“Sally, Rudy. You two look so cute today, all dressed up.”

Arasila, who was used to seeing her juniors in uniform, teased them with admiration at their rather proper attire.

“Thank you for the compliment, senior.”

“Haha, it’s nothing.”

Unlike Rudy, who reacted calmly, Sally seemed a bit embarrassed.

The delicate light yellow chiffon dress with ribbons she wore was a gift from Arasila.

It suited Sally, with her greenish hair and eyes, extremely well.

“Why, it’s pretty. Don’t you think so?”

“The lady is right. You look lovely, Miss Sally.”

“You look beautiful!”

When Arasila sought agreement, Isaac and Logan chimed in. Sally’s cheeks flushed a bright red.

Glancing at Sally, Rudy muttered, “You can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear…” before having his foot stomped on and letting out a groan.

Arasila, who had taken a seat next to Demian, asked curiously.

“By the way, what were you all talking about? From afar, it looked like Sally and Lord Harford were chattering non-stop.”

“Oh, we were talking about you, senior.”

Sally answered, trying to cool her flushed cheeks with a hand fan. Arasila tilted her head slightly.

“About me?”

“Yes, Sally and Lord Harford were praising you tremendously.”

Rudy, who couldn’t possibly join in on that fervent conversation and could only watch from the side, said.

At this, Logan, sitting across from Sally, became flustered.

When Arasila casually looked at him, Logan squeezed his eyes shut and exclaimed.

“Your performance during the monster subjugation was truly impressive!”

“Oh, really?”

“Yes, I was completely smitten by you, my lady!”

Arasila, who had taken charge of both attack and defense while leading people, was truly gallant and splendid.

Indeed, couples do resemble each other, as her style in battle was similar to Demian’s, whom Logan looked up to as a role model.

When he said he was ‘smitten’, it didn’t mean he had romantic feelings for Arasila, but rather that he was deeply impressed by her skills.

Logan looked at Arasila with sparkling eyes full of admiration.

Since his intentions were clear just from his expression, no one had any strange misunderstandings.

“Honestly, I felt similarly. You were truly amazing enough to captivate everyone.”

Isaac smiled, supporting Logan’s words.

The knights who had closely witnessed Arasila throwing herself in to save Demian came to hold her in high regard.

After all, bravely stepping forward to protect someone embodied the chivalrous spirit they held in highest esteem.

“To think you’ve only now realized how amazing I am. You’ve been missing out on half your life.”

“Hahaha!”

“Ahaha!”

Everyone burst into laughter at Arasila’s cheeky retort.

If there was anyone whose expression wasn’t good amidst all this, it was Demian. His face had subtly hardened.

Although he knew the intent behind his subordinate saying he was smitten, hearing another man say such things to Arasila right in front of him made petty emotions well up.

But as the leader of the Red Hawk Knights, he should show magnanimity…

“Yes, you were truly splendid. It’s an honor to have realized it even now.”

“It’s not just us who think this way. Among our other comrades in the knights, your popularity is soaring—”

“Isaac, Logan.”

In the end, Demian couldn’t hold back and called the two in a heavy voice.

While Isaac instinctively sensed danger and straightened his posture, Logan looked at Demian with a puzzled face.

“Yes, Captain.”

“Both of you, go run 10 laps around the garden and come back.”

“…Pardon?”

Both were dumbfounded when punishment suddenly fell at a party, not even on the training grounds.

Logan tried to smooth over the situation with an awkward laugh.

“Haha, you’re joking, right?”

“Does it look like I’m joking?”

Demian coldly retorted. The smile vanished from Logan’s face.

“No, sir!”

“We’ll be right back!”

Logan and Isaac answered at the top of their lungs and simultaneously bolted from the table.

The three mages left behind blinked their eyes with bewildered expressions.

Arasila asked Demian with a baffled look.

“Demian, why did you suddenly do that?”

“I thought their words might become disrespectful to you, so I restrained them.”

“I didn’t feel that way at all. Why pick on poor Lord Wind and Lord Harford?”

At those words, Demian hesitated and looked at Arasila with somewhat hurt eyes.

It seemed impossible, but he looked like he might pout at any moment.

“…Does it not bother you at all when other men say they’re smitten with you?”

“No, because they didn’t say those things to me with romantic feelings.”

Arasila knew precisely the difference between when someone liked her romantically and confessed, versus when they purely respected her abilities and expressed it.

She had experienced both multiple times.

She felt no hint of personal interest in Logan and Isaac’s earlier comments. She narrowed her eyes and stared at Demian.

“You didn’t misunderstand your subordinates’ words in a strange way, did you?”

“…No, I didn’t.”

“Then why did you do that?”

“Just… I didn’t want to leave any room for possibility.”

Demian answered somewhat sulkily.

His sharp side profile with slightly downcast eyes looked prim. Like a cat sulking at its owner.

Finding that cute, the corners of Arasila’s mouth twitched. Ahem, she cleared her throat loudly and spoke.

“What are you worried about? Even if it had been real romantic feelings, I wouldn’t have reciprocated anyway.”

“Yes, I know. I just…”

Was jealous. Demian barely swallowed the words that had risen to the tip of his tongue.

Jealousy was not an allowed emotion between a contract couple, so he couldn’t reveal it.

His lips quivered before he finally continued speaking.

“I don’t want to create any space for others to come between us. Even if they are my subordinates.”

This was the most Demian could express.

Along with those words, a large hand gently grasped hers under the table, causing Arasila to flinch.

An inexplicable, warm feeling welled up from deep inside her chest. Her palms and soles felt tingly of their own accord.

As a strange atmosphere flowed between the two, Rudy and Sally sat quietly, reading the mood.

A moment later, Logan and Isaac returned from running in the garden, panting heavily as they approached.

“Ca-Captain. We’re back.”

“We finished!”

“Good work. Sit down and rest.”

When Demian gestured with his chin, Logan and Isaac collapsed into their chairs, almost falling over. Sweat poured down like rain.

Seeing their pitiful state, Sally felt sorry for them and took out her handkerchief.

“Here, use this to wipe your sweat at least.”

“Ah, than—”

“Use mine too.”

Just as Isaac reached out his hand, Rudy also offered his handkerchief. Caught off guard, Isaac received his handkerchief, while Logan took Sally’s.

“Thank you. I’ll wash and return it later.”

“It’s alright, just use it comfortably and give it back.”

“No, I insist on washing it clean before returning it.”

Logan bowed his head slightly and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

Demian and Arasila prepared to get up. It was time to move on to another table.

“We’re going now. Get along well and don’t fight. Isaac, Logan.”

“Yes, Captain.”

“We’ve already become friends.”

Logan flashed a confident smile, giving a thumbs up.

The party ended peacefully.

After seeing off all the guests, Arasila stretched her arms out wide.

The garden that had been bustling with people now felt a bit empty.

Still, thinking of the mages and knights mingling together made Arasila’s lips curl up slightly with satisfaction.

“My lady, shall we go in and rest now?”

Demian, who had approached behind Arasila, said. Arasila turned to him with a bright smile.

“You worked hard today, Demian.”

“Not at all.”

Demian held out his arm as if to escort her. Arasila placed her hand on it, now quite accustomed and natural.

Just as the two were about to climb the stairs, chatting quietly,

“Madam, Master!”

The butler and head maid called out to them, running over with urgent expressions. Arasila and Demian looked down at them with surprised faces.

It was the first time they had seen those two in such a fuss.

“What’s the matter?”

“A-A guest has arrived.”

“A guest? Who?”

A guest suddenly arriving after the party had ended? The couple exchanged puzzled glances as they came down the stairs.

The butler and head maid were visibly flustered, even breaking out in cold sweat.

“Who came that you’re acting like this? Who are they here to see?”

“Well… it’s a guest here to see the master.”

The butler answered, somewhat cautiously. Demian furrowed his brow slightly.

“I don’t have any appointments to meet anyone today. Who came looking for me?”

“Ah, that is…”

The butler hesitated, unable to easily spit out the words. Growing impatient, Arasila gripped the head maid’s shoulder.

“What’s going on? Hurry up and tell us who came looking for Demian.”

“That…”

Just as she was guessing whether the Vandermir duchy had perhaps invaded,

The head maid squeezed her eyes shut and said,

“A woman claiming to be pregnant with the master’s child has come.”

The woman who entered, with her hand resting on her still flat belly, had large eyes and an extremely gentle impression.

With her common brown hair neatly falling down and wearing a tidy dress, she also gave off a quiet and modest aura.

Arasila watched as she awkwardly glanced around the luxurious and splendid interior of the reception room while entering.

Demian stood leaning against the window with his hands in his pockets.

With a woman suddenly appearing claiming to be pregnant with his child, he simply couldn’t sit still.

The woman reached the sofa and politely bowed her head to the two of them.

“Hello, my name is Claire.”

“Hello, Claire. Please sit there.”

Arasila gestured with her chin to the seat across from her. Claire carefully sat down on the sofa.

“So, you say you’re pregnant with Demian’s child?”

At the direct question coming without preamble, Claire hunched her shoulders and nodded.

“Yes, I am carrying Lord Vandermir’s child…”

“Don’t lie. I’m seeing you for the first time today.”

Demian said, almost growling. His golden eyes were gleaming fiercely.

He had carefully examined Claire from head to toe when she entered the reception room, but she was a complete stranger he had never seen before in his life.

How could someone he had never even passed by claim to be pregnant with his child?

To begin with, due to childhood trauma, he had lived rejecting physical contact with others.

He had maintained such a clean private life that he could be called the epitome of asceticism, yet suddenly there was talk of an illegitimate child.

The word he could never view positively because of his father was now associated with himself, causing Demian to lose his composure more easily than usual.

“Just whose bidding are you following to spout such filthy lies?”

“I, I…”

“Speak! Who sent you?”

As Demian raised his voice in agitation, Claire shrank her neck like a turtle.

Her large eyes shook violently, as if frightened.

But Demian, not noticing her state, continued to press her as he approached step by step.

“I said speak!”

“Demian, calm down…”

Just as Arasila was about to step in to mediate, unable to watch any longer,

“Hic, how could you…! I knew I was just a fling to you, but to pretend not to know me when I’m pregnant with your child!”

Claire, who had been fidgeting restlessly until then, suddenly cried out in a somewhat exaggerated and intense voice, bursting into tears.

She wept so sorrowfully that even Demian was momentarily lost for words.

He stared at the crying Claire with a dumbfounded expression before hurriedly turning his head towards Arasila.

It was to gauge her reaction.

Arasila was sighing while holding her forehead.

Piercing through Claire’s sobs filling the reception room, Demian spoke.

“My lady, I truly have never done anything improper. This woman is lying.”

“No! I really am pregnant with Lord Vandermir’s child! You can check for yourself if you’d like!”

Claire said, not backing down, as she wiped her tears with the back of her hand.

The man she had met by chance at a tavern revealed himself to be Demian Vandermir on the day they parted.

Claire, who had been attracted to his handsome looks and kind personality, realized from that confession that their relationship had been just a fling.

That’s why she tried to forget about it without any lingering attachment, but she found out about the pregnancy belatedly.

Tears welled up in Claire’s eyes again.

Dropping her head, she spoke in a small voice.

“I’m sorry. When we last met, you told me the game was over and we shouldn’t see each other again, but after finding out I was pregnant, it was too hard to bear this fact alone.”

Her appearance of sniffling without being able to properly look at Demian truly seemed pitiable to anyone who didn’t know the situation.

Demian, who suddenly appeared to be trash who had played with a woman, abandoned her, and even gotten her pregnant, felt his insides boiling with anger.

Amidst this headache-inducing situation, Arasila calmly called for the resident doctor working at the Vandermir mansion first.

It was to confirm whether Claire’s pregnancy was real.