Hadel’s gaze was calm. Saedel let out a mocking laugh.

“Do you know what this means now? You’ve been banished from the royal family, but I’m the one to inherit the kingdom. Yet you attack me with flames?”

It was clear that Hadel aiming flames at Saedel held more significance than a mere sibling quarrel.

Nevertheless, the fact that he stepped up to protect me as well.

“People change, Saedel. I no longer hurt anyone. So I won’t silently listen to your baseless accusations.”

Hadel spoke firmly while holding me in his arms. The Hadel who worked as a grand duke was impressive in his own right, but today’s Hadel exuded a strong will. The distinctive will of someone who believes in their own strength and ability to fight on.

“This ferret is mine. Even if it’s you, I won’t stand idly by if you touch what’s mine.”

To think that I would be the first thing he declares to protect and reveal that will for! I looked up at Hadel with tears glistening in my eyes, overcome with emotion.

‘Hey, you seem to like me more than I thought.’

He always said he’d turn me into a scarf. That he’d eat me if I got fat!

‘Hadel says he’ll protect me!’

It was clear that I now meant more to Hadel than just a wild animal.

My heart pounded loudly again. Was it just my imagination? I felt a warm heat where my body touched Hadel’s palm.

No, it wasn’t my imagination. The moment I realized that Hadel cherished me just as I cherished him, calling him ‘my baby, our baby’ adoringly in my mind, Hadel’s mana flowed towards me as if a barrier had disappeared.

‘It seems like more is flowing in than usual.’

Hadel and I could always exchange mana just by touching, but it felt like the intensity had increased.

And Saedel, sensitive to mana flow, immediately noticed something was different.

“What was that just now?”

“What?”

“I said, what was that just now, you ferret!”

I let out a startled ‘eep’.

‘Did they coat the flame mana with honey or something? Even I barely noticed the subtle change, how did he catch on?’

Even Hadel, the owner of the mana, didn’t know I was siphoning his mana like a mosquito.

Saedel tried to push Hadel aside and grab me, but Hadel stood firm like a rock, not allowing even a hair on me to be touched.

A cold voice flowed from Hadel’s lips.

“Back off.”

It was a voice brimming with clear hostility. This was the first time Hadel had shown such an aggressive side. Even Saedel seemed taken aback, stopping mid-step as he approached. Hadel declared to Saedel:

“This one is mine.”

Saedel, who had been standing dazed for a moment, ground his teeth.

“…You’ll regret this.”

“I know I’ll regret it if I don’t step in now.”

Hadel gestured to his room door with his chin and said:

“Get out of my room.”

Saedel glared at Hadel before finally turning on his heel and storming out with a whoosh. I waved my paw at the back of his head.

‘Get lost quickly. Let’s never see each other again.’

I vowed to never prance around in front of Saedel again. Hadel saved me this time, but it was uncertain if I’d be lucky enough to meet Hadel with such perfect timing next time.

‘I should hide in Hadel’s room until that prince goes back to the capital.’

Seeing how he was growling at Hadel like that, it seemed he wouldn’t stay long before heading back to the capital.

Just having Saedel out of sight already felt like a weight off my shoulders. I patted Hadel’s hand like a grandmother, praising him.

‘Oh, how admirable. You know how to stand up against injustice.’

Hadel let out a small sigh as he met my sparkling eyes and gaze. Then he opened his mouth as if to scold me.

“How did you end up being chased by that guy? Where did you go so early in the morning?”

“Kyuu.”

It wasn’t my intention.

‘Well, it is partly my fault. If I hadn’t been curious about whose room that open window belonged to, I wouldn’t have been snatched by Saedel.’

Going back even further, if I hadn’t kissed Hadel’s lips…

Remembering Hadel groaning in pain last night, I shook my head. Even if I could turn back time, I would kiss him again and relieve him of his mana. I don’t want Hadel to be in pain.

“Ugh.”

Yes, like that.

“Kyuu?”

‘Hadel?’

Startled by the groan that shouldn’t be heard right now, I looked up. Hadel seemed to stagger a bit, then collapsed onto the bed, supporting himself. His knees hit the floor, and his body slumped over the bed.

‘Why so suddenly?’

Having slipped out of Hadel’s grasp, I climbed up his arm and pressed my forehead against his nape. I was shocked by the heat I felt through my forehead.

‘His forehead is burning hot again.’

It was clear that stress was the main cause of Hadel’s mana overproduction.

When I wanted to ease Hadel’s pain and clung to his nape, spreading my arms wide as if hugging him, Hadel pushed me away even in his disoriented state.

“Stay away. You’ll get hurt.”

Ah, why, when I’m trying to help!

Honestly, it was already hard to cling on with my short arms, and being pushed away like this made me really annoyed. But Hadel’s next words made my eyes well up with tears.

“I might end up… hurting you too…”

Not ‘you’, but ‘you too’.

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

It’s true that if not handled properly, flame power can easily hurt those around you. But if people try to resolve it by simply branding Hadel alone as a monster, that’s the fault of those around him.

‘It’s because there aren’t many people who properly teach how to handle flames, why is that Hadel’s fault? Everyone is too harsh.’

Have people with flame attributes become so rare since I died? To the point where there’s no one to properly teach Hadel how to handle flames?

‘If I were there, I could have taught him well.’

But now I’ve become a small ferret, and I can’t verbally convey what I know to Hadel.

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

I came down to the bed and looked at Hadel’s face as he lay slumped over it. Hadel seemed to have lost consciousness from the fever, no longer keeping his eyes open.

This could turn serious.

I’m just helping Hadel, that’s all.

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

Approaching Hadel carefully, I gently pressed my lips to his. The moment 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’s sake.’

I closed my hazy eyes. My body, which had just been overworked by Saedel’s ice mana, instantly relaxed and warmed up.

To me, Hadel’s mana was like sweet water. Water pouring over someone parched with thirst. Instinctively, I stuck out my tongue and licked Hadel’s lips. Wanting to absorb as much mana as possible.

And at some point.

‘Ah, I’ve turned human.’

Having absorbed enough mana, I changed back to my original form. My short, tiny hands stretched out long, and my smooth body covered only in fur developed the curves of breasts and waist.

I lifted my head with a deep sigh. My lengthened hair fluttered before slowly settling. When I slowly opened my eyes.

“Gasp.”

Hadel’s red eyes were staring intently at me. I was startled.

“Ha, Hadel?”

“…So it wasn’t my imagination.”

For now, I only thought of leaving this place. I quickly tried to get up from the bed. But perhaps because I had spent too long as a ferret, I slipped and fell as I tried to rise. And Hadel firmly grasped my wrist.

Just like when he confronted Saedel, Hadel stared at me with calm eyes and asked:

“I’d like you to explain calmly. Who are you?”

“Th-that’s…”

I wish I could tell you if I could! But what can I do when words fail me.

I don’t even know who I am or what kind of being I am.

I helplessly chewed on my lip. Then, Hadel’s gaze slowly scanned me before quickly returning upward. Hadel frowned and retorted:

“…A pervert?”

“Eek!”

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

A moment later, I was kneeling in front of Hadel. Touching his cheek where my handprint was clearly visible, Hadel wore an overtly displeased expression.

“You come here naked, go so far as to steal a kiss, and then hit me for pointing out that fact.”

Honestly, I feel bad for leaving his cheek in such a state. But I couldn’t agree with Hadel’s point.

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

“You’re the one who couldn’t answer when I asked who you were.”

“Well, because it’s bewildering.”

If anything, isn’t it strange that you calmly ask who I am after seeing a ferret turn into a human right before your eyes?

‘Besides, I’m not sure what I can and can’t say.’

Would Hadel believe me if I told him I’m his distant ancestor?

That I’m Princess Marian who died on the battlefield 100 years ago while saving this country?

‘He wouldn’t believe it.’

The more I thought about it, the more complicated it became. As I nervously ran my fingers through my hair, I met Hadel’s calm red eyes staring at me.

At that moment, the first words flowed out of my mouth without me realizing:

“My name is Marian.”

Right. I should start by introducing myself first.