Inside Arkle’s office.

Juan handed a piece of paper to Arkle.

It was the contract that outlined the terms with Lize.

“It’s a magically enchanted paper. It won’t get wet or burn, so there’s no worry of it being damaged.”

“…….”

Arkle silently looked down at the contract.

His gaze lingered on the signature line where Lize’s signature was written.

And below that, the blank space.

“Master, you just need to sign here.”

“…….”

At Juan’s words, Arkle slowly picked up the quill.

He moved his hand as if to sign on the signature line, but then stopped.

“Why are you hesitating?”

Juan asked, adjusting his glasses with a puzzled look.

“This contract… is it really true?”

‘Is there something absurd in the conditions?’

That couldn’t be.

He had reviewed the contents several times.

“…I can’t believe it.”

Hearing his master’s low, calm voice, Juan began to feel a faint sense of unease, wondering if he had indeed made a mistake.

‘No way… Did I make a mistake in such a significant contract? Me?’

He quickly skimmed through the contents of the contract again through his glasses, but there was nothing strange.

“Juan. This contract….”

“Is there something concerning you?”

When asked, Arkle quietly looked at Juan.

His gaze seemed to wait for Juan to voluntarily admit a mistake, making Juan stammer involuntarily.

“I’m sorry if there’s something I overlooked, Master. I’m sure it was meticulously drafted with Miss Lize—”

“Signing this means I’ll really become husband and wife with Lize Allenheim… what?”

Arkle, who was muttering quietly, suddenly hardened his expression.

“You were alone with Lize?”

“For the contract drafting….”

“Alone?”

Juan felt a cold sweat trickle down.

He was confused about whether to be pleased that there was no problem with the contract’s content or to be bewildered by the unfamiliar behavior of his master, whom he had served for a long time.

“Although I was briefly alone with the lady… she seemed regretful.”

“About what?”

“She said it would have been better if you had drafted it together….”

“…….”

Arkle silently brought a hand to his mouth.

‘Did he just smile?’

Juan wondered if his glasses were dirty.

The lenses were clear and clean.

What had faintly appeared on Arkle’s lips just now was definitely a smile.

‘Could it be… he’s serious?’

About Lize Allenheim?

Judging by his master’s appearance, there was no room for doubt.

Arkle’s ears were tinged red.

Seeing his master like this for the first time, Juan swallowed dryly.

‘Does Master know…? Lize Allenheim, she’s somehow….’

She seemed utterly mad.

He was sure that she wasn’t the pure saintess widely known.

“Juan.”

“Ah, yes—”

Juan flinched and answered, but his master didn’t have the leisure to find that strange right now.

“I’ll halve your workload.”

Juan doubted his ears.

Was he finally escaping this murderous workload…? Had his master fallen in love and suddenly become overflowing with love for humanity?

“Thank you…!”

Whatever it was, it was a dream come true for him.

He thought he could finally catch up on the sleep he had missed when….

“Please assist my wife.”

Arkle emphasized the words ‘my wife.’

Juan blinked.

“My wife is not yet familiar with life here and will need help. Allenheim and Cayenne have very different atmospheres.”

…She seems to be adapting better than anyone else?

She already seems to feel at home, though?

—Those words were on the tip of his tongue, but Juan suppressed them and muttered, “I see….”

“I heard that Allenheim values harmony. I wonder if she might be hurt by Cayenne’s personal lifestyle….”

Arkle looked genuinely concerned.

“…….”

If she were to be hurt, it should have been when she was kidnapped.

Of course, Juan didn’t say that and just smiled with a pleasant expression.

“Anyway, I’m counting on you.”

“…Master, I….”

Juan took a deep breath and was about to politely refuse, saying he was grateful for the high evaluation but still lacked the ability.

“I’ll raise your salary fivefold.”

“I’ll take responsibility and ensure Miss Lize adapts well here.”

It was too much money to refuse.

As Juan adjusted his glasses and spoke, Arkle nodded in satisfaction.

“Now, I should sign.”

Holding the quill, he carefully brought the tip to the signature line.

“…….”

[Arkle Cayenne]

He slowly inscribed his name in neat cursive.

Arkle looked at his name and Lize Allenheim’s name written side by side for a while.

‘Ah, just now….’

Juan clearly saw a faint smile pass over his master’s face once more.

‘…….’

Juan silently adjusted his glasses.

It was unfamiliar, but not an unwelcome change.

Miss Allenheim was indeed strange.

Her occasionally sinister glances and bold actions….

It was still unclear which was the real her, the calm exterior or the other face that sometimes appeared, but it was certain she wasn’t the ‘Saintess of Allenheim’ from the rumors.

Juan was baffled that neither his master nor others seemed to notice that side of Lize.

‘Still….’

He could understand why they liked Lize.

In fact, he thought he might understand a little too.

Lize Allenheim had the power to change those around her.

Naran, Arkle, the employees… they all changed after meeting Lize.

In Juan’s view, her true ability was not healing but exactly that.

“I’ll serve her to the best of my ability.”

Juan said, looking at Arkle.

There was sincerity in his voice.

Sensing that, Arkle nodded.

“I’ll keep the contract in the safe.”

“Before that.”

Just as Juan was about to take the contract, his master stopped him.

“Make a copy and bring me one.”

“You don’t need to worry about losing it….”

Seeing Arkle’s face, Juan realized he wasn’t asking for a copy out of fear of losing it.

‘The other one is for personal keeping….’

“Then I’ll have the mage make a copy first. Ah, and.”

Juan paused and looked at Arkle.

“The head of the family will arrive at the estate tomorrow evening.”

“I see…. My sister.”

“Shall I inform her about Miss Lize?”

“…No.”

After a brief thought, Arkle spoke.

“I’ll tell her myself. And Lize too.”

“Understood, then.”

After greeting and leaving the room, Juan suddenly looked back at the door.

He had always thought his master was an indifferent person.

But….

“Not indifferent, just uninterested.”

Muttering, Juan turned away.

He had served for quite some time but couldn’t even imagine what Arkle would be like when interested in something.

❖ ❖ ❖

Evening.

I was lying on the large bed, half asleep, when someone knocked on my door.

“Wife.”

It was Arkle’s voice.

‘What could it be at this hour?’

Rubbing my eyes, I slightly opened the door, and sure enough, Arkle was standing there.

He met my eyes and spoke softly.

“I have something to say. May I come in?”

“Come in.”

I yawned slightly and opened the door for him.

“You seem tired.”

“It’s okay. What brings you here at this late hour?”

As I spoke with a slight smile, Arkle, who had been quietly watching me, slowly lifted one corner of his mouth.

“Even if it’s a contract… aren’t we a couple?”

“……?”

It’s true, but….

Why suddenly bring that up…?

And with that unfamiliar smile?

“Isn’t it not strange for a couple to be together at night?”

Arkle said, gazing at me with his captivating red eyes.

Though the color resembled flames, his eyes, which were always calmly subdued, seemed to burn for the first time.

I was at a loss for words, blinking at Arkle’s unfamiliar demeanor.

‘Was he always this forward…?’

Am I still not fully awake?

‘Is he suggesting we combine rooms now?’

Though we became a couple, we were using separate rooms out of Arkle’s consideration, as he often worked late.

But suddenly, what? Together at night?

‘Is this a thank you moment…? Should I be happy? But I’m not mentally prepared for that yet….’

As I stood there with a bewildered face, Arkle, watching me, burst into a pleasant laugh.

The sweet sound of his laughter filled the room.

“Haha, it’s a joke. It was just a joke, but….”

He kept his gaze fixed on me and spoke softly.

“Seeing that face makes me want to tease you more.”

A gentle smile appeared on his lips.

“I think I understand why you asked me to beg.”

‘……?’

It seems like he’s become quite strange since getting married.

“If you keep teasing me, I’ll get angry.”

I said, laughing awkwardly, and Arkle nodded readily.

“I won’t do what you don’t like, wife. But….”

“Yes?”

“That expression just now was really cute.”

Arkle said it casually, without any change in expression.

I couldn’t hold back and screamed, hitting him lightly.

“How can you say something like that— so casually— without any hesitation—!”

“Shouldn’t I…?”

Arkle, with a puzzled look, didn’t avoid my hits and took them all.

He truly seemed unaware of what he was doing.

‘You shouldn’t say things like that to someone you don’t even like, you know.’

Perhaps because he’s usually indifferent, he does these things indifferently too… This feels more dangerous than planned actions.

I shook my head.

“So, what is it that you wanted to say?”

“Actually….”

Arkle slowly began to speak.

“My sister will arrive at the estate tomorrow. I just received the news and am telling you now.”

Tomorrow?

It’s a good thing I finished preparing in advance.

I rubbed my chin and muttered, “Oh… I see.”

The heroine is finally making her appearance.