“Welcome, Duke Lianster! We sincerely welcome you to Lurat!”

“It’s been a while, Lord Harris.”

“I was so surprised to hear you were visiting Lurat. Thank you sincerely for making the journey here despite how busy you must be after your appointment as Archmage.”

He was a rather elegantly dressed man. Who is he?

As Riley wondered, Givnen introduced the man to her.

“Elder sister, this is Lord Harris, owner of the Harris Hotel. Lord Harris, this is my wife-to-be.”

“Wife? Are, are you getting married?”

“That’s how it turned out.”

Harris’s face lit up.

“My sincere congratulations, Duke!”

“Thank you.”

“Please, come in. Ah, I’ve prepared cheese, venison, and claret wine. Would you like to have them right away?”

At Harris’s question, Givnen turned to Riley and asked.

“Do you want to eat first?”

“Yes, I’m a bit hungry.”

“Let’s do that then.”

“I’ll prepare for you to dine right away. The guest rooms are this way, please follow me.”

They had their luggage, transported via the cargo teleporter, moved for them, and were guided to the Royal Room on the topmost floor. It was very convenient as they even took care of unpacking.

The meal was brought directly to the Royal Room where they were staying, and a menu listing additional food items that could be ordered was also provided.

Breakfast was usually simple fare, but the food placed on the plates was so exquisitely luxurious it seemed more like a work of art than mere food.

Top quality, highest grade. Having become somewhat accustomed to being provided with only the best of everything, Riley naturally picked up her fork and knife.

“By the way, where exactly are we?”

“The southernmost tip, a place gaining popularity as a resort.”

“Have you been here before?”

“I’ve been here a few times for work.”

“It must be quite a big city, judging by the presence of such a grand hotel.”

“It is big. It’s raking in money from the tourism industry and it’s a place frequently visited by travelers from other continents. Foreigners can enter and exit relatively freely here.”

“Is it because of the sea?”

“That’s right. Trade is also active.”

Riley took a bite of a biscuit garnished with translucent caviar and rich cheese, then looked out the window. The view of the blue sea was visible at a glance.

“It’s my first time seeing the sea.”

“I thought as much, that’s why I brought you here.”

“It’s beautiful, much more magnificent than I imagined.”

“I’m glad you like it.”

“But why did we come all the way out here?”

“There are various reasons. I wanted to show you the sea, and we needed a space where we could move around freely without worrying about others’ gazes.”

“……”

“I’m fine with it, but I thought you might be concerned.”

“About what?”

“People’s stares or the paparazzi.”

That’s right. Riley had been anxious until this morning, worried that another scandal might break out.

Unlike Givnen, whose face and name had been sold to the point of being tattered, Riley was an ordinary person unaccustomed to having her name and face sold in gossip magazines.

“You won’t have to worry about that here. There are so many people that we won’t particularly stand out. And even if we do……”

“Even if we do?”

“I’ll cover it up, of course.”

His confidence in being able to suppress all articles didn’t seem like mere bluster. Givnen was certainly capable of that and more.

“Can you block all the articles?”

“There’s nothing I can’t do.”

“Then why haven’t you done it until now?”

“Did I have to?”

“The rumors following you weren’t just one or two.”

Givnen spoke playfully while drinking claret wine.

“It’s because I’m magnanimous. The press should be grateful that I’m keeping them alive. If it weren’t for me, numerous newspapers under them would have gone out of business long ago. Especially the tabloids. I wonder how many people I’m actually feeding.”

Indeed, most of the reports about his scandals were closer to yellow journalism.

Whether it was because he had so many enemies or not, she wasn’t sure, but the image of him portrayed in the media was that of an unparalleled scoundrel… even though in reality, he wasn’t as dissolute in his private life or as nasty in personality as one might think.

Riley suddenly felt a bit sorry for Givnen.

People might point fingers if she said she felt sorry for his lavish life gilded in gold, but still, his life as she observed it up close seemed lonelier and more stifling than she had imagined.

Everyone envies and admires his life, but is a life that is constantly in everyone’s eyes and ears, to the point where he can casually joke about feeding the press, really something that ordinary people can handle?

At Riley’s calm words, Givnen laughed as if dumbfounded.

“Don’t tell me… you’re pitying me now?”

“Maybe?”

“Oh, this is the first time in my life someone’s pitied me.”

“I’m sorry if I offended you. Well, I’m not in a position to pity anyone. It was too ridiculous a thing to say.”

Givnen stopped eating and gazed intently at Riley.

“Do you think you’re pitiful?”

“I think my life was quite pitiful.”

“Hmm.”

“But not anymore. I’m living in luxury thanks to a certain someone, aren’t I? Claire says I’m a very lucky person. Only now can I say this, but I used to think I was an unlucky person. But now… well, I think I’m not that unlucky after all.”

“That’s good then.”

Riley was chewing on her food when she suddenly looked up as if remembering something.

“You said before. That I was pitiful.”

“Did I say that?”

“Yes, you did. You said I looked like I had nowhere else to turn to but you.”

“Ah, that time.”

Givnen also recalled that moment.

「Keep relying on me.」

「Look only at me.」

「Depend only on me.」

「Trust only me.」

「Love only me.」

「Try living only for me.」

“I’ve deeply engraved those words you said then.”

“……”

“Because you’re my luck, I’m trying to live as best I can, just as you said. Then maybe my life, which I thought was unlucky, can continue to be happy.”

Meanwhile, Givnen recalled what Arpegio had said.

She had said something about living in a hell pretending to be heaven, hadn’t she?

“What if.”

“……”

“What if I’m a demon who might kill you? What if everything I’ve given you was actually for me, not for you? Would you still live as I said?”

“……”

“Looking only at me, depending only on me, loving only me, like that.”

“Yes.”

“Even if I don’t look at you, if I push you away, if I don’t love you?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

This time, Riley tilted her head.

“Because you told me to live that way.”

“……”

“It doesn’t matter to me what kind of person you are. I’ll do my best to live as you said, and I don’t mind if you don’t reciprocate. And I’ve never even thought about the premise of being loved by you.”

“……”

“Besides, our relationship will be purely business from beginning to end, won’t it?”

At her casual remark, Givnen put down the knife he was holding.

He smiled with a somewhat deflated expression.

“That’s not wrong.”

“Don’t worry, I won’t cross the line. I won’t expect anything from you, I’ll just diligently receive what you give me and live like that.”

Givnen said nothing.

Riley continued eating as if nothing was wrong.

‘I should praise her for saying that.’

A clean business relationship with no complications. A form of coexistence for mutual benefit without mixing in unnecessary personal emotions. Even a cooperative attitude. There wasn’t a single disturbing aspect. Rather, it should be full of pleasing aspects. The most desirable relationship.

An easy-to-handle, uncomplicated relationship. Although she had the best mindset for maintaining such a relationship,

‘Why does it bother me?’

He didn’t like what she said.

Even though there was nothing wrong with it.

He didn’t particularly want to know why. So Givnen focused only on calmly suppressing the slight unpleasant feeling that had risen.

[This is the timeline separator]

As befitting a resort town with a developed tourism industry, Lurat had a truly massive shopping street.

As the trade industry developed and merchants from all continents frequented the place, one could easily come across all sorts of exotic items. Especially the magical tools said to have come from eastern countries had many intriguing shapes and uses.

They bought an iron kettle that brews the desired tea just by adding water, a ring decorated with gems that change color depending on the light, and a self-playing music box, but the shopping didn’t end there.

“That’s a total of six sets? We’ll send all the purchased clothes and shoes to your residence. Would you like to make the payment now?”

“Yes, right away.”

Six sets of clothes and several pairs of shoes purchased from the most famous designer shop in Lurat’s shopping street were immediately shipped to the Lianster mansion.

“This is the design that many young women prefer these days. Ah, this is also good for couples to wear.”

Earrings, rings, necklaces, and other accessories were also paid for on the spot. These too were directly shipped to the Lianster mansion.

Having spent an eye-popping amount on luxury items in just an hour, he still didn’t seem satisfied.

“Anything else you need?”

“It’s fine, really fine. It’s enough.”

No one in this world would be unsatisfied with such a one-sided gift offensive.

However, to fill his satisfaction would probably be endless, so Riley cut it off sharply this time. For Riley, who had been far from luxury all her life, even what they had bought now felt burdensome.

This much excessive gift was enough.

After shopping, they headed to the beach.

There were many travelers at the beach. Families, couples, and friends who came on vacation were swimming in the water or enjoying tea parties on the beach, while children were playing in the water, with balls, or in the sand.

Riley spent time walking along the beach with Givnen, dipping their feet in the seawater.

The feeling of the sea touching her for the first time was very fresh. It was fun to throw bread crumbs to the seagulls, and there was also the joy of picking up pretty shells. She spent time engrossed in it all. Fully savoring things she was seeing and experiencing for the first time.

It was a very peaceful time.

However, this peace was shattered when they went into a cafe near the beach to have a drink.

Givnen, who had casually taken a sip of his drink, frowned.

“What’s wrong? Does it taste bad?”

“It’s not so much that it tastes bad as…”

“?”

“It tastes like someone’s played a prank.”

“…Isn’t that the same as tasting bad?”

As Riley was about to put the straw in her mouth, Givnen quickly snatched her drink away.

“Don’t drink it.”

“?”

“You’ll get sick. It tastes weird.”

“Is it spoiled? Then we should complain to the shop owner…”

“Forget it, let’s go out.”

Givnen grabbed Riley and pulled her outside.

No matter how much money one has, shouldn’t they get a refund if they’re served strange food?

By the way, how bad must it have tasted for him to make such a face?

“It’s better to have meals only at the hotel. Don’t eat outside food.”

“…Was it that bad? Did it taste that awful?”

“Yes, so don’t carelessly put unverified food in your mouth. And don’t go out alone.”

He seemed more sensitive than before. He must have been upset after eating spoiled food.

“Are we going back to the hotel?”

“Yes, why? Do you want to play more?”

“No, my legs were starting to hurt anyway.”

It was then, as they were walking back to the hotel through the cloud-like crowd.

Bang−

The sound of gunfire was heard. After that, screams erupted and it instantly became a scene of chaos.

Riley thought a gunfight had broken out somewhere far away. But that wasn’t the case.

“…This is.”

The bullet was suspended in mid-air. To be precise, it was stopped right in front of Givnen’s forehead. As if blocked by something. If the bullet hadn’t stopped in mid-air, Givnen’s head would have been pierced right through.

Riley looked at Givnen in shock. Givnen, as if this situation was nothing significant, caught the bullet with his hand and instantly crushed the shell. Then he threw it behind him. With the sound of metal hitting the ground, the crushed bullet rolled on the floor.

As Riley was just gaping in surprise, Givnen patted her shoulder.

“Are you okay?”

“…That’s what I should be asking.”

“I’m fine.”

“You look it.”

How can he be so calm in a situation where a bullet nearly pierced his head? By the way, where did the bullet come from?

Riley looked around. Then Givnen embraced her and started walking again.

“It was shot from far away, so you won’t see anything from here.”

“You… I mean, you almost had your head pierced just now.”

“I know. But it wasn’t pierced, right? That’s fine then.”

“My head could have been pierced too.”

“Would I let that happen?”

The street was in chaos. People startled by the daytime gunfire were screaming, running away, falling and rolling repeatedly. Riley was almost swept up in this too, but Givnen firmly supported her body to protect her.

He was so calm that anyone watching might mistake him for a passing pedestrian rather than someone who had been threatened with a gun. Perhaps because he was so calm, Riley’s startled heart calmed down a bit too.

“Did you block it with magic?”

“Yes.”

“How did you know the bullet was coming?”

“I didn’t know, I used magic instinctively in that brief moment.”

“…That’s an incredible reflex.”

“Surely the Magic Department won’t make a fuss over this. If by chance they call me in, be a witness for me. Tell them it was self-defense.”

“I’ll testify that I saw your handsome head nearly blown off right next to me.”

“That’s reassuring.”

“But aren’t you going to look for them?”

“For what?”

“The person who shot at you.”

Givnen looked around and then gave up.

“It’s troublesome.”

“But they tried to blow your head off? They might be aiming at you again from somewhere.”

“It’s not the first or second time, I can’t find them right now. Maybe if I remove this damned control needle, it might be possible.”

“Control needle? The one stuck in your ear?”

“It’s something the Magic Department put on me to monitor me.”

“Won’t they acknowledge it as self-defense?”

“It’s problematic to remove the control needle too often, and the last time I removed it once, the surveillance became even stricter. Anyway, if I remove this, I could track the enemy’s location, but I don’t feel the need to go that far.”

“Is that for surveillance purposes?”

“Surveillance and control. With this in, I can barely use magic. It suppresses magical power activation.”

“But you just used it.”

“Only the basics are possible. It’s not that I can’t use it at all, but ‘almost’ can’t use it.”

“Ah.”

He can block bullets flying from afar with basic magic, but I can’t even do that basic level.

By the way, how accustomed has he become to this perilous daily life? I was at a loss for words seeing his calm attitude. How is it possible to brush off someone targeting his life, a bullet flying at his head, so nonchalantly?

‘…It’s not just a glamorous life after all.’

While the man who nearly had his head pierced by a bullet was calm, Riley felt very strange.

How to put it… the dazzling life of this man, envied by everyone, seemed a bit pitiful. Today, his broad back looks particularly lonely and heavy.

“Are you really okay?”

“About what?”

“You almost died just now.”

“I didn’t almost die. Someone tried to kill me and failed.”

“Are you used to people coming to kill you?”

“…It’s quite a common occurrence. It’s about time I got used to it.”

What kind of life is it where death becomes familiar? I can’t even imagine.

It’s too scary to think that unknown people are targeting my life every day… Is he really not bothered by it? Or is he pretending not to be scared when he actually is? There’s no way a person wouldn’t fear death.

Maybe… he’s just gotten used to pretending it doesn’t bother him?

During their conversation, they arrived at the hotel.

They enjoyed a lavish dinner and relaxed in the hotel’s hot spring.

It was a much more satisfying day than expected.

However, the moment they entered the room after finishing all the schedules, Riley realized.

One room, one bed. One man.

There was one more thing to be done.