Drukan nodded at the child’s words.

“That’s understandable. We’ll eat after finding a place to rest, so just hang on a little longer.”

“Okay……”

The child walked dejectedly with a tired voice.

Fortunately, there was a small inn in the village where travelers could stay.

Perhaps because they were in the darkness for so long, even though everything was pitch black and only the immediate surroundings were visible, they could somewhat distinguish between friend and foe.

They could sense if something was in front of them and vaguely guess the outline of its shape.

Luckily, while it was dark, ‘fire’ rather than ‘light’ hadn’t been swallowed up, so there was no trouble cooking without fire.

It felt exactly like going back to the primitive age.

They could use torches, but even then, it only illuminated the surroundings a bit more in the overwhelming darkness.

And it would probably be a hindrance while running.

Even though it was called a meal, it was just roughly grilling raw meat or fish, or spreading butter on bread.

“But isn’t it strange that the ingredients don’t seem to spoil?”

“What are you talking about, Serena?”

“No, it’s been a few days for us, right? Then the food should be spoiled or at least not in good condition…… But everywhere we go, the ingredients are quite fresh.”

A prime example was the cabbage they were eating now.

It had been left out for a long time and without proper refrigeration, so even if it hadn’t rotted, shouldn’t it be in poor condition?

But as if everything had entered a frozen state, all the food was fresh.

While they were eating out of hunger to survive, they couldn’t shake off the feeling that they were consuming something heavily preserved.

“Mister, I’m hungry……”

The child said glumly after finishing all the food on the plate in front of him.

Drukan glanced at the child. He usually didn’t eat much, but today he seemed particularly hungry.

“There’s a bit more inside, I’ll bring it for you.”

“Okay.”

The child smiled brightly at the table, lit by a single candle.

Seeing that innocently bright face, Serena smiled slightly. The child, noticing Serena’s smile, grinned again.

Throughout the journey, the child had been quite mature. He didn’t throw small tantrums or get angry.

Drukan brought out all the remaining food from inside. There were still two plates worth.

The child smiled broadly and started eating, stabbing the food with a fork. Serena also finished the food in front of her.

“Ah, I’m full. But didn’t I eat too much? It might be heavy.”

“Hmm, it’s fine because you’re cute.”

“……You’re not saying I’m not heavy?”

Usually in these situations, wouldn’t they say they’re not heavy at all at least once?

Of course, it wouldn’t be completely weightless. Especially when carrying someone for hours.

“It’s normal for a person to have weight.”

Serena glanced at Magnus.

He really doesn’t know how to say anything nice. Seeing Serena’s narrowed gaze, he chuckled.

“I’m joking.”

“But wouldn’t it be better to carry me on your back tomorrow? It seems tiring to keep your arms up continuously.”

“Hmm…. But then I can’t see your face.”

Magnus said quite nonchalantly. Serena’s face flushed.

“Ah.”

Magnus laughed softly and brought his lips close to Serena’s ear.

“I love you, Serena.”

“……!”

Serena’s shoulders twitched. Suddenly hearing words she hadn’t heard in a while made her skin tingle.

She closed her eyes tightly and then opened them, feeling something tickling up her stomach.

“Wh-what are you saying when we’re outside?”

“What does it matter when it’s just us?”

“There are people beside you, Duke Kelahinum.”

The Crown Prince waved his hand and said indifferently. At this, Serena’s face turned even redder.

If it’s visible even by the light of a single candle, who knows how red it actually is.

“Your Highness, please read the room.”

“……Rosia, isn’t that too cold? I might get hurt.”

“It’s because you keep breaking the mood that Magnus hates you.”

The Crown Prince pouted at Rosia’s words.

When there are people around, saying there’s only two of them is bound to make others uncomfortable.

“…Mister, I’m hungry.”

The child said, hesitating slightly. At this, everyone’s gaze, including Drukan’s, fell on the child.

‘He’s still hungry after eating two new plates of food?’

Drukan’s brow furrowed.

Was he originally a big eater but had been holding back? It didn’t seem like that though.

“…You’re hungry again? It seems like you ate a lot, wouldn’t eating more upset your stomach?”

When Drukan asked, the child pressed his stomach with a gloomy expression.

“But I’m hungry.”

He raised his head.

Magnus looked at the child with a subtle expression, his arms crossed.

“Can I go get a little more to eat?”

“I don’t mind, but… are you really that hungry?”

“Yes, I’m constantly hungry.”

The child got down from the chair.

He jumped down nimbly and headed skillfully towards the kitchen.

“This is strange. It was enough for two adults to eat.”

It wasn’t like there was little piled on the plates, there was quite a lot.

Magnus muttered softly.

“Now that you mention it, the amount he eats seems to have been increasing little by little. He ate a bit more on the second day than the first……”

Drukan, who had been constantly looking after the child, said curiously.

“Hmm, it might not be a bad idea to do a diagnosis when the child comes back.”

Rosia said.

The saintess power she possessed was specialized in healing and purification, so by the flow holy power, she could roughly understand the condition of someone’s body.

“It might be that he’s been holding back until now because it’s an unfamiliar environment.”

“If that’s the case, it would be rather fortunate……”

Drukan muttered softly.

“But why isn’t he coming back?”

While they were discussing various things, thirty minutes passed and the child hadn’t returned.

When Serena opened her mouth in wonder, the others also seemed to notice the strangeness and looked at each other.

“I’ll go check.”

“Should I come with you?”

“It’s fine, please stay here.”

Drukan walked towards the kitchen, which wasn’t too far away.

“Child. Are you there?”

As soon as he stepped into the kitchen, a fishy smell wafted over.

‘……Blood?’

Did he take out some meat?

But the smell of blood seems a bit too strong for that. Drukan frowned slightly and narrowed his eyes.

It was dark, and because he sensed a presence in the corner, it was difficult to distinguish friend from foe.

There was a sound of something being torn apart and eaten.

Drukan placed his hand on the sword hilt and opened his mouth.

“Child?”

“Mister?”

“…What are you doing here?”

“I’m eating. I think I’ll be okay now, I’m full.”

“…Is that so? Everyone’s worried, so come out for now.”

“Okay, just a moment!”

The child seemed to be chewing on something, then moved well in the darkness, neatly washed his hands with water, and approached him.

“Did you come to get me?”

“You were taking so long……”

Drukan muttered, glancing at where the child had been until just now.

It’s still too dark to see what’s there.

“Hehe, I was so hungry! I’m okay now. Whew, I’m full.”

“That’s good.”

Drukan took the child outside and returned to the dining table.

“Oh, you’re back.”

“Yes!”

Serena greeted lightly, seeing the child’s much brighter face.

The child responded with a smiling face and approached Serena. As Serena was about to reach out her hand, Magnus’s eyes narrowed.

“……What did you eat?”

His narrowed pupils ask threateningly. Magnus lightly grabbed Serena’s wrist and pulled her away from the child.

“Huh?”

“Magnus?”

The child and Serena asked Magnus simultaneously.

“I asked what you ate that makes the smell of blood so strong.”

The child tilted his head at Magnus’s words.

At his chilling words, Serena hesitated and the Crown Prince’s expression hardened.

It was because Magnus’s gaze towards the child was as cold as if looking at an enemy.

“Ah, there was a rabbit inside, so I ate it.”

“……A rabbit?”

“Yes, I guess I wanted to eat meat. So I ate the rabbit.”

“…You mean you ate rabbit meat?”

Serena asked carefully, trying to suppress the eerie feeling. The child nodded lightly.

“Yes, rabbit meat.”

The child carefully rolled his eyes.

“Was, was I not supposed to eat it……? I was so hungry……”

“…Rabbit.”

Magnus murmured softly.

His gaze towards the child was still cold. The child shrank his neck and hid behind Serena’s legs.

“I’m scared……”

“Magnus, what’s wrong?”

“…No, we should go to sleep now. We don’t know how far we’ll go tomorrow.”

“Oh, okay.”

Serena nodded and lightly stroked the child’s hair.

“Drukan, you should go in and sleep too.”

Magnus said, glancing at Drukan. Drukan looked at Magnus once and then at the child once.

‘Is he telling me to be cautious?’

Drukan nodded.

“Understood, Your Grace.”