I’ve always been honest with Demian, but I couldn’t tell him anything related to Cain.

I was worried that I might say something wrong and negatively affect Demian.

“I’m sorry. Ask His Highness the Crown Prince directly about that.”

“Creating secrets like this, I feel hurt.”

“I’m not creating secrets, but protecting you. Anyway, we shouldn’t upset His Highness the Crown Prince right now, right?”

“When did my darling become so good with words?”

“After talking with a shameless Guildmaster for a long time, I’ve unintentionally become like this.”

“That Guildmaster must be very capable. Even improving the conversation skills of others.”

I looked at Demian with disbelief.

The problem was, his way of praising himself without backing down didn’t seem hateful but rather cute.

Am I too fond of this man?

“Anyway, I understand. I won’t ask about what happened with my brother anymore.”

“Thank you.”

“In return for suppressing my curiosity, may I hug you just once?”

May I hug you just once, he says.

It was a tactic he had used not long ago.

Knowing Demian’s sly intentions, I willingly embraced him first.

Demian was more beautiful and splendid than anyone at the banquet.

From the moment I saw his exceptionally magnificent appearance, I had wanted to embrace him too.

“This is nice.”

A gentle tremor permeated those plain words.

Despite having embraced me more than once or twice, Demian was very shy.

“How much do you like me?”

“The most in the world?”

“My, you don’t seem to be embarrassed at all.”

“But the more I touch you, the more I want. I seem to like it more and more… what should I do?”

“What do you mean, what should you do? You should continue living as my servant.”

“How much have you forgiven me?”

I made a humming sound.

“About half? Please try harder.”

“You’ve already forgiven me half?”

“I’m a generous master.”

“Pfft.”

At my cheeky response, Demian finally burst into laughter.

Demian’s smiling face in the moonlight was truly splendid. Completely enchanted, I stood on tiptoe and kissed his cheek.

“…!”

It was a brief, light kiss.

But even that seemed to be surprising, as Demian’s eyes widened.

“When I forgive you completely, next time I’ll kiss you on the lips.”

I had thought about treating Demian like a servant and being compensated for being deceived for a long time…

But it seemed I would have to forgive him soon.

How could I resist forgiving this lovable man?

…It’s absolutely not because I want to kiss his lips that I would forgive him.

Unaware of my inner thoughts, Demian couldn’t hide his bewilderment as he touched the cheek where my lips had touched.

“Yerena… I’ve never wished for anything in my life, but with you, I find myself wanting more and more.”

I wanted him to desire me more, unbearably so.

Because as time passed, I too craved Demian more.

***

The next day, both good news and bad news arrived simultaneously.

The good news was that a letter had arrived from Olivia, and the bad news was that Baron and Lambert had come looking for me.

After being abandoned like that at yesterday’s banquet, they still came looking for me.

What more could there be to say between us?

I said I wouldn’t meet them. It wasn’t even something I needed to think about.

Just as they had never helped me travel between Chelsea Center and Pandora Forest, or treated me with respect, I had no need to be considerate of them.

Given the location, Lambert and Baron apparently left without being able to cause a disturbance.

‘Will they come again?’

After dealing with them, I was about to read the letter from Olivia.

A maid from the Crown Prince’s Palace quietly called for me.

“His Highness the Crown Prince has commanded me to bring you.”

It happened to be when Demian was away for a scheduled formal dinner.

‘He wants to talk about what happened at Philia Islands.’

“Alright. Lead the way.”

I headed to the Crown Prince’s Palace with Bless.

The Crown Prince’s Palace was so far from the Second Prince’s Palace that we had to travel by carriage.

Riding in the carriage, I belatedly enjoyed the vast scenery of the imperial palace.

Perhaps because it was where Demian was born and raised, I thought of him no matter which space I looked at. What Demian might have done here, what kind of anguish he might have experienced…

“Master, what are you thinking about?”

Bless, sitting beside me, was staring at my face.

Those transparent eyes looked more bird-like than before.

“I was thinking how vast the imperial palace is.”

“Right. I don’t really like vast spaces, so I want to return to the Philia Islands.”

Bless’s Adam’s apple bobbed noticeably as he said this.

“You, it’s not because of the vast space, but because you miss the fish from Philia Islands, right?”

“T-that’s not it! Although that doesn’t mean I don’t miss that fish at all…”

Bless smacked his lips while savoring the imagined taste. I giggled, finding it funny and cute.

“We can’t go right away, but let’s ask Demian for fish for dinner tonight.”

“Demian…”

“What?”

“I still can’t let my master go to that man. I want to observe more.”

“Are you my parent?”

“…That’s not it, but I feel like my human form is maintained because I want to observe more.”

Bless was speaking with the confidence of someone who had roughly guessed the activation conditions needed for transformation.

“How are the Monsters training together? Have they succeeded in evolving into large birds?”

“Some have.”

“Oh! Really? That’s amazing.”

“But it’s not complete yet. After they fully master it, I’ll incorporate them into Yerena’s business. And we’ll rebuild our home.”

“That’s wonderful, my Monster.”

Bless smiled softly and then spoke somewhat like an adult.

“Yerena. Although I don’t particularly like Demian, if you choose him, I’ll respect your choice.”

When did he become so familiar with human speech?

I thoroughly messed up Bless’s hair.

“Thank you.”

***

There was something I hadn’t realized because I hadn’t gone far with Human Bless before.

‘Bless… is really popular?’

Everyone we met at the Crown Prince’s Palace glanced at him. Some even blushed.

Bless didn’t seem to understand what those reactions meant and paid no attention.

It struck me anew how handsome and cool my bird was.

A pleased smile spread across my face.

“Yerena… that smile is scary right now.”

But what could I do when the smile kept escaping?

Eventually, the maid guiding us stopped walking. The maid announced our arrival to Cain, who was inside.

“Your Highness. I have brought Lady Yerena.”

“Ah, please show her in.”

“Yes.”

I left Bless outside the room and entered alone.

Cain, looking more haggard than yesterday, greeted me.

“Lady, it’s nice to see you again. Please sit down, cough, cough.”

After sitting on the sofa, I expressed my concern for him.

“Are you alright?”

“Yeah. I overdid it late last night, so my health deteriorated. But I’m glad you know about my condition.”

“…You’re keeping your illness a secret, right?”

Cain gave a sickly smile that signified affirmation.

That smile strangely matched his pale complexion, and I couldn’t help but stare at his face for a while.

“But there are no eternal secrets in this world. Just as Lady Yerena happened to discover my ailment.”

“Is it very serious?”

“A little…? I wasn’t very healthy to begin with, and the poison used by Her Majesty the Empress made it worse.”

“….”

I could only look at him, unable to gauge what I should say.

What words could I use to prevent anger from reaching Demian…

“Don’t worry. I don’t intend to hate Demian for that reason, or break the promise I made yesterday.”

“Really?”

“Yes. And why would I kill Her Majesty the Empress in one go? I should let her live for a long time, as I promised Demian, while tormenting her intermittently.”

Perhaps that would be even more terrible for Empress Patricia.

“And for Lady Yerena’s sake, too, I want to help Demian. You gave me fish skewers without any conditions on Philia Islands.”

I never expected to receive kindness back in this way for something I had given without any thought.

It was also surprising that Cain still remembered that incident.

“I’ll explain to Demian myself about my illness. I met not only Lady Yerena but also his aide at Philia Islands.”

“…Yes.”

“But the fact that my condition is quite serious will remain a secret until I die, Lady Yerena.”

‘Until I die—.’

Those words strangely continued to echo in my ears.

Was it my imagination that Cain seemed like someone who sensed that his life didn’t have much time left?