The next day.

As promised, I rode in a carriage with Askan towards the Empress’s palace.

Jen followed on horseback, but as the location was the palace, there were limited places he, as a commoner, could enter.

I opened the carriage window first and spoke to Jen.

“Askan is going to accompany me inside. Don’t worry and wait outside.”

Jen said nothing and just stared at Askan. His gaze was filled with caution, but there was no way to object.

“Understood. If anything happens, use the signal flare. I will rush to wherever the lady is.”

Jen had handed me a signal flare before coming here, probably bothered by the fact that I appeared at the palace party with a needle wound. It could be shot into the sky like fireworks, visible from afar.

There seemed to be no need to use a signal flare today, but I nodded my head as I understood his concern for me.

“Alright. Don’t worry.”

Only then did Jen bow with a relieved expression.

Askan, who had been silently listening to our conversation, frowned. It seemed like he didn’t like the content of our discussion.

“Why do you have such conversations with bodyguards every time you go somewhere?”

I shook my head denying Askan’s unexpected question.

“It’s not like that. I’ve been worrying Jen a lot recently.”

“Worrying in a master-servant relationship. There’s only a giver of orders and a follower.”

Askan’s words were not wrong. It seemed like it was a message for both me and Jen to hear.

However, Jen rode off without hearing anything, acting as if he hadn’t heard anything. It wasn’t a disrespectful action, but it seemed to show disregard for Askan.

Sensing the strange atmosphere, I quickly closed the carriage window.

Askan was inside the carriage with me, and Jen was riding outside, so we could block each other’s views.

Just in case there might be any friction between the two, I eliminated the possibility in advance.

Askan, looking at me with an unpleasant gaze, said, “Are you trying to protect a bodyguard in front of me?”

“That’s not true.”

“You told me not to touch a single hair of the author last time.”

“Why do you still remember and think about that?”

“…Because you don’t like treating others well except for me.”

I was a bit surprised by his straightforward words.

He seemed upset, so wanting to comfort him, I quickly opened my mouth.

“Don’t misunderstand. Jen is different from bodyguards. We’ve known each other since childhood, so he’s like family.”

“Isn’t that too risky? How can someone who’s not family be considered like family?”
“That’s not it… It’s like your affection for Bil, if I were to use a metaphor. It might seem different due to our genders.”

I was aware of the close relationship between Askan and Bil, as if they were brothers sharing blood, as described in the novel “Beloved Saint.”

For the first time, Askan’s expression softened as if my explanation had been effective.

“…Still, if you dislike it.”

When he, the formidable villain from the novel, said such words, I should have been worried. However, it felt cute, almost like a child’s tantrum.

I wondered if my eyes had already grown firm, not knowing when it happened.

“Of course, I won’t dislike it. Jen is a presence I’m grateful for in many ways, but he originally belongs to Father, so I plan to send him back later.”

At my words, Askan, still frowning, smiled at the corner of his mouth.

“Do you think saying that will weaken my resolve?”

“No. It’s sincere.”

“There’s no one else who can manipulate my emotions like you.”

“Is that a compliment?”

Askan’s gaze towards me became affectionate. Without anyone teaching me, I could tell it was a gaze filled with love.

“If you consider me a family-like presence, close your eyes. I don’t mind keeping you by my side like this forever, as long as you don’t cross the line I’ve set.”

“The line?”

“No physical intimacy.”

“Haha, of course not!”

I burst into laughter at his unexpected words. Askan, still looking at me with affectionate eyes, spoke firmly.

“Don’t treat me too well.”

“Isn’t that too subjective?”

“I can’t help it. If I get jealous, treat me with love as you do now. Then… even if it bothers me, I’ll endure it with patience.”

I found myself laughing uncontrollably without realizing it.

While no one liked being restricted, it was natural for anyone to develop some possessiveness toward someone they loved.

Askan’s possessiveness might be strong, but feeling proud that he would endure it for my sake brought a somewhat tangled emotion.

Looking at me with a puzzled expression, he asked, “Why do you look at me like that?”

“Because you’re beautiful. You’ve been thinking about how to make me feel loved lately, and you’re really doing beautiful things.”

Askan’s eyes lifted shyly, and even at a glance, I could feel his delight at hearing my praise.

It was adorable.

There was no other way to express it.

Without saying anything, except for those words, a person’s emotions could change so much.