In this situation where my body suddenly generates mana, I couldn’t interpret it in any other way.

‘It seems like I’m also preparing for a fight against Espen.’

Preparing for self-fight before the decisive moment. Because this is my battle.

‘I might just burn myself out. Since I couldn’t do it cleanly 100 years ago, at least in this life.’

I clenched my fist. Evelyn, while silently watching me making resolutions, extended her pale hand.

“I came to check Mariann’s health. There seems to be a change in internal mana generation. May I take a look?”

“Sure.”

Although Evelyn might have come under Espen’s orders, I decided to trust Evelyn.

‘She’s Yul’s disciple.’

The expression she showed when expressing gratitude to Yulnia for giving her rest was undoubtedly sincere.

Evelyn, holding my wrist, closed her eyes and concentrated. The mana, not as warm as Evelyn’s, yet not impolite, flowed into my body.

Examining the mana circuit in my body step by step, Evelyn slowly opened her eyes.

“This is…”

She seemed a bit puzzled. Worried that it might be a bad sign for my body, I tilted my head.

“Why?”

Evelyn’s white cheeks blushed slightly. She asked me with an excited tone.

“Do you remember when we met last time? I told you how you could maintain your human form continuously.”

“Did we talk about that?”

Honestly, most of the stories we shared at that time were not well remembered due to the shocking appearance of Yulnia.

Evelyn gestured to me. It was an expression that she wanted to speak quietly so others wouldn’t hear. I tilted my head apologetically to Evelyn.

“Now, Mariann… ”

Evelyn quietly told me about my condition. I widened my eyes like a rabbit.

“Hey!”

As I was about to raise an objection, the palace, which seemed to be extremely noisy, suddenly had someone breaking through the door as if crashing in.

“Mariann! Mariann, where are you? I came. Let me in!”

It was Espen.

From the moment Espen learned that Hadel had killed the demon and headed straight to find Mariann, he couldn’t control his anger.

Ignoring the knights and rushing straight to the terrace, Espen’s followers shouted.

“Prince Hadel’s whereabouts are unknown! It’s dangerous to go alone!”

“Your Highness! Please go a bit slower…”

Those words only fueled Espen’s anger even more. Espen shouted in frustration.

“Nonsense! If it’s too hard for you, come later. I’ll go quickly!”

After saying that, Espen didn’t look back and ran ahead.
With each step he took, a thin layer of ice formed on the floor, making a crisp crunching sound. His loss of composure indicated that he was losing control over ice manipulation.

In no time, Espen arrived at the White Jade Palace. Despite the greetings from the courtiers, he ignored them and searched for Mariann.

“Mariann! Mariann, where are you? I’m here. Come out!”

Espen’s loud voice startled the courtiers, causing them to retreat as if glued to the wall. When the brainwashing was effective, they used to gaze at Espen expressionlessly.

‘Damn!’

Despite the need to maintain composure, especially during times like these, and to avoid creating events that could raise suspicions, the already agitated Espen couldn’t control himself.

He was fixated on the possibility that Mariann might have already escaped with Hadel.

“Mariann! Mariann! Mariann!”

He barged into Mariann’s room, where an uneasy-looking Sesil, Evelyn, and Mariann awaited him.

Whether he was angry about something or not, Mariann stood in the middle of the room with an unpleasant expression when Espen shouted.

Not even Mariann’s face reassured him. Espen, with heavy steps, entered the room and shouted.

“Is Hadel here? Hadel, come out!”

Despite his calls, there was no sign of Hadel inside the room.

‘Perhaps he didn’t come this far.’

Espen sighed with relief when Mariann took a step forward and spoke with a cold voice.

“I don’t know why you’re looking for Hadel here, but don’t scare other people. Leave.”

Her words, asking him to leave, felt strangely painful.

Why did it feel so heartbreaking?

‘Why can’t you understand my feelings?’

Unfairness, anger, and various emotions mixed thickly. Even before he could examine his own feelings, his body moved.

He grabbed Mariann’s wrist. The coldness ascended her arm through her wrist, instantly turning it pale.

“Ugh.”

Mariann let out a painful groan, but even that sound was sweet. Like a thirsty person desperately seeking water, Espen pulled Mariann’s wrist towards his chest.

As her body warmed within his cold embrace, the rebellious heartbeat quickly settled down.

‘Mariann is here. In my arms.’

He just wanted to freeze like this with her. Even if his breath stopped, it would be sweet as long as she was with him.

While overwhelmed by such feelings, his body involuntarily released another burst of cold. Startled by the sudden chill, Espen, who had pulled away from Mariann out of concern, had a distorted expression on his face.

“Look at this.”

Although Mariann looked pale, she hadn’t frozen.

It was evidence that she was emitting flames.