Ruben’s incredulous gaze fell on the crown of my head, as if to say “What on earth are you doing?”

The gazes of Edan’s and Dante’s subordinates, who had been facing each other, all focused on me.

Each of them had eyes that failed to understand what the current situation was.

“Yes. Let’s do that.”

The situation that seemed frozen for a moment was resolved by Dante’s calm voice, which came out a beat late.

He withdrew his hand that had been suspended in the air, and I signaled him with a nod to retreat a bit further.

“……”

Dante stared at me blankly and then glanced towards Edan.

I know this isn’t the time, I know the subordinates’ attention is focused, but please give me a break.

I know he’s a kind person, but what I needed right now wasn’t his manners.

Pleading for him to move away, I put force into my eyes, and Dante slowly took one big step back.

Only then did I stand up and dust off my bottom.

The thin, translucent gown I was wearing was covered in sand, making my back feel rough.

I wanted to take off the gown and shake it out, but I was too conscious of my outfit to do so.

Moreover, the gown was made of a very thin, see-through material, so it was obvious that everything underneath would be visible.

It was fine when I was with the other maids, but seeing Edan and Ruben in front of me, all wrapped up from head to toe. How should I put it, it was extremely embarrassing and awkward, and somehow I felt like I was on the side of the half-naked Dante rather than Edan and Ruben.

After all, the fabric I was wearing and the overall atmosphere of my outfit was similar to Dante’s.

And Edan’s eyes, which must have noticed this, were cold. We were clearly in the same place under the hot desert sun, but the area around Edan felt as harsh as a winter blizzard.

“Welcome, Your Highness the Prince.”

A bit late, but Dante bowed deeply and greeted him politely.

Edan ignored Dante and raised his arm to pull down the cloth covering his face to below his chin.

He slowly swept his gaze from the top of my head, to my face, shoulders, chest, stomach…..

I know. What a sight I must be. But there’s no need to look so fiercely.

It’s not like I wanted to be kidnapped.

As Edan’s gaze became more blatantly heated, I inwardly resented Dante.

This is not the time to say things like “Welcome”!

In the suffocating atmosphere, I could only roll my eyes around and read the room.

Only after scrutinizing me persistently down to my toes did Edan turn his gaze to Dante.

“I doubt you did this to welcome me, did you perhaps misspeak and mean to say ‘please kill me quickly’, Duke?”

“Of course not. You made such a boisterous entrance that I thought you wanted a warm welcome.”

I opened my eyes wide at Dante’s words, which seemed to mock while smiling softly. What? This isn’t it. He clearly said he would apologize.

When I looked at Dante in bewilderment, he glanced down at me briefly before looking back at Edan and continuing.

“What brings you here?”

“What brings me?”

“Yes. It’s an unexpected visit.”

“Has the heat addled your wits, or are you just pretending to be oblivious?”

Edan let out a sardonic laugh.

“You have quite the nerve to run your mouth after stealing what’s mine.”

Edan drew the sword from Ruben’s waist and lightly tapped it on the sandy ground a couple of times.

“Holding your head high without permission, laying hands on what’s not yours.”

Edan, who seemed increasingly irritated, was losing even the sneer he had been holding.

“She is a person.”

“What nonsense is that now? Have you forgotten how to converse properly?”

“I’m talking about Lady Latieana. It’s not good to refer to a person as if they were an object.”

Huh? Why is he like this, really? Is he upset because I refused his escort? Or did he get in a bad mood after seeing how miserable the actual scene was at the wall? Dante, who had been acting mannerly all along, suddenly changed and was provoking Edan.

Thud. Edan’s sword, which had been tapping the sand, stopped in place.

“Now you’re even lecturing me. How much more do I need to do before the Duke comes to his senses?”

Edan’s sharp eyes, which were retorting sarcastically, slowly moved towards me.

The moment our eyes met and I blinked, it happened.

Edan’s sword shot up into the air, spun around once, and in an instant, about a dozen of Dante’s subordinates nearby were struck down.

“Ugh!”

As if on cue, they all clutched their throats and rolled on the sand.

Dante turned around quickly to check on his subordinates, and a vein slightly bulged on his forehead.

“Has your mind returned a bit now?”

“…Your Highness.”

“Seeing that you’re still holding your head high, this much isn’t nearly enough. Let’s stop playing around.”

“……”

“I wonder how many I need to kill before the Duke comes to his senses.”

Although he was continuing the conversation calmly with a gentle smile, Edan’s eyes seemed somewhat crazed.

Dante stared at Edan like that before slightly bowing his head.

“Yes. I admit it. It’s my fault. You used force so mercilessly that I was startled and acted rudely. I will dismiss all my subordinates.”

Dante turned around as if to show that those words were sincere.

“Everyone, withdraw.”

Dante’s subordinates opened their eyes wide. The opponent was Duke Edan. The strongest in the Empire who firmly guards the most dangerous northern part of the Empire. They knew that fact, but he had destroyed the wall and struck their necks so hard they could barely breathe. And now he suddenly tells them to disappear? Their eyes seemed to ask if they had heard correctly.

“Hurry.”

Dante gave the order again, and with deep sighs, they all entered the wall.

Not a single one remained, not even a shadow visible in sight.

Only now could I catch my breath a little.

Now he’ll really apologize properly, right? With that desperate hope, I found myself taking in Dante’s face without realizing it.

“Ahem.”

Ruben cleared his throat.

At that sound, I came back to my senses and looked at Edan again.

“……”

It’s fierce, so fierce. Really.

Though he’s lowering his gaze as if languid, his eyes are truly full of killing intent. If there’s someone who could take a life with just their gaze, it would be this man.

“I sincerely apologize. It might sound like an excuse, but I’ll explain. Please, come inside.”

Dante was now even extending an invitation.

Edan pulled up one corner of his lips sardonically as if it wasn’t even funny, handed the sword to Ruben, and slowly took off his hood.

As he completely removed the connected robe, a black shirt and harness belt were revealed.

Edan, holding the robe in one hand, walked towards me and stopped a couple of steps away, extending his arm.

And then, a flick.

Just once, briefly. He moved his hand without saying anything.

I slowly approached him.

As soon as I stood beside him, Edan swiftly raised the robe in the air and covered my body. Very tightly.

The robe that reached Edan’s waist came down to my knees.

“Edan, it’s hot.”

It wasn’t the first thing I should have said to a man I was meeting after two days who was clearly angry, but it really was hot.

Even though it wasn’t for winter, the robe from the North was thick and optimized for blocking wind.

It might be the best outer garment in the North, but not here.

There was a reason why all the people here were taking off their tops.

While I was wondering how the knights from the North could stand there without sweating a single drop, looking so perfectly fine, Edan leaned down and whispered in my ear.

“Lati.”

A deep, low voice that sent chills down my spine even in this hot place.

“Answer well.”

Suddenly? What answer am I supposed to give well?

At his chilling voice, even more so than when I was caught running away, I nodded.

“If you mess up, I might lose my mind.”

Though I thought he already seemed half out of his mind… I still nodded obediently.

I know Edan won’t hurt me, but at times like this, he’s terrifyingly scary.

While imagining all sorts of scenarios in my head, I thought I should give whatever answer Edan wants.

“Why are you in such a state?”

…I had a feeling, but as expected. That’s what he was angry about.

The phrase “such a state” was a bit offensive, but I couldn’t fault Edan’s expressiveness.

I turned sharply to look at Dante.

On his thick, bronzed neck hung several gold ring necklaces.

With a nice one with a green emerald in the center. Even when still, his muscular arms with protruding veins had three or four bracelets on each side.

And, other than that, there was nothing covering his upper body.

In other words, he was naked.

And although I was wearing pants and a gown, I looked as if my chest was covered by just a single piece of cloth.

This possessive man saw this…..

Whew. I really felt I had to answer well.

Because I thought if he really lost his mind, he might destroy this entire area.

While frantically thinking of an answer that wouldn’t irritate him, a dry, hot wind blew in from the desert.

My eyes stung from the sand particles too small to see, and the hot air made my throat parched and dry.

“Well……”

I blinked and met Edan’s gaze.

“Speak.”

Edan’s single word, seemingly filled with patience being pushed to its limits, felt heavy.

“So……”

I blinked again and stared at Dante and Ruben over my shoulder.

Perhaps because we were speaking in such small voices, they didn’t seem to know what we were talking about.

I firmly grasped Edan’s shirt collar with both hands.

He slightly pulled towards me.

While maintaining his cold gaze, Edan easily let himself be pulled towards me.

I whispered very softly into Edan’s ear as he bent down hard to match my height.

“Everyone here wears clothes like this.”

I don’t know what Edan had imagined, but when there’s nothing else to say, telling the truth as it is is the solution.

So I said it as it was.

“Ha.”

After a moment of silence, Edan let out a laugh as if in disbelief.