Of course, I missed Askan. However, saying that I wanted to see him face to face like this almost drove me crazy wasn’t easy.

Suddenly, my heart pounded strongly. Lately, every time I saw him, my chest fluttered as if I were worried about developing cardiovascular disease.

“Se…,”

At my small voice, Askan’s golden eyes sparkled with anticipation.

“Se?”

He echoed my words.

It was not a big deal to say, but for some reason, I couldn’t articulate the words in this attention-grabbing situation.

Unintentionally, a hot flush spread across my face.

Even without looking in the mirror, I could guess that my face was turning red.

“W-Why ask the obvious!”

I turned my head quickly to hide my flushed face. Somehow, I felt embarrassed hearing Askan’s low laughter.

When I peeked at him again, he was gently closing his eyes, smiling.

“Was it obvious? That you wanted to see me.”

“Yes. It’s a question so obvious that there’s no need to confirm.”

In my flustered state, I responded as I thought. However, after speaking, I realized it carried some significant meaning.

Ah, I thought. Meanwhile, Askan, as if unable to bear it any longer, furrowed his brows, tilted his head, and lowered his gaze towards me.

Touch. Askan’s lips touched my forehead and then pulled away.

The area where his lips touched felt warm, as if burned.

“But if you don’t say it, many things won’t be conveyed. There’s a saying in books not to spare expressions of affection.”

Reflexively, I covered my forehead. While feeling the thumping sound of my heart, I suddenly became curious about the meaning behind Askan’s words.

“Books? What book?”

As I looked at him with a puzzled expression, Askan, with a mischievous smile, replied.

“There are. Things like that.”

Not knowing that Carlton had given me a book titled “11 Ways to Capture a Woman’s Heart,” I could only stare blankly.

Releasing his clasped hands, Askan untied the apron I was wearing to keep my dress from getting dirty while working and spoke.

“No matter how much you change the appearance of Cal Spelliver, that’s the way it is. There’s not even a glimpse of it in the mansion, only in the workshop. If that’s the case, I shouldn’t have entrusted it to you.”

“I’m busy.”

Changing the appearance of the legendary magic sword Cal Spelliver wasn’t an easy task.

Askan knew this better than anyone, yet he was throwing a tantrum for no reason.

“It feels like only I’m bothered.”

Not understanding what he meant, I looked at him. Then, Askan, pushing aside my apron and tidying up my disheveled hair, said while smiling.

“I missed you.”

His soft voice was as sweet as honey.

Unconsciously, a smile spread across my lips. In front of a man expressing love like this, no woman could remain indifferent.

Suddenly, the emotions I felt when I saw Askan a long time ago resurfaced.
I have always liked pure and devoted men, even when bad guys were in fashion. Especially men overflowing with innocence were the best.

The cynical Askan, who had lost his memory, was charming, but the Askan who now boldly expressed affection was more to my taste.

“A few days without seeing you, and you act like this. People might misunderstand if they hear.”

While waiting for Nokxia’s response, worried about the news blackout in Olland, it hadn’t been long since I parted ways with Askan in the torture chamber of the Imperial Guard.

Anyone would think that we had been apart for a long time.

“Look at this. I’m the only one nervously waiting because I missed you.”

“No, it’s not like that. I… missed you too.”

Embarrassed, I couldn’t speak, but seeing him like this, I couldn’t hide my emotions any longer and expressed them honestly.

Askan closed his eyes with a soft smile, distinctive of him.

“Even words that don’t need to be confirmed sound nice sometimes. It’s so pleasant to hear.”

“Hehe, got it.”

I casually covered my flushed face with my hand.

Askan, who had been staring at me, suddenly seemed to remember something and put his hand in his pocket.

“Ah, I have something to give you as a gift.”

At the word “gift,” I recalled the accessories and jewels that had recently filled the treasure trove.

In the end, I couldn’t return the key to the treasure trove I received back then.

I waved my hands in refusal, feeling rushed.

“It’s okay, I don’t need a gift. I already have too much from before; I don’t know what to do with it all.”

Askan chuckled and handed me a pink perfume bottle in my hands.

“This is different from that. And don’t refuse in advance; I still have a lot I want to give you.”

“What is this? Perfume?”

I didn’t expect anything more than an ordinary gift like perfume, considering the excessive gifts I received before.

As I looked at him with a puzzled expression at the sudden perfume gift, Askan explained as if it were a matter of course.

“Do you remember stealing perfume from Viscount Manoco in the Imperial Palace?”

“Of course.”