From my perspective, the ice attribute that tried to freeze me was more threatening.

And it’s not just the flames that are dangerous. All attributes can become powerful when used with harmful intent. It’s just that the intensity of flames often instills greater fear.

I tapped Hadel’s hand to show I didn’t need to take those words seriously. Hadel’s red eyes looked down at me.

That’s when Sae crossed a line.

“Hand that ferret over to me before you burn it to death.”

“You…….”

I felt Hadel’s emotions surge through his hand. His heart pounded, generating powerful flames.

Sae sneered, implying Hadel still couldn’t control his flames.

“Kyu!”

Unable to contain my anger, I forgot the overwhelming fear I had felt and raised my head to scream at Sae.

‘It’s mine! I’ll scratch it if I want! You shut up.’

Although my protest was profound, to Sae’s ears, it only sounded like:

“Kyu kyu kyu! Kyu kyu! Kyu!”

Not my fault that my vocal cords couldn’t articulate my intentions.

But maybe my protest got through, as Sae’s eyebrows twitched noticeably.

“This ferret…”

“Kyu kyu!”

Go ahead, try something! In my previous life, I once froze to death. If it happens again, it’s just my fate!

I defiantly faced Sae. He looked ready to kill me, reaching out with his hand. I could see ice crystals floating around his fingertips.

‘Eek!’

I had acted tough before, but the thought of freezing to death was still terrifying. I clung tightly to Hadel’s hand in fear.

‘Eh?’

Hadel subtly shifted his body between Sae and me, extending his hand towards Sae.

Hiss!

The collision of Hadel’s and Sae’s mana produced steam. Their contrasting mana types naturally reacted this way.

Sae, seemingly surprised that Hadel would confront him so directly, twisted his face in shock.

“Did you just shoot flames at me?”
It wasn’t my intention.

‘But, I guess it’s partly my fault. If I hadn’t been curious about whose room was behind that open window, I wouldn’t have been caught by Sae.’

Going further back in memory, if only I hadn’t kissed Hadel…

Thinking of Hadel suffering last night, I shook my head. Even if I could turn back time, I would still kiss him and relieve him of his mana. I don’t like seeing Hadel in pain.

“Ugh.”

Just like that.

“Kyu?”

‘Hadel?’

Startled by a groan I shouldn’t be hearing now, I lifted my head. Hadel seemed to stagger a bit, then he leaned against the bed and collapsed. His knees hit the floor, and his body bent over the bed.

‘What’s happening all of a sudden?’

I crawled out of Hadel’s grip, up his arm, and pressed my forehead against his nape. I was shocked to feel the intense heat from his forehead.

‘His forehead is burning hot again.’

Clearly, Hadel’s overproduction of mana was primarily due to stress.

Just as I tried to comfort him by wrapping my arms around his neck, Hadel, even in his dazed state, pushed me away.

“Stay back. You’ll get hurt.”

Ah, why! I’m trying to help!

Honestly, clinging on was tough due to my short arms, and getting pushed away was frustrating. But Hadel’s next words made me tear up.

“You too, might get hurt….”

‘You too’, not ‘you’.

‘He must have been hurt a lot in the capital.’

Fire is a power that can easily hurt those around if not handled properly. But blaming Hadel and treating him as a monster is wrong.

‘It’s not Hadel’s fault. It’s because not many taught him how to handle fire properly. That’s too harsh on him.’

Had people with fire attributes become so rare after my death that no one could teach Hadel properly?

‘If I had been there, I could have taught him.’

But now, I’m just a small ferret, unable to convey what I know to Hadel.

‘Still, there’s one thing I can do for Hadel.’

I got down from the bed and looked at Hadel’s face. He seemed to have lost consciousness due to the fever.

This is serious.

I’m just trying to help him.

‘Don’t be in pain, Hadel. Now I’m here. As long as I’m here, you won’t have to suffer from mana overproduction anymore.’

I carefully covered Hadel’s lips with mine. As soon as our lips touched, the intense mana swirling inside Hadel rushed into me.

‘I’m glad I can be of help. Maybe I became a ferret for Hadel.’

I closed my eyes, feeling languid. My body, which had been strained by Sae’s ice mana, quickly warmed up and relaxed.

Hadel’s mana was like sweet water to me. Water pouring down on someone who’s extremely thirsty. Instinctively, I stuck out my tongue and licked Hadel’s lips, wanting to absorb as much mana as possible.

And then, suddenly.

‘Ah, I’ve turned back into a human.’

With enough mana absorbed, I returned to my original form. My short, small hands stretched long, and my furry body transformed, revealing curves on my chest and waist.

I sighed deeply and lifted my head. My long hair fluttered and then settled slowly. When I opened my eyes.

“Gasp.”

Hadel’s red eyes were intently looking at me. I gasped in shock.

“Ha, Hadel?”

“…It wasn’t my imagination.”
All I could think of was that I needed to leave that place immediately. I tried to get up quickly, but maybe because I had spent so much time as a ferret, I slipped and fell while trying to get off the bed. Then Hadel grasped my wrist firmly.

Just as he had when confronting Sae, Hadel looked at me with calm eyes and asked:

“Would be nice if you’d just tell me plainly. Who are you?”

“That, that’s…”

I want to tell you if I could! But how can I, when I’m at a loss for words?

I don’t even know who or what I am.

I helplessly gnawed on my lips. Then, Hadel’s gaze slowly scanned me before quickly moving upwards. He frowned and almost accused me:

“……Pervert?”

“Yikes!”

I had just transformed, and I wasn’t wearing a single piece of clothing. I screamed and ended up slapping Hadel’s cheek.

A little while later, I was sitting on my knees in front of Hadel. He was touching his cheek, marked with my handprint, and wore an unmistakably displeased expression.

“Coming to me naked and stealing a kiss, and then you slap me for pointing it out.”

Honestly, I felt sorry for leaving such a mark on his cheek. But I couldn’t agree with Hadel’s accusation.

“I’m not a pervert! You deserved that slap!”

“It was you who couldn’t answer when I asked who you were.”

“Well, it was shocking.”

After all, you calmly ask ‘who are you’ after witnessing a ferret turn into a human. Isn’t that strange in itself?

‘And I don’t even know how much I should tell.’

Should I tell Hadel that I’m his distant ancestor?

That I’m Princess Marian, who died in battle while saving this country a hundred years ago?

‘He wouldn’t believe that.’

The more I thought, the more my head ached. Frustrated, I brushed my hair back and looked into Hadel’s steady red eyes.

Without realizing, the first words slipped out.

“My name is Marian.”

Right. Introducing myself by name seemed like a good start.