“I can’t help it.”

I shrugged my shoulders, pretending to be fine, completely unaffected.

“Yeah, right.”

It was that playful tone again.

“Who would have thought the pay carriage would be smashed to pieces.”

Thanks to that, all of us had to squeeze our bodies as much as possible onto the two carriages. I was the one relatively better off.

Among the bulkier ones, there was Number 5 lying flat on the floor over there, claiming to be the thinnest.

“Ante-nim! If it’s uncomfortable, please sit on my lap!”

Number 1 energetically suggested.

“My lap, which is much plumper than that delicate nobleman’s lap, would be much better!”

I seriously considered it. Certainly, if I moved, I would be much more comfortable psychologically. I could take a nap, and if Number 1 tossed and turned a bit, I could even give him a proper lecture on posture.

So engrossed in my thoughts, I didn’t see Number 1’s face gradually turning pale. I did feel the arms around me gradually tightening, though.

Before the posture became entirely embracing, I hastily called Number 1.

“Alright then?”

“No!”

He had said it was okay earlier, but now Number 1 immediately reversed his statement. Not looking directly at me, he awkwardly averted his gaze.

“Upon second thought, sitting on my lap might be stiff and uncomfortable. Your lap, Ante-nim, is just perfect!”

As if doubting, I quickly turned to Kirian, but he was just smiling mischievously.

“If you sit on my lap, you might suffer a serious injury!”

Still vehemently protesting, Number 1 seemed to have forgotten I was there and kept avoiding eye contact, seemingly lost in his own thoughts.

“Enough, enough. If that’s the case, then sit here.”

Number 1 visibly sighed in relief.

“Th-thank you, Ante-nim! You’re my savior!”

I poked Kirian with my elbow several times, feeling sorry for Number 1. It didn’t really go in due to the hardness.

Kirian continued to smile as if he felt no pain. Instead, he whispered softly in my ear.

“Close your eyes a bit, sister. We still have a long way to go.”

But how could that be possible?

Soon after, everyone inside the carriage, including Number 5 lying on the floor, fell into a deep sleep. Only I didn’t.

“Aren’t you sleepy?”

Kiryian asked with a worried tone.

“I’m looking forward to it. Nothing is heavy at all.”

But I didn’t succumb to Kirian’s temptation. I maintained the same posture, keeping my back straight. Still, it bothered me.

The weight of the arms around me, the refreshing scent, and the fluttering of the shirt that barely covered me.

But how could I possibly sleep in this position?

“Or should I massage your shoulders?”

“No!”

I quickly grabbed his arm before Kirian’s arm slipped away.

“It’s okay! I really hate massages!”

A chuckling laughter resonated from Kirian’s throat.

Suddenly, I realized Kirian had been teasing me. Maybe he didn’t even know he had been teasing me all along.

Disgusting. Truly disgusting. Enough to want revenge.
“Yawn. I’m getting sleepy too. Can I lean back for a bit?”

I pushed my entire weight backward. Like a koala clinging to a tree, I also stretched out.

Even if it’s Kirian, it might be a little suffocating.

As expected, Kirian’s back, which had stiffened up, was felt.

I even rested my head on Kirian’s shoulder.

“Very comfortable, indeed.”

Kirian’s body tensed up even more.

I chuckled inwardly. Although the stiff sensation behind me was a bit uncomfortable, I made a conscious effort to brush off that feeling and focused on tormenting Kirian.

When I deliberately shifted my weight a few times, Kirian covered his face with one hand and dried his face with another.

He must be annoyed too. Although what I leaned on was not as slender as the other ladies that might fly away with the wind, I burdened him with my entire body weight.

“You should close your eyes too.”

Enjoying the victory, I tapped Kirian’s arm.

“Shall we then?”

Slowly, the weight settled on my shoulders. Kirian buried his face in my shoulder and whispered. With each syllable, Kirian’s lips lightly brushed against my neck.

“Sleep well, sister.”

I certainly couldn’t sleep well.

But to avoid losing to Kirian, I reluctantly closed my eyes and continued the act of sleeping. Thanks to that, I had plenty of time to think.

Today’s accident was undoubtedly full of doubts.

It was suspicious enough that the pay carriage’s coach attacked the three carriages carrying our party, but until recently, I had thought he was just a simple thief.

A group of thieves hiding somewhere.

However, without any warning, the coachmen were set on fire in an instant, and the flames were so powerful that they even engulfed the carriages.

Marquis Hujan.

Other than her, there was no way to explain this incident.

Anxiety sprouted deep in my belly.

The spells I had taught Marlen suddenly came to mind. Just by lightly grasping, she could turn a table into dust and unleash powerful flames from her fingertips.

She had undoubtedly become stronger. It was unknown what kind of spells she had learned so far. All because of me.