‘Come to think of it, there wasn’t a feeling of collision back then either.’

He hadn’t felt the natural resistance that should have been there. He just couldn’t break through it.

Johan’s face became quite serious. Even apart from his personal feelings for May, the thought that he truly wasn’t the right person resurfaced.

He had thought that given the chance, he could naturally eliminate any thought-form no matter how strong it was….

‘…What is that thing really?’

Moreover, once it started moving, it now stuck to May’s cheek and wouldn’t let go. Despite wanting to stop it as dangerous, it behaved like an affectionate puppy.

It was truly unprecedented…. A headache-inducing sight.

Before, he might have found that behavior interesting, but ‘a being that can’t be easily eliminated’ — that meaning carried quite a heavy weight. Johan separated the rather friendly compass from May belatedly and said,

“I need to show this to Father right away.”

May, who had been rubbing her cheek where the compass had been, nodded slowly. Seeing her, Johan added in a heavy tone,

“…However, he’s currently somewhere letters can’t reach. I think I’ll need to go there briefly.”

Originally, he had planned to request a visit when his probation period ended, but he felt urgent now. Until now, he had been more carefully watching the thought-form nestled inside May’s stomach, but now the compass’s existence worried him like mad.

In the last letter he received from his Father, it said that due to lack of information, he would head to grandfather’s place.

‘…It’s rather fortunate since I can see grandfather too.’

Though he felt slightly uneasy about leaving May behind….

The compass, when he held it, followed him without much resistance. He could inform her about proper methods to be careful of the thought-form pooled in her stomach, and he would take this with him.

The glimpsed purple energy still seemed quiet…. It was clearly still observing the surrounding situation.

“In exchange, I’ll take this compass.”

At those words, it started to vibrate, burr. Johan grabbed it tightly. He eventually wrapped it thoroughly with thinly drawn magic power.

Fortunately, restraining magic seemed to work, unlike attacks. Though it felt unsettling that the concept of restraining magic was only slightly different from defensive or protective magic.

‘Usually they should suffer even from restraints.’

But buzz buzz. Its resistance looked merely like a dog tied to a strong leash. A dog growling while being dragged somewhere it didn’t want to go….

Johan tried to shake off his nonsensical thoughts and spoke to May who watched the immobilized compass.

“Master. Can you promise me a few things until I return?”

* * *

“First, tell that young master that I’ve completely left. That person seems to be refraining from going out because of me… Please add that I won’t ever return so he can go out at ease. So he can roam outside the mansion.”

“Um… alright.”

“And try not to be alone with him at night if possible.”

“Th-that won’t happen……”

“Good. Keep thinking that firmly. Nothing is more powerful than will. And… one last thing.”

‘Don’t look in mirrors for long when alone….’

Though Johan said he wouldn’t tell the reason saying she would be scared, that statement brought even greater fear. To the point where she now avoided even small hand mirrors, it seemed almost like his calculated move.

May thought of Johan who left that dawn, even before Aiden started his sword training.

‘Fortunately Aiden was in deep sleep that day.’

If they had been at the ducal household, even a small sound would have woken him sensitively, making even a brief farewell difficult.

‘Come to think of it, he said strange desires might rise again….’

Even without the compass nearby. Well, such an unfortunate incident did happen before when she went out without it.

‘So that’s why he said not to be alone with Aiden.’

May’s brow furrowed at the dots she easily connected. Such a terrible thing absolutely must not happen. It was fortunate at least that Aiden wasn’t the type of person to do such things with a commoner maid.

Even if May lost her reason like before, Aiden would probably coldly push her away.

‘He might even draw his sword….’

May’s face turned pale as she imagined her head being cut off by that sword.

What broke her imagination was Aiden, who had just finished training. Seeing the sword he held, May reflexively flinched and tried to act natural as she handed him the prepared dry cloth.

Aiden, wiping his sweat-soaked forehead, looked more refreshed than usual.

“I should check if anything has disappeared or broken.”

His voice also sounded strangely excited. He had been in such a state ever since Johan left the mansion. Though understandable since he had desperately wanted him to leave….

‘Aiden broke many things too….’

May unconsciously pouted her lips.

Then, realizing that Johan would really quit working at this mansion, she made a gloomy expression. After all, she had even heard his confession that he originally came here planning to eliminate the compass….

Even though she knew his job wasn’t cleaning or such things, why did she feel such foolish regret…

Though thinking about it, she hadn’t spent a long time with Johan, but quite many memories had accumulated of him playfully teasing her. Never being able to see that side of him again, her sadness unstoppably leaked out.

And then, a cold voice broke May’s thoughts.

“Don’t make that expression.”

She jerked her head up at the temperature so markedly different from earlier.

“…Yes?”

Aiden’s face was as cold as his voice. His exposed eyebrows while wiping sweat were deeply furrowed as if showing his mood. May swallowed hard seeing his protruding jawbone.

‘Why again….’

Aiden spoke to her in an even lower voice.

“I’ll get you as many employees as needed.”

“Ah……”

“Don’t make a face like you regret that thing leaving.”

Though being offered new employees was certainly something to be thankful for, May nodded with a scared face at the words he added like a warning.

Aiden silently watched her for a moment before moving his feet.

‘Is he going to tell me to stay out of his sight now….’

He always gave such punishment whenever he got angry. However, contrary to May’s expectations, Aiden turned back while walking briskly and said,

“Why aren’t you following quickly?”

She hurriedly ran at his irritated glance, and he snorted.

However, he clearly adjusted his stride to match hers… May couldn’t help but steal glances at his stubborn profile for a long time. And for some reason, after Johan left, she found herself drawn even closer to Aiden’s side than before.

She busied herself stealing glances at the man’s face as he read. The text of the book he read to her hadn’t registered in her eyes for a while.

She had clearly thought he kept her closer to avoid Johan, but….

‘Why am I spending more time with him after Johan left?’

And those times kept increasing more and more as days passed. May made a troubled expression.

She needed to keep the promise to avoid being alone with Aiden at night, but she couldn’t. Aiden sometimes wouldn’t let May go until late at night.

And today was such a case.

May, who had been observing Aiden, tried forcing her eyes on the unreadable book when she let out a small yawn. Though she tried to hold it back, second and third yawns followed in succession.

Though she tried to be as quiet as possible, small “yaaawn” sounds couldn’t help but escape. Nevertheless, Aiden seemed focused as he didn’t take his eyes off his book.

Eventually, May started nodding off fearlessly next to her master. She had no strength left to lift her heavy eyelids.