“Why are you screaming?”

“Ah, you don’t have to show me!”

Helix, who had taken off his top, turned around.

This is bad.

Leah thought for a moment.

She wasn’t sure what exactly was bad, but she strongly felt something was definitely bad.

His cold, elegant face was wet, giving off both a pure and sensual feeling.

His wet silver hair scattered across his broad shoulders exuded a wild charm, and the water dripping from his hair pooled in his navel after trailing down his well-defined chest and statue-like abs.

After seeing a man like this, would she ever be able to date in this lifetime?

As she blinked, holding her breath, Helix held out his clothes to her.

“Put this on.”

“…Huh?”

“Didn’t you say you were cold? It should be a bit drier than your clothes.”

***

Meanwhile.

There were others besides Leah hunting monsters in the north.

It was Prince Patrick Peiren’s subjugation force.

Kuooo!

Kwajik!

As the greatsword lightly cut through the air, the head of the monster that had been howling triumphantly also flew lightly through the air.

The headless monster collapsed.

Kuung.

“Thirteen.”

Ruyan said indifferently while spinning the greatsword with one hand.

“Are there no more?”

“Huff, huff.”

A knight from the subjugation force who had been following him shook his head while catching his breath.

“After killing twelve monsters, huff, how can you say that? Huff, Lord Piert already killed all the monsters that appeared today.”

The knight looked at Ruyan with a shocked expression.

His cuts were so clean that not a single drop of blood had splattered on his dazzling golden hair despite just killing a huge monster.

It was an amazing skill that impressed no matter how many times they saw it. The other knights also chimed in.

“Heh heh, leave some sword work for us too.”

“Whew. Let’s never meet in a tournament, my lord.”

Prince Patrick also shook his head.

“Your swordsmanship truly is the best in Peiren.”

He was talented in many ways. Prince Patrick’s eyes burned as they took in Ruyan.

The prince had an ambition.

Using the subjugation force as an opportunity, he wanted to make Ruyan Piert his right-hand man!

The Piert Ducal Family was politically moderate and not pro-empire.

The swordsmanship genius second son of such a Piert Ducal Family – if he became his right-hand man, it would help establish a much more stable royal authority when he ascended to the throne.

‘I need to secure the Piert family for my future.’

He was desperate.

Patrick Peiren. The only child of the King of Peiren and heir to the throne.

His slim, sleek body resembled the late queen, and he inherited the royal bloodline’s distinctive pale gold hair and red eyes.

His diligent and elegant manner created a likeable impression despite his intense presence, and public opinion in Peiren considered him material for a wise ruler ‘possessing both the charisma befitting a crown prince and the demeanor of a benevolent monarch.’

But the prince couldn’t rest easy.

The Kingdom of Peiren was a small country attached to the west of the powerful Oken Empire.

Because of this, the empire’s influence always reached into Peiren, and many nobles were pro-empire.

The leader of these pro-empire nobles was Grand Duke Calosi, the king’s uncle who held great power. He had great ambition for the throne, and had four sons – three legitimate and one illegitimate.

There was no telling when he might try to kill Prince Patrick and take the throne with the empire’s backing.

Right now, the prince desperately needed a powerful family to take his side.

‘I must make Ruyan Piert my man during this opportunity.’

But how?

Ruyan had too much going for him to be easily reined in by someone.

He was literally from a rich and powerful family, talented himself, and a free-spirited handsome man.

If he had one weakness, it was his sister Lady Leah Piert who he treasured like gold and diamonds.

Prince Patrick pondered.

‘Should I go to Helkan where she’s supposedly recuperating and build a relationship with her first?’

***

Lady Leah Piert was not at the villa in Helkan right now.

She was in some unknown riverside cave, wrestling with a Fireball in one hand and clothes in the other.

“Whew. All dry now.”

When Leah handed over the clothes she had dried with Fireball, Helix accepted them quietly.

His expression was somewhat sheepish.

“Should I dry your hair too, Helix?”

“No.”

He had taken off his clothes because she said she was cold, then she asked him to give her more mana.

Then she used the bit of mana he’d given her to create a Fireball and started drying clothes.

He’d seen many mages but never one who used fire magic to dry clothes.

‘My contractor is unique… in many ways.’

Helix glanced at Leah who was busy drying her hair.

“What?”

Leah asked, feeling Helix’s gaze while drying her hair.

“Nothing.”

“What is it?”

Despite his words, she smiled slightly. Helix quickly turned his head away.

“Let’s head out soon. Everyone at the villa must be worried.”

“Yeah. We should.”

The two bravely walked out of the cave.

“…But where are we?”

“…I don’t know.”

Leah, who was directionally challenged by nature, went blank.

And Helix, who had become forcibly directionally challenged because the landscape had changed too much during his sealing, had lost his sense of direction too.

“Let’s try following the river upstream for now.”

And several hours later.

The two who were lost and wandering were discovered by a young herb gatherer girl.

Their large robes that completely covered their bodies were covered in dirt and grass, and the edges were singed and smelled of burning.

“W-what kind of people are you?”

The girl asked, trembling.

I’m a noble lady.

I’m a guardian.

The two who couldn’t tell the truth remained silent.

A loud sound broke through the silence.

Grrrrrumble.

The herb gathering girl’s eyes changed.

Looking at the two with pity, she asked.

“Would you like to come to our house?”

***

The girl lived in a nearby village with her older sister and nephew.

The two sisters treated Leah and Helix kindly.

“Please try this.”

The older sister served them steaming potato stew. After they wolfed down the food, the girl held out her hand.

“If you take off your robes, I can wash them for you.”

Leah pulled down the hood attached to her robe to cover her face more and shook her head.

“Sorry, but I can’t take this off.”

If they carelessly took off their robes and revealed their identities here, it might cause trouble for the sisters.

But the girl didn’t back down.

“You’re going to keep wearing them when they’re this dirty? I’ll wash them quickly. It’ll only take a moment!”

Just as the girl was about to pull off Leah’s hood.

Thunk.

Helix stood up and covered Leah’s hood with his hand.

His large hand covering the hood almost completely hid her face.

“We appreciate the thought.”

He said quietly but firmly.

“But…”

The sisters showed signs of flinching.

Not just the sisters, but Leah was surprised too.

Because the atmosphere changed with just one word from him.

“…”

How strange.

Leah blinked under her hood.

Though the large hand on her hood blocked almost all her vision, it didn’t feel stifling at all.

Why does it feel so cozy?

She was a bit flustered.

‘This is weird. Why do I feel so safe and reassured when I can’t even see?’

And for some strange reason she felt tense and swallowed dry.

Gulp.

While she was swallowing, the older sister pulled on the girl’s arm.

“Dear, that’s rude. Please apologize.”

“I’m sorry. I just wanted to help…”

“It’s fine.”

At Helix’s gentle but firm attitude, the sisters awkwardly backed away.

“Hoho, then please let us know if you need anything.”

“P-please rest.”

“We appreciate your kindness.”

Helix answered briefly and finally removed his hand from Leah’s hood.

She let out the breath she had been holding.

“Whew…”

“Did I make it stifling?”

Helix whispered apologetically.

“You seemed troubled.”

“No, you did well.”

Leah was about to add that he was reliable but stopped herself.

Well, it wasn’t compliment time anyway.

She scratched her cheek absently and looked around the house. The girl’s young nephew approached Leah and Helix, oblivious to the atmosphere.

“Mya.”

The baby waved his chubby arms toward Leah.

“Mya?”

Leah made eye contact with the baby and smiled, mimicking his animal-like sound.

Thump.

The baby’s eyes sparkled as he opened his tiny mouth wide.

It was a look of falling in love.

“Mya!”

“Myaa. Is that so? Oh, how cute.”

Helix watched Leah and the baby.

‘Not sure who’s being called cute.’

Brazenly showering compliments, firmly pushing her opinions.

He thought that was all there was to her.

But a cute voice suited her too, and matching the child’s actions suited this quirky and lively girl well…

He shook his head.

He must have been surprised to see an unfamiliar side of his contractor. Thinking unnecessary thoughts.

Meanwhile, the baby hugged Leah’s leg tightly.

“Oh my, he’s!”

“J-Jo, let go!”

As the baby’s mother and aunt rushed forward in surprise, Leah laughed and stopped them.

“He’s so cute though. It’s fine.”

Just as she was about to hug the baby who was rubbing his cheek against her leg.

Whoosh.

A large hand appeared and snatched up the baby.

“Umya!”

The startled baby cried out but quieted when he made eye contact with Helix.

Helix lifted the baby with an expressionless face.

His large, delicate hand moved smoothly.

Pat, pat.

The baby blinked in surprise at the hand gently patting his back.

This sensation of leaning against a broad chest, supported by strong arms.

“Ah… ba…”

The baby snuggled into Helix’s arms.

“Aba…”

At that moment, the baby’s mother turned away, overwhelmed with emotion.

“Sob…!”

“Oh, sister. Are you thinking about brother-in-law? Don’t cry, okay?”

Sensing the serious atmosphere, Leah poked Helix.

The two quickly went outside the sisters’ cottage.

Leah scolded Helix.

“Why did you suddenly pick up the baby and make someone cry? From what I could tell, it hasn’t been long since the baby’s father passed away.”

“I didn’t know the father was gone.”

“One look and you can tell… Never mind. I expected too much from someone as rigid as you.”

As she shook her head, Helix squinted at her in the sunlight.

Only her white chin was visible because of the deeply pulled down hood.

He was curious.

What kind of expression was she making under that hood?

“…Leah, isn’t your standard for reading situations too high?”

“Helix, you’re the one who learns too slowly.”

She said with a teasing laugh.

“But I’ll let it slide. Since you’re handsome.”

Helix’s arms unconsciously tensed up.