“What can I do? I’m curious to take a closer look personally.”

“Do you mean you want to research it?”

“Of course. Even with my current state…”

“You’re a genius in the field of magic engineering.”

“W-Well, yes.”

At my words, Askan couldn’t help but smile. It was a faint smile, but seeing him smile, which was rare, was pleasant.

“I’ve already found someone to change its appearance, but if you want, I can make arrangements for you to research it.”

“Does that mean you’re entrusting it to me?”

“Yes.”

“Alright!”

I shouted in delight.
Caliburn had magical formulas engraved on it that I didn’t know. The thought of researching such an ancient weapon excited me.

Askan looked at me, seemingly not expecting this side of me.

“Is it that exciting?”

“Of course. I won’t leave any magical formula I don’t know in the world.”

“I told you in advance, permission is granted, but you can’t start right away. Begin after your wounds have healed.”

“Even if I delay the process of changing the appearance, researching shouldn’t be a problem…”

“Don’t overdo it. You promised to value yourself the most.”

Though I made such a promise, researching wouldn’t cause any harm.

Before I could say anything, Askan was faster.

“If you need anything, write it down. I’ll arrange a suitable workshop for you.”

To change the appearance of Caliburn required expensive magical engineering machines. Although there were such facilities in the research labs of the Arwen Empire, we needed a new space to work on it here.

While it was disappointing that I couldn’t immediately start researching Caliburn, it wasn’t a weapon that could be taken out and examined anywhere.

Since we needed a discreet space for both research and changing its appearance, I reluctantly accepted.

I responded with pursed lips, “Alright. I’ll write down what’s needed soon.”

Askan nodded and once again skillfully scooped up a bite of the crab dish with a spoon to offer it to me.

I gracefully accepted it. It felt a bit awkward at first, but as I kept eating, it became more comfortable.

Pointing at the salad with my fingers, I said, “Give me that too.”

Upon my request, Askan immediately brought me the salad.

Eating it with relish, Askan looked at me with an approving expression and said, “You look lovely when you eat well.”

…What?

I was taken aback by the unexpected compliment, but since it wasn’t untrue, I simply nodded in agreement.

“I do look quite lovely.”

At my words, Askan laughed, his eyes narrowing. It was a sophisticated smile that seemed capable of enchanting anyone.

As he continued to smile at me with his handsome face, I suddenly realized that the sauce from the salad he had scooped onto the spoon was on my lips.

Since I wasn’t eating directly but receiving from someone else, it was easier for the sauce to get on my lips than usual.

As I was about to use a napkin to wipe off the sauce from my lips, Askan’s hand suddenly covered my cheek. Then, his finger lightly wiped away the sauce on my lips.

Even though it was just his fingers touching, it felt strangely intimate. I blinked in surprise, my eyes widening as I looked at him.

What unfolded next was even more astonishing.

Askan tasted the sauce on his fingers with his red tongue.

…What?

Askan looked completely nonchalant, but I was so surprised that I stiffened and couldn’t say anything.
It didn’t seem like an illusion; no matter how much I thought about it, it felt real.

“As expected, it seems I’m indispensable.”

“No…”

“If you had eaten with the hand you injured, it would have been worse. I’ll have to feed you for the next few meals.”

What mattered now was not that I accidentally got sauce on my lips but that Askan ate it so casually.

“Wh-What happened today? Did you eat something wrong?”

I was in complete confusion, but somehow, Askan seemed relaxed.

“Why? You didn’t feel embarrassed when expressing affection, but now that you’re receiving it, does it make you uncomfortable?”

He hit the mark. When I used to follow Askan around, I didn’t realize how well he treated me, so now I wasn’t sure how to react.

As if he sensed my emotions, Askan smiled meaningfully and said, “It’s a bit early to say something like that.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’ll let you know after we finish eating.”

It sounded as if something tremendous awaited us afterward.

Askan, who had suddenly changed, was hard to adapt to. My heart was pounding, loudly declaring my presence.

After finishing the meal, Askan stood up and said, “Shall we take a walk together?”

It seemed like he suggested a walk to aid digestion, but after the recent incident, these words didn’t sound ordinary.

‘What’s going on? It’s suspicious.’

I looked at Askan with a wary expression. It felt like I was hesitating, wondering whether to follow along like picking flower petals one by one.

When I didn’t move, Askan turned around with a perfect face, asking, “Don’t you like it?”

“No…”

Ah! The answer came out sooner than I thought.

I couldn’t give a negative response when he asked with such a face.

‘Ah, how foolish to be captivated by that smile.’

Blaming myself, I stood up. I didn’t know what was waiting, but it was clear Askan wanted me to go with him.

Initially, I hesitated a bit, but curiosity also arose. Since Askan wanted to go somewhere with me, I followed him without hesitation.

Having stayed in this mansion for a while, I thought I knew the place well enough, but the direction Askan was heading was a path I hadn’t seen before.

“Where are we going? Wasn’t it just for a walk?”

“I have something I want to show you.”

“Something to show me?”

I asked again, not expecting these words.

I had always thought of the mansion as an ordinary one, but suddenly, I found myself walking through a secret passage without any servants.

I asked, looking around, “Where does this lead?”

“You’ll know when we arrive.”

Askan kept avoiding the answer, making me even more curious about what might be at the end of this path.

After a while, we arrived in front of a securely locked door.
Askan took out a key from his pocket and unlocked the lock. Then, with a familiar gesture, he opened the thick door wide.

Creak—

As the door opened with a metallic sound, things I couldn’t have imagined were revealed inside.

Tiara, necklace, earrings, bracelet, ring, anklet…

It seemed like every accessory in the world had gathered here.

It wasn’t just a collection of gold and treasures; it felt like someone intentionally created a mountain by gathering only jewelry and accessories worn by women.

“All of this…”

I couldn’t finish my sentence.

The Brellopf family was wealthy, and I had earned a considerable amount as a weaponsmith. However, I had never seen such a collection of jewelry and accessories before.

I could guarantee that even an exceptional jewelry store wouldn’t have items of this magnitude.

I looked at Askan with astonished eyes. While I expected him, as a Count of the Kalua Empire and the Commander of the Royal Guard, to be wealthy, this was beyond imagination.

“Do you like it?”

“It’s not about liking it or not right now. You… you’re incredibly rich.”

I was still in awe. Askan, with diamonds made into a tiara, approached me.

“Ah! What are you doing?”

“From now on, it’s yours.”

“Did you call me here to give me a tiara as a gift?”

I didn’t expect Askan to prepare such a surprising gift. Was it a way to express gratitude for helping him steal Caliburn?

As I awkwardly touched the tiara on my head, he said quietly, “I’m not just talking about the tiara.”

Huh?

“All the things in this room are yours.”

Uh?

My mouth hung open in shock. Although I lived comfortably as the daughter of the Brellopf family, I had never received such a large number of gifts.

In short, the scale was too overwhelming.