“Stop it.”

A voice like a beam of light was heard through the murmuring crowd. Oscar turned his head with a pleased expression.

Frederick appeared between the people who silently parted on both sides.

“How shameful to quarrel among brothers in the presence of honored guests from foreign countries.”

He sternly rebuked Oscar and Demian simultaneously with a solemn voice.

Demian’s brow twitched as he was branded with the stigma of quarreling with his brother, despite being the one who had unilaterally suffered harm.

Frederick, pretending to maintain a shamelessly neutral stance, asked Demian:

“So, Lord Vandermir, are you alright? Are you injured anywhere?”

“…No.”

“That’s fortunate. Although there was an unfortunate incident, since there were no casualties, let’s wrap this up at an appropriate level.”

At those words, Arasila and Lucas simultaneously showed expressions of protest.

If it weren’t for Arasila’s magic, Demian would have been seriously injured. It made no sense to just let this incident go because he ended up unharmed.

“But…!”

“Of course, I don’t intend to leave Lord Vandermir without any compensation. After all, an accident occurred at an imperial-hosted event.”

Frederick, who blocked Arasila’s attempt to protest with a raised hand, smiled gently.

“The winner of today’s competition was to be given a special gift of an invitation to the banquet. Originally, only the young lord Vandermir would have received it, but let’s invite Lord Vandermir to the banquet as well.”

“…”

“The Vandermir family is a noble house representing our Setron Empire. Wouldn’t it be better than causing unnecessary disturbance within the family? Otherwise, it might damage the reputation of the Vandermir family and the Red Hawk Knights.”

The last words were a threat whispered low enough for only Demian to hear. If he didn’t comply here, his knight order would suffer.

Demian reluctantly nodded.

“I understand.”

“Good, I’m glad we could come to an agreement.”

Frederick, praising Demian as if dealing with an obedient child, turned his body and stared at Lucas.

Lucas was mixed in with the people who had been taking Demian’s side, slightly frowning.

He was displeased with Frederick’s one-sided resolution of the situation, but he was enduring it, unable to confront the crown prince.

“Elder brother, instead of standing there like that, why don’t you join me in lightening the mood and organizing the place? Isn’t that the duty of the imperial family?”

Startled by the words tinged with subtle mockery, Lucas reluctantly complied.

As the crown prince and prince left, people slowly dispersed. Arasila also turned away with Demian, wearing a rather displeased expression.

And so, the equestrian competition ended.

With only the official first place winner Oscar and the accident victim Demian being given invitations to the banquet.

As soon as they returned to the imperial palace after the schedule ended, Arasila was summoned by her mother. Demian also said he had some business to attend to, so the couple separated for a moment.

When she knocked on the door after finding her parents’ room, the duchess soon came out with a worried face.

“Here, I brought this ointment just in case. Go check if Demian is really alright and use it.”

The duchess placed an ointment jar in her daughter’s hand. Arasila recognized it at a glance as a medicine frequently used within the ducal family.

She responded, trying to ease her mother’s concern.

“It’s fine, Mom. He says he wasn’t hurt at all thanks to the excellent magical skills of me, the future Archmage.”

“Oh my, who doesn’t know your skills? But Demian seems like the type to suffer alone without showing it even if he’s hurt, so you should keep a close eye on him, Arasila.”

Arasila was surprised by her mother’s insight and looked at her with wide eyes, as if to say ‘How did Mom know that…?’

The duchess then spoke with a faint smile.

“You’re like that too, Arasila. And since you and Demian seem to have a lot in common, I thought even that personality might be similar.”

“…Was I like that?”

“Yes. I never raised you that way, but somehow from when you were young, you always insisted on doing everything by yourself.”

At her mother’s deep sigh, Arasila said with an embarrassed face.

“Think of it as having a strong sense of independence.”

“Yes, my daughter with strong independence should now go back and take care of her own household.”

The duchess lightly slapped her daughter’s shoulder, not painfully, while smiling. Arasila scratched the back of her head before returning to her room with the ointment.

Demian had not returned yet, as the room was empty.

“My lady, shall I prepare your bath? I just heated some water.”

“Yes, please.”

Arasila answered Audrey after placing the ointment on the bedside table.

It seemed better to bathe before Demian came back. That way, he could use the bathroom comfortably too.

As she changed into a robe with Audrey’s help and prepared for the bath, she noticed Audrey looking around.

“Why, are you looking for something?”

“I don’t see the bath fragrance. If you go in first, I’ll bring it right away.”

“Alright.”

Arasila walked to the bathroom without thinking much of it. She didn’t feel anything strange until she turned the doorknob and opened the door.

But in the bathroom she thought was empty, there was an early guest.

Arasila froze on the spot as her gaze met with the person sitting in the large rectangular bathtub.

Silver hair dampened with moisture, broad shoulders and a body tightly woven with firm muscles, wide-open golden eyes.

It was Demian.

The two people, unexpectedly encountering each other, stared blankly at one another in surprise.

‘Why are you there…?’

‘Why did you appear there, my lady…?’

Of the two who had been in a daze for a while, Arasila was the first to move.

“My lady, I brought the fragrance!”

As Audrey’s voice approached with footsteps, she hurriedly entered the bathroom, closed the door, and shouted.

“Audrey, come back later!”

“Huh? Why…?”

“I want to soak in the warm water for a moment. Can you… um, organize the dressing room instead?”

“Ah, I understand. Call me if you need anything!”

Fortunately, Audrey left like that, but the next problem was what to do.

Arasila, who had suddenly found herself trapped in the bathroom with Demian, cleared her throat when their eyes met again.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were bathing and interrupted.”

“It’s fine. I’m done washing, so let’s go out. I’ll have them draw fresh water.”

“Then, I’ll go out first. If Audrey sees, she might think strangely.”

It was at that moment that a playful smile appeared on Demian’s lips.

“Couldn’t you just say you called me to assist with your bath?”

He tilted his head languidly as he threw out the somewhat provocative words. A droplet of water rolled down his sharp jawline, causing a gentle ripple on the water’s surface.

Arasila, who had been staring at Demian while blinking slowly, moved her red lips.

“Then shouldn’t you at least wash my feet?”

Demian, who momentarily had a blank expression, soon burst into laughter while covering his mouth. He thought he had finally gotten one over on his wife this time.

Having been nicely countered, he reached for the chair behind him. Picking up a white robe and towel, he asked Arasila, who was still staring blankly at him.

“Are you going to keep looking? I’m about to get up now.”

“Ah.”

Arasila hurriedly turned around. The sound of splashing water and Demian’s feet touching the bottom of the tub was clearly heard.

Though she pretended to be confident, somehow her ears were burning as she looked straight ahead.

Demian, who had roughly dried himself with the towel and put on the robe, spoke to her stiff back.

“Come here, my lady.”

Arasila, who turned around hesitantly, first moved her steps as he wanted. Demian sat her down on the chair and brought a basin filled with water from nearby.

Placing the basin at her feet and kneeling on one knee, Arasila was flustered at the sight of her husband. It looked like he was really going to wash her feet.

“No… are you really going to do it?”

“You were the one who brought it up first, my lady.”

“I was joking.”

“Oh my, I was serious.”

Demian grinned as he held her slender ankle. Arasila ended up putting her foot in the basin as he led her.

The water temperature was pleasantly warm. It felt really strange to sit quietly on the chair and look down at him while entrusting her feet to Demian.

A glimpse of his sculpted chest muscles could be seen through the loosely tied robe. Feeling somehow embarrassed, Arasila quietly raised her head and looked elsewhere.

Then, unable to bear the bathroom atmosphere with only the sound of water, she opened her mouth.

“By the way, your business ended earlier than expected.”

“Prince Lucas’s attendant just came to briefly check if I was really alright.”

“Ah, I see.”

The conversation ended there. Arasila rolled her eyes around, pondering another topic of conversation, and glanced down slightly.

Demian was carefully handling her small white feet with his large, calloused hands. His long, straight fingers gently rubbed between her toes and pressed firmly as if massaging.

An indescribable ticklishness spread throughout Arasila’s body.

When she involuntarily twitched her foot, Demian gently wrapped around her thin ankle and held it still so it wouldn’t move.

Watching him casually apply soap to every nook and cranny of her foot, Arasila suddenly asked.

“Isn’t it dirty?”

Touching someone else’s feet is not an easy thing. Especially for nobles like them who were used to being revered, it would be even more so.

But Demian was washing Arasila’s feet so naturally and unhesitatingly.

Arasila found it curious, but also felt strange in a way. Doesn’t it mean he considers her close enough to touch her bare feet?

If so, is it as a couple, or as friends?

“We’re married, so what does it matter?”

Demian calmly chose the former. But Arasila’s heart didn’t particularly ease. They were married, but not a real couple.

Noticing the strange atmosphere felt in the silence, Demian added.

“You postponed the divorce, so you can’t complain to me.”

It meant to accept their current act as a married couple quietly since it was due to Arasila delaying the divorce.

But why did his hands slow down as if being cautious? Arasila, who laughed softly, leaned forward slightly and asked an impulsive question.

“Demian, how do you think of me?”

It was something she had never properly confirmed before. Wanting to know yet not wanting to know what she meant to him.

Her lavender hair that had fallen forward lightly tickled Demian’s cheek. Demian raised his head, met her gaze, and answered.

“I think you’re willful, confident, unpredictable, but intelligent and have good intentions.”

“…Is that a compliment or an insult? It sounds like three insults and two compliments.”

As Arasila narrowed her eyes as if dissatisfied, Demian chuckled.

Pouring water over her snow-white instep to rinse off the soap, he spoke slowly.

“I won’t meet anyone like you again in my life. Even if I meet someone similar, that person won’t be you.”

“…”

“Even after we part, the time I spent with you will remain as good memories.”

His voice, resonating softly in the bathroom, was low and pleasant to hear. It was kinder than usual, but also slightly subdued somewhere.

Arasila straightened her back with a subtle expression. His words were about half as joyful and satisfying as she had hoped.

She confirmed that she was a one-of-a-kind existence to Demian.

But the other half was sorrowful. One way or another, all of Demian’s words were premised on parting.

It was amusing to feel a newfound disappointment at that obvious fact, but it couldn’t be helped. Human hearts don’t work as one thinks they should.

“…I’m finished. I’ll leave now so you can bathe.”

Demian, who had taken her two feet out of the basin after washing them clean and placed them on the floor, stood up. Arasila did not stop him as he left the bathroom.

A moment later, Audrey, who kept turning her head back as she entered, carefully asked with her eyes wide open.

“My lady, I saw the master coming out of the bathroom… Did you two bathe together by any chance?”

Arasila slowly shook her head and gave the answer she had agreed upon with Demian beforehand.

“No, Demian just helped wash my feet. Don’t misunderstand.”

“…Pardon?”

Audrey’s voice jumped at the end. She gaped at the answer, which was as shocking as if they had bathed together.

But Arasila didn’t notice this and fiddled with her ankle, which still seemed to bear Demian’s touch.

Her mind was very complicated as contradictory feelings overlapped.