“Hm? What?”

“No, I mean your mood or something…”

“Mood? Well. It’s not bad?”

Magnus quietly closed his mouth at Serena’s nonchalant words.

There was no reason for him to bring up the topic further if she said she was fine.

“Would you like to have dinner together tonight, if you have time?”

“No, I’m a bit tired so I was planning to sleep early today. I worked hard making the samples.”

“…I see.”

Magnus hesitated for a moment at Serena’s refusal.

In fact, since becoming friends, he had never been refused an invitation to dinner.

“Let’s eat tomorrow.”

“Ah, sure.”

Serena spoke as if she had read Magnus’s uneasy heart.

Magnus also immediately accepted in response to her consideration.

“If it’s difficult to find a guard, I’ll help you after all.”

“No, it’s fine as I said before.”

She now showed no sign of hesitation.

Last time she seemed a bit troubled…

‘Is she more comfortable with me now?’

If that’s why she’s not being cautious anymore, that’s good. But somehow…

“…Then it might be good to post the notice at Kelahinum’s duchy.”

“That’s not necessary either. If someone comes to guard you and gets assigned to me, they’ll want to quit too.”

“That can’t be! How about requesting the information guild instead?”

“Thanks, but no.”

Serena firmly refused this time as well.

“There was one applicant, so if it really doesn’t work out, I’ll try with that person.”

“You can’t just hire any random person because there’s no one else…”

“I know their skills are fine. You don’t need to worry about my business. I’m not a child, I can handle it myself.”

Serena shrugged lightly as always.

Magnus felt a part of his heart very constricted and uncomfortable. Serena was still looking into his eyes.

“…We are friends, right? Serena.”

“Of course, that’s what we agreed on, isn’t it?”

Serena said with round eyes as if asking what he was talking about.

‘Why does it feel unsettling?’

Magnus thought.

No matter how he thought about it, there shouldn’t be anything strange, but it feels strange.

“Can I go now?”

“Ah, um.”

Magnus had good intuition.

His intuition was usually right. Because of that, he hesitated a bit to let Serena go.

“I’m sorry.”

Magnus followed his instinct for now.

“I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings. It’s just that…”

Magnus let go of Serena’s hand and buried his face in his palms.

“I was a bit embarrassed.”

Magnus had mastered excellent speech.

And usually, that speech would hit Serena directly.

“…Oh.”

Serena was actually feeling down, though she didn’t show it.

She couldn’t say there was no intention to tease a little, but it was with good intentions.

Being suddenly scolded to her face for that made her feel a bit off.

“That…”

“So are you really okay?”

Magnus bent his waist slightly and met Serena’s gaze.

In fact, Magnus had realized one thing while spending time with her from the day they became friends until today.

She, Serena Lavernia, hates being indebted.

She thinks if she receives something, she must return something, anything.

It wasn’t much different when it came to conversation style.

“Just… I didn’t feel very good, but it’s okay because that’s what friends do.”

Serena spoke haltingly.

Magnus had never really been honest in his life.

He does express his annoyance without hiding it, but this is the first time he’s openly expressing all his emotions like this.

But it became a bit interesting.

Serena is a person who’s hard to read.

She hides her expressions well, doesn’t speak her thoughts, and doesn’t say what she wants to say.

It’s curious how this indifferent person has lived so selfishly and emotionally until now.

‘Is this really the same person?’

Magnus wondered.

Can a person change this much?

Even if they’ve made up their mind.

“Still, I’d like you to tell me if you feel upset. I…”

Magnus organized his thoughts for a moment and spoke honestly.

“I’m human too, so I make mistakes sometimes.”

“…Aren’t you quite alright as you are?”

“Me?”

“You’re handsome, your personality isn’t rough, and I thought you were a bit blunt but it seems that’s not the case either.”

Serena smiled.

This smile isn’t unpleasant either.

Magnus often saw this kind of smile when they were alone together.

He soon thought of Marquis Lavernia. He said not to meet alone, so does that mean he won’t be able to see this anymore?

“You’ll surely be loved when you get married.”

“…Are you going to remarry too?”

“I wonder? Maybe if there’s someone who likes me.”

Though I don’t think there will be.

Serena added.

Of course, her voice as she added this didn’t seem particularly regretful.

She’s not blaming herself, just stating the fact in a calm tone.

Serena already knows the future of ‘Serena Lavernia’.

It’s a future where it’s fortunate if she doesn’t die. It’s a future where she can’t help it even if she dies, and living richly confined in some mansion while making money would be considered a successful future.

And Serena is running towards that successful future.

“I see. How about I introduce you to a good person?”

“Hmm? Are you saying you’ll set me up on a blind date?”

“Blind… what? What’s that?”

“I mean, are you saying you’ll introduce a man to me?”

“…If you put it that way, it’s blunt, but yes, that’s right.”

Magnus spoke, recalling Marquis Lavernia’s advice.

He thought she had no such thoughts, but if she wants, he could introduce someone who won’t interfere with each other’s private lives and will respect her space.

“In return, how about you introduce someone to me as well?”

“A woman for you to date?”

Serena pondered for a moment what she had just heard.

She resisted the urge to stick her finger in her ear and clean it out.

‘What kind of worst man is this…?’

No matter how much they don’t have feelings for each other, they’re still married, and to suggest introducing lovers to each other…

It’s unbelievable.

‘He wouldn’t be interested unless it’s the count’s daughter anyway.’

Sigh.

Serena shook her head.

“Then how about the count’s daughter for you? What was her name? The one who always wears roses because she has a rose garden.”

“Are you talking about Lady Celia?”

“Ah, right. Lady Celia Roelen!”

“…You want to introduce her?”

Magnus made a puzzled face at Serena’s words.

As far as Magnus knew, Celia Roelen already had someone she liked.

She was in an unrequited love that couldn’t be fulfilled.

‘She must have liked the crown prince…’

Of course, things might have changed now.

“You two will surely get along well. How about meeting her once? I’ve always thought you two would be a good match.”

“…Always?”

Now Magnus became slightly uncomfortable.

How long has she been thinking about this for the word ‘always’ to come out?

“You’ve been thinking about this for quite a long time, it seems?”

Magnus felt a bit troubled despite being the one who suggested it.

He was surprised at himself.

“I thought she would be good for the position of duchess if I wasn’t around. I thought you would like her.”

Serena spoke without malice.

There really was no malice.

Because she was just talking about what she knew and what would happen.

Also, she naturally thought it was okay because Magnus asked.

“I… see. If you say she’s good, she must be a good person.”

Serena nodded.

She didn’t expect to tell him so openly like this, but it’s a good thing if her friend becomes happy.

“Can we still remain friends even if we get married?”

“I guess so? Ah, but it might be difficult to meet just the two of us, right? After all, meeting an ex-wife or ex-husband alone when you’re married is a bit…”

Serena spoke very sensibly.

Magnus was a bit shocked.

He had heard it from Marquis Lavernia, but he didn’t expect to hear the same thing from Serena.

“…But nothing will happen between us.”

“But the world doesn’t see it that way.”

Serena answered.

She also felt that Magnus was surprised and flustered.

So Serena deliberately added one more thing.

“Anyway, when you have someone you truly love, you won’t even think of someone like me, right?”

“That can’t be.”

“The same goes for me. The person I love will probably take priority over a friend.”

“Why? Isn’t a friend more important?”

“Hmm?”

Now what fresh nonsense is this.