“Yes, It hurts me.”

Zephion’s face scrunched in a frown, his small hands balling into tight fists.

“Then I’ll stop him from hurting you.”

“Oh? And how exactly will you do that?”

“I—I’ll figure something out.”

His voice faltered — clearly, he hadn’t thought that far ahead.

Reina let out a quiet laugh.

How could someone like him stop Kaelid? He couldn’t even keep his balance when the man pushed him.

Still, she thought, it’s admirable that he never gives up and always tries to stand his ground.

Whenever Kaelid came to take her away, Zephion threw himself at him tirelessly and without fail. Despite the obvious outcome, the boy stubbornly picked himself up again and again. Reina had grown used to it by now.

She sometimes wondered whether it was because he was descended from House Baltgar, or if all children were simply like that.

“I’ll protect you, Reina.”

Reina couldn’t help but laugh.

“And how do you plan to do that?”

“They said that if I eat well and sleep enough, I’ll grow taller than Kaelid in no time.”

“Being big isn’t enough.”

“Then I’ll train hard with Yuta. He’s teaching me swordsmanship.”

Now that she thought about it, she remembered hearing that the boy had a natural talent for it. When she asked him to teach her, he remarked, impressed, that Zephion truly did have Baltgar blood.

Reina gazed quietly into the boy’s golden eyes.

Although he had no idea what situation he was really in, determination filled his small face.

“Zephion.”

“Yes?”

“Do you want to defeat Kaelid?”

The boy nodded.

“Then you have to train hard. Until you’re strong enough to beat him, you have to stay still and keep your head down.”

“What does “keep your head down” mean?”

“It means acting like you don’t want to win.”

“Why?”

“So your opponent lets his guard down.”

Zephion furrowed his brow and tilted his head as though he didn’t fully understand.

When she touched his cheek, his skin felt soft and warm.

She wondered if all children were this warm. Zephion was the only child she had ever been close to.

“Don’t go throwing yourself at Kaelid recklessly.”

“…”

“If you do, he’ll start keeping an eye on you.”

Even now, that man already regarded this small child with caution.

It didn’t matter that he knew Zephion posed no real threat.

He might’ve spared the boy’s life for Reina’s sake, but one day—without warning—he could easily find some excuse to take it away.

He had already started treating Zephion as a rival male, as though he were some kind of beast who might one day take Reina away from him.

‘How ridiculous.’

What feelings could a small child possibly harbour for her? She would be grateful if he saw her only as a mother figure. The idea that Zephion would ever see her as an object of carnal desire was inconceivable to her — and she didn’t want that either.

“You learned from Yuta, didn’t you? You have to exploit your opponent’s opening.”

“Yes.”

The boy answered, his eyes turning solemn.

“If you want to defeat Kaelid, strike when he’s off guard.”

“But Kaelid hurts you, Reina!”

His indignant tone made her laugh. No one had ever worried about her like this since she was dragged into the manor and toyed with by Kaelid. Not even Rose, her only friend, had ever dared to challenge the Count’s heir.

A small ache tugged at her chest. Although she was surrounded by people, Zephion’s gaze was fixed on her alone.

“I’m fine. It’s not that bad.”

“But you hate it.”

“There are things you have to do even when you hate them.”

“Still…I’ll save you, Reina. I’ll make sure Kaelid can’t hurt you.”

“And how do you plan to do that?”

“By striking at his weak spot.”

“Before that.”

Zephion blinked and tilted his head as if he had forgotten. Reina tapped the tip of his small nose and repeated slowly.

“You have to lie low.”

He nodded, his expression unexpectedly resolute.

“No matter what Kaelid does, you mustn’t charge at him.”

“Because he keeps trying to take you away.”

“Thank you for your concern.”

Reina replied, gently pinching his soft cheek.

“It’s really nothing serious. We just have a lot to talk about, that’s all.”

“But you always say you don’t feel well the next day.”

“That’s just because I didn’t sleep enough.”

Which, in truth, was accurate. Avoiding the word ‘s*x’ with such roundabout phrasing seemed ridiculous to her.

Would it be easier to just come out and say it? Was it nothing more than animalistic coupling?

“Is it because Kaelid is here and you can’t sleep?”

Zephion placed his hand on her knee and leaned in, his small face full of concern.

He looked so worried and sincere that she was filled with a feeling she couldn’t quite put into words.

What did a child like him even know?

“Then sleep more.”

“…Hm?”

“You said you don’t feel well because you can’t sleep when Kaelid comes. So sleep more.”

Zephion tugged at her. Despite his age, he was surprisingly strong.

Should she be proud that he’d been eating well? Or should she be amazed that he had grown so strong so quickly despite only recently beginning sword lessons with Yuta?

The boy pulled her up and led her towards the nearby bed.

“Zephion, ah—”

When she tried to take a step, her legs gave way. She staggered and gasped, losing her balance.

Zephion’s face instantly turned pale.

“Reina! Are you OK? I’m sorry — I didn’t mean to! I’m sorry!”

“I’m fine, I just wobbled a bit.”

“Your leg…”

“It’s all right. Would you mind helping me instead of me using the cane?”

His eyes brimmed with guilt, but he wrapped his arms tightly around her waist.

She gripped his shoulders for support.

Where she had once thought him fragile, all skin and bones, she could now feel the strength of his growing frame.

Dragging her uncooperative leg behind her, Reina slowly made her way to the bed.

As soon as she sat down on the edge of the bed with a sigh, Zephion pulled back the blanket, panting and straining.

“Lie down, Reina.”

“I’ve only just woken up.”

“But you’re in pain because you didn’t sleep.”

Judging by the stubborn look in his eyes, as if he wouldn’t give up until she lay down again, Reina sighed briefly and reclined on the bed. The sheets were fresh and smelt faintly of sun-dried linen; unlike last night, when they had been damp.

As soon as her head touched the pillow, Zephion gently pulled the blanket up to her chin and patted her chest as the maids always did. The sincerity of the gesture brought a quiet chuckle to her lips.

For a while, the boy continued to pat her, as though determined to lull her to sleep. Then, as if recalling something important, he suddenly sat up straight.

“Oh—Yuta said you get better if someone rubs the sore spot!”

Without hesitation, he reached for her leg.

“It’s all r—”

She began, but before she could stop him, his small hands were already kneading earnestly. The blanket and her skirts muffled most of the pressure, but she was unable to protest due to his solemn expression.

“Does this feel better?”

“Yes, a little.”

She nodded obediently — she couldn’t ignore that pure concern.

“Good.”

Zephion exhaled in relief and continued pressing her leg with all his might.

Instead of telling him to stop, Reina simply watched. He was so intent on his task that he never noticed her quiet gaze. Is this what untainted affection feels like? She could scarcely remember the last time she’d experienced it — perhaps in her hazy childhood, back when her father was still alive.

“Go to sleep, Reina.”

He siad, conviction shining in his golden eyes.

“If you rest, your leg will get better.”

She studied his flushed cheeks, reddened from massaging her leg.

‘Would it hurt later when this devotion turned to hatred?

The thought cast a shadow over her heart.

‘For now, this is enough.’

She told herself, closing her eyes beneath the warm blanket.

As she sank into the soft bedding, a wave of fatigue washed over her. Reina blinked slowly; her eyelids were too heavy to open again. She drifted off to sleep without realising.

***

Reina opened her eyes, looking dazed.

It had been an unplanned nap, but she felt surprisingly refreshed, as though she had had a full night’s rest.

Perhaps Zephion’s massage, which she hadn’t expected to help at all, had done more than she thought.

She stared quietly at the small, round imprint left on one side of the bed.

She vaguely remembered hearing Rose’s voice as she gently woke Zephion and led him away while Reina slept.

“Phew…”

She reached up to tidy her slightly mussed hair and took the cane from beside the bed.

She must have been more exhausted than she realised — although it hadn’t felt like she’d slept for long, it was already night outside.

Normally, she wouldn’t think of visiting her mother at this hour.

But today, it didn’t matter.

Count Berend and his son Kaelid had left the estate to attend to matters regarding the marquisate.

“Where are you headed?”

“To see my mother.”

When she called for the carriage to be prepared, Yuta was the first to rush over.

“I’ll escort you.”

“Is Zephion’s training done for the day?”

“I’ve completed everything planned for today.”

Without another word, he climbed up onto the coachman’s seat. The carriage began to move slowly.