Because I was consumed with anger to kill Latieana, I hadn’t noticed, but thinking back, Hillstain, who used to come almost daily to touch my body, had suddenly stopped visiting.

It was from the day Latieana came.

I had clearly taken Latieana’s healing power and poured it abundantly into Hillstain, but why? How come?

Normally, Hillstain would be satisfied with less healing power and persistently cling to me.

‘This is strange. It can’t go on like this. It can’t.’

A seed of anxiety was growing in Ivy’s heart.

And then an unexpected opportunity came.

After finishing her audience with the priest, a welcome guest arrived for her.

“Great Saint, Duke Ian has arrived.”

At the servant’s words, she hurriedly ran up to her chamber, and indeed, Dante Ian was there.

“I greet you, Great Saint.”

A man with sun-tanned bronze skin and a gentle, friendly expression bowed his head towards Ivy.

“Duke Dante!”

Ivy, more delighted than ever, leaped like a butterfly into his arms.

Deep blue hair like the dawn night, with distinct facial features.

As he was on a subjugation mission in the desert, the duke rarely showed himself except for important occasions.

Unlike Killian, who sought her for peace, or Hillstain, who came for pleasure, this was a mannerly man who had received light skinship healing only a handful of times.

He needed the most healing power as he often clashed and fought with magical beasts like Edan, but he was a kind man who was satisfied with potions, not wanting her to overexert herself.

Having stayed in warm regions, he was a man as warm and cozy as the sun.

“Have you been well? Did you come because you missed me?”

As Ivy linked arms with him, full of aegyo with her eyes curved, Dante spoke with a serious face.

“Lady Ivy.”

“Yes, Duke. Tell me anything.”

“Is your promise to grant me a privilege if I find your friend still valid?”

Ivy’s eyes sparkled between her long eyelashes.

She gently parted her lips and caressed Dante’s firm arm.

“Of course, Duke. I miss my friend so much, you know.”

To think that none other than Duke Dante would take an interest in this matter.

It was an opportunity she absolutely couldn’t miss.

And with Dante’s abilities, he could certainly bring her back even from Grand Duke Edan’s hands.

“I will find your friend. After that, there’s something I’d like to request with that privilege.”

Dante gazed at Ivy as if he had made up his mind.

Ivy smiled brightly.

“Anything. If you just find my friend, I can do anything for you, Duke.”

Wow. It’s sticky. It’s sticky.

Wherever I go, Edan’s gaze persistently clings to me.

It wasn’t the first time, but this time it was really hard to ignore.

As I searched through the bookshelf, I felt a hot gaze on the back of my head.

Only the rustling sound of me touching books echoed in the library.

The air was so heavy that I wished night would come quickly so Edan would go out to eliminate magical beasts.

Glancing sideways, I saw Edan standing in front of the library’s huge folding windows, backlit by the sun.

With one hand in his pocket, in a very crooked posture.

I had properly given him healing power this morning and was doing my job well, but still.

It’s getting hard to even search for books when he keeps staring like this.

Just because I shook hands with Maxium once, he’s been hounding me for days over something so trivial.

It’s an insane level of possessiveness.

Grumbling inwardly about complaints I couldn’t voice out loud, I turned to face Edan.

“Master.”

“Master?”

From my perspective, I had called out quite courageously, but it seemed to have irritated Edan instead.

Ah. We agreed to use names.

‘Sir Hillstain.’

…It seems he got upset at that part, it was Edan’s request.

Last time I called him by name because we were alone, but originally we’re in a master-servant relationship, aren’t we? In what world does a maid casually call her master by name?

But come to think of it, it’s also not common for a master to call a maid ‘princess’.

I feel like I’m losing my common sense because of this man. He’s completely self-centered.

“Edan.”

“Yes.”

His voice seemed to have softened a bit, but I couldn’t read Edan’s expression because of the shadow.

“I’m asking this now, but…”

When Edan didn’t respond, I stalled a bit more.

“What happened to Jenald?”

Actually, I’m not that curious. Ruben had explained it roughly.

That rough explanation being that Jenald was alive and had received an appropriate punishment.

I was just curious about what the exact punishment was.

“Death penalty.”

What? My eyes widened.

“…is not possible, they say.”

“Of course not. To receive a death sentence for fraud, you’d have to sell out the country or something, right?”

“It’s not the death penalty, but you’ll never see him again.”

Looks like he got an appropriate punishment? I wasn’t worried about Jenald, but I was a bit uneasy about how things were handled, so it’s good I asked while I remembered.

Anyway, he won’t appear before my eyes, so I feel relieved! Damn. That con artist.

Giggle, I pulled up one corner of my mouth viciously.

“Tch. An annoying fellow has come.”

“Pardon?”

Edan suddenly looked out the window and clicked his tongue.

I quickly went to the side and looked down to see the postman and Smith at the front of the castle wall.

Seeing faces I hadn’t seen in a long time, I ran down in one breath to greet them at the castle gate.

“Mister!”

“Miss Latieana. Have you been well?”

The postman smiled brightly, holding a pretty envelope in his hand.

“It’s been so long. How about you, Mister? And…”

I shifted my gaze to Smith standing a step behind the postman.

“Have you been well too, Mr. Smith?”

When I greeted him with a grin, Smith, who had been awkwardly rubbing his nape, smiled sheepishly.

“It’s been a while, Miss Latieana.”

“Yes! It’s been a while!”

Perhaps because it was the first time we met since he was knocked down by Edan and disappeared crying, Smith, who was usually cheerful, was stiffening his body very awkwardly.

“Oh my. This lad is so shy, it’s a problem, a real problem.”

That’s not it. He’s like that because I rejected him when he confessed to me. Until then, he was not only very lively but even made a sudden confession.

At the postman’s not-quite-worry, Smith pouted and grumbled.

“It’s not like that, I tell you.”

The postman slapped Smith’s shoulder and focused on the conversation.

“By the way, why weren’t you here last time? I couldn’t see you.”

“Huh? You came here?”

“You can see this castle clearly from the village. In the morning, a shepherd saw that the castle wall had collapsed and there was quite a commotion. Everyone was worried that something big had happened. Especially the old ladies at the fabric store urged me to come, but Miss Latieana wasn’t here.”

The castle wall being destroyed was on the day when Hillstain suddenly invaded without mercy.

And it was also the day I immediately went to the capital.

Tch. I clicked my tongue unknowingly, as if trying to imitate Edan.

Just when I was trying to shake off the incident with Jenald earlier, it came back to mind.

Damn it. That bastard Jenald.

“Anyway, I’m glad you’re safe. Here, take this.”

The postman handed me a white envelope with a lily flower pattern.

“What is this?”

“It’s a wedding invitation. The youngest daughter of the fruit store I mentioned last time is getting married.”

“Ah, the one who was scammed… What? Marriage?!”

Suddenly marriage? It hasn’t been long since she came back after being scammed, has it?

“Well. She got proposed to by her childhood friend in a month and decided. I guess everyone has their match after all. Come to think of it, didn’t Miss Latieana say she had a fiancé too? Make sure to send us an invitation when you get married. We’ll definitely attend.”

“Ahaha.”

I laughed awkwardly, evading the answer. The postman, thinking I was embarrassed, laughed heartily.

Then he suddenly put one hand to his mouth, leaned in, and whispered to me.

“By the way, Miss Latieana.”

“Yes?”

“Did something happen with Smith? Whatever it is, if that lad made a mistake, please forgive him a little. He’s a good kid after all.”

“Yes…”

The postman seemed concerned about Smith’s unusual behavior.

“Then I’ll go ahead, and Smith, you come a bit later. Well then, I’m off.”

“No. Mis… Mister!”

Smith, who had been standing like a sack of barley, shouted towards the postman who disappeared like the wind.

But the postman had already gone down the hill with a wink, and we two were left facing each other very awkwardly.

“Uh, um. It’s a bit late, but Mr. Smith, is your injured leg from that time okay?”

“Yes. It’s fine. The recovery was a bit slow, but it’s better now.”

“That’s good.”

Silence again. Wow, what to do about this atmosphere. After rolling my eyes meaninglessly here and there, I decided to just send him back.

“Then, take care on your way ba…”

“Th-!”

Smith cut off my words.

“…Th?”

As I tilted my head and met his eyes, Smith asked with a face that looked like it might burst like a balloon at any moment.

“H-how are things with your fiancé?”

Ah. Fiancé. You mean the fiancé.

…I should be honest.

“I broke off the engagement.”

Actually, I was scammed! Damn it!

Suppressing the anger boiling inside, I answered with a forced smile.

But Smith, who had been drooping, suddenly straightened his shoulders and widened his eyes.

“When? Why?”

“Well. It just happened somehow.”

“Really? Is it true?”

“Yes. That’s how it is, but.”

What is this ominous feeling?

“Then, then Miss Latieana.”

Ah, no. Don’t make a sudden move. Edan is watching!

“Then would you go on a date with m…!”

Thud. A heavy footstep approached from behind.

It’s chilling.

Smith also seemed to sense the approaching giant silhouette and stopped his words right there.

Smith’s face, throwing a glance over my shoulder, contorted as if he might burst into tears at any moment.

“You’re right, Smoothie.”