***

“Are you giving up eating already?”

“Yeah… I don’t have an appetite. Sorry for bothering you.”

“That’s okay. But how about eating a little more, huh? You need to take your medicine too.”

With a nod, Rune gestured to the still-ample amount of food and scooped up more soup, bringing it to Ria’s lips. With a worried look, she reluctantly accepted a few more bites.

It had already been a week since she arrived here. While she still couldn’t move, her legs felt a bit stronger than they did initially.

During this time, Rune had taken care of her with utmost sincerity. Despite his busy duties as a duke, he remained by her side, ensuring she had company while eating, never letting her be alone. If she absentmindedly stared out the window, he would hold her hand to comfort her and sometimes divert her attention elsewhere.

Thanks to his care, Ria’s condition had improved significantly compared to the first day. She was still confused and found it hard to believe that she had been transported to a different world, away from familiar faces. But her thinking time had reduced.

Rune continued to apologize, expressing regret through his eyes and words. In truth, there was nothing for him to apologize for. She didn’t resent him for the choice he made to save her. If anything, she felt rather grateful for him. It was because of him that she was alive and awake now.

He had made efforts to resolve the situation and continued to do so. Ria didn’t want to make him sad anymore. She didn’t want to make him apologize.

Moreover, there were others who made an effort to cheer her up. Kahin and a man called Dekan. Kahin was the Duke’s aide and bodyguard, while Dekan, or the so-called old man, was his loyal servant. Despite his title, Dekan appeared youthful.

In any case, both of them put in effort every day, bringing sweet desserts and fragrant flowers trying to uplift her spirits. Ria didn’t want to make things difficult for those people. If she had to live in this place, it was better to adapt quickly, not just for herself but also for those around her.

She couldn’t stay like this forever. If she had to live here, it would be better to adapt quickly—for her own sake. Ria made that decision during the past week.

“Rune, you mentioned there’s a garden here, right?”

“Yeah. It should be filled with flowers.”

“I want to go see it.”

Since coming here, it was the first time she had asked for something. Rune’s face lit up instantly.

“The weather is nice, so let’s have tea time in the garden today.”

“Okay.”

Finally, a clear smile appeared on Ria’s face, Rune’s favorite kind of smile.

* * *

“Are we really going down like this?”

“Yes, all the way to the garden.”

“But people will stare at us!”

“You never said anything when we went to the bath.”

Rune tilted his head in apparent confusion. Whenever they moved, Rune always carried her since she couldn’t move her legs. Even when she bathed. She hadn’t been embarrassed when he helped her to the bathroom just now, so he couldn’t understand why she was feeling self-conscious now.

“Well, the bathroom was right next door. Besides, I’m heavy!”

Rune chuckled, finding her desperate attempts to explain adorable.

“You’re not heavy at all. You’re too light, and that’s a problem. So don’t worry.”

“Ugh…”

In the end, Ria had no choice but to stay in Rune’s arms.

“Ackk.”

As they descended the stairs, Ria screamed and instinctively clung to Rune’s neck. Unlike the bathroom, which was right next door, going to the outdoor garden required going down the stairs. It was essential, and movement on the stairs was naturally shakier than on level ground.

Feeling Ria clinging tightly to him, Rune’s mood improved. His gestures were transmitted to her just as they were. He wonders if she knows that her warmth to him feels like finding an oasis in a dry desert, sweeter than honey, and softer than sugar.

Looking at her in his arms with eyes dripping like honey, Rune chose to convey the surging emotions with a gentle kiss on her forehead. The unique scent of Ria mixed with the fragrance of the lotion she used to wash, pleasantly tickling his nose.

To him, Ria was someone he couldn’t express with just the word ‘adorable’.

As they stepped out of the mansion’s door, the warmth in their embrace caught the attention of the servants, who couldn’t help but be captivated by the sight. Before Ria’s arrival, the mansion was like an icy plain. Because the owner wanted the mansion to be calm, the people inside always remained tense.

Despite the high pay and the mansion being a relatively good workplace as long as you didn’t catch the owner’s attention, the reason for the relatively low number of servants compared to the status was precisely that. Living every day in tension turned out to be more exhausting than one might think.

Moreover, the women who occasionally followed the owner were quite disruptive. They spent only one night, yet they acted as if they were the hostess. Since the owner didn’t care, it was even more challenging to deal with them.

But the lady the owner brought this time was different. Maybe because she didn’t seem like a noble due to her unusual appearance, or maybe because she treated them with respect except for her awkwardness, they felt a sense of being valued, one person at a time.

Unlike the women who had been there before, Ria received the owner’s affection to the extent that it was noticeable, yet she remained modest, didn’t carry an air of arrogance. They could see why their master, Rune, was taken with her.

Thanks to her, the atmosphere of the mansion seemed to thaw like the arrival of spring, making the residents naturally kinder and more affectionate. They all hoped she would stay by their master’s side for a long time.

“Ria, we’re here.”

“Wow…”

When Ria heard they have reached the garden, her eyes widened in surprise. The vast space was filled with an array of colorful flowers, beautifully blooming under the warm sunlight. The gentle breeze swayed the petals, making them dance softly.

“Set me down there!”

Feeling uplifted by Ria’s brightened expression, Rune gently lowered her to the ground near a flowerbed.

“It’s beautiful.”

Looking at the roses blooming in various shades of red and pink, Ria exclaimed in admiration. Rune, watching her from the side, found himself captivated without realizing it.

Wearing a pastel-colored comfortable dress, Ria’s appearance blended seamlessly with the flowers. Her smile, sparkling eyes— everything about her was like a painting. Rune had not seen her smile in a week, and now, seeing her smile and those sparkling eyes, he couldn’t help but lose himself in the moment.

When a gust of wind blew, making Ria’s hair sway and cover her face, Rune instinctively reached out and tucked it behind her ear. Seeing her behind the curtain of hair, he thought she looked the most beautiful than anything he had seen.

“Yeah, beautiful.”

After brushing her hair aside, Rune’s hand, which paused for a moment, lightly stroked her blushing cheek. In response to his touch, Ria turned her head and smiled brightly. Rune couldn’t help but lower his head and gently press his lips against hers.

The gentle kiss, starting light, deepened as he found himself intoxicated by the sweetness he hadn’t tasted in a long time.

“Umm…”

With their tongues intertwined, the moist sound echoed. Feeling out of breath and overwhelmed by the relentless yet tender movements, Ria raised her hand and lightly pushed Rune’s chest. Though it was a weak force, Rune easily withdrew.

“Haah…”

Slightly blushing and moist-eyed, Ria’s damp gaze was enough to stimulate Rune. The desire to embrace her right away surged. But he couldn’t be reckless; she was fragile now. So, he suppressed his desire by licking his lips moistened with saliva.

Instead, he held her again and gently guided her to a chair prepared for tea. Belatedly realizing that he should have made her sit on his lap, Rune felt a bit regretful, but he consoled himself with the thought that there would be many more opportunities.

“How about having tea in the garden like this every day?”

“Every day? I’m fine with it, but…”

“If you like it, then that settles it. Let’s do it.”

Seeing her brighter expression than before, Rune, sitting beside her, happily fed her a piece of cake. Ria, who had become quite accustomed to it, finished eating a piece of cake before bringing up a topic.

“Rune, you know…”

“Yeah.”

“I… Can’t go back, can I?”

“…”

Caught off guard by the unexpected question, Rune’s face momentarily stiffened. He lowered his head as if to hide his expression and replied in a low voice.

“Yeah, I’m sorry.”

Panic-stricken, Ria, realizing her question wasn’t meant to have an apology, spoke urgently, clapping her hands.

“No, not that. If I can’t go back, I was thinking of living here.”

“Really?”

Lifting his head abruptly, Rune blinked in surprise.

“Yeah. I can’t just keep being confused forever since you saved me… Oh, come to think of it. I haven’t thanked you yet. Thank you, Rune.”

At her words of gratitude, Rune, who had momentarily blinked his eyes absentmindedly, soon broke into a bright smile. His thoughts and preparations for something dark and resentful were all gone.

He had been afraid, terrified, and had kept his attention on Ria, who was lost in thought.

But all of that was gone now. With the fact that Ria didn’t resent him, he felt joy.

“But can I keep staying here? I don’t want to be a burden forever…”

“You can. Stay here, okay? By my side.”

However, Rune became anxious again with her next words. Having finally gotten her into his hands, the thought of letting her go was out of the question.

“But there’s nothing I can do for you. All I have are my healing powers, and they don’t work on myself, so I’m still not of any help for you. Because of that, I feel like I’m just being burden to you and I’m sorry. Moreover, I’m worried that I might be a burden when you want to build a family later, and the person you marry might not like me.”

“Ria, do it for me. Be my wife.”

“…Huh?”

“I know your feelings may not be the same as mine. But I believe in myself. I can adapt enough to go to a world where I know nothing, just by looking at you.”

“….”

“I only need you. So don’t say things like leaving me or being a burden.”

Ria’s pupils wavered in response to his earnest expression. He had constantly told her that he loved her. His gaze always conveyed that message. But she never thought that his feelings were this deep. She assumed it was just the usual whispers of love that lovers exchanged.

Maybe she hadn’t loved him that much yet, but she hadn’t thought about whether she loved him deeply enough to beg him not to let go.

“Rune, I…”

Just as Ria, whose lips had been sealed, was about to speak…

“You shouldn’t go there!”