Like everyone else, even Saena, who had been obsessed with ‘Arles-Promesa,’ had never thought beyond such deeply rooted images in people’s minds.

Though perhaps that was natural, given how restricted the related information was.

“Maybe that’s why, but regardless of their type, most of them have elements of obsession.”

“Elements of obsession?”

“Like catalysts that bind them to the human world rather than the spirit realm.”

So, each Guardian Spirit has something they’re obsessed with? But what could spirits be obsessed with…

It was both clear and unclear.

“For example…”

Seeing Saena’s still puzzled expression, Duke Aberdeen added with a short sigh, seemingly reluctant to speak.

“In Erenhorn’s case, he’s very interested in contact between people… that sort of thing.”

“Contact?”

“Skinship… well, that kind of thing.”

“……”

Contact? It seemed like he was trying to explain something in a roundabout way.

Why would they be interested in such things? Is that why Erenhorn was called a ‘pervert unicorn’?

It was truly eye-opening information. Especially for Saena, who had liked Erenhorn the most among Guardian Spirits, making the shock even greater.

“The side effects… are severe.”

“Most people don’t know this, but Guardian Spirits… their personalities aren’t exactly beautiful.”

“……”

“Most of them are quite troublesome.”

She remembered Constantine cursing at what was probably a Guardian Spirit before.

“I think it’s because their habits are fundamentally different from humans… but then again, what makes it more infuriating is that they’ve lived in the human realm for so long and act this way despite knowing what humans are like.”

“Ah.”

Though Duke Aberdeen spoke lightly, Saena could tell there was something more omitted beneath the surface.

“You know the succession conditions for Achelion, the imperial family’s Guardian Spirit, right?”

“Yes.”

With the Hebeta system in place, that part couldn’t remain secret.

“It’s not just the imperial family. Any family needs to prove their qualification in their own way to inherit a Guardian Spirit.”

Is that so? Come to think of it, while she knew about the imperial family’s Guardian Spirit’s succession conditions, she had never thought about it for other families.

“Being born with the family’s bloodline alone isn’t enough.”

“Then…”

“It probably varies depending on the conditions of the first covenant, but I can tell you for certain that the succession process isn’t easy.”

Duke Aberdeen smiled languidly while talking about this not-so-easy process.

That smile seemed to suggest either that unlike other Oathkeepers, it wasn’t particularly difficult for him, or completely oppositely, that he smiled precisely because it had been extremely difficult.

And Saena found herself leaning toward the latter possibility.

If that was correct, could the Duke’s seemingly frivolous smile and attitude be a kind of self-defense mechanism?

‘If so, then Constantine’s currently incomprehensible attitude might also…’

Her thoughts drifted to him again.

Could he be suffering more than she was?

She knew suffering was relative. No one could say their suffering was less than another’s.

Everyone would feel their own suffering most intensely.

Nevertheless, in situations like this, she found herself thinking at least once about the fundamental anguish he must carry.

The pain of being an Oathkeeper.

The secrets necessarily accompanying the Covenant.

These things weren’t known to outsiders. Oathkeepers simply fulfilled their duties faithfully.

Then how could Oathkeepers manage to do that?

Even Duke Aberdeen, who had seemed endlessly frivolous, must be living like that while hiding his own pain.

It made her realize anew that you truly can’t judge people by their appearance alone.

Saena breathed out like a sigh.

“Thank you.”

The words came out naturally.

“What? For what…”

The day may never come when she could completely understand the Oathkeepers. Though she wanted to understand Constantine, that day might never come either.

However, from her current position of knowing at least a little, Saena considered what she could do.

“It’s not easy, is it? Living as an Oathkeeper.”

Words carrying sincerity, however small.

“Thanks to people like Your Grace who bleed in our place, people like me can live in peace.”

Just as she had done with Constantine before, showing even a small amount of gratitude to those who bore the duty of the Covenant of Protection.

“Perhaps it’s so obvious that no one says it, but I’m realizing it again… that this peace is based on someone’s sacrifice.”

In fact, while ducal families held positions that everyone looked up to, they didn’t exactly rule.

Though their rights and power were great, their duties were even greater.

Perhaps to the point where some might prefer peace over the position.

“So while my expression of gratitude is just mere words…”

Saena smiled faintly at Duke Aberdeen as she spoke.

“Thank you.”

The wind blew.

For some reason, Duke Aberdeen froze like a log, and when dust mixed with the wind made her eyes reflexively close.

Her tightly shut eyes only opened after the wind died down. And in her reopened view, she saw the Duke turning his face sideways and covering his eyes with his hand.

“Ah, this is… cheating.”

“……?”

“Haah…”

As Saena was about to review what she might have said wrong at this unexpected reaction, Duke Aberdeen turned to face her with a somewhat gloomy expression.

“Do you love Constantine?”

“…What?”

“No, never mind. I’m crazy. Nonsense keeps coming out.”

“……”

“Forget it.”

Duke Aberdeen roughly scratched his abundant sage-colored hair and let out a deep sigh.

“Sometimes saying too pretty words isn’t good either.”

“……”

What on earth was he talking about?

“Well. It’s late.”

Duke Aberdeen turned around and strode away without waiting for Saena’s response.

‘Yes. Good night to you too, Your Grace.’

Without even a chance to reply.

* * *

The next day.

Under Floria’s direct command, Saena had to board a carriage early in the morning.

“When you visit Aberdeen territory, hot springs travel is a must!”  

It wasn’t just about touring the hot springs; it was an entire journey centered around them. Naturally, this ended up extending her so-called escape period.

‘Well, I never said I’d only stay for exactly one day.’

Though she hadn’t specified exactly how many days she’d stay, it would be more unusual to expect someone to return after just one day when visiting such a long distance.

“Come on, hurry up!”

Floria was full of energy.

Despite fainting so suddenly yesterday, Floria showed no signs of a hangover. In fact, Saena, who had barely wet her lips, looked more tired now.

‘…Floria. I can’t tell if you’re good with alcohol or bad with it.’

While waiting to see if the maids had any luggage left to load, she saw a familiar face.

“Miss. It’s been a while since I greeted you.”

“Ah, Sir Rupert. I heard you arrived yesterday. Did you rest well?”

“Yes. Thank you for calling me.”

“I wonder if I called you here unnecessarily.”

“Not at all. The Count was actually pleased.”

It seems her father had been somewhat concerned about Saena leaving alone without any of the usual Debov household members.

“I didn’t call you for anything major. Just because His Grace said since I’m going to an unfamiliar place…”

“Yes. A guard knight should accompany you wherever you go. Now that you’re a Duchess, aren’t you even more precious?”

Rupert’s attitude was very different from usual. He showed none of his usual playfulness or casual manner.

Whether it was because they were in an unfamiliar place or to show respect for Saena in front of others, whatever the reason, his attitude made her newly aware of her changed position.

“Alright, preparations complete! Let’s go!”

Floria reappeared with her troop of maids. The maids efficiently loaded their luggage into the cargo compartment and divided themselves among the carriages.

Though it was just a trip for Saena and Floria, there were somehow three carriages. It made her realize how simply she had traveled before.

“Oh, it’s you.”

Floria acknowledged Rupert.

“I greet you, my lady.”

“Yes. I’ve arranged things with our knights over there, so go get your guard position assigned.”

“Yes. Thank you for your consideration.”

After Rupert left and Floria boarded, the carriages soon began to move.

“But is that knight any good?”

“Who? Sir Rupert?”

“Yeah.”

“My brother assigned him saying his skills are definitely reliable…”

“Hmm. I heard that no matter how good someone is in the imperial capital, it’s different in ducal territory.”

“What’s different?”

“Well, demonic beasts appear in ducal territories, don’t they? I heard the fighting methods and tactics are completely different.”

“Ah…”

So that’s what Constantine meant when he mentioned understanding this side.

“Well, it doesn’t matter now. We’re not going anywhere demonic beasts might appear.”

If it were an area where demonic beasts frequently appeared, it wouldn’t have been developed as a hot springs resort.

“I’m just telling you to keep it in mind since Kramer territory is also ducal territory.”

“I got it.”

It was about a two-hour journey.

The time passed quickly while chatting with Floria.

“Ta-da! Welcome to ‘Coldora,’ Aberdeen’s hot springs resort city!”

Resort city? My goodness. She had just thought they were going somewhere with hot springs, but a resort city? She hadn’t expected it to be this elaborate.

Floria was much more of an action-taker than she appeared.

No, everyone around Saena seemed to have an incredible drive for action.

“Wow…. This is amazing. Here.”

She opened the carriage window and was surprised at what she saw outside.

The roads were very well paved, and each building and the district itself seemed to have been planned, creating a harmonious form with overall unity.

Judging by the active flow of people and number of carriages, it appeared to be a commercial city where many people came and went. Since the northwestern region was so far away, Saena, who had only lived in the imperial capital, hadn’t known, but this was a very famous tourist city in the area.

“There are so many people.”

“The hot spring water here is famous for being good for the skin. But it also has healing effects. It’s especially effective for women’s diseases, so there are particularly many female tourists.”

“Wow, really?”

“Yes.”

Indeed, the majority of people visible outside were women. The men seen occasionally looked more like servants following their masters or Coldora residents making money from tourists rather than guests.

Fascinated by the lively city scene, Saena hung onto the window for a while longer, looking outside.