made her blurt out shameful words.

Then she suddenly wondered about the fate of the grapes that had disappeared from her mouth, but tried not to think further in that direction.

Matian started, “I don’t particularly like candy, but…”

“From today, I think I’ll start liking grapes.”

“…!”

“Rukna Closet is the most pleasantly sweet thing I know.”

If someone else had said it, it would have been a goosebump-inducing line, but when he recited it, it flowed pleasantly into her ears. When the red-faced Rukna looked up at him blankly, it was then.

From far away in the banquet hall, the minuet began to echo.

It seemed the first dance had begun.

“What do we do!”

Rukna hastily pushed Matian away. Today was like his grand debut. There was no time to dawdle here with the priestess.

“I think the dance has started! Hurry up!”

“Is the priestess also going to attend the banquet?”

“Of course I’m not going.”

“Then I won’t go either.”

Matian said so and took off the red cloak fixed on his shoulders.

Then he fluttered it in the air once and wrapped it around Rukna’s waist, securely fastening it with the cloak brooch. It was as if Rukna was wearing a red dress.

“If I miss this moment, my first dance will disappear. May I request one song?”

“Matian, what about your partner!”

“Are you worried Bolton will get slapped right now?”

Rukna thought of Bolton, who would be at the banquet. Since he had entered with Matian, he would have become the king of the banquet hall.

He would be showing off his robust charm to the young ladies, puffing out his chest like a peacock, not missing this opportunity. Just imagining it made her want to laugh.

Matian raised one eyebrow, seeming to be bothered by Rukna smiling while thinking of another man.

“As expected, Bolton flatly refused to dance with me. And…”

Matian slightly bowed his upper body towards Rukna and held out his right hand.

“I want to dance with you, Rukna Closet.”

The moment their eyes met his bright blue ones, Rukna couldn’t look away.

It was said that the Closets were the anchors that supported this world. Right now, she was becoming a huge lump of iron, sinking into his eyes.

And the surroundings spun around.

When she came to her senses, she was holding his hand and stepping to the minuet.

She had only learned the male steps at school, so she didn’t know the female ones. But when she entrusted her body to him, her feet naturally found their place and moved.

The minuet was a static dance song. But with the force in Matian’s lead, the movements became larger and the dance became more exciting.

Whenever she twirled her body following him, the cool evening breeze brushed her cheeks.

It was truly amazing.

The sound of insects was much louder than the music coming from far away, yet both she and Matian were deeply immersed in the dance tune.

The first song was not long. As soon as the song ended, the two faced each other and elegantly bent their knees.

Rukna laughed as she raised the cloak he had wrapped around her like a skirt with one hand and greeted him.

“…Hehe.”

Matian also smirked, twisting one corner of his mouth.

Rukna stood up and arranged the cloak wrapped around her waist.

“Dancing is fun.”

“If you liked it, how about one more song, Lady Closet?”

Matian held out his hand once more. Rukna turned her head sharply like a haughty young lady, holding back her laughter.

“I’m sorry, sir. I can’t dance a second song with the partner I had my first dance with.”

“Then I’ll have to ask Lady Lulu.”

“Lulu says her feet hurt, sir.”

“Feet hurt?”

Matian frowned and immediately bent one knee.

When he touched the hem of her skirt to check Rukna’s feet, Rukna withdrew her foot.

“Get up now, Matian. It was a joke.”

“First, walk. Let me check.”

“I said it was a joke.”

Rukna stretched out her finger and poked Matian’s forehead.

Since he had good reflexes, she thought he would definitely dodge, but he calmly accepted that touch again.

She put quite a bit of force into her finger, so others would have had their head flick back, but his stiff head only tilted very slightly as if indulging her, then returned to its place.

But that look was also annoyingly cunning.

Rukna put her bottom on a nearby bench. Matian stood up only after confirming that Rukna was walking fine, and took the seat next to her.

Rukna tapped his arm.

“You can go now. The empire’s young ladies must have gathered to see your face, so you should meet their expectations. If the long-awaited banquet is boring, His Majesty will also be disappointed.”

“I am not a decoration for the banquet.”

“Who called you a decoration? It’s natural to feel good when you see something pretty.”

“Do you also feel good when you see me?”

“…I knew that question would come.”

Rukna shyly turned her head to the opposite side of Matian and answered very quietly, “Of course.”

Matian wanted to check his expression right now.

Was he smiling or frowning? He wanted to smile broadly because he felt good, but his heart tingled and his brows furrowed.

It was a familiar yet always unfamiliar sensation.

“Is this love?”

Then he inadvertently blurted out that word. His true feelings that he had kept hidden deep in his heart.

Damn it. Matian quickly covered his mouth. It was a kind of taboo and the lid that had been blocking his heart.

The moment that word left his mouth, it seemed like the emotions he had been suppressing would pour out, taking the form of love.

Rukna was equally surprised.

Not knowing what to do, she also looked around and fiddled with her ear, saying, “I’m hearing all sorts of nonsense.” Then she abruptly pointed to a hole in the castle wall.

It was quite large, enough to fit two fists, and was useful for looking outside.

“Th-that, what was it? You asked me what I was looking at here as soon as you saw me earlier?”

She clumsily changed the subject.

“Ah, yeah. I did.”

Matian also unnaturally fiddled with his neck and agreed.

“Remember Teacher Gale? He said he’s going on a trip today and will pass by here. So I was looking to see if I could spot him.”

“You must be very close with him.”

“He took care of me like a mother.”

Rukna smiled brightly as she said that.

“Ah, I see.”

Is she smiling like that while thinking of someone else again? Matian clicked his tongue. If he said he was jealous here, it was obvious she would dislike it.

Would she smile that prettily when thinking of him too?

No, he wished she would smile like that only when thinking of him. He wanted her smiles to be generous to him and stingy to others.

Was his greed too much? As if punishing him for it, his heart ached, and Matian tightly gripped his solar plexus.

At that moment, the ground shook slightly as if there was an earthquake, then stopped.

Rukna, who had been going on about Teacher Gale, suddenly closed her mouth and looked around. Her expression turned serious.

“Strange? Why has the barrier weakened?”

And all at once! Rukna checked the barrier magic stone she was in charge of.

The magic stone that had been shining brightly was gradually losing its light.

Matian abruptly stood up from his seat and stared in the direction of the back garden.

“It’s black magic.”

It was the location of the underground prison where Chad was confined.