The knight hesitated but eventually had no choice but to pull a chair near and sit as Bianca wished.

The burning stove and softly flickering flame.

And the appearance of the knight sitting comfortably.

Now, she was finally ready to read.

With an invigorated spirit, Bianca selected a book and began to read.

How much time had passed?

Bianca sighed softly.

Contrary to the smooth start, Bianca could not avoid the classics.

From Barlock’s genealogy to a book detailing the history of the northern territories, she thought she had brought everything, but no matter how much she searched, she couldn’t find what Bianca was looking for.

“The Barlock who has completed his penance shall be freed by Termina.”

The northern “prophecy” that Juli had told her, who had always been curious about Barlock’s blind submission, was enough to stir Bianca’s curiosity.

She came to the library hoping to find clues to the prophecy, but it was not as easy as she thought.

She had brought it all together just in case, but there was no story related to the prophecy anywhere.

“Where could it be?”

Bianca leaned on the desk as if she was leaning on it in a feeling of despair.

Before she knew it, time had flown by, and the sun had been up for quite some time.

The warmth of the sun penetrating through the thick glass windows made her feel quite weary.

The sleepiness she had put off was now inevitably closing in.

She was aware that she was falling asleep, but since she felt so good, Bianca did not fend off the onslaught of slumber.

Even her own breathing seemed to resonate sweetly in that moment.

Her senses drifted away, and tinnitus rang.

“Stubborn, you could have asked me instead of searching through the books.”

“You should praise me for trying not to be childish.”

“What’s wrong with being a little childish?”

“It’s not irresponsible to say that if you won’t accommodate me for a lifetime.”

“What’s the big deal? It’s only a hundred years at most.”

“My goodness, that’s very irresponsible.”

“Irresponsible? You, who know my sincerity better than anyone else, want me to promise? That I’ll always tell you so you don’t have to look in the library for the rest of your life?”

“Stop it.”

Her voice, once filled with anticipation, had become remarkably sullen.

The disappointment was profound.

“If you don’t trust me, you have to promise, don’t you? That I will always tell you, so you don’t have to look in the library for the rest of your life.”

Unable to contain her anger at the light, playful voice, she snapped.

“Stop it!”

“Stop it!”

Bianca’s eyes flew open at her own exclamation.

“Madam!”

Wasn’t it a dream?

“You’re awake… What’s the matter?”

Even to the point of crying.

Bianca had the responsibility of calming the startled knight.

“I had a nightmare while dozing off.”

“Ah…”

The knight nodded, and she thought the morning’s commotion had thus ended.

As she went back to reading, and was pushing the finished books aside,

“Are you tired?”

It was a voice that shouldn’t be heard here.

“Gillian? When,”

“It’s been a little while.”

It was difficult to speak to her as she was so focused.

With a soft laugh, Yurik reached out and gently grabbed her stiffened neck.

As his hand gradually settled over her tense muscles, a pleasant pressure was felt.

“Ah…”

She didn’t want to moan, but the mere touch of his thumb massaging her tense neck made her shiver from head to toe.

“Does it hurt?”

“Uh, no, that’s not it.”

It was tingling, but not painful.

The sensation was pointed and almost unbearable, making her shoulders involuntarily tighten.

“Then, endure it. It’s tough if you keep it for long.”

Gillian pushed down hard on her raised shoulders with his other hand while pressing down on her neck.

Biting her teeth and barely enduring the thrilling sensation, it was then.

“What were you curious about?”

He suddenly threw the question.

Gasp.

She was so startled that she swallowed a gasp.

“Were you curious about Barlock?”

No.

“Did you want to know about the Northern Territory?”

No.

“I don’t know anything better than you. So tell me, what would you like to know?”

At the end of his sentence, his thumb accidentally brushed over her throbbing pulse.

Fearing he might detect her fluttering heart, Bianca opened her mouth impulsively.

“Just, just curious. About everything.”

“What everything?”

Slowly rolling his golden eyes, Gillian’s expression as he checked the books that Bianca had stacked was as beautiful as something sacred.

Bathed in sunlight, he didn’t feel the slightest bit of the dampness characteristic of a sinner.

‘Barlock who has completed his penance.’

A sinner?

Nonsense.

If the honor of Barlock, who had been with the founder of Termina, existed without ‘sin,’ then he might understand the meaning of the Northern prophecy. If Termina’s insolence prevented her from asking, could he accept it?

Bianca swallowed the question that rose to her throat and opened her mouth.

“I’ll… try it myself.”

“Better than any book, I can tell you more precisely.”

“I will do it myself.”

“You seem stubborn.”

“…Yes?”

As if revisiting a dream, Bianca whispered in the echoing conversation, her eyes wide.

“How about thinking that I’m trying not to act like a child?”

It was not her will.

Her body, having lost control, seemed to be manipulated by someone and spoke on its own.

The golden eyes she met seemed to melt like butter in midsummer and glow sweetly like honey.

“What’s wrong with acting like a child?”

The one who replied was smiling softly.

But why did the brightly smiling Gillian seem like he was crying?

That time.

“My lord Izar. Everyone has safely infiltrated.”

At Salvar’s whisper, Izar also smiled faintly.

Everything was going smoothly.