Eustar’s expression became more serious. He always listened attentively to Laila’s opinions, and never laughed off or dismissed her words as nonsensical jokes, no matter how absurd they might seem.

Thanks to his consistent effort and attitude, even the skeptical Laila felt comfortable speaking freely in front of Eustar.

“Go on, Laila.”

Eustar nodded as he poured a bit more brandy into his glass. Laila looked into her glass at the remaining brandy before turning her gaze back to him.

“As I said, manipulating the weather itself consumes a great deal of magical power or energy. I don’t know what this demon beast is doing by kidnapping children, but in any case, I don’t think it has enough power to control weather phenomena.”

“Instead, it senses when the weather will change and only moves then.”

Laila blinked in agreement and continued.

“It probably knows instinctively. Like how birds fly low when it’s about to rain. If it’s just that, it can dramatically reduce energy consumption.”

“That’s a plausible theory. A wide range of activity but not much magical power…”

“Perhaps illusions are the limit of that demon beast’s abilities.”

“Then conversely, its physical strength could be formidable.”

While demon beasts come in many varieties, they can be broadly categorized into those that use magical power or invisible energy, and those with strong physical power.

There were many other criteria for classifying demon beasts, such as their form, composition, whether they were animal-based or plant-based, or entirely new forms. The classification system was quite systematic, but in reality, only Eustar and Muge Olga within Tentinella truly knew it all.

Eustar finished his second glass of brandy and set it down. Then he began combing his hair from the ends, which had become even more disheveled as it dried.

As Laila watched him sitting at the dressing table combing his own hair, she felt another strange wave of emotion.

His hand movements as he carefully moved the comb from the ends of his hair looked practiced. Perhaps he was even more skilled at grooming than Laila… No, he certainly was.

Suddenly, she recalled his appearance at dinner wearing decorative hairpins. The jewels that sparkled brilliantly above his neat earlobes made his platinum hair look as white as freshly fallen snow. It was beautiful.

“Shall I comb it for you?”

The words came out abruptly, before Laila herself had even thought about it. For a moment, she thought someone else had imitated her voice.

Eustar’s hand, which had been moving the comb, stopped abruptly. He stared at her with a gaze that seemed partly amused and partly concerned.

“My hair? You?”

Laila suddenly felt her earlobes grow warm. Regret struck her back as she wondered if she had said something nonsensical without thinking.

But at this point, it would be even more embarrassing to brush it off by saying “it was nothing” or “I was joking.”

What’s the big deal. Laila tried to calm herself as she stood up. It’s not like she offered to help him bathe, just comb his hair.

“It looked difficult to do alone.”

Was it? Eustar tilted his head, still looking intrigued.

From around the age of six or seven, unlike other boys, he had grown his hair long enough to cover his shoulders.

Though it wasn’t by his own choice, he never felt uncomfortable with it, and as he grew older, he actually found short hair awkward and continued to grow it long. There was no way he would struggle with combing it now.

“Then please do. My arm was starting to ache anyway.”

Laila had no way of knowing he was lying. Despite her bold offer—though unintentional—Laila’s movements were cautious.

If someone had seen, they might have thought she was trying to ambush him from behind rather than comb his hair.

As Laila came up close behind him, Eustar deliberately made eye contact with her only through the mirror as he handed the comb over his shoulder.

“I’ll leave it to you. If it’s too difficult, just give it a quick brush and tie it up with that.”

Eustar’s chin gestured towards a short string on the dressing table. Laila glared at the string as if it were a snake, then grasped a handful of his soft hair and carefully began combing from the ends.

“You’re doing well,” Eustar said with a picturesque smile. As the firm, delicate comb teeth touched his scalp and moved down, he suddenly seemed to grow drowsy, closing his eyes and letting out a long sigh. “You can do it a bit harder if you like.”

Laila thought the tone of those words was strange. And once again she felt her earlobes grow hot. Eustar’s conversation was almost always like this, except when dealing with demon beasts or ghosts.

Eustar used ambiguous language that Laila could almost but not quite grasp the meaning of, fluently and without causing offense.

It made Laila feel as if she were dancing on the tip of his tongue, not knowing the direction or rhythm.

She couldn’t get the image out of her head of Eustar looking at her with surprised eyes, wearing only a towel. Laila deliberately blinked and shook her head, trying to clear it from her mind.

Laila said:

“About your contract with the Decepter…”

Then, she suddenly stopped combing and looked around. It was as if she thought something was standing behind her.

But Eustar gently stroked the back of her hand, and that small touch soon allowed her to find stability.

“Go on,” he said, turning his head to look up at her directly for the first time since she had started combing. “It’s alright. He’s not here.”

Laila looked down at the loose neckline of his tunic. She could glimpse down to his shoulder blades below his long, straight neck. The dark markings etched deeply on his skin were visible as well.

“If there’s a way to break it… If I find a way, Eustar. Would you accept it?”

Eustar was silent for a moment, his hand still overlapping Laila’s on the back of her hand. His eyes, which could bewitch someone just by looking, narrowed slightly.

“Well…” As he trailed off, Laila felt her heart sink. “Maybe. Why? Have you found something?”

Laila shook her head.

“No, not yet. But I’m still looking.”

“You’re not doing anything dangerous, are you? Sometimes when I go to find you, Mel tells me. She says you’ve gone out on business. Without telling her where you’re going, and not allowing her to follow. She’s full of complaints and worries.”

“Mel said that? I didn’t know.”

Laila shook her head in genuine surprise. Only once, just once, had Mel directly expressed concern to Laila. After that, even when Laila said she was going out alone, Mel didn’t show any particular signs of displeasure…

Eustar said:

“Don’t worry. Mel isn’t upset because of you. She’s worried about you. She’s a good person. Among the palace employees, Mel is particularly trustworthy. Well, that’s probably why Duchess Himierd placed her by your side. She’s very thorough in that regard.”

Suddenly Laila wondered if Eustar also knew that Duchess Himierd was using Mel to monitor her. But that question quickly sank deep inside her.

It was problematic if Eustar knew, and problematic if he didn’t. Laila didn’t want to create another issue she didn’t need to take on.

Laila sighed briefly and resumed combing, speaking in a casual tone.

“That’s right, Mel is a good person. She genuinely worries about me. She even gave me the charm she received from her grandmother. To be careful, she said…”

She thought it was necessary to change the subject at this point.

“Anyway, I haven’t found a way yet. I just wanted to know if your resolve was firm, that’s why I asked.”

“If someone has to be sacrificed, I refuse.”

Eustar said firmly, turning his head again to look up at Laila.

“You know what I mean, Laila?”

It felt strange. Laila had now forgotten how far she had combed his hair and was moving her hand almost mechanically.

Not that it mattered much, since his hair was naturally smooth and just drying and combing it made it glossy…

“Answer me, Laila. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

“If my sacrifice is needed, will you live your life given over to a demon?”

For a moment, Eustar’s lips pressed into a straight line. He carefully took the comb from Laila’s hand, then turned to face her.

“I’d rather carry that demon on my shoulder for the rest of my life. Laila, if it meant sacrificing you.”

“Why, Eustar? There’s no need for that.”

“Why do you think there’s no need? You are my…”

His words trailed off and became unclear. Laila quickly gathered up the scattered words before Eustar could say anything else. Of course, not in the way Eustar had wanted.

“Your temporary companion. Your temporary partner acting as your wife.”

Eustar’s lips moved carefully. Though no one made a sound, for a moment both were defenseless against the noise that loudly rang in their minds. It was such a clear auditory hallucination…

Eustar said:

“That’s right, that’s true. But you mean more to me than that. I want you to remember that fact. Anytime, anywhere.”

“What do you…”

He turned back around. Laila stood there holding the comb like a dazed new employee, then carefully resumed combing his hair.

Just as she thought she was almost done combing, a twinge of regret passed through Laila’s heart. Voices leaked out from an invisible, reddened and swollen wound.

I don’t want to stop. I want to make this person feel good. I don’t want to stop here…

“Your touch feels nice.”

At Eustar’s whisper, Laila’s face turned red.