That bastard who babbled about being her master while making Leah suffer so much. Just thinking about it made his teeth grind.

‘It was Dragon’s power. Dragon’s magic. But… he didn’t quite feel like a complete Dragon.’

Helix pondered various possibilities.

‘Someone who made a contract with a Dragon? No, he’s too strong for that.’

Despite knowing everything about magic and mana, he was anxious about not being able to accurately identify the opponent’s true nature this time. Moreover, that guy seemed to be the owner of the Dragon mana Leah possessed. And he was targeting her.

‘We need to get to the capital quickly and secure cooperation from Keron and the Piert Ducal Family.’

Without someone’s help, he couldn’t even protect this one precious contractor. Looking at Leah’s shoulders swaying with the horse’s movements as she sat in front of him, they seemed so small and fragile that Helix’s mouth went dry at his own incompetence. It was frustrating that his power hadn’t returned.

‘Leah.’

He called her name in his mind, but she turned her head to look at him.

Helix maintained his composure as he met Leah’s eyes. Even her gaunt face, worn from worry and horseback riding, was beautiful.

“…I’m here.”

“Yeah.”

Thank goodness.

She mouthed the words as she leaned back and lowered her head. Her small, round head lightly touched his chest.

Pain spread from where she touched, like pins and needles. His entire chest felt like it had become a heart.

He had always been the first to care for and protect Leah more than anyone else. But now that they were being chased like this, his resolve to protect her grew even stronger.

Fighting the urge to stroke her platinum blonde hair that fluttered in the wind near his chest, Helix gritted his teeth and rode on.

***

The Piert Ducal Family immediately responded to the story from Leah and Helix who had arrived in a mad rush.

“Send rescue teams to Ruyan immediately, and dispatch messengers to those remaining at the villa! Time is of the essence!”

“Yes!”

Following the Duke’s thunderous orders, Young Duke Rikeil added his meticulous instructions.

“Since there’s mention of sudden symptoms, arrange as many carriages as possible for transporting the sick, and have our institute’s doctors and herbalists on standby. There will be consequences if word of these symptoms leaks out.”

“We will prepare as ordered, Young Duke.”

Having been at the northern villa, Helix, who hadn’t properly experienced the Piert Ducal Family’s influence, was surprised. Both the wealth evident in the Piert Ducal Family’s capital residence and their well-organized system for dispatching rescue teams were of a rare caliber.

‘So Leah was a noble lady of such a ducal family.’

It was unexpected, considering how modest she usually was.

But what really surprised him was yet to come.

“So you’re the one who made my daughter healthy? It’s wonderful to meet you.”

The Duchess appeared, trailing a cloud of servants, and commanded:

“Now, make my daughter and our benefactor as fresh as newborn babies who know nothing of fatigue.”

“Leave it to us!”

The ducal family’s experienced servants approached the two with grim determination. They were armed with weapons like luxury soaps, bath additives, and fragrant oils.

“…”

For the first time since awakening from his seal, Helix wanted to run away.

***

When he came to his senses, half a day had already passed.

“Did you sleep well?”

Leah’s voice came from beside him. When he turned, she was sprawled like pudding on a sofa bathed in sunlight.

“Wow…”

Leah, who had been dozing off, perked up when she saw him.

“Helix, your face is glowing after the treatment.”

“Is it?”

“Yes. Really.”

She chattered on.

“How can that face get even more handsome? So even super-handsome guys benefit from proper care.”

Helix unconsciously touched his face. Growing up among elves, he had never thought his face was particularly handsome. While carrying out his guardian duties, his looks often felt more troublesome than anything, getting him caught up in annoying situations.

But with Leah complimenting him every time she saw him, somehow he started liking his face too. Above all, he enjoyed seeing how her expression brightened whenever she looked at his face.

‘Good thing I’m handsome then.’

Suppressing his satisfaction, he examined her.

“Why are you still lying there like that? Is your fatigue not gone?”

“If half a day of treatment could cure my accumulated fatigue, I wouldn’t be Leah Piert.”

She laughed playfully and got up to approach Helix.

“Here, time for my charging.”

Leah took Helix’s hand and tried to bring it to her face. The familiar coaxing gesture was so natural that he almost gave his hand automatically.

“Wait, hold on.”

A pleasant fragrance wafted from Leah as she pulled his hand while bringing her face closer. It was a scent that suited her perfectly – sweet and fresh with a sharp finish. He quickly pulled back.

“I’ll… just give you mana directly.”

“Can’t you both charge me and give me mana?”

“No.”

Helix replied at light speed and held Leah’s hand to infuse mana.

Pop.

“Uwaah…?”

Leah let out a strange groan.

“Helix, the mana you’re giving seems more powerful… now?”

She frowned slightly as if it was a bit overwhelming. He asked in alarm.

“Are you alright?”

“Oh, yeah. Since Helix’s mana is pure mana, it’s okay even if I receive it strongly… but, it really has gotten stronger. The amount has increased too.”

Helix paused and carefully checked his body’s condition. He could feel a clear difference in power.

“…It seems more of my guardian power has returned.”

Leah was even happier than if it had been about herself.

“Look at what you’ve accomplished! There really is no such thing as an impossible situation. That’s great, Helix, high five!”

Helix held out his hand in bewilderment. Slap! She high-fived him with a bright smile.

Her white, small, soft hand hit his large palm and instantly pulled away. Helix blinked while still holding his hand out.

“…What was that just now?”

“Hm? Oh, it’s like clapping together. This is great, really.”

He slowly withdrew his hand and experimentally clenched and unclenched it. He didn’t want this sensation to fade. Leah chattered beside him.

“What a shame. This calls for a toast.”

“No alcohol for your body, Leah. Stop it.”

“Yes, yes. I know. I was just saying… though I do have a grand dream.”

Her eyes sparkled.

“Someday, I’ll become a great mage, get super healthy, eat meat right off the bone, and drink alcohol straight!”

“…Is that what you want to do after becoming a great mage?”

“For someone in my position, having such a healthy body seems more magical than actual magic.”

Helix shook his head.

“Sorry to burst your bubble, but even great mages would lose their teeth if they tried to eat meat off the bone.”

“That’s mean!”

“And great mages can choose not to get drunk no matter how much they drink. Alcohol is the same as water to them.”

“T-then what’s the point of drinking straight alcohol?”

“There isn’t any.”

Leah deflated.

“My dreams of binge eating, heavy drinking, great mage life…”

“…That’s what mercenaries do, Leah. Give it up. Don’t you have desserts?”

Right, I have pudding and cake… She was momentarily tempted but shook her head.

“I wanted to drink together with Helix when I could handle alcohol.”

Helix cut her off firmly.

“That’s a dangerous thought.”

“Huh?”

What’s dangerous? How could a man who doesn’t budge even when she tries her best to flirt by smiling, complimenting, and making physical contact be dangerous?

Leah tilted her head.

‘No? Is he saying I’m dangerous?’

Is he worried I might act up or get clingy when drunk? Have I been too forward with our straight-laced Helix? She felt a bit remorseful.

“Why? I’ll only drink a little.”

“It’s dangerous anyway.”

These days, Leah was dangerous. She was becoming more and more dangerous. Just a slight lean of her head made his entire chest pound like a heart, and just a touch of her palm made his whole arm tingle – it felt almost like he was under a curse.

‘Could she really be the Dragon’s Holy Maiden?’

How else could she make a guardian ache like this at every moment? He pondered and shook his head.

If Leah were the Dragon’s Holy Maiden, that black-haired guy wouldn’t have acted that way. The Holy Maiden was supposed to be the Dragon’s savior, after all.

“Leah, what if…”

Helix looked down at Leah with darkened eyes. Her blue eyes sparkled as they met his. They were eyes that trusted him without a hint of doubt.

“Yes? What if?”

“…It’s nothing.”

***

The next morning, Leah woke up in a soft bed for the first time in a while.

Being buried in her own bed in her family home after so long made her feel like she could lie there all day.

“Hehehehe.”

Leah lay spread-eagled on the bed and laughed contentedly. She remembered what she had promised herself last night.

‘I deserve more rest, so tomorrow I’ll really laze around until late! Brunch in bed, tea time snacks in bed!’

Just as she was thinking this must be happiness, her stomach growled. She slightly parted the bed canopy.

“My lady! You’re awake!”

A maid brightened and quickly approached. Leah internally flinched.

‘She came just from seeing the canopy move without being called – don’t tell me she was watching to see when I’d wake up? Is something wrong?’

To the anxious Leah, the maid exclaimed:

“There’s a mountain of invitations for you, my lady!”

Invitations?

Invitations to tea parties and balls and such social events?

Leah lay back down on the bed, closed her eyes, and said firmly:

“Ignore them.”

“Pardon? But…”

“They came while I was away for recovery, right? Tell them I’m still in the north.”

“My lady, about that…”

She opened her eyes slightly. The maid’s hesitation seemed ominous.

“What? Is there a problem?”

After hemming and hawing, the maid finally confessed.

“Well… it seems someone saw you arriving yesterday on horseback with that… guest.”

“What? Who?”

We even wore hooded robes as soon as we got near the capital.

“The people who always hang around near the mansion hoping to see you, my lady. You know, the… your fan club members.”

“…You mean those Peirlily Fan Club guys?”