“……Huh?”

Serena asked with a strange expression when she saw Magnus laughing like some villain.

After all, wasn’t it a misfortune that wouldn’t have happened to Viscount Lavie if Serena or Nyx hadn’t been involved?

‘…I don’t know. If you haven’t committed any crimes, you shouldn’t have anything to fear.’

The problem was the crimes committed in the past.

Anyway, Serena didn’t want to get more involved in this matter.

It was because things had become somewhat quieter lately, making life more bearable.

Letters of apology for misunderstandings came from various places, but she didn’t properly check them.

It was highly likely because her recent products were selling quite well.

Of course, she knew that as a noble, some level of superficiality was necessary, but honestly, she just wanted to rest thoroughly right now.

‘…That’s why I want to sleep in every day.’

What sleeping in? She’s forced to stay up late.

“Magnus, can’t I use a room alone for about two weeks?”

“Hm.”

“…You’re saying it’s okay?”

“As if it would be.”

The brief answer was quite indifferent. Serena rubbed her brow. She wanted to sleep. She desperately wanted to do absolutely nothing and live like a trash hermit.

“Why, is there something uncomfortable?”

“Yes.”

“What is it?”

“You.”

Magnus’s mouth clamped shut at Serena’s calm words.

“What do you mean?”

“You’re uncomfortable. I don’t want to move around in the blanket like trash. I want to rest intensely.”

She needed recovery.

It had been difficult in many ways lately. Serena tended to need rest time in situations like this.

Magnus looked at Serena with dissatisfaction and clamped his mouth shut.

“That’s too much. To your husband.”

“I don’t think married couples need to be stuck together 24/7, 365 days a year.”

Besides, Serena also needed to rest thoroughly for about two weeks and then return to work.

‘Above all……’

Colin Martora, who was leading a double life because Serena was giving him lessons, had no intention of letting her go.

So recently, she was caught by Magnus at night and Colin Martora during the day.

Fortunately, it seemed Colin was managing the business matters well, as not many documents were coming up to Serena.

“……No, I really need time.”

Constantly clashing with people was mentally exhausting in many ways.

“…You’re alone during the day, aren’t you?”

“No, I want to just be cooped up in my room all day long, from day to night.”

“I told you I won’t allow such a pigsty.”

“Then I’ll go home for a while.”

Magnus paused at Serena’s words.

As it was, Magnus was quite tired of Marquis Lavernia, who would visit whenever he was bored.

At first, he said he wanted to see if Serena was okay, but one day he even came in the morning and didn’t leave until night.

It had been like this for the past month.

“……I don’t want that.”

“Don’t act like a child. We can’t keep letting Father… come like this forever. Mother is worried too, so I’ll rest there for a while and come back.”

Serena said.

She was grateful to Marquis Lavernia, who believed in her until the end, and above all… he always consistently came to visit Serena and told her he loved her.

At first, it was awkward, but after about a month, she was starting to feel sorry that Marquis Lavernia kept visiting.

“…He comes to visit every time, and I also want to try to make a little effort…”

Serena mumbled, half-burying her face in the bathtub. Magnus, watching the bubbles rising, crossed his arms and let out a short sigh.

“…If I say no here, I’d be the one being childish, right?”

He didn’t want to be like that.

And Magnus also knew that Serena needed other places to attach her emotions and give her heart besides him.

If he obsessed over her, confined her, and took away her freedom, Serena would end up being like a blind person with open eyes.

Of course, he could do that.

He could make her depend only on him in any situation. But in the long run, that would only rot Serena from the inside.

Magnus wanted Serena to stay by his side healthily and happily.

The bond with her family would be an opportunity for her to love this world a little more and cherish herself.

Magnus pulled her waist, lifted her up, and bit the back of her neck like an animal would.

“Ack!”

Serena, not hurt much but startled, opened her eyes wide. Magnus, who had left a bite mark, spoke.

“……Alright, go.”

Serena needed to cherish more things.

So that she wouldn’t treat herself carelessly for the sake of those things she cherished.

Of course, he didn’t like it at all, but still.

“…Really?”

“Yes, because I don’t want to see you wither away in my arms. If there’s something you want to do, you can do anything.”

Magnus said, kissing her shoulder.

“But on the condition that you tell me and only within the range I allow.”

Magnus said as calmly as possible. Serena glanced at him and then nodded.

“That’s fine.”

“It’s fine.”

Magnus tightened his grip on her waist a little more at Serena’s words.

“What is?”

“I like that you’re this obsessed with me. I… don’t have much confidence in myself…”

Serena said carefully in a mumbling voice.

“So, I like it.”

Serena’s nape turned bright red.

At this quite cute confession, Magnus’s eyes blinked once, and then he laughed lowly and kissed Serena’s lips.

“If you say that much, I won’t hold back.”

“……”

“I love you, Serena.”

Serena’s eyes widened. She mumbled her lips as if flustered and then slowly nodded.

“……”

The name Serena Lavernia was still certainly a source of fear for some and a reason to curse for others.

But in this past month, Serena became less afraid of people’s gazes.

Because there were people by her side who affirmed her.

As Nyx said, maybe some misunderstandings or misfortunes might come in the future.

But somehow, she felt it would be okay. It might be unnecessary confidence, but still.

“If you stay at the Marquis’s house too much, it might be painful, so come to the mansion occasionally.”

“Well, I’ll try.”

Serena nodded and then curved her eyes, kissing Magnus’s lips.

“……Serena.”

“Yes?”

“It’s your fault. I was trying not to do it because you said you didn’t want to.”

Magnus let out a low groan from his throat and then embraced Serena.

“What are you saying……”

Splash, as he suddenly stood up, water dripped onto the floor. Serena turned pale.

Magnus lightly wrapped Serena’s body with a large bath towel and then left the bathroom.

Two rabbits huddled together in front of the bathroom tilted their heads.

One was a pitch-black rabbit and the other was a snow-white rabbit. Serena’s face turned bright red.

No matter if they were in the form of rabbits and sleeping inside now, Serena already knew what was inside them.

In other words, there was no way her face wouldn’t flush.

“W-What are you doing! I…!”

“That’s why, why did you provoke someone who was trying hard to hold back?”

“It wasn’t provocation, you did it too. I…!”

“It’s your fault for being cute.”

“Don’t blame this on me.”

Magnus lightly blocked Serena’s struggling by wrapping her tightly in the bath towel and placed her on the bed.

“……Magnus?”

“Ah, I love you. Serena.”

Serena’s face turned bright red. Magnus climbed on top of her and lightly kissed her.

* * *

“Take care, Serena.”

Magnus said, lightly kissing her neckline and slightly tightening his hand on her waist before gently releasing her.

“Okay, I’ll write a letter or something. Though I wonder if there’s any need since it’s not far.”

“If you write, I won’t be that bored.”

At Magnus’s words, Serena shrugged and nodded.

“Don’t complain that the letters lack sincerity.”

“I will serve you wholeheartedly, Master!!”

“……Are you taking that mage with you too?”

“Colin… is almost at the end of his lessons… Actually, I don’t have much left to teach him now.”

Having a genius disciple who understood ten things when taught one was quite challenging.

When she taught something, he would come back with applications all figured out on his own, so all Serena did was just review the completed work.

These days, rather than teaching… they spent more time in Q&A sessions.

“You won’t let your husband go, but you’re taking the mage.”

“No, he’s handling work in my place and going as a servant…”

Magnus nodded with a sulky expression. Colin Martora had a constantly smiling face, for whatever reason he found good.

Just as Serena was about to get into the carriage and Colin Martora was about to follow her in, it happened.

“And we received a contact from the Mage’s Tower… Master…! Waaagh!”

Colin Martora screamed.