Wondering if her face would appear even clearer when touching her, Kaisel adjusted his posture. Then he pulled her waist closer with more force.

“…!”

Startled by the unexpected contact, Cynthia’s body trembled.

Though aware of her rudeness toward him, she couldn’t move her body due to the deafening sound.

His warm breath tickled Cynthia’s cheek. Her heart pounded against his broad, firm chest beneath his neatly concealed clothes.

Warmth gradually spread through her cold body. Her stiff hands and feet slowly relaxed from the shared body heat.

Belatedly coming to her senses, her face flushed bright red. She hastily pushed him away with one hand.

“I’m sorry. I’m a bit afraid of thunder… Your Highness?”

Kaisel’s face had hardened terrifyingly.

‘What’s wrong?’

Just as Cynthia began to feel an inexplicable anxiety, he instantly erased his expression, gritting his teeth.

It seemed he was displeased by the sudden physical contact.

Concerned they might both catch cold, Cynthia quickly spoke.

“Your clothes are all wet because of me.”

No answer came.

Kaisel briefly grimaced, brushed back his wet hair, and patted his soaked clothes.

Did he dislike rain?

‘Surely he won’t leave me here alone?’

Her hair suddenly stood on end.

As the villain from the original work she’d read in her past life, he was more than capable of such cruelty.

Cynthia grew increasingly anxious.

While she might simply catch a bad cold, the bird that had just found warmth needed urgent treatment.

She didn’t want to watch it die when it could be saved.

But to do that, she needed to move… yet her feet felt nailed to the ground.

Kaisel looked like he might turn his back and leave at any moment.

‘No.’

Cynthia desperately grabbed him.

“Y-Your Highness, don’t go!”

“…?”

As his deep blue eyes bore down on her, her breath caught and her heart constricted, compounded by her panic. Swallowing hard, Cynthia spoke again.

“P-please come with me to the cottage! I-I’ll make you even more delicious tea. If you leave me alone, I’ll mix only the bitterest, most tasteless ingredients for you from now on!”

Kaisel let out an incredulous laugh at her ridiculous and bold words.

Was that supposed to be a threat?

He could already imagine what kind of monster she thought he was.

He should normally be scolding her.

But her trembling appearance was so pathetic and cute that he let his guard down.

“I.”

Kaisel spoke languidly, hiding his amusement.

“May not be a kind gentleman, but I’m not callous enough to leave someone soaked in the rain.”

Meeting her wildly shaking green eyes, Kaisel automatically recalled the sensation of holding her in his arms.

The large eyes looking up at him clearly and those soft-looking lips kept stirring his thoughts.

The dizziness rising from his toes was enough to make his ears ring.

It was a strange curiosity that had persisted since he first met her.

Why did he feel these emotions only toward this woman?

“I’ll take you there, so let’s go to the cottage.”

Now, how would she react?

Kaisel hid his curiosity behind a mask of kindness.

Conversely, Cynthia was rather confused, having expected rejection to her absurd threat.

To be honest, she had thought he would leave without looking back…

Kaisel’s eyes curved gently. For some reason, he looked quite pleased.

While regretting not having made a proper request from the start, Cynthia felt strange seeing this different side of him.

‘Though he seems cold… he’s actually quite kind.’

After staring blankly at his smiling face, she quickly shook her head.

First, she needed to return home and treat the bird’s wing.

As she tried to put strength into her trembling legs, Kaisel suddenly lifted her, supporting her back and knees.

“W-what are you doing?”

“You’re like a newborn calf. I don’t want to arrive tomorrow morning at this rate.”

“Put me down! I can walk.”

She struggled desperately to escape his hands, but his firm grip showed no sign of loosening.

“Cynthia.”

His pleasant baritone voice penetrated her ear.

It was a very slow and profound voice, like a languid predator.

“You’re afraid of thunder, remember?”

“But still……”

“Just hold onto my neck properly.”

With her face burning hot, Cynthia awkwardly nodded and wrapped her arms around his neck while cradling the bird in her shawl.

His lips curved into a gentle arc as he smiled.

Her heart fluttered again at his captivating smile.

She must have caught a fever from the rain. Otherwise, her heart wouldn’t be pounding like this.

❀❀❀

Upon reaching the cottage, her body, frozen in panic, returned to normal.

‘I wonder if he’ll run out because it’s messy.’

While Cynthia inserted the key into the lock, Kaisel muttered with a languid expression.

“I should change the lock. It’s too flimsy for a woman living alone.”

“It’s far from the mansion, and Mila comes often, so it’s fine?”

His gaze flew coldly toward her, apparently displeased with her answer.

“What’s that in your hand?”

“Oh, it’s a baby bird that fell from a tree. Seeing only empty nests around and no mother, it seems abandoned.”

The bird nestled in the shawl was barely breathing, as if desperately clinging to its fading life.

“It seems already dead.”

“No! It’s not dead yet. I can still feel its warmth.”

“You should have left it there. The death of weak individuals is the law of nature.”

“But I might be able to save it.”

Cynthia’s careful touch was already filled with affection.

Watching this scene, Kaisel frowned. His pleasant mood from earlier vanished instantly.

It felt trivial to learn that her desperate plea for help had been merely to save a bird.

“What a great saintess we have here. Are you a god?”

At his sarcastic voice, Cynthia wore a somewhat embarrassed expression.

Until just now, he had been smiling and enjoying himself, but suddenly he became unpleasant and scolding. It was hard to keep up with his moods.

‘Be patient. He helped you anyway.’

Cynthia pushed open the door with a forced smile.

Kaisel raised his hand to inscribe magical formulas around the cottage and herb garden, then dried their wet clothes and the bird’s feathers.

“I’ve placed a protective spell, so no one you haven’t permitted can stay here. Of course, I’m an exception.”

Why exclude yourself? She was speechless at his audacity.

Well… though somewhat surprising, she was grateful for the unsolicited magical protection.

Kaisel, now inside, rolled his eyes indifferently.

It certainly had a different atmosphere from the mansion.

A warm and comfortable energy flowed through the place, making it hard to believe it had been abandoned.

He could somewhat understand why Mila and the other servants, who had shown no interest before, now talked about the cottage.

They say a home resembles its owner.

The sweet-smelling cottage greatly resembled Cynthia.

Lost in thought, Kaisel found a tea with a different color and aroma than usual placed before him.

“Though it looks like milk tea, it’s definitely herbal. It has warm milk and honey, so it’s especially delicious.”

Kaisel silently stared at the teacup emitting a sweet fragrance.

“It smells like caramel.”

“That’s right. It contains an herb called ‘tolbin’ which has no special effects, but when boiled with milk, it gives off a chocolate-mixed caramel scent.”

The rich and sweet aroma of honey and caramel blending together made his tense body relax.

“Actually, I wanted to let you taste a special liqueur, but it’s still aging and needs time. If you wait a little, I’ll let you taste a delicious drink.”

The sweetish tea, which children might like, strangely made him recall fond memories.

Was it the magic of the cottage in the rain?

Or was Cynthia special?

Kaisel finally let out a chuckle.

Having finished treating the bird’s injured wing, Cynthia examined Kaisel’s complexion and asked.

“You got quite wet in the rain. Are you feeling alright?”

The corners of his mouth turned up as he looked at her green eyes filled with concern.

Who was worrying about whom?

“I’ve been comfortable since drinking the tea you made.”

“I’m Your Highness’s apothecary, so I’ll keep asking like this. I hope you won’t be in pain.”

Kaisel gave no response to her sincere and kind tone.

‘This feels strange.’

Cynthia glanced sideways at Kaisel.

She had thought this small, modest space wouldn’t suit the villain.

But perhaps because he was dressed in comfortable shirt and pants, he matched the place better than expected.

His straight forehead visible through naturally flowing black hair, his sculptured features, and his deep blue eyes that had seemed sharp now appeared deep and dark like the ocean.

From his high nose bridge to his red lips, everything was harmonious. He was truly unnecessarily handsome.

Sipping her tea, Cynthia felt conflicted.

‘Why do I keep feeling uneasy?’

She couldn’t ignore his bleak expression when he coldly stated the bird would die.

After much hesitation, Cynthia finally spoke.

“Your Highness, why don’t you ask?”

“About what?”

“About Iris… my sister.”

“You mean the lady known as my companion?”

Cynthia nodded slowly.

She knew it was clearly crossing a line. However, any normal person would inquire about their companion who could save them before asking about herbs that suppress a curse.

Kaisel had never once mentioned Iris to her.

“Well, it’s outside my interest.”