“If you haven’t decided, I’ll watch your training progress and decide for you. Don’t worry, you have exceptional basic talent, so you’ll soon show achievement.”

“Why should I stand by a hero’s side? I’ll just set the foundation and bounce.”

“So you were planning to sit on your hands with that talent?”

“It’s fortunate that I have talent, but I don’t necessarily need to work hard!”

Anyway, Darius will go on the Demon King subjugation with the female lead Evangeline!

“With that attitude towards your talent, no wonder your skills haven’t improved!”

“Bleh, how long has it been since you gave me a sylph to talk about ‘until now’!”

“What a waste of great talent!”

Here we go, the ‘my child is smart but doesn’t study’ spiel!

“It’s mine now, so I’ll waste it if I want!”

“You have the foundation, so even a little training will give you two or three times the achievement of others! On top of that, the Spirit King is offering to be your teacher!”

“I never wanted a Spirit King teacher!”

Don’t be ridiculous, I can hear my divorce plans getting further away as I become tremendously strong!

“Stop talking nonsense and train!”

“I don’t want to, you said you’d help. Just help me!”

“Next time you’re in danger, I won’t help!”

Huff, huff, huff.

I was panting from all the shouting. The same went for Sylphid.

Tch, acting like a person when you’re not even human!

“T-train.”

“N-no way.”

Knock knock.

“Anette?”

“Just a momeeeent!”

Shh! Just as we were about to enter round two, a knock was heard from outside.

I signaled a truce to Sylphid, raising my finger.

‘We’ll talk later, later!’

“Come in!”

The one who entered was Darius.

As soon as he came in, Darius looked around my room once, as if something was strange.

“Did something happen?”

“Ho, hohoho. W-why do you ask?”

“I kept hearing voices from outside.”

“Oh my, v-voices? W-w-what kind of voices? Hahaha.”

This is bad.

Spirits are basically invisible to people who aren’t spirit users.

Which means only my voice was heard from outside, and now I’ll soon be rumored as a crazy person talking to walls in the castle…

Just as I was imagining the ending where I’d be driven out from the position of lord’s wife, wandering the north until I die,

“You truly are a descendant of Inkhart. You’re the spitting image of your ancestor.”

Sylphid spoke, overcome with emotion.

‘He can’t hear you, you know?’

As I was glaring at him, trying to signal,

“Step back, Anette!”

A burst of killing intent suddenly exploded from Darius as he pushed me behind his back and drew his sword.

Zing. The sword’s edge was fierce.

‘Huh? Uh? Huh? What’s this?’

“Who are you? How did you suddenly appear, evading my eyes?”

“Darius, did you have spirit affinity?”

Is that why he can see Sylphid, who’s usually invisible to ordinary people?

“That striking black hair, black eyes. And that unyielding spirit that doesn’t back down in emergencies, though usually not apparent. I thought so when I first learned of it, but you really resemble Inkhart’s characteristics.”

“If you continue to not answer, there’s no need for further questions. You dared to enter a lady’s private room without permission, so you shouldn’t feel wronged even if you meet my blade.”

‘Well, strictly speaking, since I summoned the Spirit King, it’s not exactly entering without permission, right?’

Instead of going on about regrets, hurry up and explain that you’re not human but a spirit! This is going to turn into a sword fight!

“Darius, this is-!”

“Anette, step back, it’s dangerous! I’ll handle this!”

Hey, that’s not it!

“To think you’d try to cut me with the magic sword I gifted you, that would be interesting too. Go ahead if you can. This fellow has quite the temper.”

“Ah, wait! Just a moment, really! Darius!”

Darius’s sword strike was precise. The magic sword carved a clean trajectory towards Sylphid.

Instead of a thud, the Spirit King’s body dispersed for a moment before regathering in place.

“What is this!”

Darius’s eyes wavered for a moment, but he didn’t give up and swung his sword two, three more times. Each time, Sylphid showed off his uninjured body as if taunting him.

“Excellent. Your swordsmanship is no less than your ancestor’s at that age. He would have been proud if he had seen it. My friend.”

Darius bit his lip at the repeatedly missing sword.

“Don’t insult my ancestor.”

“You can’t honestly accept praise from your grandfather’s friend?”

Sylphid grinned with an utterly relaxed face.

‘He really is like an age-inappropriate grandfather bullying his little grandson.’

That old geezer! If you’re old, you should play nice, why are you tormenting someone else’s male lead!

“I am Sylphid, the Wind Spirit King, Anette’s contractor and patron. You may not believe it, but I was friends with your distant ancestor and adventured together.”

As if he had heard my cursing, Sylphid finally introduced himself properly.

“Syl…phid?”

“I thought I had contracted with a wind spirit Sylph, but actually, Sylphid was pretending to be a Sylph with ulterior motives!”

Seizing the moment, I tattled my grievances to Darius.

“What ulterior motives. I really did give you a Sylph, and because your capacity wasn’t enough to handle a Spirit King, I occasionally came to watch over you in the form of a Sylph. I’m not free enough to always be stuck with you, given my position as Spirit King in the spirit realm.”

Sylphid spoke as if wronged.

“Talking about ulterior motives when you can’t even distinguish between a real Sylph and a Spirit King transformed into one. That’s why when I say I’ll take care to raise you, you misunderstand my goodwill.”

“Yeah, whatever. By the way, how can Darius see Sylphid? Does Darius also have the qualities of a spirit user?”

“No, I materialized myself with my power.”

“Materialized?”

“It means I wanted to see Inkhart’s descendant, so I appeared first even though he normally can’t see me.”

Ah, so even if the spirit user lacks skill, if the spirit is powerful enough, it’s possible to appear before people?

Oh wow, I didn’t even know that.

I made such a fool of myself, big time.

“You could have appeared from the beginning! Keeping your mouth shut and making me look crazy! Back then, in front of Lord Lucian! When I was boasting about the spirit I contracted!”

Just thinking about it now still makes my face turn red!

“This is a special service, I tell you! If you keep thinking about relying on me like that, when are you going to build your own strength and live on your own!”

“I’m living well enough now! Sylphid doesn’t even know how great I am, hmph, really!”

“You should think about doing even better, who told you to be satisfied with the present! Every time I look at you, I feel frustrated!”

“Since when have you been watching me, are you my mom? Even my mom doesn’t treat me like this!”

“I’m sure she doesn’t, you don’t have a mom!”

“Wow, you really crossed the line, how dare you bring up a dead person?”

Whoosh.

Darius’s sword, which had been lowered, once again pierced through Sylphid. This time, unprepared, Sylphid’s face contorted for a moment.

“I don’t care who you are. Never insult Anette with that mouth again.”

“Are you continuing to swing your sword even though you know physical attacks are ineffective against spirits? You’re less intelligent than I thought, Inkhart.”

Darius’s voice was cold, and Sylphid continued to sneer without stopping.

“A knight protects a lady’s honor. Even more so if it’s my wife’s honor.”

‘Actually, I brought up the non-existent mother first? Besides, I never met Anette’s late mother, so I’m fine with it?’

Mother who gave me this body, I’m sorry. But it’s true that I’ve never actually met you.

‘But isn’t the mother Sylphid mentioned after reading my memories my real late mother?’

Come to think of it, I should fight. Go, Darius!

“I understand from this conversation that my ancestor was a spirit user and shared a friendship with you. But that’s no reason to insult my wife now.”

“Is that so? I didn’t know my contractor’s mother had actually passed away. The argument got heated, and I spoke carelessly.”

No, you knew when you said it, right? How else could you speak so accurately?

“I apologize.”

Sylphid suddenly changed his attitude and bowed politely. Uh, I was dumbfounded by the change in attitude that happened as easily as flipping a hand.

“What will you do?”

“Pardon?”

“I’m asking if you’ll accept the Spirit King’s apology.”

What happens if I don’t accept it? As if answering my question, Darius continued.

“If you can’t forget this insult, I’ll fight for your honor.”

“It’s okay, he said he didn’t know, these things can happen! He even apologized like this!”

Isn’t the level too high for the first match to be against a Spirit King?

“Yes, my contractor has also resolved the misunderstanding with a broad mind, so all is well.”

Sylphid clapped his hands and grinned. It was the first time I felt so uneasy seeing a handsome man smile.

* * *

“When arguments happen, all sorts of things are said. I really don’t mind.”

“……”

After sending Sylphid back and leaving my room, Darius seemed to be in a bad mood.

“Next time, I’ll say even harsher things to Sylphid.”

Even though I was trying to convey with my whole body that I really didn’t mind, it was useless.

‘Is there something else bothering him?’

Let’s see, what could be making Darius upset right now?

Recently, the castle’s housekeeper, Madam Egritte, was revealed to be a witch, and the demon forces had been operating freely in the castle without anyone knowing.

They thought they had put out the urgent fire with Grand Duke Inkhart’s gold coins, but those coins can’t be used immediately and have to wait until the magic disappears.

The court physician left the castle after arguing with me due to Rose’s injury.

Yeah, no matter what I think of, it’s a big problem!

Thinking about it again, I seem to have possessed a character in a particularly difficult possession story.

‘Still, I’m glad I’m not the protagonist.’

I’m someone who will just help Darius moderately until halfway through, and then be freed from my duties when the female lead Evangeline appears.

“Darius.”

Tap tap, I gently grabbed the arm of Darius, who was walking stiffly down the corridor.

What else can I do? I should at least help this thoughtful male lead.

“Earlier, you said we should go sightseeing below the castle, right? When should we make time to go together?”

“…Anytime.”

Darius finally looked at me and smiled.