I looked down at the floor in wonder and there was a person I hadn’t expected.

It was Askan.

He was leaning against the door of my lab.

“Askan?”

When I called him in a surprised voice, he suddenly lifted his head and stared at me.

For some reason, it was touching to see Askan squinting and laughing as if he couldn’t help but laugh upon discovering me.

“What are you doing here?”

Instead of answering my question, Askan got up from his seat. And he carefully inspected me and whispered.

“Why don’t you eat? That’s why you’re losing weight like this.”

“Really? Just missing a few meals…”

“Just? Don’t skip a meal, eat well. What will you do if you faint?”

According to Askan’s words, I felt like I would fly away if the wind blew.

People didn’t die from starving a few times. It was a good thing to lose some weight.

“No need to worry. How did you know I skipped a meal?”

“Because I brought you your meal.”

“You? Not Jerin?”

I thought it was something Jerin or other maids had brought.

When I widened my eyes at unexpected words, he answered as if it was obvious.

“How can I leave it to someone else when you’re not coming out?”

“I didn’t know. You don’t have to care that much.”

“Have you finished your research?”

“Well, more or less.”

“That’s a relief. Let’s go eat first. You haven’t eaten properly for a while, so I’ll prepare a soft soup.”

“At this time?”

The window was covered in dark darkness.

When I came out of the lab, it was midnight when everyone was asleep.

But Askan asked me as if there was a problem.

“What does it matter?”

I couldn’t help but laugh at Askan, who was as if the world would end if I skipped a meal.

I grabbed Askan’s sleeve and pulled him onesidedly and said.

“Let’s get some fresh air first. I’ve been stuck in the lab for a while and I want to breathe some fresh air.”

Askan looked at the sleeve I grabbed and me alternately, then reluctantly started walking.

When I went outside, I took a full breath of cool night air into my lungs.

I felt alive.

I had been worried about the new magic stone for a while and my head was about to explode, but I felt liberated just by breathing in the night air for a moment.

Looking around the flowers blooming in the flower bed, Askan whispered to me.

“Please eat before you go to bed.”

“Don’t nag.”

I plucked the prettiest flower from the flower bed. And I turned around and put it in Askan’s ear, who was standing still.

Askan was a pretty boy who would steal anyone’s gaze. It was satisfying to see such a handsome man wearing a flower.

“This is what you should do, not me.”

“Pretty.”

I stroked Askan’s face lightly, laughing playfully.

He, who would normally have said something more, kept his mouth shut and stared at me blankly. Somehow, it seemed his face was also turning red.

Soon after, I sat on the ground and looked up at the night sky.

It wasn’t a cultured behavior fit for a noble lady, but it didn’t matter since there was no one else but Askan to see it.

I thought he might nag me, but surprisingly, Askan sat down next to me without saying a word and looked up at the night sky with me.

It wasn’t the first time I had looked up at the night sky with him.

─Have you ever looked up at the night sky like this?

─……No.

“─So this is the first time?”

“Yes.”

When I had just met Askan, I wanted to be kind to him and show him the stars in the night sky as I am doing now.

Like then, the stars were densely packed in the sky tonight and were very beautiful.

“Always beautiful to see, right?”

In response to my question, Askan, for some reason, was not looking at the night sky, but at me.

“Yes.”

His reply was blunt, but it was amazing to think that I had been as close to Askan as I am now.

Suddenly, I remembered something I said to him before.

“We own many vacation homes. Why don’t we take some time and visit? Whether it’s the sea or the mountains, let me know what you prefer. Actually, there’s no need to decide. We can visit both.”

The first time I died and woke up, I felt so regretful for not being able to fully enjoy the trip.

I wanted to leave right away, but I haven’t had a chance to yet.

‘I’ve been neglecting to teach Askan what it means to enjoy life.’

I thought I needed to keep my promise as I had found clues to a new magic stone, and there was no urgent matter at the moment.

“Shall we go on a trip?”

“A trip?”

“Yes, like I said before. Let’s go wherever you want, be it the mountains or the sea.”

At my words, Askan seemed to remember the past. He responded with a faint smile, as if he was thinking about something.

“I’m fine with anywhere you go.”

“Good, then let’s decide on a destination soon and go without looking back!”

Askan nodded as if he understood, dusted off his seat, and got up. He then reached out to me as if to tell me to get up as well.

“Let’s have a meal first.”

“Ugh, okay.”

As I followed Askan to the restaurant, a question suddenly popped into my head.

Why is he staying up so late?

“Askan.”

“Yes.”

“But why were you in front of my room?”

At my question, Askan, who was walking a step ahead of me, glanced back at me and answered in a nonchalant voice.

“I wanted to see you.”

I stopped for a moment without realizing it.

The words he blurted out as if they were nothing special lingered strangely in my heart.