I followed Carlton to the imperial physician.

At first, I hesitated to show my wounds to the physician in the palace, but Carlton, despite his rough appearance, kindly explained, “Although she is a physician in the palace, she is closely related to the royal guard, and she will never disclose Youngae’s wounds. You can rest assured and receive treatment.”

“I see. Thank you.”

Thanks to Carlton, I showed my wounds to the physician without worry.
The doctor, looking shocked, observed the long needle installed in the ring securely stuck in my palm and asked with an astonished expression, “Who did such a wicked thing?”

“Ha, hahaha.”

I awkwardly laughed. I couldn’t reveal that I was the one who made such a ring.

The doctor skillfully used tweezers to extract the needle, thoroughly disinfected the wound, applied medication, and said, “Although the injury area doesn’t look large to the naked eye, it was quite deeply embedded. You need to take good care of it without overexerting yourself for a while.”

“I will.”

The doctor, as a precaution, prescribed medication and provided bandages and ointment.

After finishing the treatment, as I was about to get up, the door of this place opened.

Inadvertently turning my head, I saw Askan in a white royal guard uniform standing there. Sweat had formed on his forehead, as if he had hurriedly come.

Askan asked in a breathless voice, “Is the treatment finished?”

Carlton, who was standing behind me, responded sharply, “It just ended now.”

Askan nodded while looking at the bandage covering my injured area. Then, he briefly spoke to the doctor.

“Good job.”

“No, Captain.”

After a brief exchange of greetings with the doctor, Askan approached me and supported me.

“I’m okay…”

“Don’t say you’re okay so often.”

“No, really…!”

“Shall I carry you out?”

I had hurt my hand, not my foot, so there was no problem with walking. However, I just closed my mouth. It seemed like he had no intention of listening to whatever I said.

Though I felt excessively protected, I couldn’t help but smile, knowing that he cared.

That’s how I left the place where the doctor was. When I saw only Carlton around, I couldn’t resist my curiosity and asked quietly, “What happened?”

I didn’t mention the name Calspelliver just in case, but Askan immediately understood what I was asking.

“I brought it. I said I would finish quickly and come back.”

“That’s a relief. I thought you would succeed, but still, I was worried.”

At my words of concern, Askan’s eyes softened somehow.

“Don’t worry anymore. We just need to take it out from here.”

Although Askan wasn’t holding Calspelliver right now, if he succeeded in stealing it, taking it out of the palace was a piece of cake.

Smiling faintly, I nodded.

With Askan’s support, I intentionally avoided the crowded banquet hall.

Observing nobles standing under the glamorous chandeliers from a distance made me feel as if today’s long day had passed like a panorama.

“Today, there was a lot going on.”

From intentionally falling into traps to successfully stealing Calspelliver, there were quite a few events that happened throughout the day.
Unknowingly, I muttered while gazing at the banquet hall, “It was my first party in the Kalua Empire….”

With so many things happening, there was no chance to truly enjoy it. Not to mention, I couldn’t relax and have fun due to the traps set by the Manoco family targeting me.

Askan, perhaps hearing my words, asked in a subdued voice, “Disappointed?”

“No. It’s not that. I just suddenly thought about it.”

“I’ll prepare properly next time. So that you can enjoy without any worries.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at Askan’s unexpected words.

“Really? It’s nice to hear even if it’s just empty words.”

“I don’t say empty words. So don’t get hurt anymore. Since I met you, it feels like I haven’t had a day without getting injured.”

“Is that so?”

I absentmindedly scratched my nose. Thinking about it, I had various injuries, big and small, considering incidents like getting shot with an arrow instead of Askan.

As Askan and I came out of the palace together, Jen, who was waiting outside, approached with a surprised expression.

“Miss, are you injured?”

“Ah, a little. It’s nothing serious.”

As I pretended to be fine, clapping my hands, Askan frowned beside me.

Jen, fixating his gaze on my bandaged wounds, said, “How did you get hurt? Even though it seems you’ve received treatment, shouldn’t you see a doctor?”

“It’s okay. Let’s just go to the mansion since I’m tired.”

“…Alright.”

Jen nodded solemnly.

Whether it was Askan’s prior instruction or not, our carriage arrived promptly.

Jen boarded the carriage as he did when coming here, and Askan, carefully helping me into the carriage, told the coachman, “Depart.”

“Yes, my lord.”

Watching Kalua Palace getting farther through the carriage window, my heart felt oddly light, as if I had finished a day’s work.

Soon, I turned my gaze from the window to look at Askan sitting opposite me.

I had already noticed that he was treating me more gently than usual.