Two days later.

Naran regained consciousness after receiving treatment.

Fortunately, they said there was nothing wrong with his body.

And I was moved to the room next to Arkle’s.

“You’ll be safer next to that guy.”

Naran murmured quietly when he opened his eyes.

When told that Arkle was worried about him, Naran said nothing.

“Do you still hate Arkle?”

“…….”

After a long silence, Naran spoke while looking out the window.

“I thought my brother hated me.”

“…….”

“I’m the one who caused our parents’ death.”

It was the first time I’d heard about the Cayenne family’s past.

“When I was a baby, I was mysteriously ill. So our parents took me to a famous doctor in the capital. On the way back, there was a carriage accident.”

Naran turned his head and continued to speak calmly.

“My father died instantly, and my mother died trying to protect me.”

“…….”

“That’s why Calain ended up taking care of us. He immediately sent Martha to an academy at the border. It was a notoriously harsh place, and he probably wanted her to die.”

‘Calain must have coveted the position of the head of the Cayenne family.’

Come to think of it, there were a few characters in the original story who were said to be Martha’s academy peers.

“And he sold Arkle as a mercenary for a high price.”

What? Arkle went to war?

This was completely new information.

‘And he seemed quite young at the time….’

I thought the Cayenne siblings were just crazy villains, but why do they all have such tragic pasts?

“The day before Arkle left the mansion, I begged him. I pleaded not to leave me alone.”

“…….”

“But he just turned away without saying anything. That’s when I knew. Ah, he finds it painful to look at me.”

“…….”

“Because it’s all my fault that Calain came to this house and that Arkle was dragged to the battlefield.”

Naran spoke calmly, as if it didn’t bother him, but his crimson eyes were dark and sunken.

“If only I were worth something… like Arkle….”

“Naran.”

I called his name softly.

Naran turned his gaze to me silently.

“You’re able to move now, right? Shall we eat together in a bit?”

When I asked with a gentle smile, Naran’s eyes trembled slightly.

“Okay. …Thank you, Lize.”

He gave a smile as beautiful as an angel’s.

“Thank you for saying you like someone like me. I like you too, Lize. …A lot.”

His large crimson eyes sparkled like jewels, then curved sweetly.

His blushing cheeks looked like luscious apples.

It was the smile I wanted to see.

I patted Naran’s head and stood up.

“I’ll wait for you in the dining room.”

“Okay.”

Naran nodded and waved his hand slightly.

“By the way.”

I turned to Naran and said.

“Everyone in this mansion treasures you. Arkle is no exception.”

“…….”

“He was genuinely worried.”

Naran said nothing.

“See you later.”

But the place I headed to after leaving the room wasn’t the dining room.

‘This is a good opportunity.’

It was Arkle’s room.

❖ ❖ ❖

Knock knock—

I knocked on the door and waited with my hands behind my back for Arkle to come out.

Come to think of it, I hadn’t had a proper conversation with Arkle since that day. Even though my room was moved next to his.

Arkle was busy handing Calain over to the imperial palace, but….

‘Every time we meet, it feels like he’s avoiding me in a hurry.’

Could he have decided to send me back?

‘That can’t happen!’

The thought of possibly returning to Allenheim sent shivers down my spine, so I knocked on Arkle’s door again.

I had to settle this once and for all.

I needed to get permission to stay here until I saved enough money to be independent.

‘Arkle must have realized that I’m useful in many ways besides just for his magical resonance.’

And there are still many ways I can be helpful in the future.

‘Is he not in the room?’

I was planning to ask if he wanted to join us for a meal with Naran.

It could be a way to gradually improve their relationship, and I’d prefer to bring it up where Naran, who would be on my side, was present.

But….

‘Is he really not here?’

Just as I was about to turn away after waiting for a while,

Creak—

“Not now, Juan.”

Arkle’s eyes wavered as he opened the door.

“…Lize.”

He seemed slightly flustered.

I was also quite taken aback because he was wearing a thin shirt, almost undone at the front.

Seeing his broad chest and prominent collarbone made me involuntarily hold my breath.

Moreover, there was a cold sweat on Arkle’s forehead.

Judging by his faint, rough breathing….

‘It’s the magical resonance.’

It was the same symptom I saw when I first healed him.

“Lize, I can’t right now….”

“It hurts, doesn’t it? Let’s go inside.”

I spoke firmly, pushing the hesitant Arkle into the room and closing the door.

“Now isn’t a good time.”

Arkle turned his head, breathing heavily.

“You’re in pain. There’s no ‘later’ when you’re hurting.”

‘He needs to sit on the bed quickly….’

Before I could say anything, Arkle, clutching one side of his chest, collapsed onto the bed.

“Ugh….”

His rough breathing indicated he was holding back with all his might.

‘I can get his promise to let me stay here after healing him, right?’

I reached out to heal him, but.

“Stay away.”

Arkle slapped my hand away.

He looked up at me.

“Come here.”

In his red eyes, there was that unfamiliar light I’d seen before.

Whenever he had that look, Arkle seemed like a different person.

“Don’t come near me.”

“You asked me to come last time.”

“It’s dangerous.”

I smiled softly at his words.

“If I were afraid of danger, I wouldn’t be alive here like this.”

“You….”

I reached out again. This time, Arkle didn’t push me away. I gently cupped his cheek.

“Do you still want me to stay away?”

When I asked innocently, he looked at me for a moment before speaking.

“…Touch me more.”

Arkle slowly raised the corners of his mouth.

“You like this kind of thing, right?”

I nearly screamed.

‘This seductive man…!’

He pretended to be indifferent, but where did he learn to do something like this?

‘Beautiful…. So beautiful.’

His expressionless face was unrealistically handsome, but when emotions were involved, it was on a different level.

It was a face so incredible that it made me think I had died and gone to heaven.

‘The best….’

Recalling how he had pleaded with me last time, I tried to manifest holy power, but it seemed unnecessary.

Arkle’s furrowed brow, which had been twisted in pain, gradually relaxed.

It seemed the holy power was manifesting properly.

Arkle looked at me with an enraptured gaze, seemingly intoxicated by my touch.

‘It’s a face I’ve never seen before….’

It was a look that couldn’t be described as merely beautiful.

My heart began to race.

I held Arkle’s face with both hands.

Arkle didn’t push my hands away and just looked at me quietly.

“Arkle….”

I thought now was the time to ask him to let me stay here a bit longer.

“Shall we get married?”

But instead, something strange came out of my mouth.

Arkle blinked as he looked at me.

After blinking several times, he suddenly opened his eyes wide.

So, there’s someone who can open their eyes wider than Naran.

‘Ha ha… He must be really surprised.’

Even I found it absurd, so how would he feel?

‘He must be wondering what I’m talking about, right?’

Just as I was about to apologize and properly start the conversation….

“Okay.”

A sudden answer came.

‘He’s accepting it so easily?’

I looked at him in surprise, and Arkle flinched slightly under my gaze and added.

“Oh, no. I mean… not that I like the idea of marrying you… I mean, I do like it, but I meant it as a simple agreement… damn.”

His ears were turning red as he rambled.

‘…This is insanely cute.’

Arkle looked embarrassed by his own clumsy words, but I was smiling warmly inside like a proud mother.

He lowered his head deeply and muttered in frustration.

“…Sorry. I’m rambling.”

“No, I’m sorry. It was too sudden, wasn’t it?”

“No… I, I….”

“I’m not asking for a real marriage. I’m suggesting a fake marriage. In other words, a contract marriage.”

You get it, right? I’m not that crazy.

I gave him a look as if to say he could be relieved now, but Arkle didn’t seem satisfied for some reason.

He asked with a peculiar expression.

“Contract… marriage?”

“Yes. Once we achieve our goals, we’ll divorce cleanly.”

At those words, Arkle’s expression became even more strange.

‘Why is he like that?’

Well, even if he had complaints, once he heard me out, he’d have to agree this was the best way.

Arkle stared intently at me and asked.

“What’s your goal?”

“Not going back to Allenheim.”

Arkle raised one eyebrow slightly.

It must have been completely unexpected.

“I want to receive Cayenne’s protection until I can stand on my own. And you….”

I said cheerfully with a smile.

“You need me, don’t you?”

“…….”

“But as you said, I’m a hostage, and there’s a possibility of a war breaking out.”

Arkle just continued to look at me silently.

“But what if we marry with mutual consent? Then I’m no longer a hostage, and Allenheim loses the pretext to reclaim me.”

Though it was uncertain whether Allenheim would give up on me cleanly, having a pretext would prevent it from escalating into a war, as Arkle feared.

That alone made this contract marriage worth considering. Arkle seemed to have thought that far as well.

“…I see.”

He spoke quietly.

“I won’t ask why you don’t want to go back to Allenheim. If that’s how you feel, then that’s how it is.”

Not a bad reaction.

Arkle was silent, deep in thought, with a serious expression.

I swallowed dryly and watched him.

Resting his chin on one hand, he let out a small sigh, “Hmm….”

‘Please… This is the most convenient way.’

But even if it’s a contract marriage, it’s not an easy decision.

In the original story, Arkle didn’t want to be involved with anyone in any kind of relationship.

‘Should I emphasize the information I can provide more?’

Arkle was still pondering with a serious look in his eyes.

I gave him a pleading look.

“I swear. I have no other motives.”

“…….”

“I’ll write a contract and stick to it exactly. Cleanly.”

“…I have a concern. It’s important.”

“What is it?”

Resting his chin on his hand, Arkle furrowed his brows and seriously spoke.

“Should we have a big wedding?”

“…….”

…Why does that matter?