Cedric shifted his gaze to face Duke Ronia.

The Duke had to exert strength not to shrink back from his overwhelming presence.

The atmosphere was completely different from when they first met at the banquet.

It was as if, unlike before, when he might have been hiding his claws, now a wild beast lay languidly before them.

“The Grand Duke of Renigrad wishes to invite Lady Ronia to dinner.”

In the empire, it was customary to send an invitation through the family to a young lady who had not yet debuted in society, seeking permission.

However, it was just a custom, and no one took it to this level of formality.

“Will you grant permission?”

At his languid and heavy voice, the Duke inadvertently swallowed his saliva.

Perhaps it was because of the knights standing in a line behind Cedric, but he had a feeling that refusing would lead to trouble.

Of course, he had no thought of refusing.

“It’s an honor. It’s truly an honor that Bianca can meet the Grand Duke.”

A smile spread across the faces of the Duke and Duchess. Bianca glanced at Cedric and bowed her head with a flushed face.

A peculiar smile played across Cedric’s impassive face.

“Ah, I am inviting Lady Raniarne Freya de Ronia.”

“Ah, Arne?”

Cedric nodded briefly.

‘I sent Ella to Arne, and they thought it was Bianca. I don’t understand the Duke and Duchess.’

Cecil asked with a twisted face.

“Is there a mistake? Or could our Bianca also go along…”

“The Grand Duke has invited Lady Raniarne Freya de Ronia, Duchess.”

Cedric’s low voice was threatening, warning them not to cross a line.

His swirling red eyes seemed like they could devour someone.

Cecil quietly shut her mouth.

One could not simply change the Grand Duke’s command.

It was frustrating.

‘I can’t help but be upset if my child isn’t treated well. What’s so special about Arne that both Cedric and the Grand Duke…’

Then, at least in this moment, Cedric and Bianca should be given the chance to be together as much as possible.

‘Who knows? If Cedric spends time with Bianca, he might fall for her. They just haven’t had the chance to be together.’

Cecil said with a cold look towards Arne.

“Arne, since we have such esteemed guests, bring some of that rare tea from the south.”

Arne’s face stiffened. She clenched the hem of her dress on her lap.

Cecil treated Arne like a maid out of habit.

“What are you doing? Hurry up.”

“…Yes.”

Arne stood up. The surprised gazes of Cedric and the knights behind him followed her.

When Arne turned around after letting go of her dress hem,

“Oh my, what should we do?”

“It’s okay. I just dropped a teacup. Excuse me.”

Cedric rose and passed by Arne.

Cecil followed Cedric with regretful eyes.

After glancing at the rolling teacup, Arne moved again.

Just as she was about to turn with a canister of precious southern tea leaves in hand,

Cedric, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, was looking at her.

“What are you doing there?”

“I was waiting for you.”

Cedric approached with a languid smile, setting down the canister of tea leaves she was holding with one hand while brushing off her mana core with the other.

Arne bit her lip at the sensitive sensation.

A low whisper resonated in her ear.

“Aren’t you going to ask for a hug now?”

Arne inhaled sharply. When Cedric’s hot breath touched her nape, her body tensed up.

It was too close. The air around him felt distinctly different. Arne remembered this feeling.

His lips touched her nape, sending shivers across her skin while he gazed at Arne with burning eyes beneath his languid expression.

‘And…’

Heat rose on Arne’s face. That day was when Vivian came into being.

“Ced… Ah.”

As Cedric brushed over her mana core again, Arne couldn’t continue speaking. She clutched at her dress hem tightly.

She felt too sensitive, perhaps due to her heightened senses.

Surely, Rein must have mentioned it, but this man still didn’t properly understand how sensitive and precious a mana core is to a mage.

So he looked down at Arne with a puzzled expression.

‘Annoying.’

Explaining how sensitive the mana core is would have been even more embarrassing.

Arne couldn’t say anything and glared at Cedric.

Cedric lazily raised an eyebrow and then grabbed Arne’s wrist.

The look in his eyes, as he looked down on Arne, was still intensely boiling. It was as if lava was contained in his pupils.

Arne felt strange. When she first met Cedric, he had exactly those kinds of eyes.

He had an aura that was affectionate, but somehow it also made people tense for no reason.

“My lady.”

His voice sounded troubled. As Cedric lifted Arne’s chin, their faces got close enough that their noses almost touched. His unique refreshing scent wafted over.

“…….”

Cedric’s red pupils persistently scanned Arne’s face.

“My lady, did you not realize your fingertips are trembling?”

“What?”

Following Cedric’s words, Arne finally looked at her hand, which was caught in Cedric’s grip.

Her fingertips were trembling. As she shifted her gaze, the color of her mana core had already become transparent.

‘When did my mana drop this much?’

Arne was startled, and Cedric’s brow furrowed deeply.

“My lady, did you really not notice? It has been trembling for a while.”

‘Ah… So that’s why he asked if I wouldn’t ask for a hug.’

As Arne looked dumbfoundedly at her wrist, Cedric let out a low moan.

This woman often didn’t properly realize when her body was in pain.

Cedric pressed down on the slender wrist he held with his thumb. Her trembling had not yet subsided.

Moreover, since he touched her mana core, his mana should have been absorbed quickly, yet her mana core was still transparent.

Her recovery is slow. It means her vitality is weakened.

It started when Cecil asked Arne to bring tea.

Cedric barely relaxed his grip so as to not crumple the tea container he was holding.

‘What’s the big deal about this tea.’

Cedric deeply exhaled and ran his fingers through his hair.

Arne, seemingly flustered herself, alternated her gaze between her trembling wrist and her mana core.

“Why am I trembling……. I’m not particularly hurt or in pain right now.”

Cedric’s eyes narrowed. Severe mana consumption wasn’t just related to physical pain.

Psychological factors were also linked to vitality.

The remarks Cecil made just before would make any noble feel insulted.

Treating Arne like a maid, especially in front of the knights of Renigrad.

‘I can guess the intention. Was it Bianca?’

Dozens of marriage proposals arrive for Cedric every day.

Just being the only son of the Grand Duke’s family in the empire was enough to turn the nobles’ heads.

Cedric’s gaze landed on her mana core.

This woman does not easily show when she is struggling or in pain. But her body is very honest. Especially her mana core.

“My lady, were you upset?”

“…….”

Arne slowly lifted her head in response to Cedric’s question.

Arne blinked slowly and then bit her lip hard.

Cecil treating her like this wasn’t just an overnight thing.

But she didn’t expect it to happen in front of the knights of Renigrad and Cedric as well.

It was humiliating. Too much so, having her situation exposed in front of Cedric.

‘That’s why I don’t want to talk about it.’

She didn’t want to recall that moment again. Perhaps it was her pride, not wanting to appear pitiful in front of Cedric.

Arne slightly averted her gaze and weakly pulled up the corners of her mouth.

“It’s okay. Let’s go back. Everyone must be waiting.”

But Cedric’s gaze still lingered on her exposed mana core.

And then he shifted his eyes to Arne’s empty pupils.

She often had such an expression, as if she had nothing left but ashes.

As if she’s completely burnt out without a trace of affection left.

“My lady, I am not okay. So, excuse me.”

Cedric picked up Arne. And after opening a window, he stepped with one foot.

“What, what are you doing?”

Cedric looked at Arne and grinned. Then, stepping on the windowsill, he leaped out.

“Are you crazy?”

Arne tightly closed her eyes and clung to Cedric’s neck.

Cedric somehow didn’t hate the feeling.

“Miss, you can open your eyes now.”

Arne slowly opened her eyes.

“Just so you know, that was the first floor.”

As Arne’s face turned red, Cedric seemed to be holding back laughter.

“No, because you suddenly jumped down. So I reflexively, haah.”

No matter what she said, it sounded like an excuse, so Arne just buried her face in Cedric’s embrace.

At that moment, Cedric’s upper body stiffened. His Adam’s apple moved slowly.

When Arne’s nose brushed against Cedric’s firm chest, the veins on the back of his hand bulged.

‘Is it a relief or not that she’s burying her face in my embrace?’

Cedric looked down at the small head and sighed lightly.

Every time Arne fidgeted, it felt something was sawing through a steel cable inside him called patience.

“Miss.”

“Yes.”

“…Never mind.”

Arne tilted her head in confusion. Then, her gaze caught the fully bloomed flowers of the magnolia trees surrounding them.

Before she knew it, Cedric had pulled Arne into his arms and leaned against the shade of the biggest tree.

“Why are we here?”

“Places with nature fill up the spirit mana better.”

“Oh, but I’m really fine….”

Arne couldn’t finish her sentence because Cedric had grabbed her wrists and pulled her close.

They were close enough that she could see his high nose bridge and eyelashes.

“Now you can’t avoid my eyes. Miss, even if you don’t speak, your body is quite honest.”

Cedric’s gaze slowly reached the mana core at Arne’s chest.

“It’s saying quite fiercely right now that you’re very troubled.”

“……”

Arne licked her lips. She roughly guessed why her mana recovery was slow.

But she didn’t want to say it in front of Cedric.

Because she didn’t want to reveal her pathetic state.