Among the preparations made to welcome Sycar, we quickly gathered back in the dining room because the author claimed to be hungry.

Even Duryon, whom I met after a long time, hadn’t changed at all. He wrapped a napkin around his neck, held a knife and fork in his hands, and laughed heartily like a large dog.

“How long has it been since we had a proper meal? I spent the years of suffering while waiting for this day.”

No one responded to Duryon’s enthusiastic expectations for the meal, so I opened my mouth first about tonight’s menu.

“We prepared goose dish, and I hope you like it.”

“After only eating dried meat in the land of shadows, I can’t express how grateful I am just to eat proper meat now. But thank you for preparing such a precious goose dish. Madam.”

Duryon sent me a gaze full of love, as if he would send a heart, making me feel a bit overwhelmed.

I smiled once and immediately turned my head away from the table. Fortunately, thanks to Duryon, who fell in love with the meat, I could redirect my gaze to the front once the dishes were served.

Sycar, who probably had a similar experience of only eating dried meat, remained calm.

Until just before lunch, he had calmly enjoyed the food, in contrast to Duryon, who was eating like a madman.

“Duryon, mind your table manners. You don’t have to eat so greedily just because you were a mercenary. Can’t you eat calmly? Is it impossible for you to have a peaceful meal? Your eating sounds make my ears tingle!”

However, Duryon, as if he didn’t hear Bika’s words at all, was completely focused on the meal.

Bika, looking tired, was about to get up from the table, but she stayed put in response to Sycar’s question.

“Bika. Do you have a flower of poison?”

It seemed like he was talking about what the queen had given me.

“I still have it.”

“Put it in my study.”

“Got it. Anything else?”

“Seems like that’s it.”

Bika glared at Duryon as if she would kill him, then got up from her seat.

“I’ll finish my meal first because it seems impossible to confront that monster.”

Bika, as if telling Duryon to listen, extended her face toward Duryon, but he still seemed oblivious, entirely focused on his meal.

Sycar and Kian, who seemed to have become a little closer, looked a bit awkward again, making the future worrisome. However, luckily, Sycar initiated a conversation with Kian.

“It seems you’ve become quite skilled in elemental magic.”

Kian glanced at Sycar and replied calmly, “I’ve learned enough to melt the duke’s frozen arm.”

Wondering what kind of conversation this was, I discovered that Kian was quietly melting Sycar’s frozen arm.
Kian seemed quiet, but it seemed that he felt Sycar’s frozen arm and was melting it.

I thought Sycar was the one who started the conversation, but it turned out that Kian was the one who first assessed Sycar’s condition and was in the process of healing.

Sycar nodded approvingly, seeming satisfied. “You’ve really improved a lot.”

Kian casually picked up a bean with his fork and looked at Sycar with a thoughtful expression. “Our agreement is still valid, isn’t it?”

An agreement? What agreement did these two have?

Sycar chuckled with a sly smile and replied to Kian, “Of course.”

Although I couldn’t understand what the agreement meant, one thing was clear: the manifestation of the curse on Sycar was becoming more intense, gradually spreading throughout his body, starting with his arm. In the original story, due to the manifestation of this curse, Sycar had no choice but to lose to Kian.

So, in order to lift the curse, he had been searching for a liberator from all around.

Gillian discovered that Kian was alive to control Sycar later, and that Kian could eliminate Sycar’s curse.

As the curse disappeared, Sycar became uncontrollable. Therefore, Gillian did not tell Sycar about Kian’s existence.

Now, manifestations are expected to occur more frequently. Although Kian is by his side, Sycar must still feel anxious since he hasn’t found Veronia and the pain is considerable.

After Kian completely melted Sycar’s frozen arm, Sycar moved a few times and then twisted his arm as if it were stiff.

“It seems fine now.”

“Good.”

“Your skills have improved a lot.”

“I’ve grown a lot.”

The two looked at each other as if in a standoff.

Wasn’t their relationship supposed to improve? They had promised to get along better in the future after the duel, but had the gap over the past few years been too significant?

Like when they first met, the two seemed to be silently setting boundaries while looking at each other.

Kian followed Sycar, who had finished his meal, into his study. Just a few years ago, he couldn’t even attempt to open the door, which seemed to be hidden behind a large curtain.

However, to Kian, who had now turned ten, the curtain no longer felt like a huge wall.

Sycar turned around with a dry face as if asking what was going on. “I don’t remember calling you.”

Kian, now ten years old, sat on the sofa without Sycar’s permission, holding his fist in a much more sophisticated manner than seen in the dining room.