“Among your recent research, what experiment requires your blood?”

“…It’s something I started recently, so Chamuka wouldn’t know about it.”

“Then tell me now. What kind of experiment is it that I don’t know about and that you haven’t recorded in your research journal?”

Even in this situation, the prince showed no sign of discomfort.

His composed face seemed to reproach Chamuka for being so serious.

The prince acted so naturally composed that if Chamuka hadn’t known him for the past 10 years, he might have dismissed it as nothing.

“I was just curious about how much magical power exists in a magician’s blood, so I did some experiments.”

This is an act.

Chamuka knew Leti now.

Leti was honest in front of them when confused, shy, happy, or sad.

As long as they didn’t ask about Leti’s past, this child never falsified expressions or reactions in front of them.

“I didn’t think it was a big deal. If I’d known you would worry this much, I would have at least written something brief in my research journal.”

So these needle-filled forearms represented something this child wanted to hide as much as Leti’s past.

Such a thing couldn’t possibly be nothing.

If it were, Leti would have honestly shown confusion, rather than pretending to be calm like this.

That’s why Chamuka couldn’t hold back any longer.

***

Leticia was concerned about her wrist being held by Chamuka.

Not just her exposed forearm, but she could feel her pulse beating faster than usual at her wrist.

No matter how well she could fake her expression, it was difficult to hide her body’s response when lying.

While dispelling the moisture from Chamuka’s wet body, she tried to gently push his hand away.

But when his hand wouldn’t budge, Leticia had no choice but to speak.

“Chamuka?”

Praying that her smile would seem more natural than usual, she raised her head.

“Please let go of my hand. Let’s go back, and I’ll explain in more detail…”

Their eyes met.

That was nothing special in itself.

Chamuka had a habit of staring at people, so they often made eye contact when together.

“….”

But strangely, she found herself at a loss for words.

Though his transparent golden eyes were no different than usual, a chill ran down her spine.

As if her mind was warning her. Why?

After a precarious silence, Chamuka finally spoke.

“Last year, my mother made a request of me.”

“….”

“She said I was the most dangerous thing to you, so I shouldn’t act on my own accord claiming it was for your sake.”

Why would Chamuka be the most dangerous to her? Leticia could only blink, unable to follow this sudden change of topic.

“But my mother was wrong. When I distanced myself, you became endangered.”

Although she had been spending less time with Chamuka since last year, that had nothing to do with why Leticia had been drawing blood.

That was because of Kalia.

Leticia didn’t know where to begin pointing out this sudden leap in logic.

No, more importantly, why was he bringing this up so abruptly?

Leticia involuntarily shuddered at Chamuka’s eyes, which seemed to have gone mad, and the surroundings that somehow felt increasingly ominous despite it being broad daylight.

“Are you cold?”

“A little…”

She thought about averting her gaze but changed her mind. Her instincts were sending her fierce warnings.

Hadn’t she learned that it’s dangerous to carelessly look away in front of a predator?

Leticia swallowed as her spine tingled with goosebumps.

“Let’s go back to the castle and talk. I’ll explain everything. Although I’ve dispelled the moisture, you still need to wash up, and so do I.”

She wanted to go somewhere with more people. It felt necessary.

However, despite Leticia’s words, Chamuka didn’t budge.

“You won’t explain anything. Leti.”

“No, that’s not true.”

The easy denial felt hollow.

“For the past 10 years, you’ve never told us your name, age, or hometown, so is this different? You’re making the same expression as when you hide your past.”

This was the first time Leticia’s defensive attitude had been directly mentioned.

No one in Basilinte had ever said such things in front of Leticia.

Because they didn’t want to hurt her or make her say things she didn’t want to say.

…Anyway, she was with them now.

Leticia’s composed face wavered. She seemed a little hurt.

“I don’t mean that’s bad.”

Chamuka quickly added an excuse, reflecting on whether his tone had been too aggressive.

He really disliked Leti hiding things from him, but he disliked hurting Leti even more.

He gently took Leticia’s hand.

Of course, Leticia didn’t feel it was gentle at all. She only clearly felt how swiftly he grabbed her, like catching a fleeing debtor.

“If you don’t want to talk about it, you don’t need to discuss things like your past. But this is different. It concerns your safety.”

For the past year, Astrid had trained Chamuka very harshly.

Astrid’s lovely disciple was too kind to mercilessly smash the heads of Basilinte people who spoke nonsense, as Astrid would do.

So Astrid, on behalf of her disciple, had preemptively smashed Chamuka’s head while teaching him about normal human relationships.

Naturally, the first thing she taught was, “when your confession is rejected, wish for the other’s happiness and leave.”

Anyway, thanks to Astrid’s education, Chamuka at least recognized that what he was attempting now was a confession.

He considered kneeling on one knee but realized that standing would be better in case the other person tried to run away, so he just firmly held both of Leticia’s hands.

“So I mean… Leti.”

“Yes.”

“I feel an extremely strong desire to protect you.”

Chamuka began explaining his condition, which had been analyzed by various experts and even non-experts.

As a result, Leticia, who was listening, still couldn’t recognize whether this was a confession.

“I also have a strong desire for exclusivity that seeks to remove others who try to influence you. Combined with my protective instinct, it developed into an abnormal anxiety. I’ve been trying to diagnose the cause for the past year.”

“I, I see.”

Leticia unconsciously stammered in response to Chamuka’s clear eyes, which seemed to be radiating light.

Those eyes seemed both expectant and extremely anxious.

“Many people said the cause was that I like you, but I needed more certainty. Then, this happened. Because I didn’t confirm my feelings quickly enough.”

“…Pardon?”

Like who? Leticia doubted her ears for a moment.

It seemed like something strange had been said too naturally.

“Why did I think I needed to clearly judge my feelings? Actually, my feelings weren’t important.”

No, they seem important. Isn’t this long-winded talk all about that?

“What was important was your safety.”

For Leticia, this was the first time she had seen Chamuka talk so much. And everything he was saying was beyond her understanding.

Where was this rambling conversation, which had started with her forearm, heading?

“Chamuka, what are you saying…”

Finally unable to hold back, Leticia opened her mouth but couldn’t finish her sentence due to Chamuka’s intense gaze.

Still firmly holding both of Leticia’s hands, he confessed.

“I want to have an exclusive position in protecting and caring for you from now on. I mean I want a relationship where it’s not a problem for me to intervene in your daily life.”

“…?”

What kind of relationship is that?