If tomorrow is the day that determines whether I can continue to stay here or not….

‘I’ll make sure to get noticed somehow.’

I’m quite confident in flattery. I’ve even made it to the best comments several times with my wit.

As I was steeling myself internally, I felt a lingering gaze.

Arkle was silently watching me.

‘Why is he looking at me like that…?’

Reading Arkle’s thoughts was still difficult.

Just like when we first met, he had an almost expressionless face and didn’t easily show his emotions.

But….

‘That doesn’t mean he has no emotions.’

“Please. Save Naran… Lize….”

‘A person without emotions wouldn’t make such a face.’

I quietly met Arkle’s gaze as he looked down at me.

This man is not like a Tin Man without a heart.

He’s someone whose heart is clearly beating.

I smiled at Arkle.

“You seem to have something you want to say… is that right?”

And if he’s someone not so different from me, understanding him might be possible.

Arkle looked at me for a moment before slowly opening his mouth.

“Well….”

Hesitant, Arkle approached me.

As I was once again realizing how large his frame was, he gently cupped the back of my head with one hand.

“Arkle?”

“…When I was at war…”

It was the first time Arkle had spoken directly about the past.

“I heard from a fellow captain that this method is the most effective.”

“Effective for what?”

“To alleviate fear. The man who wanted to comfort his fiancée back home this way never returned….”

“…….”

“But I’m here now, so I want to ease your fears, even a little.”

Lowering his gaze, Arkle softly spoke as he pressed my head against his chest.

It was a very cautious and gentle touch.

Thump, thump—

I could hear his heart beating clearly.

“You’re definitely not a Tin Man.”

“……?”

When I turned my head, I saw Arkle’s other hand hovering awkwardly near my shoulder.

Only then did I realize what he wanted to do.

‘Is he trying to hug me?’

Why all of a sudden…?

As I was wondering, Arkle’s voice answered my question.

“You don’t need to feel burdened, wife. I’ll talk to my sister. She’s a reasonable person, so she’ll understand if I explain.”

Oh, is he doing this because he thought I might be nervous about meeting Martha tomorrow…?

‘I didn’t think I was that nervous….’

Yet, strangely, as I buried my face in Arkle’s embrace, I felt a sense of calm.

“I think I’ve shown quite a few unsightly sides.”

“No, Arkle.”

I’m the one who’s thrilled by those unsightly sides.

“Now that you’ve become a part of the Cayenne family, albeit nominally… you are someone I must protect. So, regardless of who it is, I will take responsibility for your safety.”

His voice, steady and sincere, revealed his true feelings.

Up to this point, it was quite impressive….

“So, uh….”

Arkle awkwardly placed his hand on my shoulder, which had been hovering uncertainly.

I could feel a slight tremor in his touch.

It was a very clumsy posture, neither fully holding my shoulder nor letting go.

“I’m sorry…. It’s my first time, so I’m not sure if this method is working.”

“It worked.”

At my words, Arkle’s body flinched slightly.

“You’re saying you’ll be on my side, right? So I shouldn’t worry.”

“…That’s right.”

“And this hand, you wanted to do this.”

I lightly grasped Arkle’s hand, which was awkwardly resting on my shoulder.

When I guided his wrist to my waist, Arkle’s body flinched again.

“……!”

“Thank you for saying you’ll be on my side, Arkle. It’s reassuring to hear that.”

I wrapped my arms around Arkle’s waist as well.

His waist was so thick and solid that I had to interlace my fingers to hold on….

‘There, this counts as a hug too.’

“You don’t have to worry. I’m confident I’ll get along with the head of the family.”

“…….”

“Well, at the very least, I won’t be hated.”

Those words were as much for myself as they were for him.

If I get kicked out of here, there really won’t be any answers.

It was a bit disappointing that I had to destroy the main romance of my favorite novel….

‘Who’s worrying about whom now?’

Anyway, the original story has already twisted enough.

‘I can’t do this half-heartedly. I’ll somehow succeed in my plan and stay longer in the Cayenne family.’

Arkle’s embrace was effective.

‘Thanks to that, I feel more determined.’

I was about to tell him not to worry too much either when Arkle’s voice reached me.

“…It’s always like this.”

His tone, mixed with a low laugh, sounded like he was talking to himself.

He slowly released me and gave a faint smile.

“This time, I wanted to show a more reliable side, but I ended up relying on you again.”

“Arkle….”

There was something forlorn about the way Arkle spoke, and my heart began to react.

‘You don’t have to show a reliable side! Rely on me more! Be more childish…! That’s more my type!’

I was shouting excitedly in my head, but since I was smiling warmly on the outside, Arkle had no way of knowing my inner thoughts.

“What kind of person is the head of the family?”

I knew quite a bit about Martha since she’s the main character, but it would be good to hear about her from her brother, Arkle, as well.

After a moment of contemplation, Arkle began to speak.

“To be honest… I haven’t had many conversations with my sister. She went to the academy when we were young, and I went to war.”

I knew from the original story that Arkle and Martha had a distant relationship.

‘So it’s true.’

It seemed Arkle knew even less about Martha than I did.

‘I was hoping to learn something I didn’t know….’

I bit my lip slightly in disappointment, but Arkle spoke in a firm voice.

“I don’t have much to say about my sister, but there is one thing I’m certain of.”

“Oh, what is it?”

I looked at Arkle with eyes full of anticipation.

“You don’t have to worry about being disliked by her. There’s no one in this world who would hate you.”

What?

I blinked at Arkle, but he was serious.

“If someone hates you… they’re probably a demon in human disguise. A dangerous person with no empathy. Someone who should be isolated from society.”

—said the one who received the power of a demon, had no empathy, and was considered the most dangerous person in the world.

“Why are you suddenly saying that, Arkle?”

I laughed as if he was joking.

This is serious.

Arkle looked genuinely serious.

It seems that man has a strange filter over his eyes.

I was about to say something.

‘This time, it better not be like the maids calling me an angel…. Or saying I’m fragile and delicate? Gentle and pure?’

Just thinking about those titles made me cringe.

I silently prayed for him to choose something I’ve at least heard before and could get used to.

The words that came out of Arkle’s mouth were quite different from what I expected.

“You’re a strong person. Someone who can look at any emotion straight on.”

“Oh….”

I almost replied, ‘It must be because I’ve seen so many hardcore works.’

“When you forgave the employees, when you tried not to be swayed by Calain, when you told me to be more honest… it was all possible because you faced everything head-on.”

Arkle, who had been speaking calmly, trailed off.

“To be honest, I… was looking away from my brother.”

“Arkle, Naran’s situation isn’t your fault. Calain is the one to blame.”

When I spoke passionately, Arkle chuckled softly.

“Right. He’s the one to blame. But it wasn’t just about Naran. I think I might have been looking away from the past… from the world, and I realized that by watching you.”

“…….”

‘It was the same for me.’

I wanted to tell him this directly, but… I had to swallow it down.

‘I always looked away too. Through novels, through movies… I don’t deserve to hear that from you.’

“You are strong.”

“…….”

No one had ever said that to me before.

Other than saying I had a strong stomach….

Even when I endured difficult surgeries, when I crossed the line between life and death multiple times, when I persevered through a life with no sign of recovery, I wanted to be praised for not giving up.

Hearing the words I had longed for….

“…Thank you.”

For some reason, I could only respond with such a trivial reaction.

But somehow, I felt like my feelings had been conveyed to Arkle.

“It’s late at night, so I’ll be going now.”

“Thank you so much for caring.”

I smiled and waved at Arkle.

At least Arkle didn’t call me an angel or anything, so I was relieved.

‘It’s a good thing he’s somewhat rational….’

❖ ❖ ❖

At that time, in Arkle’s office.

“You’re back.”

Juan, who was working on documents, greeted the returning Arkle.

Arkle nodded and spoke with a serious expression.

“Juan, are the medicines purchased from the Magic Tower stored properly?”

“They’re all stored in the warehouse. But why so suddenly…?”

“There was a medicine with a paralyzing effect, right? It helps relax and calm the mind.”

Juan nodded in understanding.

“Oh… you plan to use it when the head of the family returns tomorrow.”

“Yes.”

Juan adjusted his glasses and smiled.

‘It seems he intends to give it to Miss Lize.’

To think he would see his master caring so much about someone else….

It was unfamiliar but heartwarming.

“Of course, using medication is fine, but… wouldn’t it be better for Miss Lize to meet the head of the family as she is? Master, please don’t worry too much. Miss Lize will be just fine.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Yes?”

Arkle spoke calmly.

“Of course, the medicine is for my sister. Not Lize.”

“……?”

“My sister has quite a sharp tongue. Lize is strong, but… she’s also pure.”

“…….”

‘Where exactly is she pure?’

Juan couldn’t open his mouth, frozen in place.

Arkle’s red eyes gleamed chillingly.

“So anything that might hurt her… I’ll get rid of it all.”

…Is he saying he’ll get rid of his sister?

Juan had to spend the night persuading Arkle not to paralyze the head of the family.