Ascan leaned on his shoulder and looked at the unconscious Tanashia.

“…Why do you believe and trust me?”

Tanashia was not a fool. Rather, the more she knew, the smarter she seemed.

But why did she never doubt and always believe Ascan? The empress, Seruna, and the Manoco family were targeting Tanashia. In that case, the first thing to consider was whose side the captain of the guards, Ascan, was on.

Of course, Ascan had no affiliation with the Manoco family, but for Tanashia, who knew nothing, it was the first action she should take.

But Tanashia believed Ascan so naturally, as if it were obvious. And she never once doubted the fact that he would protect her.

Just by looking at her sound asleep like this, it was clear.

If Ascan just made up his mind here, even if she was the continent’s greatest weapon, she would die without even rebelling.

Not wanting to disappoint her blind faith and trust, Ascan couldn’t help but feel absurd.

“Huang Ming… Before meeting Helsion, I already knew about the group wandering around the mansion.”

It wasn’t difficult to get rid of them, but he couldn’t shake off the feeling that they were aiming for Tanashia. It wasn’t until today that he learned the exact reason.

“Before receiving the emperor’s order, should I have said that I was already protecting her?”
Ascan, unintentionally amused by a thought that crossed his mind, lifted Tanashia effortlessly, hugging her with both arms.

Although he wanted to stay like this, there was a sound too sensitive for his ears.

As Ascan carried Tanashia and left the room, Jen, who was waiting outside, looked at them with a surprised expression.

“The lady is…”

“I’m taking her with me.”

Jen squinted his eyes as if displeased, but Ascan ignored him and walked through the corridor of the tavern.

As they walked with Ascan holding Tanashia, screams could be heard from another room.

“Aaaah!”

Jen quickly surveyed the surroundings, but he didn’t need to step forward. The tavern was already filled with the Imperial Guards.

Jen also noticed that fact and looked at Ascan with a gaze of surprise.

When leaving the palace, Ascan left a mark recognizable only to the Imperial Guards, and those who saw it were guarding the tavern.

Tanashia’s words were right. As long as Ascan was there, she had nothing to fear.

Ascan boarded the carriage with Tanashia in his arms.

The unknowing coachman asked, “Shall we depart, Lord Marquis?”

“Go.”

Ascan took off his coat and covered Tanashia’s upper body as she slept. And he stared at her face intently.

‘Was I kind, pure, and loyal…’

At first, he thought it was an impossible event. But soon, another hypothesis emerged.

In his early years, did he hide his claws only in front of Tanashia, pretending to be a frightening tiger while actually being a cute cat?

It was similar to not opposing Helcyon now because he still needed him as the emperor.

‘If that wasn’t the case… I would have killed her earlier.’

When he proposed the empress’s position to Tanashia.

He would have definitely killed her.

Suddenly, Tanashia’s repeated words came to mind.

-Yes, you liked me more, didn’t you?

Could it be that he acted to receive Tanashia’s love?

Ascan stared at Tanashia’s sleeping face and suddenly felt an urge to hide her in a place where no one could see.

Sometimes, when he looked at her, uncontrollable and obscure emotions surged within him.

“Tanashia.”

He called out softly, but she was still sound asleep.

As he quietly watched her, he carefully brushed aside her flowing long hair, and as if muttering to himself, he continued.

“If you keep shaking me, you’ll have to take responsibility.”

The past that he couldn’t even remember was not important. He was only curious about the identity of this intense and warm emotion that seemed to boil his entire body.