I was worried that he might get injured due to the devices in my research lab. However, I couldn’t confirm it, so I kept peeking.

As my questions continued, a doubtful emotion appeared in Askan’s eyes.

“Why are you suddenly talking like this?”

“Just curious. Since you seem like you’ll listen to anything, I asked out of curiosity.”
Askan’s pupils narrowed as he looked at me. His gaze seemed suspicious, but it didn’t feel threatening.

“It seems unrelated to the discomfort of the carriage.”

I wanted to respond to the question from earlier, but I couldn’t help it as the conversation seemed to be deviating, and I was afraid Askan might leave.

Pressing my hand against the seemingly comfortable cushion of the carriage for no reason, I said, “Look, sitting here for too long makes my rear end numb.”

“Just as I said before, state your specific requests.”

“Well, how about giving me a massage every day?”

Though it was unlikely to be realized, it would be great if I could have a massage every day and have some conversation with him.

Askan’s eyebrows slightly furrowed at my slightly joking remark. In a lower voice than before, he responded, “If you wish, I can do that.”

I was pleasantly surprised by his unexpected acceptance. “Really?”

“I said so. I will do my best. Starting from tomorrow, I’ll arrange for someone to give you a massage every day, so feel free to enjoy.”

“No…”

I didn’t need someone other than Askan.

I looked at him with a discontented expression and spoke again, “I want you to…”

That’s when it happened.

Whether we arrived at our destination or the carriage stopped for some other reason, I couldn’t finish what I was saying. Still, smart Askan couldn’t have missed the meaning behind my words.

Askan stared straight at me with his cold eyes and said, “Breloph Yeong-ae, I don’t know what your intentions are, but it’s better to be more moderate.”

It felt like receiving a final warning, but I couldn’t be intimidated by such words.

How did we meet…

It took almost ten years for us to meet again.

I never once gave up searching for Askan, and the thought of him dying haunted me every day.

The person I missed in my dreams appeared before me, and enduring this much was remarkable.

Even if he had completely forgotten, in my heart, the boy from that time still lived.

“Looks like you’re interested in me.”

I didn’t expect him to come out so boldly, and Askan’s momentarily confused expression felt cute, making me burst into laughter unintentionally.

“So.”

I looked straight at Askan.

There was only one way to handle this situation.

“Give me some attention.”

It was a declaration of war.

As Askan said, tonight we ended up sleeping outdoors.

After the sun completely set and darkness fell, I, along with the accompanying party and all the guards, found a place to sleep and lay down comfortably.

I had prepared outdoor bedding in anticipation of a day like this.
Sitting cross-legged with my head resting on clasped hands, I looked up at the night sky, recalling the conversation I had with Askan a while ago.

Swoo, Zen approached me quietly and said in a hushed voice, “Miss, I know you’re not someone who easily falls for things, but try not to be alone with the captain of the guards unless necessary.”

Upon hearing Zen’s concerned words, I couldn’t help but chuckle. “Zen, you seem to be misunderstanding. It’s just that I want to be with Askan somehow, and it’s driving me crazy.”

“Why would you…”

“Forgot? Askan is the ignition I’ve been searching for for ten years.”

“But hasn’t he lost his memories from back then? If so, it means he’s not the boy he used to be. We have no idea what he’s been through during that time, or what he’s thinking now.”

“That’s why I’m curious. But he doesn’t give me a chance.”

It was a complaint-like remark that deviated from Zen’s intention.

Although Zen looked at me as if he couldn’t believe it for a moment, my mind was filled with thoughts about Askan.

Suddenly, Askan, who hadn’t shown himself since the conversation in the carriage, caught my eye.

For some reason, Askan, too, seemed to be watching me talk to Zen.

In a moment of joy as if our eyes met in the air, I waved my hand, but Askan turned his head and engaged in a conversation with someone else.

“What, didn’t he see me?”

It was an awkward moment when I lowered my hand.

Beep, beep, beep─

Suddenly, the piercing sound of a flute struck my ears.

Not knowing where the sound was coming from, I looked around, and all the guards stood up from their positions, alert to their surroundings.

Only then could I realize that it was a danger signal used by the guards.

Zen quickly shielded me as if protecting me in front of him.

It was that moment.

Shoo, shoo, shwi-i-iik─

Arrows poured down from the darkness.

I didn’t know who it was, but it was clear that someone was attacking me and the guards.

I quickly lowered my body and hid behind a tree. Just as one of the guards who had decided to stand as a human shield shouted loudly.

“They’re remnants of the Sun Emperor!”

Sun Emperor?

The Kalua Empire had been plagued by constant rebellion until recently when Helsion ascended as the emperor and brought order.

Apparently, it seemed like a group that followed the Sun Emperor at that time was targeting the guards.

Askan’s location a while ago was quite far away. However, he approached me in the blink of an eye, and in a low voice, he said.

“I apologize. Incidents like this occasionally occur since the rebellion in the Kalua Empire ended not long ago. They came after us, so Miss Brelloph Yeong-ae, please leave safely.”

When Zen responded angrily, as if my safety was being threatened, Askan approached.

“Our side must ensure Miss’s safety, so we won’t help.”
Askan nodded without any hesitation.

“Obvious.”

Before moving, Askan glanced at me and Zen one last time. Then, whether he judged that there would be no issues with my safety, he quickly went to the gathering place where the guards were.

Watching Askan take the lead towards the direction of the incoming arrows, a chill ran down my spine.

Ten years ago, that day came to mind.

Back then, Askan, Decain, and I were together when arrows were shot by soldiers of the Ragent Empire.

I recalled the words Askan, who was a boy at the time, said while looking at me with a dark gaze.

“I’ll stay here and stop the soldiers of the Ragent Empire.”

I couldn’t bear to see Askan in danger before my eyes again.

Hiding behind a tree to avoid arrows, I suddenly stood up from my position.

Zen looked at me with a surprised expression and said, “Miss!”

“Zen, please protect the others here for me.”

“What on earth are you doing…”

“I need to help Askan.”

“No!”

Zen seemed genuinely shocked, but without hesitation, I ran after Askan from a while ago, reaching out to the magic engineering weapons I had brought.

Woo-oo-oo-oom!

Having engraved a locking mechanism with blood, the weapons, recognizing their owner, emitted a humming sound.

Thanks to the bracelet on my wrist that had a function to attract magic engineering weapons like a magnet, the desired weapon instantly came into my hand.

Ting! I immediately pulled out the safety pin and threw it into the air.

A light magic-infused bomb exploded, brightly illuminating the surroundings like midday. Thanks to that, I could accurately locate the hidden enemies in the darkness.

Even Askan, who was leading the way, turned back to look at me.

This time, I held a bomb with a powerful explosive function in my hand and smiled.

“If even a single hair of Askan is touched, all of you will meet your end at my hands.”