“You must be tired, go and rest quickly, Demian.”

“……Will it be alright without me?”

“What are you worried about? Now Audrey is here.”

Even if it was in Poshan village, Arasila had no worries now that a dedicated maid would be by her side to support her.

In the end, Demian bowed his head and retreated.

After hesitating for a long time, he took heavy steps, looking back at Arasila several times.

Arasila let out a small laugh as she saw Demian’s pitiful eyes through the slowly closing door gap, like a puppy parting from its owner.

She thought he had a subtly cute side to him.

Afterwards, Arasila slept comfortably in a soft bed while being attended to by Audrey after a long time.

It was the next morning when a renowned magician for potion making from the magic tower was dispatched.

He made a lot of high-performance recovery potions and said that if taken for two weeks, the broken bones would completely heal.

“For the next two weeks, don’t overexert yourself and stay in bed without moving, my lady. Do you understand?”

After the magician left, Audrey put her hands on her hips and spoke sternly.

Arasila had no particular desire to be stubborn, so she nodded.

However, the problem was that she got bored after just half a day of living in bed.

It wasn’t just resting, but not being able to use her right arm and leg, so what she could do on her own was extremely limited.

Even reading books was difficult, so Audrey turned the pages for her, but it was uncomfortable and the letters didn’t enter her eyes well.

Life became frustrating and boring in an instant. With nothing to do, the day was too long.

After taking a nap and waking up, Demian, who had left work earlier than usual, came to see Arasila.

“My lady, have you been well?”

“No, I thought I was going to die of boredom.”

Arasila answered with a lifeless face as she greeted Demian.

It was evident from her expression that she was sincere, so Demian laughed briefly.

He pulled up a chair and sat down next to the bed. Arasila sighed and complained.

“I wonder what I should do to pass the time tomorrow……”

“Don’t worry. From tomorrow, I’ll be by your side.”

“You? But don’t you have to go to work? How……”

“I took time off at the commander’s discretion.”

Demian slightly pulled up the corners of his mouth.

There was no one higher in rank than Demian in the Red Hawk Knights. It meant that no one could stop him when he wanted to rest.

Especially in a situation like now when his wife got hurt trying to save him.

He had no worries as he had entrusted the knight’s work to Isaac and the investigation of the assassination case to Colin.

As for paperwork, he could do it sufficiently at home while taking care of Arasila.

“Even so, is it okay to just take time off like that?”

“What could be wrong with it if it’s for you, my lady? Moreover, isn’t this because of me?”

Unable to shake off the guilt that Arasila was hurt because of him, he found it difficult to turn away and leave her when she was inconvenienced.

Since he couldn’t treat her wounds directly, he wanted to help her as much as possible by her side.

Demian’s eyes sank darkly as he stared at Arasila’s wounds.

As he had been giving such glances often since Poshan village, Arasila furrowed her brow.

“What are you saying, I wasn’t hurt because of you? I was hurt because of Ken. And it’s not that severe of an injury. If I just rest while taking medicine, I’ll be healthy again soon as if I was never hurt.”

Arasila patted her shoulder vigorously.

Demian’s expression darkened further as he looked at her, who seemed to have only a thin frame and small build.

To think that someone with such a delicate body would try to save him…

Arasila, vaguely sensing what he was thinking, narrowed her brow and racked her brain.

If she left Demian like this, he seemed likely to brood gloomily with guilt until her injury healed completely.

‘Oh, I don’t like that even if it’s uncomfortable for me.’

As she was pondering how to relieve his guilt, a brilliant thought flashed through Arasila’s mind.

She looked at Demian with sparkling eyes and asked.

“Demian, do you feel that sorry towards me?”

“Yes, I’m very sorry.”

“Then please attend to me from tomorrow.”

Arasila smiled mischievously.

If he was going to stick around anyway, it was better to give him something to do.

That way, his guilt would disappear faster with the feeling of having done something.

“Alright. I’ll do that.”

Demian answered without a moment’s hesitation. Arasila, who had inwardly expected him to hesitate a little, was slightly taken aback.

She didn’t expect him to agree so readily. She deliberately lowered her voice as if to scare him.

“Really? I’m going to really work you hard, is it okay to decide without thinking?”

“It’s fine. Use me freely as you wish, like a servant.”

However, Demian only became even more willing.

Arasila squinted her eyes and examined him with a dumbfounded feeling.

This man, does he think I’m just saying this and will go easy on him?

Of course, Arasila didn’t truly resent or hate him, so she didn’t intend to be too harsh.

However, seeing Demian’s docile attitude, it was true that she felt a bit mischievous.

“Alright. Come to start your job as my servant tomorrow morning.”

Arasila’s lips curled up playfully. Demian nodded willingly.

Demian really came to see her early the next morning.

Moreover, he was dressed in a light shirt and vest as if he was really going to be a servant.

Audrey was flustered seeing him do her job instead. But Arasila calmly ordered Demian around.

“Bring that vase over there. I want to smell the fresh flower scent.”

“Yes.”

Demian took large strides to bring the vase from the table and held it out to Arasila.

Arasila slightly lowered her head to smell it, then smiled with satisfaction and said.

“Put it back in its place. And on your way back, can you bring a cushion from the sofa?”

“Understood.”

Demian listened to Arasila’s words without showing any signs of annoyance.

Audrey watched the confusing scene of the master attending to the lady, not knowing what to do.

Somehow, she felt like she had become an unemployed person who was fired overnight.

Even when lunchtime came, Demian showed no signs of leaving and stayed by Arasila’s side.

Audrey brought a tray with the meal and sat down next to Arasila as always to feed her.

“My lady, I’ll put the napkin on. I’ll start with the soup first……”

“No, I’ll do it.”

Then Demian took the spoon from Audrey’s hand.

The eyes of both women widened, not expecting that he would even offer to help with the meal.

Arasila stared at Demian as he rolled up his sleeves.

“Are you really going to do it?”

“Yes, didn’t you say you would use me like a servant? Then you should use me.”

That was also true, so Arasila gave Audrey a look to step back.

Audrey, who had suddenly lost her job again, stood up in a daze.

Demian, who took her place instead, held the utensils seriously.

“What would you like to eat first?”

“The meat, of course.”

Demian cut the meat into bite-sized pieces and picked it up with a fork. After draining the excess juice appropriately, he brought it to Arasila’s mouth.

Arasila, who was waiting with her mouth open, chewed the meat.

“Mm, it’s delicious.”

“Is it delicious?”

“Yes, I’d like to have the soup next.”

Demian quickly scooped up some soup and presented the spoon with his hand cupped underneath.

As he fed her like this, he somehow felt like he had become a mother bird.

And Arasila was like a baby bird, eating well everything that was given.

His gaze turned to her cheeks, which were puffed up with food.

He couldn’t help but think it was cute how her usually slim cheeks had become round.

‘It’s nice to see her eating well.’

The corners of Demian’s mouth unknowingly curved up into a smile.

He diligently moved his hand to put food into Arasila’s mouth.

Thanks to this, Arasila, who finished her meal feeling full, leaned back against the pillow and said.

“Demian, can you bring me the book on that table over there?”

“Yes, please wait.”

After handing the cleanly emptied tray to Audrey, Demian brought the book.

The title of the book, which had a gorgeous pattern drawn on it and a pink cover, was .

As it had a completely different feel from the magic books Arasila usually read, he held the book awkwardly while asking curiously.

“Shall I turn the pages one by one for you?”

“No, read it to me.”

“……Pardon?”

Demian paused at the unexpected request. Arasila smiled mischievously.

“Since it’s hard for me to read directly, Demian, please read it to me. Is that not okay?”

“No, it’s fine.”

Demian answered with a serious face.

He had come to the bedroom this morning determined to grant everything Arasila wanted. He couldn’t lose his initial resolve when not even a day had passed.

He calmly opened the book.

He turned to the page where the bookmark was inserted, as if it had been read partially before.

Soon, his deep voice slowly read the words on the paper.

“Grand Duke Perseron knelt at Cassie’s feet and pleaded. ‘Cassie, don’t abandon me like this, who has become a prisoner of love for you……”

Demian’s lips gradually stopped moving at the description and dialogue that made him doubt his eyes.

Arasila, holding back the laughter that was about to burst out, said.

“Why did you stop reading?”

“……Is this really the book you were reading, my lady?”

“Of course it is. Keep reading.”

In truth, this novel was indeed the book Arasila had been reading. She sometimes read popular novels when she was bored.

The provocative and stimulating developments and themes were not bad for killing time.

This time, as she was unable to move from bed for two weeks, she had asked Audrey in advance to prepare a large quantity of new works.

“Read quickly, Demian.”

“……”

Demian couldn’t believe that he had to recite these embarrassing lines with his own mouth, but Arasila was firm.

He finally couldn’t break Arasila’s will and continued reading the novel.

“‘Don’t abandon me like this. I can’t live without you.’ Then Cassie replied coldly. ‘Our relationship is already over. You’re a cold-hearted person who doesn’t even know what love is, Grand Duke.’ Grand Duke Perseron shook his head with a distorted face. ‘I was like that before I met you. But not anymore. Because I learned the emotion of love through you……”

Demian’s words slowed down again.

It wasn’t because he was embarrassed to read.

At some point, he had become engrossed in the novel and his mouth naturally slowed down as his eyes followed the next content.

Arasila, who had been listening to the novel recited in Demian’s pleasant voice while hugging a cushion, turned her head curiously when the content suddenly cut off.

Then she saw Demian reading the book with a serious face.

With his brows deeply furrowed, he seemed to be properly immersed.

‘What’s this? When did he get over his shock and start concentrating?’

It was funny, and a bit cute, to see someone who didn’t look like it so absorbed in a popular novel.

It felt like discovering an unexpected side of him.

Arasila deliberately didn’t disturb him and quietly watched.

Demian, who had been seriously reading the novel while turning the pages, finally came to his senses after a long time and raised his head.

When their eyes met, Arasila smiled brightly.

“Did you finish reading? It’s interesting, right?”

“……I’m sorry, I’ll read it to you again.”

Demian turned the pages back to where he was reading earlier with an embarrassed face.

Arasila, who had glanced at the clock, waved her hand.

“It’s okay. It’s almost time for the family to come.”