My sense of smell had returned to normal, but Leopold’s sense of taste was still lost. Despite the rich flavor of the meat soup, he insisted it was tasteless and kept asking me to describe how delicious it was. Perhaps he was trying to distract me after noticing my momentarily darkened expression.

“Wouldn’t hearing about the taste make you feel even more disappointed?” I asked.

I had often shared my thoughts on the taste of food during meals with him, but that was before I knew about Leopold’s condition. Now, I couldn’t help but worry anew.

Leopold turned his gaze away as if contemplating something before he spoke. “When I was a child, maybe. But now, no matter what descriptions I hear, they don’t really affect me. So don’t worry about me and just enjoy your meal.”

I felt even more upset. It wasn’t that he had never experienced taste; it was stored somewhere in his memory. Even if he wasn’t aware, the desire to taste must still exist.

“I’ll research ways to restore your sense of taste,” I promised. “There must be a way. I’ll write to my mentor and consult with the local healer—”

“The soup will get cold,” he interrupted.

Like a mother bird feeding her chick, he blew on the soup and fed it to me. Unintentionally, I had to stop talking. I tried to convey my determination with my eyes, but Leopold seemed uninterested in regaining his sense of taste, merely resting his chin on his hand and watching me intently.

After chewing and swallowing a thick piece of meat, I spoke again. “Why are you just watching me? You should eat your share too, even if it doesn’t taste great.”

“Does it not taste good?” he asked, raising an eyebrow slightly, as if surprised.

I hurried to correct myself. “No, it’s delicious, but I meant your taste buds…”

“Oh,” Leopold said, immediately understanding and letting out a short chuckle. It was a warm, unfamiliar smile, devoid of the usual tone of casual criticism I’d often seen before.

“It’s the first time I’ve felt this way,” he admitted.

Eventually, he released his arms and leaned slightly against the backrest. He seemed somewhat incredulous. Curious about his true intent, I set my spoon down briefly and waited for him to continue. Furrowing his brow as if puzzled, Leopold shook his head.

“So, expressions like ‘dreamlike’ or ‘unreal’ don’t quite capture it,” he said. “It’s harder to believe than when time was reversed. Eating soup so peacefully like this? Leaving all those events in the past and daring to do so in front of you? Ha… Am I seeing hallucinations because I’ve gone mad?”

As he spoke, he alternated between frowning and smiling, occasionally appearing angry, like an adolescent unable to control his emotions. I couldn’t help but laugh inwardly.

“Probably not. So finish your meal quickly. We need to meet the chieftain to compensate for the damage you’ve caused.”

I, too, felt like this moment of conversation with Leopold was surreal. However, it was best to wrap things up quickly and leave the frozen land. The knights were waiting for us in the cold, and Leopold needed proper rest to return to full health.

“Though I don’t want to, fine,” he agreed.

I guessed Leopold would prefer to leave without meeting the chieftain. After all, they were the ones who initially raided and even tried to capture the knights as sacrifices. He had a personality that would be more inclined to threaten them to be grateful for not turning their land into ruins rather than offering compensation.

“You’re accepting it so easily?” I asked.

“I have to listen to what you say… without missing a word, properly,” he replied.

The words that followed unexpectedly struck a chord with me. Was it just my imagination that I sensed both regret and resolve? I wished he would stop blaming himself.

I swallowed my remaining soup with a heavy heart. Leopold also focused silently on finishing his bowl.

The native woman returned at an appropriate time to collect the dishes. Since we had to move soon, I requested a coat for Leopold to wear. However, she flatly refused, saying there were no spare clothes, and left again.

“It seems they’re not too pleased with us,” I noted.

“We don’t need their help. And I’m strong against the cold, so it’s fine,” Leopold insisted.

This wasn’t the time to be stubborn like a child.

“Don’t be ridiculous. It’s warm inside, but do you know how cold it is outside? Honestly, I was shocked. Besides, we’ve already received significant help.”

When I gave him a slight side-eye, Leopold opened his mouth as if to retort but then closed it again. He seemed unwilling to engage in a pointless argument.

As I pondered what to do, Roscoe returned. He was startled to see Leopold awake but then tilted his chin up, looking proud as if expecting praise.

“Hazel! I delivered the letter successfully!” he announced.

“Well done. Thank you. Is there any message for me?” I asked.

“They said they’ll wait until you return,” Roscoe replied.

At that moment, Leopold, who had been standing behind me, suddenly stepped forward and asked, “The knights, you mean?”

Roscoe took a few steps back and nodded slightly, seemingly startled by the sudden approach of an adult much taller than himself. To calm him down, I bent down to meet his eyes. Naturally, Leopold stepped back as well.

“Roscoe, could I ask you one more favor? It’s about the wool cloak you received as a gift. I’m sorry, but could you lend it to us for a bit? Leopold needs a coat right away.”

This time, there was no immediate response. When I looked at Roscoe with pleading eyes, the child finally replied.

“…You’ll give it back, right?”

Though he directed the question at me, his gaze shifted behind me. Turning my head, I saw Leopold nodding slightly with an expression that implied it was obvious. I immediately exclaimed loudly.

“Of course!”

“Okay. I’ll be right back.”

I hadn’t meant to pressure him, but it seemed like I had, and I felt a bit embarrassed.

Once Roscoe made up his mind, he acted quickly. Draped in the cloak over his bundled-up clothes, he reappeared and headed straight for Leopold. With a very serious expression, he took off the cloak and handed it over, as if negotiating some grand deal.

“When will you return it?”

“Hmm…”

But Leopold, accepting the wool cloak, replied nonchalantly. Unfazed, the child spoke boldly.

“If you don’t return it, I’ll come to get it back!”

“Do as you like. But do you know the way to the manor?”

I eventually had to intervene to stop Leopold from being childish.

“Enough. Roscoe, the knights will have spare clothes. We’ll definitely return it before we leave here. Promise.”

Only then did the child seem reassured, hooking his pinky with mine and smiling brightly.

“Why are you acting like this with a child?”

After sending Roscoe off and giving him a gentle scolding, the answer I got was quite unexpected.

“I’m jealous.”

“What did you say?”

I wanted to question whether that was something appropriate to say to a child. But Leopold was quick to respond.

“Whether it’s a child, an old person, or even a woman, it doesn’t matter. I just get jealous seeing you being kind and gentle with someone else. Sorry for being so petty.”

“My goodness, you…”

I was taken aback, unsure if I was more surprised by his candid confession or by how embarrassed it made me feel.

***

On the way to meet the chieftain, I took a fresh look at the frozen land. When I had moved Leopold here, I was too distracted to notice, but now I saw that everything truly rested on ice.

What I thought was snow-covered ground was actually ice beneath. There were cracks and broken sections caused by Leopold, but fortunately, much repair work had already been done.

The natives were busy shoveling snow into piles here and there. I considered they might harbor resentment and pose a threat to us, but they seemed entirely uninterested in us.

“You’re finally here.”

The chieftain lay leisurely, much like the first time I saw her. She frowned slightly upon seeing Leopold, but that was all.

Soon, she sat up.

“Thanks to you, we saved Lea. Thank you.”

“And thank you for saving him. If there are any injured among your people, please gather them. We will treat them before we leave.”

The chieftain looked very pleased, her lips curling up as she nodded. Then Leopold spoke in a cold voice.

“You and I should have a separate conversation. Unless you plan to teach future generations to raid.”

Was he making a suggestion or a threat? I couldn’t help but sigh.

“No need for a lecture.”

“Don’t fight. I have something to say before that.”

The shaman’s sharp voice seemed to echo my own sentiments. Without hesitation, he joined the conversation of the leaders. I listened intently to what Kien had to say, my eyes bright.

“As I mentioned earlier, the spell isn’t complete yet. The two of you must perform the final ritual.”

This was the topic I’d been waiting for. I had been curious all along, and finally.

“What do we need to do?”

“You’re a married couple, so naturally, you’ll consummate the marriage.”

“Consummate?”

Surprised by the unexpected word, I asked again, and he continued his explanation in detail.

“The marital relationship, of course. You must consummate within a month after returning. Physical contact is a key element in strengthening the spell. Without it, the bond weakens, making the sharing of life force meaningless. You won’t be able to hope for something like dying on the same day. But it shouldn’t be difficult. You’re a married couple.”

Kien chuckled, but there was a significant problem. We were only married in name and had never done what real couples do.

Feeling embarrassed, I glanced at Leopold, but he simply responded with his usual indifferent expression.

—

T/N: Leopold, internally (probably): AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH