Demian’s face bore a thin smile.

Shortly after, he removed Bless’s hand from my shoulder somewhat leisurely, showing little disturbance at Bless’s provocation.

“Don’t you know you shouldn’t touch someone carelessly when you’re in human form?”

“But my true form is not human but a bird.”

“Still, what’s not allowed is not allowed. And now I will perfectly protect Yerena, so don’t worry.”

“I’ll be watching.”

“Watching is fine, but Bless should also respect boundaries. Don’t touch carelessly. You agree with me, don’t you, honey?”

Their relationship wasn’t good when Bless was a monster bird, and it seemed the same when he was human.

Since both might be with me forever, it would be nice if they got along well.

“Please answer me, Yerena.”

Demian looked at me pressingly, as though asking me to take his side.

“My answer is…”

I grabbed one hand from Bless and one hand from Demian, making them face each other.

“I wish you two would get along without fighting.”

I had already told Bless about boundaries to respect when in human form.

When he suddenly kissed me that time.

So there was no way Bless would engage in the excessive skinship that worried Demian. My bird is the smartest bird in the world!

“You two will get along for my sake, right?”

At my words, the two men grimaced, their expressions suggesting they were experiencing something terrible, then eventually answered.

“…Yes.”

“Yes.”

Their obedient compliance was cute, so I patted both men’s hair generously.

***

Afterward, we headed to the Philia Islands.

It would take days by carriage, but we had Ptero.

The chief Ptero, perhaps happy to see me after a while, flew much faster than usual.

Thanks to that, we could reach the Philia Islands before sunset.

The Jinjijo Transportation branch I visited after several weeks.

There were Marco and Bonnie, who had still guarded the branch even though I had disappeared.

“Director Ma! Director Bo!”

No sooner had I called out to them than they ran and embraced me.

Marco’s curly hair seemed even curlier than when I last saw it.

If Bless were in his monster bird form, he would have really liked it.

Sure enough, I noticed Bless, standing awkwardly beside me, fiddling with Marco’s hair.

Bless’s eyes were full of alertness. He seemed pleased that his temporary nest had become more luxuriant.

Marco, dull in everything, failed to notice this fact.

“Master! Are you okay? Did you finish all the urgent business in the capital? You’re not hurt anywhere, are you?”

“Yes, I’m fine. And about the capital business…”

I glanced subtly at Demian.

“It seems not finished yet, can you wait a bit longer?”

“Of course! As long as needed!”

At that moment, I felt something warm rubbing against my leg.

Looking down, I saw Nero.

—Meow

‘I’ve been waiting too.’

I tried to lift Nero’s body.

But the creature, clearly determined not to be lifted easily, stretched like cheese, pressing its legs firmly on the ground.

“Nero. I have good news. I found out where Sarang is.”

Sarang. The only being who helped me in that bleak duke’s mansion.

I wanted to gladly fulfill the request Sarang had made to me.

At the word “Sarang,” Nero’s body jumped. He stared at me with wide eyes and immediately leaped into my arms.

‘W-where is Sarang?’

I really wanted to reunite the two cats who were forcibly separated because of the mother-son duo who enjoyed kidnapping.

***

When I returned to the Second Prince’s Palace after roughly handling matters at the Philia Islands, it was already dark night.

I crawled into bed, yawning widely.

Near my bed, as usual, were Bless and Demian.

“By the way, I think it would be better to have Bless sleep in another room now.”

As he said this, Demian looked at Bless with distaste.

“Demian, you just don’t like me being next to my master, right?”

“It’s not that I don’t like it. I’m just worried that, despite claiming you’re a personal guard, unnecessary rumors might spread. After all, to others’ eyes, it looks like she’s sharing a room with another man.”

“Aren’t you just picking a fight?”

“Bless. You seem to have forgotten, but I am a prince whom everyone in the palace pays attention to. Isn’t it natural for others to be curious about the woman this prince takes special care of?”

Unable to defeat Demian with words, Bless stared at me blankly. With a somewhat pitiful gaze.

“Master… this man is trying to drive me away.”

So this is how the second round begins.

I sighed deeply.

“You two, did you forget your promise to get along well earlier?”

At my question, both men nodded, their expressions showing recognition of the memory.

“Don’t fight.”

Then Demian raised his right hand, indicating he had something to say.

“Honey, go ahead.”

“I have something unfair to point out. I really don’t dislike Bless. I’m just worried about unnecessary rumors.”

Indeed, sharing a room with a personal guard might look unseemly to others.

“So, I was thinking, how about I sleep with you too?”

“What?!”

I pulled the blanket up to my neck.

I hadn’t yet confessed my feelings—though I had shown many signs of liking him—nor had I forgiven Demian, yet he wanted to sleep together!

Surely he didn’t mean sharing the same bed?

“I-I’m not mentally prepared yet.”

At that moment, Demian’s face turned bright red.

Similarly, I felt my face burning hot.

“I didn’t mean sleeping with you, Yerena! I meant sleeping with Bless. In the room right next to yours.”

“Phew, you scared me.”

“Since you were embarrassed, I also got embarrassed… ahem.”

Bless, who had been looking back and forth at us, blushing and being shy, opened his lips.

“Tsk.”

It was clearly mockery.

I took a deep breath.

“Anyway, Demian’s idea doesn’t sound bad. That way, there won’t be any strange rumors about Bless.”

“Yes. That’s right. Then please wait a moment.”

“What?”

Demian left my room with an eagerness that revealed he had been waiting for this moment.

Shortly after, he returned, but not alone. He was accompanied by servants.

Demian had two beds placed in the adjacent room that happened to be empty.

But wait. How could he get beds so quickly?

“Did you prepare this in advance?”

Demian answered while looking at distant mountains.

“Since I didn’t know when Bless would return to being a monster bird, I thought it wouldn’t be right to keep making him sleep on the sofa…”

Bless, who had been observing the whole situation, opened his lips.

“Using me as an excuse. Ha!”

It was his second mockery.

“Just say you don’t like me being with my master!”

Demian, visibly struck at a vital point, couldn’t say anything and just fiddled with his clothes.

His bright red face was a bonus.

***

Even the next day, Marco and Bonnie’s faces lingered in my mind.

I wanted to see those guys again.

Similarly, I wanted to do Jinjijo work again. I also wanted to quickly resolve the unfinished business with the Count’s family.

Yet I told Bonnie and Marco that I had remaining work to do at the palace…

‘I want to completely dissuade Empress Patricia from making Demian the Emperor.’

I wanted to perfectly lay the foundation for Demian, who had returned to the palace because of me, to be happy.

For that, it seemed necessary to meet the Crown Prince, Kenneth, whom I hadn’t met yet.

Considering the past events Demian had told me about, I thought the one who would consider Demian’s happiness would be Crown Prince Kenneth, not Empress Patricia.

And that opportunity came just in time.

“Yerena. There’s a banquet this evening that my brother will attend. We’ve also been invited… what do you think?”

Demian’s face, asking cautiously, was full of concern.

I answered while patting his shoulder a couple of times.

“I definitely want to attend.”

It was a perfect opportunity to meet Crown Prince Kenneth, who had been unseen in the palace due to many external schedules.

I couldn’t miss this chance.