The 2nd Division of the Piert Knights guarding the northern villa were exceptionally skilled knights.

‘I’m worried about leaving Louise alone. It would be reassuring if one of our knights could go quickly as a guard.’

After pondering, Leah called Knight Biden to discuss.

“As it happens, we have a suitable member.”

Knight Biden said with a bright face.

“He’s from the north and considering retirement, so he’d be perfect for the guard duty you mentioned.”

“Retirement? Is he old?”

“No. He’s just turned thirty, but his injuries aren’t healing well.”

Knight Biden carefully added that the knight had applied for retirement only because he was worried about being a burden to the knights, but his skills were still impressive.

“He’s highly loyal, and though his achievements aren’t flashy, they’re not insignificant. I’ve been trying to dissuade him from laying down his sword so young, but…”

“Really? If he’s injured badly enough to quit, will he be okay with guard duty?”

“He can’t handle the elite duties of the Piert Knights, but guarding in these mountains would be no problem. He could win against 17 village men attacking at once.”

That was reassuring.

Well, considering who trained him. Leah nodded, thinking of her second brother.

“Hmm. But if he’s that capable, why apply for retirement instead of continuing service?”

“It’s a knight’s pride – he said having someone like him in the elite Piert Knights would lower morale.”

“Ah.”

With that kind of character, he’d be reliable as Louise’s guard. His skills and circumstances seemed suitable for guard duty too. She made her decision.

“Alright. Then have Knight Biden make the arrangements.”

“He’ll be grateful to you for this opportunity, my lady.”

***

That afternoon.

Knight Dylan from the north came and bowed deeply.

“Thank you for your consideration, my lady.”

His voice trembled slightly.

“I thought my only option was to return home and become a swordsmanship instructor. Thank you for allowing me to remain a knight of Piert.”

Leah nodded.

‘Looking at his face, he really is still young.’

She understood why Knight Biden had been worried.

She knew a bit about what it meant to be a knight because of her brother. They trained with swords from a very young age, and only a talented few became knights.

To become a knight of the Piert Ducal Family, one must have trained insanely hard and spent most of their life with the sword. Such young and talented knights couldn’t even imagine a life without the sword.

‘When Ruyan thought he might not be able to hold a sword anymore, he felt like his world was ending.’

Knight Dylan must have felt similar. And unlike Ruyan who was a duke’s son, he would have worried about making a living too.

“When someone dedicates their youth and talent to our family, we can at least show this much consideration.”

Knight Dylan carefully raised his head to look at Leah.

He had thought she was just the sickly lady, but the way she wielded authority while showing generosity was truly befitting a member of the Piert Ducal Family.

“…This is an enormous consideration for me.”

“I’m glad then.”

She added.

“Don’t be too grateful. Isn’t this an employment relationship? I needed you and valued your abilities and diligence, so don’t think of it only as a favor.”

Knight Dylan felt his throat tighten somehow.

He had already felt indebted to the Piert family for accepting him, a country bumpkin from the north, as a knight and making him into someone who could pull his own weight.

He had felt such guilt about having to quit being a knight before he could repay that debt.

But now the lady was throwing him a lifeline when he thought his life as a knight was over, while calmly saying.

‘I needed you and valued your abilities and diligence, so don’t think of it only as a favor.’

Warm comfort seeped into his heart that had been weighed down by debt. He felt like he could make a fresh start and accomplish anything.

Knight Dylan knelt.

“…As my loyalty lies with the Piert Ducal Family, my sword and life are yours as well, my lady. Use them as you will.”

Leah blinked.

‘I feel like people keep pledging their lives to me lately. Am I imagining things?’

Somehow since getting healthier and starting to live more freely, she kept hearing words of loyalty.

What did I even do? I just threw money around like a rich kid steeped in capitalism and paid attention to welfare.

She hid her discomfort as she replied.

“Don’t say use them as I will – use them sparingly. You only have one life.”

It backfired.

Knight Dylan now looked ready to burst into tears.

“For you, my lady, I won’t spare anything.”

“No, do spare it.”

“…My lady, may I kiss your fingertips?”

In Peiren, a knight kissing fingertips was a pledge to protect with their life and soul. Leah internally grabbed the back of her neck.

‘I told him not to risk his life, where are my words going?’

Why do people keep misinterpreting what I say?

As she was groaning.

“You may not.”

Helix suddenly burst through the door and stepped in front of Leah, blocking Knight Dylan with his body.

“…Leah is training as a mage, careless contact could distort the mana in her body.”

“I-is that so?”

Knight Dylan backed away in surprise.

Wait, really?

Leah, who was even more surprised, quickly took a step back too.

Helix blocked her more firmly as he gave the warning.

“Be careful.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

Knight Dylan placed a hand on his chest, bowed respectfully to Leah, and withdrew. Helix quietly glared at Knight Dylan as he left.

When the door closed, Leah asked.

“Does contact really distort mana? Why didn’t you tell me before?”

“…It’s not usually that dangerous.”

Helix turned his head, avoiding Leah’s gaze.

Something seemed suspicious.

Leah narrowed her eyes. Helix, who was terribly protective of her health, wouldn’t have missed such an important precaution.

“That was a lie, wasn’t it.”

“…”

“Why are you lying so unlike yourself?”

Helix frowned without responding. Remembering Knight Dylan’s gaze made him feel queasy.

“Do you dislike Knight Dylan? Are you uncomfortable?”

“No.”

Helix quickly denied it. He had no ill feelings toward the knight from earlier.

But that look.

He disliked that blind look people showed around Leah.

“What then. Do you dislike that I’m popular?”

“…No.”

“That no doesn’t sound very convincing…”

Leah’s voice trailed off like her eyes. A voice tinged with laughter. Eyes narrowing into crescents. Helix quietly looked down at her.

“…Leah, you’re too defenseless.”

“Huh?”

“You trust people too easily and let them get close. That’s why they act like that.”

“Like what?”

“Crossing boundaries and acting blindly devoted after meeting just once or twice.”

Helix said gruffly.

“That knight just now was like that, and Janet too, even though she became your personal maid.”

No, I thought it was a bit much too, but I don’t think it deserves to be called crossing boundaries and blind devotion.

Leah argued back.

“Knight Dylan is a Piert knight so that’s understandable. And Janet’s case is special, you saw that yourself.”

“Of course I know you have your reasons.”

“Then why are you saying this?”

Leah snapped.

“You may be my contractor, Helix, but it’s not right for you to say things like this.”

Helix was silent for a moment. She was right.

But watching from the side somehow… it was irritating and made him anxious.

“…I’m telling you to be careful.”

“Of what?”

“We still haven’t found who fed you the Dragon’s mana. There might be spies or informants inside, yet you keep trusting them, being considerate…”

“But if I wasn’t like that, I wouldn’t have picked you up either, right?”

Helix flinched.

“…You’re right about that.”

After listing his worries like nagging, he quickly conceded when her words rang true. Helix furrowed his elegant brows and nodded.

Strange.

Leah stared at him thoughtfully. With that build and cold face frowning like that.

Why is it cute?

Suddenly finding that expression so adorable, she reached out without thinking. Her finger pressed against Helix’s furrowed brow. He raised his eyebrows.

“What are you doing?”

“Um… because it’s cute?”

“What’s what now?”

At words he’d never heard before, Helix’s brow furrowed deeper.

“No, I mean, it’s a compliment? Really? It’s compliment time?”

Though she wondered what she was saying even as she said it, they say you should push forward with what you can’t take back. Leah awkwardly added with determination.

“A-ah, your eyebrows are handsome too.”

“…Aren’t you just throwing random compliments now?”

Though he grumbled in a sharp tone, Helix gently took her hand and lowered it.

See, he does have cute sides. Leah chuckled.

“Why are you laughing.”

“It’s nothing. But what brings you here at this hour? Didn’t you say magic lessons were canceled today?”

***

“I came to discuss something.”

Helix said, pointing at the plate of half-eaten Tigone berries.

“…About the Tigone berries.”

“Yes?”

“You remember when I went to investigate the Tigone flowers last time.”

He explained.

The normally purple Tigone flowers.

Since their blue color indicated contamination, Helix had hurriedly examined the tree and surroundings.

“Only the tree you saw was contaminated, but I couldn’t find the source. Tigone trees are very sensitive to negative mana…”

“Surely it’s not a barrier problem?”

“Since only one tree was affected, it probably isn’t the barrier. The barrier was fine when I checked too.”

He said seriously.

“I’d like to investigate around that Tigone tree again.”

Leah nodded too.

“Hmm. Now that you mention it, it does sound suspicious. Let’s investigate together.”

“…Together?”