“Come in.”

Then Idren opened the door as if he had been waiting. The man, dressed well for the event they had to attend, was holding a pair of shoes in one hand. They were women’s shoes made of white deerskin with delicate embroidery.

Idren lifted them up, shaking them slightly, and asked.

“May I put them on for you?”

“How undignified. Why would you do such a thing?”

It was a scolding, but Idren let out a small laugh. The man closed the door and approached her with a grinning face.

Ophelia allowed the man sitting beside her to lift her leg and place it on his knee. It was now familiar to her how childlike her husband became whenever he was near her.

For a moment, Idren caressed the protruding ankle bone above the shoe, then began to remove the shoe. His movements were smooth as he untied the laces and pulled them loose.

After taking off both shoes, Idren carefully held her small heel. The foot wrapped in soft silk was warm and soft. It was a lovely sensation.

After stroking it for a moment, he lifted it and kissed the top of her foot, causing Ophelia to raise an eyebrow.

“I thought you were going to put on the shoes?”

“This is part of the preparation.”

“Making up ridiculous excuses. You’ve become accustomed to lying.”

However, there was no resentment in her grumbling words. Idren kissed the top of her foot once more and gently massaged her calf. The warm, soft skin indented slightly under the shape of his palm. Sighing at the equally addictive sensation, Idren wondered, What has truly become of me?

“What are you doing now?”

Ophelia looked with bewilderment at the man who had collapsed onto her legs after saying he would put on her shoes.

“Don’t we still have plenty of time left?”

Idren answered in a slightly muffled voice, his face buried in her dress. His hand was slowly caressing her thigh over the silk.

“It takes a long time to get dressed today. Don’t undress me.”

“…You think I’m always having such thoughts at every opportunity.”

Then was it not so?

Instead of voicing that thought and rebuking him, Ophelia stroked his hair with her hand. His hair, already half-disheveled, became even more of a mess, but wasn’t he wrinkling her clothes?

Idren, who was hugging her legs while curled up in an uncomfortable position, sighed and said.

“There’s no color that doesn’t suit you.”

“That’s a roundabout way of saying blue looks good too.”

“Please add ‘the blue you’re wearing’ in front of that.”

Idren muttered shamelessly. It really is wonderful. I wonder if I’m dreaming…

Did he have to say that while massaging her knee?

Feeling somewhat sensual despite his claimed lack of intention, Ophelia finally pushed him away.

“Stop admiring and finish putting on my shoes.”

After changing shoes and adjusting her attire, Hazel was in the corridor when they went out.

The knight, who had been walking quickly as if she had a separate path, gave a small bow upon seeing them. Ophelia turned to look at the knight’s back once, finding it strange that the knight who would have followed with a smiling face in her previous life now treated her indifferently. Beside her, Idren said:

“I heard you were quite close to Hazel in your past life.”

“Yes, we were.”

“Should I change your guard to Hazel?”

Though she didn’t often realize it since she was always with Idren, her current guard was Penrel, who had been by her side since Reden.

Ophelia shook her head.

“There’s no need.”

“Wouldn’t it be better with someone you’re close to?”

“That Hazel no longer exists.”

They had started their lives anew. Just as there were things gained from that, there were also things lost. The relationship built with Hazel was one of them.

It was regrettable when she thought of the comforting words the kind knight had given her. Still, Ophelia intended to focus more on what she had regained rather than what she had lost. In this life, Anika was alive, Starlet was alive, and…

Above all, wasn’t Idren by her side?

Thinking of the relief she felt when she regained this man, Ophelia could tolerate most things.

Still holding tightly to the hand of the man walking beside her, she deliberately changed the subject.

“Shall I guess why you assigned Hazel as my guard in the past life?”

Though usually not humble, the man who was never boastful immediately replied to her words.

“I’m not sure if I can guess correctly.”

Idren truly thought he had no chance against Ophelia. How could she know how much he had agonized?

It was then that Ophelia tilted her head towards him.

“Well, I think I can figure it out with just a little thought.”

And the woman whispered in a playful voice.

“It’s because you didn’t know what I might do when you weren’t around, isn’t it?”

He was none other than the commander of the 2nd Corps.

It was something that could have been entrusted to another knight for guarding. Especially for a king like Idren with few close associates, it was even more possible as he needed to distribute those around him wisely.

Yet, he deliberately assigned a knight like Hazel, who had impeccable origins and a high position, likely intending for her to act as his proxy and faithfully protect Ophelia in his absence.

Penrel was a loyal and capable knight, but he was from the North. It was difficult for him to be as well-received in Edegrun as Hazel, who was clearly born with Chesa blood.

The guess became even more certain when she thought about what had happened before Hazel came as a guard.

Hadn’t she encountered pirates and not returned?

Realizing that she was already certain, Idren hastily added:

“It wasn’t because I didn’t trust you. Of course, your actions would have reasons. It’s just that if someone who couldn’t understand those reasons at once were by your side, they might cause unnecessary conflict…”

“Who said anything? You don’t need to make excuses.”

There were many things that were good because Hazel was there, and many things that were resolved more easily, so if anything, she should be grateful to him for it.

But since it was more fun to tease than to boost the other’s pride, Ophelia changed the subject instead of confessing that fact.

“More importantly, what are you going to do tonight?”

On the way back from patrolling with her, Idren had suddenly said he had decided what he wanted as a belated birthday gift.

“Please lend me the villa.”

About to readily agree, Ophelia realized one thing.

“That villa belongs to you now, doesn’t it…?”

Since Galisa wasn’t hers, the villa belonging to Galisa wasn’t either.

Blinking as if he had just realized, the man said:

“…I’ll transfer it to your name soon.”

“Don’t bother.”

There was no need to go through the trouble of transferring ownership when everything Idren had was as good as hers anyway.

“Anyway, you’re planning to do something at the villa, right?”

To that, Idren remained silent. It was a wordless affirmation.

Ophelia gave the man what he wanted, seeking permission.

“Do as you wish.”

And last night, while playing with her hair, Idren had said:

“Tomorrow evening, I’d like you to come to the villa in Galisa.”

The hand that was playing with her hair moved up to her earlobe, then brushed her temple before moving to her hairline. Idren added as he gently traced the border of her forehead:

“I’ll go there first, so come later than me.”

Hearing those words that resembled what she had said before, Ophelia was certain that he had prepared something.

And naturally, Ophelia was curious about what it was.

When he heard the same words, Idren had managed to refrain from questioning her. But she had always lacked patience when it came to matters related to this man. She had to dig into things she wanted to know to feel satisfied.

Ophelia moved a bit closer to the man who was keeping his mouth shut, perhaps thinking that secrets would be kept if he exercised his right to remain silent.

“Are you thinking of doing something similar to what I prepared?”

“No… It’s not like that!”

His denial sounded flustered, as if he had heard something he shouldn’t have. Ophelia blinked.

“What’s wrong with what I prepared? You took it, saying it was fine even if given late.”

“Stop saying such things when it’s so bright out.”

Yet he was the one who had been caressing her leg in the room just moments ago when it was equally bright.

But it wasn’t the first or second time Idren had suddenly acted prim and proper, so Ophelia didn’t press further. Instead, she added her honest thought:

“I think it would be nice if you were waiting, all prettied up.”

“…I’ll keep that in mind.”

“No, you don’t need to go that far.”

There was something Idren had once said to her. Ophelia returned those exact words to him:

“I’ll be happy to receive whatever you give me.”

Rahelica clutched tightly at the robe she had pulled on. The fabric, which she had never worn in her life, felt rough.

Shrinking her body slightly to avoid drawing attention, she quickly climbed the stairs of the inn. The wooden stairs, which she had only recently stepped on for the first time, creaked. It was a sound she had heard a few times but still wasn’t used to.

Finally arriving in front of the intended room, Rahelica checked the room number written on the door. Just to be sure, she read it once more, then knocked on the door of the room she had correctly found.

After waiting for a while, the door suddenly opened with a thud.

Bloodshot red eyes met hers directly. Rahelica called out the name of her sister, whose face was swollen from how much she had cried.

“Talia.”