Neither Rophel nor Fiorne had known that Theo had multiple personalities. Theo had hidden his condition so subtly and skillfully that even those closest to him were unaware.

‘The more I think about it, the more cunning and infuriating that cousin of mine was.’

Rophel mused with a hint of amusement as he scooped a bite of the soft soup and fish dish into his mouth.

“Does it suit your taste?”

Mio asked, placing a side dish on the table and smiling brightly. Rophel glanced at the young girl. It had been nearly two years since she had arrived at the mansion. The girl, who once seemed like a mere child, was now clearly showing signs of becoming a young woman.

Her eyes, dark as grape berries, and her lively, small face were so endearing that he almost wanted to playfully pinch her cheeks. She looked even cuter and more lovable because of how diligently she performed her tasks.

“Yes, Mio. It’s delicious,” Rophel replied warmly. “Your cooking is the best.”

“Seeing that Rophel enjoys it, it’s worth it.”

Mio replied with a gentle smile before leaving the dining room. She was likely heading back to the kitchen to tidy up. It was rare to find someone as diligent and dependable as Mio.

Since her arrival at the mansion, the atmosphere had noticeably shifted—it felt cleaner, brighter, more lively. Managing the vast Goldrain Manor was no easy task, but Mio had done it effortlessly, always going above and beyond expected.

Every morning, as Rophel put on his freshly washed and pressed clothes, there was an unfamiliar itch in his heart, a strange sensation that made him want to scratch at it, trying to understand what it meant. The previous caretaker had performed their duties flawlessly, but Mio was different. There was something special about her presence, something that stirred a sense of nostalgia he couldn’t quite place.

It was as if she had breathed new life into the old mansion, filling it with energy and warmth. Rophel couldn’t ignore how her presence seemed to awaken forgotten emotions within him, ones he struggled to understand.

He tried to decipher this elusive feeling, but it only left him more confused. Eventually he gave up and let the quiet stirrings linger without trying to grasp their meaning.

After a satisfying dinner, he returned to his study to catch up on some unfinished business. Since assuming the responsibilities of a Republic representative, he had been busier than ever. Fortunately, the senior members of the leadership were helping, so it wasn’t too overwhelming.

In principle, it would have been more fitting for Rophel to leave the mansion and move into the old palace, the traditional residence of the former Seyon Alexia royals. But Rophel insisted on staying here.

The reason was…

“Lord Alexia!”

“…Mio. I told you to call me Rophel.”

He sighed as he heard her cheerful voice. She had knocked politely before poking her head in, looking just like a curious little bunny. Rophel couldn’t help but wonder, ‘How on earth did Dr. Yuel manage to send such an adorable creature my way?’ He rubbed the edge of his eyebrow, almost as if in resignation to her infectious energy.

“Why? What’s going on?”

“It’s finally here!”

Mio’s eyes sparkled with excitement, her voice jumping an entire octave higher. Around her, it felt as if shimmering soap bubbles were floating and popping, as if she radiated pure joy.

Her enthusiasm was so genuine and overflowing that it seemed to fill the room with an invisible energy. Rophel couldn’t help but smile at her bright expression, even as he tried to piece together what she meant. ‘Seriously, she’s too cute,’ he thought, a soft smile spreading across his face.

“What came?”

“A letter!”

Mio practically bounced over to him, handing him a lavender-colored envelope.

Instead of focusing on the envelope, Rophel found himself staring at Mio’s small, rounded hand. It was so tiny and delicate, almost childlike. ‘If I were to hold it…’ he thought, his mind wandering to how perfectly her hand would fit within his own.

But suddenly, he caught himself, realizing just how far from normal his thoughts had strayed. An uncomfortable flush crept up his neck. He quickly shifted his focus to the envelope, trying to regain his composure.

‘What’s gotten into me?’ he wondered, feeling an unfamiliar unease in the pit of his stomach.

No matter how small, cute, or endearing Mio was, staring at a woman’s hand like some kind of weirdo was definitely not appropriate. Rophel cleared his throat to dispel the awkwardness and took the envelope from her, directing his attention to the address. It was from the northern continent. The sender was… Yuel Estin.

He immediately understood why Mio was so excited.

The memories of Yuel came rushing back—an incredibly beautiful, yet remarkably indifferent woman. But why did just thinking of Yuel now make him think of Mio? The connection felt strange and unsettling. Shaking off the thoughts of Yuel, Rophel tried to focus on the present, yet an odd feeling lingered in his chest.

‘What’s wrong with me today?’ he wondered, trying to regain control over his thoughts.

‘She’s just a friend, nothing more. Just a friend.’

Rophel silently repeated to himself, almost as if trying to persuade himself of something no one had questioned.

“A letter from Yuel, huh.”

“Yes! She wrote that I should come visit the northern continent!”

Mio’s voice was bright, almost as if her joy could lift her into the air.

“The northern continent?”

Rophel’s voice dropped slightly, the words coming out heavier than he intended. If Mio took a vacation to the northern continent, who would prepare his meals, iron his clothes, make his bed… and warm his heart? The thought of her absence left him with an inexplicable sense of unease.

“Won’t it be too tiring for you?”

He asked, his concern masking the deeper worries he didn’t want to acknowledge.

“Not at all! I’ve loved traveling since forever, even if I haven’t had many opportunities. I think Yuel knows that, which is why she sent me the invitation! I’m going to use some of the vacation days I’ve saved up so far!”

The very words Rophel dreaded slipped effortlessly from Mio’s lips.

He nearly blurted out “No!” in response, but fortunately, his rationality held on tightly, allowing him to force a calm smile instead.

“But… the northern continent is so cold; you’ll catch a cold,” he said, trying to mask his growing discomfort.

Mio tilted her head, puzzled. “…You don’t need to worry about that. According to Yuel, the northern continent is just entering summer now. It’s not as cold as the middle of winter.”

“…How about the expenses?”

He asked, grasping at any possible reason to discourage her.

“I’ve saved enough for the trip! After all, you’ve always given me such generous pay, Rophel.”

She beamed, leaving no room for debate.

Rophel silently cursed his past self for giving Mio those generous bonuses, all because he couldn’t resist how adorable she was. Now, those very gestures had come back to haunt him, leaving him without any room to argue.

Noticing Rophel’s constant nitpicking, Mio looked at him with clear confusion, snapping him back to reality under her gaze.

“Uh, I mean… I…”

“…Rophel.”

“…It’s not like that.”

“You want to come along too, don’t you? Is that it? Well… it’s been a long time since you’ve seen Theo, after all…”

Mio’s words carried an innocent assumption, which made Rophel stammer slightly. She seemed to think his hesitation was related to seeing an old friend, unaware that his reluctance ran deeper than that.

Suddenly, her eyes lit up, and she clapped her hands as if something had just clicked into place.

“…”

Rophel was at a loss for words. Mio could be so oblivious sometimes. But then again, why was he even concerned about what she did or didn’t understand? What was there for her to figure out? He reminded himself that he was merely fond of her as an employee, a maid who worked in his home. So, there should be no reason to hesitate when she innocently asked if they could go on a “trip” together.

“If I come along… that would be fine, right?”

Rophel glanced at her subtly, trying to gauge her intentions. And just like that, despite all his inner protests, an unexpected travel plan began to form.

***

Standing on the deck, gazing out at the endless blue sea, Rophel let out a deep sigh. He had agreed to this trip on a whim, but the thought of Fiorne’s piercing glare—like he was ready to devour him—left him with a lingering sense of guilt.

However, that guilt vanished completely when he glanced at Mio, who was joyfully feeding the seagulls beside him.

“Are you enjoying yourself, Mio?”

“Yes! This is my first time traveling so far.”

She replied, her cheeks flushed with excitement. They looked so fresh, he imagined they’d burst with sweetness if you took a bite.

Caught off guard by his own thoughts, Rophel quickly smacked himself on the head, trying to snap back to reality. Mio, startled, turned to him with a confused expression.

“…There was a fly.”

A fly, or rather pesky thoughts.

“But still, you shouldn’t hit your head like that, Rophel. It must hurt,”

Mio said, her face full of concern. That expression struck him straight in the heart. Cute! Rophel hurriedly turned his gaze away, feeling the heat rise to his cheeks.

This was serious. Only then did Rophel realize the gravity of the situation—his feelings were not ordinary. How could he have been so slow in recognizing it?

Rophel was usually straightforward about his emotions. If he liked something, he’d say so without hesitation, and if he didn’t, he made it clear. But Mio was different. He couldn’t pinpoint when she had started to quietly seep into his heart.

Now that he had finally acknowledged it, expressing his feelings honestly felt nearly impossible. From what he knew, Mio was innocent, kind, cute, and utterly lovely… So if he suddenly confessed, wouldn’t she be shocked and taken aback?

D*mn it! How had he ended up in this mess of uncharacteristic, unrequited love?

Rophel frowned, feeling both frustrated and foolish.

“Are you tired, Rophel? Should we head to our room now?”

Mio asked, her voice filled with genuine concern.

It was clear to Rophel that he was flustered, his mind spiraling into places it shouldn’t, all because of Mio’s innocent and considerate question.

“Room? What room?”

“Huh? …Below the deck… our rooms.”

Mio answered, her tone hesitant, as if uncertain of his strange reaction.

“Right, of course. Our separate rooms.”

Rophel quickly corrected himself, feeling a wave of embarrassment wash over him.

Without waiting for Mio’s reply, Rophel hurried down the deck stairs with long, purposeful strides, leaving Mio struggling to keep up. His room was on the second lower deck, while Mio’s was one level down. Before she could even say good night, Rophel disappeared into the corridor leading to his room, disappearing in a hurry.

Despite his recent behaviour, Rophel still made an effort to compliment Mio’s cooking, praise her work and occasionally slip a little extra into her pay, always looking out for her. But lately, something had changed. There was an invisible weight on his shoulders, a tension that seemed to cling to him, and Mio couldn’t quite figure out what it was.

Unable to shake the feeling that something was wrong, Mio began to overthink. Had she unknowingly done something to upset him? She replayed their conversations and interactions in her mind, trying to identify anything that could have caused his strange behavior. The more she thought about it, the more anxious she became, wondering if she had unknowingly crossed a line or made a mistake.

***

After seeing Rophel slip away so quickly, Mio felt even more uncertain. It was unlike him to act so distant and cold. With a sigh, she descended the stairs, her heart heavy with confusion. She missed the usual warmth in Rophel’s gaze—the way his eyes lit up when she brought him tea, or the gentle smile he gave her whenever she tidied his desk.

Maybe she had misinterpreted his kindness all this time.

Feeling a pang of loneliness, Mio couldn’t help but long for the comforting presence of Dr. Yuel, who always seemed to understand and support her, no matter what. Just thinking of Yuel made her feel a bit less alone, lifting her spirits slightly. Yuel had always been so kind and understanding, and Mio needed that warmth now more than ever.

The idea of staying in the northern continent with Yuel was exciting. Yuel had described it as a beautiful place, with vast landscapes and serene views. The thought of being there, far from her worries, was like a breath of fresh air—something wonderful to look forward to.

Mio just wished Rophel could be his usual self again—the man who had always treated her without prejudice, without looking down on her as a commoner, and who had been a constant, kind presence in her life. To her, he had become something like family, someone she could truly rely on.

She sighed as she reached her room, her thoughts swirling with uncertainty. Hopefully, things would become clearer once they reached Yuel. Maybe this strange distance with Rophel was just a temporary phase. Perhaps once they were all together, everything would return to normal.

But the feeling that something had changed with Rophel lingered, especially during this journey to the northern continent. She had always found comfort in his genuine appreciation for her efforts, no matter how small—whether it was cooking a simple soup, keeping his clothes clean and neatly ironed, or bringing him a cup of coffee during his long hours of work. His eyes would light up with gratitude, and his warm praise would fill her heart with a sense of purpose and joy.