I was so surprised that I couldn’t say anything, and Tyler seemed to take it in a different way, furrowing his brow and speaking.

“If you don’t like that, I’ll try to finish it within a month. This is the fastest completion time I’m telling you about the work that the Duke of Brellof entrusted to me. I can’t be faster than this even if I die.”

“Oh, I see.”

It wasn’t a long conversation, but for some reason, I felt like Orlando had been dealing with a lot of tough tasks.

I felt a little sad for Robin and Tyler in front of me, but I must have been part of the Brellof family.

“Then please complete it within a month.”

At my words, Robin and Tyler nodded as if they understood.

It seemed like they were looking at me with a look that said, ‘Like father, like daughter,’ but I couldn’t help it because I wanted to build it as soon as possible.

“Have you had a meal? If you’re okay, have a meal before you go.”

I wanted to do something for Robin and Tyler, who had to work hard from now on. I wasn’t sure if I was feeling a bit sorry.

After seeing off Robin and Tyler, I turned around and Askan, who was standing a little far away, came into my view.

Today, Askan, standing in black clothes, looked very cool.

I bought him many outfits, but this was the first time he wore this, so it might have caught my eye unusually.

Click clack, as I walked past Askan, I spoke out a thought that came to my mind.

“The clothes you’re wearing today suit you well.”

At my words, Askan looked down at his own clothes once and then asked back.

“Is that so?”

“You seem to suit black well.”

“……I see.”

Askan didn’t say anything else. I didn’t mean anything special, so I just kept walking where I was going.

Suddenly, I heard footsteps following me, and when I looked back, Askan was following me.

Wondering if he had something to say, I looked back. Then, Askan, who noticed my gaze, spoke in a subdued voice.

“Who were those people earlier?”

Come to think of it, Askan didn’t know Robin and Tyler. They were people I had only met twice, so he wouldn’t know.

“They’re the ones who are building my lab……”

As I was about to explain about Robin and Tyler, I remembered what Askan had said before.

─I get angry when I see you with other men.

Coincidentally, Robin and Tyler were men. I couldn’t help but reflect on whether I had been close with them.

When I suddenly shut my mouth, Askan called out in a puzzled expression.

“Lady?”

“Hold on, come here.”

I grabbed Askan’s hand abruptly and dragged him to the corner. Then, I checked his arms and hands to see if there were any places where he had been turned into steel.

When I took him to a dark place and started groping, Askan’s eyes began to redden gradually.

“Why are you suddenly doing this?”

“Why? It’s because of what you said last time. I’m checking to see if your body has changed again.”

Thud, Askan grabbed my wrist. It seemed like he was just gripping lightly, but it didn’t budge, maybe because of the difference in strength.

“Just ask about such things.”

There was no guarantee that Askan would only answer the truth to my questions. If he said no, I wouldn’t know, so I tried to confirm it myself.

“You said you didn’t like me being with other men. Did you get angry again?”

Was my question too direct?

Askan seemed unsure of what to do, rolling his gaze, then putting one hand to his forehead. Then he replied in a somewhat subdued voice.

“……No, I was fine this time.”

“Thank goodness.”

As Askan said, a simple check revealed that there was no progress in his body being turned into steel.

“Were you remembering what you said then?”

“Of course. It’s a promise with you.”

I tried to keep promises as much as possible. And since Askan’s rampage could threaten my safety, I had to be careful.

But he listened to my words and squinted as if he couldn’t bear it, then smiled.

It wasn’t difficult to distance myself a bit from people, but I couldn’t live like this forever. I couldn’t rule out the possibility that Askan might go berserk without my knowledge.

“Those people earlier are building my laboratory. Their fields are a bit different, one is in charge of architectural design, and the other seems to be participating in the construction.”

“I see.”

“It’s supposed to be completed in a month, so after the academic festival is over, let’s go see it together. Then Master and Ms. Matella will come too. It’s going to be big, so there’s plenty of space left for me to use alone.”

“There’s not much time left in a month.”

“That’s what I’m saying……”

It was a thought that suddenly occurred to me. But I had to be cautious because I didn’t know how Askan would react.

“Would you like me to help you control your power if you want?”

Askan looked a little surprised. His pupils dilated and then quickly dimmed.

I couldn’t read his emotional state just from his current expression.

“If you don’t want to, I won’t do it. I’m just asking because I think it might be better for you.”

“I don’t distrust you, but… it’s not an easy task.”

I knew without Askan saying it.

Many researchers in the Kalua Empire tried to control his power, but their efforts ended without any clear results.

Eventually, the fact that Askan could control his power in the not too distant future was purely because he had attained enlightenment.

Having read the novel , I knew this fact very well, so I could speak more confidently.

All the answers were with Askan, just him.

“If you don’t distrust me, give it a try. It’s not going to be worse than it is now. And even if you leave Brellop Mansion, you can’t be at ease forever if you can’t control your power.”

If Askan’s body suddenly turned into steel as it did when he was hit by Reiana, his identity would inevitably be exposed if his power manifested at times he didn’t want.

Neither he nor I wanted that result.

My goal was to live happily for a long time in this world, and if possible, I hoped Askan wouldn’t be corrupted and would be happy.

Did my feelings get across?

After a moment of consideration, Askan nodded slightly.

“I understand. When your lab is built later… let’s try it.”

I knew he had suffered harsh experiments from Tanashia, the original protagonist. Because I still remembered those times.

But I was grateful that he trusted me like this again. It must have been a very difficult decision for Askan, who had been experimented on for a lifetime, to volunteer like this.

“Thank you. I won’t betray your trust.”

Askan didn’t respond to my words. He just stared at me as if he could see through me.

I couldn’t read the emotion contained in his eyes now. Except that his gaze looked strangely lonely and sorrowful.

After a long stareoff with him, I turned my head first. I don’t know why, but it was hard to keep looking at him for a long time.

“Then, I have something to do…”

“…Reward…”

“What?”

“…Give me a reward.”

I didn’t understand what he meant for a moment and looked at Askan. Then he added the rest in a low voice.

“If I can control my power as you want, even though it’s for me, please give me a reward.”

“Do you want something?”

Askan remained silent in response to my question.

I didn’t know what he wanted, but I knew he didn’t have a lot of desires to want something.

A reward, it felt like giving candy to a child.

“Okay. Think about what you want. If you can control your power, I’ll give you anything as a gift.”

“Really?”

“Of course. I don’t lie about such things.”

At my words, Askan’s expression relaxed. It was a strangely comfortable face even though he wasn’t smiling.

“What if I ask for something very precious?”

“Prepare your mind. Okay?”

“Yes.”

“See you later, then.”

I turned my body first, leaving Askan behind. The design of K01 was completed and I was a little more relaxed, but there was still a lot to do.

Askan bowed deeply at my greeting.

As I walked down the corridor and turned the corner, I could still see Askan standing in the place he had been a little earlier.

I wonder what he was thinking about?