“I-I’m sorry. I came in because it seemed like an emergency when I heard the scream…”

“……”

She wanted to say it was fine, but the situation was too chaotic, and to say it wasn’t fine… that seemed strange too.

“Saena!”

Just then, as if someone had quickly delivered the news, Floria came running in to join them.

“What’s this! What happened?! I heard there was a scream?!”

“Ah, Floria.”

“Wait, why is Brother here?”

“……”

“……”

“What happened! Don’t tell me Brother secretly… while Saya was bathing…”

“Hey!”

Duke Aberdeen suddenly shouted.

“You! Do you really see your brother as such a scoundrel!”

“Well, just looking at this scene, you do look quite like a scoundrel?”

“That’s… Haah…”

“And there’s no reason for you to be in Coldora! Don’t tell me… you followed us?”

“N-no, I didn’t!”

“Then why are you stuttering?”

“……”

Hmm. Could Constantine have predicted this kind of situation when he said those things?

She had never heard rumors of Duke Aberdeen doing anything indecent, but was it because she wasn’t well-versed in gossip? Or was he such a meticulous type that not even rumors got out?

She suddenly became suspicious.

“…Surely you’re not having such suspicions too?”

“……”

Seeming to have read Saena’s dubious gaze, Duke Aberdeen jumped up.

“Absolutely not! I can swear on my honor! I came in because I heard the scream!”

“…Then did Your Grace lick my neck…”

Finding it difficult to use the word ‘lick’, Saena paused briefly.

“Neck? Is your neck hurting?”

“Um… so you’re saying you didn’t lick it?”

“…Lick…. Haah…”

Suddenly Duke Aberdeen buried his face in his palms. Covering both eyes, his gesture could be interpreted either as confirmation or as denial, as if wondering how she could think such a thing.

“Licked your neck?”

“Yes. From behind…”

“Ha! That horse bastard! Brother!”

The one who became indignant was rather Floria. She immediately pointed at Erenhorn.

Duke Aberdeen slowly removed his hands and apologized to Saena while keeping his eyes closed.

“…I’m sorry. …I’m truly sorry.”

“Can’t you properly manage that pervert horse bastard!”

Looking at how things were unfolding, apparently what had licked her nape was… Erenhorn. Moreover, this wasn’t the first time—it seemed to have a prior record.

…But why?

She couldn’t understand it at all.

‘He’s extremely playful and has perverted tendencies. Anyway… ha, he’s just terrible. It’s better not to be curious.’

‘In the case of Erenhorn, he’s very interested in contact… between people, you could say.’

So this is what they meant by perverted tendencies…

Guardian Spirits…. The more she learned about them, the stranger they all seemed. Were there no normal Guardian Spirits…

“Anyway, Brother, get out now!”

The unexpected culprit had been revealed.

In any case, that day’s perverted commotion ended like that.

* * *

The afternoon schedule was canceled. She was told to rest since she must have been quite startled.

Though she wasn’t severely hurt or tired to the point of being unable to do anything, she agreed since she had been a bit shocked.

“But Yolly, how did you know to come?”

Saena asked curiously, remembering how he had suddenly burst in and latched onto Erenhorn. Though it’s not like Yolly could answer.

“Kyu…”

As if tired from being active after waking up, he was busy getting into position to sleep again while yawning.

“Duchess Kramer. I would like to ask if you can receive a visitor now.”

And just as Yolly fell asleep, a maid came to announce someone’s visit.

‘…A visitor?’

Who could it be? Who would come to see her here…

“Is it the Princess?”

“No. It’s His Grace Duke Aberdeen.”

“……?”

“He says he’s here to apologize.”

“Ah.”

So he came to formally apologize.

The Guardian Spirit causes trouble, and the Oathkeeper has to apologize.

The more she learned, the more it seemed an Oathkeeper’s life wasn’t easy.

“Guide him to the reception room.”

“Yes.”

Saena checked her appearance before heading to the private reception room.

“Duchess.”

It was indeed Duke Aberdeen.

“I greet the master of the Covenant.”

“That’s enough. There’s no need for excessive formality. I’m not in a position to receive it.”

Duke Aberdeen looked embarrassed.

They sat facing each other. A maid soon brought tea.

“As previously conveyed… I came to apologize.”

“Well, I was terribly startled, but it’s fine. After all, it wasn’t a person.”

If it had been a person, it would have been an extremely creepy incident.

“Still, it’s under my jurisdiction.”

“……”

She did have a few questions.

Why Duke Aberdeen was here in the first place instead of at his domain. And…

“…Why does he do that?”

Why Erenhorn acted that way.

“……”

Duke Aberdeen remained silent for a moment.

“I told you yesterday, didn’t I? That each Guardian Spirit has elements they’re fixated on.”

“Yes.”

“In Erenhorn’s case…”

Surely not.

“Just. How should I put it. Um… That guy’s nature is originally like that. He has a bit of… voyeurism.”

“……”

Did her ears hear that correctly? V-voyeurism?

“He likes women.”

Though he seems to have his own preferences. Duke Aberdeen muttered.

No. Yesterday’s expressions of ‘contact’ and ‘skinship’ were definitely heavily sugar-coated.

Her previous affection for Erenhorn seemed likely to cool down considerably…

“Why was he materialized? Usually…”

“Ah, since you’ve only seen Kramer’s Guardian Spirit, you probably think that’s the norm. Usually, keeping them materialized puts less burden on the Oathkeeper.”

“…Is that so?”

There was a slight difference from what Floria had said before, but the Oathkeeper’s own explanation must be more accurate. From what she heard, it seemed Floria didn’t know well either since he was materialized and left to roam freely like grazing cattle.

“Kramer is the tough one. Or it could be due to his Guardian Spirit’s characteristics. Usually, it’s more difficult to keep them unmaterialized and contained for long periods.”

She learned another new fact.

In Constantine’s case, it was probably because of Caligo’s characteristics.

Saena could carefully make that assumption.

“Anyway, because of that, I didn’t even have time to stop him… I’m sorry.”

“Where is he now?”

“Now… I’ve retrieved him.”

“Even though you said it’s difficult?”

“Still better than letting him cause more trouble.”

I see.

Unlike Constantine, Duke Aberdeen was the type to voluntarily provide additional explanations when asked a question. Thanks to this, Saena could learn much about Guardian Spirits and Oathkeepers.

Despite spending more time with Constantine, it seemed Duke Aberdeen had taught her more.

“But why are you here?”

“…Pardon?”

“Instead of being at your domain. I was surprised to see you suddenly appear in Coldora.”

“……”

Duke Aberdeen momentarily showed a flustered expression.

“Ah, I didn’t expect you to ask directly.”

Wow. Coming in straight like that. Duke Aberdeen muttered.

‘Did I ask too bluntly?’

Usually, people don’t ask everything they’re curious about. Especially when the other person is of ducal rank.

“Well… Actually… I was planning to briefly check on someone. Ahem.”

Check on someone, surely not…

“You must really care about your sister.”

They said her brother interferes with her romance and is strict, and it’s really true. He must have come all the way here to monitor her.

‘Is this… a sister complex?’

Still, isn’t this a bit extreme?

“…Ah, yes. I was worried she might cause trouble. Ahem.”

Even Sage doesn’t go as far as surveillance, but she wasn’t sure if that was something to envy.

Besides, his Guardian Spirit seems to cause more trouble, so this is rather…

“Floria is already a debutante. I don’t think excessive interference is a good idea. Too much control might just push her to rebel instead.”

Though unsure if it would work, Saena spoke up for Floria’s sake. If he thinks it’s unnecessary meddling, there’s nothing she can do.

Besides, why is he so strict with his sister while being such a playboy himself…

“…She’s still immature. But, I’ll take note of that.”

Well, the experienced one (?) knows better.

Saena secretly clicked her tongue.

“Ah, by the way, I have a request.”

“Yes?”

“Though I’m not in a position to ask favors…”

“If it’s something I can do.”

“Well. That beast I saw at the hot spring earlier, I heard it’s yours.”

“Yolly?”

“Yes. That wolf-like creature.”

Why Yolly?

“Could I see him?”

“…Why? Did something happen to Erenhorn’s horn…?”

Looking at their size difference, Yolly seemed like he could be sent flying by one kick from Erenhorn, but since he had latched on so firmly, the horn might have been damaged.

Saena asked anxiously, feeling like a mother whose child had hit the neighbor’s kid.

“It’s not because of that, but his energy is unique, so I’d like to see him again.”

“Ah…”

Constantine had said something similar before when examining him too.

There must be something only Oathkeepers can sense.

“Alright. This way, then.”

Saena guided Duke Aberdeen to her bedroom.

“He’s sleeping.”

Though it felt a bit awkward that it was a bedroom, she didn’t want to move the sleeping Yolly.

It should be fine since Sir Rupert has been watching her surroundings like a hawk after that incident earlier. She’ll keep the door open too.

“This is actually the room where Floria usually stays when she visits. She must have given it up. You two must be really close, huh?”

“Really?”

She thought the room was nice but didn’t know that.

The Duke seemed comfortable entering, probably familiar with the room because of his sister. Saena looked warmly at Yolly, who was curled up sleeping soundly on the bed.

“…May I touch him?”

“Ah, yes. It should be fine. Probably.”

Duke Aberdeen lightly stroked Yolly’s fur while seeming to observe something.

“How strange… What is this.”

And he muttered something. Then he turned his gaze to Saena and examined her with measuring eyes.

“You’re not an Oathkeeper, are you?”

“…Me?”

“Yes.”

“Of course not.”

“Right. That’s what it seems, but…”

Duke Aberdeen tilted his head and muttered to himself again.

“Where did this little guy come from?”

“From our house’s backyard…”

“Backyard? In the Imperial Capital?”

“No. In Debov’s main territory. Delvon.”

“Hmm.”

He observed for a while longer. But suddenly Yolly’s ears perked up and his eyes flew open.

“Oh, Yolly?”

All her efforts not to wake Yolly were in vain. Was it too noisy?

“Kyu?”

His round eyes moved past them and fixed on the doorway.

“Why, what’s wrong?”

“…Kyang?”

When she turned to look where he was staring, Saena was startled.

“Oh, you?”

“…Constantine?”

There stood someone who shouldn’t be here. Duke Kramer.

With an extremely rigid expression.